Exploring mRNA translation strategies for hypoxia adaptation across distantly related metazoans.

Adaptation to variations in oxygen concentration is a conserved mechanism in all metazoans. Extensive studies have been focused on the roles of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) in response to hypoxia. However, HIF1α is not conserved in all animals, and HIF2α and HIF3α are only observed in vertebrates. In this review, we discuss mechanisms enabling three cross-species to adapt to hypoxic conditions. Using transcriptomic data of hypoxia-induced genes from distantly related metazoans, we analyzed the enrichment and conservation of mRNA determinants such as transcript, CDS, 5'UTR and 3'UTR size. We found that long genes are enriched in hypoxia-induced transcripts and might be translated in a 3'UTR-dependent manner. We hope our work can provide a new direction on investigating alternative mechanisms for mRNA translation under hypoxia.

Many studies have focused on a group of proteins called hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) that help animals adapt to different oxygen concentrations, but not all animals have the same HIF proteins. This means that some genes involved in oxygen adaptation work differently in different animals. In this review, we look at three different species and how they adapt to low oxygen levels, with a special focus on how genes are used to make proteins. We used information from these species to see if certain features of genes (like their size) are important for adaptation. We found that in response to low oxygen, longer genes become more active and may use a specific part of the gene to make proteins. However, some common features thought to be important for gene activity in low oxygen were not found to be significant. This research gives us new directions to explore how genes make proteins in low-oxygen conditions, which is important for understanding how animals survive in changing environments.

Rapid diagnosis and continuous monitoring of intracerebral hemorrhage with magnetic induction tomography based on stacked autoencoder.

Magnetic induction tomography (MIT) is a promising approach in rapid diagnosis and continuous monitoring of cerebral hemorrhage. A new algorithm for the reconstruction of intracerebral hemorrhage with MIT, including the location and volume of hemorrhage, is proposed in this study. First, 2D magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography images of patients with cerebral hemorrhage were used for the development of simulation models. The Stacked Autoencoder (SAE) network was then used to predict the location and volume of hemorrhage by conductivity reconstruction. Finally, the one-dimensional quantitative monitoring index is proposed as an auxiliary diagnostic indicator for assessment of real-time intracranial electrical characteristics. The 2D simulation results showed that the SAE was able to quickly image the location and volume of the hemorrhages. Compared with the back-projection algorithm, the prediction speed of each frame was improved 15-fold, and the accuracy improved by 90.53%. The extracted one-dimensional quantitative monitoring indicators can describe the bleeding status. The diagnostic accuracy and the imaging speed of cerebral hemorrhage were both improved by constructing a realistic head section model and using the proposed SAE network. This research provides a new alternative for dynamic monitoring of hemorrhages and shows the potential advantages of MIT in noninvasive detection.

Deep learning algorithms for brain disease detection with magnetic induction tomography.

PURPOSE: In order to improve the reconstruction accuracy of magnetic induction tomography (MIT) and achieve fast imaging especially in the detection of cerebral hemorrhage, artificial intelligence algorithms are proposed to improve the accuracy of MIT inverse problem. METHODS: According to the standard geometric data of human head, a three-dimensional (3D) head model containing four layer tissues is established for brain image reconstruction of MIT. Four deep learning (DL) networks, including restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), deep belief network (DBN), stacked autoencoder (SAE), and denoising autoencoder (DAE), are used to solve the nonlinear reconstruction problem of MIT, and the reconstruction results of DL networks and back-projection algorithm are compared. Finally, in order to verify the practical value of DL algorithms, the phantom experiment is carried out with MIT detection system. RESULTS: Using the nonlinear data learning ability of DL algorithms, the rapid and high-precision imaging of cerebral hemorrhage can be realized. Compared with the back-projection algorithm, the DL improves the artifact and the accuracy of the reconstruction image. The location and volume of bleeding can be reconstructed and the prediction time reaches 20 ms. Moreover, the anti-noise performance of the networks can reach 20 dB. CONCLUSIONS: The DL can effectively improve the reconstruction accuracy and prediction speed of the image when it is applied to the reconstruction of cerebral hemorrhage in MIT. This feasibility study MIT to be a potential technology for brain diseases to fully meet the needs of accurate, rapid, and low-cost clinical diagnosis and continuous monitoring.

Relationship between Tissue Distributions of Modified Wuzi Yanzong Prescription () in Rats and Meridian Tropism Theory.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between tissue distributions of modified Wuzi Yanzong prescription (, MWP) in rats and meridian tropism theory. METHODS: A high-performance liquid chromatography with Fourier transform-mass spectrometry (HPLC-FT) method was used to identify the metabolites of MWP in different tissues of rats after continued oral administration of MWP for 7 days. The relationship between MWP and meridian tropism theory was studied according to the tissue distributions of the metabolites of MWP in rats and the relevant literature. RESULTS: Nineteen metabolites, mainly flavanoid compounds, were detected in the different rat tissues and classified to each herb in MWP. Further, it was able to establish that the tissue distributions of the metabolites of MWP were consistent with the descriptions of meridian tropism of MWP available in literature, this result might be useful in clarifying the mechanism of MWP on meridian tropism. In the long run, these data might provide scientific evidence of the meridian tropism theory to further promote the reasonable, effective utilization, and modernization of Chinese medicine. CONCLUSION: The tissue distributions of MWP in vivo were consistent with the descriptions of meridian tropism of MWP.

Icariin protects SH-SY5Y cells from formaldehyde-induced injury through suppression of Tau phosphorylation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the neuroprotective effects of icariin on formaldehyde (FA)-treated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and the possible mechanisms involved. METHODS: SH-SY5Y cells were divided into FA treatment group, FA treatment group with icariin, and the control group. Cell viability, apoptosis, and morphological changes were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK 8), flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy, respectively. The phosphorylation of Tau protein was examined by western blotting. RESULTS: FA showed a half lethal dose (LD50) of 0.3 mmol/L in SH-SY5Y cells under the experimental conditions. Icariin (1-10 µmol/L) prevented FA-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells in a dose-dependent manner, with the optimal effect observed at 5 µmol/L. After FA treatment, the absorbance in FA group was 1.31±0.05, while in the group of icariin (5 µmol/L) was 1.63±0.05. Examination of cell morphology by confocal microscopy demonstrated that 5 µmol/L icariin significantly attenuated FA-induced cell injury (P <0.05). Additionally, Icariin inhibited FA-induced cell apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. Results from western blotting showed that icariin suppressed FA-induced phosphorylation at Thr 181 and Ser 396 of Tau protein, while having no effect on the expression of the total Tau protein level. Furthermore, FA activated Tau kinase glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3ß) by enhancement of Y216 phosphorylation, but icariin reduced Y216 phosphorylation and increased Ser 9 phosphorylation. CONCLUSION: Icariin protects SH-SY5Y cells from FA-induced injury poßsibly through the inhibition of GSK-3ß-mediated Tau phosphorylation.

[Study of effect of Humifuse Euphorbia Herb on alleviating insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic model KK-Ay mice].

[To explore the effect of Humifuse Euphorbia Herb ( HEH) on alleviating insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic KK-Ay mice. Totally 40 KK-Ay mice fed with high-fat diet were divided into four groups: the metformin group, the model group, the HEH low-dose group and the HEH high-dose group, and orally administrated with metformin hydrochloride (250 mg x kg(-1)), distilled water, humifuse euphorbia herb 1 g x kg(-1) and 2 g x kg(-1). Besides, C57BL/6J mice with ordinary feed were taken as the normal control group and orally administrated with equal distilled water. The oral administration for the five groups lasted for eight weeks. Before and after the experiment, weight, fasting glucose and insulin tolerance were determined. The morphological changes in pancreas were observed through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining on pancreatic tissue sections. The serum insulin, TNF-α, IL-6, adiponectin (ADPN) and leptin (LEP) were detected by ELISA. The results showed that HEH could reduce weight and fasting glucose in KK-Ay mice, alleviate hyperinsulinemia, reduce blood glucose-time AUC, increase 30-min blood glucose decline rate, relieve insulin resistance, significantly ameliorate the pathomorphological changes in pancreas in each group, decrease serum TNF-α, IL-6 and leptin levels in KK-Ay mice and rise serum ADPN level. This study proved that humifuse euphorbia herb can ameliorate the insulin resistance in KK-Ay mice, and its mechanism may be related to the effect on inflammatory factors and adipocytokines.