Development and validation of a nomogram to predict medication risk based on a knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) survey of residents in Shanxi Province, China.

Objective: Unsafe medication practices and medication errors are a major cause of harm in healthcare systems around the world. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence the risk of medication and provide medication risk evaluation model for adults in Shanxi province, China. Methods: The data was obtained from the provincial questionnaire from May to December 2022, relying on the random distribution of questionnaires and online questionnaires by four hospitals in Shanxi Province. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the factors affecting the KAP score of residents. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent risk factors, and the nomogram was verified by receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration and decision curve analysis. Results: A total of 3,388 questionnaires were collected, including 3,272 valid questionnaires. The average scores of drugs KAP were 63.2 ± 23.04, 33.05 ± 9.60, 23.67 ± 6.75 and 33.16 ± 10.87, respectively. On the evaluation criteria of the questionnaire, knowledge was scored "fair", attitude and practice were scored "good". Sex, monthly income, place of residence, insurance status, education level, and employment were regarded as independent risk factors for medication and a nomogram was established by them. Conclusion: Males, low-income, and low-educated people are important factors affecting the risk of medication. The application of the model can help residents understand the risk of their own medication behavior and reduce the harm of medication.

SEPT3 as a Potential Molecular Target of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Background: The survival rate for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is very low due to its advanced metastatic and aggressive nature, and there is no specific target to improve the survival rate. The expression and clinical signature of neuronal-specific septin-3 (Septin3, SEPT3) in TNBC remain undetermined. Methods: SEPT3 differential expression in TNBC was detected with the use of bioinformatic approaches based on TCGA and GEO database, which was verified with immunohistochemistry in TNBC tissues. Next, the effect of SEPT3 on survival and the association between SEPT3 expression and clinical characteristics were assessed for TNBC patients. We performed Cox analysis to evaluate whether SEPT3 is an independent predictor for TNBC patients. Results: SEPT3 was identified as a key differentially expressed gene. SEPT3 was observed to be elevated in 112 TNBC significantly. Increased expression of SEPT3 contributed to an unfavorable prognosis in patients with TNBC. Additionally, SEPT3 was associated with several factors including TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, Ki67 level and histological grade. SEPT3 was determined to be an independent risk factor for TNBC patients through Cox regression analysis. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that SEPT3 could be a potential disease marker for TNBC patients by bioinformatics analysis and validation in clinical samples.

Persulfate-Promoted Carbamoylation/Cyclization of Alkenes: Synthesis of Amide-Containing Quinazolinones.

The incorporation of amide groups into biologically active molecules has been proven to be an efficient strategy for drug design and discovery. In this study, we present a simple and practical method for the synthesis of amide-containing quinazolin-4(3H)-ones under transition-metal-free conditions. This is achieved through a carbamoyl-radical-triggered cascade cyclization of N3-alkenyl-tethered quinazolinones. Notably, the carbamoyl radical is generated in situ from the oxidative decarboxylative process of oxamic acids in the presence of (NH4)2S2O8.

Development and validation of a risk model for intracardiac thrombosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: a retrospective study.

Intracardiac thrombosis is a severe complication in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. This study aims to develop and validate an individualized nomogram to evaluate the risk of intracardiac thrombosis in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy at first admission. Clinical baseline characteristics were acquired from electronic medical record systems. Multiple methods were applied to screen the key variables and generate multiple different variable combinations. Multivariable logistic regression was used to build the models, and the optimal model was chosen by comparing the discrimination. Then we checked the performance of the model in different thrombus subgroups. Finally, the model was presented using a nomogram and evaluated from the perspectives of discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness. Internal validation was performed by extracting different proportions of data for Bootstrapping. Ultimately, 564 eligible patients were enrolled, 67 of whom developed an intracardiac thrombosis. Risk factors included d-dimer, white blood cell count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, pulse pressure, history of stroke, hematocrit, and NT-proBNP in the optimal model. The model had good discrimination and calibration, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.833 (0.782-0.884), and the model's performance in each subgroup was stable. Clinical decision curve analysis showed that the model had clinical application value when the high-risk threshold was between 2% and 78%. The AUC of interval validation (30% and 70% data resampling) was 0.844 (0.765-0.924) and 0.833 (0.775-0.891), respectively. This novel intracardiac thrombosis nomogram could be conveniently applied to facilitate the individual intracardiac thrombosis risk assessment in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

A Bibliometrics of the Treatment of Alopecia Areata in the Past Twenty Years.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by hair loss on the scalp, face, and other body areas. Despite affecting approximately 2% of the global population, there has been no previous bibliometric analysis specifically focusing on AA treatment that can guide researchers in exploring promising treatment options and directing future research efforts. SUMMARY: This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of AA treatment research, encompassing publications from 2003 to 2022. A total of 1,323 papers from 65 countries, predominantly led by the USA and China, were included in the analysis. The number of publications related to AA treatment showed a notable increase over the years. Prominent research institutions included the University of Manchester, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, University of Miami, and Columbia University. Among the journals, Dermatologic Therapy stood out as the most popular, while the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology appeared as the most frequently co-cited publication.

Long-term outcome of children with acute promyelocytic leukemia: a randomized study of oral versus intravenous arsenic by SCCLG-APL group.

Realgar-Indigo naturalis formula (RIF), an oral traditional Chinese medicine mainly containing Realgar (As4S4), is highly effective in treating adult acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, the treatment efficacy and safety of RIF have not been verified in pediatric patients. SCCLG-APL group conducted a multicenter randomized non-inferiority trial to determine whether intravenous arsenic trioxide (ATO) can be substituted by oral RIF in treating pediatric APL. Of 176 eligible patients enrolled, 91 and 85 were randomized to ATO and RIF groups, respectively. Patients were treated with the risk-adapted protocol. Induction, consolidation, and 96-week maintenance treatment contained all-trans-retinoic acid and low-intensity chemotherapy, and either ATO or RIF. The primary endpoint was 5-year event-free survival (EFS). The secondary endpoints were adverse events and hospital days. After a median 6-year follow-up, the 5-year EFS was 97.6% in both groups. However, the RIF group had significantly shorter hospital stays and lower incidence of infection and tended to have less cardiac toxicity. All 4 relapses occurred within 1.5 years after completion of maintenance therapy. No long-term arsenic retentions were observed in either group. Substituting oral RIF for ATO maintains treatment efficacy while reducing hospitalization and adverse events in treating pediatric APL patients, which may be a future treatment strategy for APL.

Prediction of refractive error and its progression: a machine learning-based algorithm.

OBJECTIVE: Myopia is the refractive error that shows the highest prevalence for younger ages in Southeast Asia and its projection over the next decades indicates that this situation will worsen. Nowadays, several management solutions are being applied to help fight its onset and development, nonetheless, the applications of these techniques depend on a clear and reliable assessment of risk to develop myopia. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: In this study, population-based data of Chinese children were used to develop a machine learning-based algorithm that enables the risk assessment of myopia's onset and development. Cross-sectional data of 12 780 kids together with longitudinal data of 226 kids containing age, gender, biometry and refractive parameters were used for the development of the models. RESULTS: A combination of support vector regression and Gaussian process regression resulted in the best performing algorithm. The Pearson correlation coefficient between prediction and measured data was 0.77, whereas the bias was -0.05 D and the limits of agreement was 0.85 D (95% CI: -0.91 to 0.80D). DISCUSSION: The developed algorithm uses accessible inputs to provide an estimate of refractive development and may serve as guide for the eye care professional to help determine the individual best strategy for management of myopia.

SEPTIN3 Promotes Progression of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer via Activating Wnt Pathway.

Background: There is a lack of targeted therapies for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), necessitating the search for novel targets. Patients with TNBC exhibit elevated expression of neuron-specific septin-3 (SEPTIN3), leading to poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the modulation of SEPTIN3 expression in TNBC cells. Methods: The relative expression levels of SEPTIN3 in TNBC tissues and cell lines were determined using Western blotting and qRT-PCR. We generated lentivirally transduced TNBC cell lines so such that SEPTIN3 was overexpressed or knocked down. Next, the effect of SEPTIN3 on the biological behavior of TNBC cells was detected using a series of functional assays, including CCK8, colony formation, scratch, and transwell assays. We monitored the tumorigenicity of SEPTIN3 overexpressed cells and performed Ki-67 immunostaining in mice. The mechanism mediated by SEPTIN3 was studied using functional enrichment analysis and Western blotting. Results: Protein and mRNA expression levels of SEPTIN3 were observed to be increased in TNBC tissues and cell lines. SEPTIN3 knockdown reduced cell growth, invasion, and migration, whereas SEPTIN3 overexpression exerted the opposite effects. SEPTIN3 was observed to favor cell growth and tumorigenicity in vivo. In addition, SEPTIN3 promoted TNBC cell aggressiveness and proliferation via activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. Conclusion: SEPTIN3 emerged as an oncogene that accelerates tumor progression by regulating the Wnt signaling pathway.

Efficacy and safety of moxibustion on cancer-related fatigue: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this research was to review the literature from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the impacts of moxibustion on cancer-related fatigue (CRF) as well as provide credible evidence to guide clinical practice. METHODS: Three English electronic medical databases (PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library) and two Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang) were searched. Only randomized controlled trials on the effect of moxibustion on CRF were included in this systematic review. Study selection, data extraction, and validation were all carried out independently by two reviewers. The revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess the quality of the RCTs (RoB 2.0). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was applied to assess effect sizes in individual RCTs and pooled effect sizes in meta-analyses. Data were meta-analyzed using Stata (version 14.0). RESULTS: In a random-effects meta-analysis of 24 RCTs with 1894 participants, the aggregated standardized mean difference (SMD) revealed a statistically significant association between moxibustion and alleviation from cancer-related fatigue (SMD = - 1.66, 95% CI = - 2.05, - 1.28, p = 0.000). Pooled results, however, show significant heterogeneity (I2 = 92.5%), and the evidence is insufficient to determine whether this association varies systematically by measuring tools and moxibustion modalities. Furthermore, evidence ranging from very low to low showed that moxibustion had an immediate positive effect on patients with CRF. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion may have a therapeutic effect on cancer-related fatigue. However, further large-scale, multicenter, high-quality RCTs on moxibustion for fatigue relief and safety are still needed because of the handful of studies included and the low methodological quality.

Adult granulosa cell tumor of the testis with malignant tendency: A case report with genetic analysis using high-throughput sequencing.

BACKGROUND: The adult granulosa cell tumor of the testis is a rare sex-cord/stromal tumor, with a potentiality for late recurrence and metastasis. Because of its rarity, this tumor is poorly understood, particularly in terms of its molecular features. As a result, it is necessary to register each occurrence in order to study the evolution of this rare malignancy and develop therapeutic strategies. METHODS: A 50-year-old man discovered a painless right testicular mass unexpectedly, and the mass steadily expanded for 2 months. Ultrasonography showed a 5.2 cm × 4.0 cm × 3.6 cm mass in the right testicle. A right radical orchiectomy was performed on September 7, 2016. The pathologic diagnosis was a testicular adult granulosa cell tumor. The post-computed tomography scans and bone scintigraphy ruled out distant metastases. A high-throughput sequencing of 520 cancer-related genes revealed FOXL2 C134W, CDKN2A E87Gfs*24, TP53 S183*, TERT c.-124C > T, and H3F3A K28R mutations in this case. Because the patient stated he would be unable to return to the hospital for a follow-up appointment on time, he elected to have 4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin) after the right radical orchiectomy. RESULTS: The patient has not had a clinical recurrence or metastasis in 6 years. CONCLUSION: Surgery together with adjuvant chemotherapy may be useful treatment options for these individuals with malignant tendencies who are unable to visit the hospital for a follow-up appointment on time. Adult testicular granulosa cell tumors have a relatively complex genetic profile; their etiology is linked to a number of common driver genes, including TERT, CDKN2A, TP53, and H3F3A.

Phylogenomics reveals widespread hybridization and polyploidization in Henckelia (Gesneriaceae).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hybridization has long been recognized as an important process for plant evolution and is often accompanied by polyploidization, another prominent force in generating biodiversity. Despite its pivotal importance in evolution, the actual prevalence and distribution of hybridization across the tree of life remain unclear. METHODS: We used whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing and cytological data to investigate the evolutionary history of Henckelia, a large genus in the family Gesneriaceae with a high frequency of suspected hybridization and polyploidization events. We generated WGS sequencing data at about 10× coverage for 26 Chinese Henckelia species plus one Sri Lankan species. To untangle the hybridization history, we separately extracted whole plastomes and thousands of single-copy nuclear genes from the sequencing data, and reconstructed phylogenies based on both nuclear and plastid data. We also explored sources of both genealogical and cytonuclear conflicts and identified signals of hybridization and introgression within our phylogenomic dataset using several statistical methods. Additionally, to test the polyploidization history, we evaluated chromosome counts for 45 populations of the 27 Henckelia species studied. KEY RESULTS: We obtained well-supported phylogenetic relationships using both concatenation- and coalescent-based methods. However, the nuclear phylogenies were highly inconsistent with the plastid phylogeny, and we observed intensive discordance among nuclear gene trees. Further analyses suggested that both incomplete lineage sorting and gene flow contributed to the observed cytonuclear and genealogical discordance. Our analyses of introgression and phylogenetic networks revealed a complex history of hybridization within the genus Henckelia. In addition, based on chromosome counts for 27 Henckelia species, we found independent polyploidization events occurred within Henckelia after different hybridization events. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that hybridization and polyploidization are common in Henckelia. Furthermore, our results revealed that H. oblongifolia is not a member of the redefined Henckelia and they suggested several other taxonomic treatments in this genus.

Clinical summary of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients complicated with asparaginase-associated pancreatitis in SCCLG-ALL-2016 protocol.

Asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP) is a common and fatal complication after ASNase treatment in acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL). Here, a total of 1063 pediatric ALL patients treated with SCCLG-ALL-2016 regimen were collected since October 2016 to June 2020, including 35 patients with AAP. The clinical characteristics of AAP and non-AAP patients were compared. In AAP patients, the possible factors that affected the recurrence of AAP were analyzed, and the possible risk factors related to ALL-relapse were discussed. The results showed that age was a risk factor (P = .017) that affect the occurrence of AAP. In AAP patients, AAP tended to develop after the second use of PEG-ASNase (25.71%). In the follow-up chemotherapy, 17 patients re-exposed to ASNase and 7 cases developed AAP again with a percentage was 41.2%. There were no special factors that related with the recurrence of AAP. This study also found no association between the occurrence of AAP and prognosis of ALL, with the 4-year incidence of ALL relapse in AAP and non-AAP patients were 15.9% v.s.11.7% (HR: 1.009, 95% CI:0.370-2.752, P = .986), and there were no special factors that related with the ALL relapse among AAP patients. Based on the above results, the occurrence of AAP is related to age and should be vigilant after the second use of PEG-ASNase after use in pediatric ALL patients. Moreover, AAP is not associated with ALL relapse, but there is a high AAP recurrence rate when re-exposure to ASNase.

Disruption of CISH promotes the antitumor activity of human T cells and decreases PD-1 expression levels.

Tumor cells and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment suppress the antitumor activity of T cells through immune checkpoints, including the PD-L1/PD-1 axis. Cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein (CISH), a member of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family, inhibits JAK-STAT and T cell receptor (TCR) signaling in T and natural killer (NK) cells. However, its role in the regulation of immune checkpoints in T cells remains unclear. In this study, we ablated CISH in T cells with CRISPR-Cas9 and found that the sensitivity of T cells to TCR and cytokine stimulation was increased. In addition, chimeric antigen receptor T cells with CISH deficiency exhibited longer survival and higher cytokine secretion and antitumor activity. Notably, PD-1 expression was decreased in activated CISH-deficient T cells in vitro and in vivo. The level of FBXO38, a ubiquitination-regulating protein that reduces PD-1 expression, was elevated in activated T cells after CISH ablation. Hence, this study reveals a mechanism by which CISH promotes PD-1 expression by suppressing the expression of FBXO38 and proposes a new strategy for augmenting the therapeutic effect of CAR-T cells by inhibiting CISH.

Girdin acts as an oncogene in gastric cancer by regulating AKT/GSK3ß/ß-catenin signaling.

ThE present work focused on exploring Girdin expression within gastric cancer (GC), examining the effect of Girdin on the cell phenotype of GC, and clarifying the underlying mechanisms. Girdin expression in GC samples was identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays. Girdin-targeting siRNAs were transfected into GC cells; later, we examined GC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, respectively. Additionally, the protein expression was examined through Western blotting assay. Moreover, the tumor implantation experiment was conducted for examining Girdin knockdown in vivo. The results showed that Girdin expression elevated within GC samples, which was associated with the dismal prognostic outcome. Girdin knockdown suppressed GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and enhanced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Girdin promoted the phosphorylation of AKT, GSK3ß, and ß-catenin. Moreover, Girdin inhibited the phosphorylation of ß-catenin. Girdin suppressed cell apoptosis and stimulated cell migration and invasion, while AKT inhibitor (MK2206) treatment reversed the effect of Girdin overexpression, and GSK3ß inhibitor (CHIR99021) treatment enhanced the effect of Girdin overexpression on GC cells. Besides, Girdin delayed tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, Girdin was abnormally expressed in GC samples, which promoted the development of GC by regulating AKT/GSK3ß/ß-catenin signaling.

Meta-Analysis of the Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in Cattle in China.

Giardia duodenum (G. duodenalis) can cause giardiasis and infect a variety of hosts. So far, there have been no detailed data regarding the positive rate of G. duodenalis in cattle in China. Here, a systematic literature review was carried out to investigate the epidemiology of bovine G. duodenalis in China. To perform the meta-analysis, the databases China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Chinese Journal Databases, WanFang Databases, PubMed, and ScienceDirect were employed for screening studies related to the prevalence of G. duodenalis in cattle in China. The total prevalence of G. duodenalis in cattle was estimated to be 8.00% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.51-11.62). In the age subgroup, the prevalence of G. duodenalis in calves (11.72%; 95% CI: 7.75-17.73) was significantly higher than that in cattle of other age groups. An analysis based on seasons showed that the prevalence of G. duodenalis in cattle was higher in summer (9.69%; 95% CI: 2.66-35.30) than that in other seasons. The prevalence of G. duodenalis in cattle in 2016 or later was 11.62% (95% CI: 6.49-20.79), which was significantly higher than that before 2016 (3.65%; 95% CI: 2.17-6.12). The highest prevalence of G. duodenalis in cattle was 74.23% (95% CI: 69.76-78.45) recorded in South China. The NOAA's National Center for Environmental Information (https://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov/maps/ncei/cdo/monthly) was used to extract relevant geoclimatic data (latitude, longitude, elevation, temperature, precipitation, humidity, and climate). By analyzing the data of each subgroup, it was shown that age of cattle, sampling year, province, region, temperature, and climate were potential risk factors for giardiasis prevalence in cattle. Based on the analysis of common factors and geographical factors, it is recommended to strengthen effective management measures (e.g., ventilation and disinfection in warm and humid areas) and formulate relevant policies according to local conditions. Breeders should pay more attention to the detection of G. duodenalis in calves, to prevent giardiasis prevalence in cattle of different ages, thereby reducing the economic losses of animal husbandry in China.

Clinical Implication of E2F Transcription Factor 1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tissues.

Background: To date, the clinical management of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients remains challenging and the mechanisms of E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) underlying HCC are obscure. Materials and Methods: Our study integrated datasets mined from several public databases to comprehensively understand the deregulated expression status of E2F1. Tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry staining was used to validate E2F1 expression level. The prognostic value of E2F1 was assessed. In-depth subgroup analyses were implemented to compare the differentially expressed levels of E2F1 in HCC patients with various tumor stages. Functional enrichments were used to address the predominant targets of E2F1 and shedding light on their potential roles in HCC. Results: We confirmed the elevated expression of E2F1 in HCC. Subgroup analyses indicated that elevated E2F1 level was independent of various stages in HCC. E2F1 possessed moderate discriminatory capability in differentiating HCC patients from non-HCC controls. Elevated E2F1 correlated with Asian race, tumor classification, neoplasm histologic grade, eastern cancer oncology group, and plasma AFP levels. Furthermore, high E2F1 correlated with poor survival condition and pooled HR signified E2F1 as a risk factor for HCC. Enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes, coexpressed genes, and putative targets of E2F1 emphasized the importance of cell cycle pathway, where CCNE1 and CCNA2 served as hub genes. Conclusions: We confirmed the upregulation of E2F1 and explored the prognostic value of E2F1 in HCC patients. Two putative targeted genes (CCNE1 and CCNA2) of E2F1 were identified for their potential roles in regulating cell cycle and promote antiapoptotic activity in HCC patients.

CircRNA and miRNA expression analysis in livers of mice with Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). However, the functions of circRNAs and miRNAs in response to T. gondii infection in the livers of mice at acute and chronic stages remain unknown. Here, high-throughput RNA sequencing was performed for detecting the expression of circRNAs and miRNAs in livers of mice infected with 20 T. gondii cysts at the acute and chronic stages, in order to understand the potential molecular mechanisms underlying hepatic toxoplasmosis. Overall, 265 and 97 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs were found in livers at the acute and chronic infection stages in comparison with controls, respectively. In addition, 171 and 77 DEmiRNAs were found in livers at the acute and chronic infection stages, respectively. Functional annotation showed that some immunity-related Gene ontology terms, such as "positive regulation of cytokine production", "regulation of T cell activation", and "immune receptor activity", were enriched at the two infection stages. Moreover, the pathways "Valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation", "Fatty acid metabolism", and "Glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism" were involved in liver disease. Remarkably, DEcircRNA 6:124519352|124575359 was significantly correlated with DEmiRNAs mmu-miR-146a-5p and mmu-miR-150-5p in the network that was associated with liver immunity and pathogenesis of disease. This study revealed that the expression profiling of circRNAs in the livers was changed after T. gondii infection, and improved our understanding of the transcriptomic landscape of hepatic toxoplasmosis in mice.

Metal-Free Synthesis of Carbamoylated Chroman-4-Ones via Cascade Radical Annulation of 2-(Allyloxy)arylaldehydes with Oxamic Acids.

An efficient and straightforward approach for the synthesis of carbamoylated chroman-4-ones has been well-developed. The reaction is triggered through the generation of carbamoyl radicals from oxamic acids under metal-free conditions, which subsequently undergoes decarboxylative radical cascade cyclization on 2-(allyloxy)arylaldehydes to afford various amide-containing chroman-4-one scaffolds with high functional group tolerance and a broad substrate scope.

Changes of gut microbiota structure in rats infected with Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection can cause intestinal inflammation in rodents and significantly alters the structure of gut microbiota. However, the effects of different T. gondii genotypes on the gut microbiota of rats remain unclear. In this study, acute and chronic T. gondii infection in Fischer 344 rats was induced artificially by intraperitoneal injection of tachyzoites PYS (Chinese 1 ToxoDB#9) and PRU (Type II). Fecal 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was employed to analyze the gut microbiota structure at different stages of infection, and to compare the effects of infection by two T. gondii genotypes. Our results suggested that the infection led to structural changes of gut microbiota in rats. At the acute infection stage, the microbiota diversity increased, while both diversity and abundance of beneficial bacteria decreased at the chronic infection stage. The differences of microbiota structure were caused by strains of different genotypes. However, the diversity changes were consistent. This study demonstrates that the gut microbiota plays an important role in T. gondii infection in rats. The data will improve our understanding of the association between T. gondii infection and gut microbiota in rodents.