The resistance patterns and molecular characteristics of ESBL/AmpC-producing Escherichia coli from captive panda ecosystem in China.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) plays an important ecological role, and is a useful bioindicator to recognize the evolution of resistance in human, animal and environment. Recently, extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL) producing E.coli has posed a threat to public health. Generally, captive healthy giant pandas are not exposed to antibiotics; however, they still acquire antimicrobial resistant bacteria. In order to understand whether there is an exchange of resistance genes within the ecosystems of captive giant pandas, this study explored resistance characteristics of 330 commensal E. coli isolates from feces of giant pandas, the surroundings, and breeders. Isolates from different sources showed similar resistance phenotype, and ESBL/AmpC-producing isolates showed more profound resistance to antibiotics than non-ESBL/AmpC-producing isolates (P<0.05). Furthermore, the occurrence of broad-spectrum ß-lactamase related resistance genes and colistin resistance genes was detected, and isolates phylogenetic typing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were applied in this study. Seven different ß-lactamase resistance genes (blaCTX-M-55, blaCTX-M-15, blaCTX-M-27, blaCTX-M-65, blaTEM-1, blaOXA-1 and blaCMY) and mcr-1 were found in 68 ESBL/AmpC-producing isolates. blaCTX-M-55 (48.53 %) was found the most predominant resistance genes, followed by blaTEM-1 (19.12 %) and blaCTX-M-27 (16.18 %). Nonetheless, blaCTX-M-55 was commonly detected in the isolates from giant pandas (63.16 %), the surroundings (43.48 %), and breeders (33.33 %). However, there were no carbapenemase genes detected in this study. mcr-1 was harbored in only one isolate from giant panda. Forty-five tansconjugants were successfully obtained in the conjugation experiments. The presence of antimicrobial resistance and related resistance genes tested were observed in the transconjugants. The results indicated that 52.63 % of the isolates from giant panda 73.91 % of the isolates from surroundings, and 100 % of the isolates from breeders were phylogroup A. Total of 27 sequence types (ST) were recognized from the isolate by MLST and found that ST48 (19/68; 27.94 %) was the predominant ST type, especially in the isolates from giant pandas and the surroundings. In conclusion, commensal ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli becomes a reservoir of ESBL resistance genes, which is a potential threaten to health of giant pandas. The interaction between giant pandas, surroundings and breeders contribute to development of resistant phenotypes and genotypes which might transfer across species or the surroundings easily; hence, strict monitoring based on a "One Health" approach is recommended.

Epidemiological characterization and risk factors of rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis among preschool children in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported an increasing prevalence of childhood allergic rhinitis in developing countries. There is still a lack of the recent epidemiology of allergic rhinitis among Chinese preschool children. Therefore, this study explored the prevalence of rhinitis symptoms and identified their associations with potential risk factors among children at the age of 3-6 in Shanghai, China. METHODS: Validated International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire was adopted to collect information about rhinitis symptoms and potential risk factors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations between risk factors and allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis. RESULTS: A total of 6183 questionnaires were included in our study. The prevalence of rhinitis ever, current rhinitis, and physician-diagnosed rhinitis were 32.6%, 29.2%, and 14.3%, respectively, while the prevalence of current rhinoconjunctivitis was 11.3%. The higher prevalence was observed in boys than in girls in terms of rhinitis ever, current rhinitis, current rhinoconjunctivitis and doctor-diagnosed rhinitis. Autumn had the highest prevalence among four seasons. In our multivariate logistic regression analyses, history of allergic diseases and paracetamol use in the last year showed positive associations with the increased risk of both current rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis, and antibiotic use was an independent significant risk factor only for current rhinitis. Genetic factors, including maternal and paternal rhinitis, asthma, and eczema, were significantly associated with the prevalence of current rhinitis. Similar associations were seen between these factors and current rhinoconjunctivitis, except for paternal eczema. Among environmental factors, smoking exposure at home, heavy truck traffic in home's street, floor heating system were independent risk factors for both current rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis in the adjusted model, while cleaning the house less than once a week was only associated with current rhinitis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of current rhinitis was 29.2% among children aged 3-6 in Shanghai, China. Sex differences and seasonal variations were observed in the prevalence of rhinitis symptoms. The identified risk factors would provide a basis for policy makers and medical experts to take intervention measures to prevent allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis.

High-throughput sequencing and characterization of potentially pathogenic fungi from the vaginal mycobiome of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in estrus and non-estrus.

Introduction: The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) reproduction is of worldwide attention, and the vaginal microbiome is one of the most important factors affecting the reproductive rate of giant pandas. The aim of this study is to investigate the diversity of vaginal mycobiota structure, and potential pathogenic fungi in female giant pandas during estrus and non-estrus. Methods: This study combined with high-throughput sequencing and laboratory testing to compare the diversity of the vaginal mycobiota in giant pandas during estrus and non-estrus, and to investigate the presence of potentially pathogenic fungi. Potentially pathogenic fungi were studied in mice to explore their pathogenicity. Results and discussion: The results revealed that during estrus, the vaginal secretions of giant pandas play a crucial role in fungal colonization. Moreover, the diversity of the vaginal mycobiota is reduced and specificity is enhanced. The abundance of Trichosporon and Cutaneotrichosporon in the vaginal mycobiota of giant pandas during estrus was significantly higher than that during non-estrus periods. Apiotrichum and Cutaneotrichosporon were considered the most important genera, and they primarily originate from the environment owing to marking behavior exhibited during the estrous period of giant pandas. Trichosporon is considered a resident mycobiota of the vagina and is an important pathogen that causes infection when immune system is suppressed. Potentially pathogenic fungi were further isolated and identified from the vaginal secretions of giant pandas during estrus, and seven strains of Apiotrichum (A. brassicae), one strain of Cutaneotrichosporon (C. moniliiforme), and nine strains of Trichosporon (two strains of T. asteroides, one strain of T. inkin, one strain of T. insectorum, and five strains of T. japonicum) were identified. Pathogenicity results showed that T. asteroides was the most pathogenic strain, as it is associated with extensive connective tissue replacement and inflammatory cell infiltration in both liver and kidney tissues. The results of this study improve our understanding of the diversity of the vaginal fungi present in giant pandas and will significantly contribute to improving the reproductive health of giant pandas in the future.

Mechanistic study of transcription factor Sox18 during heart development.

Heart development is a delicate and complex process regulated by coordination of various signaling pathways. In this study, we investigated the role of sox18 in heart development by modulating Wnt/ß-Catenin signaling pathways. Our spatiotemporal expression analysis revealed that sox18 is mainly expressed in the heart, branchial arch, pharyngeal arch, spinal cord, and intersegmental vessels at the tailbud stage of Xenopus tropicalis embryo. Overexpression of sox18 in the X. tropicalis embryos causes heart edema, while loss-of-function of sox18 can change the signal of developmental heart marker gata4 at different stages, suggesting that sox18 plays an essential role in the development of the heart. Knockdown of SOX18 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells suggests a link between Sox18 and ß-CATENIN, a key regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway. Sox18 negatively regulates islet1 and tbx3, the downstream factors of Wnt/ß-Catenin signaling, during the linear heart tube formation and the heart looping stage. Taken together, our findings highlight the crucial role of Sox18 in the development of the heart via inhibiting Wnt/ß-Catenin signaling.

Spatiotemporal Controllable Sono-Nanovaccines Driven by Free-Field Based Whole-Body Ultrasound for Personalized Cancer Therapy.

Therapeutic cancer vaccines fail to produce satisfactory outcomes against solid tumors since vaccine-induced anti-tumor immunity is significantly hampered by immunosuppression. Generating an in situ cancer vaccine targeting immunological cold tumor microenvironment (TME) appears attractive. Here, a type of free-field based whole-body ultrasound (US)-driven nanovaccines are constructed, named G5-CHC-R, by conjugating the sonosensitizer, Chenghai chlorin (CHC) and the immunomodulator, resiquimod (R848) on top of a super small-sized dendrimeric nanoscaffold. Once entering tumors, R848 can be cleaved from a hypoxia-sensitive linker, thus modifying the TME via converting macrophage phenotypes. The animals bearing orthotopic pancreatic cancer with intestinal metastasis and breast cancer with lung metastasis are treated with G5-CHC-R under a free-field based whole-body US system. Benefit from the deep penetration capacity and highly spatiotemporal selectiveness, G5-CHC-R triggered by US represented a superior alternative for noninvasive irradiation of deep-seated tumors and magnification of local immune responses via driving mass release of tumor antigens and "cold-warm-hot" three-state transformation of TME. In addition to irradiating primary tumors, a robust adaptive anti-tumor immunity is potentiated, leading to successful induction of systemic tumor suppression. The sono-nanovaccines with good biocompatibility posed wide applicability to a broad spectrum of tumors, revealing immeasurable potential for translational research in oncology.

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Medium-Chain Dehydrogenase/Reductase Superfamily of Trichosporon asahii and Its Involvement in the Regulation of Fluconazole Resistance.

The medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (MDR) superfamily contains many members that are widely present in organisms and play important roles in growth, metabolism, and stress resistance but have not been studied in Trichosporon asahii. In this study, bioinformatics and RNA sequencing methods were used to analyze the MDR superfamily of T. asahii and its regulatory effect on fluconazole resistance. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and T. asahii, and 73 MDRs were identified, all of which contained NADPH-binding motifs. T. asahii contained 20 MDRs that were unevenly distributed across six chromosomes. T. asahii MDRs (TaMDRs) had similar 3D structures but varied greatly in their genetic evolution at different phylum levels. RNA-seq and gene expression analyses revealed that the fluconazole-resistant T. asahii strain upregulates xylitol dehydrogenase, and downregulated alcohol dehydrogenase and sorbitol dehydrogenase concluded that the fluconazole-resistant T. asahii strain was less selective toward carbon sources and had higher adaptability to the environment. Overall, our study contributes to our understanding of TaMDRs, providing a basis for further analysis of the genes associated with drug resistance in T. asahii.

ZSWIM4 regulates embryonic patterning and BMP signaling by promoting nuclear Smad1 degradation.

The dorsoventral gradient of BMP signaling plays an essential role in embryonic patterning. Zinc Finger SWIM-Type Containing 4 (zswim4) is expressed in the Spemann-Mangold organizer at the onset of Xenopus gastrulation and is then enriched in the developing neuroectoderm at the mid-gastrula stages. Knockdown or knockout of zswim4 causes ventralization. Overexpression of zswim4 decreases, whereas knockdown of zswim4 increases the expression levels of ventrolateral mesoderm marker genes. Mechanistically, ZSWIM4 attenuates the BMP signal by reducing the protein stability of SMAD1 in the nucleus. Stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) identifies Elongin B (ELOB) and Elongin C (ELOC) as the interaction partners of ZSWIM4. Accordingly, ZSWIM4 forms a complex with the Cul2-RING ubiquitin ligase and ELOB and ELOC, promoting the ubiquitination and degradation of SMAD1 in the nucleus. Our study identifies a novel mechanism that restricts BMP signaling in the nucleus.

Metabolome and Transcriptome Combinatory Profiling Reveals Fluconazole Resistance Mechanisms of Trichosporon asahii and the Role of Farnesol in Fluconazole Tolerance.

Trichosporon asahii is a basidiomycete yeast that is pathogenic to humans and animals, and fluconazole-resistant strains have recently increased. Farnesol secreted by fungi is a factor that causes variations in fluconazole resistance; however, few studies have explored the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, this study aims to delineate the fluconazole resistance mechanisms of T. asahii and explore farnesol's effects on these processes. A comparative metabolome-transcriptome analysis of untreated fluconazole-sensitive (YAN), fluconazole-resistant (PB) T. asahii strains, and 25 µM farnesol-treated strains (YAN-25 and PB-25, respectively) was performed. The membrane lipid-related genes and metabolites were upregulated in the PB vs. YAN and PB-25 vs. PB comparisons. Farnesol demonstrated strain-dependent mechanisms underlying fluconazole tolerance between the YAN and PB strains, and upregulated and downregulated efflux pumps in PB-25 and YAN-25 strains, respectively. Membrane lipid-related metabolites were highly correlated with transporter-coding genes. Fluconazole resistance in T. asahii was induced by membrane lipid bio-synthesis activation. Farnesol inhibited fluconazole resistance in the sensitive strain, but enhanced resistance in the resistant strain by upregulating efflux pump genes and membrane lipids. This study offers valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying fungal drug resistance and provides guidance for future research aimed at developing more potent antifungal drugs for clinical use.

Tobacco roots increasing diameter and secondary lateral density in response to drought stress.

Exploring the responses of root morphology and its physiological mechanisms under drought stress is significant for further improving water and nutrient absorption in roots. Here, we simulated drought through hydroponics combined with PEG treatments in tobacco to characterize the changes in tobacco root architecture. Our results showed the total root length, first lateral root number, and first lateral root length were significantly reduced upon increasing drought severity, but the average root diameter and secondary lateral root density increased under certain drought conditions. The change of auxin content in roots under drought stress was correlated with the root diameter and second lateral root density responses. Exogenous addition of the auxin analog (NAA) and the auxin transport inhibitor (NPA), as well as DR5:GUS staining experiments further demonstrated that auxin participated in this physiological process. Meanwhile, brassinolide (BR) exhibited a similar trend. Exogenous addition of BR (EBR) and the BR synthesis inhibitor BRZ experiments demonstrated that BR may participate upstream of auxin under drought stress. PEG treatment significantly up-regulated NtBRI1 at 9-24 h, and promoted the up-regulation of NtBSK2 and NtBSK3 at 48 h and 24 h, respectively, these genes may contribute to the change in root morphology under drought stress. This study shows that auxin and BR are involved in the changes in root morphology in tobacco exposed to drought stress. The elucidation of the molecular mechanism at play thus represents a future target for breeding drought-tolerant tobacco varieties.

Single-nucleus transcriptome inventory of giant panda reveals cellular basis for fitness optimization under low metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Energy homeostasis is essential for the adaptation of animals to their environment and some wild animals keep low metabolism adaptive to their low-nutrient dietary supply. Giant panda is such a typical low-metabolic mammal exhibiting species specialization of extremely low daily energy expenditure. It has low levels of basal metabolic rate, thyroid hormone, and physical activities, whereas the cellular bases of its low metabolic adaptation remain rarely explored. RESULTS: In this study, we generate a single-nucleus transcriptome atlas of 21 organs/tissues from a female giant panda. We focused on the central metabolic organ (liver) and dissected cellular metabolic status by cross-species comparison. Adaptive expression mode (i.e., AMPK related) was prominently displayed in the hepatocyte of giant panda. In the highest energy-consuming organ, the heart, we found a possibly optimized utilization of fatty acid. Detailed cell subtype annotation of endothelial cells showed the uterine-specific deficiency of blood vascular subclasses, indicating a potential adaptation for a low reproductive energy expenditure. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings shed light on the possible cellular basis and transcriptomic regulatory clues for the low metabolism in giant pandas and helped to understand physiological adaptation response to nutrient stress.

Developmental expression of peroxiredoxin gene family in early embryonic development of Xenopus tropicalis.

Peroxidase genes (Prdx) encode a family of antioxidant proteins, which can protect cells from oxidative damage by reducing various cellular peroxides. This study investigated the spatiotemporal expression patterns of gene members in this family during the early development of Xenopus tropicalis. Real-time quantitative PCR showed that all members of this gene family have a distinct temporal expression pattern during the early development of X. tropicalis embryos. Additionally, whole mount in situ hybridization revealed that individual prdx genes display differential expression patterns, with overlapping expression in lymphatic vessels, pronephros, proximal tubule, and branchial arches. This study provides a basis for further study of the function of the prdx gene family.

Causal role of immune cells in schizophrenia: Mendelian randomization (MR) study.

BACKGROUND: Complex immune-brain interactions that affect neural development, survival and function might have causal and therapeutic implications for psychiatric illnesses. However, previous studies examining the association between immune inflammation and schizophrenia (SCZ) have yielded inconsistent findings. METHODS: Comprehensive two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to determine the causal association between immune cell signatures and SCZ in this study. Based on publicly available genetic data, we explored causal associations between 731 immune cell signatures and SCZ risk. A total of four types of immune signatures (median fluorescence intensities (MFI), relative cell (RC), absolute cell (AC), and morphological parameters (MP)) were included. Comprehensive sensitivity analyses were used to verify the robustness, heterogeneity, and horizontal pleiotropy of the results. RESULTS: After FDR correction, SCZ had no statistically significant effect on immunophenotypes. It was worth mentioning some phenotypes with unadjusted low P-values, including FSC-A on NKT (ß = 0.119, 95% CI = 0.044 ~ 0.194, P = 0.002), DN (CD4-CD8-) NKT %T cell (ß = 0.131, 95% CI = 0.054 ~ 0.208, P = 9.03 × 10- 4), and SSC-A on lymphocytes (ß = 0.136, 95% CI = 0.059 ~ 0.213, P = 5.43 × 10- 4). The causal effect of SCZ IgD on transitional was estimated to 0.127 (95% CI = 0.051 ~ 0.203, P = 1.09 × 10- 3). SCZ also had a causal effect on IgD+ %B cell (ß = 0.130, 95% CI = 0.054 ~ 0.207, P = 8.69 × 10- 4), and DP (CD4+CD8+) %T cell (ß = 0.131, 95% CI = 0.054 ~ 0.207, P = 8.05 × 10- 4). Furthermore, four immunophenotypes were identified to be significantly associated with SCZ risk: naive CD4+ %T cell (OR = 0.986, 95% CI = 0.979 ~ 0.992, P = 1.37 × 10- 5), HLA DR on CD14- CD16- (OR = 0.738 (95% CI = 0.642 ~ 0.849, P = 2.00 × 10- 5), CD33dim HLA DR+ CD11b- AC (OR = 0.631, 95% CI = 0.529 ~ 0.753, P = 3.40 × 10- 7) and activated & resting Treg % CD4 Treg (OR = 0.937, 95% CI = 0.906 ~ 0.970, P = 1.96 × 10- 4). CONCLUSIONS: Our study has demonstrated the close connection between immune cells and SCZ by genetic means, thus providing guidance for future clinical research.

Nickel/SKP-Catalyzed Markovnikov Regio- and Enantioselective Hydroamination of Vinylarenes with Hydroxylamines.

A Ni-catalyzed enantioselective hydroamination of vinylarenes has been developed, affording a wide variety of α-branched chiral alkylamines in good yields with exclusive Markovnikov regioselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity. The SKP ligand was found to be crucial to both the reactivity enhancement and enantiocontrol of the reaction. The synthetic utility of the protocol was exemplified in a gram-scale reaction and late-stage modification of medicinally relevant molecules. The deuterium-labeling experiment revealed that the irreversible hydronickelation of vinylarenes is most likely the enantioselectivity-determining step.

Dapagliflozin Attenuates Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Remodeling and Dysfunction by Elevating ß-Hydroxybutyrate-activated Citrate Synthase.

ABSTRACT: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is highly prevalent, accounting for 50% of all heart failure patients, and is associated with significant mortality. Sodium-glucose cotransporter subtype inhibitor (SGLT2i) is recommended in the AHA and ESC guidelines for the treatment of HFpEF, but the mechanism of SGLT2i to prevent and treat cardiac remodeling and dysfunction is currently unknown, hindering the understanding of the pathophysiology of HFpEF and the development of novel therapeutics. HFpEF model was induced by a high-fat diet (60% calories from lard) + N [w] -nitro- l -arginine methyl ester ( l -NAME-0.5 g/L) (2 Hit) in male Sprague Dawley rats to effectively recapture the myriad phenotype of HFpEF. This study's results showed that administration of dapagliflozin (DAPA, SGLT2 inhibitor) significantly limited the 2-Hit-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis. It also improved cardiac diastolic and systolic dysfunction in a late-stage progression of HFpEF. Mechanistically, DAPA influences energy metabolism associated with fatty acid intake and mitochondrial dysfunction in HFpEF by increasing ß-hydroxybutyric acid (ß-OHB) levels, directing the activation of citrate synthase, reducing acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) pools, modulating adenosine 5'-triphosphate production, and increasing the expression of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation system complexes I-V. In addition, following clinical DAPA therapy, the blood levels of ß-OHB and citrate synthase increased and the levels of acetyl-CoA in the blood of HFpEF patients decreased. SGLT2i plays a beneficial role in the prevention and treatment of cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in HFpEF model by attenuating cardiometabolic dysregulation.

Operando monitoring of thermal runaway in commercial lithium-ion cells via advanced lab-on-fiber technologies.

Operando monitoring of complex physical and chemical activities inside rechargeable lithium-ion batteries during thermal runaway is critical to understanding thermal runaway mechanisms and giving early warning of safety-related failure. However, most existing sensors cannot survive during such extremely hazardous thermal runaway processes (temperature up to 500 °C accompanied by fire and explosion). To address this, we develop a compact and multifunctional optical fiber sensor (12 mm in length and 125 µm in diameter) capable of insertion into commercial 18650 cells to continuously monitor internal temperature and pressure effects during cell thermal runaway. We observe a stable and reproducible correlation between the cell thermal runaway and the optical response. The sensor's signal shows two internal pressure peaks corresponding to safety venting and initiation of thermal runaway. Further analysis reveals that a scalable solution for predicting imminent thermal runaway is the detection of the abrupt turning range of the differential curves of cell temperature and pressure, which corresponds to an internal transformation between the cell reversible and irreversible reactions. By raising an alert even before safety venting, this new operando measurement tool can provide crucial capabilities in cell safety assessment and warning of thermal runaway.

The unique gut microbiome of giant pandas involved in protein metabolism contributes to the host's dietary adaption to bamboo.

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), a global symbol of conservation, are believed to be involved in the host's dietary switch to a fibrous bamboo diet. However, their exact roles are still largely unknown. RESULTS: In this study, we first comprehensively analyzed a large number of gut metagenomes giant pandas (n = 322), including 98 pandas sequenced in this study with deep sequencing (Illumina) and third-generation sequencing (nanopore). We reconstructed 408 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), and 148 of which (36.27%) were near complete. The most abundant MAG was classified as Streptococcus alactolyticus. A pairwise comparison of the metagenomes and meta-transcriptomes in 14 feces revealed genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism were lower, but those involved in protein metabolism were greater in abundance and expression in giant pandas compared to those in herbivores and omnivores. Of note, S. alactolyticus was positively correlated to the KEGG modules of essential amino-acid biosynthesis. After being isolated from pandas and gavaged to mice, S. alactolyticus significantly increased the relative abundance of essential amino acids in mice jejunum. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the unique protein metabolic profiles in the giant panda's gut microbiome. The findings suggest that S. alactolyticus is an important player in the gut microbiota that contributes to the giant panda's dietary adaptation by more involvement in protein rather than carbohydrate metabolism. Video Abstract.

Empathy deficit in male patients with schizophrenia and its relationships with impulsivity and premeditated violence.

Objective: To explore the pattern of empathy characteristics in male patients with schizophrenia (SCH) and to examine whether empathy deficit is associated with impulsivity and premeditated violence. Methods: One hundred and fourteen male SCH patients were enrolled in this study. The demographic data of all patients were collected and the subjects were divided into two groups, namely, the violent group, including 60 cases, and the non-violent group, comprising 54 cases, according to the Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS). The Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index-C (IRI-C) was used to evaluate empathy and the Impulsive/Predicted Aggression Scales (IPAS) was employed to assess the characteristics of aggression. Results: Among the 60 patients in the violent group, 44 patients had impulsive aggression (IA) and 16 patients had premeditated aggression (PM) according to the IPAS scale. In the violent group, the scores of the four subfactors of the IRI-C, i.e., perspective taking (PT), fantasy (FS), personal distress (PD), and empathy concern (EC), were significantly lower than in the non-violent group. Stepwise logistic regression showed that PM was independent influencing factor for violent behaviors in SCH patients. Correlation analysis revealed that EC of affective empathy was positively correlated with PM but not with IA. Conclusion: SCH patients with violent behavior had more extensive empathy deficits compared with non-violent SCH patients. EC, IA and PM are independent risk factors of violence in SCH patients. Empathy concern is an important index to predict PM in male patients with SCH.

Genome-wide identification and spatiotemporal expression profiling of zinc finger SWIM domain-containing protein family genes.

The biological function of the novel zinc-finger SWIM domain-containing protein family (ZSWIM) during embryonic development remains elusive. Here, we conducted a genome-wide analysis to explore the evolutionary processes of the ZSWIM gene family members in mice, Xenopus tropicalis, zebrafish, and humans. We identified nine putative ZSWIM genes in the human and mouse genome, eight in the Xenopus genome, and five in the zebrafish genome. Based on multiple sequence alignment, three members, ZSWIM5, ZSWIM6, and ZSWIM8, demonstrated the highest homology across all four species. Using available RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data, ZSWIM genes were found to be widely expressed across different tissues, with distinct tissue-specific properties. To identify the functions of the ZSWIM protein family during embryogenesis, we examined temporal and spatial expression patterns of zswim family genes in Xenopus embryos. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed that each member had a distinct expression profile. Whole-mount in situ hybridization showed that both zswim1 and zswim3 were maternally expressed genes; zswim5 and zswim6 were expressed throughout embryogenesis and displayed dynamic expression in the brain, eyes, somite, and bronchial arch at the late tailbud stages; zswim7 was detected in the eye area; zswim8 showed a dynamic expression pattern during the tailbud stages, with expression detected in the brain, eyes, and somite; zswim9 was faintly expressed throughout embryonic development. This study provides a foundation for future research to delineate the functions of ZSWIM gene members.

Phosphorus solubilizing microorganisms: potential promoters of agricultural and environmental engineering.

Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) are known as bacteria or fungi that make insoluble phosphorus in soil available to plants. To date, as beneficial microbes, studies on PSMs indicated they have potential applications in agriculture, environmental engineering, bioremediation, and biotechnology. Currently high cost and competition from local microbe are the most important factors hindering PSMs commercialization and application as for instance biofertilizer, soil conditioner or remediation agent, etc. There are several technical strategies can be engaged to approach the solutions of these issues, for instance mass production, advance soil preparation, genetic engineering, etc. On the other hand, further studies are needed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of PSMs in solubilizing phosphates, promoting plant growth, soil remediation preferably. Hopefully, PSMs are going to be developed into ecofriendly tools for sustainable agriculture, environment protection and management in the future.

Identification of Serum miR-501-3p and miR-338-3p as Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers for Breast Cancer and Their Target Genes Associated with Immune Infiltration.

Background: MicroRNAs influence the growth and metastasis of breast cancer (BC) by regulating their target genes. Our study aims to screen and identify miRNAs that are closely related to the development of breast cancer, and explore the role of these miRNAs and their target genes in breast cancer. Methods: Bioinformatics tools were applied to screen breast cancer-associated miRNAs and predict their potential target genes. Serum miRNAs were measured using RT-PCR. The correlation between miRNA expression and different clinicopathological features of BC patients was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value. GEPIA, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, TIMER, and TISIDB databases were used to validate the expression levels and their prognostic value, as well as their target gene associated with immune infiltrating cells and immune checkpoints. Results: Breast cancer-associated serum miR-338-3p and miR-501-3p were screened and verified for the first time. Serum miR-501-3p was elevated in BC and was closely linked to the ki-67 index and histological grade. CDKN2C, as a potential target gene of miR-501-3p, was enriched in the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway. Serum miR-338-3p was reduced in BC and was strongly linked to lymph node metastasis and histological grading. ACTR2, CDH1, COL1A1, RBBP5, RRM1, and TPM3, as potential target genes of miR-338-3p, were enriched in MAPK, PI3K-Akt, and RAS signaling pathways. These target genes were found to be linked to breast cancer prognosis, immune infiltrating cells, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Analysis of ROC curve showed that serum miR-501-3p combined with serum miR-338-3p had a high diagnostic value in breast cancer (AUC: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.821-0.958). Conclusion: Serum miR-501-3p combined with serum miR-338-3p show obvious clinical significance in the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer, which suggests that they may act as novel diagnostic biomarkers for breast cancer.