CQformer: Learning Dynamics Across Slices in Medical Image Segmentation.

Prevalent studies on deep learning-based 3D medical image segmentation capture the continuous variation across 2D slices mainly via convolution, Transformer, inter-slice interaction, and time series models. In this work, via modeling this variation by an ordinary differential equation (ODE), we propose a cross instance query-guided Transformer architecture (CQformer) that leverages features from preceding slices to improve the segmentation performance of subsequent slices. Its key components include a cross-attention mechanism in an ODE formulation, which bridges the features of contiguous 2D slices of the 3D volumetric data. In addition, a regression head is employed to shorten the gap between the bottleneck and the prediction layer. Extensive experiments on 7 datasets with various modalities (CT, MRI) and tasks (organ, tissue, and lesion) demonstrate that CQformer outperforms previous state-of-the-art segmentation algorithms on 6 datasets by 0.44%-2.45%, and achieves the second highest performance of 88.30% on the BTCV dataset. The code will be publicly available after acceptance.

An Integrated Strategy for Chemical Profile Establishment of Premna Microphylla Turcz. leaves and Metabolites in Vivo.

BACKGROUND: Premna microphylla Turcz. (PMT) is a traditional food and medicinal plant, which has been used to treat cure hemostasis, rheumatism and dysentery. However, it still lacks a clear understanding about chemical profile of PMT and metabolites in vivo. OBJECTIVE: To establish a rapid and efficient analytical method for the identification of phytochemical in PMT and metabolites in vivo. METHODS: Firstly, the fingerprint of PMT was established by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with methodology validation. Then, the phytochemical composition in PMT leaves were identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS). Finally, the prototype and correlated metabolites were detected after oral administration in mice to understand the absorption and metabolism of phytochemical in vivo. RESULTS: The result showed established HPLC method for fingerprints evaluation of PMT has good precision, repeatability and stability. Additionally, a total of 103 phytochemicals were identified in PMT, mainly including flavonoids and terpenoids. Then, 37 prototype components and 20 derived metabolites in vivo were detected. CONCLUSION: In this study, we constructed a fingerprint method which has good stability, precision and repeatability, and the fingerprint of PMT was established. Then the chemical profile of PMT in vitro and in vivo was performed. The result showed that flavonoids and terpenoids were the main phytochemicals in PMT, and methylation, sulfonation, dihydroxylation were the main metabolic pathway in vivo. HIGHLIGHTS: The present study provided the phytochemical basis for the subsequent study of pharmacological activity.

AXIN1 boosts antiviral response through IRF3 stabilization and induced phase separation.

Axis inhibition protein 1 (AXIN1), a scaffold protein interacting with various critical molecules, plays a vital role in determining cell fate. However, its impact on the antiviral innate immune response remains largely unknown. Here, we identify that AXIN1 acts as an effective regulator of antiviral innate immunity against both DNA and RNA virus infections. In the resting state, AXIN1 maintains the stability of the transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) by preventing p62-mediated autophagic degradation of IRF3. This is achieved by recruiting ubiquitin-specific peptidase 35 (USP35), which removes lysine (K) 48-linked ubiquitination at IRF3 K366. Upon virus infection, AXIN1 undergoes a phase separation triggered by phosphorylated TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1). This leads to increased phosphorylation of IRF3 and a boost in IFN-I production. Moreover, KYA1797K, a small molecule that binds to the AXIN1 RGS domain, enhances the AXIN1-IRF3 interaction and promotes the elimination of various highly pathogenic viruses. Clinically, patients with HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who show reduced AXIN1 expression in pericarcinoma tissues have low overall and disease-free survival rates, as well as higher HBV levels in their blood. Overall, our findings reveal how AXIN1 regulates IRF3 signaling and phase separation-mediated antiviral immune responses, underscoring the potential of the AXIN1 agonist KYA1797K as an effective antiviral agent.

Single-cell RNA sequencing and immune repertoire analysis revealed dynamic immune characteristics associated with peripheral blood during sepsis.

Sepsis is a potentially fatal condition arising from an abnormal immune response to an infection, which can result in organ failure and even death. To explore the mechanism underlying the dysregulated immune response during sepsis and identify potential therapeutic targets, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and immune repertoire analysis were conducted to depict the cellular landscape of peripheral blood cells in septic mice. We observed significant alterations in the number and proportion of peripheral blood cell populations driven by sepsis. By combining single-cell gene expression profiles and B cell receptor (BCR) repertoire analysis, we discerned that infection inflicted serious damage on the antigen presentation ability of B cells and the diversity of BCR in a short time. In addition, we found that the cecal ligation and puncture procedure in mice inhibited the communication signals of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and decreased the interactions between B cells and other cells. Our study provides detailed insights into the dynamic changes in the biological characteristics of peripheral blood cells driven by sepsis and provides important advances in our understanding of immune disorders during sepsis.

Discovery and validation of colorectal cancer tissue-specific methylation markers: a dual-center retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal cancer and its precancerous lesions can significantly improve patients' survival rates. The purpose of this research is to identify methylation markers specific to colorectal cancer tissues and validate their diagnostic capability in colorectal cancer and precancerous changes by measuring the level of DNA methylation in stool samples. METHOD: We analyzed samples from six cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues and fecal samples from 758 participants, including 62 patients with interfering diseases. Bioinformatics databases were used to screen for candidate biomarkers for CRC, and quantitative methylation-specific PCR methods were applied for identification. The methylation levels of the candidate biomarkers in fecal and tissue samples were measured. Logistic regression and random forest models were built and validated using fecal sample data from one of the centers, and the independent or combined diagnostic value of the candidate biomarkers in fecal samples for CRC and precancerous lesions was analyzed. Finally, the diagnostic capability and stability of the model were validated at another medical center. RESULTS: This study identified two colorectal cancer CpG sites with tissue specificity. These two biomarkers have certain diagnostic power when used individually, but their diagnostic value for colorectal cancer and colorectal adenoma is more significant when they are used in combination. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that a DNA methylation biomarker combined diagnostic model based on two CpG sites, cg13096260 and cg12587766, has the potential for screening and diagnosing precancerous lesions and colorectal cancer. Additionally, compared to traditional diagnostic models, machine learning algorithms perform better but may yield more false-positive results, necessitating further investigation.

Accelerated 3D whole-heart non-contrast-enhanced mDIXON coronary MR angiography using deep learning-constrained compressed sensing reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the feasibility of a deep learning-constrained compressed sensing (DL-CS) method in non-contrast-enhanced modified DIXON (mDIXON) coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and compare its diagnostic accuracy using coronary CT angiography (CCTA) as a reference standard. METHODS: Ninety-nine participants were prospectively recruited for this study. Thirty healthy subjects (age range: 20-65 years; 50% female) underwent three non-contrast mDIXON-based coronary MRA sequences including DL-CS, CS, and conventional sequences. The three groups were compared based on the scan time, subjective image quality score, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The remaining 69 patients suspected of coronary artery disease (CAD) (age range: 39-83 years; 51% female) underwent the DL-CS coronary MRA and its diagnostic performance was compared with that of CCTA. RESULTS: The scan time for the DL-CS and CS sequences was notably shorter than that of the conventional sequence (9.6 ± 3.1 min vs 10.0 ± 3.4 min vs 13.0 ± 4.9 min; p < 0.001). The DL-CS sequence obtained the highest image quality score, mean SNR, and CNR compared to CS and conventional methods (all p < 0.001). Compared to CCTA, the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of DL-CS mDIXON coronary MRA per patient were 84.1%, 92.0%, and 79.5%; those per vessel were 90.3%, 82.6%, and 92.5%; and those per segment were 98.0%, 85.1%, and 98.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The DL-CS mDIXON coronary MRA provided superior image quality and short scan time for visualizing coronary arteries in healthy individuals and demonstrated high diagnostic value compared to CCTA in CAD patients. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: DL-CS resulted in improved image quality with an acceptable scan time, and demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance compared to CCTA, which could be an alternative to enhance the workflow of coronary MRA. KEY POINTS: Current coronary MRA techniques are limited by scan time and the need for noise reduction. DL-CS reduced the scan time in coronary MR angiography. Deep learning achieved the highest image quality among the three methods. Deep learning-based coronary MR angiography demonstrated high performance compared to CT angiography.

The additional value of myocardial T1ρ mapping to T1 and T2 mapping for predicting subsequent cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction in breast cancer patients who received anthracyclines with/without trastuzumab.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe changes in parameters derived from myocardial T1ρ, T1, and T2 mapping and assess whether incorporating T1ρ mapping improves the predictive performance of T1 and T2 mapping for subsequent cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) in breast cancer patients treated with anthracyclines with/without trastuzumab. METHODS: From March 2021 to May 2023, 82 participants with breast cancer treated with anthracyclines with/without trastuzumab were prospectively recruited. Cardiac magnetic resonance was performed at baseline, 3 and 6 months in relation to baseline. T1ρ, T1 and T2 values were measured and compared by repeated measures analyses of variance. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis were used to assess the performance in predicting subsequent CTRCD. RESULTS: Nineteen (23.17 %) participants developed CTRCD. T1ρ and T1 values progressively increased over time (all p < 0.001), while T2 values increased at 3 (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively) and 6 months (all p < 0.001) compared to baseline in both the CTRCD (+) and CTRCD (-) groups. The changes in T1ρ (OR, 3.892, p = 0.003) and T1 (OR, 1.082, p = 0.002) from baseline to 3 months were associated with subsequent CTRCD. The combination of the changes in T1ρ and T1 from baseline to 3 months obtained an improved area under the curve of 0.853. CONCLUSION: T1ρ, T1 and T2 increased after treatment of anthracyclines with/without trastuzumab. Myocardial T1ρ mapping provides additional predictive value to T1 mapping for subsequent CTRCD in breast cancer patients who received anthracyclines with/without trastuzumab. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Myocardial T1ρ mapping offers additional predictive value to T1 and T2 mapping for subsequent CTRCD in breast cancer patients who received anthracyclines with/without trastuzumab. This may facilitate accurate prediction of cardiotoxicity and personalized treatment decision making in breast cancer.

Numerical Simulation and Microstructure Analysis of 30CrMnMoRe High-Strength Steel Welding.

Welding experiments were conducted under different currents for single-pass butt welding of high-strength steel flat plates. The microstructure of welded joints was characterized using OM, SEM, and EBSD, and the welding process was numerically simulated using a finite element method. According to the grain size obtained by electron microscope characterization and the temperature data obtained by simulation, the microstructure and mechanical properties of coarse grain and fine grain areas of the heat-affected zone were predicted by using the material microstructure and property simulation software. Finally, the results of mechanical properties simulation were verified through mechanical property testing.

Fucoxanthin Attenuates Angiogenesis by Blocking the VEGFR2-Mediated Signaling Pathway through Binding the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

Fucoxanthin, a dietary carotenoid, is predominantly found in edible brown algae and is commonly consumed worldwide. Fucoxanthin has been shown to possess beneficial health activities such as antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antiobesity; however, the effects of fucoxanthin on VEGF-mediated angiogenesis and its possible binding with VEGF are unknown. Here, different lines of evidence supported the suppressive roles of fucoxanthin in VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells, fucoxanthin remarkedly suppressed VEGF-mediated cell proliferative, migration, and invasive abilities, as well as tube formation, without cytotoxicity. In addition, fucoxanthin inhibited the subintestinal vessel formation of zebrafish in vivo. In signaling cascades, fucoxanthin was proposed to interact with VEGF, thus attenuating VEGF's functions in activating the VEGF receptor and its related downstream signaling, i.e., phosphorylations of MEK and Erk. Fucoxanthin also significantly blocked VEGF-triggered ROS formation. Furthermore, the outcomes of applying fucoxanthin in cancer cells were identified, which included (i) inhibiting VEGF-mediated cell proliferation and migration and (ii) inhibiting NF-κB translocation via limiting MMP2 expression. These lines of investigations supported the antiangiogenic roles of fucoxanthin, as well as reviewing its signaling mechanisms, in blocking the VEGF-triggered responses. The results would benefit the potential development of fucoxanthin for the prevention and treatment of angiogenesis-related diseases.

Significant correlations between heavy metals and prokaryotes in the Okinawa Trough hydrothermal sediments.

Prokaryotes play crucial roles in hydrothermal vent ecosystems, yet their interactions with heavy metals are not well understood. This study explored the diversity of prokaryotic communities and their correlations with heavy metals and nutrient elements in hydrothermal sediments from Okinawa Trough. A total of 117 bacterial genera in 26 bacterial phyla and 10 archaeal classes in 3 archaeal phyla were identified, including dominant prokaryotic phyla Planctomycetes, Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Euryarchaeota. Furthermore, Fe (39.61 mg/g), Mn (2.84 mg/g) and Ba (0.36 mg/g) were found to be the most abundant heavy metals in the Okinawa hydrothermal sediments. Notably, the concentrations of Zn, Ba, Mn, total organic carbon, and total nitrogen significantly increased, whereas the total sulfur concentration distinctively decreased at sampling sites farther from hydrothermal vents. These changes corresponded with reductions in prokaryotic abundance and diversity. Most heavy metals, including Mn, Fe, Co, Cu and As, presented significant positive correlations with a number of prokaryotic genera in the nearby sediment samples. In contrast, both positive and negative correlations with prokaryotes were observed in remote sediment. The keystone taxa include Magnetospirillum, GOUTA19, Lysobacter, Kaistobacter, Treponema, and Clostridium were detected through prokaryote interspecies interactions. The functional predictions revealed significant genes involved in carbon fixation, nitrogen/sulfur cycling, heat shock protein, and metal resistance pathways. Structural equation modeling confirmed that metal and nutrient elements directly influence the composition of prokaryotic communities, which in turn affects the relative abundance of functional genes.

Bioactive polysaccharides mediate ferroptosis to modulate tumor immunotherapy.

Polysaccharides from diverse origins exhibit notable bioactivities, particularly their capacity to exert antitumor and immune-enhancing effects. Concurrently, ferroptosis emerges as a distinctive form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, potentially influencing the demise of specific tumor cells and organismal homeostasis. Recent scholarly attention has increasingly focused on utilizing polysaccharides to modulate tumor cell ferroptosis and manipulate cellular immune responses. This article provides an in-depth analysis of contemporary research concerning using polysaccharides to augment antitumor immunity and combat malignancies. Central to our discourse is examining the pivotal role of polysaccharides in mediating ferroptosis, bolstering immune surveillance, and elucidating the interplay between polysaccharides and antitumor immunity. Furthermore, a comprehensive synthesis of the multifaceted roles of polysaccharides in antitumor and immunomodulatory contexts is provided. Recent advances in understanding how polysaccharides enhance immune function by inducing ferroptosis cell death are explained. Lastly, unresolved inquiries are outlined, and potential avenues for future research are proposed, focusing on the translational applications of polysaccharides in antitumor immunotherapy.

Structurally Diverse Secondary Metabolites from a Deep-sea Derived Cladosporium sp. SCSIO 41318 and Their Biological Evaluation.

Four new compounds, including one drimane sesquiterpene lactone (1), one isocoumarin (2), one coumarin (3), and a new natural product (4), as well as fourteen known compounds were obtained from a deep-sea derived Cladosporium sp. SCSIO 41318. The structures of the new compounds were determined using extensive NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic analysis, electronic circular dichroism calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. Biological assays showed that compounds (1, 6, 7, 9-12, 14, 15, 17, 18) exhibited varying degrees of antimicrobial activity against the tested human pathogenic bacteria and plant pathogenic fungi. Besides, penicitrinone A (11) and penicitrinol A (12) displayed weak antitumor activities against the 22Rv1 cell line.

High-Performance Metabolic Profiling of High-Risk Thyroid Nodules by ZrMOF Hybrids.

Thyroid nodules (TNs) have emerged as the most prevalent endocrine disorder in China. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) remains the standard diagnostic method for assessing TN malignancy, although a majority of FNA results indicate benign conditions. Balancing diagnostic accuracy while mitigating overdiagnosis in patients with benign nodules poses a significant clinical challenge. Precise, noninvasive, and high-throughput screening methods for high-risk TN diagnosis are highly desired but remain less explored. Developing such approaches can improve the accuracy of noninvasive methods like ultrasound imaging and reduce overdiagnosis of benign nodule patients caused by invasive procedures. Herein, we investigate the application of gold-doped zirconium-based metal-organic framework (ZrMOF/Au) nanostructures for metabolic profiling of thyroid diseases. This approach enables the efficient extraction of urine metabolite fingerprints with high throughput, low background noise, and reproducibility. Utilizing partial least-squares discriminant analysis and four machine learning models, including neural network (NN), random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), and support vector machine (SVM), we achieved an enhanced diagnostic accuracy (98.6%) for discriminating thyroid cancer (TC) from low-risk TNs by using a diagnostic panel. Through the analysis of metabolic differences, potential pathway changes between benign nodule and malignancy are identified. This work explores the potential of rapid thyroid disease screening using the ZrMOF/Au-assisted LDI-MS platform, providing a potential method for noninvasive screening of thyroid malignant tumors. Integrating this approach with imaging technologies such as ultrasound can enhance the reliability of noninvasive diagnostic methods for malignant tumor screening, helping to prevent unnecessary invasive procedures and reducing the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment in patients with benign nodules.

Effects of nasal allergens and environmental particulate matter on brainstem metabolites and the consequence of brain-spleen axis in allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: The growing consensus links exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) with an increased risk of respiratory diseases. However, little is known about the additional effects of particulate matter on brainstem function in allergic rhinitis (AR). Furthermore, it is unknown to what extent the PM2.5-induced effects in the brainstem affect the inflammatory response in AR. This study aimed to determine the effects, mechanisms and consequences of brainstem neural activity altered by allergenic stimulation and PM2.5 exposure. METHODS: Using an AR model of ovalbumin (OVA) elicitation and whole-body PM2.5 exposure, the metabolic profile of the brainstem post-allergen stimulation was characterized through in vivo proton magnetic resonance imaging (1H-MRS). Then, the transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) neuronal expression and sensitivity in the trigeminal nerve in AR were investigated. The link between TRPV1 expression and brainstem differential metabolites was also determined. Finally, we evaluated the mediating effects of brainstem metabolites and the consequences in the brain-spleen axis in the inflammatory response of AR. RESULTS: Exposure to allergens and PM2.5 led to changes in the metabolic profiles of the brainstem, particularly affecting levels of glutamine (Gln) and glutamate (Glu). This exposure also increased the expression and sensitivity of TRPV1+ neurons in the trigeminal nerve, with the levels of TRPV1 expression closely linked to the brainstem metabolism of Glu and Gln. Moreover, allergens increased the activity of p38, while PM2.5 led to the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK, resulting in the upregulation of TRPV1 expression. The brainstem metabolites Glu and Gln were found to partially mediate the impact of TRPV1 on AR inflammation, which was supported by the presence of pro-inflammatory changes in the brain-spleen axis. CONCLUSION: Brainstem metabolites are altered under allergen stimulation and additional PM2.5 exposure in AR via sensitization of the trigeminal nerve, which exacerbates the inflammatory response via the brain-splenic axis.

Biodiversity, Distribution and Functional Differences of Fungi in Four Species of Corals from the South China Sea, Elucidated by High-Throughput Sequencing Technology.

Recent studies have predominantly spotlighted bacterial diversity within coral microbiomes, leaving coral-associated fungi in the shadows of scientific inquiry. This study endeavors to fill this knowledge gap by delving into the biodiversity, distribution and functional differences of fungi associated with soft corals Cladiella krempfi and Sarcophyton tortuosum, gorgonian coral Dichotella gemmacea and stony coral Favia speciosa from the South China Sea. Leveraging high-throughput sequencing of fungal internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS1) region of the rRNA gene, a total of 431 fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified in this study, which indicated that a large number of fungal communities were harbored in the South China Sea corals. Noteworthy among our findings is that 10 fungal genera are reported for the first time in corals, with Candolleomyces, Exophiala, Fomitopsis, Inaequalispora, Kneiffiella, Paraphaeosphaeria, and Yamadazyma belonging to the Ascomycota, and Cystobasidium, Psathyrella, and Solicoccozyma to the Basidiomycota. Moreover, significant differences (p < 0.05) of fungal communities were observed among the various coral species. In particular, the gorgonian coral D. gemmacea emerged as a veritable haven for fungal diversity, boasting 307 unique ASVs. Contrastingly, soft corals S. tortuosum and C. krempfi exhibited modest fungal diversity, with 36 and 21 unique ASVs, respectively, while the stony coral F. speciosa hosted a comparatively sparse fungal community, with merely 10 unique ASVs in total. These findings not only provide basic data on fungal diversity and function in the South China Sea corals, but also underscore the imperative of nuanced conservation and management strategies for coral reef ecosystems worldwide.

Lacticaseibacillus casei IB1 Alleviates DSS-Induced Inflammatory Bowel Disease by Regulating the Microbiota and Restoring the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is becoming an increasingly serious health problem in humans and animals. Probiotics can inhibit the development of IBD. Due to the specificity of the strains, the function and mechanism of action of different strains are still unclear. Here, a DSS-induced colitis mouse model was utilized to investigate the ability and mechanism by which Lacticaseibacillus casei IB1 alleviates colitis. Treatment with L. casei IB1 improved DSS-induced colitis in mice, as indicated by increased body weight, colon length, and goblet cell numbers and decreased disease activity index (DAI), proinflammatory factor (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6) levels, and histopathological scores after intake of IB1. IB1 supplementation also improved the expression of tight junction proteins and inhibited the activation of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways to alleviate intestinal inflammation. In addition, IB1 rebalanced the intestinal microbial composition of colitis mice by increasing the abundance of Faecalibaculum and Alistipes and decreasing the abundance of Bacteroides and Escherichia_Shigella. In summary, L. casei IB1 showed great potential for relieving colitis by regulating the microbiota and restoring the epithelial barrier. It can be used as a potential probiotic for the prevention and treatment of UC in the future.

Effects of Dietary Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SCAU-070 (Based on a Woody Plant-Based Diet) on Antioxidation, Immune and Intestinal Microbiota of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

This study aimed to explore the effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BA) as one woody forage addition (as a probiotic, 1 × 107 CFU/g) on tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Woody forage is one kind of fishery feed that could significantly enhance the growth, feed utilization, and digestibility of tilapia. At first, tilapia was divided into eight groups and fed with control, control + BA, Moringa oleifera, M. oleifera + BA, Neolamarckia cadamba, N. cadamba + BA, Broussonetia papyrifera, and B. papyrifera + BA diets, respectively. After dieting for 8 weeks, the intestinal morphology of tilapia in the eight groups was observed, and the effects of the B. amyloliquefaciens addition and wordy forage on the intestine functions were analyzed by two-way ANOVA. As no significant negative effects were found on the woody forage on tilapia, the villus height, density and width, and epithelial goblet cells in the posterior intestines of tilapia with BA supplementation were greater than those in the groups without BA supplementation, suggesting B. amyloliquefaciens SCAU-070 could promote the growth and development of tilapia intestinal tracts. Furthermore, it was found that B. amyloliquefaciens SCAU-070 enhanced the antioxidation capacity of tilapia posterior intestine tissue by promoting the activity of superoxide dismutase and content of malondialdehyde. In addition, the result of high-throughput sequencing (16S rDNA) showed that the beneficial bacteria Cetobacterium and Romboutsia in the probiotic groups increased significantly, while the potential pathogenic bacteria Acinetobacter decreased significantly.

Tripartite Motif-Containing Protein 65 (TRIM65) Inhibits Hepatitis B Virus Transcription.

Tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins, comprising a family of over 100 members with conserved motifs, exhibit diverse biological functions. Several TRIM proteins influence viral infections through direct antiviral mechanisms or by regulating host antiviral innate immune responses. To identify TRIM proteins modulating hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, we assessed 45 human TRIMs in HBV-transfected HepG2 cells. Our study revealed that ectopic expression of 12 TRIM proteins significantly reduced HBV RNA and subsequent capsid-associated DNA levels. Notably, TRIM65 uniquely downregulated viral pregenomic (pg) RNA in an HBV-promoter-specific manner, suggesting a targeted antiviral effect. Mechanistically, TRIM65 inhibited HBV replication primarily at the transcriptional level via its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and intact B-box domain. Though HNF4α emerged as a potential TRIM65 substrate, disrupting its binding site on the HBV genome did not completely abolish TRIM65's antiviral effect. In addition, neither HBx expression nor cellular MAVS signaling was essential to TRIM65-mediated regulation of HBV transcription. Furthermore, CRISPR-mediated knock-out of TRIM65 in the HepG2-NTCP cells boosted HBV infection, validating its endogenous role. These findings underscore TRIM proteins' capacity to inhibit HBV transcription and highlight TRIM65's pivotal role in this process.

Potentials of Ulva spp.-derived sulfated polysaccharides as gelling agents with promising therapeutic effects.

Ulvan, a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from Ulva spp., has garnered significant attention in the food and pharmaceutical industries due to its potential health benefits. These include immunomodulation, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-cancer effects. Nonetheless, practical applications in these fields remain limited due to an incomplete understanding of its gelation mechanisms. Additionally, the underlying mechanisms of its gelation have not been completely understood and thoroughly reviewed. The primary objective is to provide current insights into ulvan's gelling mechanisms and potential health impacts. This review also delves into the existing applications of ulvan polysaccharides. By unraveling these aspects, the information provided in this work is expected to deepen our understanding of ulvan's gelation mechanisms and its prospective role in enhancing health, holding promise for advancements in the fields of food science and disease prevention. This work's theoretical insights contribute significantly to a deeper understanding of these aspects, which holds paramount importance in unleashing the full potential of ulvan and elevating its scientific significance.

Oxidative Tandem Cyclization of Aromatic Acids with (Benzo)thiophenes: One-Pot Access to Planar Sulfur-Containing Polycyclic Heteroarenes for Lipid-Droplet-Targeted Probes.

The efficient construction of π-conjugated polycyclic heteroarenes represents a significant task in the field of functional materials. A one-step oxidative tandem cyclization of aromatic acids with (benzo)thiophenes was developed to access planar sulfur-containing polycyclic heteroarenes. This protocol undergoes intermolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling followed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation and provides a facile pathway to planar polycyclic compounds from inexpensive reactants. The synthesized heteroarenes serving as lipid-droplet-targeted probes exhibit outstanding performance with favorable biocompatibility and photostability.