Common and unique alterations of functional connectivity in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) are considered whole-brain disorders with some common clinical and neurobiological features. It is important to investigate neural mechanisms to distinguish between the two disorders. However, few studies have explored the functional dysconnectivity between the two disorders from the whole brain level. METHODS: In this study, 117 patients with MDD, 65 patients with BD, and 116 healthy controls completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) scans. Both edge-based network construction and large-scale network analyses were applied. RESULTS: Results found that both the BD and MDD groups showed decreased FC in the whole brain network. The shared aberrant network across patients involves the visual network (VN), sensorimotor network (SMN), dorsal attention network (DAN), and ventral attention network (VAN), which is related to the processing of external stimuli. The default mode network (DMN) and the limbic network (LN) abnormalities were only found in patients with MDD. Furthermore, results showed the highest decrease in edges of patients with MDD in between-network FC in SMN-VN, whereas in VAN-VN of patients with BD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that both MDD and BD are extensive abnormal brain network diseases, mainly aberrant in those brain networks correlated to the processing of external stimuli, especially the attention network. Specific altered functional connectivity also was found in MDD and BD groups, respectively. These results may provide possible trait markers to distinguish the two disorders.

A complete chloroplast genome of a traditional Chinese medicine herb, Rubia podantha, and phylogenomics of Rubiaceae.

Rubia podantha Diels is endemic to southwestern China and belongs to the family Rubiaceae. It is used in traditional Chinese medicines. To enrich the genetic data and resolve Rubiaceae's phylogeny, we assembled a complete chloroplast (cp) genome of R. podantha using Illumina HiSeq reads. The whole length of the cp genome was 154,866 bp. Annotation using PGA software found 113 genes, including 79 protein coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The large single-copy region was 84,717 bp, the inverted repeat B (IRa) region was 26,516 bp, the small single copy was 17,117 bp, and the inverted repeats B (IRb) region was 26,516 bp. Moreover, 64 SSRs were identified. Phylogenomic analysis using cp genomes of 109 Rubiaceae species found that R. podantha is closely related to R. cordifola. Rubiaceae was separated into three subfamilies: Ixoroideae, Cinchonoideae, and Rubiodeae. The genus Saprosma was not imbedded within the Spermacoceae alliance as reported in previous studies. Instead, it was imbedded within the Psychotrieae alliance. Divergence time estimation indicated that R. podantha split from its relative R. cordifolia around 1.25 million years ago. The assembled chloroplast genome in this study provided useful molecular information about the evolution of R. podantha and was a basis for phylogenetic analyses of Rubiaceae. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01302-y.

Historical biogeography of Haloragaceae: an out-of-Australia hypothesis with multiple intercontinental dispersals.

Haloragaceae are a cosmopolitan plant family with its centre of diversity in Australia. Here, we investigate the historical biogeography of the family and the role of vicariance or dispersal in shaping its current distribution. DNA sequences from ITS, matK and the trnK 5' and trnK 3' introns were obtained for 102 species representing all 8 genera of Haloragaceae for use in Bayesian molecular dating. Molecular dating was conducted using two macrofossils as calibration points for the analyses. Biogeographic history was investigated using a Bayesian dispersal-vicariance analysis and a dispersal-extinction-cladogenesis model. The results suggest that the earliest diversification of the extant Haloragaceae occurred in Australia during the Eocene (37.3-56.3Ma). Early diversification of the family in the Southern Hemisphere is inferred as resulting from vicariance events among Australia, South America and New Zealand. The results also indicate multiple out of Australia dispersal routes, primarily including (1) from Australia to Asia during the Miocene, with subsequent dispersal to Europe and North America; (2) from Australia to New Zealand, then to South America during the Miocene and Pliocene. Most of the inferred dispersal events occurred throughout the Miocene and later, and are biased towards the aquatic Haloragaceae lineages.

Distribution pattern and habitat preference for Lobelia species (Campanulaceae) in five countries of East Africa.

East Africa is one of the centres of distribution and diversity for Lobelia L. (Campanulaceae, sub-family Lobelioideae). Lobelia habitats in East Africa have been facing habitat fragmentation and loss, which are recognised as a major threat to biodiversity. However, previous plant conservation studies in East Africa only focused on protected areas and ignored unprotected areas. Future conservation strategies of plants, such as Lobelia, will depend on knowledge of their distribution patterns and habitat preference in East Africa. To understand the distribution pattern and the habitat preference of Lobelia in five countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi) of East Africa, we conducted a literature review in the seven major vegetation regions (afro-alpine, afro-montane forest, drier savannah, grasslands, wetter savannah, Zambezian woodland and semi-desert and desert). We also employed meander and patterned searches, which allowed greater opportunities for recording Lobelia species. Our results showed that the genus is distributed in all of the seven regions of the five countries with 54 taxa. The afro-montane forest region, with 41 taxa, is the richest in species diversity, followed by the Zambezian woodland region with 18 taxa. The semi-desert and desert region has the lowest number with only four taxa. The afro-alpine region has 15 taxa, although the region is the smallest by area. The herbaceous type was found in all regions, while the giant type has a clear preference for the afro-alpine and afro-montane forest regions. Future conservation for Lobelia should consider its habitat preference by, for example, focusing on the afro-alpine and afro-montane forest regions. This study will facilitate the setting of future conservation strategies for Lobelia.

Correlation between Clinical Factors and Prognosis in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between clinical factors and the prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM). STUDY DESIGN: A cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: At the Third Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Mongolia from January 2014 to December 2018. METHODOLOGY: The clinical data of 81 patients with newly diagnosed MM were collected retrospectively. The correlation of prognosis with immunophenotype and (FISH) Fluorescence in situ hybridization was subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses. Overall and progression-free survival was determined. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with CD200+, CD81+, and CD27- were significantly shortened. CD200+ and CD27- were independent prognostic factors for OS and PFS in MM patients. The prognosis-related abnormal genes were analyzed, and univariate analysis revealed that OS and PFS were significantly shortened in patients with RB-1 deletion, CDKN2C deletion, and IGH rearrangement. CDKN2C deletion was an independent prognostic factor for OS and PFS in MM patients. CONCLUSION: CDKN2C deletion is an independent prognostic factor of MM. CD200+ is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis of MM. Key Words: Multiple myeloma, Prognostic analysis, Fluorescence in situ hybridization, Immunity, Immunophenotype.

Niga-ichigoside F1 ameliorates high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis in male mice by Nrf2 activation.

Hepatic lipid accumulation and oxidative stress (OS) lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Thus, we hypothesized that antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of niga-ichigoside F1 (NI) would ameliorate events leading to NAFLD. Lanbuzheng (Geum japonicum Thunb. var. chinense), a type of wild vegetable found in Southwest China, was used to extract NI. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a standard diet (Con) or a high-fat diet (HFD) (denoted as diet) with or without 40 mg kg-1 NI (defined as treatment) for 12 weeks. Diet-treatment interactions were observed in the final body weight, fat pad mass, respiratory exchange ratio (RER) in the daytime, and energy expenditure during the whole day. Moreover, NI alleviated hepatic steatosis, possibly by significantly interacting with HFD to regulate lipid metabolism genes (including Srebp1c, Acc1, Fasn, Scd1, Cpt1a and Fabp5). We also found significant diet-treatment interactions on superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) activities, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels, as well as the nuclear and cellular Nrf2 protein levels. Significant free fatty acid (FFA)-treatment interactions on Nrf2 nuclear translocation, antioxidant enzymes activities, genes in lipogenesis (Srebp1c, Acc1, Fasn, and Scd1), and fatty acid oxidation (Pparα) and transport (Fabp5 and Cd36) were also detected in 1 mM FFA-treated HepG2 cells with or without 20 µM NI. These beneficial effects of NI on oxidative stress and lipid accumulation were abolished by Nrf2 siRNA. Our data revealed that dietary NI could prevent HFD-induced hepatic steatosis, possibly via interacting with HFD to activate Nrf2 nuclear translocation to maintain a redox status, thus regulating lipid metabolism genes expressions.

[The relationship between gene polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase and survival of oral pesticides suicide attempters].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the association between gene polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and suicide attempters taking pesticides orally and to provide a scientific base for the prevention of suicidal behavior. METHODS: 107 suicide attempters taking pesticides orally were collected from The People's Hospitals in Shandong Province from January 2003 through December 2003. The informations of all the attempters were obtained and 1 ml whole blood from of them were collected. Molecular biological techniques were used to study the gene type of each subject. RESULTS: In the 107 suicide attempters, the ratio of male to female is 1:1.55; 67.3% of them were in age range of 20 - 44 years; 59.8% of them had education level of elementary school or lower. 13 suicide attempters (12.1% of all the attempters) had psychiatric disorders. 84 suicide attempters (78.5% of all the attempters) had affective conflicts with others in the recent year. 30 suicide attempters (28.0% of the suicide attempters) had impulsive behavior. Multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that suicide impulsion and psychiatric disorders were significantly associated with COMT Val/Val, their OR values were 0.052 (95% CI: 0.006 - 0.437), 2.917 (95% CI: 1.097 - 7.760). CONCLUSION: In this population, more attention should be paid to young female people with psychiatric disorders or having affective conflicts with others in the recent year so as to prevent suicide. This study supported that there is heterogeneity in COMT gene in suicide attempters and there is interaction between COMT Val/Val and suicide impulsion and psychiatric disorders.

[Atomic emission spectrometry determination of Au, Pt and Pd after separation and enrichment by hyperbranched polymer].

The present paper shows that the trace amount of gold, platinum and palladium in hydrochloric acid solution can be concentrated by hyperbranched polymer. The new reagent has a rapid adsorption rate and big concentrating capacity. The determination of trace Au, Pt and Pd in sample using carbon powder and strontium carbonate as buffer was carried out by atomic emission spectrometry(AES). Zirconium was selected as internal standard line. The sample was directly loaded into ordinary electrode. The method is simple, rapid and accurate. The condition of determination, and factors of influence were studied. The analysis line of Au, Pt and Pd is 312.3, 306.5 and 311.4 nm respectively. The internal standard line of Zr is 310.7 nm. The linear range of the determination of Au, Pt and Pd is 0-0. 20%, 0-0. 40% and 0-0. 20% respectively. The detection limit of Au, Pt and Pd is 0.010%, 0.0030% and 0.0030% respectively. The method has been applied to the determination of Au, Pt and Pd with satisfactory results.

Genetic Adaptation of Giant Lobelias (Lobelia aberdarica and Lobelia telekii) to Different Altitudes in East African Mountains.

The giant lobelias in East African mountains are good models for studying molecular mechanisms of adaptation to different altitudes. In this study, we generated RNA-seq data of a middle-altitude species Lobelia aberdarica and a high-altitude species L. telekii, followed by selective pressure estimation of their orthologous genes. Our aim was to explore the important genes potentially involved in adaptation to different altitudes. About 9.3 Gb of clean nucleotides, 167,929-170,534 unigenes with total lengths of 159,762,099-171,138,936 bp for each of the two species were generated. OrthoMCL method identified 3,049 1:1 orthologous genes (each species was represented by one ortholog). Estimations of non-synonymous to synonymous rate were performed using an approximate method and a maximum likelihood method in PAML. Eighty-five orthologous genes were under positive selection. At least 8 of these genes are possibly involved in DNA repair, response to DNA damage and temperature stimulus, and regulation of gene expression, which hints on how giant lobelias adapt to high altitudinal environment that characterized by cold, low oxygen, and strong ultraviolet radiation. The negatively selected genes are over-represented in Gene Ontology terms of hydrolase, macromolecular complex assembly among others. This study sheds light on understanding the molecular mechanism of adaptation to different altitudes, and provides genomic resources for further studies of giant lobelias.

Transcriptome sequencing of three Ranunculus species (Ranunculaceae) reveals candidate genes in adaptation from terrestrial to aquatic habitats.

Adaptation to aquatic habitats is a formidable challenge for terrestrial angiosperms that has long intrigued scientists. As part of a suite of work to explore the molecular mechanism of adaptation to aquatic habitats, we here sequenced the transcriptome of the submerged aquatic plant Ranunculus bungei, and two terrestrial relatives R. cantoniensis and R. brotherusii, followed by comparative evolutionary analyses to determine candidate genes for adaption to aquatic habitats. We obtained 126,037, 140,218 and 114,753 contigs for R. bungei, R. cantoniensis and R. brotherusii respectively. Bidirectional Best Hit method and OrthoMCL method identified 11,362 and 8,174 1:1:1 orthologous genes (one ortholog is represented in each of the three species) respectively. Non-synonymous/synonymous (dN/dS) analyses were performed with a maximum likelihood method and an approximate method for the three species-pairs. In total, 14 genes of R. bungei potentially involved in the adaptive transition from terrestrial to aquatic habitats were identified. Some of the homologs to these genes in model plants are involved in vacuole protein formation, regulating 'water transport process' and 'microtubule cytoskeleton organization'. Our study opens the door to understand the molecular mechanism of plant adaptation from terrestrial to aquatic habitats.