CUX1 attenuates the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells induced by contrast media through activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Contrast media (CM) is a commonly applied drug in medical examination and surgery. However, contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI) poses a severe threat to human life and health. Notably, the CUT-like homeobox 1 (CUX1) gene shows protective effects in a variety of cells. Therefore, the objective of this study was to provide a new target for the treatment of CIAKI through exploring the role and possible molecular mechanism of CUX1 in CIAKI. METHOD: Blood samples were collected from 20 patients with CIAKI and healthy volunteers. Human kidney 2 (HK-2) cells were incubated with 200 mg/mL iohexol for 6 h to establish a contrast-induced injury model of HK-2 cells. Subsequently, qRT-PCR was used to detect the relative mRNA expression of CUX1; CCK-8 and flow cytometry to assess the proliferation and apoptosis of HK-2 cells; the levels of IL(interleukin)-1ß, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in cells and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in cell culture supernatant were detect; and western blot to observe the expression levels of CUX1 and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway related proteins [phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (p-PI3K), PI3K, phosphorylated Akt (p-AKT), AKT]. RESULTS: CUX1 expression was significantly downregulated in blood samples of patients with CIAKI and contrast-induced HK-2 cells. Contrast media (CM; iohexol) treatment significantly reduced the proliferation of HK-2 cells, promoted apoptosis, stimulated inflammation and oxidative stress that caused cell damage. CUX1 overexpression alleviated cell damage by significantly improving the proliferation level of HK-2 cells induced by CM, inhibiting cell apoptosis, and reducing the level of LDH in culture supernatant and the expression of IL-1ß, TNF-α and MDA in cells. CM treatment significantly inhibited the activity of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway activity. Nevertheless, up-regulating CUX1 could activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway activity in HK-2 cells induced by CM. CONCLUSION: CUX1 promotes cell proliferation, inhibits apoptosis, and reduces inflammation and oxidative stress in CM-induced HK-2 cells to alleviate CM-induced damage. The mechanism of CUX1 may be correlated with activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Network pharmacology combined with metabolomics to reveal the anti-fibrotic mechanism of Polygoni Orientalis Fructus in CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis rats.

Polygoni Orientalis Fructus (POF), a dried ripe fruit of Polygonum orientale L., is commonly used in China for liver disease treatment. However, its therapeutic mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of POF on the regulation of endogenous metabolites and identify its key therapeutic targets in hepatic fibrosis (HF) rats by integrating network pharmacology and metabolomics approaches. First, serum liver indices and histopathological analyses were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of POF on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced HF. Subsequently, differential metabolites and potential therapeutic targets of POF were screened using plasma metabolomics and network pharmacology, respectively. The key targets of POF were identified by overlapping differential metabolite-associated targets with the potential targets and validated by molecular docking and ELISA experiments. The results showed that POF effectively alleviated HF in rats. A total of 51 metabolites related to HF were screened, and 24 were associated with POF. 232 potential therapeutic targets were identified by network pharmacology analysis. Finally, six key targets were identified through a combined analysis. Furthermore, molecular docking and ELISA validation revealed that AGXT, PAH, and NOS3 are targets of POF action, while CBS, ALDH2, and ARG1 were identified as potential targets. SIGNIFICANCE: POF is now commonly used in the treatment of liver disease, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. Current studies on metabolomics of liver disease primarily focuse on the interpretation of differential metabolites and related metabolic pathways. This research delves into the intricate details of metabolomics findings via network pharmacology to uncover the targets and pathways of drug action.

Dual-signal ratiometric electrochemiluminescence biosensor based on Au NPs-induced low-potential emission of PFO Pdots and LSPR-ECL mechanism for ultra-sensitive detection of microRNA-141.

In this study, we have for the first time constructed a ratiometric ECL biosensor for the ultrasensitive detection of microRNAs (miRNAs) using gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) to trigger both the low-potential emission from conjugated polymer poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl) dots (PFO Pdots) and the LSPR-ECL effect with sulfur-doped boron nitride quantum dots (S-BN QDs). PFO Pdots were first applied to the Au NPs-modified electrode, followed by covalent binding to capture the hairpin H1. Immediately thereafter, a small amount of miRNA-141 was able to generate a large amount of output DNA (OP) by traversing the target cycle. OP, H3-S-BN QDs, and H4-glucose oxidase (H4-GOD) were then added sequentially to the Au NPs-modified electrode surface, and the hybridization chain reaction (HCR) was initiated. This resulted in the introduction of a large amount of GOD into the system, which catalyzed the in situ formation of the co-reactant hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from the substrate glucose. Due to the electron transfer effect, the production of H2O2 led to the ECL quenching of PFO Pdots. Meanwhile, H2O2 served as a co-reactant of S-BN QDs, resulting in strong ECL emission of S-BN QDs at the cathode. Furthermore, the cathodic ECL intensity of S-BN QDs was further enhanced by an LSPR-ECL mechanism between Au NPs and S-BN QDs. By measuring the ratio of ECL intensities at two excitation potentials, this approach could provide sensitive and reliable detection of miRNA-141 in the range of 0.1 fM ∼10 nM, with a detection limit of 0.1 fM.

Conversion obstacle from Mg-protoporphyrin IX to protochlorophyllide might be responsible for chlorophyll-deficient phenotype of the Huangjinya's albino offspring.

The albino tea cultivar is one of the most important germplasms for key gene mining and high-quality tea producing. In order to elucidate the chlorophyll-deficient mechanism of albino cultivar 'Huangjinya' and its offspring, color difference, photosynthetic pigments and the relevant genes' expression of the tender shoots were comprehensively investigated in this study. Among the tested 16 offspring, 5 exhibited albino phenotype in spring and autumn, 3 showed albino phenotype in spring but normal green in autumn, while the rests were all normal green. The shoot of albino offspring had significantly higher lightness and/or yellowness than that of green ones, and possessed dramatically lower photosynthetic pigments and chlorophyll precursor protochlorophyllide (Pchlide), as well as higher chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b but lower chlorophylls/carotenoids in comparison with green ones. Among the tested genes involved in chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolism pathways, expression of the magnesium protoporphyrin IX monomethyl ester cyclase (CRD), 3,8-divinyl chlorophyllide 8-vinyl reductase (DVR), 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase 1 (HEMB1), 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase 1 (DXS1) and 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (ISPH) was remarkably down-regulated in shoots of the albino offspring. Color difference indices of the offspring were significantly correlated with the levels of photosynthetic pigments and Pchlide, and low level of chlorophylls in shoot of albino offspring was mainly due to conversion obstacle from magnesium protoporphyrin Ⅸ (Mg-Proto IX) to Pchlide which might be attributed to down-regulatory expression of CRD and DVR.

Virus-like structures for combination antigen protein mRNA vaccination.

Improved vaccination requires better delivery of antigens and activation of the natural immune response. Here we report a lipid nanoparticle system with the capacity to carry antigens, including mRNA and proteins, which is formed into a virus-like structure by surface decoration with spike proteins, demonstrating application against SARS-CoV-2 variants. The strategy uses S1 protein from Omicron BA.1 on the surface to deliver mRNA of S1 protein from XBB.1. The virus-like particle enables specific augmentation of mRNAs expressed in human respiratory epithelial cells and macrophages via the interaction the surface S1 protein with ACE2 or DC-SIGN receptors. Activation of macrophages and dendritic cells is demonstrated by the same receptor binding. The combination of protein and mRNA increases the antibody response in BALB/c mice compared with mRNA and protein vaccines alone. Our exploration of the mechanism of this robust immunity suggests it might involve cross-presentation to diverse subsets of dendritic cells ranging from activated innate immune signals to adaptive immune signals.

Mogroside V reduced the excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitigated the Ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium in mice.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic, chronic inflammatory condition of the colon, characterized by repeated attacks, a lack of effective treatment options, and significant physical and mental health complications for patients. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a vital intracellular organelle in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is induced when the body is exposed to adverse external stimuli. Numerous studies have shown that ERS-induced apoptosis plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of UC. Mogroside V (MV), an active ingredient of Monk fruit, has demonstrated excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of MV on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC and its potential mechanisms based on ERS. The results showed that MV exerted a protective effect against DSS-induced UC in mice as reflected by reduced DAI scores, increased colon length, reduced histological scores of the colon, and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as decreased intestinal permeability. In addition, the expression of ERS pathway including BIP, PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, as well as the apoptosis-related protein including Caspase-12, Bcl-2 and Bax, was found to be elevated in UC. However, MV treatment significantly inhibited the UC and reversed the expression of inflammation signaling pathway including ERS and ERS-induced apoptosis. Additionally, the addition of tunicamycin (Tm), an ERS activator, significantly weakened the therapeutic effect of MV on UC in mice. These findings suggest that MV may be a therapeutic agent for the treatment of DSS-induced UC by inhibiting the activation of the ERS-apoptosis pathway, and may provide a novel avenue for the treatment of UC.

Tripedal DNA Walker as a Signal Amplifier Combined with a Potential-Resolved Multicolor Electrochemiluminescence Strategy for Ultrasensitive Detection of Prostate Cancer Staging Indicators.

A multicolor electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor based on a closed bipolar electrode (BPE) array was proposed for the rapid and intuitive analysis of three prostate cancer staging indicators. First, [Irpic-OMe], [Ir(ppy)2(acac)], and [Ru(bpy)3]2+ were applied as blue, green, and red ECL emitters, respectively, whose mixed ECL emission colors covered the whole visible region by varying the applied voltages. Afterward, we designed a simple Mg2+-dependent DNAzyme (MNAzyme)-driven tripedal DNA walker (TD walker) to release three output DNAs. Immediately after, three output DNAs were added to the cathodic reservoirs of the BPE for incubation. After that, we found that the emission colors from the anode of the BPE changed as a driving voltage of 8.0 V was applied, mainly due to changes in the interfacial potential and faradaic currents at the two poles of the BPE. Via optimization of the experimental parameters, cutoff values of such three indicators at different clinical stages could be identified instantly with the naked eye, and standard precision swatches with multiple indicators could be prepared. Finally, in order to precisely determine the prostate cancer stage, the multicolor ECL device was used for clinical analysis, and the resulting images were then compared with standard swatches, laying the way for accurate prostate cancer therapy.

Heterologous Booster Immunization Based on Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Enhances Humoral Immunity and Promotes BCR Repertoire Development.

Recent studies have indicated that sequentially administering SARS-CoV-2 vaccines can result in increased antibody and cellular immune responses. In this study, we compared homologous and heterologous immunization strategies following two doses of inactivated vaccines in a mouse model. Our research demonstrates that heterologous sequential immunization resulted in more immune responses displayed in the lymph node germinal center, which induced a greater number of antibody-secreting cells (ASCs), resulting in enhanced humoral and cellular immune responses and increased cross-protection against five variant strains. In further single B-cell analysis, the above findings were supported by the presence of unique B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoires and diversity in CDR3 sequence profiles elicited by a heterologous booster immunization strategy.

CsMYB67 participates in the flavonoid biosynthesis of summer tea leaves.

Flavonoids are important compounds in tea leaves imparting bitter and astringent taste, which also play key roles in tea plants responding to environmental stress. Our previous study showed that the expression level of CsMYB67 was positively correlated with the accumulation of flavonoids in tea leaves as exposed to sunlight. Here, we newly reported the function of CsMYB67 in regulating flavonoid biosynthesis in tea leaves. CsMYB67 was localized in the nucleus and responded to temperature. The results of transient expression assays showed the co-transformation of CsMYB67 and CsTTG1 promoted the transcription of CsANS promoter in the tobacco system. CsTTG1 was bound to the promoter of CsANS based on the results of yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and transient expression assays, while CsMYB67 enhanced the transcription of CsANS through protein interaction with CsTTG1 according to the results of yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). Thus, CsMYB67-CsTTG1 module enhanced the anthocyanin biosynthesis through up-regulating the transcription of CsANS. Besides, CsMYB67 also enhanced the transcription of CsFLS and CsUFGT through forming transcription factor complexes. The function of CsMYB67 on flavonoid biosynthesis in tea leaves was validated by gene suppression assay. As CsMYB67 was suppressed, the transcriptional level of CsFLS was greatly reduced, leading to a significant increase in the contents of total catechins and total anthocyanidins. Hence, CsMYB67 plays an important role in regulating the downstream pathway of flavonoid biosynthesis in summer tea leaves.

The light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins of photosystem II family members are responsible for temperature sensitivity and leaf color phenotype in albino tea plant.

INTRODUCTION: Light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding (LHCB) protein complexes of photosystem II are integral to the formation of thylakoid structure and the photosynthetic process. They play an important role in photoprotection, a crucial process in leaf development under low-temperature stress. Nonetheless, potential key genes directly related to low-temperature response and albino phenotype have not been precisely identified in tea plant. Moreover, there are no studies simultaneously investigating multiple albino tea cultivars with different temperature sensitivity. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to clarify the basic characteristics of CsLHCB gene family members, and identify critical CsLHCB genes potentially influential in leaf color phenotypic variation and low-temperature stress response by contrasting green and albino tea cultivars. Concurrently, exploring the differential expression of the CsLHCB gene family across diverse temperature-sensitive albino tea cultivars. METHODS: We identified 20 putative CsLHCB genes according to phylogenetic analysis. Evolutionary relationships, gene duplication, chromosomal localization, and structures were analyzed by TBtools; the physiological and biochemical characteristics were analyzed by protein analysis websites; the differences in coding sequences and protein accumulation in green and albino tea cultivars, gene expression with maturity were tested by molecular biology technology; and protein interaction was analyzed in the STRING database. RESULTS: All genes were categorized into seven groups, mapping onto 7 chromosomes, including three tandem and one segmental duplications. They all own a conserved chlorophyll A/B binding protein domain. The expression of CsLHCB genes was tissue-specific, predominantly in leaves. CsLHCB5 may play a key role in the process of leaf maturation and senescence. In contrast to CsLHCB5, CsLHCB1.1, CsLHCB2, and CsLHCB3.2 were highly conserved in amino acid sequence between green and albino tea cultivars. In albino tea cultivars, unlike in green cultivars, the expression of CsLHCB1.1, CsLHCB1.2, and CsLHCB2 was down-regulated under low-temperature stress. The accumulation of CsLHCB1 and CsLHCB5 proteins was lower in albino tea cultivars. Greater accumulation of CsLHCB2 protein was detected in RX1 and RX2 compared to other albino cultivars. CONCLUSIONS: CsLHCB1.1, CsLHCB1.2, and CsLHCB2 played a role in the response to low-temperature stress. The amino acid sequence site mutation of CsLHCB5 would distinguish the green and albino tea cultivars. The less accumulation of CsLHCB1 and CsLHCB5 had a potential influence on albino leaves. Albino cultivars more sensitive to temperature exhibited lower CsLHCB gene expression. CsLHCB2 may serve as an indicator of temperature sensitivity differences in albino tea cultivars. This study could provide a reference for further studies of the functions of the CsLHCB family and contribute to research on the mechanism of the albino in tea plant.

Global, regional, and national prevalence of hearing loss from 1990 to 2019: A trend and health inequality analyses based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

As a severe public health issue, hearing loss has caused an increasingly disease burden, especially in the elderly population. Hearing loss may inevitably induce asymmetric hearing, which makes it difficult for elderly individuals to locate sound sources, therefore resulting in increased postural instability and falling risk. To emphasize the public health emergence of hearing loss, we investigated the temporal trend of prevalence of hearing loss over the last 30 years and further predicted its changes in the next 20 years, decomposed the trend according to demographic factors and epidemiological changes, and quantified the cross-country healthy inequalities, using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. In 2019, there were more than 140 million cases of hearing loss worldwide, a 93.89% increase from 70 million cases in 1990. The age-standardized rate (ASR) also increased with an estimated annual percentage change of 0.08% per year. Population growth and aging are the major drivers contributing to the changes, accounting for 60.83% and 35.35%. Of note, the contribution of aging varies showing a gradual increasing trend with sociodemographic index (SDI) elevating. Also notable, there were significant health inequalities across 204 countries and territories, with slope index of inequality rising over time. Projection of the global burden of hearing loss from 2020 to 2040 indicated progressive increases in both case number and ASR. These reflect the heavy disease burden of hearing loss that needed more targeted and efficient strategies in its prevention and management.

Comprehensive Analysis of Alternative Polyadenylation Events Associated with the Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Colon Adenocarcinoma.

Objective: Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is relevant to the variability of the 3'-UTR of mRNA. However, the posttranscriptional dysregulation of APA in COAD is poorly understood. Methods: We collected APA data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) COAD (n =7692). APA events were evaluated using PDUI values, and the prognostically significant APA events were screened by LASSO Cox regression to construct a prognostic model. Then, prognostic model functions and possible regulatory genes of characteristic APA events were analyzed. Finally, the immune regulatory network based on APA regulatory genes was analyzed and established. Results: A total of 95 APA events were found to influence the COAD outcomes. Among them, 39 genes were screened as characteristic prognostic APA events by LASSO Cox regression to construct a COAD prognostic signature. The analysis results suggested that a high signature score was associated with poor prognosis and was significantly correlated with a variety of immune cells, including NK and Th1, 2 and 17 cells. Further analysis showed that APA regulators mainly served roles in the prognosis of COAD. Based on the above results, we constructed an immunoregulatory network for APA regulatory genes-APA genes-immune cells. Conclusion: Our study revealed that APA events in COAD may regulate tumor progression by influencing immune cells, which provides a new direction for exploring the influencing mechanism of the tumor immune microenvironment and is expected to provide a potential new target for COAD immunotherapy.

Anthocyanin metabolism and its differential regulation in purple tea (Camellia sinensis).

Tea plants (Camellia sinensis) typically contain high-flavonoid phytochemicals like catechins. Recently, new tea cultivars with unique purple-colored leaves have gained attention. These purple tea cultivars are enriched with anthocyanin, which provides an interesting perspective for studying the metabolic flux of the flavonoid pathway. An increasing number of studies are focusing on the leaf color formation of purple tea and this review aims to summarize the latest progress made on the composition and accumulation of anthocyanins in tea plants. In addition, the regulation mechanism in its synthesis will be discussed and a hypothetical regulation model for leaf color transformation during growth will be proposed. Some novel insights are presented to facilitate future in-depth studies of purple tea to provide a theoretical basis for targeted breeding programs in leaf color.

Superior performance of a membrane bioreactor through innovative in-situ aeration and structural optimization using computational fluid dynamics.

The optimization of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) involves a critical challenge in structural design for mitigation of membrane fouling. To address this issue, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was utilized in this study to simulate the hydrodynamic characteristics of a flat sheet (FS) MBR. The optimization of the membrane module configuration and operating conditions was performed by investigating key parameters that altered the shear stress and liquid velocity. The mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration was found to increase the shear stress, leading to a more uniform distribution of shear stress. By optimizing the appropriate bubble diameter to 5 mm, the shear stress on the membrane surface was optimized with relatively uniform distribution. Additionally, extending the side baffle length dramatically improved the uniformity of the shear stress distribution on each membrane. A novel in-situ aeration method was also discovered to promote turbulent kinetic energy by 200 times compared with traditional aeration modes, leading to a more uniform bubble streamline. As a result, the novel in-situ aeration method demonstrated superior membrane antifouling potential in the MBR. This work provides a new approach for the structural design and optimization of MBRs. The innovative combination of the CFD model, optimization techniques, and novel in-situ aeration method has provided a substantial contribution to the advancement of membrane separation technology in wastewater treatment.

Shading-Dependent Greening Process of the Leaves in the Light-Sensitive Albino Tea Plant 'Huangjinya': Possible Involvement of the Light-Harvesting Complex II Subunit of Photosystem II in the Phenotypic Characteristic.

The light-sensitive albino tea plant can produce pale-yellow shoots with high levels of amino acids which are suitable to process high-quality tea. In order to understand the mechanism of the albino phenotype formation, the changes in the physio-chemical characteristics, chloroplast ultrastructure, chlorophyll-binding proteins, and the relevant gene expression were comprehensively investigated in the leaves of the light-sensitive albino cultivar 'Huangjinya' ('HJY') during short-term shading treatment. In the content of photosynthetic pigments, the ultrastructure of the chloroplast, and parameters of the photosynthesis in the leaves of 'HJY' could be gradually normalized along with the extension of the shading time, resulting in the leaf color transformed from pale yellow to green. BN-PAGE and SDS-PAGE revealed that function restoration of the photosynthetic apparatus was attributed to the proper formation of the pigment-protein complexes on the thylakoid membrane that benefited from the increased levels of the LHCII subunits in the shaded leaves of 'HJY', indicating the low level of LHCII subunits, especially the lack of the Lhcb1 might be responsible for the albino phenotype of the 'HJY' under natural light condition. The deficiency of the Lhcb1 was mainly subject to the strongly suppressed expression of the Lhcb1.x which might be modulated by the chloroplast retrograde signaling pathway GUN1 (GENOMES UNCOUPLED 1)-PTM (PHD type transcription factor with transmembrane domains)-ABI4 (ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE 4).

The hidden depths of zebrafish skin.

Single-cell transcriptome analysis of zebrafish cells clarifies the signalling pathways controlling skin formation and reveals that some cells produce proteins required for human teeth to acquire their enamel.

Dihydropyrimidone Derivatives as Thymidine Phosphorylase Inhibitors: Inhibition Kinetics, Cytotoxicity, and Molecular Docking.

Overexpression of the thymidine phosphorylase (TP) enzyme induces angiogenesis, which eventually leads to metastasis and tumor growth. The crucial role of TP in cancer development makes it an important target for anticancer drug discovery. Currently, there is only one US-FDA-approved drug, i.e., Lonsurf, a combination of trifluridine and tipiracil, for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, numerous adverse effects are associated with its use, such as myelosuppression, anemia, and neutropenia. Since the last few decades, the discovery of new, safe, and effective TP inhibitory agents has been rigorously pursued. In the present study, we evaluated a series of previously synthesized dihydropyrimidone derivatives 1-40 for their TP inhibitory potential. Compounds 1, 12, and 33 showed a good activity with IC50 = 314.0 ± 0.90, 303.5 ± 0.40, and 322.6 ± 1.60 µM, respectively. The results of mechanistic studies revealed that compounds 1, 12, and 33 were the non-competitive inhibitors. These compounds were also evaluated for cytotoxicity against 3T3 (mouse fibroblast) cells and were found to be non-cytotoxic. Finally, the molecular docking suggested the plausible mechanism of non-competitive inhibition of TP. The current study thus identifies some dihydropyrimidone derivatives as potential inhibitors of TP, which can be further optimized as leads for cancer treatment.

A comprehensive review of matcha: production, food application, potential health benefits, and gastrointestinal fate of main phenolics.

Matcha, a powder processed from tea leaves, has a unique green tea flavor and appealing color, in addition to many other sought after functional properties for a wide range of formulated food applications (e.g., dairy products, bakery products, and beverage). The properties of matcha are influenced by cultivation method and processing post-harvest. The transition from drinking tea infusion to eating whole leaves provides a healthy option for the delivery of functional component and tea phenolics in various food matrix. The aim of this review is to describe the physico-chemical properties of matcha, the specific requirements for tea cultivation and industrial processing. The quality of matcha mainly depends on the quality of fresh tea leaves, which is affected by preharvest factors including tea cultivar, shading treatment, and fertilization. Shading is the key measure to increase greenness, reduce bitterness and astringency, and enhance umami taste of matcha. The potential health benefits of matcha and the gastrointestinal fate of main phenolics in matcha are covered. The chemical compositions and bioactivities of fiber-bound phenolics in matcha and other plant materials are discussed. The fiber-bound phenolics are considered promising components which endow matcha with boosted bioavailability of phenolics and health benefits through modulating gut microbiota.

A novel nomogram integrated with PDL1 and CEA to predict the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to develop a prognostic nomogram for patients with gastric cancer (GC) based on the levels of programmed death 1 ligand 1 (PDL1) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). METHODS: The nomogram was developed using data from a primary cohort of 247 patients who had been clinicopathologically diagnosed with GC, as well as a validation cohort of 63 patients. Furthermore, the nomogram divided the patients into three different risk groups for overall survival (OS)-the low-risk, middle-risk, and high-risk groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox hazard analyses were used to determine all of the factors included in the model. Decision curve analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the accuracy of the nomogram. RESULTS: The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that metastasis stage, clinical stage, and CEA and PDL1 levels were predictors for progress-free survival (PFS) and OS of patients with GC. Metastasis stage, clinical stage, and CEA and PDL1 levels were found to be independent risk factors for the PFS and OS of patients with GC in a multivariate analysis, and the nomogram was based on these factors. The concordance index of the nomogram was 0.763 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.740-0.787]. The area under the concentration-time curve of the nomogram model was 0.81 (95% CI 0.780-0.900). According to the decision curve analysis and ROC curves, the nomogram model had a higher overall net efficiency in forecasting OS than clinical stage, CEA and PDL1 levels. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we proposed a novel nomogram that integrated PDL1 and CEA, and the proposed nomogram provided more accurate and useful prognostic predictions for patients with GC.

Study of the Effects of Several SARS-CoV-2 Structural Proteins on Antiviral Immunity.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spike (S) protein is a critical viral antigenic protein that enables the production of neutralizing antibodies, while other structural proteins, including the membrane (M), nucleocapsid (N) and envelope (E) proteins, have unclear roles in antiviral immunity. In this study, S1, S2, M, N and E proteins were expressed in 16HBE cells to explore the characteristics of the resultant innate immune response. Furthermore, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from mice immunized with two doses of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine or two doses of mRNA vaccine were isolated and stimulated by these five proteins to evaluate the corresponding specific T-cell immune response. In addition, the levels of humoral immunity induced by two-dose inactivated vaccine priming followed by mRNA vaccine boosting, two homologous inactivated vaccine doses and two homologous mRNA vaccine doses in immunized mice were compared. Our results suggested that viral structural proteins can activate the innate immune response and elicit a specific T-cell response in mice immunized with the inactivated vaccine. However, the existence of the specific T-cell response against M, N and E is seemingly insufficient to improve the level of humoral immunity.