Early-life exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: Analysis of levels, health risk and binding abilities to transport proteins.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can pass through the placenta and adversely affect fetal development. However, there is a lack of comparison of legacy and emerging PFAS levels among different biosamples in pregnant women and their offspring. This study, based on the Shanghai Maternal-Child Pairs Cohort, analyzed the concentrations of 16 PFAS in the maternal serum, cord serum, and breast milk samples from 1,076 mother-child pairs. The placental and breastfeeding transfer efficiencies of PFAS were determined in maternal-cord and maternal-milk pairs, respectively. The binding affinities of PFAS to five transporters were simulated using molecular docking. The results suggested that PFAS were frequently detected in different biosamples. The median concentration of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the highest at 8.85 ng/mL, followed by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at 7.13 ng/mL and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate at 5.59 ng/mL in maternal serum. The median concentrations of PFOA were highest in cord serum (4.23 ng/mL) and breast milk (1.08 ng/mL). PFAS demonstrated higher placental than breastfeeding transfer efficiencies. The transfer efficiencies and the binding affinities of most PFAS to proteins exhibited alkyl chain length-dependent patterns. Furthermore, we comprehensively assessed the estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of PFAS in breastfeeding infants of different age groups and used the hazard quotient (HQ) to characterize the potential health risk. EDIs decreased with infant age, and PFOS had higher HQs than PFOA. These findings highlight the significance of considering PFAS exposure, transfer mechanism, and health risks resulting from breast milk intake in early life.

Effect of electroacupuncture on the intestinal flora-short chain fatty acid metabolism axis in simple obesity rats. / ç”µé’ˆå¯¹å•çº¯æ€§è‚¥èƒ–ç—‡å¤§é¼ è‚ é“èŒç¾¤-çŸ­é“¾è„‚è‚ªé ¸ä»£è°¢è½´çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the intestinal flora-short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) metabolism axis in rats with simple obesity, so as to explore the underlying mechanism of EA in reducing obesity. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and EA group, with 6 rats in each group. The obesity model was established by feeding the rats with high-fat diet. Rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Quchi" (LI11) and "Zusanli" (ST36) for 15 min, once daily for 21 consecutive days. The changes of body weight were observed every other day. H.E. staining was used to observe the pathological changes of adipose tissue and liver. The blood lipid content was detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. The diversity of intestinal flora in rat feces was analyzed by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The content of SCFAs in rat feces was detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The correlation between the relative abundance of fecal intestinal flora and the content of SCFAs in rats was analyzed by Pearson method. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the body weight of rats, the serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were significantly increased (P<0.01) in the model group. The results of 16S rRNA sequencing showed that, at the genus level the relative abundance of Bacteroides, Butyrivibrio and Roseburia in were decreased significantly(P<0.05), while that of the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group increased(P<0.05). After the intervention, compared with the model group, the body weight, serum TC and TG contents of rats in the EA group were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01)；the results of 16S rRNA sequencing showed that, the relative abundance of the Bacteroidota phylum significantly increased (P<0.01) and Firmicutes decreased (P<0.01) at the phylum level, and at the genus level the relative abundances of Bacteroides, Butyrivibrio and Roseburia significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05)；the contents of acetic acid and propionic acid in SCFAs significantly increased (P<0.01). H.E. staining showed an increase of the diameter of adipocytes, with obvious lipid droplets and inflammatory infiltration in the model group, which was relatively milder in the EA group. PCoA analysis showed that there were significant differences in the structure of intestinal flora between the control group and the model group, as well as the model group and the EA group. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Bacteroidota was positively correlated with acetic acid and propionic acid contents, with that of Firmicutes negatively correlated with acetic acid and propionic acid contents (P<0.001). At the genus level, the relative abundances of Bacteroides, Streptococcus and Butyricimonas were positively correlated with acetic acid content (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the relative abundances of Bacteroides, Streptococcus and Roseburia were positively correlated with propionic acid content (P<0.001, (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EA can improve the disorder of lipid metabolism in obese rats by improving the disorder of intestinal flora-SCFAs metabolic axis, thus playing a role in inhibiting obesity.

Natural background level, source apportionment and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in multi-layer aquifers of arid area in Northwest China.

Groundwater contaminated by potentially toxic elements has become an increasing global concern for human health. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the sources and health risks of potentially toxic elements, especially in arid areas. Despite the necessity, there is a notable research gap concerning the sources and risks of these elements within multi-layer aquifers in such regions. To address this gap, 54 phreatic and 24 confined groundwater samples were collected from an arid area in Northwest China. This study aimed to trace the sources and evaluate the human health risks of potentially toxic elements by natural background level (NBL), positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, and health risk model. Findings revealed exceeding levels of potentially toxic elements existed in phreatic and confined aquifers. Source apportionment and NBL results indicated that mineral dissolution, evaporation, redox reactions, and human activities were the main factors for elevated concentrations of potentially toxic elements. High Fe and Mn concentrations were attributed to reduction environments, while F accumulation resulted from slow runoff, and irrigation from the Yellow River. Due to high F levels, more than one-third of groundwater samples (phreatic: 33.14 %, confined: 56.22 %) posed non-carcinogenic health risks to population groups. Adults displayed higher carcinogenic risks (phreatic: 19.47 %, confined: 34.16 %) than infants (phreatic: 0 %, confined: 0 %) and children (phreatic: 1.26 %, confined: 7.97 %) owing to the toxic elements of Cr. The confined aquifer presented greater health risks than the phreatic aquifer. Consequently, controlling the levels of F and Cr in multi-layered aquifers is key to reducing health risks. These findings provide valuable insights into protecting groundwater from contamination by potentially toxic elements in multi-layered aquifers worldwide.

Hydrochemical insights, water quality, and human health risk assessment of groundwater in a coastal area of southeastern China.

Groundwater is a vital water supply worldwide, but its quality has gradually deteriorated with the development of society. In this study, a total of 40 groundwater samples were collected during the pre- and post-monsoon to analyze the hydrochemical process and assess the groundwater quality and human health risks in a coastal area of southeastern China. The results showed that the concentrations of major ions were in the order of Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+ and HCO3- > SO42- > Cl- > NO3- > F- during the pre- and post-monsoon periods. A slight increase was observed during the post-monsoon period. The Piper diagram suggested that the hydrochemical type of groundwater was predominantly HCO3-Ca. Principal component analysis (PCA), ionic ratios, and saturation index (SI) determined that the water-rock interactions involving silicate and carbonate minerals played a significant role in the hydrochemical process. The results of the entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI) and irrigation water quality index (IWQI) evaluations revealed that the general qualities of groundwater were suitable for both drinking and irrigation purposes. However, the excesses of NO3- and SO42- were observed locally. Human health risk assessment concluded that groundwater posed a low risk to human health, and infants faced higher risk compared with adults. The study would provide valuable information for groundwater environmental protection.

An S-methyltransferase that produces the climate-active gas dimethylsulfide is widespread across diverse marine bacteria.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methanethiol (MeSH) and dimethylsulfide (DMS) are abundant sulfur gases with roles in biogeochemical cycling, chemotaxis and/or climate regulation. Catabolism of the marine osmolyte dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is a major source of DMS and MeSH, but both also result from S-methylation of H2S via MddA, an H2S and MeSH S-methyltransferase whose gene is abundant in soil but scarce in marine environments. Here we identify the S-adenosine methionine (SAM)-dependent MeSH and H2S S-methyltransferase 'MddH', which is widespread in diverse marine bacteria and some freshwater and soil bacteria. mddH is predicted in up to ~5% and ~15% of seawater and coastal sediment bacteria, respectively, which is considerably higher than mddA. Furthermore, marine mddH transcript levels are similar to those for the most abundant DMSP lyase gene dddP. This study implies that the importance of H2S and MeSH S-methylation pathways in marine environments is significantly underestimated.

Longitudinal association between maternal cardiovascular health in pregnancy and child birth outcomes.

The American Heart Association has updated its definition of cardiovascular health (CVH) with a new framework known as Life's Essential 8 (LE8). Although gestational CVH assessment has been recommended, its significance based on LE8 for birth outcomes is unknown. We thus evaluated the status of gestational CVH based on LE8 in 3036 pregnant women of the Shanghai Maternal-Child Pairs Cohort and the population of China Maternal Nutrition and Health Sciences Survey, and also examined the association between gestational CVH and child birth outcomes. We found that only a small proportion (12.84%) had high CVH, while 1.98% had low CVH in this cohort study. In adjusted models, a 10-point increase in the gestational CVH score, indicating a more favorable score, was associated with lower neonatal size such as birth weight (ß: - 37.05 [95% confidence interval: - 52.93, - 21.16]), birth length (- 0.12[- 0.22, - 0.01]), weight-for-height z-score (- 0.07[- 0.12, - 0.03]), body mass index z-score (- 0.09 [- 0.13, - 0.04]), length-for-age Z-score (- 0.03 [- 0.06, - 0.01]), and weight-for-age z-score (- 0.08 [- 0.12, - 0.05]). Also, a 10-point increase in the gestational CVH score was associated with the lower risk of large for gestational age (LGA) (0.82 [0.73, 0.92]) and macrosomia infant (0.75 [0.64, 0.88]). CVH categories showed similar results. That is, better maternal CVH status in pregnancy was associated with lower neonatal size and lower risks for LGA and macrosomia in newborns.

Prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Its Associated Risk Factors in Yunnan Province, China: A Population Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant disease impacting health and quality of life. Yunnan Province, a major tobacco producer, lacks comprehensive COPD studies. The purpose of this study is to describe the epidemic situation of COPD in Yunnan province and explore its influencing factors. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional research conducted in a representative sample of adults aged 20 and older from 13 prefectures and cities in Yunnan Province, China. COPD was diagnosed using post-bronchodilator pulmonary function tests. Demographics were analyzed with descriptive statistics. The influencing factors of COPD were examined by using the multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Our study found that high-risk individuals for COPD accounted for 20.30% of the screened population aged 20 and above, with a COPD prevalence of 27.18% among this high-risk group. Male had a higher prevalence (33.01%) than did female (16.35%; p<0.001 for sex difference). Additionally, the proportion of severe and extremely severe COPD cases in Yunnan Province was higher than the national average and other provinces. After considering the potential confounding variables, male (OR=2.291, 95% CI: 1.584-3.313), age (OR=1.501, 95% CI: 1.338-1.685), underweight (OR=1.747, 95% CI: 1.225-2.491), previous smoking (OR=1.712, 95% CI: 1.182-2.478), passive smoking (OR=1.444, 95% CI: 1.159-1.800), and a history of respiratory system diseases in childhood (OR=2.010, 95% CI: 1.346-3.001) were significantly associated with an increased risk of COPD. Conversely, being overweight (OR=0.636, 95% CI: 0.489-0.828), and residing in high-altitude counties (OR=0.445, 95% CI: 0.263-0.754) were negatively correlated with the risk of COPD. Conclusion: There is significant prevalence of COPD (27.18%) among high-risk population aged 20 and above in Yunnan Province, China. Apart from male, smoking, BMI and other known risk factors for COPD. We found that high-altitude residence had a lower prevalence of COPD. There is no significant difference in COPD prevalence between Han and ethnic minority populations.

Grain Protein Content Phenotyping in Rice via Hyperspectral Imaging Technology and a Genome-Wide Association Study.

Efficient and accurate acquisition of the rice grain protein content (GPC) is important for selecting high-quality rice varieties, and remote sensing technology is an attractive potential method for this task. However, the majority of multispectral sensors are poor predictors of GPC due to their broad spectral bands. Hyperspectral technology provides a new analytical technology for bridging the gap between phenomics and genomics. However, the small size of typical datasets is a constraint for model construction for estimating GPC, limiting their accuracy and reducing their ability to generalize to a wide range of varieties. In this study, we used hyperspectral data of rice grains from 515 japonica varieties and deep convolution generative adversarial networks (DCGANs) to generate simulated data to improve the model accuracy. Features sensitive to GPC were extracted after applying a continuous wavelet transform (CWT), and the estimated GPC model was constructed by partial least squares regression (PLSR). Finally, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was applied to the measured and generated datasets to detect GPC loci. The results demonstrated that the simulated GPC values generated after 8,000 epochs were closest to the measured values. The wavelet feature (WF1743, 2), obtained from the data with the addition of 200 simulated samples, exhibited the highest GPC estimation accuracy (R 2 = 0.58 and RRMSE = 6.70%). The GWAS analysis showed that the estimated values based on the simulated data detected the same loci as the measured values, including the OsmtSSB1L gene related to grain storage protein. This study provides a new technique for the efficient genetic study of phenotypic traits in rice based on hyperspectral technology.

Placental Transmogrification of the Lung Presenting as Cystic-Solid Mass: A Case Report.

The gradually progressive solitary cystic-solid mass of chest CT scans is highly suggestive of lung cancer. We report a case of a 29-year-old woman with a persistent cystic-solid lesion in the right upper lobe. A chest CT scan showed a 35 mm × 44 mm × 51 mm focal cystic-solid mass in the anterior segment of the right upper lobe. The size of lesion had increased over 3 years, especially for the solid component. The right upper lobe pneumonectomy was performed. Postoperative pathological examination showed placental transmogrification of the lung, which is a rare cause of pulmonary cystic lesion.

Consensus for antifungal stewardship in China (2024 edition).

Background: Invasive fungal disease (IFD) has become a serious threat to human health in China and around the world, with high mortality and morbidity. Currently, the misdiagnosis rate of IFD is extremely high, compounded with the low quality of prescription antifungals and the high incidence of adverse events associated with IFD treatment, resulting in lengthy hospitalization, low clinical response, and high disease burden, which have become serious challenges in clinical practice. Antifungal stewardship (AFS) can not only significantly increase the early diagnosis rate of IFD, reduce inappropriate utilization of antifungal drugs, improve patient prognosis, but can also improve therapeutic safety and reduce healthcare expenses. Thus, it is urgent to identify key AFS metrics suitable for China's current situation. Methods: Based on metrics recommended by international AFS consensuses, combined with the current situation of China and the clinical experience of authoritative experts in various fields, several metrics were selected, and experts in the fields of respiratory diseases, hematology, intensive care units (ICUs), dermatology, infectious diseases, microbiology laboratory and pharmacy were invited to assess AFS metrics by the Delphi method. Consensus was considered to be reached with an agreement level of ≥80% for the metric. Results: Consensus was reached for 24 metrics, including right patient metrics (n=4), right time metrics (n=3), and right use metrics (n=17). Right use metrics were further subdivided into drug choice (n=8), drug dosage (n=4), drug de-escalation (n=1), drug duration (n=2), and drug consumption (n=2) metrics. Forty-six authoritative experts assessed and reviewed the above metrics, and a consensus was reached with a final agreement level of ≥80% for 22 metrics. Conclusions: This consensus is the first to propose a set of AFS metrics suitable for China, which helps to establish AFS standards in China and is also the first AFS consensus in Asia, and may improve the standard of clinical diagnosis and treatment of IFD, and guide hospitals to implement AFS, ultimately promoting the rational use of antifungal drugs and improving patient prognosis.

Pesticide thiamethoxam in seed treatment: Uptake, metabolic transformation and associated synergistic effects against wheat aphids.

Precise, effective and green control plays an essential role in reducing environmental and ecosystem damage. Seed treatment has proven effective and long-lasting for target organisms, and exploring the reasons for long-term protection is important for sustainable agricultural development. This study examined the uptake and metabolism behaviour of thiamethoxam under seed treatment in wheat samples throughout the whole growth cycle, as well as the associated synergistic effects of thiamethoxam and its metabolites during the most severe period of aphid occurrence. Uptake and metabolism results showed that 41 % of thiamethoxam and its active metabolites (clothianidin and demethyl-clothianidin) accumulated mainly in flag leaves of wheat, severely harming aphids, which was significant in controlling leaf-feeding pests. Combined activity results showed that thiamethoxam, clothianidin and demethyl-clothianidin produced synergistic efficacy in controlling aphids, with cotoxicity coefficients ranging from 179.34 to 452.07. Compared with the control, thiamethoxam seed treatments at a rate of 1.5 a.i. g/kg seeds and 3.0 a.i. g/kg seeds can significantly enhance salicylic acid (55 % and 41 %) and jasmonic acid (168 % and 125 %) concentrations and invoke changes in the concentrations of plant secondary substances, which promoted wheat resistance to aphids. Future studies cannot ignore the synergistic effects of metabolites and plant secondary substances in pest control. These results provided data support for reducing pesticide use, increasing efficiency and making more rational use of neonicotinoid insecticides.

Advances of long non-coding RNAs in osteoclast differentiation and osteoporosis.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoclasts, which are responsible for bone resorption, are specialized multinucleated cells generated from monocyte/macrophage progenitor cells or hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Physiological bone remodeling can become pathological, such as osteoporosis, when osteoclastogenesis is out of balance. Thousands of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) influence important molecular and biological processes. Recent research has revealed gene expression regulation function that numerous lncRNAs regulate nuclear domain organization, genome stability. Furthermore, the research of lncRNAs has substantial clinical implications for the treatment of existing and new diseases. AREAS COVERED: In this review, we gather the most recent research on lncRNAs and their potential for basic research and clinical applications in osteoclast and osteoporosis. We also discuss the findings here in order to fully understand the role of lncRNAs in osteoclast differentiation and osteoporosis, as well as to provide a solid basis for future research exploring associated mechanisms and treatments. EXPERT OPINION: LncRNA has been considered as an important role in the regulation of osteoclast differentiation and osteoporosis. It is exciting to investigate pathophysiological processes in osteoporosis and the therapeutic potential of lncRNAs. We hope that this review will offer promising prospects for the development of precision and individualized approaches to treatment.

The management pattern and outcomes of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: rationale and design for a Chinese real-world study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a progressive pulmonary vascular disorder with substantial morbidity and mortality, also a disease underdiagnosed and undertreated. It is potentially curable by pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) in patients with surgically accessible thrombi. Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) and targeted medical therapy are options for patients with distal lesions or persistent/recurrent pulmonary hypertension after PEA. There is an urgent need to increase the awareness of CTEPH. Qualified CTEPH centers are still quite limited. Baseline characteristics, management pattern and clinical outcome of CTEPH in China needs to be reported. METHODS AND DESIGN: The CHinese reAl-world study to iNvestigate the manaGEment pattern and outcomes of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CHANGE) study is designed to provide the multimodality treatment pattern and clinical outcomes of CTEPH in China. Consecutive patients who are ≥ 14 year-old and diagnosed with CTEPH are enrolled. The diagnosis of CTEPH is confirmed in right heart catheterization and imaging examinations. The multimodality therapeutic strategy, which consists of PEA, BPA and targeted medical therapy, is made by a multidisciplinary team. The blood sample and tissue from PEA are stored in the central biobank for further research. The patients receive regular follow-up every 3 or 6 months for at least 3 years. The primary outcomes include all-cause mortality and changes in functional and hemodynamic parameters from baseline. The secondary outcomes include the proportion of patients experiencing lung transplantation, the proportion of patients experiencing heart and lung transplantation, and changes in health-related quality of life. Up to 31 December 2023, the study has enrolled 1500 eligible patients from 18 expert centers. CONCLUSIONS: As a real-world study, the CHANGE study is expected to increase our understanding of CTEPH, and to fill the gap between guidelines and the clinical practice in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of patients with CTEPH. REGISTRATION NUMBER IN CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT05311072.

Microbial community diversity from nearshore to offshore in the East China Sea.

The Pollution Nagasaki (PN) section of the East China Sea (ECS) is a typical area for studying the complex hydrographic dynamics between Changjiang River discharge and Kuroshio, displaying intense variations of environmental gradients from nearshore to offshore. However, the temporal and spatial changes of microbial communities along the PN section have long been overlooked. In this study, we performed a comprehensive investigation into the abundance, diversity and ecology of free-living (FL) and particle-associated (PA) microbial communities in seawater samples along the PN section during both summer and winter. Distinct hydrological conditions and resulting environmental gradients were observed between summer and winter, with clear features of intrusive Kuroshio subsurface water in summer and strong vertical mixing of seawater in winter. Bacterial abundance along the PN section was higher in summer (1.11 × 108 copies·L-1 - 7.37 × 108 copies·L-1) than in winter (1.83 × 106 copies·L-1 - 1.34 × 108 copies·L-1). Microbial diversity, as indicated by α-diversity indices, remained at relatively stable levels in summer, while a clear decreasing trend was observed in winter along the PN section. Additionally, the winter communities exhibited a more evident spatial shift along the PN section compared to the summer communities. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that microbial community composition varied considerably between different seasons (summer and winter) and lifestyles (FL and PA), with a notable dominance of Ralstonia species. in winter. Regarding the assembly of microbial communities, the stochastic process represented by dispersal limitation was the dominant process in summer, while the deterministic homogeneous selection was the most important process in winter. Correspondingly, distinct topological properties of the microbial co-occurrence networks were shown between different seasons and along the PN section. These results enhance our understanding of how hydrological conditions influence dynamic changes of microbial communities along the PN section, providing new insights for the microbial community assembly and interactions in such a complex environment.

Prospective associations of maternal cardiometabolic health with children cardiometabolic health at ages 3 to 6 years.

OBJECTIVE: Maternal cardiometabolic health (MCMH) may have critical effects on offspring lifetime CMH, whereas evidence on the relationship between MCMH during pregnancy and children CMH (CCMH) at ages 3∼6 years remains unknown. METHOD: The study included 1478 mother-child dyads from the Shanghai Maternal-Child Pairs Cohort study. MCMH was examined at a mean of 27.8 (24-36) weeks' gestation based on 8 metrics of 'Life Essential 8' framework involving pre-pregnancy body mass index, total cholesterol, glucose level, blood pressure, physical activity, sleep, diet quality, and nicotine exposure. CCMH was examined at the age of 3 to 6 based on 5 metrics including body mass index, physical activity, sleep health, diet quality, and nicotine exposure. To validate the robustness of main analysis, 499 children were selected to reevaluate CCMH by six metrics (adding blood pressure) for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1478 mother-child dyads, the mean (SD) MCMH during pregnancy and CCMH scores were 67.07 (SD 8.82) and 73.80 (SD 10.75), respectively. After adjusting important confounders, each 10 points increase in (more favorable) MCMH score was significantly associated with a higher CCMH score (ß: 0.85, [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.22, 1.47]). Subgroup analysis showed similar results in girls but not in boys. For cardiometabolic risks factors in children, the risk of overweight/obesity and hypertension in children decreased with increased MCMH score (overweight/obesity, Relative Risks [RRs]: 0.98, 95%CI: [0.96, 0.99]); hypertension, RRs: 0.66, 95%CI: [0.47, 0.92]). Sensitivity analysis showed similar result. CONCLUSIONS: Better MCMH in pregnancy was associated with better CCMH at ages 3∼6 years.

Utilizing Star Polycation Nanocarrier for the Delivery of miR-184 Agomir and Its Impact on the Life History Traits of the English Grain Aphid, Sitobion avenae.

The investigation of genetics-based biopesticides has become a central focus in pesticide studies due to their inherent advantages, including species specificity, environmental safety, and a wide range of target genes. In this study, a mixture of miR-184 agomir and nanomaterial star polycation (SPc) was used to treat the nymphs of the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.). The life parameters of the aphids at various developmental stages were analyzed using an age-stage two-sex life table to assess the effect of miR-184 agomir on the experimental population. The results indicated that miR-184 agomir had a significant negative effect on four key life parameters, including the intrinsic rate of increase, the finite rate of increase, the net rate of increase, and the mean generation time. The population prediction revealed a substantial reduction (91.81% and 95.88%) in the population size of S. avenae at 60 d after treatment with miR-184 agomir, compared to the control groups. Our findings suggest that the miR-184 agomir has the potential to reduce the survival rate and mean longevity of S. avenae, highlighting its potential as a promising candidate for the development of an effective genetics-based biopesticide.

Effects of miR-306 Perturbation on Life Parameters in the English Grain Aphid, Sitobion avenae (Homoptera: Aphididae).

MicroRNAs (miRNA) play a vital role in insects' growth and development and have significant potential value in pest control. Previously, we identified miR-306 from small RNA libraries within the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae, a devasting insect pest for wheat. miR-306 not only involves in wing morphogenesis, but also is critically important for aphid survival. Its specific impacts on the life history traits, however, remain unclear. Here, we evaluate the impact of miR-306 perturbation on S. avenae populations using a two-sex life table approach. This comprehensive analysis revealed that miR-306 perturbation significantly prolongs the developmental stages (9.64% and 8.20%) and adult longevity of S. avenae, while decreasing pre-adult survival rate (41.45% and 38.74%) and slightly reducing average fecundity (5.80% and 13.05%). Overall, miR-306 perturbation negatively affects the life table parameters of the aphid population. The population prediction models show a significant decline in the aphid population 60 days post interference, compared to the control groups (98.14% and 97.76%). Our findings highlight the detrimental effects of miR-306 perturbation on S. avenae population growth and suggest potential candidate genes for the development of RNAi-based biopesticides targeted specifically at this pest species.

Dual-role regulator of a novel miR-3040 in photoperiod-mediated wing dimorphism and wing development in green peach aphid.

Wing dimorphism is regarded as an important phenotypic plasticity involved in the migration and reproduction of aphids. However, the signal transduction and regulatory mechanism of wing dimorphism in aphids are still unclear. Herein, the optimal environmental conditions were first explored for inducing winged offspring of green peach aphid, and the short photoperiod was the most important environmental cue to regulate wing dimorphism. Compared to 16 L:8 D photoperiod, the proportion of winged offspring increased to 90% under 8 L:16 D photoperiod. Subsequently, 5 differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in aphids treated with long and short photoperiods were identified using small RNA sequencing, and a novel miR-3040 was identified as a vital miRNA involved in photoperiod-mediated wing dimorphism. More specifically, the inhibition of miR-3040 expression could reduce the proportion of winged offspring induced by short photoperiod, whereas its activation increased the proportion of winged offspring under long photoperiod. Meanwhile, the expression level of miR-3040 in winged aphids was about 2.5 times that of wingless aphids, and the activation or inhibition of miR-3040 expression could cause wing deformity, revealing the dual-role regulator of miR-3040 in wing dimorphism and wing development. In summary, the current study identified the key environmental cue for wing dimorphism in green peach aphid, and the first to demonstrate the dual-role regulator of miR-3040 in photoperiod-mediated wing dimorphism and wing development.

Groundwater suitability assessment for irrigation and drinking purposes by integrating spatial analysis, machine learning, water quality index, and health risk model.

An in-depth understanding of nitrate-contaminated surface water and groundwater quality and associated risks is important for groundwater management. Hydrochemical characteristics and driving forces of groundwater quality and non-carcinogenic risks of nitrate were revealed by the integrated approaches of self-organizing map analysis, spatial visualization by geography information system, entropy and irrigation water quality indices, and human health risk model. Groundwater samples were categorized into two clusters by SOM analysis. Cluster I including three samples were Ca-SO4 type and cluster II of remaining 136 samples were Ca-HCO3 type. Hydrochemical compositions of two cluster samples were dominated by water-rock interaction: (1) calcite and gypsum dissolution for cluster I samples and (2) calcite dissolution, silicate weathering, and positive cation exchange for cluster II samples. Nitrate contamination occurred in both cluster I and II samples, primarily induced by agricultural nitrogen fertilizer. The EWQI results showed that 90.97% in total groundwater samples were suitable for drinking purpose, while the IWQI results demonstrated that 65.03% in total groundwater samples were appropriate for irrigation purpose. The HHR model and Monte Carlo simulation indicated that the non-carcinogenic nitrated risk was highest in children. Exposure frequency was the most sensitive factor (86.33% in total) influencing the total non-carcinogenic risk, indicated by sensitivity analysis. Compared with the two clusters of groundwater, surface water has a shorter circulation cycle and lower ion concentrations resulting in better water quality. This study can provide scientific basis for groundwater quality evaluation in other parts of the world.

NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis exacerbates coxsackievirus A16 and coxsackievirus A10-induced inflammatory response and viral replication in SH-SY5Y cells.

Coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) and coxsackievirus A10 (CV-A10), more commonly etiological agents of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), are capable of causing severe neurological syndromes with high fatalities, but their neuropathogenesis has rarely been studied. Mounting evidence indicated that pyroptosis is an inflammatory form of cell death that might be widely involved in the pathogenic mechanisms of neurotropic viruses. Our study was designed to examine the effects of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in CV-A16- and CV-A10-induced inflammatory neuropathologic formation. In this work, it was showed that SH-SY5Y cells were susceptible to CV-A16 and CV-A10, and meanwhile their infections could result in a decreasing cell viability and an increasing LDH release as well as Caspase1 activation. Moreover, CV-A16 and CV-A10 infections triggered NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and promoted the release of inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, activated NLRP3 accelerated the pyroptosis formation and aggravated the inflammatory response, but inhibited NLRP3 had a dampening effect on the above situation. Finally, it was further revealed that NLRP3 agonist enhanced the viral replication, but NLRP3 inhibitor suppressed the viral replication, suggesting that NLRP3-driven pyroptosis might support CV-A16 and CV-A10 production in SH-SY5Y cells. Together, our findings demonstrated a mechanism by which CV-A16 and CV-A10 induce inflammatory responses by evoking NLRP3 inflammasome-regulated pyroptosis, which in turn further stimulated the viral replication, providing novel insights into the pathogenesis of CV-A16 and CV-A10 infections.