Climate velocities and species tracking in global mountain regions.

Mountain ranges contain high concentrations of endemic species and are indispensable refugia for lowland species that are facing anthropogenic climate change1,2. Forecasting biodiversity redistribution hinges on assessing whether species can track shifting isotherms as the climate warms3,4. However, a global analysis of the velocities of isotherm shifts along elevation gradients is hindered by the scarcity of weather stations in mountainous regions5. Here we address this issue by mapping the lapse rate of temperature (LRT) across mountain regions globally, both by using satellite data (SLRT) and by using the laws of thermodynamics to account for water vapour6 (that is, the moist adiabatic lapse rate (MALRT)). By dividing the rate of surface warming from 1971 to 2020 by either the SLRT or the MALRT, we provide maps of vertical isotherm shift velocities. We identify 17 mountain regions with exceptionally high vertical isotherm shift velocities (greater than 11.67 m per year for the SLRT; greater than 8.25 m per year for the MALRT), predominantly in dry areas but also in wet regions with shallow lapse rates; for example, northern Sumatra, the Brazilian highlands and southern Africa. By linking these velocities to the velocities of species range shifts, we report instances of close tracking in mountains with lower climate velocities. However, many species lag behind, suggesting that range shift dynamics would persist even if we managed to curb climate-change trajectories. Our findings are key for devising global conservation strategies, particularly in the 17 high-velocity mountain regions that we have identified.

Association between telomere length in the DNA of peripheral blood leukocytes and the propofol dose in anesthesia induction: an observational study

Abstract Introduction: Propofol is a widely used anesthetic and its dose is closely related to aging. Telomere length (TL) is a unique heritable trait, and emerging as a biomarker of aging, health and disease. Telomerase RNA component (TERC) plays an important role in maintaining TL. We proposed a hypothesis that propofol dose in general anesthesia can be predicted by measuring TL before operation, which greatly reduced the risk of anesthesia, especially the elderly. Methods: The association between the propofol dose in anesthesia induction and: TL in the DNA of peripheral blood leukocytes; body weight; sex; difference of the Bispectral Index (BIS) before and after anesthesia induction in patients was evaluated by multivariable linear regression analyses. The mutation at the 5'end or 3'end of TERC was detected. We recruited 100 patients of elective surgery. Results: We found that propofol dose in anesthesia induction was clearly correlated significantly with TL (r = 0.78, p < 0.001), body weight (r = 0.84, p = 0.004), sex (r = 0.83, p= 0.84, p = 0.004), sex (r = 0.83, p = 0.004), and difference of BIS before and after anesthesia induction (r = 0.85, p = 0.029). By comparing the absolute values of standardized regression coefficients (0.58, 0.21, 0.19, and 0.12) of the four variables, it can be seen that TL contributes the most to the propofol dose in anesthesia induction. However, the mutation at the 5' end or 3' end of TERC was not found. Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary evidence that the propofol dose in anesthesia induction was clearly correlated with genetically determined TL. TL may be a promising predictor of the propofol dose, which is beneficial to improve the safety of anesthesia and reduce perioperative complications.

Association between telomere length in the DNA of peripheral blood leukocytes and the propofol dose in anesthesia induction: an observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Propofol is a widely used anesthetic and its dose is closely related to aging. Telomere length (TL) is a unique heritable trait, and emerging as a biomarker of aging, health and disease. Telomerase RNA component (TERC) plays an important role in maintaining TL. We proposed a hypothesis that propofol dose in general anesthesia can be predicted by measuring TL before operation, which greatly reduced the risk of anesthesia, especially the elderly. METHODS: The association between the propofol dose in anesthesia induction and: TL in the DNA of peripheral blood leukocytes; body weight; sex; difference of the Bispectral Index (BIS) before and after anesthesia induction in patients was evaluated by multivariable linear regression analyses. The mutation at the 5'end or 3'end of TERC was detected. We recruited 100 patients of elective surgery. RESULTS: We found that propofol dose in anesthesia induction was clearly correlated significantly with TL (r = 0.78, p < 0.001), body weight (r = 0.84, p = 0.004), sex (r = 0.83, p= 0.84, p = 0.004), sex (r = 0.83, p = 0.004), and difference of BIS before and after anesthesia induction (r = 0.85, p = 0.029). By comparing the absolute values of standardized regression coefficients (0.58, 0.21, 0.19, and 0.12) of the four variables, it can be seen that TL contributes the most to the propofol dose in anesthesia induction. However, the mutation at the 5' end or 3' end of TERC was not found. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide preliminary evidence that the propofol dose in anesthesia induction was clearly correlated with genetically determined TL. TL may be a promising predictor of the propofol dose, which is beneficial to improve the safety of anesthesia and reduce perioperative complications.

A novel mutation in ext2 caused hereditary multiple exostoses through reducing the synthesis of heparan sulfate.

Hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) is a rare skeletal disorder characterized by the formation of multiple benign cartilage-capped tumors, usually in the metaphyseal region of the long bones. Over 70% of HME cases arise from monoallelic mutations in either of the two genes encoding the heparan sulfate (HS) synthesis enzymes, ext1 and ext2. To identify more HME-associated mutations, genomic DNA from members of five independent consanguineous families with HME was sequenced with whole exome sequencing (WES). A novel heterozygous splice site mutation (c.1173+2T>A) in ext2 was detected in all three affected members of family V. Further study showed that the novel mutation caused exon 7 of ext2 mRNA to be skipped during splicing and caused a frameshift after the codon for Arg360, which results in the appearance of new 43 codons, followed by a termination codon. Although the resulting truncated protein was still localized to the Golgi, similar to the full-length EXT2, its HS synthesis activity decreased by 40%. In this study, a novel splice site mutation in ext2 was identified and suggested to be a pathogenic mutation of HME, which may expand the genetic etiology spectrum of HME and may be helpful for clinical genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

Biosynthetic L-tert-leucine using Escherichia coli co-expressing a novel NADH-dependent leucine dehydrogenase and a formate dehydrogenase

BACKGROUND: L-tert-Leucine has been widely used in pharmaceutical, chemical, and other industries as a vital chiral intermediate. Compared with chemical methods, enzymatic methods to produce L-tert-leucine have unparalleled advantages. Previously, we found a novel leucine dehydrogenase from the halophilic thermophile Laceyella sacchari (LsLeuDH) that showed good thermostability and great potential for the synthesis of L-tertleucine in the preliminary study. Hence, we manage to use the LsLeuDH coupling with a formate dehydrogenase from Candida boidinii (CbFDH) in the biosynthesis of L-tert-leucine through reductive amination in the present study. RESULT: The double-plasmid recombinant strain exhibited higher conversion than the single-plasmid recombinant strain when resting cells cultivated in shake flask for 22 h were used. Under the optimized conditions, the double-plasmid recombinant E. coli BL21 (pETDute-FDH-LDH, pACYCDute-FDH) transformed 1 mol·L-1 trimethylpyruvate (TMP) completely into L-tert-leucine with greater than 99.9% ee within 8 h. CONCLUSIONS: The LsLeuDH showed great ability to biosynthesize L-tert-leucine. In addition, it provided a new option for the biosynthesis of L-tert-leucine.

Derlin1 functions as an oncogene in cervical cancer via AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) ranks third in the morbidity and mortality of female cancer around the world. Derlin1 has been found to be overexpressed in several human cancers. However, it is still unclear about its roles in CC. The research aims to explore the relationship between Derlin1 and CC. METHODS: We purchased a human CC tissues microarray, which contained CC tissues and corresponding para-cancerous tissues from 93 patients with primary cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining was used to confirm the expression of Derlin1 in these tissues. And we detected the differential expression of Derlin1 in cervical cancer cell lines and normal cervical epithelial cells (H8). Further, the cervical cancer cell lines SiHa and C33A were used as an in vitro model, which was down-regulated the expression of Derlin1 using siRNA interference technology. The effects of Derlin1 down-regulating in CC cell lines on cell proliferation and migration were detected by CCK8 assay and transwell assay, respectively. The effect of Derlin1 down-regulating on apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry, and apoptosis-related proteins were detected using western blotting. In-depth mechanisms were studied using western blotting. In addition, the effects of Derlin1 up-regulating in normal cervical epithelial cells also were exposed. RESULTS: Derlin1 was significantly elevated in CC tissues (81.7%, 76/93), and the expression of Derlin1 was positively correlated with the tumor size, pathological grade, and lymph node metastasis in CC patients. And Derlin1 was high expressed in cervical cancer cell lines compared to H8 cells. Knockdown of Derlin1 in cervical cancer cell lines inhibited cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, knockdown of Derlin1 induced apoptosis and affected the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, including Bcl-2, Bax, Bim, caspase3 and caspase9. Further experiments showed that AKT/mTOR signal pathway might be involve in this processes that knockdown of Derlin1 inhibited the expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR. Over-expression of Derlin1 in H8 cells promoted cell proliferation and migration via up-regulated the expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR. CONCLUSION: Derlin1 is an oncogene in CC via AKT/mTOR pathway. It might be a potential therapeutic target for CC.

Derlin1 functions as an oncogene in cervical cancer via AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) ranks third in the morbidity and mortality of female cancer around the world. Derlin1 has been found to be overexpressed in several human cancers. However, it is still unclear about its roles in CC. The research aims to explore the relationship between Derlin1 and CC. METHODS: We purchased a human CC tissues microarray, which contained CC tissues and corresponding para-cancerous tissues from 93 patients with primary cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining was used to confirm the expression of Derlin1 in these tissues. And we detected the differential expression of Derlin1 in cervical cancer cell lines and normal cervical epithelial cells (H8). Further, the cervical cancer cell lines SiHa and C33A were used as an in vitro model, which was down-regulated the expression of Derlin1 using siRNA interference technology. The effects of Derlin1 down-regulating in CC cell lines on cell proliferation and migration were detected by CCK8 assay and transwell assay, respectively. The effect of Derlin1 down-regulating on apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry, and apoptosis-related proteins were detected using western blotting. In-depth mechanisms were studied using western blotting. In addition, the effects of Derlin1 up-regulating in normal cervical epithelial cells also were exposed. RESULTS: Derlin1 was significantly elevated in CC tissues (81.7%, 76/93), and the expression of Derlin 1 was positively correlated with the tumor size, pathological grade, and lymph node metastasis in CC patients. And Derlin 1 was high expressed in cervical cancer cell lines compared to H8 cells. Knockdown of Derlin 1 in cervical cancer cell lines inhibited cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, knockdown of Derlin 1 induced apoptosis and affected the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, including Bcl-2, Bax, Bim, caspase3 and caspase9. Further experiments showed that AKT/mTOR signal pathway might be involve in this processes that knockdown of Derlin 1 inhibited the expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR. Over-expression of Derlin 1 in H8 cells promoted cell proliferation and migration via up-regulated the expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR. CONCLUSION: Derlin 1 is an oncogene in CC via AKT/mTOR pathway. It might be a potential therapeutic target for CC.

Continuous renal replacement therapy in children with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome: A case series

There is a lack of definitive information regarding the precise indications, implementation, and outcomes of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for the treatment of critically ill children. Six children (three boys, three girls) aged from 3 days to 8 years, all of whom had multiple organ failure, were submitted to bedside CRRT using M60 filter membranes. Modified Port carbonate formula was used and clotting time was maintained between 20 and 30 minutes. Activated partial thromboplastin time was 1.5- to 2-fold normal. One patient discontinued treatment due to family decision. Marked improvements were seen in the remaining five patients, including normalization of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, stabilization of electrolytes, and improvements in markers of organ function. Of note, one patient (a six-year-old male) underwent the treatment for 241 hours. All five patients were subsequently discharged and recovered uneventfully. CRRT is effective for the management of children who are critically ill due to multiple organ failure.

Continuous renal replacement therapy in children with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome: a case series.

There is a lack of definitive information regarding the precise indications, implementation, and outcomes of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for the treatment of critically ill children. Six children (three boys, three girls) aged from 3 days to 8 years, all of whom had multiple organ failure, were submitted to bedside CRRT using M60 filter membranes. Modified Port carbonate formula was used and clotting time was maintained between 20 and 30 minutes. Activated partial thromboplastin time was 1.5- to 2-fold normal. One patient discontinued treatment due to family decision. Marked improvements were seen in the remaining five patients, including normalization of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, stabilization of electrolytes, and improvements in markers of organ function. Of note, one patient (a six-year-old male) underwent the treatment for 241 hours. All five patients were subsequently discharged and recovered uneventfully. CRRT is effective for the management of children who are critically ill due to multiple organ failure.

Optimization of phenoxazinone synthase production by response surface methodology and its application in Congo red decolourization

Background: Enzymatic decolourization has been recently proposed as a promising and eco-friendly method for treatment of synthetic dye-contaminated wastewaters. However, the processes require large quantities of enzymes, attracting significant attention in developing efficient methods for mass production of multifunctional enzymes. Several methods such as response surface methodology (RSM) and orthogonal experiment have been applied to optimize the parameters in bioprocesses for enzyme production. Results: In the present study, a laccase-like enzyme, phenoxazinone synthase (PHS) originated from Streptomyces antibioticus was recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The production of PHS in E. coli BL21 was optimized by response surface methodology based on Box-Behnken design. A full third-order polynomial model was generated by data analysis with Statistica 8.0 in which the optimal conditions for PHS production were calculated to be 1.525 mM CuSO4 and 16.096 hrs induction at temperature of 29.88ºC. The highest PHS production under optimal conditions was calculated to be 4098.51 U/l using the established model. Average PHS production obtained from actual production processes carried out under the calculated optimal conditions was 4052.00 U/l, very close to the value predicted by the model. Crude PHS was subsequently tested in Congo red decolourization which exhibited a low decolourization rate of 27% without mediator. Several mediators were found to improve PHS-catalyzed Congo red decolourization, with the highest rate of 73.89% obtained with 2,2’-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) as mediator under optimized conditions of 4000 U/l PHS activity, 10 μM ABTS, 100 μM Congo red, and 8 hrs reaction time. Conclusion: Our results indicated that PHS recombinantly produced in E. coli BL21 was a prospective enzyme for decolorizing reactive dye Congo red.

Effects of crossbreeding on slaughter traits and breast muscle chemical composition in chinese chickens

We investigated the effects of crossbreeding on slaughter traits and the chemical composition of chicken breast muscle. Trials were conducted using 120 broilers from four lines: Xiao-Shan chicken (XS), Xian-Ju chicken (XJ), Xiao-Shan chicken × Xian-Ju chicken (Zhenan 1, ZNY1) and Xiao-Shan chicken × (Guang-Xi Yellow chicken×Xian-Ju chicken) (Zhenan 2, ZNY2). The birds were slaughtered at 120 days of age and the slaughter traits were measured. Breast muscles were sampled to determine chemical composition. The slaughter traits of hybrid chickens were improved. Both hybrid strains had higher intramuscular fat (IMF) and inosine-5'-monophosphate (inosinic acid, IMP). Concentrations of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in breast muscles from the two hybrids were significantly higher than in the other two breeds (p 0.05). The concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the breast muscles of the two hybrids was significantly lower than in the other two breeds (p 0.05). ZNY2 had significantly lower (p 0.05) concentrations of myristic acid (C14:0). The breast muscle of ZNY1 had significantly higher palmitic acid (C16:0) concentrations than XS, XJ, or ZNY2 (p 0.05). The concentrations of oleic acid (C18:1) and eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3, EPA) in breast muscle from the two hybrid lines were significantly higher than the other two breeds (p 0.05). Breast muscles from XS and XJ chickens contained significantly higher docosahexenoic acid (C22:6n-3, DHA) than the two hybrid lines (p 0.05). The XS and XJ chickens had lower n-6/n-3 ratios than the two hybrids (p 0.05). Breast muscles from ZNY1 and ZNY2 contained higher concentrations of essential amino acids (p 0.05), total amino acids (p 0.05), and some individual amino acids (p 0.05). In conclusion, crossbreeding improved the slaughter traits of chickens and increased intramuscular fat and inosinic acid content in breast muscle. The fatty acid and amino acid compositions of breast muscles were also improved by crossbreeding.

Effects of crossbreeding on slaughter traits and breast muscle chemical composition in chinese chickens

We investigated the effects of crossbreeding on slaughter traits and the chemical composition of chicken breast muscle. Trials were conducted using 120 broilers from four lines: Xiao-Shan chicken (XS), Xian-Ju chicken (XJ), Xiao-Shan chicken × Xian-Ju chicken (Zhenan 1, ZNY1) and Xiao-Shan chicken × (Guang-Xi Yellow chicken×Xian-Ju chicken) (Zhenan 2, ZNY2). The birds were slaughtered at 120 days of age and the slaughter traits were measured. Breast muscles were sampled to determine chemical composition. The slaughter traits of hybrid chickens were improved. Both hybrid strains had higher intramuscular fat (IMF) and inosine-5'-monophosphate (inosinic acid, IMP). Concentrations of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in breast muscles from the two hybrids were significantly higher than in the other two breeds (p 0.05). The concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the breast muscles of the two hybrids was significantly lower than in the other two breeds (p 0.05). ZNY2 had significantly lower (p 0.05) concentrations of myristic acid (C14:0). The breast muscle of ZNY1 had significantly higher palmitic acid (C16:0) concentrations than XS, XJ, or ZNY2 (p 0.05). The concentrations of oleic acid (C18:1) and eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3, EPA) in breast muscle from the two hybrid lines were significantly higher than the other two breeds (p 0.05). Breast muscles from XS and XJ chickens contained significantly higher docosahexenoic acid (C22:6n-3, DHA) than the two hybrid lines (p 0.05). The XS and XJ chickens had lower n-6/n-3 ratios than the two hybrids (p 0.05). Breast muscles from ZNY1 and ZNY2 contained higher concentrations of essential amino acids (p 0.05), total amino acids (p 0.05), and some individual amino acids (p 0.05). In conclusion, crossbreeding improved the slaughter traits of chickens and increased intramuscular fat and inosinic acid content in breast muscle. The fatty acid and amino acid compositions of breast muscles were also improved by crossbreeding.