Soil microbiome of shiro reveals the symbiotic relationship between Tricholoma bakamatsutake and Quercus mongolica.

Tricholoma bakamatsutake is a delicious and nutritious ectomycorrhizal fungus. However, its cultivation is hindered owing to limited studies on its symbiotic relationships. The symbiotic relationship between T. bakamatsutake and its host is closely related to the shiro, a complex network composed of mycelium, mycorrhizal roots, and surrounding soil. To explore the symbiotic relationship between T. bakamatsutake and its host, soil samples were collected from T. bakamatsutake shiro (Tb) and corresponding Q. mongolica rhizosphere (CK) in four cities in Liaoning Province, China. The physicochemical properties of all the soil samples were then analyzed, along with the composition and function of the fungal and bacterial communities. The results revealed a significant increase in total potassium, available nitrogen, and sand in Tb soil compared to those in CK soil, while there was a significant decrease in pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, and silt. The fungal community diversity in shiro was diminished, and T. bakamatsutake altered the community structure of its shiro by suppressing other fungi, such as Russula (ectomycorrhizal fungus) and Penicillium (phytopathogenic fungus). The bacterial community diversity in shiro increased, with the aggregation of mycorrhizal-helper bacteria, such as Paenibacillus and Bacillus, and plant growth-promoting bacteria, such as Solirubrobacter and Streptomyces, facilitated by T. bakamatsutake. Microbial functional predictions revealed a significant increase in pathways associated with sugar and fat catabolism within the fungal and bacterial communities of shiro. The relative genetic abundance of carboxylesterase and gibberellin 2-beta-dioxygenase in the fungal community was significantly increased, which suggested a potential symbiotic relationship between T. bakamatsutake and Q. mongolica. These findings elucidate the microbial community and relevant symbiotic environment to better understand the relationship between T. bakamatsutake and Q. mongolica.

Role of microRNAs in host defense against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection: a hidden front line.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the most globally devastating viruses threatening the swine industry worldwide. Substantial advancements have been achieved in recent years towards comprehending the pathogenesis of PRRSV infection and the host response, involving both innate and adaptive immune responses. Not only a multitude of host proteins actively participate in intricate interactions with viral proteins, but microRNAs (miRNAs) also play a pivotal role in the host response to PRRSV infection. If a PRRSV-host interaction at the protein level is conceptualized as the front line of the battle between pathogens and host cells, then their fight at the RNA level resembles the hidden front line. miRNAs are endogenous small non-coding RNAs of approximately 20-25 nucleotides (nt) that primarily regulate the degradation or translation inhibition of target genes by binding to the 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs). Insights into the roles played by viral proteins and miRNAs in the host response can enhance our comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis of PRRSV infection. The intricate interplay between viral proteins and cellular targets during PRRSV infection has been extensively explored. This review predominantly centers on the contemporary understanding of the host response to PRRSV infection at the RNA level, in particular, focusing on the twenty-six miRNAs that affect viral replication and the innate immune response.

Real-time ghost imaging algorithm on the multidimensional vector matrix Walsh transformation with spatiotemporal free-fps.

In this research, we propose a real-time spatiotemporal free-fps algorithm based on the multidimensional vector matrix Walsh transform with an adjustable ghost imaging video quality and a frame rate to address the issues of uneven imaging speed, fixed imaging frame rate, and uncomfortable appearance in real-time ghost imaging videos of moving objects. This algorithm utilizes the temporal and spatial correlation of ghost imaging videos to achieve free and adjustable video frame rates in time without being limited by DMD refresh rates. Improving the spatial information of a single frame in space enhances the smoothness of ghost imaging videos, making the appearance of ghost imaging videos more comfortable. To achieve this, a four-dimensional vector Walsh transform kernel matrix is used to transform and reconstruct the high-quality images of the target object. Then the reconstructed high-quality image is spatially interpolated to enhance spatial information. Reasonable frame rate parameters are set based on the corresponding relationship between the detection values of the adjacent frames and speckle, improving the ghost imaging video in both time and space and achieving a smooth real-time ghost imaging video with an adjustable quality and frame rate. The simulation and experimental results of moving objects show that our algorithm solves the limitation of a DMD refresh rate compared with the existing ghost imaging video methods and makes the ghost imaging video more comfortable and smoother in real time. The PSNR of the objective evaluation index is increased by 12%. Regarding a subjective evaluation, this paper proposes an adaptive parameterless evaluation algorithm (APEA) for images with different resolutions based on the NRSS, which improved the structure retention degree by 13% and the Brisque parameter evaluation by 70%. We propose an adaptive parameterless video comfort evaluation algorithm (APVCEA) to evaluate the subjective comfort of ghost imaging videos by 14% compared with traditional methods.

Characteristics of leachate from refuse transfer stations in rural China.

The properties of leachate from refuse transfer stations (RTSs) in rural China were indefinite. In this study, a total of 14 leachate samples from RTSs in nine provinces of China were characterized for their pH, electric conductivity, chromaticity, concentration of organic substances, nitrogen distribution, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), organic phosphorous pesticide, and heavy metals. The structural composition of fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) was also determined. To evaluate the leachate pollution potential in this study, a leachate pollution index was derived and used. Chromium (Cr) was the most polluting heavy metal present in rural leachate. Ethanol and ethyl acetate were the most frequently detected VOCs at high concentrations. Three-dimensional fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectra were used to characterize the FDOM. Three components, tryptophan (C1), tyrosine-like (C2), and humic acid- and fulvic acid-like (C3) substances, were identified from all 14 samples. Tryptophan was the major component of FDOM and present in 45.7% of the samples by calculating the fluorescence intensity percentage, on average. Pearson correlations revealed that the fluorescence intensity of C1 and C3 was strongly related to soluble chemical oxygen demand and dissolved oxygen carbon, while C2 had significant positive correlations with ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus of the solid waste. This study provided detailed data and findings that could serve as a preliminary basis for broadening options for the treatment and management of leachate from rural RTSs in China.

An ROI Extraction Method of Finger Vein Images Based on Large Receptive Field Gradient Operator for Accurate Localization of Joint Cavity.

Region of interest (ROI) extraction is a key step in finger vein recognition preprocessing. The current method takes the finger region in the vein image as the ROI, but this method cannot obtain better recognition accuracy because it only removes the background noise of the image and ignores factors such as the position and shape of the finger. To solve this problem, we limited the ROI to a fixed region between two finger joint cavities, proposed a new large receptive field gradient operator, and designed and implemented a new method for ROI extraction. It uses a large receptive field to search the target, which is similar to human vision, thus solving the problem of difficult ROI localization for images with large gradient areas. Moreover, for external factors such as noise and uneven illumination in the vein image, the interference factors can be eliminated by averaging them to a larger range with a larger size operator to improve the accuracy of the subsequent matching recognition. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, we conducted sufficient matching experiments on three public finger vein datasets. On various datasets, our method significantly reduced the identified EER value, with the lowest EER value reaching 0.96%. The experimental results show that the proposed ROI extraction method can effectively eliminate the influence of finger position, finger shape, and other factors on the subsequent recognition performance, accurately locate the finger joint cavity, and effectively improve the recognition performance.

Bioceramic-based scaffolds with antibacterial function for bone tissue engineering: A review.

Bone defects caused by trauma, tumor, congenital abnormality and osteoarthritis, etc. have been substantially impacted the lives and health of human. Artificial bone implants, like bioceramic-based scaffolds, provide significant benefits over biological counterparts and are critical for bone repair and regeneration. However, it is highly probable that bacterial infections occur in the surgical procedures or on bioceramic-based scaffolds. Therefore, it is of great significance to obtain bioceramic-based scaffolds with integrative antibacterial and osteogenic functions for treating bone implant-associated infection and promoting bone repair. To fight against infection problems, bioceramic-based scaffolds with various antibacterial strategies are developed for bone repair and regeneration and also have made great progresses. This review summarizes recent progresses in bioceramic-based scaffolds with antibacterial function, which include drug-induced, ion-mediated, physical-activated and their combined antibacterial strategies according to specific antibacterial mechanism. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of antibacterial bioceramic-based scaffolds are discussed.

Swiprosin-1 deficiency in macrophages alleviated atherogenesis.

Macrophages play a vital role in the development of atherosclerosis. Previously, we have found that swiprosin-1 was abundantly expressed in macrophages. Here, we investigated the role of swiprosin-1 expressed in macrophages in atherogenesis. Bone marrow transplantation was performed from swiprosin-1-knockout (Swp-/-) mice and age-matched ApoE-/- mice. Atherosclerotic lesion, serum lipid, and interleukin-ß (IL-ß) levels were detected. In vitro, the peritoneal macrophages isolated from Swp-/- and wild-type mice were stimulated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and the macrophage of foam degree, cellular lipid content, apoptosis, inflammatory factor, migration, and autophagy were determined. Our results showed that swiprosin-1 was mainly expressed in macrophages of atherosclerotic plaques in aorta from ApoE-/- mice fed with high-cholesterol diet (HCD). The expression of swiprosin-1 in the foaming of RAW264.7 macrophages gradually increased with the increase of the concentration and time stimulated with ox-LDL. Atherosclerotic plaques, accumulation of macrophages, collagen content, serum total cholesterol, LDL, and IL-ß levels were decreased in Swp-/- → ApoE-/- mice compared with Swp+/+ → ApoE-/- mice fed with HCD for 16 weeks. The macrophage foam cell formation and cellular cholesterol accumulation were reduced, while the lipid uptake and efflux increased in macrophages isolated from Swp-/- compared to wild-type mice treated with ox-LDL. Swiprosin-1 deficiency in macrophages could inhibit apoptosis, inflammation, migration, and promote autophagy. Taken together, our results demonstrated that swiprosin-1 deficiency in macrophages could alleviate the development and progression of AS. The role of swiprosin-1 may provide a promising new target for ameliorating AS.

Swiprosin-1 Promotes Mitochondria-Dependent Apoptosis of Glomerular Podocytes via P38 MAPK Pathway in Early-Stage Diabetic Nephropathy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Podocyte injury, especially podocyte apoptosis, plays a major role in early-stage diabetic nephropathy (DN). Swiprosin-1, also known as EF hand domain containing 2 (EFhd2), is a Ca2+-binding protein in different cell types. However, the function of swiprosin-1 in podocytes remains unknown. METHODS: The expression and distribution of swiprosin-1 were investigated in the mouse renal glomerulus and conditionally immortalized mouse podocyte cell line MPC-5. The expression of swiprosin-1 was also detected in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated mice and MPC-5 cells treated with high glucose (HG). Nephrin and podocin were detected by immunohistochemistry and immunofluroscence. Collagen IV, transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) and fibronectin mRNA expressions were assayed by real-time PCR. Apoptotic proteins and phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were detected by immunoblotting. RESULTS: Swiprosin-1 was found to be expressed in podocytes of the mouse glomerulus and MPC-5 cells. Swiprosin-1 expression was increased in STZ-treated mice and MPC-5 cells treated with HG. In Swiprosin-1-/- diabetic mice, kidney/ body weight, urinary albumin, podocyte foot process effacement and glomerular basement membrane thickening were attenuated; the downregulation of nephrin and podocin expression in the glomerulus was inhibited; and the upregulation of collagen IV, TGF-ß and fibronectin mRNA expression in the renal cortex was ameliorated as compared with those in diabetic swiprosin-1+/+ mice. In addition, the increased apoptosis of podocytes, proapoptotic protein expression and p38 phosphorylation in Swiprosin-1-/- diabetic mice were inhibited as compared with those in diabetic swiprosin-1+/+ mice. Knockdown of swiprosin-1 in MPC-5 cells reduced the apoptosis of podocytes, proapoptotic protein expression and p38 phosphorylation induced by HG. Targeted knockdown of p38 attenuated the increased apoptosis of MPC-5 cells over-expressing swiprosin-1. CONCLUSION: Swiprosin-1 expression in podocytes of the mouse glomerulus played a critical role in early-stage DN. Swiprosin-1 deficiency in early DN attenuated mitochondria-dependent podocyte apoptosis induced by hyperglycemia or HG via p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Berberine alleviates dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis by improving intestinal barrier function and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

Berberine has demonstrated efficacy in alleviating experimental colitis in vivo and in vitro. However, the anti-colitis mechanisms of berberine that enable it to promote intestinal barrier function in vivo remain unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of berberine on intestinal epithelial barrier function, expression of tight junction proteins and the levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress factors in the intestinal mucosa of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice. Berberine (100 mg/kg) was administered for five days to mice with established colitis, induced by administration of DSS (3% w/v) for six days. Intestinal barrier function and the presence of proinflammatory factors, oxidative stress and active signaling pathways in the colon were determined principally by western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. It was observed that berberine reduced weight loss, shortening of the colon and colon damage in DSS-colitis mice. In addition, berberine significantly inhibited the increase of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran in serum and the decrease of zonula occluden-1 (also known as tight junction protein-1), occludin and epithelial cadherin expression in colonic tissue, relative to a DSS-treated control group. Berberine also significantly inhibited the expression of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA and phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. Furthermore, berberine reduced the levels of myeloperoxidase and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase in colon and serum samples relative to the control group. The expression of cluster of differentiation 68 in the colon of colitis mice was also reduced by berberine. Collectively, these data suggest that berberine alleviates colitis principally by improving intestinal barrier function and promoting anti-inflammatory and antioxidative stress responses. In turn these effects inhibit macrophage infiltration into the colon and thus may be central to the anti-colitis activity of berberine.

LY333531, a PKCß inhibitor, attenuates glomerular endothelial cell apoptosis in the early stage of mouse diabetic nephropathy via down-regulating swiprosin-1.

Glomerular endothelial cell (GEC) injury plays an important role in the early stage of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Previous studies show that a PKCß inhibitor is effective for treating DN. In the current study we further explored the effects and molecular mechanisms of PKCß inhibitors on GEC apoptosis in DN in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice in vivo and high glucose- or PMA-treated human renal glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs) in vitro. In the diabetic mice, hyperglycemia caused aggravated nephropathy and GEC apoptosis accompanied by significantly increased expression of swiprosin-1, a potentally pro-apoptotic protein. Administration of LY333531 (1 mg·kg-1·d-1 for 8 weeks) significantly attenuated both GEC apoptosis and swiprosin-1 upregulation in the diabetic mice. Similar results were observed in high glucose- or PMA-treated HRGECs in vitro. The pro-apoptotic role of swiprosin-1 was further examined using HRGECs treated with lentivirus mediating RNA interference or over-expression and swiprosin-1-knockout mice. Over-expression of swiprosin-1 in HRGECs resulted in increases in apoptosis and in caspase-9, caspase-3 and Bax expression. In contrast, knockdown of swiprosin-1 attenuated high glucose- or PMA-induced HRGECs apoptosis. Furthermore, over-expression of swiprosin-1 promoted interaction between swiprosin-1 and caspase-9 and increased the formation of apoptosomes. In diabetic swiprosin-1-/- mice, the kidney/body weight, urinary albumin, glomerular hypertrophy, mitochondrial apoptotic-associated proteins and GEC apoptosis were significantly attenuated as compared with those in diabetic swiprosin-1+/+ mice. These results demonstrate that swiprosin-1 is up-regulated by PKCß in the early stage of DN, and that PKCß facilitates GEC apoptosis through the mitochondrial-dependent pathway.

Low level of swiprosin-1/EFhd2 in vestibular nuclei of spontaneously hypersensitive motion sickness mice.

Susceptibility to motion sickness (MS) varies considerably among humans. However, the cause of such variation is unclear. Here, we used a classical genetic approach to obtain mouse strains highly sensitive and resistant to MS (SMS and RMS). Proteomics analysis revealed substantially lower swiprosin-1 expression in SMS mouse brains. Inducing MS via rotary stimulation decreased swiprosin-1 in the mouse brains. Swiprosin-1 knockout mice were much more sensitive to motion disturbance. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong swiprosin-1 expression in the vestibular nuclei (VN). Over-expressing swiprosin-1 in the VN of SMS mice decreased MS susceptibility. Down-regulating swiprosin-1 in the VN of RMS mice by RNAi increased MS susceptibility. Additional in vivo experiments revealed decreased swiprosin-1 expression by glutamate via the NMDA receptor. Glutamate increased neuronal excitability in SMS or swiprosin-1 knockout mice more prominently than in RMS or wild-type mice. These results indicate that swiprosin-1 in the VN is a critical determinant of the susceptibility to MS.

Propionate Ameliorates Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis by Improving Intestinal Barrier Function and Reducing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress.

Propionate is a short chain fatty acid that is abundant as butyrate in the gut and blood. However, propionate has not been studied as extensively as butyrate in the treatment of colitis. The present study was to investigate the effects of sodium propionate on intestinal barrier function, inflammation and oxidative stress in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice. Animals in DSS group received drinking water from 1 to 6 days and DSS [3% (w/v) dissolved in double distilled water] instead of drinking water from 7 to 14 days. Animals in DSS+propionate (DSS+Prop) group were given 1% sodium propionate for 14 consecutive days and supplemented with 3% DSS solution on day 7-14. Intestinal barrier function, proinflammatory factors, oxidative stress, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway in the colon were determined. It was found that sodium propionate ameliorated body weight loss, colon-length shortening and colonic damage in colitis mice. Sodium propionate significantly inhibited the increase of FITC-dextran in serum and the decrease of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin, and E-cadherin expression in the colonic tissue. It also inhibited the expression of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA and phosphorylation of STAT3 in colitis mice markedly, reduced the myeloperoxidase (MPO) level, and increased the superoxide dismutase and catalase level in colon and serum compared with DSS group. Sodium propionate inhibited macrophages with CD68 marker infiltration into the colonic mucosa of colitis mice. These results suggest that oral administration of sodium propionate could ameliorate DSS-induced colitis mainly by improving intestinal barrier function and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress via the STAT3 signaling pathway.

Increasing the Permeability of the Blood-brain Barrier in Three Different Models in vivo.

AIMS: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays significant roles in the circumstance maintains for the central nervous system (CNS). The dysfunction of the BBB could occur in all pathological conditions of CNS diseases, such as ischemic stroke, cerebral edema, or inflammatory disorders. However, the comparisons among different animal models with a broken BBB in vivo are still need to be further studied. METHODS: Here we used three different mice models in vivo, including MCAO induce, LPS treatment, and cold injury to mimic the situation in clinic. The permeability of BBB in three models was detected by perfusion of Evan's blue dye. The functional proteins of the BBB including claudin-5, VE-cadherin, and caveolin-1 were compared in three different models in vivo. RESULTS: With the hyperpermeability of Evan's blue in the three models, both claudin-5 and VE-cadherin were decreased, while the expression of caveolin-1 was increased. Our study showed that BBB dysfunction induced by MCAO in mice was relatively stable, reliable, and moderate compared with LPS or cold injury-induced BBB permeability models, although the procedural time was generally long and operation complexity was hard. Moreover, our study also found that the model of the increased BBB permeability by cold injury was severe in the regional cerebral tissue and the model treated with LPS was mild in the global cerebral tissue. The operation of the two models in vivo was easy, quick, and stable. CONCLUSION: The MCAO model was the most suitable for studying the permeability of BBB among the three models in vivo.

Oxidative stress is not involved in motion sickness in mice.

AIMS: Some indirect evidences indicate a possible correlation between oxidative stress and motion sickness. The aim of this research was to investigate whether oxidative stress contributing to motion sickness in mice or not. METHODS: We examined the mRNA levels of peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6), catalase, and enzyme superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1); reactive oxygen species (ROS); and total antioxidant capacity and SOD activity in different brain regions after rotary stimulation. Mice motion sickness index was recorded after rotation when pretreated with paraquat, vitamin C, or vitamin E. RESULTS: The ROS level and antioxidant capacity were both increased in cerebellum plus brainstem (CB) after rotation, a critical region determines motion sickness. However, manipulation of oxidants or antioxidants using pharmacological method in vivo had no influence on motion sickness index in mice. CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress is not involved in the development of motion sickness in mice.

Tight junction in blood-brain barrier: an overview of structure, regulation, and regulator substances.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a dynamic interference that regulates the nutrition and toxic substance in and out of the central nervous system (CNS), and plays a crucial role in maintaining a stable circumstance of the CNS. Tight junctions among adjacent cells form the basic structure of BBB to limiting paracellular permeability. In the present review, the constituents of tight junction proteins are depicted in detail, together with the regulation of tight junction under stimulation and in pathological conditions. Tight junction modulators are also discussed.

[Analysis of clinical characteristics of gastrointestinal cancer in Heilongjiang province, China 1998 to 2007].

OBJECTIVE: To provide basic information for epidemiological research of gastrointestinal (GI) malignant tumors. METHODS: Data of GI cancer diagnosed in 15 hospitals of Heilongjiang province between January 1998 and December 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. The data mainly involved the age of onset, initial symptoms, pathological types, clinical staging and types of surgical procedure. RESULTS: Gastric cancer was the most common type (45.8%) among the 33,540 GI cancer cases, then were rectal cancer (27.3%) and colon cancer (26.8%). Right colon cancer cases were more common than the left ones (1.3:1.0), particularly in people over 80 (2.1:1.0). Only 1.3% of colorectal cancer could be found in age under 30 years old. In patients aged 50 to 70, advanced gastric cancer accounted for 70.6%, advanced colon cancer 73.4% and advanced rectal cancer 72.4%. Well-moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma in early gastric cancer was 49.7%, early colon cancer 77.3% and rectal cancer 83.2%. Patients undergone radical excision in early gastric cancer accounted for 69.1%, advanced gastric cancer 79.9%, left colon cancer 91.9%, right colon cancer 83.9% and in rectal cancer for 88.3%. CONCLUSIONS: People aged 50 to 70 tend to get GI cancer in Heilongjiang province. Gastric cancer is the most common GI cancer. Radical excision is the main choice of therapy.