Diagnostic value of combined CT lymphangiography and 99Tcm-DX lymphoscintigraphy in primary chylopericardium.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of combined 99Tcm-DX lymphoscintigraphy and CT lymphangiography (CTL) in primary chylopericardium. METHODS: Fifty-five patients diagnosed with primary chylopericardium clinically were retrospectively analyzed. 99Tcm-DX lymphoscintigraphy and CTL were performed in all patients. Primary chylopericardium was classified into three types, according to the 99Tcm-DX lymphoscintigraphy results. The evaluation indexes of CTL include: (1) abnormal contrast distribution in the neck, (2) abnormal contrast distribution in the chest, (3) dilated thoracic duct was defined as when the widest diameter of thoracic duct was > 3 mm, (4) abnormal contrast distribution in abdominal. CTL characteristics were analyzed between different groups, and P < 0.05 was considered a statistically significant difference. RESULTS: Primary chylopericardium showed 12 patients with type I, 14 patients with type II, and 22 patients with type III. The incidence of abnormal contrast distribution in the posterior mediastinum was greater in type I than type III (P = 0.003). The incidence of abnormal contrast distribution in the pericardial and aortopulmonary windows, type I was greater than type III (P = 0.008). And the incidence of abnormal distribution of contrast agent in the bilateral cervical or subclavian region was greater in type II than type III (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The combined application of the 99Tcm-DX lymphoscintigraphy and CTL is of great value for the localized and qualitative diagnosis of primary chylopericardium and explore the pathogenesis of lesions.

Chlorbenzuron downregulated HcLCP-17 expression by depressing two 20E-responsive transcription factors Br-C and ßFTZ-F1 in Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) larvae.

BACKGROUND: Cuticular proteins (CPs) play essential roles in forming cuticular structures in insects. However, the specific functions and regulatory mechanisms of CPs remain largely unexplored. In this study, the Larval cuticular protein 17 (HcLCP-17) gene was identified from Hyphantria cunea, a highly destructive and polyphagous forest pest. To investigate the role of HcLCP-17 in cuticular function and transcriptional regulation mediated by 20E-responsive transcription factors (ERTFs), we employed RNA interference (RNAi) and yeast one-hybrid assay techniques. Additionally, we examined the molecular mechanism by which chlorbenzuron, a type of benzoylphenylurea (BPU) that functions as a chitin synthesis inhibitor (CSI), affects the 20E signaling pathway and ultimately regulates HcLCP-17 expression. RESULTS: HcLCP-17 encodes a polypeptide consisting of 393 amino acids, which includes a chitin-binding domain. Silencing HcLCP-17 resulted in a disturbance in the structural organization of the larval cuticle and a notable reduction in chitin levels. HcLCP-17 expression was controlled by the interaction between Broad-Complex (Br-C) and beta Fushi Tarazu Factor-1 (ßFTZ-F1) with its promoter fragment. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of chlorbenzuron on HcLCP-17 expression was found to be potentially mediated by Br-C and ßFTZ-F1. CONCLUSION: The study presents a novel mode of action for the 20E signaling pathway in regulating the expression of CPs and reveals the potential mode-of-action of BPUs in insect cuticles. These findings provide a theoretical basis for future utilization of LCP-17 as a pesticide target making a significant contribution to the development of effective pest management strategies. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Association between lymphatic abnormalities in the neck and thorax in primary chylopericardium and surgical outcomes evaluated by non-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) lymphangiography.

Background: Chylopericardium refers to the accumulation of chylous fluid in the pericardial cavity. Non-enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiography (MRL) can show neck and thoracic lymphatic abnormalities in the primary chylopericardium. It is not clear whether there is a relationship between neck and thoracic lymphatic abnormalities in primary chylopericardium and thoracic duct terminal release surgery. This study aimed to explore the correlation between the severity of neck and thoracic lymphatic abnormalities observed in non-enhanced MRL and the surgical outcomes in primary chylopericardium. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. A retrospective analysis was conducted on fifty-six patients diagnosed with primary chylopericardium between January 2016 and December 2021, all of whom underwent thoracic duct terminal release surgery. Ultrasonography, chest computed tomography (CT) and non-enhanced MRL were performed prior to the surgical intervention. Patients were categorized into four types based on the severity of neck and thoracic lymphatic abnormalities observed in the non-enhanced MRL. Clinical and laboratory examinations and surgical outcomes were compared across different types using χ 2-test or Fisher's exact test, t-test, and Kruskal-Wallis H-test. Additionally, independent factors influencing surgical outcomes were analyzed. Results: Among primary chylopericardium cases (n=56), 22 (39.2%) were classified as type I or II, 17 (30.4%) as type III, and 17 (30.4%) as type IV. Surgical outcomes were more favorable for type I or II patients than those with type III or IV, accompanied by a reduction in postoperative primary chylopericardium volume (P=0.002). Postoperative chest CT scans indicated that type I or II patients had fewer instances of large grid shadows, small grid shadows, and bronchovascular bundle thickening compared to preoperative scans (P=0.001, P=0.02, P=0.03). Age and bronchomediastinal trunk dilation emerged as independent factors influencing surgical outcomes [odds ratio (OR) 0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.003-0.220, P=0.001; OR 11.10, 95% CI: 1.70-72.39, P=0.01, respectively]. Conclusions: A more severe degree of neck and thoracic lymphatic abnormalities is associated with worse surgical outcomes. Moreover, age and bronchomediastinal trunk dilatation are independent predictors of surgical outcomes. Preoperative utilization of non-enhanced MRL for severity of lymphatic abnormalities classification in primary chylopericardium patients offers a noninvasive means of assessing surgical risk.

Exendin-4 Caused Growth Arrest by Regulating Sugar Metabolism in Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) Larvae.

Insects' growth and development are highly dependent on energy supply, with sugar metabolism playing a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis and regulating physiological processes. The present study investigated the effects of exendin-4, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, on the growth, development, glycolysis, and energy metabolism of fourth-instar larvae of the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea. We determined the impact of exendin-4 on larval growth and nutritional indices, analyzed the responses of glycolytic and metabolic pathways, and revealed the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Exendin-4 treatment significantly decreased growth and nutritional indices, influenced the activity of digestive enzymes, and induced changes in metabolite profiles, particularly affecting energy substance metabolism. We observed an increase in the glycogen content and a decrease in glucose and trehalose levels in the hemolymph, suggesting a regulatory effect on blood sugar homeostasis. Furthermore, exendin-4 promoted glycolysis by enhancing the activities and expressions of key glycolytic enzymes, leading to an increase in pyruvate production. This was accompanied by a reduction in ATP levels and the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which may underlie the growth arrest in larvae. Our findings provide novel insights into the effects of exendin-4 on insect responses from an energy metabolism perspective and may contribute to the development of GLP-1R agonists for pest management.

Tuberous sclerosis complex combined with primary lymphedema: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and primary lymphedema (PLE) are both rare diseases, and it is even rarer for both to occur in the same patient. In this work, we have provided a detailed description of a patient's clinical presentation, imaging findings, and treatment. And a retrospective analysis was conducted on 14 published relevant case reports. CASE SUMMARY: A 16-year-old male came to our hospital for treatment due to right lower limb swelling. This swelling is already present from birth. The patient's memory had been progressively declining. Seizures had occurred 1 year prior at an unknown frequency. The patient was diagnosed with TSC combined with PLE through multimodal imaging examination: Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and lymphoscintigraphy. The patient underwent liposuction. The swelling of the patient's right lower limb significantly improved after surgery. Epilepsy did not occur.after taking antiepileptic drugs and sirolimus. CONCLUSION: TSC with PLE is a rare and systemic disease. Imaging can detect lesions of this disease, which are important for diagnosis and treatment.

Lymphatic plastic bronchitis and primary chylothorax: A study based on computed tomography lymphangiography.

BACKGROUND: This study presents an evaluation of the computed tomography lymphangiography (CTL) features of lymphatic plastic bronchitis (PB) and primary chylothorax to improve the diagnostic accuracy for these two diseases. AIM: To improve the diagnosis of lymphatic PB or primary chylothorax, a retrospective analysis of the clinical features and CTL characteristics of 71 patients diagnosed with lymphatic PB or primary chylothorax was performed. METHODS: The clinical and CTL data of 71 patients (20 with lymphatic PB, 41 with primary chylothorax, and 10 with lymphatic PB with primary chylothorax) were collected retrospectively. CTL was performed in all patients. The clinical manifestations, CTL findings, and conventional chest CT findings of the three groups of patients were compared. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare the differences among the three groups. A difference was considered to be statistically significant when P < 0.05. RESULTS: (1) The percentages of abnormal contrast medium deposits on CTL in the three groups were as follows: Thoracic duct outlet in 14 (70.0%), 33 (80.5%) and 8 (80.0%) patients; peritracheal region in 18 (90.0%), 15 (36.6%) and 8 (80.0%) patients; pleura in 6 (30.0%), 33 (80.5%) and 9 (90.0%) patients; pericardium in 6 (30.0%), 6 (14.6%) and 4 (40.0%) patients; and hilum in 16 (80.0%), 11 (26.8%) and 7 (70.0%) patients; and (2) the abnormalities on conventional chest CT in the three groups were as follows: Ground-glass opacity in 19 (95.0%), 18 (43.9%) and 8 (80.0%) patients; atelectasis in 4 (20.0%), 26 (63.4%) and 7 (70.0%) patients; interlobular septal thickening in 12 (60.0%), 11 (26.8%) and 3 (30.0%) patients; bronchovascular bundle thickening in 14 (70.0%), 6 (14.6%) and 4 (40.0%) patients; localized mediastinal changes in 14 (70.0%), 14 (34.1%), and 7 (70.0%) patients; diffuse mediastinal changes in 6 (30.0%), 5 (12.2%), and 3 (30.0%) patients; cystic lesions in the axilla in 2 (10.0%), 6 (14.6%), and 2 (20.0%) patients; and cystic lesions in the chest wall in 0 (0%), 2 (4.9%), and 2 (4.9%) patients. CONCLUSION: CTL is well suited to clarify the characteristics of lymphatic PB and primary chylothorax. This method is an excellent tool for diagnosing these two diseases.

The value of the dermal rim sign on nonenhanced magnetic resonance imaging for predicting dermal backflow in patients with primary lower extremity lymphedema.

PURPOSE: The dermal rim sign (DRS) on nonenhanced magnetic resonance imaging has been shown to predict dermal backflow (DBF) in patients with secondary upper limb lymphedema. However, whether the DRS has the same effects on primary lower extremity lymphedema (PLEL) has not been clearly reported. Therefore, this study aimed to explore whether the DRS can be used to diagnose DBF on lymphoscintigraphy in patients with PLEL. METHODS: A total of 94 patients who were diagnosed with PLEL were recruited for this retrospective study from January 2022 to December 2023. All the patients were divided into two groups according to the lymphoscintigraphy findings: no DBF and DBF. The magnetic resonance imaging data of the two groups were recorded and statistically compared for the following indicators: range of lymphedema involvement (left, right, whole lower limbs, only thigh, only calf and ankle), signs of lymphedema (notable thickening of skin, parallel line sign, grid sign, honeycomb sign, band sign, lymph lake sign, crescent sign, DRS), and lymphedema measurement (skin thickness, band width). The DRS is characterized by notable thickening of the skin plus the grid sign and/or honeycomb sign, plus the band sign. RESULTS: The following statistically significant differences in the following indicators were found between the two groups (P < .05): notable skin thickening, parallel line sign, grid sign, honeycomb sign, band sign, DRS, skin thickness, and band width. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for predicting for DBF with the DRS was 82%, 64%, and 77%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed good consistency between the DRS and DBF from the perspective of imaging. This tool is suitable for children, adolescents, and patients with contraindications to lymphoscintigraphy. The DRS has important value in assessing the severity of PLEL. The DRS is suggested for the clinical use of combined surgical treatment of PLEL.

Value of the short time inversion recovery sequence of magnetic resonance imaging in the staging of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome complicated with lymphedema.

OBJECTIVE: Currently, the focus on limb lymphedema (LE) is on classification and staging. However, few scholars have conducted staging for Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome complicated LE (KTS-LE). This study aimed to investigate the value of the short time inversion recovery sequence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the staging of KTS-LE. METHODS: Forty-six patients who were diagnosed with KTS-LE were recruited for this retrospective study from July 2011 to November 2022. Referring to the clinical staging standard of lower extremity LE of the International Society of Lymphology in 2020, all patients were divided into three groups: stages I, II, and III. The MRI indicators of the three groups were recorded and statistically compared: LE range (unilateral bilateral, lower limbs, only thighs, only calves and ankles), abnormal parts (skin thickening, abnormal subcutaneous fat signal, abnormal muscle signal, muscle hypertrophy or contraction, abnormal bone signal, hyperostosis), and subcutaneous soft tissue signs (parallel line sign, grid sign, band sign, honeycomb sign, lymph lake sign, crescent sign, and nebula sign). RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the honeycomb sign among the three periods (P = .028). There was a significant difference between stage II and stage I disease (P < .05). There was a significant difference between stage II and stage III disease (P < .05). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the honeycomb sign in diagnosing KTS-LE of stage II were 87.5%, 63.2%, 33.3%, 96.0%, and 67.4%, respectively. In contrast, the other signs were not statistically significant among the three periods. CONCLUSIONS: The short time inversion recovery sequence of MRI is of great value in KTS-LE. The honeycomb sign is an important imaging indicator for the diagnosis of stage II disease. It is necessary to evaluate the severity of edema with MRI for KTS-LE, which is very important for therapeutic options.

Adaptive changes in pheromone production and release under rearing conditions in stink bugs.

BACKGROUND: Healthy cultures of arthropods are important for pest management programs (e.g. biocontrol). Little is known about how rearing conditions may affect pheromonal interactions. We investigated how rearing histories and densities affect pheromone emission/production in two stink bug species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), the predatory bug Arma custos, a biocontrol agent, and the bean bug Riptortus pedestris, a pest on legume crops. RESULTS: Nymphs from newly established laboratory colonies of both species produced higher amounts of the defense (dispersal) compound, 4-oxo-(E)-hexenal (OHE), in the presence of conspecific nymphs. Also, when two or more A. custos males were placed together, the dorsal abdominal glands (DAGs) ceased to release aggregation pheromone, whereas the metathoracic glands (MTGs) increased the emission of defensive odors. These changes resulted from exposure to conspecific pheromone odors, as confirmed by exposing bugs to pheromone standards. Hence, pheromone emissions in these stink bugs are readily changed in response to the odors of conspecifics, which may become a problem after long-term rearing. Indeed, an old laboratory colony of A. custos (~30 generations) exhibited less-developed DAGs and reduced pheromone production. Instead, males released significantly more defensive odors from the enlarged MTGs. Furthermore, long-term rearing conditions appeared to favor nymphs that were able to share space with conspecifics by releasing less OHE, which has not yet occurred in the new laboratory colonies. CONCLUSION: Rearing density affects pheromone release in newly established laboratory colonies of stink bug species, whereas long-term rearing results in new pheromonal compositions coinciding with adaptive changes in gland development. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

MRI-based volume measurement methods for staging primary lower extremity lymphedema: a single-center study of asymmetric volume difference-a diagnostic study.

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) staging is mainly assessed by systems that solely depend on physical examinations and lack quantitative assessment based on modern imaging. OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of MRI-based asymmetric volume measurements in the clinical staging of primary LEL. METHODS: 92 patients with unilateral primary LEL underwent MRI examinations to determine the volume of the mid-calf (Vcl) calculated using the clinical dermatome method as well as the total volume (Vmri), musculoskeletal volume (VM), and subcutaneous volume (VS) volume of the middle calves. The difference between Vmri (DVmri) and VS (DVS) of the affected and unaffected calves was obtained and defined as the asymmetric volume difference. Meanwhile, the volume of the mid-calf (Vcl) and the difference in volume (DVcl) were calculated using the clinical circumferential method. The relationship between the asymmetric volume difference and clinical staging was then evaluated. Interobserver consistency was assessed through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Volume comparisons between the three groups were performed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) or the Kruskal-Wallis test. Spearman's correlation was used to assess volume and clinical stage correlation. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the value of asymmetric volume difference for clinical staging. RESULTS: The asymmetric volume difference was statistically significant in stage I compared to stages II and III (p < 0.05). The asymmetric volume difference (DVmri: r = 0.753; DVS: r = 0.759) correlated more with the clinical stage than the affected Vcl (r = 0.581), Vmri (r = 0.628), VS (r = 0.743), and DVcl (r = 0.718). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for identifying the clinical stage by the asymmetric volume difference was greater than that for the affected Vcl, Vmri, VS, and DVcl, with DVS (AUC = 0.951) having the largest area under the curve to distinguish between stages I and II. CONCLUSION: MRI-based asymmetric volume difference is an adjunctive measure for LEL clinical staging with good reproducibility. DVS could be the best indicator for differentiating between stages I and II of primary LEL.

FDP-Na-induced enhancement of glycolysis impacts larval growth and development and chitin biosynthesis in fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae).

Fructose 1, 6-diphosphate (FDP) is an endogenous intermediate in the glycolytic pathway, as well as an allosteric activator of phosphofructokinase (PFK). Based on the role in promoting glycolysis, FDP has been widely used as a therapeutic agent for mitigating the damage of endotoxemia and ischemia/reperfusion in clinical practice. However, the effect of exogenous FDP-induced glycolysis activation on insect carbohydrate metabolism and chitin synthesis remains largely unclear. Here, we investigated for the first time the effects of FDP-Na, an allosteric activator of PFK, on the growth and development of Hyphantria cunea larvae, a serious defoliator in agriculture and forestry, especially on glycolysis and chitin synthesis. The results showed that FDP-Na significantly restrained the growth and development of H. cunea larvae and resulted in larval lethality. After treatment with FDP-Na, hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK) and pyruvate kinase (PK) were significantly activated, and HcHK2, HcPFK, HcPK were dramatically upregulated, which suggested that FDP-Na enhanced glycolysis in H. cunea larvae. Meanwhile, FDP-Na also distinctly impacted chitin biosynthesis by disturbing transcriptions of genes in the chitin synthesis pathway, resulting in changes of chitin contents in the midgut and epidermis of H. cunea larvae. Therefore, we considered that FDP-Na caused the growth and development arrest, and impacted chitin biosynthesis, probably by disturbing in vivo glycolysis and carbohydrate metabolism in H. cunea larvae. The findings provide a new perspective on the mechanism by which glycolysis regulates insect growth and development, and lay the foundation for exploring the potential application of glycolysis activators in pest control as well.

Quantitative evaluation of primary lower extremity lymphedema staging using MRI: a preliminary study.

Background: The staging of primary lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) is difficult yet vital in clinical work, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used for quantitative assessment of primary LEL due to its high resolution for soft tissues. In this study, we evaluated the value of MRI-based soft tissue area measurements for staging primary LEL. Methods: A total of 90 consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed primary lower limb lymphoedema from January 2017 to December 2019 in Beijing Shijitan Hospital were enrolled retrospectively. Short time inversion recovery (STIR) sequence was applied to measure the total, muscle, bone, and subcutaneous areas in the upper 1/3 level of the bilateral lower calf. The difference between the affected and unaffected calf regarding the subcutaneous area was obtained, and (subcutaneous area)/(bone area) and (subcutaneous area)/(muscle area) were calculated. According to the International Society of Lymphology (ISL) clinical staging standard established in 2020, all patients were divided into stages I, II, and III, accordingly. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the validity of MRI measurements in staging LEL. Results: There were 33 patients classified as stage I clinically, 44 patients as stage II, and 13 patients as stage III. There were significant differences in total, subcutaneous, the difference in subcutaneous area of limbs, subcutaneous/bone (S/B), and subcutaneous/muscle (S/M) between stage I and II as well as between stage I and III (P<0.001), but not between stage II and III (P=0.706, 0.329, and 0.229, respectively). A positive correlation was detected between the clinical stage and difference in subcutaneous area of limbs (rho =0.752, P<0.001), S/B (rho =0.747, P<0.001), S/M (rho =0.709, P<0.001), and subcutaneous (rho =0.723, P<0.001). For staging primary LEL, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves indicated that the difference in subcutaneous area of limbs had the best discrimination ability among parameters [area under the ROC curve (AUC) =0.950; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.875-0.987; sensitivity: 95.45%; specificity: 84.85%], followed by S/B (AUC =0.930; 95% CI: 0.848-0.975; sensitivity: 77.27%; specificity: 93.94%) and S/M (AUC =0.895; 95% CI: 0.804-0.953; sensitivity: 77.27%; specificity: 90.91%). The ROC curves indicated that subcutaneous area (AUC =0.927; 95% CI: 0.844-0.974; sensitivity: 84.09%, specificity: 90.91%) and total (AUC =0.852; 95% CI: 0.753-0.923; sensitivity: 70.45%; specificity: 90.91%) also had discrimination ability between stage I and II. Conclusions: The measurement of the soft tissue area of the calf may be used as an auxiliary method for staging primary LEL. For patients with unilateral primary LEL, the difference in subcutaneous area of limbs could be a specific indicator to distinguish clinical stage I from II.

PfaSTer: a machine learning-powered serotype caller for Streptococcus pneumoniae genomes.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although multi-valent pneumococcal vaccines have curbed the incidence of disease, their introduction has resulted in shifted serotype distributions that must be monitored. Whole genome sequence (WGS) data provide a powerful surveillance tool for tracking isolate serotypes, which can be determined from nucleotide sequence of the capsular polysaccharide biosynthetic operon (cps). Although software exists to predict serotypes from WGS data, most are constrained by requiring high-coverage next-generation sequencing reads. This can present a challenge in respect of accessibility and data sharing. Here we present PfaSTer, a machine learning-based method to identify 65 prevalent serotypes from assembled S. pneumoniae genome sequences. PfaSTer combines dimensionality reduction from k-mer analysis with a Random Forest classifier for rapid serotype prediction. By leveraging the model's built-in statistical framework, PfaSTer determines confidence in its predictions without the need for coverage-based assessments. We then demonstrate the robustness of this method, returning >97 % concordance when compared to biochemical results and other in silico serotyping tools. PfaSTer is open source and available at: https://github.com/pfizer-opensource/pfaster.

Chlorbenzuron caused growth arrest through interference of glycolysis and energy metabolism in Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) larvae.

Chlorbenzuron is a kind of benzoylphenylureas (BPUs), which plays a broad role in insect growth regulators (IGRs), with an inhibitory effect on chitin biosynthesis. However, BPUs how to regulate glycolysis and insect growth remains largely unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of chlorbenzuron on growth, nutritional indices, glycolysis, and carbohydrate homeostasis in Hyphantria cunea, a destructive and highly polyphagous forest pest, to elucidate the action mechanism of chlorbenzuron from the perspective of energy metabolism. The results showed that chlorbenzuron dramatically restrained the growth and nutritional indices of H. cunea larvae and resulted in lethality. Meanwhile, we confirmed that chlorbenzuron significantly decreased carbohydrate levels, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and pyruvic acid (PA) in H. cunea larvae. Further studies indicated that chlorbenzuron caused a significant enhancement in the enzyme activities and mRNA expressions of hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), and pyruvate kinase (PK), resulting in increased glycolytic flux. Expressions of genes involved in the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway were also upregulated. Moreover, chlorbenzuron had remarkable impacts on H. cunea larvae from the perspective of metabolite enrichment, including the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and glycolysis, indicating an energy metabolism disorder in larvae. The findings provide a novel insight into the molecular mechanism by which chlorbenzuron abnormally promotes glycolysis and eventually interferes with insect growth and nutritional indices.

Dendrite-free zinc metal anodes enabled by electrolyte additive for high-performing aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Rechargeable aqueous zinc (Zn)-ion batteries are regarded as a suitable candidate for large-scale energy storage due to their high safety and the natural abundance of Zn. However, the Zn anode in the aqueous electrolyte faces the challenges of corrosion, passivation, hydrogen evolution reaction, and the growth of severe Zn dendrites. These problems severely affect the performance and service life of aqueous Zn ion batteries, making it difficult to achieve their large-scale commercial applications. In this work, the sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) additive was introduced into the zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) electrolyte to inhibit the growth of Zn dendrites by promoting uniform deposition of Zn ions on the (002) crystal surface. This treatment presented a significant increase in the intensity ratio of (002) to (100) from an initial value of 11.14 to 15.31 after 40 cycles of plating/stripping. The Zn//Zn symmetrical cell showed a longer cycle life (over 124 h at 1.0 mA cm-2) than the symmetrical cell without NaHCO3. Additionally, the high capacity retention rate was increased by 20% for Zn//MnO2 full cells. This finding is expected to be beneficial for a range of research studies that use inorganic additives to inhibit Zn dendrites and parasitic reactions in electrochemical and energy storage applications.

Steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone disturbs fat body lipid metabolism and negatively regulates gluconeogenesis in Hyphantria cunea larvae.

The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) has been described to regulate fat body lipid metabolism in insects, but its accurate regulatory mechanism, especially the crosstalk between 20E-induced lipid metabolism and gluconeogenesis remains largely unclear. Here, we specially investigated the effect of 20E on lipid metabolism and gluconeogenesis in the fat body of Hyphantria cunea larvae, a notorious pest in forestry. Lipidomics analysis showed that a total of 1 907 lipid species were identified in the fat body of H. cunea larvae assigned to 6 groups and 48 lipid classes. The differentially abundant lipids analysis showed a significant difference between 20E-treated and control samples, indicating that 20E caused a remarkable alteration of lipidomics profiles in the fat body of H. cunea larvae. Further studies demonstrated that 20E accelerated fatty acid ß-oxidation, inhibited lipid synthesis, and promoted lipolysis. Meanwhile, the activities of pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphatase were dramatically suppressed by 20E in the fat body of H. cunea larvae. As well, the transcriptions of genes encoding these 4 rate-limiting gluconeogenic enzymes were significantly downregulated in the fat body of H. cunea larvae after treatment with 20E. Taken together, our results revealed that 20E disturbed fat body lipid homeostasis, accelerated fatty acid ß-oxidation and promoted lipolysis, but negatively regulated gluconeogenesis in H. cunea larvae. The findings might provide a new insight into hormonal regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism in insect fat body.

E74 knockdown represses larval development and chitin synthesis in Hyphantria cunea.

E74 is a key transcription factor induced by 20E, which plays a broad role in many physiological events during insect growth and development, including vitellogenesis, organ remodeling and new tissue formation, programmed cell death and metamorphosis. However, whether it is involved in regulating insect chitin biosynthesis remains largely unclear. Here, the E74 gene was identified for the first time from Hyphantria cunea, a notorious defoliator of forestry. Thereafter, the role of HcE74 in regulating growth, development and chitin synthesis in H. cunea larvae was evaluated. Bioinformatics analysis showed that HcE74 shared the highest identity (95.53%) with E74A of Spodoptera litura, which belonged to Ets superfamily. The results of RNAi bioassay showed that the larval mortality on 6 d after HcE74 knockdown was up to 51.11 ± 6.94%. Meanwhile, a distinct developmental deformity phenotype was found when HcE74 was silenced. These results indicated that HcE74 plays an important role in the development and molting of H. cunea larvae. Moreover, HcE74 knockdown also significantly decreased the expression of four key genes related to chitin synthesis, including glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (HcG6PI), UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase (HcUAP), chitin synthetase A (HcCHSA), and chitin synthetase B (HcCHSB). As a result, the content of chitin in midgut and epidermis decreased by 0.54- and 0.08-fold, respectively. Taken together, these results demonstrated that HcE74 not only plays a critical role in the growth and molting of H. cunea larvae, but also probably participates in the transcriptional regulation of genes involved in chitin biosynthesis.

Systematic lymphatic abnormality-related osseous lesions: a study based on CT lymphangiography.

Background: Few studies have focused on the morphology of systematic lymphatic abnormality-related osseous lesions. In this study, we classified systematic lymphatic abnormality-related osseous lesions into four types based on their morphology and density. We also discussed the imaging features of computed tomography lymphangiography (CTL) in this disease. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the clinical and imaging data of 39 patients with systematic lymphatic abnormality-related osseous lesions were collected. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest and abdomen after direct lymphangiography, and two experienced radiologists evaluated the CTL features of intraosseous and extraosseous lymphatic vessel abnormalities. Results: Intraosseous osteolytic changes were observed in all 39 patients. According to the morphological density of the lesions, systematic lymphatic abnormality-related osseous lesions were classified into four types: cyst-like (76.9%), canal-like or honeycomb-like (87.2%), osteoporosis-like (41.0%), and osteosclerosis-like (20.5%), with abnormal deposits of lipiodol seen in the first two types. Enhanced CT of the thorax and abdomen was performed in 11 cases, and enhancement was not seen in any intraosseous lesions. Conclusions: The CTL features of systematic lymphatic abnormality-related osseous lesions have specific characteristics and are often accompanied by extraosseous abnormalities, which can provide a vital imaging basis for the diagnosis and differentiation of this disease.

Metformin-induced AMPK activation suppresses larval growth and molting probably by disrupting 20E synthesis and glycometabolism in fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea Drury.

Metformin, considered to be a potent AMPK activator, is widely used for clinical therapy of cancer and diabetes due to its distinct function in regulating cell energy balance and body metabolism. However, the effect of metformin-induced AMPK activation on the growth and development of insects remains largely unknown. In the present study, we focused on the role of metformin in regulating the growth and development of Hyphantria cunea, a notorious defoliator in the forestry. Firstly, we obtained the complete coding sequences of HcAMPKα2, HcAMPKß1, HcAMPKγ2 from H. cunea, which encoded a protein of 512, 281, and 680 amino acids respectively. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that these three subunits were highly homologous with the AMPK subunits from other lepidopteran species. According to the bioassay, we found metformin remarkably restrained the growth and development of H. cunea larvae, and caused molting delayed and body weight reduced. In addition, expressions of HcAMPKα2, HcAMPKß1, and HcAMPKγ2 were upregulated 3.30-, 5.93- and 5.92-folds at 24 h after treatment, confirming that metformin activated AMPK signaling at the transcriptional level in H. cunea larvae. Conversely, the expressions of two vital Halloween genes (HcCYP306A1 and HcCYP314A1) in the 20E synthesis pathway were remarkably suppressed by metformin. Thus, we presumed that metformin delayed larval molting probably by impeding 20E synthesis in the H. cunea larvae. Finally, we found that metformin accelerated glycogen breakdown, elevated in vivo trehalose level, promoted chitin synthesis, and upregulated transcriptions of the genes in chitin synthesis pathway. Taken together, the findings provide a new insight into the molecular mechanisms by which AMPK regulates carbohydrate metabolism and chitin synthesis in insects.

Antitumor Necrosis Factor-like Ligand 1A Therapy Targets Tissue Inflammation and Fibrosis Pathways and Reduces Gut Pathobionts in Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND: The first-in-class treatment PF-06480605 targets the tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1A (TL1A) molecule in humans. Results from the phase 2a TUSCANY trial highlighted the safety and efficacy of PF-06480605 in ulcerative colitis. Preclinical and in vitro models have identified a role for TL1A in both innate and adaptive immune responses, but the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of anti-TL1A treatment in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are not known. METHODS: Here, we provide analysis of tissue transcriptomic, peripheral blood proteomic, and fecal metagenomic data from the recently completed phase 2a TUSCANY trial and demonstrate endoscopic improvement post-treatment with PF-06480605 in participants with ulcerative colitis. RESULTS: Our results revealed robust TL1A target engagement in colonic tissue and a distinct colonic transcriptional response reflecting a reduction in inflammatory T helper 17 cell, macrophage, and fibrosis pathways in patients with endoscopic improvement. Proteomic analysis of peripheral blood revealed a corresponding decrease in inflammatory T-cell cytokines. Finally, microbiome analysis showed significant changes in IBD-associated pathobionts, Streptococcus salivarius, S. parasanguinis, and Haemophilus parainfluenzae post-therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The ability of PF-06480605 to engage and inhibit colonic TL1A, targeting inflammatory T cell and fibrosis pathways, provides the first-in-human mechanistic data to guide anti-TL1A therapy for the treatment of IBD.