Microbial communities are thermally more sensitive in warm-climate lizards compared with their cold-climate counterparts.

Environmental temperature affects the composition, structure, and function of the gut microbial communities in host animals. To elucidate the role of gut microbiota in thermal adaptation, we designed a 2 species × 3 temperatures experiment, whereby we acclimated adult males of two agamid lizard species (warm-climate Leiolepis reevesii and cold-climate Phrynocephalus przewalskii) to 20, 28, and 36°C for 2 weeks and then collected their fecal and small-intestinal samples to analyze and compare the microbiota using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing technology. The fecal microbiota displayed more pronounced interspecific differences in microbial community than the small-intestinal microbiota in the two species occurring in thermally different regions. The response of fecal and small-intestinal microbiota to temperature increase or decrease differed between the two species, with more bacterial taxa affected by acclimation temperature in L. reevesii than in P. przewalskii. Both species, the warm-climate species in particular, could cope with temperature change by adjusting the relative abundance of functional categories associated with metabolism and environmental information processing. Functional genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism were enhanced in P. przewalskii, suggesting the contribution of the fecal microbiota to cold-climate adaptation in P. przewalskii. Taken together, our results validate the two hypotheses tested, of which one suggests that the gut microbiota should help lizards adapt to thermal environments in which they live, and the other suggests that microbial communities should be thermally more sensitive in warm-climate lizards than in cold-climate lizards.

Discovery of a long half-life AURKA inhibitor to treat MYC-amplified solid tumors as a monotherapy and in combination with everolimus.

Aurora kinase inhibitors such as alisertib can destabilize MYC-family oncoproteins and have demonstrated compelling anti-tumor efficacy. In this study, we report 6K465, a novel pyrimidine-based Aurora A (AURKA) inhibitor that reduces levels of c-MYC and N-MYC oncoproteins more potently than alisertib. In an analysis of the antiproliferative effect of 6K465, the sensitivities of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and breast cancer (BC) cell lines to 6K465 were strongly associated with the protein levels of c-MYC and/or N-MYC. We also report DBPR728, an acyl-based prodrug of 6K465 bearing fewer hydrogen-bond donors that exhibited 10-fold improved oral bioavailability. DBPR728 induced durable tumor regression of c-MYC- and/or N-MYC- overexpressing xenografts including SCLC, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), hepatocellular carcinoma and medulloblastoma using a 5-on-2-off or once-a-week dosing regimen on a 21-day cycle. A single oral dose of DBPR728 at 300 mg/kg induced c-MYC reduction and cell apoptosis in the tumor xenografts for more than 7 days. The inhibitory effect of DBPR728 at a reduced dosing frequency was attributed to its uniquely high tumor/plasma ratio (3.6-fold within 7 days) and the long tumor half-life of active moiety 6K465. Furthermore, DBPR728 was found to synergize with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus to suppress c-MYC- or N-MYC- driven SCLC. Collectively, these results suggest DBPR728 has the potential to treat cancers overexpressing c-MYC- and/or N-MYC.

Anti-diabetic effect of anthocyanin cyanidin-3-O-glucoside: data from insulin resistant hepatocyte and diabetic mouse.

BACKGROUND: Anthocyanins are a group of natural products widely found in plants. They have been found to alleviate the disorders of glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS: HepG2 and L02 cells were incubated with 0.2 mM PA and 30 mM glucose for 24 h to induce IR, and cells treated with 5 mM glucose were used as the control. C57BL/6 J male mice and db/db male mice were fed with a chow diet and gavaged with pure water or cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) solution (150 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks. RESULTS: In this study, the anthocyanin C3G, extracted from red bayberry, was found to alleviate disorders of glucose metabolism, which resulted in increased insulin sensitivity in hepatocytes, and achieved by enhancing the glucose consumption as well as glycogen synthesis in insulin resistance (IR) hepatpcytes. Subsequently, the expression of key proteins involved in IR was detected by western blotting analysis. Protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B), a negative regulator of insulin signaling, could reduce cellular sensitivity to insulin by inhibiting the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2). Results of this study showed that C3G inhibited the increase in PTP1B after high glucose and palmitic acid treatment. And this inhibition was accompanied by increased phosphorylation of IRS proteins. Furthermore, the effect of C3G on improving IR in vivo was validated by using a diabetic db/db mouse model. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that C3G could alleviate IR in vitro and in vivo to increase insulin sensitivity, which may offer a new insight for regulating glucose metabolism during T2DM by using the natural dietary bioactive components. C3G promotes the phosphorylation of IRS-2 proteins by suppressing the expression of PTP1B, and then enhances the sensitivity of hepatocyte to insulin.

Genome-wide characterization of the TGF-ß gene family and their expression in different tissues during tail regeneration in the Schlegel's Japanese gecko Gekko japonicus.

The transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) gene family is unique to animals and is involved in various important processes including tissue regeneration. Here, we identified 52 TGF-ß family genes based on genome sequences of the gecko (Gekko japonicus), compared TGF-ß genes between G. japonicus and other four reptilian species, and evaluated the expression of 14 randomly selected genes in muscle, kidney, liver, heart, and brain during tail regeneration to investigate whether their expression was tissue-dependent. We detected 23 conserved domains, 13 in the TGF-ß ligand subfamily, and 10 in the receptor subfamily. The pattern of higher genetic variation in the ligand subfamily than in the receptor subfamily in vertebrates might result from the precise localization of agonists and antagonists in the cell surface and intracellular compartment. TGF-ß genes were unevenly distributed across 15 chromosomes in G. japonicus, presumably resulting from gene losses and gains during evolution. Genes in the TGF-ß receptor subfamily (ACVR2A, ACVR2B, ACVR1, BMPR1A, ACVRL1, BMPR2 and TGFBR1) played a vital role in the TGF-ß signal pathway. The expression of all 14 randomly selected TGF-ß genes was tissue-specific. Our study supports the speculation that some TGF-ß family genes are involved in the early stages of tail regeneration.

Herbal Textual Research on Bletillae Rhizoma in Famous Classical Formulas / 中国实验方剂学杂志

In order to provide basic information for the utilization and development of famous classical formulas containing Bletillae Rhizoma， this article systematically analyzes the historical evolution of the name， origin， harvesting and processing of Bletillae Rhizoma by reviewing the ancient materia medica， prescription books， medical books and modern literature. The research results showed that Baiji（白及） was the main name， some scholars took Baiji（白芨） as its main name， and there were many other names such as Baiji（白给）， Baigen（白根）， Baiji（白苙）. The mainstream source of Bletillae Rhizoma was the tubers of Bletilla striata， and drying， large， white， solid， root-free and skin removed completely were the good quality standards. With the promotion of wild to cultivated medicinal materials， there were certain differences between their traits， and the quality evaluation indexes should be adjusted accordingly. The origin of records in the past dynasties was widely distributed， with Guizhou and Sichuan having high production and good quality in modern times. The harvesting period is mostly in spring and autumn， and harvested in autumn was better. The processing and processing technology is relatively simple， and it was used fresh or powdered in past dynasties， while it is mainly sliced for raw use in modern times. Based on the results， it is suggested that the tubers of Bletilla striata of Orchidaceae should be used in the famous classical formulas， and it should be uniformly written as Baiji（白及）. And if the original formula indicates the requirement of processing， it should be operated according to the requirement， if the requirement of processing is not indicated， it can be used in raw form as medicine.

Effect of vitamin K on improving post­kidney transplant outcomes: a meta­analysis.

The effect of vitamin K on clinical outcomes in patients receiving kidney transplantation is contested according to previous studies. This meta-analysis aimed to summarize the impact of vitamin K on all-cause mortality, renal function, inflammation, and vascular/bone health in patients receiving kidney transplantation. EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane were searched for literature concerning the effect of vitamin K on clinical outcomes of patients receiving kidney transplantation until December 2022. Normal vitamin K status/vitamin K supplementation was considered as the experimental group; while vitamin K deficiency/no vitamin K supplementation was considered as the control group. All-cause mortality, renal function indexes, C-reactive protein (CRP), and vascular/bone health indexes were extracted and analyzed. A total of seven studies with 1,101 patients in the experimental group and 651 patients in the control group were included. All-cause mortality was decreased in the experimental group vs. the control group [relative risk (95% confidence interval (CI)]: 0.72 (0.60-0.86), P<0.001]. Regarding renal function indexes, the estimated glomerular filtration rate was increased in the experimental group vs. the control group [mean difference (95% CI): 9.87 (1.48-18.26), P=0.021]; while creatinine and albumin remained unchanged between the two groups (both P>0.05). Moreover, CRP, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, hemoglobin, calcium, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were unchanged between the two groups (all P>0.05). Publication bias was low, and the robustness assessed by sensitivity analysis was generally acceptable. Thus vitamin K exerted a potential implication in reducing all-cause mortality and improving renal function in patients receiving kidney transplantation.

Exploring the Effects of Cyanidin-3-O-Glucoside on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Insights into Gut Microbiome Modulation and Potential Antidiabetic Benefits.

Berries and their functional components have been put forward as an alternative to pharmacological treatments of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and more attention has been paid to the gut microbiome in the pathophysiology of T2DM. Thus, we tried to examine the metabolic impact of red bayberry-derived cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) and investigate whether the antidiabetic effects of C3G were associated with the gut microbiome. As a result, C3G administration was found to reduce blood glucose levels of diabetic db/db mice, accompanied by increased levels of glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) and insulin. Moreover, 16S rRNA analysis showed that the dominant microbiota modulated by C3G were pivotal in the glucose metabolism. Furthermore, the modulation of C3G on metabolic activities of gut bacteria leads to an increase in intestinal levels of key metabolites, particularly short-chain fatty acids. This contribution helps in promoting the secretion of GLP-1, which in turn increases insulin release with the purpose of reducing blood glucose levels. Overall, these findings may offer new thoughts concerning C3G against metabolic disorders in T2DM.

Biosynthesis of trans-AT PKS-Derived Shuangdaolides Featuring a trans-acting Enzyme for Online Epoxidation.

Bacterial trans-acyltransferase polyketide synthases (trans-AT PKSs) synthesize natural products with intricate structures and potent biological activities. They generally contain various unusual modules or trans-acting enzymes. Herein, we report the trans-AT PKS-derived biosynthetic pathway of the shuangdaolide with a rare internal 2-hydroxycyclopentenone moiety. The multidomain protein SdlR catalyzes the synthesis of 16,17-epoxide during polyketide chain elongation. The SdlR contains a ketoreductase, an acyl carrier protein, a flavoprotein monooxygenase, and a serine hydrolase domain. This online epoxidation occurs at unusual positions away from the thioester. Then, two tailoring enzymes, SdlB and SdlQ, convert a methylene to a carbonyl group and oxidize a hydroxyl group to a carbonyl group, respectively. The following spontaneous opening of 16,17-epoxide induces the formation of a new C-C bond to generate the 2-hydroxycyclopentenone moiety. The characterization of the shuangdaolide pathway extends the understanding of the trans-AT PKSs, facilitating the mining and identification of this class of natural products.

Developing an automatic warning system for anomalous chicken dispersion and movement using deep learning and machine learning.

Chicken is a major source of dietary protein worldwide. The dispersion and movement of chickens constitute vital indicators of their health and status. This is especially evident in Taiwanese native chickens (TNCs), a local variety which is high in physical activity when healthy. Conventionally, the dispersion and movement of chicken flocks are observed in patrols. However, manual patrolling is laborious and time-consuming. Moreover, frequent patrols increase the risk of carrying pathogens into chicken farms. To address these issues, this study proposes an approach to develop an automatic warning system for anomalous dispersion and movement of chicken flocks in commercial chicken farms. Embendded systems were developed to acquire videos of chickens from overhead view in a chicken house, in which approximately 20,000 TNCs were raised for a period of 10 wk. Each video was 5-min in length. The videos were transmitted to a remote cloud server and were converted into images. A You Only Look Once-version 7 tiny (YOLOv7-tiny) object detection model was trained to detect chickens in the images. The dispersion of the chicken flocks in a 5-min long video was calculated using nearest neighbor index (NNI). The movement of the chicken flocks in a 5-min long video was quantified using simple online and real-time tracking algorithm (SORT). The normal ranges (i.e., 95% confidence intervals) of chicken dispersion and movement were established using an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average with exogenous factors (SARIMAX) model, respectively. The system allows farmers to check up on the chicken farm only when the dispersion or movement values were not in the normal ranges. Thus, labor time can be saved and the risk of carrying pathogens into chicken farms can be reduced. The trained YOLOv7-tiny model achieved an average precision of 98.2% in chicken detection. SORT achieved a multiple object tracking accuracy of 95.3%. The ARIMA and SARIMAX achieved a mean absolute percentage error 3.71% and 13.39%, respectively, in forecasting dispersion and movement. The proposed approach can serve as a solution for automatic monitoring of anomalous chicken dispersion and movement in chicken farming, alerting farmers of potential health risks and environmental hazards in chicken farms.

Contrasting frontal cortical responses to food versus money rewards across BMI groups.

Previous research has linked obesity with an altered perception of rewards. This study aimed to contrast frontal cortical activities across body mass index (BMI) groups, in responding to differential rewards (monetary versus food). A total of 60 male participants (27.43 ± 6.07 years of age; 21 normal weight [BMI: 18.5-24.9 kg·m-2]; 20 overweight [BMI: 25.0-29.9 kg·m-2]; and 19 individuals with obesity [BMI ≥ 30 kg·m-2]) were tested for their response bias towards food and money rewards using the Probabilistic Reward Task (PRT), while their frontal cortical responses were recorded using electroencephalography (EEG). The feedback-related negativity (FRN), a reliable measure of reward valuation and learning, was calculated for food (FRN(Food)) and money (FRN(Money)). Results indicate a left-lateralised frontal cortical activity associated with the food reward condition, in the group of overweight and obesity. In contrast, a right-lateralisation was observed in the money reward condition only in the group with obesity. More specifically, FRN(Food) was shown to significantly differ between left and right frontal cortical areas among individuals with obesity (p = 0.035) and overweight (p = 0.012), but not in normal-weight individuals (p = 0.153). Additionally, results revealed that FRN(Food) and FRN(Money) were significantly different for individuals with obesity (p = 0.019), but such a significant difference was not evident in the overweight and normal-weight individuals (p ≥ 0.05). These findings offer intriguing new insights into neuropsychological differentiation across BMI groups, adding to the understanding of obesity-related behaviour.

Peak early diastolic strain rate improves prediction of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic role of diastolic dysfunction measured by the circumferential peak early diastolic strain rate (PEDSR) on ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is not completely established. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of diastolic function by measuring PEDSR within 1 week after STEMI. METHODS: The cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) pictures of 420 subjects from a clinical registry study (NCT03768453) were analyzed and the composite major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were followed up. RESULTS: The PEDSR of patients was significantly lower compared with that of control subjects (P < 0.001). Within the median follow-up period of 52 months, PEDSR of patients who experienced MACEs deceased more significantly than that of patients without MACEs (P < 0.001). After adjusting with clinical or CMR indexes, per 0.1/s reduction of PEDSR increased the risks of MACEs to 1.402 or 1.376 fold and the risk of left ventricular (LV) remodeling to 1.503 or 1.369 fold. When PEDSR divided by best cutoff point, significantly higher risk of MACEs (P < 0.001) and more remarkable LV remodeling (P < 0.001) occurred in patients with PEDSR ≤ 0.485/s. Moreover, when adding the PEDSR to the conventional prognostic factors such as LV ejection fraction and infarction size, better prognostic risk classification models were created. Finally, aging, tobacco use, remarkable LV remodeling, and a low LV ejection fraction were factors related with the reduction of PEDSR. CONCLUSIONS: Diastolic dysfunction has an important prognostic effect on patients with STEMI. Measurement of the PEDSR in the acute phase could serve as an effective index to predict the long-term risk of MACEs and cardiac remodeling.

Genomic insights into local adaptation in the Asiatic toad Bufo gargarizans, and its genomic offset to climate warming.

Genomic signatures of local adaptation have been identified in many species but remain sparsely studied in amphibians. Here, we explored genome-wide divergence within the Asiatic toad, Bufo gargarizans, to study local adaptation and genomic offset (i.e., the mismatch between current and future genotype-environment relationships) under climate warming scenarios. We obtained high-quality SNP data for 94 Asiatic toads from 21 populations in China to study spatial patterns of genomic variation, local adaptation, and genomic offset to warming in this wide-ranging species. Population structure and genetic diversity analysis based on high-quality SNPs revealed three clusters of B. gargarizans in the western, central-eastern, and northeastern portions of the species' range in China. Populations generally dispersed along two migration routes, one from the west to the central-east and one from the central-east to the northeast. Both genetic diversity and pairwise F ST were climatically correlated, and pairwise F ST was also correlated with geographic distance. Spatial genomic patterns in B. gargarizans were determined by the local environment and geographic distance. Global warming will increase the extirpation risk of B. gargarizans.

The functional significance of residual yolk in lizards.

Residual yolk is assumed to be an important source of energy and nutrients during early life in nonmammalian amniotes. Available data show that the mean size of residual yolk is far smaller in lizards than in turtles, snakes, crocodiles, and birds, raising a question of whether residual yolk is of functional significance in lizards. Here, we compared data from 26 lizard species with those from other nonmammalian amniotes to test the hypothesis that residual yolk is functionally less significant in species producing more fully developed offspring. In our sample, species mean offspring water contents ranged from 73% to 84% of body wet mass; species mean proportions of carcass dry mass, fat-body dry mass, and residual yolk dry mass to offspring dry mass ranged from 84% to 99%, 0% to 5.0%, and 0% to 14.4%, respectively. Lizards are, on average, more fully developed at hatching or birth than snakes, as revealed by the fact that the mean proportion of carcass dry mass to body dry mass and offspring water contents were both higher in lizards than in snakes. We conclude that the functional significance of residual yolk during early life is generally less evident in lizards. Even in the lizards where residual yolk is of potential functional significance, this portion of yolk contributes little, if any, to postembryonic growth. Future work could usefully collect data across a wider spectrum of reptile taxa to establish a precocial-altricial continuum and test the hypothesis that species with a smaller amount of residual yolk are closer to the precocial end of the continuum.

Dietary and Sexual Correlates of Gut Microbiota in the Japanese Gecko, Gekko japonicus (Schlegel, 1836).

Numerous studies have demonstrated that multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors shape the structure and composition of gut microbiota in a host. The disorder of the gut microbiota may trigger various host diseases. Here, we collected fecal samples from wild-caught Japanese geckos (Gekko japonicus) and captive conspecifics fed with mealworms (mealworm-fed geckos) and fruit flies (fly-fed geckos), aiming to examine the dietary and sexual correlates of the gut microbiota. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology to determine the composition of the gut microbiota. The dominant phyla with a mean relative abundance higher than 10% were Verrucomicrobiota, Bacteroidota, and Firmicutes. Gut microbial community richness and diversity were higher in mealworm-fed geckos than in wild geckos. Neither community evenness nor beta diversity of gut microbiota differed among wild, mealworm-fed, and fly-fed geckos. The beta rather than alpha diversity of gut microbiota was sex dependent. Based on the relative abundance of gut bacteria and their gene functions, we concluded that gut microbiota contributed more significantly to the host's metabolic and immune functions. A higher diversity of gut microbiota in mealworm-fed geckos could result from higher chitin content in insects of the order Coleoptera. This study not only provides basic information about the gut microbiota of G. japonicus but also shows that gut microbiota correlates with dietary habits and sex in the species.

Recent Advances in Discovery, Bioengineering, and Bioactivity-Evaluation of Ribosomally Synthesized and Post-translationally Modified Peptides.

Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are of increasing interest in natural products as well as drug discovery. This empowers not only the unique chemical structures and topologies in natural products but also the excellent bioactivities such as antibacteria, antifungi, antiviruses, and so on. Advances in genomics, bioinformatics, and chemical analytics have promoted the exponential increase of RiPPs as well as the evaluation of biological activities thereof. Furthermore, benefiting from their relatively simple and conserved biosynthetic logic, RiPPs are prone to be engineered to obtain diverse analogues that exhibit distinct physiological activities and are difficult to synthesize. This Review aims to systematically address the variety of biological activities and/or the mode of mechanisms of novel RiPPs discovered in the past decade, albeit the characteristics of selective structures and biosynthetic mechanisms are briefly covered as well. Almost one-half of the cases are involved in anti-Gram-positive bacteria. Meanwhile, an increasing number of RiPPs related to anti-Gram-negative bacteria, antitumor, antivirus, etc., are also discussed in detail. Last but not least, we sum up some disciplines of the RiPPs' biological activities to guide genome mining as well as drug discovery and optimization in the future.

Aurantimonas marianensis sp. nov., isolated from deep-sea sediment of the Mariana Trench.

A novel strain, designated as LRZ36T, was isolated from deep-sea sediment (from a depth of 5400 m) from the Mariana Trench. Cells of this strain are rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic and non-motile. Phylogenetic analysis of LRZ36T based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed a lineage in the family Aurantimonadaceae but distinct from the most closely related species Aurantimonas marina CGMCC 1.17725T, 'Aurantimonas litoralis' KCTC 12094 and Aurantimonas coralicida DSM 14790T with sequence identities of 99.4 %, 98.0 and 97.9 %, respectively. The genome of LRZ36T was 3.8 Mbp in size with a DNA G+C content of 64.8 %, containing 3623 predicted coding genes. LRZ36T showed average nucleotide identity values of 89.8 %, 78.7 and 78.5 % and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values of 38.9 %, 21.7 and 21.6 % with A. marina CGMCC 1.17725T, 'A. litoralis' KCTC 12094 and A. coralicida DSM 14790T, respectively. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10), and the predominant fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c (74.4 %) and C16 : 0 (12.1 %). The polar lipids in LRZ36T are diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, an unidentified aminophospholipid, three unidentified lipids, three unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified aminolipids. On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic evidence, LRZ36T represents a novel species of the genus Aurantimonas, for which the name Aurantimonas marianensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LRZ36T (= KCTC 92065T = GDMCC 1.2985T=MCCC 1K07227T).

Engineered Biosynthesis of Complex Disorazol Polyketides in a Streamlined Burkholderia thailandensis.

Engineering the biosynthetic pathways of complex natural products is a significant approach to obtain derivatives with improved properties. Here, we constructed a streamlined engineered biosynthesis system of myxobacterium-derived complex polyketide disorazol in a heterologous host, Burkholderia thailandensis E264. Inactivation of dehydratase domains in the disorazol biosynthetic pathway led to the production of two hydroxylated derivatives. Module deletion allowed the generation of an unnatural derivative with a truncated macrolactone ring, and the ACP-KS linker was the optimal fusion region for module deletion in this trans-AT polyketide synthase. These disorazol derivatives showed different activities against human cancer cell lines ranging from the nanomolar to micromolar level, suggesting the primary structure-activity relationship. The PKS engineering enables structural derivatization of disorazol, facilitating the in-depth engineered biosynthesis of polyketides.

[Advances in Research on the Mechanism of Association Between Periodontitis and Diabetes Mellitus].

Periodontitis and diabetes mellitus are both chronic diseases with a rather high prevalence and they are closely associated with each other. On one hand, diabetes mellitus poses as a risk factor for periodontitis. On the other hand, periodontitis has a negative impact on glucose control in diabetic patients. The two-way relationship has aroused a lot of research interest in recent years. Herein, approaching the issue by looking at the effect of periodontitis on diabetes, we summarized the mechanism of the traditional periodontal pocket-blood circulation pathway and reviewed the role of the oral-gut axis in the mechanism, which has been proposed in recent years. In addition, regarding the impact of diabetes on periodontitis, we summarized new findings concerning changes in oral microbiota, abnormal levels of cytokines and adipokines, oxidative stress, unbalanced osteogenic and osteoclastic activities, and the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products. We hope this paper will be helpful for further studies on the mechanism of association between periodontitis and diabetes.

Two dimensional MnPSe3 layer stacking composites with superior storage performance for alkali metal-ion batteries.

Two-dimensional MnPSe3 Van der Waals stacked in an ABC sequence has abundant and low-cost Mn resources, but has yet to exhibit expected performance as an electrode material in battery devices. Here, we report a 2D/2D composite consisting of few layer MnPSe3 nanosheets and graphite through a high energy ball milling method for uses on the anodes alkali metal-ion batteries, including lithium ion battery (LIB) and potassium ion battery (PIB). These unique 2D/2D layer nanostructures, with MnPSe3 layers hierarchically stacked in graphite, can successfully overcome the severe aggregation due to restacking during charge/discharge cycles. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the band gap of the MnPSe3/graphite hybrid is as low as 0.07 eV, confirming that the combination of MnPSe3 and graphite efficiently reduces the ion migration energy barrier. As a result, MnPSe3/graphite stacking composites achieve a discharge capacity of 488.1 mA h g-1 after 500 cycles at 2000 mA g-1 in LIB, and 236.7 mA h g-1 after 700 cycles at 250 mA g-1 in PIB. Moreover, the analysis of electrochemical, kinetics, reactions mechanism, DFT, and full cell applications were investigated deeply. This work strongly supports the possibility of MnPSe3/graphite hybrid as a promising candidate for alkali ion batteries, and makes important improvements for the application of two-dimensional MPCh3 layer materials in storage systems.

Intestinal dysbiosis mediates cognitive impairment via the intestine and brain NLRP3 inflammasome activation in chronic sleep deprivation.

Growing evidence suggests the involvement of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in cognitive impairment induced by sleep deprivation (SD), however how the microbiota-gut-brain axis work remains elusive. Here, we discovered that chronic SD induced intestinal dysbiosis, activated NLRP3 inflammasome in the colon and brain, destructed intestinal/blood-brain barrier, and impaired cognitive function in mice. Transplantation of "SD microbiota" could almost mimic the pathological and behavioral changes caused by chronic SD. Furthermore, all the behavioral and pathological abnormalities were practically reversed in chronic sleep-deprived NLRP3-/- mice. Regional knockdown NLRP3 expression in the gut and hippocampus, respectively. We observed that down-regulation of NLRP3 in the hippocampus inhibited neuroinflammation, and ameliorated synaptic dysfunction and cognitive impairment induced by chronic SD. More intriguingly, the down-regulation of NLRP3 in the gut protected the intestinal barrier, attenuated the levels of peripheral inflammatory factors, down-regulated the expression of NLRP3 in the brain, and improved cognitive function in chronic SD mice. Our results identified gut microbiota as a driver in chronic SD and highlighted the NLRP3 inflammasome as a key regulator within the microbiota-gut-brain axis.