Effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique on Balance Function and Muscle Health in Older Adults With High Fall Risk.

PURPOSE: Older adults frequently encounter health challenges, such as impaired balance and muscle health, which increase risk of falls. The current study investigated the effectiveness of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) technique in improving balance and muscle health among older adults with high fall risk. METHOD: A total of 160 older adults with high fall risk were randomized into control and intervention groups. Over 6 months, the control group received standard interventions, while the intervention group received the same interventions and additional PNF training. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated improvements in balance function over time, with the intervention group exhibiting significant improvements in Berg Balance Scale scores, Timed Up and Go test times, and 30-Second Chair Stand Test counts (p < 0.05). Bone density significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.05), although no substantial differences in lower limb muscle mass were observed. Satisfaction rates were higher and fall incidents fewer in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: The PNF technique is effective in enhancing balance function and muscle health in older adults with high fall risk, demonstrating potential in reducing fall risk and improving quality of life among older adults. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(8), 37-44.].

Development of a microbial dewaxing agent using three spore forming bacteria.

Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) is a cost effective and efficient method for recovering residual oil. However, the presence of wax (paraffin) in residual oil can substantially reduce the efficiency of MEOR. Therefore, microbial dewaxing is a critical process in MEOR. In this study, a bacterial dewaxing agent of three spore-forming bacteria was developed. Among these bacteria, Bacillus subtilis GZ6 produced the biosurfactant surfactin. Replacing the promoter of the surfactin synthase gene cluster (srfA), increased the titer of surfactin in this strain from 0.33 g/L to 2.32 g/L. The genetically modified strain produced oil spreading rings with diameters increasing from 3.5 ± 0.1 to 4.1 ± 0.2 cm. The LadA F10L/N133R mutant was created by engineering an alkane monooxygenase (LadA) using site-directed mutagenesis in the Escherichia coli host. Compared to the wild-type enzyme, the resulting mutant exhibited an 11.7-fold increase in catalytic efficiency toward the substrate octadecane. When the mutant (pIMPpladA2mu) was expressed in Geobacillus stearothermophilus GZ178 cells, it exhibited a 2.0-fold increase in octadecane-degrading activity. Cultures of the two modified strains (B. subtilis GZ6 (pg3srfA) and G. stearothermophilus GZ178 (pIMPpladA2mu)) were mixed with the culture of Geobacillus thermodenitrificans GZ156 at a ratio of 5:80:15. The resulting composition increased the rate of wax removal by 35% compared to the composition composed of three native strains. This study successfully developed a multi-strain bacterial agent with enhanced oil wax removal capabilities by genetically engineering two bacterial strains.

Microbial nitrogen nutrition links to dissolved organic matter properties in East African lakes.

East African lakes, especially soda lakes, are home habitats for massive numbers of wildlife such as flamingos, mammals, and fishes. These lakes are known for their high primary production due to local high temperatures, light intensities, and alkalinity (inorganic carbon). However, these lakes, normally within remote areas, receive low nutrient inputs. Ammonium (NH4+) recycling and/or nitrogen fixation can become the major N supply mechanisms for phytoplankton. However, the driving forces on microbial N nutrition in lakes with minimal anthropogenic disturbance remain poorly understood. Using stable isotope tracer techniques, NH4+ recycling rates were measured in 18 lakes and reservoirs in East Africa (Tanzania and Kenya) during the dry season in early 2020. Three functional genes (nifH, gdh, and ureC) relating to microbial N nutrition were also measured. The regeneration of NH4+ supported up to 71 % of the NH4+ uptake. Positive community biological NH4+ demands (CBAD) for all lakes and reservoirs indicate an obvious N demand from microbial community. Our study provides clear evidence that microbial NH4+ uptake rates linked closely to the dissolved organic matter (DOM) properties (e.g., the absorption coefficient at 254 nm, percents of total fluorescence intensity contributed by microbial humic-like and protein-like components) and that water residence time drives microbial NH4+ recycling by regulating the duration of in-lake DOM processing and influencing algal growth. Phytoplankton, especially those of Cyanophyceae, showed maximum biomass and higher NH4+ recycling rates at a certain range of water residence time (e.g., 5-8 years). However, CBAD showed a decreasing trend with longer water residence time, which may be influenced by changes in the algal community composition (e.g., % Cyanophyceae vs. % Bacillariophyceae). These results indicate that DOM dynamics and the water residence time have the potential to facilitate the understanding of microbial nitrogen supply status in East African lakes.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis caused by phenobarbital: a case report and literature review.

Background: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) are rare, life-threatening immunologic reactions. Previous relevant literature has provided limited information regarding this disease's genetic susceptibility and management principles. Objectives: This study aimed to describe a phenobarbital-induced TEN case report with HLA-B*15:02 and HLA-B*58:01 negative, CYP2C19*1/*2. In addition, we revised the existing literature on phenobarbital-induced SJS/TEN to explore its clinical characteristics. Methods: We describe a woman undergoing treatment with Phenobarbital for status epilepticus who developed classic cutaneous findings of TEN. A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Medline, WanFang, and CNKI databases from 1995 to 2023. The search terms used were "Stevens-Johnson Syndrome," "Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis," and "Phenobarbital." Results: We report a case of TEN resulting from phenobarbital; it tested negative for the HLA-B*15:02 and HLA-B*58:01 allele and CYP2C19*1/*2 intermediate metabolism. Supportive treatment with steroids and antihistamines resulted in complete resolution of the skin lesions and improvement in clinical symptoms after 14 days. Physicians and clinical pharmacists should be aware of these potential phenobarbital-related adverse events and closely monitor patients with first-time use of phenobarbital. Among 19 cases were identified in the literature, with 11 (57.9%) cases of SJS, 6 (31.6%) cases of TEN, and 2 (7.2%) cases of SJS-TEN/DRESS overlap. A total of 5 (26.3%) did not survive, of which 4 (21.1%) were under 12 years old and 1 (5.3%) was over 12 years old. Conclusion: Phenobarbital-induced SJS/TEN may still occur in patients who test negative for HLA-B*15:02 and HLA-B*58:01, CYP2C19*1/*2. Most cutaneous adverse events occur early in the course of Phenobarbital therapy and should be closely monitored early in the course of treatment. In addition, Phenobarbital should be used with caution in patients with a history of asthma and allergy to antipyretics and analgesics.

Temperature-dependent trophic associations modulate soil bacterial communities along latitudinal gradients.

Understanding the environmental and biological mechanisms shaping latitudinal patterns in microbial diversity is challenging in the field of ecology. Although multiple hypotheses have been proposed to explain these patterns, a consensus has rarely been reached. Here, we conducted a large-scale field survey and microcosm experiments to investigate how environmental heterogeneity and putative trophic interactions (exerted by protist-bacteria associations and T4-like virus-bacteria associations) affect soil bacterial communities along a latitudinal gradient. We found that the microbial latitudinal diversity was kingdom dependent, showing decreasing, clumped, and increasing trends in bacteria, protists, and T4-like viruses, respectively. Climatic and edaphic drivers played predominant roles in structuring the bacterial communities, the intensity of the climatic effect increased sharply from 30°N to 32°N, whereas the intensity of the edaphic effect remained stable. Biotic associations were also essential in shaping the bacterial communities, with protist-bacteria associations showing a quadratic distribution, whereas virus-bacteria associations were significant only at high latitudes. The microcosm experiments further revealed that the temperature component, which is affiliated with climate conditions, is the primary regulator of trophic associations along the latitudinal gradient. Overall, our study highlights a previously underestimated mechanism of how the putative biotic interactions influence bacterial communities and their response to environmental gradients.

Detection and Evaluation of Blast Resistance Genes in Backbone Indica Rice Varieties from South China.

Rice blast caused by the pathogenic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae poses a significant threat to rice cultivation. The identification of robust resistance germplasm is crucial for breeding resistant varieties. In this study, we employed functional molecular markers for 10 rice blast resistance genes, namely Pi1, Pi2, Pi5, Pi9, Pia, Pid2, Pid3, Pigm, Pikh, and Pita, to assess blast resistance across 91 indica rice backbone varieties in South China. The results showed a spectrum of resistance levels ranging from highly resistant (HR) to highly susceptible (HS), with corresponding frequencies of 0, 19, 40, 27, 5, and 0, respectively. Yearly correlations in blast resistance genes among the 91 key indica rice progenitors revealed Pid2 (60.44%), Pia (50.55%), Pita (45.05%), Pi2 (32.97%), Pikh (4.4%), Pigm (2.2%), Pi9 (2.2%), and Pi1 (1.1%). Significant variations were observed in the distribution frequencies of these 10 resistance genes among these progenitors across different provinces. Furthermore, as the number of aggregated resistance genes increased, parental resistance levels correspondingly improved, though the efficacy of different gene combinations varied significantly. This study provides the initial steps toward strategically distributing varieties of resistant indica rice genotypes across South China.

Genetic Analysis and Fine Mapping of a New Rice Mutant, Leaf Tip Senescence 2.

Premature leaf senescence significantly reduces rice yields. Despite identifying numerous factors influencing these processes, the intricate genetic regulatory networks governing leaf senescence demand further exploration. We report the characterization of a stably inherited, ethyl methanesulfonate(EMS)-induced rice mutant with wilted leaf tips from seedling till harvesting, designated lts2. This mutant exhibits dwarfism and early senescence at the leaf tips and margins from the seedling stage when compared to the wild type. Furthermore, lts2 displays a substantial decline in both photosynthetic activity and chlorophyll content. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of numerous osmiophilic granules in chloroplast cells near the senescent leaf tips, indicative of advanced cellular senescence. There was also a significant accumulation of H2O2, alongside the up-regulation of senescence-associated genes within the leaf tissues. Genetic mapping situated lts2 between SSR markers Q1 and L12, covering a physical distance of approximately 212 kb in chr.1. No similar genes controlling a premature senescence leaf phenotype have been identified in the region, and subsequent DNA and bulk segregant analysis (BSA) sequencing analyses only identified a single nucleotide substitution (C-T) in the exon of LOC_Os01g35860. These findings position the lts2 mutant as a valuable genetic model for elucidating chlorophyll metabolism and for further functional analysis of the gene in rice.

Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence after antiviral therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C Infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence following antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) remains unclear. The current study aims to compare: (1) the HCC occurrence rate following sustained virological response (SVR) versus non-response (NR); (2) the HCC occurrence rate following direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy versus interferon (IFN)-based therapy, and (3) the HCC occurrence rate in SVR patients with or without cirrhosis. METHODS: A search was performed for articles published between January 2017 and July 2022. Studies were included if they assessed HCC occurrence rate in CHC patients following anti-HCV therapy. Random effects meta-analysis was used to synthesize the results from individual studies. RESULTS: A total of 23 studies including 29,395 patients (IFN-based = 6, DAA = 17; prospective = 10, retrospective = 13) were included in the review. HCC occurrence was significantly lower in CHC with SVR (1.54 per 100 person-years (py, 95% CI 1.52, 1.57) than those in non-responders (7.80 py, 95% CI 7.61, 7.99). Stratified by HCV treatment regimens, HCC occurrence following SVR was 1.17 per 100 py (95% CI 1.11, 1.22) and 1.60 per 100 py (95% CI 1.58, 1.63) in IFN- and DAA treatment-based studies. HCC occurrence was 0.85 per 100 py (95% CI 0.85, 0.86) in the non-cirrhosis population and rose to 2.47 per 100 py (95% CI 2.42, 2.52) in the cirrhosis population. Further meta-regression analysis showed that treatment types were not associated with a higher HCC occurrence rate, while cirrhosis status was an important factor of HCC occurrence rate. CONCLUSION: HCC occurrence was significantly lower in the SVR population than in the NR population. HCC risk following SVR occurred three times more frequently in patients with cirrhosis than patients without cirrhosis. However, we found no significant difference in HCC occurrence risk following SVR between DAA and IFN therapies. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: CRD42023473033.

Five new glycosides from the culms of Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis.

Five new glycosides, namely methyl 3-methoxybenzoate-4,5-di-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1), (1aS,3aS,3R)-3-(4'-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-3'-methoxyphenyl)-5,6-dioxa-bicyclo[3.3.0]octane-1-one (2), quinolin-4(1H)-one-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3), 3-methoxy-propiophenone 4-O-(6'-ß-D-xylopyranosyl)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (4), methyl 3-methoxybenzoate 4-O-(6'-ß-D-xylopyranosyl)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (5), and one known compound, bambulignan B (6) were isolated from the culms of Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis. Their structures were determined using spectroscopic analysis. All compounds were evaluated for their DPPH radical scavenging activity. Compound 6 exhibited antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 59.5 µM (positive control, L-ascorbic acid, IC50 = 12.4 µM; 2,6-ditertbutyl-4-methyl phenol, IC50 = 11.8 µM).

Suppression of excitatory synaptic transmission in the centrolateral amygdala via presynaptic histamine H3 heteroreceptors.

The central histaminergic system has a pivotal role in emotional regulation and psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. However, the effect of histamine on neuronal activity of the centrolateral amygdala (CeL), an essential node for fear and anxiety processing, remains unknown. Here, using immunostaining and whole-cell patch clamp recording combined with optogenetic manipulation of histaminergic terminals in CeL slices prepared from histidine decarboxylase (HDC)-Cre rats, we show that histamine selectively suppresses excitatory synaptic transmissions, including glutamatergic transmission from the basolateral amygdala, on both PKC-δ- and SOM-positive CeL neurons. The histamine-induced effect is mediated by H3 receptors expressed on VGLUT1-/VGLUT2-positive presynaptic terminals in CeL. Furthermore, optoactivation of histaminergic afferent terminals from the hypothalamic tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) also significantly suppresses glutamatergic transmissions in CeL via H3 receptors. Histamine neither modulates inhibitory synaptic transmission by presynaptic H3 receptors nor directly excites CeL neurons by postsynaptic H1, H2 or H4 receptors. These results suggest that histaminergic afferent inputs and presynaptic H3 heteroreceptors may hold a critical position in balancing excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmissions in CeL by selective modulation of glutamatergic drive, which may not only account for the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders but also provide potential psychotherapeutic targets. KEY POINTS: Histamine selectively suppresses the excitatory, rather than inhibitory, synaptic transmissions on both PKC-δ- and SOM-positive neurons in the centrolateral amygdala (CeL). H3 receptors expressed on VGLUT1- or VGLUT2-positive afferent terminals mediate the suppression of histamine on glutamatergic synaptic transmission in CeL. Optogenetic activation of hypothalamic tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN)-CeL histaminergic projections inhibits glutamatergic transmission in CeL via H3 receptors.

Safety Study of Percutaneous Gastroscopic Gastrostomy in Patients After Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety study of percutaneous gastroscopic gastrostomy in patients after ventriculoperitoneal shunt. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of neurosurgical patients who underwent VPS and PEG at our hospital between January 2012 and November 2023. Patients were divided into 2 groups: VPS group and VPS followed by PEG gruop. Patients received routine antibiotic prophylaxis before the procedure, continued for 48 hours. Follow-up included monitoring immediate complications, particularly wound infection, intracranial infection, neurologic status deterioration, and shunt dysfunction. Routine follow-up visits were conducted post-discharge. RESULTS: In the VPS group (n = 778), the incidence of intracranial infection was 3.08%. Among patients with PEG after VPS, the time interval between procedures ranged from 13 to 685 days. The mean follow-up period was 22 (1-77) months, with no deaths or further complications. CONCLUSION: Performing PEG more than 13 days after VPS does not significantly increase the risk of intracranial infections or PEG-associated infections, making it a relatively safe procedure.

Case report and literature review: Laparoscopic extended right hemicolectomy for a 55-year-old patient with idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis.

Idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis (IMP) is an extremely rare disease with an unclear pathogenesis and risk factors. The clinical manifestations of IMP are mostly non-specific, mainly consisting of digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea. The diagnosis of IMP mainly relies on abdominal computed tomography (CT) and colonoscopy. Pathological changes associated with IMP often involve fibrous degeneration of the venous wall, which results in the thickening of the colonic wall and longitudinal calcification of the mesenteric arteries. Currently, there is no standard treatment protocol for IMP, and nonsurgical treatment is the mainstay of most medical centers. In this study, we reported a case of a 55-year-old female patient with IMP whose main clinical presentation was recurrent abdominal pain. The patient's initial diagnosis was considered an incomplete intestinal obstruction and received non-surgical treatments; however, the efficacy of the treatment was unsatisfactory. After completing abdominal CT and colonoscopy, we excluded common diseases of the digestive system (e.g., tumors, Crohn's disease), and finally considered that this patient had a high likelihood of IMP. This patient eventually underwent laparoscopic enlarged right hemicolectomy due to recurrent symptoms and poor outcomes of non-surgical treatment. Postoperative pathological results confirmed the diagnosis of IMP. During the follow-up period, the patient recovered well without recurrence of IMP. Furthermore, we have reviewed the literature related to IMP and summarized the etiology, risk factors, diagnostic methods, treatment options and prognosis of IMP.

Association between triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis in American adults: an observational study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2020.

Objective: This study investigated the link between triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis in American adults. Methods: Information for 6495 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2020.03 was used for this cross-sectional study. The link between TG/HDL-C ratios and NAFLD and liver fibrosis was assessed by multiple linear regression before evaluating nonlinear correlations based on smoothed curve fitting models. Stratification analysis was then applied to confirm whether the dependent and independent variables displayed a stable association across populations. Results: TG/HDL-C ratios were positively correlated with NAFLD, with higher ratios being linked to increased prevalence of NAFLD. After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds ratios (OR) for NAFLD patients in the fourth TG/HDL-C quartile were 3.61 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.94-4.38) (P for trend < 0.001) in comparison with those in the first quartile after adjusting for clinical variables. However, no statistical significance was noted for the ratio for liver fibrosis after adjusting for potential confounders (P for trend = 0.07). A nonlinear correlation between TG/HDL-C ratios and NAFLD was observed based on smoothed curve fitting models. However, a nonlinear relationship between the ratios and liver fibrosis was not established. In subgroup analyses, there was an interaction between smoking status and TG/HDL-C ratio in relation to the prevalence of liver fibrosis (P for interaction < 0.001). Conclusions: Among American adults, the TG/HDL-C ratio was noted to be nonlinearly positively associated with the prevalence of NAFLD; however, this relationship was not present in liver fibrosis.

Risk assessment, fitness cost and transcriptome analysis of cyantraniliprole resistance in Spodoptera frugiperda.

Spodoptera frugiperda is a notorious invasive pest causing substantial yield losses of crops and has developed resistance to various types of insecticides. In this study, a cyantraniliprole-resistant strain, SfCYAN-R, was obtained from a susceptible strain, SfCYAN-S, after 13 generations of selection with cyantraniliprole. The fitness cost in SfCYAN-R strain was evaluated, and the putative resistance-related genes were explored by RNA-seq analysis. The results showed that SfCYAN-R strain developed 23.97-fold resistance to cyantraniliprole with the realistic heritability of 0.127. The development time of eggs, larvae, prepupae and pupae in SfCYAN-R strain was significantly prolonged than that in SfCYAN-S strain, but no difference in pupation rate, emergence rate and female fecundity was observed between SfCYAN-R and SfCYAN-S strains. Comparative gene expression analysis between SfCYAN-R and SfCYAN-S strains identified 776 significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs), among which several DEGs associated with xenobiotic metabolism were upregulated in SfCYAN-R strain. These results provide insights into the resistance mechanisms of cyantraniliprole and would be helpful for resistance management of S. frugiperda.

Relationship of triglyceride-glucose index to gallstone prevalence and age at first gallstone surgery in American adults.

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a novel marker of insulin resistance that has been strongly associated with many diseases related to metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and stroke. However, whether the TyG index is associated with the prevalence of gallstones has not been determined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the TyG index and the prevalence of gallstones in American adults, as well as the age at which adults in America undergo their first gallstone surgery. We selected individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2017 to March 2020. Based on the goal of our study, comprehensive inclusion and exclusion criteria were created. A logistic regression analysis, dose-response curve, and subgroup analysis were computed to assess the relationship between the TyG index and gallstone prevalence and age at first surgery for gallstone. A total of 3905 participants aged > 20 years were included in our study, of whom 421 had a self-reported history of gallstones. A total of 1884 (48.2%) males and 2021 (51.8%) females were included. After confounders adjustment, it was found single-unit increases in the TyG index were linked with a 25.0% increase in gallstone prevalence (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.04, 1.51). After conversion of the TyG index values from continuous to categorical variables with tertiles, a marked 48% increase in gallstone incidence was found in tertile 3 relative to tertile 1 (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.99). The dose-response curve results indicated positive associations between gallstone prevalence and the TyG index, while the latter was negatively associated with age at first gallstone surgery. Based on subgroup analysis, the positive association between TyG index and high-incidence of gallstones was more significant in females (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.77), age < 40 years (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.29), and other race (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.02). A higher TyG index is associated with a higher incidence of gallstones and may lead to an earlier age of first gallstone surgery. However, a causal relationship between TyG and gallstones cannot be established.

Significant diurnal variations in nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from two contrasting habitats in a large eutrophic lake (Lake Taihu, China).

Algae and macrophytes in lake ecosystems regulate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from eutrophic lakes. However, knowledge of diurnal N2O emission patterns from different habitats remains limited. To understand the diurnal patterns and driving mechanisms of N2O emissions from contrasting habitats, continuous in situ observations (72 h) of N2O fluxes from an algae-dominated zone (ADZ) and reed-dominated zone (RDZ) in Lake Taihu were conducted using the Floating Chamber method. The results showed average N2O emission fluxes of 0.15 ± 0.06 and 0.02 ± 0.04 µmol m-2 h-1 in the ADZ and RDZ in autumn, respectively. The significantly higher (p < 0.05) N2O fluxes in the ADZ were mainly attributed to differences in nitrogen (N) levels. The results also showed significant diurnal differences (p < 0.05) in the N2O emission fluxes within the ADZ and RDZ, and daytime fluxes were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than nighttime fluxes. The statistical results indicated that N2O emissions from the ADZ were mainly driven by diurnal variations in N loading and the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, and those from the RDZ were more influenced by DO, redox potential, and pH. Finally, we determined the proper time for routine monitoring of N2O flux in the two habitats. Our results highlight the importance of considering diverse habitats and diurnal variations when estimating N2O budgets at a whole-lake scale.

BcWRKY1 confers Botrytis cinerea susceptibility via inhibiting JA biosynthesis.

WRKYs play important roles in plant stress resistance. However, the role of WRKYs in non-heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis) against Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea) remains poorly understood. Herein, the expression of BcWRKY1 was induced by B. cinerea. Further, the role of BcWRKY1 in B. cinerea infection was identified. Silencing of BcWRKY1 in non-heading Chinese cabbage enhanced plant resistance to B. cinerea. After B. cinerea inoculation, BcWRKY1-silencing plants exhibited lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, higher jasmonic acid (JA) content, and the expression level of JA biosynthesis genes, BcOPR3, BcLOX3-1 and BcLOX3-2 were upregulated. Overexpression of BcWRKY1 in Arabidopsis exhibited a complementary phenotype. By directly targeting W-boxes in the promoter of BcLOX3-2, BcWRKY1 inhibited the transcription of this gene. In addition, 13 candidate interacting proteins of BcWRKY1 were identified by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening, and the interaction between BcWRKY1 and BcCaM6 weakened the inhibition of BcLOX3-2. In summary, our findings suggest that BcWRKY1 interacts with BcCaM6 to negatively regulate disease resistance.

The functions of cuproptosis in gastric cancer: therapy, diagnosis, prognosis.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most prevalent type of cancer in the whole world. Cuproptosis is discovered as a programmed cell death pathway and connected to cells' growth and death, as well as tumorigenesis. The relationship between cuproptosis and GC is still elusive. Two aspects of this study will elaborate the relationship between cuproptosis and immunotherapy as well as biomarkers in GC. Notably, the herein review is intended to highlight what has been accomplished regarding the cuproptosis for the diagnosis, immunotherapy, and prognosis in GC. The aim of this study is to offer a potential directions and the strategies for future research regarding cuproptosis inside the GC.

The structure of bacteria-fungi bipartite networks along elevational gradients in contrasting climates.

Climate change is altering species distribution and modifying interactions in microbial communities. Understanding microbial community structure and their interactions is crucial to interpreting ecosystem responses to climate change. Here, we examined the assemblages of stream bacteria and fungi, and the associations between the two groups along elevational gradients in two regions with contrasting precipitation and temperature, that is the Galong and Qilian mountains of the Tibetan Plateau. In the wetter and warmer region, the species richness significantly increased and decreased with elevation for bacteria and fungi, respectively, while were nonsignificant in the drier and colder region. Their bipartite network structure was also different by showing significant increases in connectance and nestedness towards higher elevations only in the wetter and warmer region. In addition, these correlation network structure generally exhibited similar positive association with species richness in the wetter and warmer region and the drier and colder region. In the wetter and warmer region, climatic change along elevation was more important in determining connectance and nestedness, whereas microbial species richness exerted a stronger influence on network structure and robustness in the drier and colder region. These findings indicate substantial forthcoming changes in microbial diversity and network structure in warming climates, especially in wetter and warmer regions on Earth, advancing the understanding of microbial bipartite interactions' response to climate change.

Carbon and Nutrient Limitations of Microbial Metabolism in Xingkai Lake, China: Abiotic and Biotic Drivers.

Microbial communities are crucial for water quality and biogeochemical cycling in freshwaters. Microbes secrete extracellular enzymes to decompose organic matter for their needs of nutrients and scarce elements. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge on microbial metabolic limitations in freshwaters, especially in lake sediments. Here, we examined the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus-acquiring extracellular enzyme activities and the bacterial and fungal communities of 30 sediments across Xingkai Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast Asia. We further analyzed the microbial metabolic limitations via extracellular enzyme stoichiometry and explored the direct and indirect effects of abiotic and biotic factors on the limitations. We found that microbial metabolisms were primarily limited by phosphorus in Xingkai Lake. For instance, microbial carbon and phosphorus limitations were closely correlated to abiotic factors like water depth, total dissolved solids, sediment total carbon, and conductivity. The metabolic limitations were also affected by biotic factors, such as showing positive relationships with the alpha and beta diversity of bacteria, and with the beta diversity of fungi. In addition, community compositions of bacteria and fungi were mainly correlated to abiotic factors such as total carbon and dissolved organic carbon, respectively. Collectively, microbial metabolic limitations were affected directly or indirectly by abiotic factors and microbial communities. Our findings indicate that microbial metabolic limitations are not only driven by bacteria and fungi but also by abiotic factors such as water depth and total nitrogen, and thus provide empirical evidence for effective management of freshwater lakes under climate warming and intensified human activities.