Gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis of sepsis-associated encephalopathy.

The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication network linking the gut and the brain, overseeing digestive functions, emotional responses, body immunity, brain development, and overall health. Substantial research highlights a connection between disruptions of the gut-brain axis and various psychiatric and neurological conditions, including depression and Alzheimer's disease. Given the impact of the gut-brain axis on behavior, cognition, and brain diseases, some studies have started to pay attention to the role of the axis in sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE), where cognitive impairment is the primary manifestation. SAE emerges as the primary and earliest form of organ dysfunction following sepsis, potentially leading to acute cognitive impairment and long-term cognitive decline in patients. Notably, the neuronal damage in SAE does not stem directly from the central nervous system (CNS) infection but rather from an infection occurring outside the brain. The gut-brain axis is posited as a pivotal factor in this process. This review will delve into the gut-brain axis, exploring four crucial pathways through which inflammatory signals are transmitted and elevate the incidence of SAE. These pathways encompass the vagus nerve pathway, the neuroendocrine pathway involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and serotonin (5-HT) regulation, the neuroimmune pathway, and the microbial regulation. These pathways can operate independently or collaboratively on the CNS to modulate brain activity. Understanding how the gut affects and regulates the CNS could offer the potential to identify novel targets for preventing and treating this condition, ultimately enhancing the prognosis for individuals with SAE.

Transcriptomic-Proteomic Analysis Revealed the Regulatory Mechanism of Peanut in Response to Fusarium oxysporum.

Peanut Fusarium rot, which is widely observed in the main peanut-producing areas in China, has become a significant factor that has limited the yield and quality in recent years. It is highly urgent and significant to clarify the regulatory mechanism of peanuts in response to Fusarium oxysporum. In this study, transcriptome and proteome profiling were combined to provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of peanut stems after F. oxysporums infection. A total of 3746 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 305 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were screened. The upregulated DEGs and DEPs were primarily enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis, circadian rhythm-plant, and plant-pathogen interaction pathways. Then, qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression levels of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and cinnamic acid-4-hydroxylase (C4H) genes increased after F. oxysporums infection. Moreover, the expressions of these genes varied in different peanut tissues. All the results revealed that many metabolic pathways in peanut were activated by improving key gene expressions and the contents of key enzymes, which play critical roles in preventing fungi infection. Importantly, this research provides the foundation of biological and chemical analysis for peanut disease resistance mechanisms.

Maternal glyphosate exposure causes autism-like behaviors in offspring through increased expression of soluble epoxide hydrolase.

Epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to herbicides during pregnancy might increase risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the risk of ASD by herbicides such as glyphosate remain unclear. Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids is shown to play a key role in the development of ASD in offspring after maternal immune activation. Here, we found ASD-like behavioral abnormalities in juvenile offspring after maternal exposure to high levels of formulated glyphosate. Furthermore, we found higher levels of sEH in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus, and striatum of juvenile offspring, and oxylipin analysis showed decreased levels of epoxy-fatty acids such as 8 (9)-EpETrE in the blood, PFC, hippocampus, and striatum of juvenile offspring after maternal glyphosate exposure, supporting increased activity of sEH in the offspring. Moreover, we found abnormal composition of gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in fecal samples of juvenile offspring after maternal glyphosate exposure. Interestingly, oral administration of TPPU (an sEH inhibitor) to pregnant mothers from E5 to P21 prevented ASD-like behaviors such as social interaction deficits and increased grooming time in the juvenile offspring after maternal glyphosate exposure. These findings suggest that maternal exposure to high levels of glyphosate causes ASD-like behavioral abnormalities and abnormal composition of gut microbiota in juvenile offspring, and that increased activity of sEH might play a role in ASD-like behaviors in offspring after maternal glyphosate exposure. Therefore, sEH may represent a target for ASD in offspring after maternal stress from occupational exposure to contaminants.

QR code technology in individual identification training provides an introduction in hands-on forensic DNA genotyping to medical students.

BACKGROUND: Forensic biology is a subject in the field of forensic science that stresses practical teaching and training in laboratory skills. Visualization of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiles is important in individual identification and is easily performed by well-trained examiners. Therefore, developing a novel training project for obtaining individual DNA profiles can improve the quality of teaching for medical students or trainees. DNA profiles based on quick response (QR) codes can also be applied to practical teaching and operation training for individual identification. METHODS: A novel training project was developed through an experimental course in forensic biology. Blood samples and buccal swabs with oral epithelial cells, as used in the forensic DNA laboratory, were obtained from medical students at Fujian Medical University. DNA was isolated, and a number of short tandem repeat (STR) loci were used as genetic markers to generate DNA profiles. The students converted DNA profiles and individual information into a QR code. The QR code could then be scanned by a mobile phone for consulting and retrieval. Gene identity cards with QR codes were produced and provided to every student. The participation rate and passing rate of students who participated in the novel training project were calculated and compared with those of students in the traditional experimental course, and a chi-square test was carried out by SPSS 23.0 software to evaluate the teaching effectiveness. p < 0.05 indicated significant differences. In addition, a survey was conducted to investigate the likelihood of using of gene identity cards with QR codes in the future. RESULTS: A total of 54 of 91 medical students who studied forensic biology participated in the novel training project in 2021. Only 31 of 78 students who studied forensic biology participated in the traditional experimental course in 2020. The participation rate in the novel training project was 24% higher than that of the traditional experimental course. The participants in the novel training project showed better performance in forensic biological handling techniques. The passing rate of the students in the forensic biology course with the novel training project was approximately 17% higher than that of the students in the former course. The participation rates and passing rates of the two groups were significantly different (χ = 6.452, p = 0.008 and χ = 11.043, p = 0.001). In the novel training project, all participants made 54 gene identity cards with QR codes. Furthermore, in the DNA profiles of four African students who participated, we found two rare alleles that were not discovered in Asians. The survey showed that the use of gene identity cards with QR codes was accepted by most participants, and the likelihood of future utilization was 78%. CONCLUSION: We established a novel training project to promote the learning activities of medical students in experimental forensic biology courses. The participants showed great interest in using gene identity cards with QR codes to store general individual identity information and DNA profiles. They also examined the genetic population differences between different races based on DNA profiles. Hence, the novel training project could be useful for training workshops, forensic experimental courses, and medical big data research.

Comparison of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activities in Differentially Pigmented Cerasus humilis Fruits.

Chinese dwarf cherry (Cerasus humilis) is a wild fruit tree and medicinal plant endemic to China. Its fruits are rich in various bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids and carotenoids, which contribute greatly to their high antioxidant capacity. In this study, the contents of bioactive substances (chlorophyll, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, anthocyanin, total flavonoids, and total phenols), antioxidant capacities, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonicacid) (ABTS+) scavenging ability, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)) in differentially pigmented C. humilis fruits of four varieties were determined and compared. The results revealed that anthocyanin, total flavonoids and total phenols were the three main components responsible for the antioxidant activity of C. humilis fruits. 'Jinou No.1' fruits with dark red peel and red flesh had the highest contents of anthocyanin, total flavonoids, and total phenols, as well as the highest antioxidant capacities; 'Nongda No.5' fruits with yellow-green peel and yellow flesh had the highest contents of carotenoids and chlorophyll, while 'Nongda No.6' fruit had the highest ascorbic acid content. To further reveal the molecular mechanism underlying differences in the accumulation of carotenoids and flavonoids among differentially pigmented C. humilis fruits, the expression patterns of structural genes involved in the biosynthesis of the two compounds were investigated. Correlation analysis results revealed that the content of carotenoids in C. humilis fruits was very significantly positively correlated with the expression of the ChCHYB, ChZEP, ChVDE, ChNSY, ChCCD1, ChCCD4, ChNCED1, and ChNCED5 genes (p < 0.01) and significantly negatively correlated with the expression of ChZDS (p < 0.05). The anthocyanin content was very significantly positively correlated with ChCHS, ChFLS, and ChUFGT expression (p < 0.01). The total flavonoid content was very significantly positively correlated with the expression of ChCHS, ChUFGT, and ChC4H (p < 0.01) and significantly positively correlated with ChFLS expression (p < 0.05). This study can provide a basis for understanding the differences in the accumulation of bioactive substances, and is helpful for clarifying the mechanisms underlying the accumulation of various carotenoids and flavonoids among differentially pigmented C. humilis fruits.

The gut-liver axis in sepsis: interaction mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

Sepsis is a potentially fatal condition caused by dysregulation of the body's immune response to an infection. Sepsis-induced liver injury is considered a strong independent prognosticator of death in the critical care unit, and there is anatomic and accumulating epidemiologic evidence that demonstrates intimate cross talk between the gut and the liver. Intestinal barrier disruption and gut microbiota dysbiosis during sepsis result in translocation of intestinal pathogen-associated molecular patterns and damage-associated molecular patterns into the liver and systemic circulation. The liver is essential for regulating immune defense during systemic infections via mechanisms such as bacterial clearance, lipopolysaccharide detoxification, cytokine and acute-phase protein release, and inflammation metabolic regulation. When an inappropriate immune response or overwhelming inflammation occurs in the liver, the impaired capacity for pathogen clearance and hepatic metabolic disturbance can result in further impairment of the intestinal barrier and increased disruption of the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota. Therefore, interaction between the gut and liver is a potential therapeutic target. This review outlines the intimate gut-liver cross talk (gut-liver axis) in sepsis.

Curcumin reduces inflammation in mice with the psoriasis model by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammatory bodies.

As a chronic skin disease, psoriasis is a relatively common disease among various types of skin diseases. Because this disease is often distributed throughout the patient's body and is prone to develop, it is difficult to guarantee the quality of life and physical and mental health of patients with this disease. The purpose of this article is to investigate whether curcumin can effectively inhibit the NLRP3 inflammatory body and thereby reduce the inflammation in the mouse psoriasis model. Through the use of the curcumin gel prepared and the mouse psoriasis model, the percutaneous administration was used to investigate the mechanism and mechanism of curcumin's effect on reducing inflammation in the mouse psoriasis model. In addition, in order to better explore the curative effect of curcumin on psoriasis, related experiments were conducted by setting up a control group and an experimental group. The results show that curcumin has a good inhibitory effect on NLRP3 inflammatory bodies. Curcumin can not only reduce the NLRP3 expression and inhibit the inflammation caused by IL-22 and IL-18 but also reduce the damage of psoriasis. 22 Induced phosphorylation of STAT3 almost completely inhibits phosphorylation in normal cells. Among them, curcumin inhibited IL-22-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 up to 95.6%, and inhibited IL-22 and IL-18 by about 47%.

Microglial depletion and abnormalities in gut microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acids in mice after repeated administration of colony stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX5622.

PLX5622, a brain-penetrant highly specific inhibitor of the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), is used to eliminate microglia in the brain. Considering the role of microglia and gut microbiota in the brain homeostasis, this study was undertaken to investigate whether repeated intragastric administration of PLX5622 (65 mg/kg/day for consecutive 7 days) could affect the composition of gut microbiota and the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in fresh feces of adult mice. Repeated administration of PLX5622 caused significant reductions of the expression of genes and proteins for microglial markers in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus compared to control mice although the elimination of brain's microglia was partial. There was a significant alteration in the ß-diversity of intestine microbiota in the PLX5622-treated group. Linear discriminant analysis effect size identified eight significant enriched bacteria as microbial markers for PLX5622-treated group. Repeated administration of PLX5622 affected the relative abundance of several bacteria at the genus and species levels. Furthermore, repeated administration of PLX5622 caused a significant change in lactic acid compared to control group. Interestingly, we found significant correlations between microglial markers in the brain and the relative abundance of several bacteria, suggesting microbiome-microglia crosstalk through the brain-gut axis. These data demonstrate that repeated administration of PLX5622 leads to an abnormal composition of the gut microbiota and lactic acid in adult mice. Therefore, abnormalities in the composition of gut microbiota after repeated treatment of PLX5622 should be considered for behavioral and biological functions in animals treated with CSF1R inhibitors.

Assessment of Salt Stress to Arabidopsis Based on the Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide Released by Leaves Using an Electrochemical Sensor.

Salt stress will have a serious inhibitory effect on various metabolic processes of plant cells, this will lead to the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a type of ROS that can severely damage plant cells in large amounts. Existing methods for assessing the content of H2O2 released from leaves under salt stress will cause irreversible damage to plant leaves and are unable to detect H2O2 production in real time. In this study, on the strength of a series of physiological indicators to verify the occurrence of salt stress, an electrochemical sensor for the detection of H2O2 released from leaves under salt stress was constructed. The sensor was prepared by using multi-walled carbon nanotube-titanium carbide-palladium (MWCNT-Ti3C2Tx-Pd) nanocomposite as substrate material and showed a linear response to H2O2 detection in the range 0.05-18 mM with a detection limit of 3.83 µM. Moreover, we measured the determination of H2O2 released from Arabidopsis leaves at different times of salt stress by the sensor, which was consistent with conventional method. This study demonstrates that electrochemical sensing is a desirable technology for the dynamic determination of H2O2 released by leaves and the assessment of salt stress to plants.

RhANP attenuates endotoxin-derived cognitive dysfunction through subdiaphragmatic vagus nerve-mediated gut microbiota-brain axis.

BACKGROUND: Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secreted from atrial myocytes is shown to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and immunomodulatory effects. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of ANP on bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia-derived neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. METHODS: LPS (5 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally to mice. Recombinant human ANP (rhANP) (1.0 mg/kg) was injected intravenously 24 h before and/or 10 min after LPS injection. Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (SDV) was performed 14 days before LPS injection or 28 days before fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). ANA-12 (0.5 mg/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally 30 min prior to rhANP treatment. RESULTS: LPS (5.0 mg/kg) induced remarkable splenomegaly and an increase in the plasma cytokines at 24 h after LPS injection. There were positive correlations between spleen weight and plasma cytokines levels. LPS also led to increased protein levels of ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule (iba)-1, cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the hippocampus. LPS impaired the natural and learned behavior, as demonstrated by an increase in the latency to eat the food in the buried food test and a decrease in the number of entries and duration in the novel arm in the Y maze test. Combined prophylactic and therapeutic treatment with rhANP reversed LPS-induced splenomegaly, hippocampal and peripheral inflammation as well as cognitive impairment. However, rhANP could not further enhance the protective effects of SDV on hippocampal and peripheral inflammation. We further found that PGF mice transplanted with fecal bacteria from rhANP-treated endotoxemia mice alleviated the decreased protein levels of hippocampal polyclonal phosphorylated tyrosine kinase receptor B (p-TrkB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cognitive impairment, which was abolished by SDV. Moreover, TrkB/BDNF signaling inhibitor ANA-12 abolished the improving effects of rhANP on LPS-induced cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that rhANP could mitigate LPS-induced hippocampal inflammation and cognitive dysfunction through subdiaphragmatic vagus nerve-mediated gut microbiota-brain axis.

Pseudomonas laoshanensis sp. nov., isolated from peanut field soil.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic strain, designated Y22T, was isolated from peanut field soil in Laoshan Mountain in China. Cells of strain Y22T were rod-shaped and motile by a single flagellum. The strain was found to be oxidase- and catalase-positive. 16S rRNA gene sequence based on phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain Y22T belonged to the genus Pseudomonas, and showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 99.0% to Pseudomonas pelagia JCM 15562T, followed by Pseudomonas salina JCM 19469T (98.4%), Pseudomonas sabulinigri JCM 14963T (97.9%), Pseudomonas bauzanensis CGMCC 1.9095T (97.6%) and Pseudomonas litoralis KCTC23093T (97.5%). The phylogenetic analysis based on multilocus sequence analyses with concatenated 16S rRNA, gyrB, rpoD and rpoB genes indicated that strain Y22T belonged to Pseudomonas pertucinogena lineage. The average nucleotide identity scores between strain Y22T and closely related species were 74.6-82.8%, and the Genome-to-Genome Distance Calculator scores were 16.4-44.9%. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain Y22T were C18:1ω7c (29.6%), C17:0 cyclo (17.5%) and summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c) (17.4%). The genomic DNA G+C content was 57.9 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic analyses and in silico DNA-DNA relatedness, a novel species, Pseudomonas laoshanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Y22T (= JCM 32580T = KCTC 62385T = CGMCC 1.16552T).

Ingestion of Lactobacillus intestinalis and Lactobacillus reuteri causes depression- and anhedonia-like phenotypes in antibiotic-treated mice via the vagus nerve.

BACKGROUND: The brain-gut-microbiota axis plays a role in the pathogenesis of stress-related disorders such as depression. In this study, we examined the effects of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in mice with antibiotic-treated microbiota depletion. METHODS: The fecal microbiota was obtained from mice subjected to chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) and control (no CSDS) mice. FMT from these two groups was performed to antibiotic-treated mice. 16S rRNA analysis was performed to examine the composition of gut microbiota. Furthermore, the effects of subdiaphragmatic vagotomy in depression-like phenotypes after ingestion of microbes were examined. RESULTS: The ingestion of fecal microbiota from CSDS-susceptible mice resulted in an anhedonia-like phenotype, higher plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), and decreased expression of synaptic proteins in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in antibiotic-treated mice but not in water-treated mice. 16S rRNA analysis suggested that two microbes (Lactobacillus intestinalis and Lactobacillus reuteri) may be responsible for the anhedonia-like phenotype in antibiotic-treated mice after FMT. Ingestion of these two microbes for 14 days led to depression- and anhedonia-like phenotypes, higher plasma IL-6 levels, and decreased expression of synaptic proteins in the PFC of antibiotic-treated mice. Interestingly, subdiaphragmatic vagotomy significantly blocked the development of behavioral abnormalities, elevation of plasma IL-6 levels, and downregulation of synaptic proteins in the PFC after ingestion of these two microbes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that microbiota depletion using an antibiotic cocktail is essential for the development of FMT-induced behavioral changes and that the vagus nerve plays a key role in behavioral abnormalities in antibiotic-treated mice after the ingestion of L. intestinalis and L. reuteri. Therefore, it is likely that the brain-gut-microbiota axis participates in the pathogenesis of depression via the vagus nerve.

HMGB1 aggravates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury through suppressing the activity and function of Tregs.

BACKGROUND: CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T helper cells (Tregs), a subgroup of CD4+ T helper cells, are critical effectors that protect against acute lung injury (ALI) by contact-dependent suppression or releasing anti-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-10 (IL-10), and transforming growth factor (TGF-ß). HMGB1 (High mobility group box 1 protein) was identified as a nuclear non-histone DNA-binding chromosomal protein, which participates in the regulation of lung inflammatory response and pathological processes in ALI. Previous studies have suggested that Tregs overexpresses the HMGB1-recognizing receptor. However, the interaction of HMGB1 with Tregs in ALI is still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether HMGB1 aggravates ALI by suppressing immunosuppressive function of Tregs. METHODS: Anti-HMGB1 antibody and recombinant mouse HMGB1 (rHMGB1) were administered in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mice and polarized LPS-primed Tregs in vitro. The Tregs pre-stimulated with or without rHMGB1 were adoptively transferred to ALI mice and depleted by Diphtheria toxin (DT). For coculture experiment, isolated Tregs were first pre-stimulated with or without rHMGB1 or anti-HMGB1 antibody, then they were cocultured with bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) under LPS stimulation. RESULTS: Tregs protected against acute lung pathological injury. HMGB1 modulated the suppressive function of Tregs as follows: reduction in the number of the cells and the activity of Tregs, the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, TGF-ß) from Tregs, the production of IL-2 from CD4+ T cells and CD11c+ DCs, and the M2 polarization of macrophages, as well as inducing proinflammatory response of macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: HMGB1 could aggravate LPS induced-ALI through suppressing the activity and function of Tregs.

Current status of potential therapeutic candidates for the COVID-19 crisis.

As of April 15, 2020, the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic has swept through 213 countries and infected more than 1,870,000 individuals, posing an unprecedented threat to international health and the economy. There is currently no specific treatment available for patients with COVID-19 infection. The lessons learned from past management of respiratory viral infections have provided insights into treating COVID-19. Numerous potential therapies, including supportive intervention, immunomodulatory agents, antiviral therapy, and convalescent plasma transfusion, have been tentatively applied in clinical settings. A number of these therapies have provided substantially curative benefits in treating patients with COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, intensive research and clinical trials are underway to assess the efficacy of existing drugs and identify potential therapeutic targets to develop new drugs for treating COVID-19. Herein, we summarize the current potential therapeutic approaches for diseases related to COVID-19 infection and introduce their mechanisms of action, safety, and effectiveness.

Poor-sleep is associated with slow recovery from lymphopenia and an increased need for ICU care in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study.

Sleep is known to play an important role in immune function. However, the effects of sleep quality during hospitalization for COVID-19 remain unclear. This retrospective, single-center cohort study was conducted to investigate the effects of sleep quality on recovery from lymphopenia and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the West District of Wuhan Union Hospital between January 25 and March 15, 2020. The Richards-Campbell sleep questionnaire (RCSQ) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to assess sleep quality. The epidemiological, demographic, clinical, laboratory, treatment, and outcome data were collected from electronic medical records and compared between the good-sleep group and poor-sleep group. In all, 135 patients (60 in good-sleep group and 75 in poor-sleep group) were included in this study. There were no significant between-group differences regarding demographic and baseline characteristics, as well as laboratory parameters upon admission and in-hospital treatment. Compared with patients in the good-sleep group, patients in the poor-sleep group had lower absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) (day 14: median, 1.10 vs 1.32, P = 0.0055; day 21: median, 1.18 vs 1.48, P = 0.0034) and its reduced recovery rate (day 14: median, 56.91 vs 69.40, P = 0.0255; day 21: median, 61.40 vs 111.47, P = 0.0003), as well as increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR; day 14: median, 3.17 vs 2.44, P = 0.0284; day 21: median, 2.73 vs 2.23, P = 0.0092) and its associated deterioration rate (day 14: median, -39.65 vs -61.09, P = 0.0155; day 21: median, -51.40% vs -75.43, P = 0.0003). Nine [12.0%] patients in the poor-sleep group required ICU care (P = 0.0151); meanwhile, none of the patients in good-sleep group required ICU care. Patients in the poor-sleep group had increased duration of hospital stay (33.0 [23.0-47.0] days vs 25.0 [20.5-36.5] days, P = 0.0116) compared to those in the good-sleep group. An increased incidence of hospital-acquired infection (seven [9.3%] vs one [1.7%]) was observed in the poor-sleep group compared to the good-sleep group; however, this difference was not significant (P = 0.1316). In conclusion, poor sleep quality during hospitalization in COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia is associated with a slow recovery from lymphopenia and an increased need for ICU care.

Complete genome analysis of the novel Edwardsiella tarda phage vB_EtaM_ET-ABTNL-9.

This work describes the characterization and genome annotation of a new lytic phage, vB_EtaM_ET-ABTNL-9 (referred to as PETp9), isolated from waste water samples collected in Dalian, China, that can kill bacteria of the species Edwardsiella tarda. The genome of phage PETp9 is a circular double-stranded DNA molecule that is 89,762 bp in length with a G+C content of 37.26%, contains 132 ORFs, and encodes one tRNA. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that phage PETp9 should be considered a novel phage.

TGFß1 and HGF regulate CTGF expression in human atrial fibroblasts and are involved in atrial remodelling in patients with rheumatic heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF ß1) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in human atrial fibroblasts, and to explore the relationship of these factors in atrial fibrosis and atrial anatomical remodelling (AAR) of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: Fresh right auricular appendix tissue of 20 patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing valve replacement surgery was collected during surgeries, 10 patients had sinus rhythm(SR), and 10 patients had chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF). Atrial fibroblasts were then cultured from the tissues with differential attachment technique and treated with either TGFß1 (10 ng/mL) or HGF (100 ng/mL). CTGF mRNA levels were measured by RT-PCR, and CTGF protein content was determined using immunofluorescence and Western blotting assays. RESULTS: CAF group had higher left atrial diameters (LADs) and higher CTGF mRNA expression in atrial fibroblasts compared with SR group. The CTGF protein content in CAF group was higher than that of SR group and positively correlated with LAD and AF duration. After CAF group was treated with TGFß1, CTGF mRNA and protein expression were significantly down-regulated, whereas when treated with HGF, expression was up-regulated compared with SR group. CONCLUSIONS: Increased CTGF expression was associated with enlarged LAD, atrial fibrosis and AAR in patients with AF. TGFß1 and HGF regulate CTGF expression in human atrial fibroblasts with up-regulation of mRNA and down-regulation of protein, therefore, either promote or inhibit atrial fibrosis, which could be related to the incidence and persistence of AF.

QTL identification for seed weight and size based on a high-density SLAF-seq genetic map in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

BACKGROUND: The cultivated peanut is an important oil and cash crop grown worldwide. To meet the growing demand for peanut production each year, genetic studies and enhanced selection efficiency are essential, including linkage mapping, genome-wide association study, bulked-segregant analysis and marker-assisted selection. Specific locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) is a powerful tool for high density genetic map (HDGM) construction and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapping. In this study, a HDGM was constructed using SLAF-seq leading to identification of QTL for seed weight and size in peanut. RESULTS: A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was advanced from a cross between a cultivar 'Huayu36' and a germplasm line '6-13' with contrasting seed weight, size and shape. Based on the cultivated peanut genome, a HDGM was constructed with 3866 loci consisting of SLAF-seq and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers distributed on 20 linkage groups (LGs) covering a total map distance of 1266.87 cM. Phenotypic data of four seed related traits were obtained in four environments, which mostly displayed normal distribution with varied levels of correlation. A total of 27 QTLs for 100 seed weight (100SW), seed length (SL), seed width (SW) and length to width ratio (L/W) were identified on 8 chromosomes, with LOD values of 3.16-31.55 and explaining phenotypic variance (PVE) from 0.74 to 83.23%. Two stable QTL regions were identified on chromosomes 2 and 16, and gene content within these regions provided valuable information for further functional analysis of yield component traits. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents a new HDGM based on the cultivated peanut genome using SLAF-seq and SSRs. QTL mapping of four seed related traits revealed two stable QTL regions on chromosomes 2 and 16, which not only facilitate fine mapping and cloning these genes, but also provide opportunity for molecular breeding of new peanut cultivars with improved seed weight and size.

(R)-Ketamine Rapidly Ameliorates the Decreased Spine Density in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Hippocampus of Susceptible Mice After Chronic Social Defeat Stress.

BACKGROUND: A recent study demonstrated that spine formation rates by ketamine in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were not altered at 3-6 h following a single injection, but were markedly altered at 12-24 h. Here, we investigated the acute (3 h post-treatment) effects of (R)-ketamine in the decreased spine density in the medial PFC (mPFC) and hippocampus in susceptible mice after chronic social defeat stress (CSDS). METHODS: (R)-ketamine (10 mg/kg) or saline was administered intraperitoneally to CSDS-susceptible mice. Dendritic spine density in the mPFC and hippocampus was measured 3 h after a single injection. RESULTS: (R)-ketamine significantly ameliorated the decreased spine density in the prelimbic area of mPFC, Cornu Ammonis3, and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus of CSDS-susceptible mice. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that (R)-ketamine rapidly ameliorates the decreased spine density in the mPFC and hippocampus of CSDS-susceptible mice, resulting in its rapid-acting antidepressant effects.

Facile Fabrication of Flexible, Robust, and Superhydrophobic Hybrid Aerogel.

Silica aerogels, which are constructed with silica nanoparticles and numerous nanoscale pores, have many outstanding attributes, but they are usually brittle and hydrophilic. For the construction of a robust aerogel, the novel polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) was introduced to prepare a series of aerogels possessing particles covered with elastic cushion to improve the mechanical property. The multialkoxy POSS, which possessed stiff Si-O-Si nanocages and flexible alkyl chains, was synthesized via thiol-ene click chemistry. After a facile and efficient approach, a partially ordered structure of SiO2 nanoparticles and organic elastic cushion would form spontaneously within the aerogels. With the POSS as the only precursor, several outstanding attributes were achieved in a single aerogel such as high specific surface area (SSA), high compression strength, high compression modulus, and noticeable compression flexibility. Meanwhile, the aerogel was superhydrophobic of which the contact angle (CA) was higher than 153°. Moreover, the potential application of oil-water separation is also presented.