Comprehensive assessment of nine target prediction web services: which should we choose for target fishing?

Identification of potential targets for known bioactive compounds and novel synthetic analogs is of considerable significance. In silico target fishing (TF) has become an alternative strategy because of the expensive and laborious wet-lab experiments, explosive growth of bioactivity data and rapid development of high-throughput technologies. However, these TF methods are based on different algorithms, molecular representations and training datasets, which may lead to different results when predicting the same query molecules. This can be confusing for practitioners in practical applications. Therefore, this study systematically evaluated nine popular ligand-based TF methods based on target and ligand-target pair statistical strategies, which will help practitioners make choices among multiple TF methods. The evaluation results showed that SwissTargetPrediction was the best method to produce the most reliable predictions while enriching more targets. High-recall similarity ensemble approach (SEA) was able to find real targets for more compounds compared with other TF methods. Therefore, SwissTargetPrediction and SEA can be considered as primary selection methods in future studies. In addition, the results showed that k = 5 was the optimal number of experimental candidate targets. Finally, a novel ensemble TF method based on consensus voting is proposed to improve the prediction performance. The precision of the ensemble TF method outperforms the individual TF method, indicating that the ensemble TF method can more effectively identify real targets within a given top-k threshold. The results of this study can be used as a reference to guide practitioners in selecting the most effective methods in computational drug discovery.

"On-the-Fly" Nonadiabatic Dynamics Simulation on the Ultrafast Photoisomerization of a Molecular Photoswitch Iminothioindoxyl: An RMS-CASPT2 Investigation.

Iminothioindoxyl (ITI) is a new class of photoswitch that exhibits many excellent properties including well-separated absorption bands in the visible region for both conformers, ultrafast Z to E photoisomerization as well as the millisecond reisomerization at room temperature for the E isomer, and switchable ability in both solids and various solvents. However, the underlying ultrafast photoisomerization mechanism at the atomic level remains unclear. In this work, we have employed a combination of high-level RMS-CASPT2-based static electronic structure calculations and nonadiabatic dynamics simulations to investigate the ultrafast photoisomerization dynamics of ITI. Based on the minimum-energy structures, minimum-energy conical intersections, linear interpolation internal coordinate paths, and nonadiabatic dynamics simulations, the overall photoisomerization scenario of ITI upon excitation is established. Upon excitation around 416 nm, the molecule will be excited to the S2 state considering its close energy to the experimentally measured absorption maximum and larger oscillator strength, from which ultrafast decay of S2 to S1 state can take place efficiently with a time constant of 62 fs. However, the photoisomerization is not likely to complete in the S2 state since the dihedral associated with the Z to E isomerization changes little during the relaxation. Upon relaxing to the S1 state, the molecule will decay to the S0 state ultrafast with a time constant of 232 fs. In contrast, the decay of the S1 state is important for the isomerization considering that the dihedral related to the isomerization of the hopping structures is close to 90°. Therefore, the S1/S0 intersection region should be important for the isomerization of ITI. Arriving at the S0 state, the molecule can either go back to the original Z reactant or isomerize to the E products. At the end of the 500 fs simulation time, the E configuration accounts for nearly 37% of the final structures. Moreover, the photoisomerization mechanism is different from the isomerization mechanism in the ground state; i.e., instead of the inversion mechanism in the ground state, the photoisomerization prefers the rotation mechanism. Our results not only agree well with previous experimental studies but also provide some novel insights that could be helpful for future improvements in the performance of the ITI photoswitches.

Polarization-mismatching transmissive metasurface for independent amplitude and phase control of circular polarization.

This work presents a strategy for independent control of the amplitude and phase of transmissive circular-polarization (CP) waves. The designed meta-atom consists of an elliptical-polarization receiver and a CP transmitter. By changing the axial ratio (AR) and polarization of the receiver, amplitude modulation can be realized based on polarization mismatching theory, with negligible cumbrous components. While by rotating the element, a full phase coverage enabled by the geometric phase is achieved. Subsequently, a CP transmitarray antenna (TA) with high gain and low side-lobe level (SLL) is implemented to experimentally validate our strategy, and the tested results match well with the simulated ones. During the operating band from 9.6 to 10.4 GHz, the proposed TA obtains an average SLL of -24.5 dB, a lowest SLL of -27.7 dB at 9.9 GHz, and a maximum gain of 19 dBi at 10.3 GHz, with the measured AR lower than 1 dB, which mainly benefits from high polarization purity (HPP) of the proposed elements. The proposed strategy for full amplitude-phase manipulation of CP waves together with HPP paves a way for complicated field manipulations and indicates a promising candidate in antenna applications, such as anti-jamming systems and wireless communications.

Involvement of YTHDF1 in renal fibrosis progression via up-regulating YAP.

Renal fibrosis is a progressive, fatal renal disease characterized by the aberrant accumulation of myofibroblasts that produce excess extracellular matrix (ECM) in the renal interstitium and glomeruli. Yes-associated protein (YAP) has been regarded as a crucial modulator in myofibroblast transformation, but its upstream regulator remains a mystery. In the present study investigating the participation of m6A methylation during renal fibrosis through bioinformatics analysis, we identified YTHDF1, a modulator of m6A methylation, as a key contributor for renal fibrosis because it was highly expressed in human fibrotic kidneys and had a significant correction with YAP. Their co-localization in human fibrotic kidneys was additionally shown by immunofluorescence. We then found that YTHDF1 was also up-regulated in fibrotic mouse kidneys induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), high-dose folic acid administration, or the unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury, further supporting a causal role of YTHDF1 during renal fibrosis. Consistent with this notion, YTHDF1 knockdown alleviated the progression of renal fibrosis both in cultured cells induced by transforming growth factor-beta administration and in the UUO mouse model. Meanwhile, YAP was accordingly down-regulated when YTHDF1 was inhibited. Furthermore, the specific binding of YTHDF1 to YAP mRNA was detected using RNA Binding Protein Immunoprecipitation, and the up-regulation of fibrotic related molecules in cultured cells induced by YTHDF1 over-expression plasmid was attenuated by YAP siRNA. Taken together, our data highlight the potential utility of YTHDF1 as an indicator for renal fibrosis and suggest that YTHDF1 inhibition might be a promising therapeutic strategy to alleviate renal fibrosis via downregulating YAP.

Enantioselective conjugate addition of malonates to α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes catalysed by 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase.

The enantioselective conjugate addition of malonates to α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes catalysed by 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase is described. High conversions, high enantioselectivities, and good isolation yields were achieved for a range of substrates. We further completed a four-step synthesis of the antidepressant (+)-femoxetine by utilizing this reaction and an enzymatic reductive amination reaction.

The sound and surprise: overlapping meta-analyses on the topic of safety and efficacy of PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: To analyze the characteristics of overlapping meta-analyses based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which reported PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in non-small cell cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Meta-analyses were identified from English and Chinese databases until January 1, 2022. Differences in characteristics of overlapping meta-analyses that conducted in China and other countries were compared to assess their publication propensity. The corrected covered area (CCA) and coverage of relevant RCTs were analyzed for subtopics according to detailed intervention types. The waste and redundancy of evidence were assessed in the case of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy for second-line treatment for NSCLC. RESULTS: Fifty-nine meta-analyses published in English and 17 meta-analyses published in Chinese reporting 26 RCTs were identified. Fifty-three (69.74%) meta-analyses were conducted in China. The overlapping meta-analyses in China were more likely to be from hospitals, supported by government funding, integrate first and second-line therapies. Five of the six subtopics had overlapping meta-analyses according to specific types of interventions. The CCA of overlapping meta-analyses ranged from 33.33 to 63.19%, and the coverage of relevant RCTs ranged from 63.64 to 100%. All the conclusions of overlapping meta-analyses have been consistent in the subtopic of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy for second-line treatment since 2017. CONCLUSION: Overlapping meta-analyses of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in NSCLC hints that meta-analyses under this topic probably exist serious redundancy. Future research should focus on prospective registration of protocols for systematic reviews/meta-analyses, scientific designed PICO, and cumulative meta-analysis to reduce redundant and wasted studies. Journals should strengthen the requirement for reviewing previously published evidence in manuscript review.

Fatal, non-fatal burden of cancer in the elderly in China, 2005-2016: a nationwide registry-based study.

BACKGROUND: As populations age, cancer burden becomes increasingly conspicuous. This study quantified the cancer burden of the elderly (≥ 60 years) in China, based on the China Cancer Registry Annual Report to provide epidemiological evidence for cancer prevention and control. METHODS: Data on cancer cases and deaths among the elderly aged ≥ 60 years were collected from the China Cancer Registry Annual Report, 2008-2019. Potential years of life lost (PYLL) and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) were calculated to analyze fatalities and the non-fatal burden. The time trend was analyzed using the Joinpoint model. RESULTS: From 2005 to 2016, the PYLL rate of cancer in the elderly was stable between 45.34‰ and 47.62‰, but the DALY rate for cancer decreased at an average annual rate of 1.18% (95% CI: 0.84-1.52%). The non-fatal cancer burden in the rural elderly was higher than that of the urban elderly. Lung, gastric, liver, esophageal, and colorectal cancers were the main cancers causing the cancer burden in the elderly, and accounted for 74.3% of DALYs. The DALY rate of lung cancer in females in the 60-64 age group increased (annual percentage change [APC] = 1.14%, 95% CI: 0.10-1.82%). Female breast cancer was one of the top five cancers in the 60-64 age group, with DALY rates that also increased (APC = 2.17%, 95% CI: 1.35-3.01%). With increasing age, the burden of liver cancer decreased, while that of colorectal cancer rose. CONCLUSIONS: From 2005 to 2016, the cancer burden in the elderly in China decreased, mainly reflected in the non-fatal burden. Female breast and liver cancer were a more serious burden in the younger elderly, while colorectal cancer burden was mainly observed in the older elderly.

UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-Based Cell Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology to Reveal the Mechanism of N-Benzylhexadecanamide Isolated from Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) against Testicular Dysfunction.

Testicular dysfunction (TDF) is characterized by testosterone deficiency and is caused by oxidative stress injury in Leydig cells. A natural fatty amide named N-benzylhexadecanamide (NBH), derived from cruciferous maca, has been shown to promote testosterone production. Our study aims to reveal the anti-TDF effect of NBH and explore its potential mechanism in vitro. This study examined the effects of H2O2 on cell viability and testosterone levels in mouse Leydig cells (TM3) under oxidative stress. In addition, cell metabolomics analysis based on UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS showed that NBH was mainly involved in arginine biosynthesis, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, the TCA cycle and other metabolic pathways by affecting 23 differential metabolites, including arginine and phenylalanine. Furthermore, we also performed network pharmacological analysis to observe the key protein targets in NBH treatment. The results showed that its role was to up-regulate ALOX5, down-regulate CYP1A2, and play a role in promoting testicular activity by participating in the steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway. In summary, our study not only provides new insights into the biochemical mechanisms of natural compounds in the treatment of TDF, but also provides a research strategy that integrates cell metabolomics and network pharmacology in order to promote the screening of new drugs for the treatment of TDF.

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Cylindrocyclophanes A and F and Merocyclophanes A and D.

Incorporating enzymatic reactions into natural product synthesis can significantly improve synthetic efficiency and selectivity. In contrast to the increasing applications of biocatalytic functional-group interconversions, the use of enzymatic C-C bond formation reactions in natural product synthesis is underexplored. Herein, we report a concise and efficient approach for the synthesis of [7.7]paracyclophane natural products, a family of polyketides with diverse biological activities. By using enzymatic Friedel-Crafts alkylation, cylindrocyclophanes A and F and merocyclophanes A and D were synthesized in six to eight steps in the longest linear sequence. This study demonstrates the power of combining enzymatic reactions with contemporary synthetic methodologies and provides opportunities for the structure-activity relationship studies of [7.7]paracyclophane natural products.

A randomized controlled clinical trial of prolonged balloon inflation during stent deployment strategy in primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the standard procedure for reperfusion for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but the occurrence of the no-reflow phenomenon remains common and is associated with adverse outcomes. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate whether prolonged balloon inflation in stent deployment would lessen the occurrence of the no-reflow phenomenon in PPCI compared with conventional rapid inflation/deflation strategy. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to either the prolonged balloon inflation in stent deployment group (PBSG) or conventional deployment strategy group (CDSG) in a 1:1 ratio. A subset of patients was included in the cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) assessment. RESULTS: Thrombolysis in MI (TIMI) flow grade 3 was found in 96.7% and 63.3% of the patients of the PBSG and CDSG, respectively (P = 0.005). The results of the PBSG and CDSG are respectively shown as follows: 0% versus 30% no-reflow or slow flow (P = 0.002); 90% versus 66.7% ST-segment resolution ≥ 50% (P = 0.028); 35.6 ± 14.5 frames versus 49.18 ± 25.2 frames on corrected TIMI frame count (P = 0.014); and 60% versus 20% myocardial blush grade 3 (P = 0.001). At 1 month, the major cardiovascular adverse event (cardiovascular mortality) rate was 3.3% in both groups; at 1 year, the rate was 3.3% and 6.7% for the PBSG and CDSG, respectively (P = 1.00). In the CMR subset of cases, the presence of microvascular obstruction (MVO) was detected in 6.7% and 50% of the patients in the PBSG and CDSG, respectively (P = 0.023). CONCLUSION: In our pilot trial, prolonged balloon inflation during stent deployment strategy in PPCI reduces the occurrence of the no-reflow phenomenon in patients with STEMI and improved the myocardial microcirculation perfusion (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03199014; registered: 26/June/2017).

Effectiveness of couple-based interventions for prostate cancer patients and their spouses on their quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the evidence on the effect of couple-based interventions on quality of life (QOL) among prostate cancer patients and their spouses. METHOD: Six English databases and two Chinese databases were systematically searched to identify relevant RCTs that examined the effect of couple-based interventions on QOL. The data from the included studies were extracted by two independent reviewers using a standardized data extraction form. Methodological quality was assessed by using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Meta-analysis was conducted among the suitable studies that the available data were sufficient. RESULTS: One thousand ninety-five studies were identified, and 11 studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis and 7 studied for meta-analysis. Couple-based interventions involve different formats of physical and psychosocial interventions. Physical exercise-based interventions were popular among couples, and these interventions had the highest level of adherence among all interventions examined herein. However, the meta-analysis of total QOL and physical and mental health revealed a non-significant effect on both prostate cancer patients and their spouses. More RCTs examining couple-based interventions may be needed in developing countries, especially in Asian countries. CONCLUSION: Couple-based interventions had non-significant effect on improving the total QOL and physical and mental health of prostate cancer patients and their spouses. However, the current evidence is limited because the sample size of the studies is small. Thus, more studies with large sample sizes need to be included to detect the efficacy of couple-based interventions on prostate cancer patients and their spouses.

Clinical significance of high mobility group box 1/toll-like receptor 4 in obese diabetic patients.

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an alarmin that may link to obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The present study analyzed the correlation between HMGB1/ Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and certain biochemical parameters in obese (OB) diabetic patients. 40 normal glucose tolerant subjects (NGT) and 40 patients with newly diagnosed T2DM were enrolled. All patients were further divided into non-obese NGT (NGT-NOB), obese NGT (NGT-OB), non-obese T2DM (T2DM-NOB) and obese T2DM (T2DM-OB) groups according to body mass index (BMI).The levels of HMGB1 in serum were quantified using ELISA, whereas the mRNA expression levels of TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assessed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The results suggested that the levels of HMGB1 and TLR4 were higher in NGT-OB and T2DM-NOB groups compared with those in NGT-NOB group. Similarly, the levels of these two markers were higher in T2DM-OB group compared with those in NGT-OB group. Correlation analysis indicated that the levels of HMGB1 and TLR4 were positively correlated with triglyceride (TG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and BMI, whereas a negative correlation between HMGB1 and high density lipoprotein (HDL) was noted. Linear regression analysis suggested that HMGB1 was associated with FPG and TG levels, whereas TLR4 was strongly associated with TG levels and BMI. The results demonstrated that the expression levels of HMGB1 and TLR4 in patients with T2DM or obesity were increased, which were associated with glycolipid metabolism disorders. Therefore, the HMGB1/TLR4 may serve a role in inflammatory process associated with obesity and T2DM.

Screening of the Active Compounds against Neural Oxidative Damage from Ginseng Phloem Using UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS Coupled with the Content-Effect Weighted Method.

The neuroprotective properties of ginsenosides have been found to reverse the neurological damage caused by oxidation in many neurodegenerative diseases. However, the distribution of ginsenosides in different tissues of the main root, which was regarded as the primary medicinal portion in clinical practice was different, the specific parts and specific components against neural oxidative damage were not clear. The present study aims to screen and determine the potential compounds in different parts of the main root in ginseng. Comparison of the protective effects in the main root, phloem and xylem of ginseng on hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death of SH-SY5Y neurons was investigated. UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS was used to quickly and comprehensively characterize the chemical compositions of the active parts. Network pharmacology combined with a molecular docking approach was employed to virtually screen for disease-related targets and potential active compounds. By comparing the changes before and after Content-Effect weighting, the compounds with stronger anti-nerve oxidative damage activity were screened out more accurately. Finally, the activity of the selected monomer components was verified. The results suggested that the phloem of ginseng was the most effective part. There were 19 effective compounds and 14 core targets, and enriched signaling pathway and biological functions were predicted. After Content-Effect weighting, compounds Ginsenosides F1, Ginsenosides Rf, Ginsenosides Rg1 and Ginsenosides Rd were screened out as potential active compounds against neural oxidative damage. The activity verification study indicated that all four predicted ginsenosides were effective in protecting SH-SY5Y cells from oxidative injury. The four compounds can be further investigated as potential lead compounds for neurodegenerative diseases. This also provides a combined virtual and practical method for the simple and rapid screening of active ingredients in natural products.

[Feasibility of Single-Breath-Hold Compressed Sensing Real-Time Cine Imaging for Assessment of Ventricular Function and Left Ventricular Strain in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of single-breath-hold compressed sensing real-time cine imaging (CS-cine) in the assessment of ventricular function and left ventricular (LV) strain. Methods: A total of 70 subjects were enrolled prospectively, and all subjects underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cardiac MRI) using both the standard steady-state free procession cine (sta-cine) acquisition and a prototype CS-cine sequence. For both CS-cine and sta-cine imaging, continuous short-axis cine images were acquired from the base to the apex to cover the entire left ventricle, and long-axis cine images including two-, three-, and four-chamber views were also acquired. The scanning range, number of slices, slice thickness and intervals were kept identical for the two cine images of the same participant. Subjective evaluation of the image quality was performed on all cine images. For both sequences, the conventional function parameters of the left and the right ventricles and LV strain values were assessed with post-processing software analysis. The cine image quality, conventional ventricular function parameters, and LV strain values were compared between the two cine groups and the differences were examined. Inter- and intraobserver agreements for CS-cine images were measured using intraclass correlation coefficient ( ICC). Bland-Altman analysis was performed to assess reproducibility between the two cine methods. Results: The median scanning time of CS-cine was 21 s versus 272 s for sta-cine ( P<0.001). The median image quality scores of two groups were significantly different, 4 points for sta-cine and 2 points for CS-cine ( P<0.001). Bi-ventricular end-diastolic volumes (EDV), stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF) were significantly smaller in CS-cine ( P<0.001). Nevertheless, no significant differences between the two groups in bi-ventricular ESV or LV mass were observed ( P>0.05). LV strain parameters, including the peak radial strain, peak circumferential strain and peak longitudinal strain derived from LV mid-ventricular slice, were significantly different in the two sequences ( P<0.001). Moreover, CS-cine-derived functional parameters and strain measurements have a good correlation with those of sta-cine (for RV function parameters, and left ventricular PLS, PCS values, more than 95% points fell within the limits of agreement [ LoA]; meanwhile, more than 91% points fell within the LoA for other parameters) and inter- and intraobserver agreements were strong ( ICC=0.88 to 0.99) for CS-cine. Conclusion: CS-cine can well realize the rapid acquisition of cine images for quantitative analysis of cardiac function, and the conventional ventricular function parameters and LV globalized strain values obtained from CS-cine imaging have good reproducibility.

[Effect of Mailuo Shutong Pills in treatment of ischemic stroke based on network pharmacological analysis and experimental verification].

The present study aimed to explore the targets and mechanism of Mailuo Shutong Pills(MSP) in the treatment of ischemic stroke by network pharmacology, and verify the key targets through molecular docking and animal experiment, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of MSP. The main chemical ingredients of MSP were obtained by searching against the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP) and relevant literature. The potential targets of the ingredients of MSP in treating ischemic stroke were obtained from SwissTargetPrediction and DisGeNET. Protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was analyzed in STRING and plotted in Cytoscape. Gene Ontology(GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were carried out with DAVID. Molecular docking was simulated to determine the binding activity of active ingredients to key targets in AutoDock Vina. The mouse model of ischemic stroke was established. The mice were classified into a sham group, a model group, and an MSP group. After the administration, cerebral infarction volume was detected by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazoliumchloride(TTC) staining, and Western blot was performed to determine the levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3 K), protein kinase B(AKT), nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) and their phosphorylated proteins. A total of 222 ingredients of MSP were screened out, including beta-sitosterol, quercetin, licochalcone B, and lupiwighteone, which acted on 701 targets. Totally 1 079 targets associated with ischemic stroke were retrieved, among which 192 common targets were shared by MSP and ischemic stroke. The key targets included AKT1, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha(PIK3 CA), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase regulatory subunit 1(PIK3 R1), and nuclear factor-κB p65 subunit(RELA), which were mainly involved in PI3 K/AKT, tumor necrosis factor(TNF), and NF-κB signaling pathways. The results of molecular docking revealed that PI3 K, AKT1, and RELA had good binding ability to the active ingredients of MSP. The animal experiment results showed that compared with the model group, MSP decreased cerebral infarction volume, down-regulated the expression of p-NF-κB, and up-regulated the expression of p-PI3 K and p-AKT in mouse brain. In summary, the active ingredients in MSP may treat cerebral injury by activating PI3 K/AKT signaling pathway and inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway.

Expanding the clinicopathological-genetic spectrum of GNE myopathy by a Chinese neuromuscular centre.

GNE myopathy is a heterogeneous group of ultrarare neuromuscular disorders caused by mutations in the GNE gene. An estimated prevalence of 1~21/1,000,000 leads to a deficiency of data and a lack of availability of samples to conduct clinical research on this neuromuscular disorder. Although GNE, which is the mutated gene responsible for the disease, is well known as the key enzyme in the biosynthesis pathway of sialic acid, the clinicopathological-genetic spectrum of GNE mutant patients is still unclear and expanding. This study presents ten unrelated patients with GNE myopathy, discovering five novel missense mutations. Clinical, electrophysiological, imaging, pathological and genetic data are presented in a retrospective manner. Interestingly, several patients in the cohort were found to have peripheral neuropathy and inflammatory cell infiltration in muscle biopsies, which have seldom been reported. This study, conducted by a neuromuscular centre in China, is the first attempt to highlight these abnormal clinicopathological features and associate them with genetic mutations in GNE myopathy.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals female-biased olfactory genes potentially involved in plant volatile-mediated oviposition behavior of Bactrocera dorsalis.

BACKGROUND: Olfactory systems take on important tasks to distinguish salient information from a complex olfactory environment, such as locating hosts, mating, aggression, selecting oviposition sites, and avoiding predators. The olfactory system of an adult insect consists of two pairs of main olfactory appendages on the head, the antennae, and the palps, which are covered with sensilla. Benzothiazole and 1-octen-3-ol could elicit oviposition behavior in gravid B. dorsalis are regarded as oviposition stimulants. However, the mechanism for how B. dorsalis percepts benzothiazole and 1-octen-3-ol still remains unknown. RESULTS: We conducted a comparative analysis of the antennal transcriptomes in different genders of B. dorsalis using Illumina RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). We identified a total of 1571 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among the two sexes, including 450 female-biased genes and 1121 male-biased genes. Among these DEGs, we screened out 24 olfaction-related genes and validated them by qRT-PCR. The expression patterns of these genes in different body parts were further determined. In addition, we detected the expression profiles of the screened female-biased chemosensory genes in virgin and mated female flies. Furthermore, the oviposition stimulants-induced expression profilings were used to identify chemosensory genes potentially responsible for benzothiazole and 1-octen-3-ol perception in this fly. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study provided fundamental data of chemosensory DEGs in the B. dorsalis antenna. The odorant exposure assays we employed lay a solid foundation for the further research regarding the molecular mechanism of benzothiazole and 1-octen-3-ol mediated oviposition behavior in B. dorsalis.

Full-Range Profiling of tRNA Modifications Using LC-MS/MS at Single-Base Resolution through a Site-Specific Cleavage Strategy.

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are the most heavily modified RNA species. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is a powerful tool for characterizing tRNA modifications, which involves pretreating tRNAs with base-specific ribonucleases to produce smaller oligonucleotides amenable to MS. However, the quality and quantity of products from base-specific digestions are severely impacted by the base composition of tRNAs. This often leads to a loss of sequence information. Here, we report a method for the full-range profiling of tRNA modifications at single-base resolution by combining site-specific RNase H digestion with the LC-MS/MS and RNA-seq techniques. The key steps were designed to generate high-quality products of optimal lengths and ionization properties. A linear correlation between collision energies and the m/z of oligonucleotides significantly improved the information content of collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra. False positives were eliminated by up to 95% using novel inclusion criteria for collecting a census of modifications. This method is illustrated by the mapping of mouse mitochondrial tRNAHis(GUG) and tRNAVal(UAC), which were hitherto not investigated. The identities and locations of the five species of modifications on these tRNAs were fully characterized. This approach is universally applicable to any tRNA species and provides an experimentally realizable pathway to the de novo sequencing of post-transcriptionally modified tRNAs with high sequence coverage.

Three Pbx(COO)y Cluster Frameworks Based on a Flexible Triazinetricarboxylic Acid Ligand: Syntheses, Structures, and Fluorescent Sensing Application for Nitrophenols.

Three new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), namely, [Pb7(TTPCA)4Cl2]·3H2O (1), [Pb7(TTPCA)4(DMA)2(HCOO)2]·H2O (2), and [Pb4(TTPCA)3]·3DMF·2H2O·H3O (3), were synthesized by the H3TTPCA ligand [H3TTPCA = 1,1',1″-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)-tripiperidine-4-carboxylic acid], with lead(II) nitrate under solvothermal conditions. They were characterized by CHN analysis, IR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, and single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. In addition, their thermogravimetric analysis and fluorescence properties were studied. Compounds 1-3 were 3D MOF structures with different Pbx(COO)y clusters: ([Pb7(COO)12Cl2]), ([Pb7(COO)12]), and [Pb8(COO)18]. Fluorescence detection of compounds 1-3 shows that they can act as excellent sensors of nitrophenols with a low limit of detection and a high quenching constant.

Carriage of Clostridioides difficile in healthy infants in the community of Handan, China: A 1-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: Clostridioides difficile may colonize healthy infants and young children asymptomatically and for the long-term. C. difficile genotypes and the rate and determinants of colonization differ substantially and vary among countries and regions. A 1-year follow-up study was performed to determine the incidence, kinetics and influencing factors of C. difficile intestinal colonization. METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy infants (14 girls and 15 boys) living at home with their parents in Handan City were followed by survey from birth to 1 year of age, specifically from October 2014 through December 2015. C. difficile isolates were typed by PCR ribotyping and analyzed for the presence of toxin genes. RESULTS: During the follow-up study period in the first year of life, 20 of the 29 total enrolled infants acquired C. difficile. A total of 437 fecal samples were obtained, and 111 (25.4%) samples contained C. difficile, including 79 (71.2%) toxigenic strains. The toxigenic isolates comprised six PCR ribotypes, and two PCR ribotypes were identified as nontoxigenic strains. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that C. difficile colonization increase with age during the 12-month period, and the dominant toxigenic types of C. difficile isolates in infants were those involved in long-term colonization. Feeding patterns may affect the dynamic progress of C. difficile colonization.