Identification of the Acid-Sensitive Site Critical for Chloral Hydrate (CH) Activation of the Proton-Activated Chloride Channel.

The transmembrane protein TMEM206 was recently identified as the molecular basis of the extracellular proton-activated Cl- channel (PAC), which plays an essential role in neuronal death in ischemia-reperfusion. The PAC channel is activated by extracellular acid, but the proton-sensitive mechanism remains unclear, although different acid-sensitive pockets have been suggested based on the cryo-EM structure of the human PAC (hPAC) channel. In the present study, we firstly identified two acidic amino acid residues that removed the pH-dependent activation of the hPAC channel by neutralization all the conservative negative charged residues located in the extracellular domain of the hPAC channel and some positively charged residues at the hotspot combined with two-electrode voltage-clamp (TEVC) recording in the Xenopus oocytes system. Double-mutant cycle analysis and double cysteine mutant of these two residues proved that these two residues cooperatively form a proton-sensitive site. In addition, we found that chloral hydrate activates the hPAC channel depending on the normal pH sensitivity of the hPAC channel. Furthermore, the PAC channel knock-out (KO) male mice (C57BL/6J) resist chloral hydrate-induced sedation and hypnosis. Our study provides a molecular basis for understanding the proton-dependent activation mechanism of the hPAC channel and a novel drug target of chloral hydrate.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Proton-activated Cl- channel (PAC) channels are widely distributed in the nervous system and play a vital pathophysiological role in ischemia and endosomal acidification. The main discovery of this paper is that we identified the proton activation mechanism of the human proton-activated chloride channel (hPAC). Intriguingly, we also found that anesthetic chloral hydrate can activate the hPAC channel in a pH-dependent manner. We found that the chloral hydrate activates the hPAC channel and needs the integrity of the pH-sensitive site. In addition, the PAC channel knock-out (KO) mice are resistant to chloral hydrate-induced anesthesia. The study on PAC channels' pH activation mechanism enables us to better understand PAC's biophysical mechanism and provides a novel target of chloral hydrate.

Phylogenetic analysis and antigenic epitope prediction for E6 and E7 of Alpha-papillomavirus 9 in Taizhou, China.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-papillomavirus 9 (α-9) is a member of the human papillomavirus (HPV) α genus, causing 75% invasive cervical cancers worldwide. The purpose of this study was to provide data for effective treatment of HPV-induced cervical lesions in Taizhou by analysing the genetic variation and antigenic epitopes of α-9 HPV E6 and E7. METHODS: Cervical exfoliated cells were collected for HPV genotyping. Positive samples of the α-9 HPV single type were selected for E6 and E7 gene sequencing. The obtained nucleotide sequences were translated into amino acid sequences (protein primary structure) using MEGA X, and positive selection sites of the amino acid sequences were evaluated using PAML. The secondary and tertiary structures of the E6 and E7 proteins were predicted using PSIPred, SWISS-MODEL, and PyMol. Potential T/B-cell epitopes were predicted by Industrial Engineering Database (IEDB). RESULTS: From 2012 to 2023, α-9 HPV accounted for 75.0% (7815/10423) of high-risk HPV-positive samples in Taizhou, both alone and in combination with other types. Among these, single-type-positive samples of α-9 HPV were selected, and the entire E6 and E7 genes were sequenced, including 298 HPV16, 149 HPV31, 185 HPV33, 123 HPV35, 325 HPV52, and 199 HPV58 samples. Compared with reference sequences, 34, 12, 10, 2, 17, and 17 nonsynonymous nucleotide mutations were detected in HPV16, 31, 33, 35, 52, and 58, respectively. Among all nonsynonymous nucleotide mutations, 19 positive selection sites were selected, which may have evolutionary significance in rendering α-9 HPV adaptive to its environment. Immunoinformatics predicted 57 potential linear and 59 conformational B-cell epitopes, many of which are also predicted as CTL epitopes. CONCLUSION: The present study provides almost comprehensive data on the genetic variations, phylogenetics, positive selection sites, and antigenic epitopes of α-9 HPV E6 and E7 in Taizhou, China, which will be helpful for local HPV therapeutic vaccine development.

Rapid Conversion from Alloy Nanoparticles to Oxide Nanowires: Strain Wave-Driven Ru-O-Mn Collaborative Catalysis for Durable Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Metal-doped ruthenium oxides with low prices have gained widespread attention due to their editable compositions, distorted structures, and diverse morphologies for electrocatalysis. However, the mainstream challenge lies in breaking the so-called seesaw relationship between activity and stability during acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, strain wave-featured Mn-RuO2 nanowires (NWs) with asymmetric Ru-O-Mn bonds are first fabricated by thermally driven rapid solid phase conversion from RuMn alloy nanoparticles (NPs) at moderate temperature (450 °C). In 0.5 M H2 SO4 , the resultant NWs display a surprisingly ultralow overpotential of 168 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and run at a stable cell voltage (1.67 V) for 150 h at 50 mA cm-2 in PEMWE, far exceeding IrO2 ||Pt/C assemble. The simultaneous enhancement of both activity and stability stems from the presence of dense strain waves composed of alternating compressive and tensile ones in the distorted NWs, which collaboratively activate the Ru-O-Mn sites for faster OER. More importantly, the atomic strain waves trigger dynamic Ru-O-Mn regeneration via the refilling of oxygen vacancies by oxyanions adsorbed on adjacent Mn and Ru sites, achieving long-term stability. This work opens a door to designing non-precious metal-assisted ruthenium oxides with unique strains for practical application in commercial PEMWE.

Atomic Strain Wave-Featured LaRuIr Nanocrystals: Achieving Simultaneous Enhancement of Catalytic Activity and Stability toward Acidic Water Splitting.

Rare earth microalloying nanocrystals have gotten widespread attention due to their unprecedented performances with customization-defected nanostructures, divided energy bands, and ensembled surface chemistry, regarded as a class of ideal electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, a lanthanide microalloying strategy is proposed to fabricate strain wave-featured LaRuIr nanocrystals with oxide skin through a rapid crystal nucleation, using thermally assisted sodium borohydride reduction in aqueous solution at 60 °C. The atomic strain waves with alternating compressive and tensile strains, resulting from La-stabilized edge dislocations in form of Cottrell atmospheres. In 0.5 m H2SO4, the LaRuIr displays an overpotential of 184 mV at 10 mA cm-2, running at a steadily cell voltage for 60 h at 50 mA cm-2, eightfold enhancement of IrO2||Pt/C assemble in PEMWE. The coupled compressive and tensile profiles boost the OER kinetics via faster AEM and LOM pathways. Moreover, the tensile facilitates surface structure stabilization through dynamic refilling of lattice oxygen vacancies by the adsorbed oxyanions on La, Ru, and Ir sites, eventually achieving a long-term stability. This work contributes to developing advanced catalysts with unique strain to realize simultaneous improvement of activity and durability by breaking the so-called seesaw relationship between them during OER for water splitting.

Nest-Scheme RuIrLa Nanocrystals by NP-to-NP Oriented Assembly: Coherent Strain Fields-Driven Band Structure Splitting for Efficient Acidic Water Oxidation.

Atomic substructure engineering provides new opportunities for the designing newly and efficient catalysts with diverse atom ensembles, trimmed electron bands, and way-out coordination environments, creating unique contributing to concertedly catalyze water oxidation, which is of great significance for proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). Herein, nest-scheme RuIrLa nanocrystals with dense coherent interfaces as built-in substructures are firstly fabricated by using commercial ZnO particles as acid-removable templates, through a La-stabilized coherent epitaxial growth of nanoparticles (NPs). The obtained nests exhibit a low overpotential of 198 mV at 10 mA cm-2, and the RuIrLa||Pt/C module equipped in PEMWE operates stably at a cell voltage potential of 1.69 V at 100 mA cm-2 in 0.5 M H2SO4 for 55 h, which is far beyond the current IrO2||Pt/C. Within the nests, the position at the interface shows high tensile/compressive strain, significantly reducing the OER activation energy. More importantly, the La termination-stabilized coherent interfaces within the nests creates a unique self-healing process for the outstanding long-term stability. This work provides a promising substructure engineering to develop efficient catalysts with abundant substructures, such as coherent interfaces, dislocations, or grain boundaries, thereby realizing concerted improvement of activity and durability toward water oxidation.

Cervical carcinogenesis risk association of HPV33 E6 and E7 genetic variations in Taizhou, Southeast China.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) 33 belongs to the Alphapapillomavirus 9 (α-9 HPV) species group, which also contains types 16, 31, 35, 52, 58 and 67. The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic variations of HPV33 and to explore its carcinogenicity among women in Taizhou, Southeast China. METHODS: Exfoliated cervical cells were collected for HPV genotyping. Only single HPV33 infection cases were selected, and their E6 and E7 genes were sequenced using the ABI 3730xl sequencer and then analysed using MEGA X. RESULTS: From 2014 to 2020, a total of 185 single HPV33-positive specimens were successfully amplified. We obtained 15 distinct HPV33 E6/E7 variants, which were published in GenBank under accession numbers OQ672665-OQ672679. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all HPV33 E6/E7 variants belonged to lineage A, of which 75.7% belonged to lineage A1. Compared with CIN1, the proportion of sublineage A1 in CIN2/3 was higher, but there was no significant difference (76.5% vs. 80.6%, P > 0.05). Altogether, 20 single nucleotide substitutions were identified, of which 6 were novel substitutions, including T196G (C30G), A447T, G458T (R117L), G531A, A704A, and C740T. In addition, no significant trends were observed between the nucleotide substitutions of HPV33 E6/E7 variants and the risk of cervical lesions. CONCLUSION: This study provides the most comprehensive data on genetic variations, phylogenetics and carcinogenicity of HPV33 E6/E7 variants in Southeast China to date. The data confirmed that cervical lesions among women in Taizhou are attributable to HPV33, which may be due to the high infection rate of sublineage A1 in the population.

[Meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of Compound Qinlan Oral Liquid in treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infection].

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Compound Qinlan Oral Liquid in the treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infection. Computer-based online searching of CNKI, VIP, SinoMed, Wanfang, ChiCTR, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, and Web of Science was performed to retrieve the randomized controlled trial(RCT) regarding Compound Qinlan Oral Liquid in the treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infection. In addition, manual searching of gray literature was conducted. After two evaluators independently selected articles, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of methodology included in the studies, Meta-analysis was carried out in RevMan 5.4 and trial sequential analysis(TSA) in TSA 0.9.5.10 Beta. GRADE profiler 3.6.1 was employed to evaluate the evidence quality. A total of 21 RCTs were included in this study, involving 2 651 patients(1 330 patients in the observation group and 1 321 patients in the control group). Meta-analysis showed that compared with conventional western medicine alone, Compound Qinlan Oral liquid improved the total response rate(RR=1.15, 95%CI[1.12, 1.19], P<0.000 01) without increasing the incidence of adverse reactions(RR=0.77, 95%CI[0.47, 1.25], P=0.16). The results of subgroup analysis are described as follows:(1) Compared with conventional western medicine alone, Compound Qinlan Oral Liquid improved the total response rate(RR=1.10, 95%CI[1.05, 1.14], P<0.000 01) and shortened the time to symptom relief(SMD=-0.76, 95%CI[-1.02,-0.51], P<0.000 01). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(RR=1.16, 95%CI[0.54, 2.47], P=0.71).(2) Compared with conventional western medicine alone, Compound Qinlan Oral Liquid + conventional western medicine improved the total response rate(RR=1.20, 95%CI[1.15, 1.25], P<0.000 01), decreased traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome scores(MD=-0.58, 95%CI[-0.75,-0.41], P<0.000 01), shortened the time to symptom relief(SMD=-2.44, 95%CI[-3.09,-1.80], P<0.000 01) and physical sign improvement(MD=-2.57, 95%CI[-4.11,-1.04], P=0.001), lowered the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines(SMD=-2.16, 95%CI[-2.61,-1.70], P<0.000 01), improved respiratory function indicators(SMD=1.48, 95%CI[1.00, 1.96], P<0.000 01), and enhanced the humoral immunity(MD=0.94, 95%CI[0.69, 1.18], P<0.000 01). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(RR=0.57, 95%CI[0.29, 1.09], P=0.09). TSA showed that the cumulative Z curve of total response rate crossed the traditional threshold and TSA threshold, further confirming the clinical efficacy of Compound Qinlan Oral Liquid. The GRADE graded the evidence of the above outcome indicators as low or extremely low, and yielded weak recommendation. Compared with conventional western medicine alone, Compound Qinlan Oral Liquid can improve the total effective rate and reduce the time to symptom relief. The combination of Compound Qinlan Oral Liquid and conventional western medicine can improve the total response rate, mitigate the symptoms and improve the physical signs, reduce inflammation, and improve respiratory function and immunity of the patients with acute upper respiratory tract infection. In view of the limited number and quality of the included studies, the above conclusions still require high-quality RCT to provide evidence support.

[Meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of Chaihuang Granules in treatment of upper respiratory tract infection in children].

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chaihuang Granules in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infection in children. The databases such as CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for randomized controlled trial(RCT) of Chaihuang Granules for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infection in children, and supplemented by manual searching of gray literature. Two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software, trial sequential analysis was conducted using TSA 0.9.5.10 Beta software, and evidence quality evaluation was carried out using GRADE profiler 3.6.1 software. Eighteen RCTs involving 2 459 patients(1 262 in the treatment group and 1 197 in the control group) were included. Meta-analysis showed that compared with conventional therapy alone, Chaihuang Granules significantly improved the total effective rate(RR=1.18, 95%CI[1.15, 1.22], P<0.000 01), reduced the disappearance time of symptoms/signs(MD=-1.39, 95%CI[-1.66,-1.12], P<0.000 01), improved cytokine levels(MD=-2.40, 95%CI[-3.80,-1.00], P=0.000 8), improved humoral immune levels(MD=0.75, 95%CI[0.60, 0.90], P<0.000 01), and reduced the recurrence rate(MD=-2.11, 95%CI[-2.98,-1.25], P<0.000 01). However, the incidence of adverse reactions was not increased(RR=0.94, 95%CI[0.59, 1.49], P=0.78). Subgroup analysis showed that:(1) both Chaihuang Granules used alone(RR=1.19, 95%CI[1.11, 1.27], P<0.000 01) and in combination with other therapies(RR=1.18, 95%CI[1.14, 1.22], P<0.000 01) effectively improved the total effective rate.(2) In terms of symptoms/signs disappearance time, Chaihuang Granules effectively reduced the duration of fever(MD=-1.18, 95%CI[-1.78,-0.58], P=0.000 1), cough with sputum(MD=-1.82, 95%CI[-2.38,-1.25], P<0.000 01), cough(MD=-1.31, 95%CI[-1.89,-0.74], P<0.000 01), sore throat(MD=-1.57, 95%CI[-2.25,-0.89], P<0.000 01), and lung rales(MD=-1.49, 95%CI[-2.06,-0.92], P<0.000 01).(3) Regarding cytokine levels, Chaihuang Gra-nules effectively improved the levels of interleukin(IL)-2(MD=-0.94, 95%CI[-1.16,-0.72], P<0.000 01), IL-6(MD=-4.71, 95%CI[-6.39,-3.03], P<0.000 01), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)(MD=-2.07, 95%CI[-2.43,-1.71], P<0.000 01).(4) In terms of cellular immune levels, Chaihuang Granules effectively improved the levels of CD3~+(MD=4.11, 95%CI[1.53, 6.69], P=0.002), CD4~+(MD=4.21, 95%CI[1.69, 6.73], P=0.001), CD8~+(MD=-2.65, 95%CI[-3.93,-1.37], P<0.000 1), and CD4~+/CD8~+(MD=0.25, 95%CI[0.14, 0.37], P<0.000 1).(5) In terms of humoral immune levels, Chaihuang Granules effectively improved the levels of IgA(MD=0.44, 95%CI[0.23, 0.64], P<0.000 1), IgM(MD=0.31, 95%CI[0.15, 0.46], P=0.000 1), and IgG(MD=2.02, 95%CI[1.60, 2.43], P<0.000 01). Trial sequential analysis showed that the cumulative Z-curve of the total effective rate crossed the boundary value, further confirming its clinical efficacy. The GRADE evidence quality evaluation showed that the evidence quality of the above outcome indicators was low or very low, and the recommendation strength was weak. Compared to conventional therapy alone, Chaihuang Granules can effectively improve the total effective rate of treatment, alle-viate symptoms and signs of upper respiratory tract infection in children, improve inflammatory conditions, enhance immune function, and reduce the recurrence rate. Due to the limited quality of the included studies, high-quality RCT is still needed to provide evidence support for the above conclusions.

NGF monoclonal antibody DS002 alleviates chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in rats.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the pervasive side effects of chemotherapy, leading to poor quality of life in cancer patients. Discovery of powerful analgesics for CIPN is an urgent and substantial clinical need. Nerve growth factor (NGF), a classic neurotrophic factor, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for pain. In this study, we generated a humanized NGF monoclonal antibody (DS002) that most effectively blocked the interaction between NGF and tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA). We showed that DS002 blocked NGF binding to TrkA in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 6.6 nM; DS002 dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of TF-1 cells by blocking the TrkA-mediated downstream signaling pathway. Furthermore, DS002 did not display noticeable species differences in its binding and blocking abilities. In three chemotherapy-induced rat models of CIPN, subcutaneous injection of DS002 produced a significant prophylactic effect against paclitaxel-, cisplatin- and vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time that an NGF inhibitor effectively alleviates pain in animal models of CIPN. DS002 has the potential to treat CIPN pain in the clinic.

Relationships Between Multiple Dimensions of Insight and Neurocognition, Metacognition, and Social Cognition: A Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT: Insight is a complex and multidimensional concept, and has a complex relationship with cognition. A meta-analysis of 102 studies of 9396 patients was conducted to determine the magnitude of the relationship between insight and neurocognition, higher-order cognition in multiple mental disorders. Insight has been found moderately related to higher-order cognition, but only weakly related to neurocognition. The different relationship has been found between the dimensions of insight and higher-order cognition. Almost none of the correlational coefficients of insight and cognitive domains were found to differ significantly among the different diagnostic groups. In conclusion, insight may be essentially related to higher-order cognition, but not to neurocognition. The orientation and expression of different dimensions of insight might be different, and the relationship of insight and cognition might not be explained by specific diagnosis.

Association between obsession, compulsion, depression and insight in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies examining potential relationships of impaired insight with severity obsessive-compulsive (O-C) symptoms and depressive symptoms in patients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have produced mixed results. Here, we examined differences in these clinical characteristics and their changes after treatment in adult patients with OCD who have poor insight (OCD-PI) versus in those who have good insight (OCD-GI). METHODS: Fifty-nine full-text articles were screened for eligibility with 20 studies ultimately being included in the present meta-analysis. RESULTS: The OCD-PI and OCD-GI groups differed from each other with respect to O-C symptom (p < 0.001, g > 0.7) and depressive symptom (p < 0.001, g = 0.614) severity. Significant and moderate correlations were observed between insight and treatment outcomes (O-C symptoms, r = 0.33; depressive symptoms, r = 0.47). Exploratory meta-regression showed that methodological factors influenced the magnitudes of inter-group O-C symptom differences. CONCLUSIONS: The current meta-analysis indicates that poorer insight is associated with more severe O-C and depression, and less improvement of symptoms in patients with OCD. Insight impairment may be a critical and core OCD-related deficit.

Pulmonary pathology of early-phase COVID-19 pneumonia in a patient with a benign lung lesion.

AIMS: An ongoing outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus (CoV) disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) CoV-2, has been spreading in multiple countries. One of the reasons for the rapid spread is that the virus can be transmitted from infected individuals without symptoms. Revealing the pathological features of early-phase COVID-19 pneumonia is important for understanding of its pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to explore the pulmonary pathology of early-phase COVID-19 pneumonia in a patient with a benign lung lesion. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed the pathological changes in lung tissue from a 55-year-old female patient with early-phase SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this case, right lower lobectomy was performed for a benign pulmonary nodule. Detailed clinical, laboratory and radiological data were also examined. This patient was confirmed to have preoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection by the use of real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and RNA in-situ hybridisation on surgically removed lung tissues. Histologically, COVID-19 pneumonia was characterised by exudative inflammation. The closer to the visceral pleura, the more severe the exudation of monocytes and lymphocytes. Perivascular inflammatory infiltration, intra-alveolar multinucleated giant cells, pneumocyte hyperplasia and intracytoplasmic viral-like inclusion bodies were seen. However, fibrinous exudate and hyaline membrane formation, which were typical pulmonary features of SARS pneumonia, were not evident in this case. Immunohistochemical staining results showed an abnormal accumulation of CD4+ helper T lymphocytes and CD163+ M2 macrophages in the lung tissue. CONCLUSION: The results highlighted the pulmonary pathological changes of early-phase SARS-CoV-2 infection, and suggested a role of immune dysfunction in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Expression of chemokine receptor CCR7 is a negative prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic significance of CC chemokine receptor type 7 (CCR7) for survival of patients with gastric cancer remains controversial. To investigate the impacts of CCR7 on clinicopathological findings and survival outcome in gastric cancer, we performed a meta-analysis. METHODS: A comprehensive search in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the CNKI database (1966 to November 2015) was undertaken for relevant studies. The relative risk and hazard ratios with their 95 % confidence intervals were used as measures to investigate the correlation between CCR7 expression and clinicopathological findings and overall survival rate. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the stability of outcomes. RESULTS: Fifteen eligible studies comprising 1697 participants were included in our analysis. The pooled relative risks indicated CCR7 expression was significantly associated with deeper tumor invasion [0.61, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.45-0.84, p = 0.003], advanced stage (0.47, 95 % CI 0.32-0.69, p < 0.001), vascular invasion (2.12, 95 % CI 1.20-3.73, p = 0.009), lymph node metastasis (2.00, 95 % CI 1.48-2.70, p < 0.001), and lymphatic invasion (1.98, 95 % CI 1.43-2.72, p < 0.001) but not with age, tumor size, and histological type. The pooling of hazard ratios showed a significant relationship between positive CCR7 expression and worse 5-year overall survival rate (0.46, 95 % CI 0.31-0.70, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis indicated high CCR7 expression is likely to be a negative clinicopathological prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer and to predict a worse long-term survival outcome.

Comparative transcriptomics analysis reveals difference of key gene expression between banana and plantain in response to cold stress.

BACKGROUND: Banana and plantain (Musa spp.) comprise an important part of diets for millions of people around the globe. Low temperature is one of the key environmental stresses which greatly affects the global banana production. To understand the molecular mechanism of the cold-tolerance in plantain we used RNA-Seq based comparative transcriptomics analyses for both cold-sensitive banana and cold-tolerant plantain subjected to the cold stress for 0, 3 and 6 h. RESULTS: The cold-response genes at early stage are identified and grouped in both species by GO analysis. The results show that 10 and 68 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are identified for 3 and 6 h of cold stress respectively in plantain, while 40 and 238 DEGs are identified respectively in banana. GO classification analyses show that the majority of DEGs identified in both banana and plantain belong to 11 categories including regulation of transcription, response to stress signal transduction, etc. A similar profile for 28 DEGs was found in both banana and plantain for 6 h of cold stress, suggesting both share some common adaptation processes in response to cold stress. There are 17 DEGs found uniquely in cold-tolerance plantain, which were involved in signal transduction, abiotic stress, copper ion equilibrium, photosynthesis and photorespiration, sugar stimulation, protein modifications etc. Twelve early responsive genes including ICE1 and MYBS3 were selected and further assessed and confirmed by qPCR in the extended time course experiments (0, 3, 6, 24 and 48 h), which revealed significant expression difference of key genes in response to cold stress, especially ICE1 and MYBS3 between cold-sensitive banana and cold-tolerant plantain. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the cold-tolerance pathway appears selectively activated by regulation of ICE1 and MYBS3 expression in plantain under different stages of cold stress. We conclude that the rapid activation and selective induction of ICE1 and MYBS3 cold tolerance pathways in plantain, along with expression of other cold-specific genes, may be one of the main reasons that plantain has higher cold resistance than banana.

Proteomic analysis of conidia germination in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 reveals new targets in ergosterol biosynthesis pathway for controlling Fusarium wilt of banana.

Conidial germination is a crucial step of the soilborne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4), a most important lethal disease of banana. In this study, a total of 3659 proteins were identified by isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based comparative proteomic approach, of which 1009 were differentially expressed during conidial germination of the fungus at 0, 3, 7, and 11 h. Functional classification and bioinformatics analysis revealed that the majority of the differentially expressed proteins are involved in six metabolic pathways. Particularly, all differential proteins involved in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway were significantly upregulated, indicating the importance of the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway to the conidial germination of Foc TR4. Quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting, and in vitro growth inhibition assay by several categories of fungicides on the Foc TR4 were used to validate the proteomics results. Four enzymes, C-24 sterol methyltransferase (ERG6), cytochrome P450 lanosterol C-14α-demethylase (EGR11), hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase (ERG13), and C-4 sterol methyl oxidase (ERG25), in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway were identified and verified, and they hold great promise as new targets for effective inhibition of Foc TR4 early growth in controlling Fusarium wilt of banana. To the best of our knowledge, this report represents the first comprehensive study on proteomics profiling of conidia germination in Foc TR4. It provides new insights into a better understanding of the developmental processes of Foc TR4 spores. More importantly, by host plant-induced gene silencing (HIGS) technology, the new targets reported in this work allow us to develop novel transgenic banana leading to high protection from Fusarium wilt and to explore more effective antifungal drugs against either individual or multiple target proteins of Foc TR4.

Quantitative proteomic analysis reveals that antioxidation mechanisms contribute to cold tolerance in plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.; ABB Group) seedlings.

Banana and its close relative, plantain are globally important crops and there is considerable interest in optimizing their cultivation. Plantain has superior cold tolerance compared with banana and a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms and responses of plantain to cold stress has great potential value for developing cold tolerant banana cultivars. In this study, we used iTRAQ-based comparative proteomic analysis to investigate the temporal responses of plantain to cold stress. Plantain seedlings were exposed for 0, 6, and 24 h of cold stress at 8 °C and subsequently allowed to recover for 24 h at 28 °C. A total of 3477 plantain proteins were identified, of which 809 showed differential expression from the three treatments. The majority of differentially expressed proteins were predicted to be involved in oxidation-reduction, including oxylipin biosynthesis, whereas others were associated with photosynthesis, photorespiration, and several primary metabolic processes, such as carbohydrate metabolic process and fatty acid beta-oxidation. Western blot analysis and enzyme activity assays were performed on seven differentially expressed, cold-response candidate plantain proteins to validate the proteomics data. Similar analyses of the seven candidate proteins were performed in cold-sensitive banana to examine possible functional conservation, and to compare the results to equivalent responses between the two species. Consistent results were achieved by Western blot and enzyme activity assays, demonstrating that the quantitative proteomics data collected in this study are reliable. Our results suggest that an increase of antioxidant capacity through adapted ROS scavenging capability, reduced production of ROS, and decreased lipid peroxidation contribute to molecular mechanisms for the increased cold tolerance in plantain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a global investigation on molecular responses of plantain to cold stress by proteomic analysis.

Damage detection on sudden stiffness reduction based on discrete wavelet transform.

The sudden stiffness reduction in a structure may cause the signal discontinuity in the acceleration responses close to the damage location at the damage time instant. To this end, the damage detection on sudden stiffness reduction of building structures has been actively investigated in this study. The signal discontinuity of the structural acceleration responses of an example building is extracted based on the discrete wavelet transform. It is proved that the variation of the first level detail coefficients of the wavelet transform at damage instant is linearly proportional to the magnitude of the stiffness reduction. A new damage index is proposed and implemented to detect the damage time instant, location, and severity of a structure due to a sudden change of structural stiffness. Numerical simulation using a five-story shear building under different types of excitation is carried out to assess the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed damage index for the building at different damage levels. The sensitivity of the damage index to the intensity and frequency range of measurement noise is also investigated. The made observations demonstrate that the proposed damage index can accurately identify the sudden damage events if the noise intensity is limited.

Disruption of NADPH homeostasis by total flavonoids from Adinandra nitida Merr. ex Li leaves triggers ROS-dependent p53 activation leading to apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Adinandra nitida Merr. ex Li leaves serve as a herbal tea and hold a significant role in traditional Chinese medicine, being applied to assist in tumor treatment. Flavonoids present the primary bioactive constituents in Adinandra nitida Merr. ex Li leaves. AIM OF THE STUDY: To explore the potential of total flavonoids from Adinandra nitida Merr. ex Li Leaves (TFAN) in inhibiting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and further elucidate the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human NSCLC cell lines and normal lung cell line were employed to assess the impact of TFAN (0-160 µg/mL for 24, 28 and 72 h) on cell proliferation in vitro. Immunofluorescence (IF) staining gauged p53 expression changes in NSCLC cells under TFAN present condition (150 µg/mL for 24 h). In vivo study utilized NSCLC cell derived xenograft tumors in nude mice, administering TFAN orally (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 14 days. Immunohistochemistry assessed Cleaved Caspase 3 expression change in A549 xenograft tumors treated with TFAN (400 mg/kg for 14 days). RNA-seq and KEGG analysis identified gene expression changes and enriched processes in A549 xenograft tumors treated with TFAN. CM-H2DCFDA and metabolomics assessed ROS level and GSH/GSSG pool changes in A549 cells under TFAN present condition. Cell viability assay and IF staining assessed A549 cell proliferation and p53 expression changes under H2O2-induced oxidative stress (0-40 µM for 24 h) and TFAN present conditions. GSEA and N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) rescue (0-1 µM for 24 h) analyzed the impact of TFAN on GSH de novo synthesis. NADPH/NADP+ pool measurement and NADPH rescue (0-10 µM for 24 h) analyzed the impact of TFAN on GSH salvage synthesis. GC-FID and HPLC-MS were utilized to detect ethanol and ethyl acetate residues, and to characterize the chemical constituents in TFAN, respectively. The total flavonoid content of TFAN was determined using a 330 nm wavelength. RESULTS: TFAN significantly inhibited A549 cells (wild-type p53) but not NCI-H1299 cells (p53-deficient), NCI-H596 cells (p53-mutant) or BEAS-2B in vitro. IF staining validated p53 genotype for the cell lines and revealed an increase in p53 expression in A549 cells after TFAN treatment. In vivo, TFAN selectively inhibited A549 xenograft tumor growth without discernible toxicity, inducing apoptosis evidenced by Cleaved Caspase 3 upregulation. RNA-seq and KEGG analysis suggested ROS biosynthesis was involved in TFAN-induced p53 activation in A549 cells. Elevated ROS level in TFAN-treated A549 cells were observed. Moreover, TFAN sensitized A549 cells to H2O2-induced oxidative stress, with higher p53 expression. Additionally, A549 cells compensated with GSH de novo synthesis under TFAN present condition, confirmed by GSEA and NAC rescue experiment. TFAN disrupted NADPH homeostasis to impair GSH salvage biosynthesis, supported by NADPH/NADP+ change and NADPH rescue experiment. The chemical constituents of TFAN, with acceptable limits for ethanol and ethyl acetate residues and a total flavonoid content of 68.87%, included Catechin, Epicatechin, Quercitroside, Camellianin A, and Apigenin. CONCLUSION: The disruption of NADPH homeostasis by TFAN triggers ROS-dependent p53 activation that leads to apoptotic cell death, ultimately suppressing NSCLC growth. These findings offer potential therapeutic implications of Adinandra nitida Merr. ex Li leaves in combating NSCLC.

Correlates of poor insight: A comparative fMRI and sMRI study in obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizo-obsessive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Despite the several researches on the correlates of insight in psychosis, less is known regarding the specificity of disease diagnosis on the relationship between insight and the correlates. The current study sought to explore the effects of insight and disease diagnosis on those in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and patients with schizo-obsessive disorder (SOD). METHODS: We evaluated clinical symptoms and neurocognitions among 111 patients (including 41 OCD with good insight, 40 OCD with poor insight, 14 SOD with good insight and 16 SOD with poor insight. Gray matter volume and spontaneous neural activity were also examined by analyzing the voxel-based morphometry and amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF), respectively. RESULTS: Interactive effects of insight and diagnosis was found on working memory and the gray matter volume in right superior and middle temporal gyrus. Main effect of insight was found on working and visual memory, compulsion and obsession, and ALFF in right middle and superior occipital cortex. Main effect of diagnosis was found on severity of compulsion, relative verbal IQ, executive function, verbal and visual memory, working memory and ALFF in precuneus, medial superior frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri, and inferior parietal, postcentral gyrus, paracentral lobule. CONCLUSIONS: As a common feature in mental disorders, insight has its own special influence on neurocognition and possible structural/functional alterations in brain, and the influence is partly dependent of disease diagnosis.

Orange-peel derived carbon-loaded low content ruthenium nanoparticles as ultra-high performance alkaline water HER electrocatalysts.

Carbon materials have a very wide range of applications in the field of electrocatalysis, both as catalyst bodies and as excellent supports for catalysts. In this work, we obtained a graphitic-like orange-peel derived carbon (OPC) material through pre-carbonization and KOH activation strategies using discarded orange-peel as a raw material. OPC has good graphitization characteristics and a few-layer structure, making it very suitable as a support for nanoparticle catalysts. In order to compare the performance of OPC, we used commercial graphene as the benchmark, made two carbon materials uniformly loaded with ruthenium nanoparticles under the same conditions, and obtained two HER catalysts (Ru/OPC and Ru/rGO). The results indicate that Ru/OPC has excellent HER catalytic performance under alkaline conditions, not only superior to Ru/rGO, but also surpassing commercial Pt/C. In 1 M KOH; the overpotential of Ru/OPC is only 3 mV at -10 mA cm-2, greatly exceeding those of Ru/rGO (100 mV) and Pt/C (31 mV). Under high current density (j), the performance of Ru/OPC is even better; the overpotential is 79 mV and 136 mV at -100 mA cm-2 and -200 mA cm-2, respectively. More importantly, Ru/OPC also has a very high TOF and long-term stability, with a TOF of up to 10.62 H2 s-1 at an overpotential of 100 mV and almost no attenuation after 72 h of operation at -50 mA cm-2. Ru/OPC also exhibits good catalytic performance under acidic conditions, significantly superior to that of Ru/rGO. For Ru/OPC, the overpotential is 86 mV, 167 mV and 214 mV at -10 mA cm-2, -100 mA cm-2 and -200 mA cm-2, respectively. Under the same conditions, the overpotential of Ru/rGO is 143 mV, 253 mV and 306 mV at -10 mA cm-2, -100 mA cm-2 and -200 mA cm-2, respectively.