Different Expression Pattern of G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor GPER1 in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma.

Esophageal carcinoma is a male-dominant malignancy worldwide, and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) shows more significant sex bias than esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in morbidity and mortality. The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) is involved in several sex-related cancers; however, its expression level in esophageal carcinoma has been poorly investigated and its role is not precisely defined, depending on histological types. In the present study, the mRNA levels of GPER1 in esophageal carcinoma were collected from GEPIA and Oncomine databases for meta-analyses. The protein expression levels of GPER1 were detected by immunohistochemistry in the tissue microarray of EAC and ESCC. The GPER1 selective agonist G1, antagonist G15, and siRNA were applied in vitro to investigate their impacts on esophageal cell lines. Analysis of the RNA levels from the databases showed a decreased expression of GPER1 in overall esophageal carcinoma, and low expression levels of GPER1 were found to be associated with low survival of tumor patients. However, in the subgroup of EAC and its precancerous lesion, Barrett's esophagus, overexpression of GPER1 RNA was increased when compared with the normal tissues. The average staining scores of GPER1 protein in the tissue microarray of EAC were significantly higher than normal esophageal samples, and the rate of positive staining increased with the grade of poor tumor differentiation. The scores of GPER1 protein in ESCC tissues were lower than those in the normal tissues. The results from cell line experiments in vitro showed that the GPER1 agonist G1 inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of ESCC cells EC109 with positive expression of GPER1. G1 had no obvious effect on normal esophageal NE2 cells with weak expression of GPER1. In addition, GPER1 RNA knockdown and application of antagonist G15 reversed the effects of G1 on EC109. The results of this study indicate that the expression levels of GPER1 are higher in EAC than in ESCC, which might be correlated with the dimorphic estrogen signaling pathway in different types of esophageal carcinoma.

HCV knowledge and attitudes among HIV-negative MSM and MSM living with HIV in China: results from a cross-sectional online survey.

BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, especially for those living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Learning about knowledge of and attitudes towards HCV is essential to inform health promotion interventions development. This is one of very limited studies to examine the level of knowledge and attitudes towards HCV and their determinants among HIV-negative MSM and MSM living with HIV in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted across seven provinces in China from December 2021 to January 2022. All the MSM living with HIV were recruited offline, whereas the recruitment ratio for HIV-negative MSM was half online and half offline. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, knowledge about HCV, and attitude towards HCV from participants were collected through the online survey. Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine the associated factors. RESULTS: Only 39.3% (33/84) of HIV-negative men and 44.0% (37/84) of men living with HIV had a good level knowledge about HCV. Nearly one-third (32.1%, 27/84) of HIV-negative men and 41.7% (35/84) of men living with HIV reported a positive attitude towards HCV. For HIV-negative men, positive attitude towards HCV was associated with the multiple sexual partners (aOR: 5.8, 95%CI:1.9-18.1) and the use of recreational substances (aOR: 3.1, 95%CI: 1.0-9.4). For men living with HIV, knowledge about HCV was associated with disclosing sexual orientation to healthcare providers, family or friends (aOR: 7.0, 1.9-26.0), the multiple sexual partners (aOR: 0.2, 0.1-1.0), the use of recreational substances (aOR: 3.7, 95%CI: 1.1-13.1) and the HBV testing history (aOR: 7.3, 95%CI: 1.6-32.7); positive attitude towards HCV was associated with the use of recreational substances (aOR: 3.1, 95%CI: 1.1-9.0). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of Chinese MSM showed an inadequate knowledge of and negative attitude towards HCV irrespective of HIV infection status. More tailored education campaigns and multicomponent interventions are required to be targeted on MSM, and more researches are also needed to inform how best to address the negative attitudes of this population towards HCV.

Spatiotemporal pattern and multi-scenario simulation of ecological risk in mountainous cities: a case study in Chongqing, China.

Scientific descriptions and simulations of the ecological risks in mountainous areas can promote the sustainable use of land resources in these areas and improve the reliability of decision-making for ecological risk management. Taking Chongqing, China, as an example, we constructed a landscape ecological risk (LER) evaluation model based on land use data from 1995 to 2020 and analysed the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the LER pattern. Moreover, we coupled the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model and multi-objective programming (MOP) method and input multiple scenarios (inertial development, ID; economic priority development, ED; ecological priority development, PD; and sustainable development, SD) to simulate the ecological risk pattern in 2030. The model coupling the "top-down" and "bottom-up" processes obtained optimal land use patterns in different contexts, and it was used to perform a spatially explicit examination of LER evolutionary trends in different contexts. The results showed that LER evolution in Chongqing has had obvious stage characteristics. The high-risk area decreased significantly under various constraints, including topographic, economic, and other constraints, and the distribution showed a trend of high in the west and low in the east. The LER spatial clustering characteristics were highly coupled with the risk level pattern. The ED scenario presented the most severe risk, the PD scenario presented a moderate risk, and the SD scenario balanced the land demand for economic and ecological development and had a better land use structure and LER compared with the other scenarios. The coupled model proposed in this study helps to obtain the optimal land use structure and mitigate ecological risks, thus providing a scientific basis for future urban development.

Intraday exposure to ambient ozone and emergency department visits among children: a case-crossover study in southern China.

Most existing studies have investigated short-term associations between ozone exposure and acute disease events among children at a daily timescale, which might neglect risk effects happening within several hours after ozone exposure. In this research, we aimed to depict intraday associations between pediatric emergency department visits (PEDVs) and exposure to ozone in order to better detect ultra-short-term effects of ozone exposure on children. We obtained hourly data of all-cause PEDVs, air pollutants, and meteorological factors in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, China, 2015-2018. We applied time-stratified case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios per 10-µg/m3 rise of ozone concentrations at various exposure periods (e.g., 0-3, 4-6, 7-12, 13-24, 25-48, and 49-72 h) prior to PEDVs, controlling for hourly relative humidity and temperature. Subgroup analyses divided by gender, age, and season were undertaken to identify the potential susceptible population and period. A total of 358,285 cases of PEDVs were included in two cities, and hourly average concentration of ozone was 45.5 µg/m3 in Guangzhou and 58.9 µg/m3 in Shenzhen, respectively. Increased risks of PEDVs occurred within a few hours (0-3 h) after exposure to ozone and remained up to 48 h. Population risks for PEDVs increased by 0.8% (95% confidence interval, 0.6 to 1.0) in Shenzhen and 0.7% (0.5 to 0.9) in Guangzhou for a 10-µg/m3 increase in ozone concentrations at lag 4-6 h and lag 7-12 h, respectively. These findings were robust to co-exposure adjustments in our sensitivity analyses. Significantly greater ozone-associated risks were consistently observed during cold months (October to March of the following year) in both cities, while we did not identify evidence for effect modification of children's age and gender. This study provided novel evidence for increased risks of acute disease events among children within several hours after ozone exposure, highlighting the significant implications for policymakers to establish hourly air quality standards for better protecting children's health.

Nuclear export inhibition jumbles epithelial-mesenchymal states and gives rise to migratory disorder in healthy epithelia.

Dynamic nucleocytoplasmic transport of E-M factors regulates cellular E-M states; yet, it remains unknown how simultaneously trapping these factors affects epithelia at the macroscale. To explore this question, we performed nuclear export inhibition (NEI) via leptomycin B and Selinexor treatment, which biases nuclear localization of CRM1-associated E-M factors. We examined changes in collective cellular phenotypes across a range of substrate stiffnesses. Following NEI, soft substrates elevate collective migration of MCF10A cells for up to 24 hr, while stiffer substrates reduce migration at all time points. Our results suggest that NEI disrupts migration through competition between intercellular adhesions and mechanoactivation, generally causing loss of cell-cell coordination. Specifically, across substrate stiffnesses, NEI fosters an atypical E-M state wherein MCF10A cells become both more epithelial and more mesenchymal. We observe that NEI fosters a range of these concurrent phenotypes, from more epithelial shYAP MCF10A cells to more mesenchymal MDCK II cells. α-Catenin emerges as a potential link between E-M states, where it maintains normal levels of intercellular adhesion and transmits mechanoactive characteristics to collective behavior. Ultimately, to accommodate the concurrent states observed here, we propose an expanded E-M model, which may help further understand fundamental biological phenomena and inform pathological treatments.

Circulating sex hormones and risk of atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sex hormones are associated with many cardiovascular risk factors, but their effects on atrial fibrillation (AF) incidence remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association of circulating sex hormones with AF risk by pooling available data from observational studies. Methods: A systematic literature search for pertinent articles with case-control and cohort designs was conducted via five databases up to 7 July 2021. A meta-analysis with six cohort studies was conducted separately on men and women. Adjusted relative risk (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was derived by comparing the highest with the lowest levels of a specific sex hormone and by using a random-effect or fixed-effect model. Heterogeneity was tested using the I 2 statistic and the Q-test. Results: A total of six cohort studies and four case-control studies were included. In a meta-analysis of cohort studies, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) was associated with a decreased risk of AF in men (RR: 0.729, 95% CI: 0.559-0.952, I 2 = 50.0%, P -heterogeneity = 0.157) after combining results from two cohort studies; total testosterone was not associated with any risk of AF in men and postmenopausal women, and AF risk was not associated with estradiol in men after synthesizing available studies. Conclusion: This study indicates that a higher endogenous DHEAS level was associated with a lower AF risk in men, whereas total testosterone and estradiol were not associated with AF risk. Longitudinal studies with multiple monitoring are needed to further promulgate the relationship between various circulating sex hormones and AF risk.

Dual Role of Indoles Derived From Intestinal Microbiota on Human Health.

Endogenous indole and its derivatives (indoles), considered as promising N-substituted heterocyclic compounds, are tryptophan metabolites derived from intestinal microbiota and exhibit a range of biological activities. Recent studies indicate that indoles contribute to maintaining the biological barrier of the human intestine, which exert the anti-inflammatory activities mainly through activating AhR and PXR receptors to affect the immune system's function, significantly improving intestinal health (inflammatory bowel disease, hemorrhagic colitis, colorectal cancer) and further promote human health (diabetes mellitus, central system inflammation, and vascular regulation). However, the revealed toxic influences cannot be ignored. Indoxyl sulfate, an indole derivative, performs nephrotoxicity and cardiovascular toxicity. We addressed the interaction between indoles and intestinal microbiota and the indoles' effects on human health as double-edged swords. This review provides scientific bases for the correlation of indoles with diseases moreover highlights several directions for subsequent indoles-related studies.

Effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on behavior and dopamine signaling in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plasticizer, also known as a developmental toxicant, but its neurobehavioral toxicity remains elusive. This study evaluated the neurobehavioral toxicity and its possible mechanism in larval zebrafish. Embryos at gastrula period (~6 h post fertilization, hpf) were exposure to DEHP (0, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/L) for 7 days. Spontaneous tail movement in embryos and swimming activity in larvae were monitored. Alterations in the mRNA expression of genes involved in dopamine signaling and apoptosis pathway were assessed. In situ apoptotic cells were assessed by Acridine orange staining, and oxidative damage were measured using enzymatic assay. The behavior results showed that DEHP inhibited spontaneous tail movement and decreased locomotor activities in the light/dark behavioral test. Meanwhile, behavioral changes were accompanied by increased apoptosis and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and dopamine (DA) content, and perturbed the expression of genes associated with the synthesis (th), reuptake (dat) and metabolism (mao) of DA, with dopamine receptors (DRs), and with the apoptosis pathway (p53, bax, bcl2, caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9). The findings will help to illuminate the possible neurobehavioral toxicity mechanisms of organism exposure to DEHP.

Associations of Depression, Anxiety, and Life Events With the Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Evaluated by Berlin Questionnaire.

Background: Psychological problems are prevalent in the general population, and their impacts on sleep health deserve more attention. This study was to examine the associations of OSA risk with depression, anxiety, and life events in a Chinese population. Methods: A total of 10,287 subjects were selected from the Guangzhou Heart Study. Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) was used to ascertain the OSA. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Zung's self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) were used to define depression and anxiety. A self-designed questionnaire was used to assess life events. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated by using the logistic regression model. Results: There were 1,366 subjects (13.28%) classified into the OSA group. After adjusting for potential confounders, subjects with anxiety (OR: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.63-4.04) and depression (OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.19-2.97) were more likely to have OSA. Subjects suffering from both anxiety and depression were associated with a 3.52-fold (95% CI: 1.88-6.31) risk of OSA. Every 1-unit increment of CES-D score and SAS index score was associated with 13% (95% CI: 1.11-1.15) and 4% (95% CI: 1.03-1.06) increased risk of OSA. Neither positive life events nor adverse life events were associated with OSA. Conclusions: The results indicate that depression and anxiety, especially co-occurrence of both greatly, were associated with an increased risk of OSA. Neither adverse life events nor positive life events were associated with any risk of OSA. Screening for interventions to prevent and manage OSA should pay more attention to depression and anxiety.

Effects of Home-Based Baduanjin Exercise on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients With Acute Anterior ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) remodeling after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a major pathological basis associated with heart failure and increased mortality. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation has been verified to significantly improve prognosis and quality of life. As a traditional Chinese Qigong, Baduanjin exercise has effectively alleviated adverse LV remodeling in STEMI patients. Despite this, participation in exercise rehabilitation remains low, and home-based exercise rehabilitation may be an alternative approach. Besides, anterior STEMI is reported to have higher risk of adverse LV remodeling. However, the efficiency regarding home-based Baduanjin exercise on LV remodeling in anterior STEMI patients remains uncertain currently. METHODS/DESIGN: A single-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted to explore the efficacy and safety of home-based Baduanjin exercise in anterior STEMI patients compared with moderate intensity aerobic walking. A total of 114 participants were assigned randomly to the Baduanjin group or walking control group at a 1:1 ratio. Eligible participants practiced Baduanjin or walking exercise (5 times a week) for 12 weeks, and then followed up for another 12 weeks. The primary outcome is a relative change in the LV end-diastolic volume. The secondary outcomes include the plasma levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein and interleukin 6, health-related quality of life measured by EQ-5D-5L, LV ejection fraction, patient health questionnaire-9, generalized anxiety disorder screener-7, short physical performance battery score, and clinical endpoint events. The proportion of circulating regulatory T-cells were also assessed. Adverse events were recorded throughout the trial for safety evaluation. Data were be analyzed by researchers blinded to the treatment allocation. DISCUSSION: This study provided powerful evidence for the use of home-based Baduanjin exercise in anterior STEMI patients in alleviating LV remodeling and improving clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Research Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine has approved this study (ZYYECK[2020]045). Written informed consent of patients were required. This trial is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100047298). DISSEMINATION: Our results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated through academic conferences and the Internet.

Reproducibility and relative validity of a food frequency questionnaire for a diet-related study in a rural Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the reproducibility and validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed for diet-related studies in a rural population. METHODS: One hundred fifty-four healthy residents were interviewed with a 76-item FFQ at baseline (FFQ1) and 1 month later (FFQ2) to assess reproducibility, and required to complete two three-day dietary recalls (DRs) between two FFQs to determine the validity by comparing DRs with FFQ1. RESULTS: Crude Spearman correlation coefficients between FFQ1 and FFQ2 ranged from 0.58 to 0.92 and energy-adjusted coefficients ranged from 0.62 to 0.92; weighted kappa statistic covered a spectrum from 0.45 to 0.81, depicting moderate to good agreements. For validity, there were moderate to strong associations (0.40-0.68) in most nutrients and food between FFQ1 and DRs; weighted kappa statistic demonstrated fair to moderate agreements for nutrients and food (0.21-0.49). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the FFQ has reasonably reproducibility and validity in measuring most nutrients and food intake, and it can be used to explore the dietary habits in studying the diet-disease relationship in Chinese rural populations.

Association of healthy lifestyle with risk of obstructive sleep apnea: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: No studies investigated the whole effect of modifiable lifestyle factors on OSA risk. This study aimed to examine the individual and combined effects of lifestyle factors on OSA risk among Chinese adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 9733 participants aged 35 to 74 years from the baseline survey of Guangzhou Heart Study. OSA was evaluated by Berlin Questionnaire. The healthy lifestyle score (HLS), representing the overall effect of lifestyles, was derived from seven lifestyle factors: active smoking, passive smoking, alcohol, diet, waist-hip ratio, leisure-time physical activity, and mental status. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using the multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: 8107 participants were divided into the non-OSA group and 1626 participants into the OSA group. No passive smoking (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74-0.94), healthy waist-hip ratio (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.58-0.77) and healthy mental status (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0. 29-0.73) were associated with a reduced risk of OSA after adjusting for confounders, while others not. Participants with higher HLS were negatively associated with OSA risk (P-trend < 0.001). In comparison to the participants with 0-3 HLS, the OR for participants with 4, 5, 6, and 7 HLS was 0.68 (95% CI 0.56-0.84), 0.71 (95% CI 0.59-0.86), 0.62 (95% CI 0.51-0.76) and 0.49 (95% CI 0.37-0.65) after adjusting for confounders. Every 1-score increment of HLS was associated with a 13% lower risk of OSA. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that HLS reflecting the combined effect of multiple-dimensional lifestyle factors was inversely associated with OSA risk. Preventive strategies integrating multiple lifestyle factors may provide a more feasible approach for OSA prevention.

Association Between Eating Habits and Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Population-Based Study.

OBJECTIVE: The effect of dietary factors on OSA remains unclear. This study was to investigate the association of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with individual and overall effects of eating habits among adult Chinese. METHODS: A total of 9733 participants were selected from the baseline survey of the Guangzhou Heart Study. OSA was ascertained by Berlin Questionnaire. Food consumption was collected using a food frequency questionnaire, and eating patterns were extracted by principal component analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated by the logistic regression model. RESULTS: After adjustment for confounders, fried food intake with ≥1/week was associated with an increased risk of OSA (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.37-2.27), while fruit consumption of ≥1/day was associated with a 26% reduced risk of OSA (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.62-0.88). Three eating patterns were defined and labeled as pattern I, II, and III. Eating pattern III which had higher factor loadings of animal innards, fried food, salted food, carbonate, and non-carbonated beverages was associated with an increased risk of OSA (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.09-1.55) when comparing the highest with the lowest tertile of pattern score, after adjusting for confounders; every 1-unit increment of pattern III score was associated with an increased risk of OSA (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04-1.14). Neither pattern I nor pattern II was observed to be associated with OSA risk. CONCLUSION: A higher frequency intake of fruits was associated with a reduced OSA risk and a diet with higher levels of consumption of animal innards, fried food, salted food, carbonated beverages, and non-carbonated beverages may increase the risk of OSA.

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du Decoction Attenuates Atherosclerosis and Increases Plaque Stability in High-Fat Diet-Induced ApoE-/- Mice by Inhibiting M1 Macrophage Polarization and Promoting M2 Macrophage Polarization.

Macrophage polarization plays a vital impact in triggering atherosclerosis (AS) progression and regression. Huang-Lian-Jie-Du Decoction (HLJDD), a famous traditional Chinese decoction, displays notable anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects in different animal models. However, its effects and mechanisms on AS have not been clearly defined. We determined whether HLJDD attenuated atherosclerosis and plaques vulnerability by regulating macrophage polarization in ApoE-/- mice induced by high-fat diet (HFD). Furthermore, we investigated the effects of HLJDD on macrophage polarization in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) induced RAW264.7 cells. For in vivo assay, compared with the model group, HLJDD ameliorated lipid metabolism, with significantly decreased levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol (CHOL), and lipid density lipoprotein. HLJDD suppressed serum tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and IL-1ß levels with increased serum IL-10 level, and inhibited mRNA level of NLRP3 inflammasome in carotid tissues. HLJDD enhanced carotid lesion stability by decreasing macrophage infiltration together with increased expression of collagen fibers and α-SMA. Moreover, HLJDD inhibited M1 macrophage polarization, which decreased the expression and mRNA levels of M1 markers [inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and CD86]. HLJDD enhanced alternatively activated macrophage (M2) activation, which increased the expression and mRNA levels of M2 markers (Arg-1 and CD163). For in vitro assay, HLJDD inhibited foam cell formation in RAW264.7 macrophages disturbed by ox-LDL. Besides, groups with ox-LDL plus HLJDD drug had a lower expression of CD86 and mRNA levels of iNOS, CD86, and IL-1ß, but higher expression of CD163 and mRNA levels of Arg-1, CD163, and IL-10 than ox-LDL group. Collectively, our results revealed that HLJDD alleviated atherosclerosis and promoted plaque stability by suppressing M1 polarization and enhancing M2 polarization.

Application of droplet digital PCR to detect the pathogens of infectious diseases.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a molecular biology technique used to multiply certain deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragments. It is a common and indispensable technique that has been applied in many areas, especially in clinical laboratories. The third generation of polymerase chain reaction, droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR), is a biotechnological refinement of conventional polymerase chain reaction methods that can be used to directly quantify and clonally amplify DNA. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction is now widely used in low-abundance nucleic acid detection and is useful in diagnosis of infectious diseases. Here, we summarized the potential advantages of droplet digital polymerase chain reaction in clinical diagnosis of infectious diseases, including viral diseases, bacterial diseases and parasite infections, concluded that ddPCR provides a more sensitive, accurate, and reproducible detection of low-abundance pathogens and may be a better choice than quantitative polymerase chain reaction for clinical applications in the future.

Azadirachtin acting as a hazardous compound to induce multiple detrimental effects in Drosophila melanogaster.

Azadirachtin, a tetranortriterpenoid botanical insecticide, has varied sub-lethal effects against many insect pests, including antifeedant, repellent, and growth regulatory. Despite extensive studies of the mechanisms that underline these physiological effects, little attention has been given to multiple toxic effects of azadirachtin under a coherent concentration, and there is no definitive overarching consensus on its toxicity. Here, we investigated multiple sub-lethal effects induced by 4 mg L-1 of azadirachtin, which did not elicit antifeedant behavior in Drosophila melanogaster, on metrics of longevity, development, compound eyes and reproduction. Exposure to <20 mg L-1 azadirachtin did not induce mortality, and 4 mg L-1 of azadirachtin could shorten lifespan, expression of detoxification genes and activities of related detoxification enzymes were higher. The lower activity of chitinase and higher content of chitin in fruit fly exposed to 4 mg L-1 azadirachtin could be important in developmental inhibition effects, and ovarian abnormalities and lower fecundity could have resulted from azadirachtin-mediated influences on juvenile hormone and ecdysone that disrupted the endocrine system. Caspase-3, head involution defective and reaper-dependent apoptosis genes may have been responsible for compound eye abnormalities in flies exposed to azadirachtin. Our findings provide important insights to the potential mechanisms of sub-lethal effects of azadirachtin.

NF­κB is a key modulator in the signaling pathway of Borrelia burgdorferi BmpA­induced inflammatory chemokines in murine microglia BV2 cells.

Lyme disease, caused by the bacterial spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is a tick­borne zoonosis. Lyme neuroborreliosis is a principal manifestation of Lyme disease and its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Recent studies have demonstrated that Borrelia burgdorferi lipoproteins caused similar inflammatory effects as exhibited in Lyme neuroborreliosis. Basic membrane protein A (BmpA) is one of the dominant lipoproteins in the Borrelia burgdorferi membrane. In addition, nuclear factor κ­B (NF­κB) modulates the regulation of gene transcription associated with immunity and inflammation; however, in unstimulated cells, NF­κB is combined with the inhibitor of NF­κB (IκB­ß). Therefore, it was hypothesized that NF­κB may be associated with BmpA­induced inflammation and the occurrence of Lyme neuroborreliosis. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role that NF­κB serves in the signaling pathway of rBmpA­induced inflammatory chemokines. The present study measured the expression levels of NF­κB, IκB­ß and inflammatory chemokines following recombinant BmpA (rBmpA) stimulation of murine microglia BV2 cells. Following stimulation with rBmpA, concentrations of pro­inflammatory cytokines including C­X­C motif chemokine 2, C­C motif chemokine (CCL) 5 and CCL22 were determined by ELISA analysis. Reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were used to detect the expression levels of NF­κB p65 and IκB­ß. The data demonstrated that concentrations of these chemokines in cell supernatants increased significantly following rBmpA stimulation. NF­κB was overexpressed, but IκB­ß expression was significantly decreased. In conclusion, these results suggested that NF­κB serves an important stimulatory role in the signaling pathway of rBmpA­induced inflammatory chemokines in BV2 cells.

Genome editing in Drosophila melanogaster: from basic genome engineering to the multipurpose CRISPR-Cas9 system.

Nowadays, genome editing tools are indispensable for studying gene function in order to increase our knowledge of biochemical processes and disease mechanisms. The extensive availability of mutagenesis and transgenesis tools make Drosophila melanogaster an excellent model organism for geneticists. Early mutagenesis tools relied on chemical or physical methods, ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) and X-rays respectively, to randomly alter DNA at a nucleotide or chromosomal level. Since the discovery of transposable elements and the availability of the complete fly genome, specific genome editing tools, such as P-elements, zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), have undergone rapid development. Currently, one of the leading and most effective contemporary tools is the CRISPR-cas9 system made popular because of its low cost, effectiveness, specificity and simplicity of use. This review briefly addresses the most commonly used mutagenesis and transgenesis tools in Drosophila, followed by an in-depth review of the multipurpose CRISPR-Cas9 system and its current applications.

Histone H1 defect in escort cells triggers germline tumor in Drosophila ovary.

Drosophila ovary is recognized as one of the best model systems to study stem cell biology in vivo. We had previously identified an autonomous role of the histone H1 in germline stem cell (GSC) maintenance. Here, we found that histone H1 depletion in escort cells (ECs) resulted in an increase of spectrosome-containing cells (SCCs), an ovary tumor-like phenotype. Further analysis showed that the Dpp pathway is excessively activated in these SCC cells, while the expression of bam is attenuated. In the H1-depleted ECs, both transposon activity and DNA damage had increased dramatically, followed by EC apoptosis, which is consistent with the role of H1 in other somatic cells. Surprisingly, H1-depleted ECs acquired cap cell characteristics including dpp expression, and the resulting abnormal Dpp level inhibits SCC further differentiation. Most interestingly, double knockdown of H1 and dpp in ECs can reduce the number of SCCs to the normal level, indicating that the additional Dpp secreted by ECs contributes to the germline tumor. Taken together, our findings indicate that histone H1 is an important epigenetic factor in controlling EC characteristics and a key suppressor of germline tumor.

Vegetation greenness modelling in response to interannual precipitation and temperature changes between 2001 and 2012 in Liao River Basin in Jilin Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Liao River basin in Jilin Province is the place of origin of the Dongliao River. This study gives a comprehensive analysis of the vegetation coverage in the region and provides a potential theoretical basis for ecological restoration. METHODS: The seasonal variation of vegetation greenness and dynamics based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in major land cover types in the region was studied. Analyzing the relationship NDVI, temperature and rainfall, we derived a set of predictor variables from 2001 to 2012 using the MODIS Terra level 1 Product (MOD02QKM). RESULTS: The results showed a general increasing trend in NDVI value in the region, while 34.63 % of the region showed degradation. NDVI values begin to rise from April when plants are regreening and they drop in September when temperature are decreasing and the leaves are falling in the study area and temperature was found decreasing during the period of 2001-2012 while rainfall showed an increasing trend. This model could be used to observe the change in vegetation greenness and the dynamic effects of temperature and rainfall. CONCLUSION: This study provided important data for the environmental protection of the basin area. And we hope to provide scientific analysis for controlling water and soil erosion, maintaining the sustainable productivity of land resources, enhancing the treatment of water pollution and stimulating the virtuous cycle of the ecological system.