A versatile nanoplatform carrying cascade Pt nanozymes remodeling tumor microenvironment for amplified sonodynamic/chemo therapy of thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer is increasing globally, with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) being the most aggressive type and having a poor prognosis. Current clinical treatments for thyroid cancer present numerous challenges, including invasiveness and the necessity of lifelong medication. Furthermore, a significant portion of patients with ATC experience cancer recurrence and metastasis. To overcome this dilemma, we developed a pH-responsive biomimetic nanocarrier (CLP@HP-A) through the incorporation of Chlorin e6 (Ce6) and Lenvatinib (Len) within hollow polydopamine nanoparticles (HP) that were further modified with platinum nanoparticles (Pt), enabling synergistic chemotherapy and sonodynamic therapy. The CLP@HP-A nanocarriers exhibited specific binding with galectin-3 receptors, facilitating their internalization through receptor-mediated endocytosis for targeted drug delivery. Upon exposure to ultrasound (US) irradiation, Ce6 rapidly generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) to induce significant oxidative stress and trigger apoptosis in tumor cells. Additionally, Pt not only alleviated tumor hypoxia by catalyzing the conversion of H2O2 to oxygen (O2) but also augmented intracellular ROS levels through the production of hydroxyl radicals (•OH), thereby enhancing the efficacy of sonodynamic therapy. Moreover, Len demonstrated a potent cytotoxic effect on thyroid cancer cells through the induction of apoptosis. Transcriptomics analysis findings additionally corroborated that CLP@HP-A effectively triggered cancer cell apoptosis, thereby serving as a crucial mechanism for its cytotoxic effects. In conclusion, the integration of sonodynamic/chemo combination therapy with targeted drug delivery systems offers a novel approach to the management of malignant tumors.

Can cadmium-contaminated rice be used to produce food additive sodium erythorbate?

Cadmium (Cd) in rice is a significant concern for its quality and safety. Currently, there is a crucial need to develop cost-effective and efficient ways to remove Cd or re-utilize Cd-contaminated rice. The food additive sodium erythorbate is produced via 2-ketogluconic acid (2KGA) fermentation by Pseudomonas plecoglossicida and lactonization using starch-rich raw materials, such as rice. We aimed to determine whether cadmium-contaminated rice can be used to produce sodium erythorbate. To achieve this aim, the migration of cadmium during the production of sodium erythorbate from Cd-contaminated rice was studied. Five rice varieties with different Cd contents from 0.10 to 0.68 mg/kg were used as raw materials. The results indicated the presence of Cd in rice and CaCO3 did not have a notable impact on the fermentation performance of 2KGA. The acidification of 2KGA fermentation broth, the addition of K4Fe(CN)6·3H2O and ZnSO4, and 2KGA purification using cation exchange effectively removed >98% of the Cd in the fermentation broth, but the 2KGA yield remained high at approximately 94%. The sodium erythorbate synthesized from Cd-contaminated rice was of high quality and free from Cd, meeting the requirements of the Chinese National Standard, GB 1886.28-2016. The study provided a safe and effective strategy for comprehensively utilizing Cd-contaminated rice to produce high value-added food additive.

Precise modulation of cell activity using sono-responsive nano-transducers.

Ultrasound, as a form of mechanical energy, possesses a distinctive ability to deeply penetrate tissues, allowing for non-invasive manipulation of cellular activities. Utilizing nanomaterials in conjunction with ultrasound has enabled simple, efficient, spatiotemporally controllable, and minimally invasive regulation of cellular activities with ultrasound-generated electric, optical, acoustic, or chemical stimuli at the localized nanomaterials interface. This technology allows for precise and localized regulation of cellular activities, which is essential for studying and understanding complex biological processes, and also provides new opportunities for research, diagnostics, and therapeutics in the fields of biology and medicine. In this article, we review the state-of-the-art and ongoing developments in nanomaterials-enabled ultrasound cellular modulation, highlighting potential applications and advancements achieved through the integration of sono-responsive nanomaterials with ultrasound.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Begonia pedatifida.

Begonia pedatifida has persistently been utilized as a traditional folk herbal medicine. This study has sequenced the chloroplast genome of B. pedatifida to establish its genomic characteristics and to discern its phylogenetic relationships with other closely related species. The chloroplast genome structure of B. pedatifida reveals a circular molecule with a length of 169,606 bp, including a large single copy (LSC) region of 76,086 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,314 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats (IRS) region of 37,603 bp. The entire genome contains 138 genes, which consist of 88 protein-coding genes, 42 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that B. pedatifida is closely related to Begonia emeiensis, Begonia jinyunensis, and Begonia pulchrifolia, sharing a common ancestor and forming sister lineages. This research provides genetic information for further study on B. pedatifida.

Lineage-specific pathogenicity, immune evasion, and virological features of SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86/JN.1 and EG.5.1/HK.3.

SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 with an additional L455S mutation on spike when compared with its parental variant BA.2.86 has outcompeted all earlier variants to become the dominant circulating variant. Recent studies investigated the immune resistance of SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 but additional factors are speculated to contribute to its global dominance, which remain elusive until today. Here, we find that SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 has a higher infectivity than BA.2.86 in differentiated primary human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs). Mechanistically, we demonstrate that the gained infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 over BA.2.86 associates with increased entry efficiency conferred by L455S and better spike cleavage in hNECs. Structurally, S455 altered the mode of binding of JN.1 spike protein to ACE2 when compared to BA.2.86 spike at ACE2H34, and modified the internal structure of JN.1 spike protein by increasing the number of hydrogen bonds with neighboring residues. These findings indicate that a single mutation (L455S) enhances virus entry in hNECs and increases immune evasiveness, which contribute to the robust transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 JN.1. We further evaluate the in vitro and in vivo virological characteristics between SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86/JN.1 and EG.5.1/HK.3, and identify key lineage-specific features of the two Omicron sublineages that contribute to our understanding on Omicron antigenicity, transmissibility, and pathogenicity.

A strategy of Q-markers identification based on effect, property flavour material basis and rapid quantitative evaluation via near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometric methods for the quality control of Flos Trollii (FT).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Flos Trollii (FT) is the dried flower of Trollius Chinensis Bunge of Ranunculaceae with the pharmacological properties of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-oxidative. The herb FT is not only a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) but also an extensively utilized ethnic medicine, employed by diverse ethnic groups including Mongolian, Tibetan, and Kazakh. AIM OF STUDY: FT was taken as an example to construct a strategy of quality markers (Q-markers) identification based on effect, property flavor material basis, and rapid quantitative evaluation using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and chemometric methods of TCM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Initially, the anti-inflammatory efficacy of FT from three places of origin was evaluated using the RAW264.7-cell inflammatory model, and the bitter property flavor was characterized using an electronic tongue. The high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) fingerprint of FT was generated, and the quality of FT from different origins was evaluated employing chemometrics. Next, potential anti-inflammatory and bitter property flavor compounds were screened utilizing a fingerprinting-effect relationship and fingerprinting-property flavor relationship model using partial least squares regression (PLSR). The Q-markers of the FT were confirmed based on the testability principle. Then, a swift, uncomplicated, and precise Q-marker content of the FT prediction model was developed by adopting NIR. RESULTS: The main common fingerprinting peaks affecting FT's efficacy and property flavor were screened. Five of these compounds, 2"-O-beta-L-galactopyranosylorientin, orientin, vitexin, veratric acid, and isoquercitrin, characterized using HPLC and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography(UPLC-QTOF-MS), could be regarded as Q-markers of FT. Q-marker content of the FT prediction model developed adopting NIR spectroscopy was rapid and effective. CONCLUSION: According to the strategy proposed in this study, a quantitative NIR spectroscopic method to identify Q-markers could be a tool to improve the QC efficiency of TCM.

Coupling of two-dimensional MXenes and graphene for boosting the hydrogen storage performance of MgH2.

MgH2 used in solid-state hydrogen storage still suffers from high thermal stability and slow hydrogen absorption-desorption kinetics. Here, we report a hybrid of MgH2-Ti3C2/graphene prepared through a facile wet chemical method followed by a ball-milling method. It was confirmed that the coupling of Ti3C2 and graphene possesses a synergistic effect on the hydrogen desorption and absorption reactions of MgH2/Mg. The initial temperature of MgH2-Ti3C2/graphene to desorb hydrogen was reduced to 169 °C significantly and it could desorb 6.8 wt% H2 within 6 min at a constant temperature of 300 °C. Moreover, the desorbed sample could start to absorb hydrogen at room temperature and achieve a capacity of 6.0 wt% when the temperature was gradually increased to 350 °C. These results are far superior to pristine MgH2, disclosing that the addition of two-dimensional Ti3C2/graphene is an efficient strategy to boost the hydrogen storage performance of MgH2.

EPO modified MSCs protects SH-SY5Y cells against ischemia/hypoxia-induced apoptosis via REST-dependent epigenetic remodeling.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a diffuse brain tissue injury caused by acute ischemia and hypoxia, and it is most commonly found in newborn infants but can also occur in adults. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies have showed improved outcomes for treating HIE-induced neuronal defects. However, many key issues associated with poor cell viability and tolerance of grafted MSCs after HIE remain to be resolved. Genetic engineering could endow MSCs with more robust regenerative capacities. Our research, along with that of other scientists, has found that the expression of intracellular erythropoietin (EPO) in human umbilical cord MSCs (hUC-MSCs) increases proportionally with the duration of hypoxia exposure. Furthermore, we observed that EPO, when introduced into the EPO gene-modified hUC-MSCs, can be secreted into the extracellular space. However, the underlying mechanisms that support the neuroprotective effects of EPO-MSCs remain unclear. EPO-MSCs, hUC-MSCs, and NC-MSCs were identified by flow cytometry, osteogenic, and adipogenic differentiation assays. The oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced SH-SY5Y cell-line was established, and five groups were set up: control, 24-h ischemia-hypoxia, co-cultured with hUC-MSCs, NC-MSCs, and EPO-MSCs after hypoxia. LEGENDplex™ multi-factor flow cytometry was used to detect the secretion of inflammatory factors in cell supernatants and cerebrospinal fluid. Chromosome-targeted excision and tagging (CUT&Tag) sequencing was applied to detect genomic H3K4me2 modifications, and conjoint analysis with transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed. Lentiviral vector infection was used to construct SH-SY5Y cells with stable knockdown of RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST), and flow cytometry was used to detect alterations in apoptosis. Finally, the molecular mechanism underlying the neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic effects of EPO-MSCs was investigated using RNA sequencing, qRT-PCR, and western blot assays. Our results suggest that EPO-MSCs are genetically engineered to secrete significantly more EPO. EPO-MSCs treatment has anti-apoptotic properties and offers neuronal protection during ischemic-hypoxic injury. Furthermore, RNA-seq results suggest that multiple inflammation-related genes were down-regulated after EPO-MSCs treatment. Application of RNA-seq and CUT&Tag combined analysis found that the expressions of REST were significantly up-regulated. Lentiviral vector infection to construct REST knockdown SH-SY5Y failed to rescue apoptosis after hypoxia and co-culture with EPO-MSCs, and SETD2-mediated H3K36me3 protein level expression was reduced. EPO-MSCs may promote neuronal survival by affecting H3K4me2 and thus activating the expression of REST and TET3. EPO-MSCs also upregulated the modification level of SETD2-mediated H3K36me3 and regulated the expression of inflammation-related genes such as PLCG2, as well as apoptosis genes BCL2A1. To investigate the neuroprotective effects of EPO-modified hUC-MSCs and the underlying epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, this study aims to provide a theoretical foundation for the potential application of EPO gene-modified hUC-MSCs in the treatment of HIE.

Ultra-high brightness Micro-LEDs with wafer-scale uniform GaN-on-silicon epilayers.

Owing to high pixel density and brightness, gallium nitride (GaN) based micro-light-emitting diodes (Micro-LEDs) are considered revolutionary display technology and have important application prospects in the fields of micro-display and virtual display. However, Micro-LEDs with pixel sizes smaller than 10 µm still encounter technical challenges such as sidewall damage and limited light extraction efficiency, resulting in reduced luminous efficiency and severe brightness non-uniformity. Here, we reported high-brightness green Micro-displays with a 5 µm pixel utilizing high-quality GaN-on-Si epilayers. Four-inch wafer-scale uniform green GaN epilayer is first grown on silicon substrate, which possesses a low dislocation density of 5.25 × 108 cm-2, small wafer bowing of 16.7 µm, and high wavelength uniformity (standard deviation STDEV < 1 nm), scalable to 6-inch sizes. Based on the high-quality GaN epilayers, green Micro-LEDs with 5 µm pixel sizes are designed with vertical non-alignment bonding technology. An atomic sidewall passivation method combined with wet treatment successfully addressed the Micro-LED sidewall damages and steadily produced nano-scale surface textures on the pixel top, which unlocked the internal quantum efficiency of the high-quality green GaN-on-Si epi-wafer. Ultra-high brightness exceeding 107 cd/m2 (nits) is thus achieved in the green Micro-LEDs, marking the highest reported results. Furthermore, integration of Micro-LEDs with Si-based CMOS circuits enables the realization of green Micro-LED displays with resolution up to 1080 × 780, realizing high-definition playback of movies and images. This work lays the foundation for the mass production of high-brightness Micro-LED displays on large-size GaN-on-Si epi-wafers.

Isoliquiritigenin Suppresses Breast Tumor Development by Enhancing Host Antitumor Immunity.

Isoliquiritigen (ISL), a constituent of licorice, has been shown to possess antitumorigenic effects in diverse cancer types. In this study, we observed that ISL suppressed breast tumor development significantly more effectively in immunocompetent mice than in immunocompromised ones. In exploring the cause of such a discrepancy, we detected robust tumor infiltration of CD8[Formula: see text] T lymphocytes in mice treated with ISL, not seen in tumors derived from vehicle-treated mice. Moreover, we found a dramatic reduction in PD-L1 in both experimental breast tumors and cultured breast cancer cells upon ISL treatment. In further experiments, we showed that ISL selectively elevated miR-200c in breast cancer and confirmed that PD-L1 mRNA is the target of miR-200c in both murine and human breast cancer cells. ISL suppression of PD-L1 was functionally linked to miR-200c/ZEB1/2 because (1) ISL diminished ZEB1/2; (2) knockdown of ZEB1/2 led to the disappearance of PD-L1; and (3) miR-200c antagomiR disabled ISL to reduce PD-L1. We found evidence that ISL reduced the level of PD-L1 by simultaneously intercepting the ERK and Src signaling pathways. In agreement with clinical finding that PD-L1 antibodies enhance efficacy of taxane-based therapy, we showed that ISL improved the tumoricidal effects of paclitaxel in an orthopedic murine breast tumor model. This study demonstrates that ISL-led tumor suppression acts through the augmentation of host antitumor immunity.

Nanoemulsion-based transdermal delivery of third-generation steroidal and non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors in preclinical models.

Aromatase inhibitors are effective in treating hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women. However, the challenges of inconsistent dissolution, variable absorption and side effects with oral administration persist. To address these issues, transdermal delivery has emerged as a viable alternative. In our study, we have developed nanoemulsion-based transdermal creams containing third-generation aromatase inhibitors Exemestane (EXE) or Letrozole (LE) and evaluated their toxicity, anti-tumour effects and androgenic potency using preclinical models including Bama minipigs, DMBA-induced breast cancer rats and orchidectomized male rats. The results of our study are significant, suggesting that both creams effectively penetrated the skin, demonstrating an impressive anti-breast cancer effect. Importantly, EXE cream had no organ toxicity at the tested dose, providing a reassuring safety profile for its use. In contrast, LE cream displayed reversible toxicity from drug molecule itself in animals at the given dose, dissipating after 3 weeks of withdrawal and recovery. This study establishes a solid foundation for the safe clinical use of third-generation aromatase inhibitors. It highlights transdermal creams as a promising drug delivery carrier for administering them.

Haplotype-based pangenomes reveal genetic variations and climate adaptations in moso bamboo populations.

Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), an ecologically and economically important forest species in East Asia, plays vital roles in carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. However, intensifying climate change threatens moso bamboo survival. Here we generate high-quality haplotype-based pangenome assemblies for 16 representative moso bamboo accessions and integrated these assemblies with 427 previously resequenced accessions. Characterization of the haplotype-based pangenome reveals extensive genetic variation, predominantly between haplotypes rather than within accessions. Many genes with allele-specific expression patterns are implicated in climate responses. Integrating spatiotemporal climate data reveals more than 1050 variations associated with pivotal climate factors, including temperature and precipitation. Climate-associated variations enable the prediction of increased genetic risk across the northern and western regions of China under future emissions scenarios, underscoring the threats posed by rising temperatures. Our integrated haplotype-based pangenome elucidates moso bamboo's local climate adaptation mechanisms and provides critical genomic resources for addressing intensifying climate pressures on this essential bamboo. More broadly, this study demonstrates the power of long-read sequencing in dissecting adaptive traits in climate-sensitive species, advancing evolutionary knowledge to support conservation.

Single-cell RNA sequencing explored potential therapeutic targets by revealing the tumor microenvironment of neuroblastoma and its expression in cell death.

BACKGROUND: Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood and is closely related to the early development and differentiation of neuroendocrine (NE) cells. The disease is mainly represented by high-risk NB, which has the characteristics of high mortality and difficult treatment. The survival rate of high-risk NB patients is not ideal. In this article, we not only conducted a comprehensive study of NB through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) but also further analyzed cuproptosis, a new cell death pathway, in order to find clinical treatment targets from a new perspective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Seurat software was employed to process the scRNA-seq data. This was followed by the utilization of GO enrichment analysis and GSEA to unveil pertinent enriched pathways. The inferCNV software package was harnessed to investigate chromosomal copy number variations. pseudotime analyses involved the use of Monocle 2, CytoTRACE, and Slingshot software. CellChat was employed to analyze the intercellular communication network for NB. Furthermore, PySCENIC was deployed to review the profile of transcription factors. RESULT: Using scRNA-seq, we studied cells from patients with NB. NE cells exhibited superior specificity in contrast to other cell types. Among NE cells, C1 PCLAF + NE cells showed a close correlation with the genesis and advancement of NB. The key marker genes, cognate receptor pairing, developmental trajectories, metabolic pathways, transcription factors, and enrichment pathways in C1 PCLAF + NE cells, as well as the expression of cuproptosis in C1 PCLAF + NE cells, provided new ideas for exploring new therapeutic targets for NB. CONCLUSION: The results revealed the specificity of malignant NE cells in NB, especially the key subset of C1 PCLAF + NE cells, which enhanced our understanding of the key role of the tumor microenvironment in the complexity of cancer progression. Of course, cell death played an important role in the progression of NB, which also promoted our research on new targets. The scrutiny of these findings proved advantageous in uncovering innovative therapeutic targets, thereby bolstering clinical interventions.

4D printing of biological macromolecules employing handheld bioprinters for in situ wound healing applications.

In situ bioprinting may be preferred over standard in vitro bioprinting in specific cases when de novo tissues are to be created directly on the appropriate anatomical region in the live organism, employing the body as a bioreactor. So far, few efforts have been made to create in situ tissues that can be safely halted and immobilized during printing in preclinical live animals. However, the technique has to be improved significantly in order to manufacture complex tissues in situ, which may be attainable in the future thanks to multidisciplinary advances in tissue engineering. Thanks to the biological macromolecules, natural and synthetic hydrogels and polymers are among the most used biomaterials in in situ bioprinting procedure. Bioprinters, which encounter multiple challenges, including cross-linking the printed structure, adjusting the rheology parameters, and printing various constructs. The introduction of handheld 3D and 4D bioprinters might potentially overcome the difficulties and problems associated with using traditional bioprinters. Studies showed that this technique could be efficient in wound healing and skin tissue regeneration. This study aims to analyze the benefits and difficulties associated with materials in situ 4D printing via handheld bioprinters.

Prevalence and risk factors of significant fibrosis in CHB patients with concurrent MASLD.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Significant fibrosis is an indicator of clinical intervention for both chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). There remains a paucity of data regarding the clinical impact of biopsy-defined MASLD on significant fibrosis in CHB patients. The current study aims to elucidate whether patients with concomitant MASLD are at higher risk of significant fibrosis in patients with CHB. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective research of two tertiary hospitals comprised 1818 patients between 2009 and 2021 with CHB and hepatic steatosis who had not received antiviral therapy. Pathologic findings by liver biopsy were contrasted between CHB group (n = 844) and CHB + MASLD (n = 974) group. METAVIR values of F≥2 were used to categorize significant fibrosis. RESULTS: Patients with CHB + MASLD had more significant fibrosis (35.5 % vs. 23.5 %, p < 0.001) than CHB group. The presence of MASLD [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.055, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.635-2.584; p < 0.001] was strongly associated with significant fibrosis in all CHB patients. There was a trend for patients with more cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) to have a higher prevalence of significant fibrosis:(25.7 % in CMRF1 subgroup v.s. 34.9 % in CMRF2 subgroup v.s. 53.7 % in CMRF≥ 3 subgroup, p < 0.001). Patients with CMRF≥3 had a three-fold higher significant fibrosis than those with just one CMRF. CONCLUSIONS: MASLD was associated with higher fibrosis stage in patients with CHB. Early detection and intervention are crucial to patients with three or more cardiometabolic risk factors.

A novel visible light-driven oxygen doped C3N4/Bi12O17Cl2/ferrate(VI) system for Bisphenol A degradation: Radical and nonradical pathways.

In this study, visible light-activated photocatalyst oxygen-doped C3N4@Bi12O17Cl2 (OCN@BOC) and Fe(VI) coupling system was proposed for the efficient degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). The comprehensive characterization of the OCN@BOC photocatalyst revealed its excellent photogenerated carrier separation rate in heterogeneous structures. The OCN@BOC/Fe(VI)/Vis system exhibited a remarkable BPA removal efficiency of over 84% within 5 min. Comparatively, only 37% and 59% of BPA were degraded by single OCN@BOC and Fe(VI) in 5 min, respectively. Reactive species scavenging experiments, phenyl sulfoxide transformation experiments, and electron paramagnetic resonance experiments confirmed the involvement of superoxide radicals (⋅O2-), singlet oxygen (1O2), as well as iron(V)/iron(IV) (Fe(V)/Fe(IV)) species in the degradation process of BPA. Furthermore, density functional theoretical calculations and identification of intermediates provided insights into the potential degradation mechanism of BPA during these reactions. Additionally, simulation evaluations using an ecological structure activity relationship model demonstrated that the toxicity of BPA to the ecological environment was mitigated during its degradation process. This study presented a novel strategy for removing BPA utilizing visible light photocatalysts, highlighting promising applications for practical water environment remediation with the OCN@BOC/Fe(VI)/Vis system.

Phosphoproteomic Analysis Indicates Phosphorylated Proteins in Response to Postharvest Blueberries Fruit Softening during Shelf Life.

Postharvest blueberry fruit is prone to softening. Protein phosphorylation is an important post-translational modification that was involved in fruit softening. However, little is known about protein phosphorylation in postharvest blueberry fruit softening. The firmness, the apparent morphology, and cell structures of blueberry fruit were changed. As the decay rate of postharvest blueberry fruit increased, the soluble solid and titrable acid contents decreased significantly. Phosphoproteomic sequencing results showed that there were 4100 phosphorylated peptides, 5635 phosphorylated sites, and 1437 phosphorylated proteins and showed significant differences on 0 and 8 d. The GO database and KEGG pathway results indicated that these phosphorylated proteins were mainly involved in "biological process", "molecular function", "plant hormone signal transduction", and "metabolic pathways". Besides, a number of phosphorylated proteins were found in cell wall metabolism, plant hormone signaling, primary metabolism, energy metabolism, membrane and transport, ubiquitination-based proteins, and other metabolisms.

GEPREP: A comprehensive data atlas of RNA-seq-based gene expression profiles of exercise responses.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity can regulate and affect gene expression in multiple tissues and cells. Recently, with the development of next-generation sequencing, a large number of RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq)-based gene expression profiles about physical activity have been shared in public resources; however, they are poorly curated and underutilized. To tackle this problem, we developed a data atlas of such data through comprehensive data collection, curation, and organization. METHODS: The data atlas, termed gene expression profiles of RNA-seq-based exercise responses (GEPREP), was built on a comprehensive collection of high-quality RNA-seq data on exercise responses. The metadata of each sample were manually curated. Data were uniformly processed and batch effects corrected. All the information was well organized in an easy-to-use website for free search, visualization, and download. RESULTS: GEPREP now includes 69 RNA-seq datasets of pre- and post-exercise, comprising 26 human datasets (1120 samples) and 43 mouse datasets (1006 samples). Specifically, there were 977 (87.2 %) human samples of skeletal muscle and 143 (12.8 %) human samples of blood. There were also samples across 9 mice tissues with skeletal muscle (359, 35.7 %) and brain (280, 27.8 %) accounting for the main fractions. Metadata-including subject, exercise interventions, sampling sites, and post-processing methods-are also included. The metadata and gene expression profiles are freely accessible at http://www.geprep.org.cn/. CONCLUSION: GEPREP is a comprehensive data atlas of RNA-seq-based gene expression profiles responding to exercise. With its reliable annotations and user-friendly interfaces, it has the potential to deepen our understanding of exercise physiology.

Impact of dry eye disease on psychological symptoms among Chinese doctoral students studying abroad.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dry eye disease (DED) on depression, anxiety, and stress among Chinese doctoral students studying abroad. This is a cross-sectional study. This study enrolled 185 Chinese doctoral students pursuing education in the Philippines. DED was assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index, while psychological symptoms were evaluated using the abbreviated version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 questionnaire. A survey encompassing demographic information, potential DED risk factors, and individual habits was also administered. Of the 185 students, 129 completed the survey, of which 40 (31.0%) were male and 89 (69.0%) were female. The average age was 36.3 ±â€…7.0 (mean ±â€…SD; range, 22-57) years. The prevalence of DED, depression, anxiety, and stress was 73.6% (95/129), 43.4% (56/129), 50.4% (65/129), and 22.5% (29/129), respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that aging (P < .001), prolonged visual display terminal (VDT) use (P = .004), extended paperwork time (P < .001), higher depression score (P = .006), higher anxiety score (P < .001), and higher stress score (P < .001) were associated with increased influence of DED. After adjusting for age, duration of VDT use, duration of paperwork, and depression score, age (P = .030) had significant association with DED. Additionally, after adjusting for age, duration of VDT use, duration of paperwork, and anxiety score, age (P = .026) and anxiety score (P = .047) were significantly associated with DED. Moreover, after adjusting for age, duration of VDT use, duration of paperwork, and stress score, age (P = .035) and stress score (P = .028) showed significant associations with DED. In the multivariate analysis of variance, there was a significant impact of DED severity classification on psychological distress (V = 0.19, F(9, 375) = 2.83, P = .003). Univariate analysis of variances indicated that DED severity had a significant impact on anxiety F(3, 125) = 6.06, P = .001 and stress F(3, 125) = 3.00, P = .033. A higher influence of DED was related to stress and anxiety. Anxiety and stress levels increase with the severity of DED.

Effects of fermentation conditions on molecular weight, production, and physicochemical properties of gellan gum.

Gellan gum has been widely used in many industries due to its excellent physical properties. In this study, the effects of different fermentation conditions on molecular weight and production of gellan gum were analyzed, and the optimized fermentation conditions for a high molecular weight gellan gum (H-GG: 6.42 × 105 Da) were obtained, which increased the molecular weight and yield of gellan gum by 201.4 % and 44.9 % respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that H-GG has similar characteristic absorption and semi-crystalline structures with the initial gellan gum (I-GG), and it was composed of glucose, rhamnose, and glucuronic acid showing no obvious changes in the molecular structure. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation revealed that the filaments of H-GG were slender, longer, and looser with larger pores. Importantly, gel properties analysis showed that the gel strength, viscoelasticity, and water-holding capacity of H-GG were better than those of I-GG, and the rheological results revealed that the H-GG is a pseudoplastic fluid with higher apparent viscosity and stable viscoelasticity at 20-70 °C. Therefore, the molecular weight and yield of gellan gum are significantly affected by fermentation conditions, and the obtained H-GG demonstrates improved gel and rheological properties.