The beneficial effects of neutrophil elastase inhibitor on gastrointestinal dysfunction in sepsis.

To investigate the effects of neutrophil elastase inhibitor (sivelestat sodium) on gastrointestinal function in sepsis. A reanalysis of the data from previous clinical trials conducted at our center was performed. Septic patients were divided into either the sivelestat group or the non-sivelestat group. The gastrointestinal dysfunction score (GIDS), feeding intolerance (FI) incidence, serum levels of intestinal barrier function and inflammatory biomarkers were recorded. The clinical severity and outcome variables were also documented. A total of 163 septic patients were included. The proportion of patients with GIDS ≥2 in the sivelestat group was reduced relative to that in the non-sivelestat group (9.6% vs. 22.5%, p = 0.047) on the 7th day of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The FI incidence was also remarkably reduced in the sivelestat group in contrast to that in the non-sivelestat group (21.2% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.034). Furthermore, the sivelestat group had fewer days of FI [4 (3, 4) vs. 5 (4-6), p = 0.008]. The serum levels of d-lactate (p = 0.033), intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (p = 0.005), interleukin-6 (p = 0.001), white blood cells (p = 0.007), C-reactive protein (p = 0.001), and procalcitonin (p < 0.001) of the sivelestat group were lower than those of the non-sivelestat group. The sivelestat group also demonstrated longer ICU-free days [18 (0-22) vs. 13 (0-17), p = 0.004] and ventilator-free days [22 (1-24) vs. 16 (1-19), p = 0.002] compared with the non-sivelestat group. In conclusion, sivelestat sodium administration appears to improve gastrointestinal dysfunction, mitigate dysregulated inflammation, and reduce disease severity in septic patients.

The roles of inactivated vaccines in older patients with infection of Delta variant in Nanjing, China.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading around the world. The COVID-19 vaccines may improve concerns about the pandemic. However, the roles of inactivated vaccines in older patients (aged ≥60 years) with infection of Delta variant were less studied. METHODS: We classified the older patients with infection of Delta variant into three groups based on the vaccination status: no vaccination (group A, n = 113), one dose of vaccination (group B, n = 46), and two doses of vaccination (group C, n = 22). Two inactivated COVID-19 vaccines (BBIBP-CorV or CoronaVac) were evaluated in this study. The demographic data, laboratory parameters, and clinical severity were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 181 older patients with infection of Delta variant were enrolled. 111 (61.3%) patients had one or more co-morbidities. The days of "turn negative" and hospital stay in Group C were lower than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). The incidences of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute kidney injury, and cardiac injury in Group A were higher than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). The MV-free days and ICU-free days during 28 days in Group A were also lower than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). In patients with co-morbidities, vaccinated cases had lower incidences of MODS (P = 0.015), septic shock (P = 0.015), and ARDS (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The inactivated COVID-19 vaccines were effective in improving the clinical severity of older patients with infection of Delta variant.

Identification of the regulatory networks and hub genes controlling alfalfa floral pigmentation variation using RNA-sequencing analysis.

BACKGROUND: To understand the gene expression networks controlling flower color formation in alfalfa, flowers anthocyanins were identified using two materials with contrasting flower colors, namely Defu and Zhongtian No. 3, and transcriptome analyses of PacBio full-length sequencing combined with RNA sequencing were performed, across four flower developmental stages. RESULTS: Malvidin and petunidin glycoside derivatives were the major anthocyanins in the flowers of Defu, which were lacking in the flowers of Zhongtian No. 3. The two transcriptomic datasets provided a comprehensive and systems-level view on the dynamic gene expression networks underpinning alfalfa flower color formation. By weighted gene coexpression network analyses, we identified candidate genes and hub genes from the modules closely related to floral developmental stages. PAL, 4CL, CHS, CHR, F3'H, DFR, and UFGT were enriched in the important modules. Additionally, PAL6, PAL9, 4CL18, CHS2, 4 and 8 were identified as hub genes. Thus, a hypothesis explaining the lack of purple color in the flower of Zhongtian No. 3 was proposed. CONCLUSIONS: These analyses identified a large number of potential key regulators controlling flower color pigmentation, thereby providing new insights into the molecular networks underlying alfalfa flower development.

Transcriptomic analysis of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. during fruit ripening provides insight into structural and regulatory genes in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway.

Fruit development in Lycium ruthenicum Murr. involves a succession of physiological and biochemical changes reflecting the transcriptional modulation of thousands of genes. Although recent studies have investigated the dynamic transcriptomic responses during fruit ripening in L. ruthenicum, most have been limited in scope, and thus systematic data representing the structural genes and transcription factors involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis are lacking. In this study, the transcriptomes of three ripening stages associated with anthocyanin accumulation, including S1 (green ripeness stage), S2 (skin color change) and S3 (complete ripeness stage) in L. ruthenicum were investigated using Illumina sequencing. Of a total of 43,573 assembled unigenes, 12,734 were differentially expressed during fruit ripening in L. ruthenicum. Twenty-five significantly differentially expressed structural genes (including PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS, CHI, F3H, F3'H, F3'5'H, DFR, ANS and UFGT) were identified that might be associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis. Additionally, several transcription factors, including MYB, bHLH, WD40, NAC, WRKY, bZIP and MADS, were correlated with the structural genes, implying their important interaction with anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes. Our findings provide insight into anthocyanin biosynthesis and regulation patterns in L. ruthenicum and offer a systematic basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms governing anthocyanin biosynthesis in L. ruthenicum.

G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzyme-amplified colorimetric detection of Ag+ ion.

A G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzyme-amplified Ag(+)-sensing method was developed based on the ability of Ag(+) to stabilize C-C mismatches by forming C-Ag(+)-C base pairs. In this method, only one unlabelled oligonucleotide strand was used. In the absence of Ag(+), the oligonucleotide strand formed an intramolecular duplex. The G-rich sequence in the oligonucleotide was partially caged in this duplex structure and cannot fold into the G-quadruplex structure. The addition of Ag(+) promoted the formation of another intramolecular duplex in which C-C mismatches were stabilized by C-Ag(+)-C base pairs, leading to the release of the G-rich sequence which can fold into a G-quadruplex capable to bind hemin to form a catalytically active G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzyme. As a result, a UV-vis absorbance increasing was observed in the H(2)O(2)-ABTS (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiozoline)-6-sulfonic acid) reaction system. This "turn-on" process allowed the detection of aqueous Ag(+) at concentrations as low as 6.3 nM using a simple colorimetric technique, showing a high selectivity over a range of other metal ions.

Ag+ and cysteine quantitation based on G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzymes disruption by Ag+.

Some G-quadruplex-hemin complexes are DNAzyme peroxidases that efficiently catalyze H(2)O(2)-mediated reactions, such as the oxidation of ABTS (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiozoline)-6-sulfonic acid) by H(2)O(2). Since Ag(+) chelates guanine bases at the binding sites are involved in G-quadruplex formation, the presence of Ag(+) may disrupt these structures and inhibit the peroxidase activity of G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzymes. On the basis of this principle, a highly sensitive and selective Ag(+)-detection method was developed. The method allows simple detection of aqueous Ag(+) with a detection limit of 64 nM and a linear range of 50-3000 nM. Cysteine (Cys) is a strong Ag(+)-binder and competes with quadruplex-forming G-rich oligonucleotides for Ag(+)-binding, promoting the reformation of G-quadruplexes and increasing their peroxidase activity. Therefore, the Ag(+)-sensing system was also developed as a Cys-sensing system. This "turn-on" process allowed the detection of Cys at concentrations as low as 50 nM using a simple colorimetric technique. The Cys-sensing system could also be used for the detection of reduced glutathione (GSH). Neither the Ag(+)-sensing nor the Cys-sensing systems required labeled oligonucleotides. In addition, both gave large changes in absorbance signal that could be observed by the naked eye. Thus, a simple visual method for Ag(+)- or Cys-detection was developed.

[Clinical and laboratory study of 4 cases of myelodysplastic syndromes with t (1;3) (p36; q21)].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients with t (1; 3) (p36; q21) and the expression of the involved genes. METHODS: 4 cases of MDS with t (1; 3) (p36; q21) were reported. The expression level of two transcription forms (PR-containing form MEL1 and PR-lacking form MEL1s) of MEL1 gene in normal fetus tissues, 2 healthy donor bone marrows and bone marrows from 3 MDS patients with t (1; 3) (p36; q21) were detected by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: MDS patients with t (1; 3) (p36; q21) mainly presented with debility. Hemogram was macrocytic anemia, normal or elevated white blood cell and platelet counts. The bone marrow showed tri-lineage dysplasia especially dysmegakaryocytopoiesis. The patients had poor prognosis. MEL1 form was mainly expressed in the normal fetus tissues and healthy bone marrows, while the bone marrow cells from MDS patients with t (1; 3) (p36; q21) mainly or only expressed MEL1s. CONCLUSIONS: MDS patients with t (1; 3) (p36; q21) may be a new unique entity. Overexpression of MEL1s induced by t (1; 3) (p36; q21) might play an important role in the pathogenesis of this entity.