ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To analyze the clinical outcomes after topography-guided femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) with Phorcides Analytic Engine (PAE) algorithm or Custom-Q FS-LASIK for myopia with nonastigmatic eyes. METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 90 eyes with myopia without manifest astigmatism (82 patients) were included. All surgeries were performed by topography-guided FS-LASIK planned with a PAE algorithm (42 eyes) or Custom-Q system (48 eyes). Refractive, visual outcomes and corneal aberrations were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: At 6 months postoperatively, the postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 20/20 or better in 42 eyes (100%) in the PAE compared with 44 eyes (92%) in Custom-Q (P = .120). The postoperative UDVA of 20/16 or better was measured in 92% of eyes in the PAE group and 81% of eyes in the Custom Q group (P = .320). Postoperative corrected distance visual acuity, manifest refractive spherical equivalent and refractive astigmatism were similar between the two groups (P > .05). The postoperative optical path difference (OPD) and Strehl ratio (SR) were significantly better in the PAE group compared with the Custom Q group. CONCLUSIONS: Topography-guided FS-LASIK with PAE algorithm or Custom Q demonstrated similar refractive efficacy and predictability. PAE for the patients with zero manifest astigmatism demonstrated better results in correcting corneal aberrations.
Subject(s)
Corneal Topography , Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ , Lasers, Excimer , Myopia , Refraction, Ocular , Visual Acuity , Humans , Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ/methods , Retrospective Studies , Visual Acuity/physiology , Male , Female , Myopia/surgery , Myopia/physiopathology , Adult , Refraction, Ocular/physiology , Lasers, Excimer/therapeutic use , Young Adult , Treatment Outcome , Surgery, Computer-Assisted/methodsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate the differences in surgical results and the objective and subjective quality of vision (QoV) of patients after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) versus alcohol-assisted photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS: Medical records of patients treated with SMILE and PRK were retrospectively examined. Visual quality, biometric parameters, Strehl ratio (SR), and corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) within a 6.0 mm area were recorded. The effective optical zone (EOZ) and decentration were measured using a tangential pre-post operation difference map. Subjective QoV and operation satisfaction were evaluated 6 months postoperatively using the Quality of Vision questionnaire. RESULTS: The study comprised 100 eyes treated with SMILE (preoperative mean spherical equivalent (SE), - 4.52 ± 0.81 dioptres (D)) and 69 eyes with PRK (mean SE, - 4.21 ± 1.25 D). Six months postoperatively, the EOZ reduction was significantly larger in the PRK group (P < 0.001). Decentrations were comparable between the groups. Regarding visual symptoms, monocular diplopia was more common following PRK (P = 0.02), and 98 (98.00%) SMILE-treated and 67 (97.10%) PRK-treated patients were satisfied with the QoV. Both groups demonstrated significant increases in total HOAs, coma, and spherical aberration (SA) at 6 months postoperatively compared to preoperatively (P < 0.001); these values were significantly higher in the PRK (P < 0.05) compared to the SMILE group. SR increased significantly only in the PRK group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although EOZ was more consistent with anticipated treatment and HOAs were fewer in SMILE, high patient-reported satisfaction and good corneal optical quality were achieved in both groups, indicating that both SMILE and alcohol-assisted PRK are excellent options for mild to moderate myopia correction.
Subject(s)
Myopia , Photorefractive Keratectomy , Humans , Photorefractive Keratectomy/methods , Visual Acuity , Retrospective Studies , Lasers, Excimer/therapeutic use , Corneal Stroma/surgery , Corneal Topography , Refraction, Ocular , Myopia/surgery , Myopia/diagnosisABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to characterize the subjective visual quality and satisfaction following small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and to identify its influential factors. SETTING: Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. DESIGN: This was a retrospective observational study. METHODS: Patients who had simultaneous binocular SMILE for myopia and myopic astigmatism were included 6 months postoperatively, and the patient-reported outcome questionnaire was employed for the assessment of visual quality in real-life situations. Examinations with SIRIUS combined corneal topography and tomography were performed including the parameters of Strehl ratio (SR), corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) within 6.0-mm area, kappa angel, and thinnest corneal thickness. Decentration and effective optical zone (EOZ) were measured based on a tangential pre-post-operation difference map. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed for predictors of patient-reported visual quality. RESULTS: Clinical data from 97 cases were analyzed retrospectively. Overall satisfaction was 96.91% (94/97). Fluctuation in vision and glare is the most frequent and dominant visual symptoms. SR value increased non-significantly compared with preoperative (P> 0.05). A statistically significant (P < 0.05) increase in total HOAs, spherical aberration, and coma was noted. SR and HOAs were not correlated with the degree of visual symptoms (P > 0.05). No objective parameter was found to be associated with patient-reported visual quality after SMILE (P> 0.05). CONCLUSION: The high patient-reported satisfaction confirmed the ideal effect on visual quality following SMILE in real-life situations, though some objective optical performances were not satisfying. It is very tolerant toward patients' conditions and mild deviations, and this study did not find factors affecting visual performances.
Subject(s)
Corneal Surgery, Laser , Corneal Wavefront Aberration , Myopia , Humans , Visual Acuity , Retrospective Studies , Corneal Surgery, Laser/methods , Cornea , Myopia/surgery , Myopia/diagnosis , Lasers, Excimer , Refraction, Ocular , Corneal Stroma/surgery , Corneal Wavefront Aberration/diagnosisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the ω-3 fatty acids intake level of vegetarians in Shanghai, and compare with the sex and age matched omnivores. METHODS: The present observational study included 282 vegetarians aged 18 to 60 years old who had been vegetarian for at least one year and 282 sex and age matched omnivores recruited among Shanghai citizens. Daily food consumption was assessed through frequency and average intake of 149 kinds of food by food frequency questionnaire(FFQ) conducted by experienced dietitians. Dietary intake of ALA, EPA and DHA was calculated by R(Software). The differences of ω-3 fatty acids dietary intake between vegetarians and omnivores were analyzed with non-parametric test. RESULTS: The ALA intake of vegetarian group was(1669.00±1340.67)mg/d, which was significantly higher than that of omnivore group((1298.56±1041.96)mg/d). However, the EPA intake of vegetarian group((8.45±12.69)mg/d) was significantly less than the omnivore group((128.63±144.15)mg/d). The DHA intake of vegetarian group((28.75±35.38)mg/d) was also significantly less than the omnivore group((236.88±223.05)mg/d). Most of the dietary intake of EPA and DHA was supplied by seafood. CONCLUSION: Vegetarians EPA and DHA intake was significantly lower than omnivores.
Subject(s)
Diet, Vegetarian , Fatty Acids, Omega-3 , Adolescent , Adult , China , Diet , Fatty Acids , Humans , Middle Aged , Vegetarians , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ethanol (EtOH) exposure during a period comparable to the third trimester in human results in obvious neurotoxicity in the developing hippocampus and persistent deficits in hippocampal neurogenesis. Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a highly selective α-2-adrenergic agonist has been demonstrated to restore the impaired neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity in the dentate gyrus (DG) that follows neurological insult. However, the protective roles of DEX in the EtOH-induced deficits of postnatal neurogenesis in the hippocampus are still unknown. METHODS: Mice were pretreated with DEX prior to EtOH exposure to determine its protective effects on impaired postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis. Six-day-old neonatal mice were treated with DEX (125 µg/kg) or saline, followed by EtOH at a total of 5 g/kg or an equivalent volume of saline on P7. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the neurogenesis and activated microglia in the DG. Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) was utilized to assess the expression of inflammatory factors in the hippocampus. RESULTS: DEX pretreatment attenuated the inhibition of EtOH-mediated hippocampal neurogenesis and the reduction of hippocampal neural precursor cells (NPCs). We further confirmed that DEX pretreatment reversed the EtOH-induced microglia activation in the DG as well as the upregulation of the hippocampal TNFα, MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-1ß mRNA levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that DEX pretreatment protects against EtOH-mediated inhibition of hippocampal neurogenesis in postnatal mice and reverses EtOH-induced neuroinflammation via repressing microglia activation and the expression of inflammatory cytokines.
Subject(s)
Dexmedetomidine/pharmacology , Ethanol/toxicity , Hippocampus/cytology , Hypnotics and Sedatives/pharmacology , Neurogenesis/drug effects , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects , Hippocampus/drug effects , Mice , Microglia/drug effectsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This prospective, randomized, controlled study aimed to evaluate the effects of flaxseed supplementation on functional constipation and quality of life in adult men and women in China. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: 90 subjects with functional constipation diagnosed by the Rome IV criteria were enrolled. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either 50 g/day flaxseed flour with meals (n=60) or 15 mL/day of a lactulose solution on an empty stomach (n=30) every morning for 4 weeks. Wexner constipation scores, stool consistency according to the Bristol Stool Form Scale, and bowel habits (frequency of bowel movements/week, the time spent on defecation) were the primary outcomes. The change in Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life score was the secondary outcome. RESULTS: After 4 weeks, the bowel habits in both groups were significantly improved. The median Wexner constipation score decreased from 14 to 6.5 in the flaxseed group (p<0.001) and from 15 to 9 in the lactulose group (p<0.001). The median defecation frequency per week increased significantly (2 to 7 for flaxseed and 2 to 6 for lactulose, p<0.001 for both groups). The Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life score decreased significantly (-1.34 and -0.66 for flaxseed and lactulose, respectively; p<0.001 for both groups). CONCLUSIONS: Flaxseed flour is somewhat more effective at increasing defecation frequency than lactulose, improving bowel movements and promoting life quality of subjects with chronic functional constipation in the Chinese population.
Subject(s)
Constipation/prevention & control , Defecation/drug effects , Dietary Supplements , Flax , Seeds , Adult , China/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Lactulose/administration & dosage , Male , Middle Aged , Quality of Life , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of the circadian rhythm of the urine volume and urine electrolytes excretion rate and the daily expression pattern of the clock genes and clock-controlled genes with the water electrolyte transportation circadian pattern in rat kidneys. METHODS: Male adult SD rats were exposed to in a light:dark (12:12) cycles. We collected two period urine from zeitgeber time (ZT)00:00-ZT12:00 (light time,rest period) and ZT12:00-24:00 (dark time,activity period) and then compared the urinary excretion rates of volume, sodium, potassium, and chloride at light time with those at dark time. Rats were sacrificed every 4 hours throughout a 24-hour day-night cycle. Circadian clock gene CLOCK, BMAL1,Per1,Per2,Cry1,Cry2 and kidney specific clock-controlled gene NHE3,αENaCãNCC,Ptges,V1aR,V2R expression were profiled by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Data were analysed by a partial Fourier analysis and a stepwise regression technique. RESULTS: Urine volume and urine potassium excretion rate displayed high level at dark time and low at light time in SD rats (P<0.05),and urine sodium and chloride excretion rate also showed the trend(P>0.05).Clock gene CLOCK,BMAL1,Per1,Per2,Cry1,Cry2(P<0.05)and kidney specific clock-controlled gene NHE3, αENaC, NCC, Ptges, V1aR, V2R (P<0.05)mRNA expression showed circadian pattern,and the peak times of the genes were in the dark time. CONCLUSION: Urine volume and urine electrolyte excretion rate which displayed circadian pattern were temporally coupled with the rhythm of expression of clock and clock-controlled genes associated with water electrolyte transportation in rats kidney.
Subject(s)
Circadian Rhythm , Animals , Electrolytes , Kidney , Male , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , WaterABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical outcomes and visual quality 12 months after femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) performed with the Custom-Q algorithm for correction of myopia with or without astigmatism and compensate for age-related accommodation deficiency. METHODS: Patients who had Custom-Q FS-LASIK for myopia and myopic astigmatism with age-related accommodation deficiency were included in this retrospective study. Distance, intermediate, and near visual acuities, objective and subjective refractions, Q-factor, corneal higher order aberrations (HOAs), accommodation function, defocus curve, contrast sensitivity, and a subjective questionnaire assessing visual quality were evaluated 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Clinical data of 43 cases were analyzed. The mean age was 42.02 ± 1.85 years (range: 40 to 48 years). At the 12-month follow-up visit, there were 43 (100%), 42 (97%), and 33 (77%) patients who achieved a binocular uncorrected distance, intermediate, and near visual acuity, respectively, better than 20/20 separately. Defocus curves revealed better distance vision in the dominant eyes, and the nondominant eyes performed better at intermediate and near vergence (P < .001). The Q-value and corneal spherical aberration coefficient were more positive in the dominant eyes than those in the nondominant eyes (P < .001). The accommodative amplitude and relative accommodation improved binocularly (P < .001). The questionnaire demonstrated high patient satisfaction with near vision, and no one reported having severe visual disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: For myopic patients with age-related accommodation deficiency, the Custom-Q algorithm proved to be an effective way to achieve acceptable near vision without compromising distance vision. [J Refract Surg. 2024;40(4):e245-e252.].
Subject(s)
Astigmatism , Corneal Wavefront Aberration , Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ , Myopia , Humans , Adult , Retrospective Studies , Visual Acuity , Cornea , Myopia/surgery , Astigmatism/surgery , Lasers, Excimer/therapeutic use , Refraction, Ocular , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Curcuma wenyujin (C. wenyujin) is a medicinal plant that is traditionally used to treat blood stagnation, liver fibrosis, pain, and jaundice. In this study, we examined the effect of C. wenyujin rhizome extract on hepatic lipid accumulation both in vivo and in vitro. We found that the petroleum ether fraction of C. wenyujin rhizome extract (CWP) considerably reduced the accumulation of lipids in HepG2 cells treated with oleic and palmitic acid. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry was used to analyze the main chemical constituents of CWP, and 21 sesquiterpenes were identified. In vivo experiments revealed that the administration of CWP significantly reduced the body weight and serum total cholesterol (TC) level of low-density-lipoprotein receptor knockout mice treated with a high-fat diet without affecting their food intake. CWP also significantly reduced the levels of liver TC, liver triglycerides, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase. Histological examination revealed that CWP dose-dependently reduced steatosis in liver tissue, significantly downregulated the expression of lipogenesis genes, and increased the ß-oxidation of fatty acids. CWP also significantly increased autophagy-related proteins. In conclusion, CWP rich in sesquiterpenes reduces the accumulation of lipids in vivo and in vitro by improving lipid metabolism and activating autophagy.
Subject(s)
Curcuma , Lipid Metabolism , Mice, Knockout , Plant Extracts , Rhizome , Sesquiterpenes , Curcuma/chemistry , Rhizome/chemistry , Animals , Humans , Mice , Hep G2 Cells , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Sesquiterpenes/pharmacology , Sesquiterpenes/isolation & purification , Lipid Metabolism/drug effects , Male , Liver/drug effects , Liver/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Cholesterol/blood , Cholesterol/metabolism , Diet, High-Fat , Receptors, LDL/metabolism , Receptors, LDL/genetics , Molecular StructureABSTRACT
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is one of the three most crucial gaseous messengers in the body. The discovery of H2S donors, coupled with its endogenous synthesis capability, has sparked hope for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. In the last decade, the investigation into the impact of H2S has expanded, particularly within the fields of cardiovascular function, inflammation, infection, and neuromodulation. Hematologic malignancies refer to a diverse group of cancers originating from abnormal proliferation and differentiation of blood-forming cells, including leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. In this review, we delve deeply into the complex interrelation between H2S and hematologic malignancies. In addition, we comprehensively elucidate the intricate molecular mechanisms by which both H2S and its donors intricately modulate the progression of tumor growth. Furthermore, we systematically examine their impact on pivotal aspects, encompassing the proliferation, invasion, and migration capacities of hematologic malignancies. Therefore, this review may contribute novel insights to our understanding of the prospective therapeutic significance of H2S and its donors within the realm of hematologic malignancies.
Subject(s)
Hematologic Neoplasms , Hydrogen Sulfide , Hydrogen Sulfide/metabolism , Hydrogen Sulfide/pharmacology , Humans , Hematologic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Hematologic Neoplasms/metabolism , Hematologic Neoplasms/pathology , Animals , Cell Proliferation/drug effectsABSTRACT
Seneca Valley virus (SVV), a member of the Picornaviridae family, is an oncolytic RNA virus that can cause idiopathic vesicular disease and increase mortality in newborn piglets. Although research on the pathogenic characteristics, epidemiology, pathogenic mechanism, and clinical diagnosis of SVA has increased due to its emergence and prevalence, the interaction between SVA and its host lncRNA has not been fully studied. This study used qualcomm sequencing to analyze differentially expressed lncRNAs and found that during SVA infection, lncRNA 8244 was significantly down-regulated in both PK-15 cells and piglets. Further analysis through quantitative real-time PCR and dual luciferase experiments demonstrated that lncRNA8244 could compete with ssc-miR-320 to regulate the expression of CCR7. The lncRNA824-ssc-miR-320-CCR7 axis activated the TLR-mediated signaling pathway, which recognized viral molecules and induced the expression of IFN-ß. These findings provide new insight into the interaction between lncRNA and SVA infection, which could lead to a better understanding of SVA pathogenesis and contribute to the prevention and control of SVA disease.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Relevant studies have shown that gut microbiome plays an important role in the occurrence, development and treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Many studies have also shown that, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) antidepressants can improve the symptoms of depression by changing the distribution of gut microbiome, Here we investigated whether a distinct gut microbiome was associated with Major depressive disorder (MDD), and how it was modulated by SSRIs antidepressants. METHOD: In this study, we analyzed the gut microbiome composition of 62 patients with first-episode MDD and 41 matched healthy controls, before SSRIs antidepressants treatment, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. MDD patients characterized as treatment-resistant (TR) or responders (R) to antidepressants by score reduction rate were ≥50 % after SSRIs antidepressants treatment for eight weeks. RESULTS: LDA effect size (LEfSe) analysis found that there were 50 different bacterial groups among the three groups, of which 19 genera were mainly at the genus level. The relative abundance of 12 genera increased in the HCs group, 5 genera in the R group increased in relative abundance, and 2 genera in the TR group increased in relative abundance. The correlation analysis of 19 bacterial genera and the score reduction rate showed that Blautia, Bifidobacterium and Coprococcus with higher relative abundance in the treatment effective group were related to the efficacy of SSRIs antidepressants. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MDD have a distinct gut microbiome that changes after SSRIs antidepressants treatment. Dysbiosis could be a new therapeutic target and prognostic tool for the treatment of patients with MDD.
Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder, Major , Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Humans , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Depressive Disorder, Major/drug therapy , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic useABSTRACT
The plastome (plastid genome) represents an indispensable molecular data source for studying phylogeny and evolution in plants. Although the plastome size is much smaller than that of nuclear genome, and multiple plastome annotation tools have been specifically developed, accurate annotation of plastomes is still a challenging task. Different plastome annotation tools apply different principles and workflows, and annotation errors frequently occur in published plastomes and those issued in GenBank. It is therefore timely to compare available annotation tools and establish standards for plastome annotation. In this review, we review the basic characteristics of plastomes, trends in the publication of new plastomes, the annotation principles and application of major plastome annotation tools, and common errors in plastome annotation. We propose possible methods to judge pseudogenes and RNA-editing genes, jointly consider sequence similarity, customed algorithms, conserved domain or protein structure. We also propose the necessity of establishing a database of reference plastomes with standardized annotations, and put forward a set of quantitative standards for evaluating plastome annotation quality for the scientific community. In addition, we discuss how to generate standardized GenBank annotation flatfiles for submission and downstream analysis. Finally, we prospect future technologies for plastome annotation integrating plastome annotation approaches with diverse evidences and algorithms of nuclear genome annotation tools. This review will help researchers more efficiently use available tools to achieve high-quality plastome annotation, and promote the process of standardized annotation of the plastome.
ABSTRACT
Studies investigating gut microbiota composition in depressive disorder have yielded mixed results. The aim of our study was to compare gut microbiome between people with depressive disorder and healthy controls. We did a meta-analysis and meta-regression of studies by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Ovid, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, and PsycINFO for articles published from database inception to March 07, 2022. Search strategies were then re-run on 12 March 2023 for an update. We undertook meta-analyses whenever values of alpha diversity and Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes (relative abundance) were available in two or more studies. A random-effects model with restricted maximum-likelihood estimator was used to synthesize the effect size (assessed by standardized mean difference [SMD]) across studies. We identified 44 studies representing 2091 patients and 2792 controls. Our study found that there were no significant differences in patients with depressive disorder on alpha diversity indices, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes compared with healthy controls. In subgroup analyses with regional variations(east/west) as a predictor, patients who were in the West had a lower Chao1 level (SMD -0.42[-0.74 to -0.10]). Subgroup meta-analysis showed Firmicutes level was decreased in patients with depressive disorder who were medication-free (SMD -1.54[-2.36 to -0.72]), but Bacteroidetes level was increased (SMD -0.90[0.07 to 1.72]). In the meta-regression analysis, six variables cannot explain the 100% heterogeneity of the studies assessing by Chao1, Shannon index, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. Depleted levels of Butyricicoccus, Coprococcus, Faecalibacterium, Fusicatenibacter, Romboutsia, and enriched levels of Eggerthella, Enterococcus, Flavonifractor, Holdemania, Streptococcus were consistently shared in depressive disorder. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that psychotropic medication and dietary habit may influence microbiota. There is reliable evidence for differences in the phylogenetic relationship in depressive disorder compared with controls, however, method of measurement and method of patient classification (symptom vs diagnosis based) may affect findings. Depressive disorder is characterized by an increase of pro-inflammatory bacteria, while anti-inflammatory butyrate-producing genera are depleted.
Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder , Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Microbiota , Humans , Phylogeny , BacteriaABSTRACT
The outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020 has caused unprecedented panic among all mankind, pointing the major importance of effective treatment. Since the emergence of the swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) at the end of 2017, multiple reports have indicated that the bat-related SADS-CoV possesses a potential threat for cross-species transmission. Vaccines and antiviral drugs development deserve more attention. In this study, we found that the HER2 phosphorylation inhibitor (CP-724714) inhibited SADS-CoV infection in a dose-dependent manner. Further validation demonstrated that CP-724714 affected at the post-entry stage of SADS-CoV infection cycle. Also, efficient SADS-CoV infection required the activation of HER2 and its cascade Ras-Raf-Mek-Erk signaling pathway. In addition, CP-724714 has a broad-spectrum anti-swine diarrhea coronaviruses activity, and can dose-dependently combat SADS-CoV, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) and transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) infection in vitro with a specificity index of greater than 21.98, 9.38, 95.23 and 31.62, respectively. These results highlight the potential utility of CP-724714 or antiviral drugs targeting with HER2 and its cascade Ras-Raf-Mek-Erk signaling pathway as host-targeted SADS-CoV and other related coronaviruses therapeutics.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Swine Diseases , Animals , Swine , Diarrhea/drug therapy , Diarrhea/veterinary , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase KinasesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been reported to be challenging hotspots in clinical practice. Previous observational studies have found that stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental and psychological diseases are closely associated with IBS. This study aimed to further explore the causal relationships of these associations through Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS: The data needed for MR were obtained from publicly published genome-wide association databases. We performed a bidirectional, 2-sample MR analysis using instrumental variables (IV) associated with stress, anxiety, and depression, and other mental and psychological factors as exposures and IBS as the outcome. A reverse MR analysis with IBS as exposure and stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental and psychological factors as the outcomes was also performed. The inverse variance weighting (IVW) method was adopted as the main method of MR, and the causal effect between stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental and psychological factors and IBS was evaluated as the main result of the study. In addition, a series of sensitivity analyses was conducted to comprehensively evaluate the causal relationship between them. RESULTS: Stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental and psychological factors were the underlying etiologies for IBS (odds ratio [OR]â =â 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.08), and they were positively correlated. Univariate analysis further supported the above conclusions (Depression, [ORâ =â 1.31, 95% CI: 1.05-1.63, Pâ =â .016], Anxiety, [ORâ =â 1.53, 95% CI: 1.16-2.03, Pâ =â .003]). However, in reverse MR analysis, we found that IBS did not affect stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental and psychological factors and that there was no causal relationship between IBS and stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental and psychological factors (Pâ >â .05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that mental and psychological factors are the underlying etiologies for IBS. These findings may provide important information for physicians regarding the clinical treatment of IBS.
Subject(s)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome , Humans , Irritable Bowel Syndrome/etiology , Depression , Genome-Wide Association Study , Mendelian Randomization Analysis , Anxiety/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The eROSITA bubbles are detected via the instrument with the same name. The northern bubble shows noticeable asymmetric features, including distortion to the west and enhancement in the eastern edge, while the southern counterpart is significantly dimmer. Their origins are debated. Here, we performed hydrodynamic simulations showing that asymmetric eROSITA bubbles favor a dynamic, circumgalactic medium wind model, but disfavor other mechanisms such as a non-axisymmetric halo gas or a tilted nuclear outflow. The wind from the east by north direction in Galactic coordinates blows across the northern halo with a velocity of about 200 km s-1, and part of it enters the southern halo. This creates a dynamic halo medium and redistributes both density and metallicity within. This naturally explains the asymmetric bubbles in both the morphology and surface brightness. Our results suggest that our Galaxy is accreting low-abundance circumgalactic medium from one side while providing outflow feedback.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Chestnut (Castanea mollissima BL.) is an important woody grain, and its flower formation has a significant impact on fruit yield and quality. Some chestnut species in northern China re-flower in the late summer. On the one hand, the second flowering consumes a lot of nutrients in the tree, weakening the tree and thus affecting flowering in the following year. On the other hand, the number of female flowers on a single bearing branch during the second flowering is significantly higher than that of the first flowering, which can bear fruit in bunches. Therefore, these can be used to study the sex differentiation of chestnut. Methods: In this study, the transcriptomes, metabolomes, and phytohormones of male and female chestnut flowers were determined during spring and late summer. We aimed to understand the developmental differences between the first and secondary flowering stages in chestnuts. We analysed the reasons why the number of female flowers is higher in the secondary flowering than in the first flowering and found ways to increase the number of female flowers or decrease the number of male flowers in chestnuts. Results: Transcriptome analysis of male and female flowers in different developmental seasons revealed that EREBP-like mainly affected the development of secondary female flowers and HSP20 mainly affected the development of secondary male flowers. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that 147 common differentially-regulated genes were mainly enriched from circadian rhythm-plant, carotenoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways. Metabolome analysis showed that the main differentially accumulated metabolites in female flowers were flavonoids and phenolic acids, whereas the main differentially accumulated metabolites in male flowers were lipids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. These genes and their metabolites are positively correlated with secondary flower formation. Phytohormone analysis showed that abscisic and salicylic acids were negatively correlated with secondary flower formation. MYB305, a candidate gene for sex differentiation in chestnuts, promoted the synthesis of flavonoid substances and thus increased the number of female flowers. Discussion: We constructed a regulatory network for secondary flower development in chestnuts, which provides a theoretical basis for the reproductive development mechanism of chestnuts. This study has important practical implications for improving chestnut yield and quality.
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A heterotrophic nitrifying aerobic denitrifying (HN-AD) strain ZQ-A1 with excellent denitrification performance, identified as Acinetobacter, was isolated from simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) craft. ZQ-A1 was capable of removing NH4+, NO2-, and NO3-; the 21-hour removal rates were 84.84%, 87.13%, and 92.63%. ZQ-A1 has the ability to treat mixed nitrogen sources. In addition, ZQ-A1 can be well applied to actual sewage. According to the analysis of microbial community characteristics, the relative abundance of Acinetobacter in the experimental group increased from 0.06% to 2.38%, which is an important reason for the removal rate of NH4+ exceeding 99% within 30 days. The results of KEGG function prediction showed that with the addition of ZQ-A1, the relative abundance of pathways related to bacterial metabolism, such as tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolism, was higher. The research expanded the thinking of HN-AD bacteria in actual production and laid a foundation for its application in sewage treatment.
Subject(s)
Acinetobacter , Nitrification , Animals , Swine , Wastewater , Denitrification , Sewage/microbiology , Nitrogen/metabolism , Acinetobacter/metabolism , Farms , Aerobiosis , Bacteria/metabolism , Heterotrophic Processes , Nitrites/metabolismABSTRACT
With global climate warming, recurring extreme heat and high temperatures irreversibly damage plants. Raspberries, known for their nutritional and medicinal value, are in high demand worldwide. Thus, it is important to study how high-temperature stress (HTS) affects raspberries. The physiological and biochemical responses and molecular genetic mechanisms of raspberry leaves to different HTS treatments were investigated: mild high temperature at 35°C (HT35), severe high temperature at 40°C (HT40), and the control at room temperature of 25°C (CK). The physiological results suggested that leaves in both the 35°C and 40°C treatments showed maximum relative conductivity at 4 d of stress, increasing by 28.54% and 43.36%, respectively, compared to CK. Throughout the stress period (0-4 d), malondialdehyde (MDA) and soluble protein contents of raspberry leaves increased under HT35 and HT40 treatments, while soluble sugar content first decreased and then increased. Catalase (CAT) activity increased, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity first increased and then decreased, and peroxidase (POD) activity gradually decreased. Photosynthetic and fluorescence responses of raspberry leaves showed the most severe impairment after 4 d of stress. Transcriptomics results revealed significant alterations in 42 HSP family genes, two SOD-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 25 POD-related DEGs, three CAT-related DEGs, and 38 photosynthesis-related DEGs under HTS. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly enriched in photosynthesis-antenna proteins, pentose and glucuronide interconversion, phenylpropane biosynthesis, and indole alkaloid biosynthesis. HTS induced excessive ROS accumulation in raspberry leaves, causing oxidative damage in plant cells and subsequently reducing photosynthesis in raspberry leaves. This reduction in photosynthesis, in turn, affects photosynthetic carbon fixation and starch and sucrose metabolism, which, combined with phenol propane biosynthesis, mitigates the HTS-induced damage.