A bacteriocyte symbiont determines whitefly sex ratio by regulating mitochondrial function.

Nutritional symbionts influence host reproduction, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unclear. We previously found that the bacteriocyte symbiont Hamiltonella impacts the sex ratio of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Hamiltonella synthesizes folate by cooperation with the whitefly. Folate deficiency by Hamiltonella elimination or whitefly gene silencing distorted whitefly sex ratio, and folate supplementation restored the sex ratio. Hamiltonella deficiency or gene silencing altered histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) level, which was restored by folate supplementation. Genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation-seq analysis of H3K9me3 indicated mitochondrial dysfunction in symbiont-deficient whiteflies. Hamiltonella deficiency compromised mitochondrial quality of whitefly ovaries. Repressing ovary mitochondrial function led to distorted whitefly sex ratio. These findings indicate that the symbiont-derived folate regulates host histone methylation modifications, which thereby impacts ovary mitochondrial function, and finally determines host sex ratio. Our study suggests that a nutritional symbiont can regulate animal reproduction in a way that differs from reproductive manipulators.

The bHLH-zip transcription factor SREBP regulates triterpenoid and lipid metabolisms in the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lingzhi.

Ganoderic acids (GAs) are well recognized as important pharmacological components of the medicinal species belonging to the basidiomycete genus Ganoderma. However, transcription factors directly regulating the expression of GA biosynthesis genes remain poorly understood. Here, the genome of Ganoderma lingzhi is de novo sequenced. Using DNA affinity purification sequencing, we identify putative targets of the transcription factor sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP), including the genes of triterpenoid synthesis and lipid metabolism. Interactions between SREBP and the targets are verified by electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay. RNA-seq shows that SREBP targets, mevalonate kinase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthetase in mevalonate pathway, sterol isomerase and lanosterol 14-demethylase in ergosterol biosynthesis, are significantly upregulated in the SREBP overexpression (OE::SREBP) strain. In addition, 3 targets involved in glycerophospholipid/glycerolipid metabolism are upregulated. Then, the contents of mevalonic acid, lanosterol, ergosterol and 13 different GAs as well as a variety of lipids are significantly increased in this strain. Furthermore, the effects of SREBP overexpression on triterpenoid and lipid metabolisms are recovered when OE::SREBP strain are treated with exogenous fatostatin, a specific inhibitor of SREBP. Taken together, our genome-wide study clarify the role of SREBP in triterpenoid and lipid metabolisms of G. lingzhi.

[Characteristics of Heavy Metal Pollution and Ecological Risk Evaluation of Indoor Dust from Urban and Rural Areas in Taiyuan City During the Heating Season].

The presence of heavy metals in indoor dust is a world-wide concern owing to its negative impact on humans. In this study, we collected indoor dust samples from urban and rural residential areas during the heating season in Taiyuan City. We then identified the concentrations of 11 heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, V, As, and Hg) using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Based on the concentrations, we categorized the pollution levels of indoor dust using the geo-accumulation index and the pollution load index. We further identified the sources of heavy metals using the enrichment factor and principal component analysis. Finally, we evaluated the potential ecological risks of heavy metals via the potential ecological index. The results illustrated that ① with the exception of Co, Mn, and V, the mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, As, Zn, and Hg in indoor dust were higher than the soil background values of Shanxi Province. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the concentrations of Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Hg between the urban and rural areas. ② Overall, the pollution degree of heavy metals in indoor dust was identified as moderate in the urban area of Taiyuan City, but slight in the rural area. The indoor dust sample in the urban area was not contaminated by Co, Mn, and V. However, it was slightly polluted by As, Ni, and Hg. In addition, it was close to moderately polluted by Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn. In the rural area, the pollution degrees of all the metals, except for Hg and V, in indoor dust were lower than those in the urban area. ③ The As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Hg in indoor dust for both urban and rural areas might have mainly originated from anthropogenic sources. The pollution sources were mainly transportation and industry in the urban area and coal combustion and indoor smoking in the rural area. The Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, and V in indoor dust in Taiyuan City might have mainly originated from natural sources. ④ The ecological risk of heavy metal pollution in indoor dust for both the urban and rural areas of Taiyuan City was relatively high, with integrated ecological risk indexes of 359.43 and 471.02 in the urban and rural areas, respectively. In addition, Cd and Hg were the largest contributors.

A Grading Scale for Pial Collaterals in Middle Cerebral Artery Total Occlusion Based on Time-of-flight MR Angiography Source Images.

PURPOSE: To verify whether a new grading based on time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography source images (TOF-MRAsi) can reflect the abundance of pial collaterals, in patients with total occlusion of M1 segment of middle cerebral artery in the chronic stage. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, consecutive patients with total occlusion of M1 segment of middle cerebral artery, with both magnetic resonances angiography and digital subtraction angiography image were included. Time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography source images were evaluated in a blinded fashion for pial collaterals (PCs) that were graded on a four-point scale. Good and poor PCs were defined as TOF-MRAsis grade <2 and ≥2, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was done to calculate the area under curve, sensitivity, and specificity. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients were included. The inter-reader agreement for time TOF-MRAsi and digital subtraction angiography images were 0.930 and 0.843, respectively. Compared with digital subtraction angiography grading, the area under curve of pial collateral grading based on TOF-MRAsi was 0.830 (0.636-1.000; P = 0.006). The sensitivity and specificity were 0.700 and 0.933, respectively. The modified Rankin Scale at follow-up was lower in patients with good PCs than in those with poor PCs (0[0, 1] vs. 1[1, 3], P = 0.055), although statistical significance was not reached. CONCLUSION: The grading scale based on TOF-MRAsi could be a new empirical approach for pial collateral evaluation. The clinical use of the proposed approach for identifying patients with total occlusion of middle cerebral artery with a high risk of poor outcome requires evaluation in further studies.

A biosensor based on a 3D-DNA walking machine network and distance-controlled electrochemiluminescence energy transfer for ultrasensitive detection of tenascin C and lead ions.

An electrochemiluminescence biosensor was proposed based on distance-controlled energy transfer and a 3D-DNA walking machine network to significantly improve mass transport and offer an ultrasensitive and controllable strategy for the detection of different types of target.

Age and composite end-point events in medium follow-up of patients with carotid artery total occlusion using drug therapy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The outcome of carotid artery total occlusion (CATO) is unclear. The aim of this study is to report the medium incidence of composite end-point events and risk factors (especially age), in patients with CATO, treated medically. METHODS: This was a single center retrospective study. Composite end-point events included death, ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction, or angina. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze risk factors of composite end-point events. RESULTS: A total of 94 patients with CATO were included in the study. The mean follow-up duration was 30 ± 16 months. There were 16 cases who experienced composite end-point events (17.0%); among them, there were 15 cases of death (16.0%), 8 cases of ischemic stroke (7 cases of fatal stroke and 1 case of non-fatal stroke) (8.5%), and 1 case of angina pectoris (1%) (the patient later developed ischemic stroke). With increased age, the incidence of composite end-point events was significantly increased (p = 0.002). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only age was a risk factor (OR = 3.051 (1.351-6.890), p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of composite end-point events in patients with CATO was as high as 17.0% at approximately 3 years after drug therapy alone. For every 10 years of age increase, the risk increase of composite end-point events doubles.

[Carotid artery dissection with Horner syndrome as main manifestation: a case report].

A 44-year old male patient was admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine with left ptosis and pain on the left head and neck for 20 days.Brain MRI showed subacute cerebral infarction on left parietal lobe and intramural hematoma on left internal carotid artery. CT angiography showed stenosis line on the C1 segment of left internal carotid artery. Digital subtraction angiography showed dissection on the C1 segment of left internal carotid artery.The condition of patients was improved after anticoagulant therapy.

Efficacy and safety of thrombolysis for stroke of unknown onset time: a meta-analysis.

Current stroke treatment guidelines exclude unknown onset stroke (UOS) patients from thrombolytic therapy even though several studies have reported significant treatment efficacy and safety. We performed a meta-analysis of relevant studies retrieved by systematic searches of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases up to December 31, 2013. Dichotomized modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores 0-1 at 90 days, mRS 0-2 at 90 days, overall mortality, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) incidence were collected as primary outcome measures. Fixed effects meta-analytical models were used, and between-study heterogeneity was assessed. Eleven studies encompassing 1,832 patients were included. In case-control studies of UOS patients, thrombolysis was associated with a significant increase in the proportion of patients with mRS scores of 0-1 (OR 2.37; 95% CI 1.20-4.69; P = 0.013) and 0-2 (OR 2.03; 95% CI 1.26-3.30; P = 0.004) without increased mortality or sICH incidence. In studies comparing thrombolysis-treated UOS to thrombolysis-treated known onset stroke, however, fewer UOS patients had mRS scores of 0-1 (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.51-0.97; P = 0.033) with no change in mortality, sICH incidence, or patients with mRS of 0-2. Subgroup analysis based on imaging criteria and time window of thrombolysis indicated that UOS patients treated within 3 h after first found abnormal and those with early ischemic changes restricted to <1/3 of the middle cerebral artery territory gained more benefit from thrombolysis treatment than the whole UOS population. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm the efficacy of thrombolysis in this UOS subgroup.

Benefits of combination of electroencephalography, short latency somatosensory evoked potentials, and transcranial Doppler techniques for confirming brain death.

OBJECTIVE: Optimization of combining electroencephalography (EEG), short latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SLSEP) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) techniques to diagnose brain death. METHODS: One hundred and eleven patients (69 males, 42 females) from the major hospitals of Zhejiang Province were examined with portable EEG, SLSEP and TCD devices. Re-examinations occurred < or =12 h later. RESULTS: The first examination revealed that the combination of SLSEP and EEG led to more sensitive diagnoses than the combination of SLSEP and TCD. Re-examination confirmed this and also revealed that the combination of TCD and EEG was the most sensitive. CONCLUSION: The results show that using multiple techniques to diagnose brain death is superior to using single method, and that the combination of SLSEP and EEG is better than other combinations.