Protein expression patterns and metal metabolites in a protogynous hermaphrodite fish, the ricefield eel (Monopterus albus).

BACKGROUND: The ricefield eel Monopterus albus undergoes a natural sex change from female to male during its life cycle, and previous studies have shown the potential mechanisms of this transition at the transcriptional and protein levels. However, the changes in protein levels have not been fully explored, especially in the intersexual stage. RESULTS: In the present study, the protein expression patterns in the gonadal tissues from five different periods, the ovary (OV), early intersexual stage gonad (IE), middle intersexual stage gonad (IM), late intersexual stage gonad (IL), and testis (TE), were determined by untargeted proteomics sequencing. A total of 5125 proteins and 394 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were detected in the gonadal tissues. Of the 394 DEPs, there were 136 between the OV and IE groups, 20 between the IM and IE groups, 179 between the IL and IM groups, and 59 between the TE and IL groups. Three candidate proteins, insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 isoform X1 (Igf2bp3), triosephosphate isomerase (Tpi), and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase isoform X1 [(Cu-Zn) Sod1], were validated by western blotting to verify the reliability of the data. Furthermore, metal metabolite-related proteins were enriched in the IL vs. IM groups and TE vs. IL groups, which had close relationships with sex change, including Cu2+-, Ca2+-, Zn2+- and Fe2+/Fe3+-related proteins. Analysis of the combined transcriptome data revealed consistent protein/mRNA expression trends for two metal metabolite-related proteins/genes [LOC109953912 and calcium Binding Protein 39 Like (cab39l)]. Notably, we detected significantly higher levels of Cu2+ during the sex change process, suggesting that Cu2+ is a male-related metal metabolite that may have an important function in male reproductive development. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, we analyzed the protein profiles of ricefield eel gonadal tissues in five sexual stages (OV, IE, IM, IL, and TE) and verified the plausibility of the data. After preforming the functional enrichment of metal metabolite-related DEPs, we detected the contents of the metal metabolites Zn2+, Cu2+, Ca2+, and Fe2+/Fe3+ at these five stages and screened for (Cu-Zn) Sod1 and Mmp-9 as possible key proteins in the sex reversal process.

Population structure and adaptability analysis of Schizothorax o'connori based on whole-genome resequencing.

BACKGROUND: Schizothorax o'connori is an endemic fish distributed in the upper and lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River in China. It has experienced a fourth round of whole gene replication events and is a good model for exploring the genetic differentiation and environmental adaptability of fish in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has led to changes in the river system, thereby affecting gene exchange and population differentiation between fish populations. With the release of fish whole genome data, whole genome resequencing has been widely used in genetic evolutionary analysis and screening of selected genes in fish, which can better elucidate the genetic basis and molecular environmental adaptation mechanisms of fish. Therefore, our purpose of this study was to understand the population structure and adaptive characteristics of S. o'connori using the whole-genome resequencing method. RESULTS: The results showed that 23,602,746 SNPs were identified from seven populations, mostly distributed on chromosomes 2 and 23. There was no significant genetic differentiation between the populations, and the genetic diversity was relatively low. However, the Zangga population could be separated from the Bomi, Linzhi, and Milin populations in the cluster analysis. Based on historical dynamics analysis of the population, the size of the ancestral population of S. o'connori was affected by the late accelerated uplift of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau and the Fourth Glacial Age. The selected sites were mostly enriched in pathways related to DNA repair and energy metabolism. CONCLUSION: Overall, the whole-genome resequencing analysis provides valuable insights into the population structure and adaptive characteristics of S. o'connori. There was no obvious genetic differentiation at the genome level between the S. o'connori populations upstream and downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River. The current distribution pattern and genetic diversity are influenced by the late accelerated uplift of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau and the Fourth Ice Age. The selected sites of S. o'connori are enriched in the energy metabolism and DNA repair pathways to adapt to the low temperature and strong ultraviolet radiation environment at high altitude.

Small Bowel Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: The Value of CT Enterography in Assessing Pathological Aggressiveness.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize the computed tomography (CT) enterography features of the small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and to determine the association with pathological aggressiveness. METHODS: Computed tomography enterography images of 30 patients with the histologically confirmed small bowel GIST were retrospectively enrolled. Tumor size, location, border, growth pattern, enhancement pattern, necrosis, calcification, ulceration, internal air, nodal metastasis, liver metastasis, peritoneal metastasis, and draining vein were evaluated. Relationships between imaging features and pathological aggressiveness were analyzed using χ2 test or Fisher exact test. Correlations among CT features were analyzed using Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: There were significant differences in tumor size between different risk levels (F = 8.388, P < 0.001). There were statistically significant differences in the 5 imaging manifestations of necrosis, ulcer, tumor boundary, drainage vein, and intratumoral gas (P < 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between tumor size and enhancement type as well as clear tumor boundary. There was a significant positive correlation between tumor size and necrosis, ulcer, drainage vein, intratumoral gas, liver metastasis, and peritoneal metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Some CT enterography imaging features might be useful in the determination of the pathological aggressiveness in the patients with small bowel GIST.

Changes in, and factors associated with family functioning: results of four cross-sectional household surveys from 2011 to 2017 in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has well-documented that family functioning is an important predictor of individuals' physical and mental health. However, relatively little research has explored family functioning at the family and population levels, such as changes in family functioning across years and whether predictors of family functioning differ across different family structures. Understanding of the changes in family functioning across years and factors promoting family functioning will inform the development of preventive measures to enhance family health and resilience. Objectives of the study were: (1) to examine the changes in family functioning across a 6-year study period and (2) to study protective factors associated with family functioning and the extent to which the factors are the same or different across different family structures. METHOD: The study involved secondary data analysis of the biannual Family Survey carried out by the Family Council, an advisory body to the Hong Kong government. A series of ANOVA and regression analyses were conducted using data of four population-based cross-sectional household surveys conducted in Hong Kong in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. RESULTS: There were some fluctuations in overall family functioning scores across the study period, but no significant difference was found between the scores in 2011 and 2017. Different predictors of family functioning were found for different family types, and frequent family communication was a common protective factor for most family types, including never married, married/cohabiting with children, and married/cohabiting with no children. CONCLUSION: The study is among the first to examine changes in family functioning at the population level. Monitoring and addressing family functioning may help tackle various social problems and future public health crises. Interventions to promote family functioning should address both common and different protective factors of different family types.

Altered Neuromagnetic Activity in the Default Mode Network in Migraine and Its Subgroups (Episodic Migraine and Chronic Migraine).

BACKGROUND: The differences in the resting state spectral power and functional connectivity of the default mode network between people with migraine without aura (MwoA) and its subgroups differentiated by frequency (episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM)) and healthy controls (HC) were investigated using magnetoencephalography. METHODS: In the resting state, the topological spatial structure of the brain in 33 MwoA patients and 22 HC was first studied using magnetoencephalography, followed by probing the neuroelectrical activity of 17 CM and 16 EM patients, to identify damage to their default mode network (DMN). The techniques used to investigate both spectral power and functional connectivity were minimum-paradigm estimation combined with Welch's technique and corrected amplitude envelope correlation. RESULTS: The differences between MwoA and its subgroups (CM and EM) and HC based on spectral power were mainly in the delta, theta, and alpha bands, while the differences in functional connectivity were primarily in the delta, alpha, and beta bands. In the delta and theta bands, the spectral power of MwoA and its subgroups (CM and EM) was higher than in the HC group. The spectral power of MwoA and its subgroups (CM and EM) was lower in the alpha band. In terms of functional connectivity, the corrected amplitude envelope correlation of MwoA and its subgroups (CM and EM) was lower than the HC group in the bands with spectral differences. People with EM and CM differed in the spectral power in the left medial prefrontal cortex and the right lateral temporal cortex in the alpha band, where correlation analysis and logistic regression analysis showed that the intensity of the spectral power of the left medial prefrontal cortex was negatively correlated with headache frequency. CONCLUSIONS: The spectral power of the left medial prefrontal cortex in the alpha band may serve as a biomarker that is associated with the number of monthly headache attacks and may be a potential neuromodulatory target for controlling migraine chronicity.

Bacterial carbonic anhydrase-induced carbonates mitigate soil erosion in biological soil crusts.

Soil erosion is a significant environmental issue worldwide, particularly in island regions where land resources are exceedingly scarce. Biological soil crusts play a crucial role in mitigating soil erosion, yet the precise effect and mechanism of biological soil crusts against erosion remain ambiguous. In this study, biological soil crusts at various developmental stages from a tropical coral island in the South China Sea were chosen to investigate the role of carbonic anhydrase in mitigating erosion. A cohesive strength meter, real-time quantitative PCR, and 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing were employed to assess variations in soil antiscouribility as well as bacterial abundance and composition during the formation and development of biological soil crusts. Scanning electron microscopy was utilized to detect carbonates induced by bacterial carbonic anhydrase and elucidate their role in the solidification of sand particles. The findings indicate that the formation and development of biological soil crusts significantly enhance anti-scouribility. Comparison to those of bare coral sand, the shear stress increased from 0.35 to 1.11 N/m2 in the dark biocrusts. Moreover, significantly elevated carbonic anhydrase activity was observed in biological soil crusts, demonstrating a positive correlation with antiscouribility. In addition, there was a significant increase in bacterial abundance within the biological soil crusts. The enrichment of Cyanobacteriales and Chloroflexales potentially contributed to the increased carbonic anhydrase activity and antiscouribility. Furthermore, three cyanobacterial strains with carbonic anhydrase activity were isolated from biological soil crusts and subsequently confirmed to enhance sand solidification through microbial carbonate precipitation. This study presents initial evidence for the role of microbial carbonic anhydrase in enhancing the antiscouribility of biological soil crusts during their formation and development. These findings offer novel insights into the functional and mechanistic dimensions underlying the mitigation of soil erosion facilitated by biological soil crusts, which are valuable for implementing sustainable biorestoration and environmental management technologies to prevent soil erosion.

Spartina alterniflora invasion altered phosphorus retention and microbial phosphate solubilization of the Minjiang estuary wetland in southeastern China.

Spartina alterniflora invasion is considered a critical event affecting sediment phosphorus (P) availability and stock. However, P retention and microbial phosphate solubilization in the sediments invaded with or without S. alterniflora have not been fully investigated. In this study, a sequential fractionation method and high-throughput sequencing were used to analyze P transformation and the underlying microbial mechanisms in the sediments of no plant (NP) zone, transition (T) zone, and plant (P) zone. Results showed that except for organic phosphate (OP), total phosphate (TP), inorganic phosphate (IP), and available phosphate (AP) all followed a significant decrease trend from the NP site to the T site, and to the P site. The vertical decrease of TP, IP, and AP was also observed with an increase in soil depth. Among the six IP fractions, Fe-P, Oc-P, and Ca10-P were the predominant forms, while the presence of S. alterniflora resulted in an obvious P depletion except for Ca8-P and Al-P. Although S. alterniflora invasion did not significantly alter the alpha diversity of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) harboring phoD gene, several PSB belonging to p_Proteobacteria, p_Planctomycetes, and p_Cyanobacteriota showed close correlations with P speciation and IP fractions. Further correlation analysis revealed that the reduced soil pH, soil TN and soil EC, and the increased soil TOC mediated by the invasion of S. alterniflora also significantly correlated to these PSB. Overall, this study elucidates the linkage between PSB and P speciation and provides new insights into understanding P retention and microbial P transformation in the coastal sediment invaded by S. alterniflora.

The relationship between weight-adjusted-waist index and suicidal ideation: evidence from NHANES.

BACKGROUND: Amidst growing evidence of the intricate link between physical and mental health, this study aims to dissect the relationship between the waist-to-weight index (WWI) and suicidal ideation within a representative sample of the US population, proposing WWI as a novel metric for suicide risk assessment. METHODS: The study engaged a sample of 9500 participants in a cross-sectional design. It employed multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses to probe the association between WWI and suicidal ideation. It further examined potential nonlinear dynamics using a weighted generalized additive model alongside stratified analyses to test the relationship's consistency across diverse demographic and health variables. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between increased WWI and heightened suicidal ideation, characterized by a nonlinear relationship that persisted in the adjusted model. Subgroup analysis sustained the association's uniformity across varied population segments. CONCLUSIONS: The study elucidates WWI's effectiveness as a predictive tool for suicidal ideation, underscoring its relevance in mental health evaluations. By highlighting the predictive value of WWI, our findings advocate for the integration of body composition considerations into mental health risk assessments, thereby broadening the scope of suicide prevention strategies.

Dysbiosis of oropharyngeal microbiome and antibiotic resistance in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is ongoing and multiple studies have elucidated its pathogenesis, however, the related- microbiome imbalance caused by SARS-CoV-2 is still not clear. In this study, we have comprehensively compared the microbiome composition and associated function alterations in the oropharyngeal swabs of healthy controls and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with moderate or severe symptoms by metatranscriptomic sequencing. We did observe a reduced microbiome alpha-diversity but significant enrichment of opportunistic microorganisms in patients with COVID-19 compared with healthy controls, and the microbial homeostasis was rebuilt following the recovery of COVID-19 patients. Correspondingly, less functional genes in multiple biological processes and weakened metabolic pathways such as carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism were also observed in COVID-19 patients. We only found higher relative abundance of limited genera such as Lachnoanaerobaculum between severe patients and moderate patients while no worthy-noting microbiome diversity and function alteration were observed. Finally, we noticed that the co-occurrence of antibiotic resistance and virulence was closely related to the microbiome alteration caused by SRAS-CoV-2. Overall, our findings demonstrate that microbial dysbiosis may enhance the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and the antibiotics treatment should be critically considered.

Efficacy of an internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for subthreshold depression among Chinese adults: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Subthreshold depression (sD) negatively impacts well-being and psychosocial function and is more prevalent compared with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, as adults with sD are less likely to seek face-to-face intervention, internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (ICBT) may overcome barriers of accessibility to psychotherapy. Although several trials explored the efficacy of ICBT for sD, the results remain inconsistent. This study evaluated whether ICBT is effective in reducing depressive symptoms among Chinese adults with sD. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was performed. The participants were randomly assigned to 5 weeks of ICBT, group-based face-to-face cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or a waiting list (WL). Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention and at a 6-month follow-up. The primary outcome measured depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Outcomes were analyzed using a mixed-effects model to assess the effects of ICBT. RESULTS: ICBT participants reported greater reductions on all the outcomes compared to the WL group at post-intervention. The ICBT group showed larger improvement on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at post-intervention (d = 0.12) and at follow-up (d = 0.10), and with CES-D at post-intervention (d = 0.06), compared to the CBT group. CONCLUSIONS: ICBT is effective in reducing depressive symptoms among Chinese adults with sD, and improvements in outcomes were sustained at a 6-month follow-up. Considering the low rates of face-to-face psychotherapy, our findings highlight the considerable potential and implications for the Chinese government to promote the use of ICBT for sD in China.

The relationship between coronary artery calcification and bone metabolic markers in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: To study the influencing factors for coronary artery calcification (CAC) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and the relationship between CAC and bone metabolism markers and to attempt to find a reliable marker linking vascular calcification and bone metabolism in MHD patients. METHODS: A total of 123 patients were enrolled. CAC was assessed by multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT), and the CAC score (CACS) was evaluated using the Agaston method. Routine laboratory parameters, including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), glucose (Glu), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), etc., were measured. Serum markers of bone metabolism, such as alkaline phosphatase(ALP), calcitonin (CT), 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25-(OH)D], intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), total type I procollagen amino-terminal peptide (tPINP), N-terminal mid-fragment of osteocalcin (N-MID OC), and ß-type I collagen crosslinked carboxyl-terminal peptide (ß-CTX), were also measured. RESULTS: Among 123 MHD patients, 37 patients (30.08%) did not have CAC, and 86 patients (69.92%) had CAC, including 41 patients (47.67%) with mild calcification and 45 patients (52.33%) with moderate to severe calcification. Age, Body Mass Index(BMI), the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, TC, Glu, P, and Ca×P in the calcification group were higher than those in the noncalcification group, whereas Mg, iPTH, tPINP, N-MID OC, and ß-CTX were lower than those in the noncalcified group (P < 0.05). Compared with the mild calcification group (0 0.05). A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the influencing factors for CAC. The results showed that age, BMI, TC, Glu, P, and Ca×P were risk factors for CAC and its severity in MHD patients, whereas diabetes mellitus, Mg, and N-MID OC were protective factors for CAC in MHD patients. In addition, N-MID OC was a protective factor for the severity of CAC. After adjusting for the corresponding confounding factors, the results of the risk factors were consistent, and N-MID OC was still an independent protective factor for CAC and its severity. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum P and Ca×P were independent risk factors for CAC in MHD patients, and serum Mg may be an independent protective factor for CAC. CAC was closely related to abnormal bone metabolism and bone metabolic markers in MHD patients. Relatively low bone turnover can promote the occurrence and development of CAC. N-MID OC may be a reliable bone metabolic marker linking vascular calcification and bone metabolism in MHD patients.

Occurrence of OCPs & PCBs and their effects on multitrophic biological communities in riparian groundwater of the Beiluo River, China.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) may exert adverse effects on human and ecosystem health. However, as an ecologically fragile zone with strong interaction between river and groundwater, the POPs pollution in the riparian zone has received little attention. The goal of this research is to examine the concentrations, spatial distribution, potential ecological risks, and biological effects of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the riparian groundwater of the Beiluo River, China. The results showed that the pollution level and ecological risk of OCPs in riparian groundwater of the Beiluo River were higher than PCBs. The presence of PCBs (Penta-CBs, Hexa-CBs) and CHLs, respectively, may have reduced the richness of bacteria (Firmicutes) and fungi (Ascomycota). Furthermore, the richness and Shannon's diversity index of algae (Chrysophyceae and Bacillariophyta) decreased, which could be linked to the presence of OCPs (DDTs, CHLs, DRINs), and PCBs (Penta-CBs, Hepta-CBs), while for metazoans (Arthropoda) the tendency was reversed, presumably as a result of SULPHs pollution. In the network analysis, core species belonging to bacteria (Proteobacteria), fungi (Ascomycota), and algae (Bacillariophyta) played essential roles in maintaining community function. Burkholderiaceae and Bradyrhizobium can be considered biological indicators of PCBs pollution in the Beiluo River. Note that the core species of interaction network, playing a fundamental role in community interactions, are strongly affected by POPs pollutants. This work provides insights into the functions of multitrophic biological communities in maintaining the stability of riparian ecosystems through the response of core species to riparian groundwater POPs contamination.

Effects of Biological Nitrogen Metabolism on Glufosinate-Susceptible and -Resistant Goosegrass (Eleusine indica L.).

Glufosinate is a broad-spectrum herbicide used to control most weeds in agriculture worldwide. Goosegrass (Eleusine indica L.) is one of the top ten malignant weeds across the world, showing high tolerance to glufosinate via different mechanisms that are not yet fully understood. This study revealed that nitrogen metabolism could be a target-resistant site, providing clues to finally clarify the mechanism of glufosinate resistance in resistant goosegrass populations. Compared to susceptible goosegrass (NX), the resistant goosegrass (AUS and CS) regarding the stress of glufosinate showed stronger resistance with lower ammonia contents, higher target enzyme GS (glutamine synthetase) activity, and lower GOGAT (glutamine 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase) activity. The GDH (glutamate dehydrogenase) activity of another pathway increased, but its gene expression was downregulated in resistant goosegrass (AUS). Analyzing the transcriptome and proteome data of goosegrass under glufosinate stress at 36 h showed that the KEGG pathway of the nitrogen metabolism was enriched in glufosinate-susceptible goosegrass (NX), but not in glufosinate-resistant goosegrass (CS and AUS). Several putative target genes involved in glufosinate stress countermeasures were identified. This study provides specific insights into the nitrogen metabolism of resistant goosegrass, and gives a basis for future functional verification of glufosinate-tolerance genes in plants.

FoxH1 Represses the Promoter Activity of cyp19a1a in the Ricefield Eel (Monopterus albus).

Forkhead box H1 (FoxH1) is a sexually dimorphic gene in Oreochromis niloticus, Oplegnathus fasciatus, and Acanthopagrus latus, indicating that it is essential for gonadal development. In the present study, the molecular characteristics and potential function of FoxH1 and the activation of the cyp19a1a promoter in vitro were evaluated in Monopterus albus. The levels of foxh1 in the ovaries were three times higher than those in the testes and were regulated by gonadotropins (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin). FoxH1 colocalized with Cyp19a1a in the oocytes and granulosa cells of middle and late vitellogenic follicles. In addition, three FoxH1 binding sites were identified in the proximal promoter of cyp19a1a, namely, FH1 (-871/-860), FH2 (-535/-524), and FH3 (-218/-207). FoxH1 overexpression significantly attenuated the activity of the cyp19a1a promoter in CHO cells, and FH1/2 mutation increased promoter activity. Taken together, these results suggest that FoxH1 may act as an important regulator in the ovarian development of M. albus by repressing cyp19a1a promoter activity, which provides a foundation for the study of FoxH1 function in bony fish reproductive processes.

Diphenyl Diselenide-Assisted Radical Addition Reaction of Diphenyl Disulfide to Unsaturated Bonds upon Photoirradiation.

The addition reaction of interelement compounds with heteroatom-heteroatom single bonds to unsaturated bonds under photoirradiation is an important method for the efficient and atom-economical construction of carbon-heteroatom bonds. However, in practice, the desired addition reaction is sometimes unable to proceed as expected due to the low efficiency of the desired addition reactions or the preferential polymerization of unsaturated compounds. In this study, by combining an interelement compound with homologous heteroatom compounds as a catalyst, we succeeded in suppressing the polymerization of the unsaturated compounds and in attaining a highly selective carbon-heteroatom bond formation through the desired addition reaction. In this paper, we have examined in detail whether such a "catalytic radical reaction" proceeds for unsaturated compounds and found that the dithiolation of some unsaturated compounds (i.e., vinylic ethers, styrenes, and isocyanides) could proceed with the assistance of (PhSe)2 under light. The developed methods in this study are expected to have strong implications in the fields of radical chemistry, heteroatom chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, and catalyst chemistry as atom-economical methods for carbon-heteroatom bond formation.

Highly efficient isolation and purification of high-purity tea saponins from industrial camellia oil production by porous polymeric adsorbents.

BACKGROUND: Recovery of high-purity tea saponin (TS), a promising non-ionic surfactant with well-documented properties, is one of the major challenges to broadening its industrial applications. In this study, an innovative and sustainable strategy for the highly-efficient purification of TS was developed by using well-designed highly-porous polymeric adsorbents. RESULTS: The prepared Pp-A with controllable macropores (~96 nm) and appropriate surface hydrophobic properties was found more favorable for achieving high adsorption efficiency towards TS/TS-micelles. Kinetic results showed the adsorption follows the pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.9800), and the Langmuir model is more qualified to explicate the adsorption isotherms with Qe-TS ~ 675 mg g-1 . Thermodynamic studies revealed the monolayer adsorption of TS was an endothermic process that was conducted spontaneously. Interestingly, ethanol-driven desorption (90% v/v ethanol) of TS was rapidly (< 30 min) complete due to the possible ethanol-mediated disassembling of TS-micelles. A possible mechanism that involves the interactions between the adsorbents and TS/TS-micelles, the formation and disassembling of TS-micelles was proposed to account for the highly efficient purification of TS. Afterwards, Pp-A-based adsorption method was developed to purify TS directly from industrial camellia oil production. Through selective adsorption, pre-washing, and ethanol-driven desorption, the applied Pp-A enabled the direct isolation of high-purity TS (~96%) with a recovery ratio > 90%. Notably, Pp-A exhibited excellent operational stability and is of high potential for long-term industrial application. CONCLUSION: Results ensured the practical feasibility of the prepared porous adsorbents in purifying TS, and the proposed methodology is a promising industrial-scale purification strategy. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

[Significance of high expression of C5orf46 in gastric cancer and potential intervention of tarditional Chinese medicine based on bioinformatics, molecular docking, and cell experiments].

This study aims to investigate the expression, prognosis, and clinical significance of C5orf46 in gastric cancer and to study the interaction between the active components of C5orf46 and tarditional Chinese medicine. The ggplot2 package was utilized for differential expression analysis of C5orf46 in gastric cancer tissues and normal tissues. The survival package was used for survival analysis, univariate regression analysis, and multivariate regression analysis. Nomogram analysis was used to assess the connection between C5orf46 expression in gastric cancer and overall survival. The abundance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was calculated by GSVA package. Coremine database, Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP) database, and PubChem database were used to search the potential components corresponding to C5orf46 gene and tarditional Chinese medicine. Molecular docking was performed to explore the binding affinity of potential components to C5orf46. Cell experiments were performed to explore the expression of C5orf46 gene in cells of the blank group, model group, and drug administration groups. As compared with normal tissues, C5orf46 expression was higher in gastric cancer tissues, which had more significant predictive effects in the early stages(T2, N0, and M0). The more advanced the tumor node metastasis(TNM) stage, the higher the C5orf46 expression and the lower the probability of survival of patients with gastric cancer. The expression of C5orf46 positively correlated with the helper T cells1 in gastric cancer and the macrophage infiltration level in gastric cancer, and negatively correlated with B cells, central memory T cells, helper T cells 17, and follicular helper T cells. Seven potential components of C5orf46 were obtained, and three active components were obtained after the screening, which matched five tarditional Chinese medicines, namely, Sojae Semen Nigrum, Jujubae Fructus, Trichosanthis Fructus, Silybi Fructus, and Bambusae Concretio Silicea. Molecular docking revealed that sialic acid and adeno-sine monophosphate(AMP) had a good binding ability to C5orf46. The results of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) and Western blot showed that, as compared with the model group, the mRNA and protein expression levels of C5orf46 were significantly lower in the drug administration groups. The lowest expression level was found at the concentration of 40 µmol·L~(-1). The results of this study provide ideas for the clinical development of traditional Chinese medicine compounds for the treatment of gastric cancer as well as other cancers.

Identification, characterization and functional analysis of gonadal long noncoding RNAs in a protogynous hermaphroditic teleost fish, the ricefield eel (Monopterus albus).

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to play important roles in sex differentiation and gonad development by regulating gene expression at the epigenetic, transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. The ricefield eel, Monopterus albus, is a protogynous hermaphroditic fish that undergoes a sequential sex change from female to male. However, the roles of lncRNA in the sex change is unclear. RESULTS: Herein, we performed RNA sequencing to analyse lncRNA expression patterns in five different stages of M. albus development to investigate the roles of lncRNAs in the sex change process. A total of 12,746 lncRNAs (1503 known lncRNAs and 11,243 new lncRNAs) and 2901 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE-lncRNAs) were identified in the gonads. The target genes of the DE-lncRNAs included foxo1, foxm1, smad3, foxr1, camk4, ar and tgfb3, which were mainly enriched in signalling pathways related to gonadal development, such as the insulin signalling pathway, MAPK signalling pathway, and calcium signalling pathway. We selected 5 highly expressed DE-lncRNAs (LOC109952131, LOC109953466, LOC109954337, LOC109954360 and LOC109958454) for full length amplification and expression pattern verification. They were all expressed at higher levels in ovaries and intersex gonads than in testes, and exhibited specific time-dependent expression in ovarian tissue incubated with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis and a dual-luciferase assay showed that znf207, as the gene targeted by LOC109958454, was expressed in multiple tissues and gonadal developmental stages of M. albus, and its expression was also inhibited by the hormones FSH and hCG. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide new insights into the role of lncRNAs in gonad development, especially regarding natural sex changes in fish, which will be useful for enhancing our understanding of sequential hermaphroditism and sex changes in the ricefield eel (M. albus) and other teleosts.

Circular RNA expression profiles and CircSnd1-miR-135b/c-foxl2 axis analysis in gonadal differentiation of protogynous hermaphroditic ricefield eel Monopterus albus.

BACKGROUND: The expression and biological functions of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in reproductive organs have been extensively reported. However, it is still unclear whether circRNAs are involved in sex change. To this end, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed in gonads at 5 sexual stages (ovary, early intersexual stage gonad, middle intersexual stage gonad, late intersexual stage gonad, and testis) of ricefield eel, and the expression profiles and potential functions of circRNAs were studied. RESULTS: Seven hundred twenty-one circRNAs were identified, and the expression levels of 10 circRNAs were verified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and found to be in accordance with the RNA-seq data, suggesting that the RNA-seq data were reliable. Then, the sequence length, category, sequence composition and the relationship between the parent genes of the circRNAs were explored. A total of 147 circRNAs were differentially expressed in the sex change process, and GO and KEGG analyses revealed that some differentially expressed (such as novel_circ_0000659, novel_circ_0004005 and novel_circ_0005865) circRNAs were closely involved in sex change. Furthermore, expression pattern analysis demonstrated that both circSnd1 and foxl2 were downregulated in the process of sex change, which was contrary to mal-miR-135b. Finally, dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation showed that circSnd1 and foxl2 can combine with mal-miR-135b and mal-miR-135c. These data revealed that circSnd1 regulates foxl2 expression in the sex change of ricefield eel by acting as a sponge of mal-miR-135b/c. CONCLUSION: Our results are the first to demonstrate that circRNAs have potential effects on sex change in ricefield eel; and circSnd1 could regulate foxl2 expression in the sex change of ricefield eel by acting as a sponge of mal-miR-135b/c. These data will be useful for enhancing our understanding of sequential hermaphroditism and sex change in ricefield eel or other teleosts.

Comprehensive analysis of plastid gene expression during fruit development and ripening of kiwifruit.

KEY MESSAGE: Global survey of plastid gene expression during fruit ripening in kiwifruit provides cis-elements for the future engineering of the plastid genome of kiwifruit. A limitation in the application of plastid biotechnology for molecular farming is the low-level expression of transgenes in non-green plastids compared with photosynthetically active chloroplasts. Unlike other fruits, not all chloroplasts are transformed into chromoplasts during ripening of red-fleshed kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis cv. Hongyang) fruits, which may make kiwifruit an ideal horticultural plant for recombinant protein production by plastid engineering. To identify cis-elements potentially triggering high-level transgene expression in edible tissues of the 'Hongyang' kiwifruit, here we report a comprehensive analysis of kiwifruit plastid gene transcription in green leaves and fruits at three different developmental stages. While transcripts of a few photosynthesis-related genes and most genetic system genes were substantially upregulated in green fruits compared with leaves, nearly all plastid genes were significantly downregulated at the RNA level during fruit development. Expression of a few genes remained unchanged, including psbA, the gene encoding the D1 polypeptide of photosystem II. However, PsbA protein accumulation decreased continuously during chloroplast-to-chromoplast differentiation. Analysis of post-transcriptional steps in mRNA maturation, including intron splicing and RNA editing, revealed that splicing and editing may contribute to regulation of plastid gene expression. Altogether, 40 RNA editing sites were verified, and 5 of them were newly discovered. Taken together, this study has generated a valuable resource for the analysis of plastid gene expression and provides cis-elements for future efforts to engineer the plastid genome of kiwifruit.