Identification of immune-associated biomarker for predicting lung adenocarcinoma: bioinformatics analysis and experiment verification of PTK6.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal expression of protein tyrosine kinase 6 (PTK6) has been proven to be involved in the development of gynecological tumors. However, its immune-related carcinogenic mechanism in other tumors remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify PTK6 as a novel prognostic biomarker in pan-cancer, especially in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), which is correlated with immune infiltration, and to clarify its clinicopathological and prognostic significance. METHODS: The prognostic value and immune relevance of PTK6 were investigated by using bio-informatics in this study. PTK6 expression was validated in vitro experiments (lung cancer cell lines PC9, NCI-H1975, and HCC827; human normal lung epithelial cells BEAS-2B). Western blot (WB) revealed the PTK6 protein expression in lung cancer cell lines. PTK6 expression was inhibited by Tilfrinib. Colony formation and the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay were used to detect cell proliferation. The wound healing and trans-well were performed to analyze the cell migration capacity. Then flow cytometry was conducted to evaluate the cell apoptosis. Eventually, the relationship between PTK6 and immune checkpoints was examined. WB was used to estimate the PD-L1 expression at different Tilfrinib doses. RESULTS: PTK6 was an independent predictive factor for LUAD and was substantially expressed in LUAD. Pathological stage was significantly correlated with increased PTK6 expression. In accordance with survival analysis, poor survival rate in LUAD was associated with a high expression level of PTK6. Functional enrichment of the cell cycle and TGF-ß signaling pathway was demonstrated by KEGG and GSEA analysis. Moreover, PTK6 expression considerably associated with immune infiltration in LUAD, as determined by immune analysis. Thus, the result of vitro experiments indicated that cell proliferation and migration were inhibited by the elimination of PTK6. Additionally, PTK6 suppression induced cell apoptosis. Obviously, PD-L1 protein expression level up-regulated while PTK6 was suppressed. CONCLUSION: PTK6 has predictive value for LUAD prognosis, and could up regulated PD-L1.

Deficiency of the HGF/Met pathway leads to thyroid dysgenesis by impeding late thyroid expansion.

The mechanisms of bifurcation, a key step in thyroid development, are largely unknown. Here we find three zebrafish lines from a forward genetic screening with similar thyroid dysgenesis phenotypes and identify a stop-gain mutation in hgfa and two missense mutations in met by positional cloning from these zebrafish lines. The elongation of the thyroid primordium along the pharyngeal midline was dramatically disrupted in these zebrafish lines carrying a mutation in hgfa or met. Further studies show that MAPK inhibitor U0126 could mimic thyroid dysgenesis in zebrafish, and the phenotypes are rescued by overexpression of constitutively active MEK or Snail, downstream molecules of the HGF/Met pathway, in thyrocytes. Moreover, HGF promotes thyrocyte migration, which is probably mediated by downregulation of E-cadherin expression. The delayed bifurcation of the thyroid primordium is also observed in thyroid-specific Met knockout mice. Together, our findings reveal that HGF/Met is indispensable for the bifurcation of the thyroid primordium during thyroid development mediated by downregulation of E-cadherin in thyrocytes via MAPK-snail pathway.

Cerebral endothelial cells mediated enhancement of brain pericyte number and migration in oxygen-glucose deprivation involves the HIF-1α/PDGF-ß signaling.

The present study focused on whether hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) and platelet-derived factor-beta (PDGF-ß) are involved in the crosstalk between brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) and brain vascular pericytes (BVPs) under ischaemic-hypoxic conditions. Mono-cultures or co-cultures of BVPs and BMECs were made for the construction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) model in vitro and then exposed to control and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) conditions. BBB injury was determined by assessing the ability, apoptosis, and migration of BVPs and the transendothelial electrical resistance and horseradish peroxidase permeation of BMECs. Relative mRNA and protein levels of HIF-1α and PDGF-ß, as well as tight junction proteins ZO-1 and claudin-5 were analyzed by western blotting, reverse transcription quantitative PCR, and/or immunofluorescence staining. Dual-luciferase reporter assays assessed the relationship between PDGF-ß and HIF-1α. Co-culturing with BMECs alleviated OGD-induced reduction in BVP viability, elevation in BVP apoptosis, and repression in BVP migration. Co-culturing with BVPs protected against OGD-induced impairment on BMEC permeability. OGD-induced HIF-1α upregulation enhanced PDGF-ß expression in mono-cultured BMECs and co-cultured BMECs with BVPs. Knockdown of HIF-1α impaired the effect of BMECs on BVPs under OGD conditions, and PDGFR-ß silencing in BVPs blocked the crosstalk between BMECs and BVPs under OGD conditions. The crosstalk between BMECs and BVPs was implicated in OGD-induced BBB injury through the HIF-1α/PDGF-ß signaling.

Electroacupuncture Promotes Angiogenesis in Mice with Cerebral Ischemia by Inhibiting miR-7.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the angiogenesis effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Shuigou acupoint (GV 26) in the treatment of cerebral ischemia, and explore the value of miRNA-7 (miR-7) in it. METHODS: First, 48 mice were randomly divided into sham operation, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, and EA treatment groups. Then 9 mice were divided into carrier control group, miR-7 knockout group and miR-7 overexpression group (n=3 each group). Finally, 20 mice were divided into model and carrier control group, model and miR-7 knockout group, EA treatment and carrier control group and EA treatment and miR-7 overexpression group, with 3-6 mice in each group. The MCAO model was established in the MCAO and EA groups. Neurological deficit score and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining were used to evaluate the severity of cerebral ischemia. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to describe basic pathological changes. Immunohistochemistry was used to quantify cerebral microvessel density. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of miR-7 and its downstream target genes Krüppel-like factor 4/vascular endothelial growth factor (KLF4/VEGF) and angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2) in the ischemic cerebral cortex. RESULTS: After EA, neurological deficit scores and infarction volumes decreased, and the density of cerebral microvessels increased. In the MCAO group, miR-7 expression was higher than that in the sham group (P<0.01). After EA at GV 26, miR-7 expression decreased (P<0.01) and the expression of downstream target genes KLF4/VEGF and ANG-2 increased as compared with the MCAO group (P<0.01). After EA combined with overexpression of miR-7, the expression of downstream target genes KLF4/VEGF and ANG-2 decreased compared to the control EA group (P<0.01). After miR-7 knockdown, the expression of KLF4/VEGF and ANG-2 increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: EA could promote angiogenesis in MCAO mice likely by inhibiting the expression of miR-7 and relieving inhibition of downstream target genes KLF4/VEGF and ANG-2.

Engineering Sizable and Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Fabrics through Hydrogen Bonding Interaction and Electrostatic Interaction.

Long-lasting and highly efficient antibacterial fabrics play a key role in public health occurrences caused by bacterial and viral infections. However, the production of antibacterial fabrics with a large size, highly efficient, and broad-spectrum antibacterial performance remains a great challenge due to the complex processes. Herein, we demonstrate sizable and highly efficient antibacterial fabrics through hydrogen bonding interaction and electrostatic interaction between surface groups of ZnO nanoparticles and fabric fibers. The production process can be carried out at room temperature and achieve a production rate of 300 × 1 m2 within 1 h. Under both visible light and dark conditions, the bactericidal rate against Gram-positive (S. aureus), Gram-negative (E. coli), and multidrug-resistant (MRSA) bacteria can reach an impressive 99.99%. Furthermore, the fabricated ZnO nanoparticle-decorated antibacterial fabrics (ZnO@fabric) show high stability and long-lasting antibacterial performance, making them easy to develop into variable antibacterial blocks for protection suits.

PlantC2U: deep learning of cross-species sequence landscapes predicts plastid C-to-U RNA editing in plants.

In plants, C-to-U RNA editing mainly occurs in plastid and mitochondrial transcripts, which contributes to a complex transcriptional regulatory network. More evidence reveals that RNA editing plays critical roles in plant growth and development. However, accurate detection of RNA editing sites using transcriptome sequencing data alone is still challenging. In the present study, we develop PlantC2U, which is a convolutional neural network, to predict plastid C-to-U RNA editing based on the genomic sequence. PlantC2U achieves >95% sensitivity and 99% specificity, which outperforms the PREPACT tool, random forests, and support vector machines. PlantC2U not only further checks RNA editing sites from transcriptome data to reduce possible false positives, but also assesses the effect of different mutations on C-to-U RNA editing based on the flanking sequences. Moreover, we found the patterns of tissue-specific RNA editing in the mangrove plant Kandelia obovata, and observed reduced C-to-U RNA editing rates in the cold stress response of K. obovata, suggesting their potential regulatory roles in plant stress adaptation. In addition, we present RNAeditDB, available online at https://jasonxu.shinyapps.io/RNAeditDB/. Together, PlantC2U and RNAeditDB will help researchers explore the RNA editing events in plants and thus will be of broad utility for the plant research community.

Circularly Polarized Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Chiral Hole Transport Enantiomers.

The circularly polarized organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs) demonstrate promising application in 3D display due to the direct generation of circularly polarized electroluminescence (CPEL). But the chiral luminescence materials face challenges as intricated synthetic route, enantiomeric separation, etc. Herein, fresh CP-OLEDs are designed based on chiral hole transport material instead of chiral emitters. A pair of hole transport enantiomers (R/S-NPACZ) exhibit intense dissymmetry factors (|gPL|) about 5.0 × 10-3. With R/S-NPACZ as hole transport layers, CP-OLEDs are fabricated employing six achiral phosphorescence and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials with different wavelengths, in consistence with the generated CPEL spectra. The CP-OLEDs based on achiral red, green, and blue iridium(III) complexes exhibit external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of 14.9%, 30.7%, and 14.1% with |gEL| factors of 8.8 × 10-4, 2.3 × 10-3, and 2.0 × 10-3, respectively. Moreover, the devices using achiral blue, blueish-green, and green TADF materials display EQEs of 24.1%, 17.9%, and 25.4% with |gEL| factors of 1.0 × 10-3, 3.6 × 10-3, and 2.2 × 10-3, respectively. As far as known, it is the first example of CP-OLEDs based on chiral hole transport materials, which act as the organic circularly polarizers and have potential to generate CPEL from achiral luminescence materials.

Risk assessment and prevention of urolithiasis in urban areas of Baoding, China.

Urolithiasis, or the formation of calculi in the urinary system, represents a prevalent urological condition frequently encountered among individuals aged 30 to 55 years. An in-depth analysis of the composition of these calculi holds significant promise in shedding light on the underlying etiological and pathogenic factors contributing to this ailment. The primary objective of this study was to delineate the principal components comprising urinary system calculi within a cohort of patients who sought medical intervention at a tertiary grade A hospital located in Baoding City. Furthermore, our investigation entailed a comprehensive examination of the physical and morphological characteristics exhibited by these calculi. In this study, a total of 2307 individuals afflicted with urinary system calculi were recruited as participants, and a corresponding number of 2307 calculous specimens were subjected to thorough examination. The specimens were examined using infrared spectroscopy. We collected and examined patient data including gender, age, location of the calculi, employment status, residential area, and other factors. The middle-aged demographic exhibited a conspicuous predilection for urinary system calculi, wherein a notable gender disparity was observed, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.63 to 1. Among the enrolled patients, kidney calculi were prevalent in 1270 cases, ureteral calculi were documented in 983 cases, and bladder calculi were encountered in 46 instances. Notably, the principal components comprising these calculi were identified as calcium oxalate and apatite, while uric acid and ammonium magnesium phosphate were comparatively less frequently encountered. Furthermore, the analysis of calculus composition across patients residing in distinct geographical regions did not reveal any statistically significant variations. The identification of components within upper urinary tract calculi plays a pivotal role in elucidating the root causes of calculus formation. This valuable information empowers healthcare professionals, particularly nursing staff, to provide personalized dietary and health guidance to patients, thereby enhancing the quality of care and promoting more effective management of this condition.

Pregnancy and Progression of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched Retrospective Cohort Study.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is very common in women of reproductive age. However, it remains unclear whether pregnancy is associated with DTC progression before surgical treatment. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study, conducted at the Peking University Third Hospital in Beijing, China between January 2012 and December 2022, included 311 eligible women aged 20 to 45 years. To control for potential confounders, we first used propensity score matching (PSM) to match the pregnant group (n = 48) with the nonpregnant group (n = 154) on age, tumor size, tumor type, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis status at baseline, and then used Cox proportional risk models stratified by the matched pairs to estimate the association of pregnancy with DTC progression. RESULTS: After PSM, the pregnant and nonpregnant groups were well comparable at baseline (standardized difference < 10% and P > .05). Over an average observation period of 2.5 years, we observed no difference between the pregnant group and the matched nonpregnant group in DTC progression-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.56 to 1.65; P = .895), tumor enlargement-free survival (HR = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.56 to 1.76; P = .969) or lymph node metastasis-free survival (LNM) (HR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.21 to 2.13; P = .498). The postoperative pathological characteristics also showed no significant difference between the pregnant and nonpregnant groups (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Pregnancy seemed to be irrelevant to DTC progression-free survival before surgical treatment. Further prospective cohort studies are needed to translate this finding into clinical practice.

Structural, developmental and functional analyses of leaf salt glands of mangrove recretohalophyte Aegiceras corniculatum.

Salt secretion is an important strategy used by the mangrove plant Aegiceras corniculatum to adapt to the coastal intertidal environment. However, the structural, developmental and functional analyses on the leaf salt glands, particularly the salt secretion mechanism, are not well documented. In this study, we investigated the structural, developmental and degenerative characteristics and the salt secretion mechanisms of salt glands to further elucidate the mechanisms of salt tolerance of A. corniculatum. The results showed that the salt gland cells have a large number of mitochondria and vesicles, and plenty of plasmodesmata as well, while chloroplasts were found in the collecting cells. The salt glands developed early and began to differentiate at the leaf primordium stage. We observed and defined three stages of salt gland degradation for the first time in A. corniculatum, where the secretory cells gradually twisted and wrinkled inward and collapsed downward as the salt gland degeneration increased and the intensity of salt gland autofluorescence gradually diminished. In addition, we found that the salt secretion rate of the salt glands increased when the treated concentration of NaCl increased, reaching the maximum at 400 mM NaCl. The salt-secreting capacity of the salt glands of the adaxial epidermis is significantly greater than that of the abaxial epidermis. The real-time quantitative PCR results indicate that SAD2, TTG1, GL2 and RBR1 may be involved in regulating the development of the salt glands of A. corniculatum. Moreover, Na+/H+ antiporter, H+-ATPase, K+ channel and Cl- channel may play important roles in the salt secretion of salt glands. In sum mary, this study strengthens the understanding of the structural, developmental and degenerative patterns of salt glands and salt secretion mechanisms in mangrove recretohalophyte A. corniculatum, providing an important reference for further studies at the molecular level.

Brassinosteroid enhances salt tolerance via S-nitrosoglutathione reductase and nitric oxide signaling pathway in mangrove Kandelia obovata.

Brassinosteroid (BR) has been shown to modulate plant tolerance to various stresses. S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) is involved in the plant response to environment stress by fine-turning the level of nitric oxide (NO). However, whether GSNOR is involved in BR-regulated Na+ /K+ homeostasis to improve the salt tolerance in halophyte is unknown. Here, we firstly reported that high salinity increases the expression of BR-biosynthesis genes and the endogenous levels of BR in mangrove Kandelia obovata. Then, salt-induced BR triggers the activities and gene expressions of GSNOR and antioxidant enzymes, thereafter decrease the levels of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide. Subsequently, BR-mediated GSNOR negatively regulates NO contributions to the reduction of reactive oxygen species generation and induction of the gene expression related to Na+ and K+ transport, leading to the decrease of Na+ /K+ ratio in the roots of K. obovata. Finally, the applications of exogenous BR, NO scavenger, BR biosynthetic inhibitor and GSNOR inhibitor further confirm the function of BR. Taken together, our result provides insight into the mechanism of BR in the response of mangrove K. obovata to high salinity via GSNOR and NO signaling pathway by reducing oxidative damage and modulating Na+ /K+ homeostasis.

Enhanced TARP-γ8-PSD-95 coupling in excitatory neurons contributes to the rapid antidepressant-like action of ketamine in male mice.

Ketamine produces rapid antidepressant effects at sub-anesthetic dosage through early and sustained activation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs), however, the exact molecular mechanism still remains unclear. Transmembrane AMPAR regulatory protein-γ8 (TARP-γ8) is identified as one of AMPAR auxiliary subunits, which controls assemblies, surface trafficking and gating of AMPARs. Here, we show that ketamine rescues both depressive-like behaviors and the decreased AMPARs-mediated neurotransmission by recruitment of TARP-γ8 at the postsynaptic sites in the ventral hippocampus of stressed male mice. Furthermore, the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine are abolished by selective blockade of TARP-γ8-containing AMPAR or uncoupling of TARP-γ8 from PSD-95. Overexpression of TARP-γ8 reverses chronic stress-induced depressive-like behaviors and attenuation of AMPARs-mediated neurotransmission. Conversely, knockdown of TARP-γ8 in excitatory neurons prevents the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine.

Myeloid cells interact with a subset of thyrocytes to promote their migration and follicle formation through NF-κB.

The pathogenesis of thyroid dysgenesis (TD) is not well understood. Here, using a combination of single-cell RNA and spatial transcriptome sequencing, we identify a subgroup of NF-κB-activated thyrocytes located at the center of thyroid tissues in postnatal mice, which maintained a partially mesenchymal phenotype. These cells actively protruded out of the thyroid primordium and generated new follicles in zebrafish embryos through continuous tracing. Suppressing NF-κB signaling affected thyrocyte migration and follicle formation, leading to a TD-like phenotype in both mice and zebrafish. Interestingly, during thyroid folliculogenesis, myeloid cells played a crucial role in promoting thyrocyte migration by maintaining close contact and secreting TNF-α. We found that cebpa mutant zebrafish, in which all myeloid cells were depleted, exhibited thyrocyte migration defects. Taken together, our results suggest that myeloid-derived TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation plays a critical role in promoting the migration of vertebrate thyrocytes for follicle generation.

Rectangular method: a modified technique for sampling the ischemic border zone in a rat model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion.

To date, there have been three common methods for sampling the cerebral ischemic border zone in a rat model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO): the "two o'clock method", the "diagonal method", and the "parallel line method". However, these methods have their own advantages and limitations. Here, we propose a modified technique (the "rectangular method") for sampling the ischemic border zone. A rat tMCAO model was prepared under the support of a compact small animal anesthesia machine. Cerebral blood flow was monitored by high-resolution laser Doppler to control the quality of modeling, and 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was used for cerebral infarction location assessment. Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase (caspase)-3, caspase-9, and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were used to verify the reliability and reproducibility of the rectangular method. The expression of biomarkers (SOD2, caspase-3, caspase-9, and HSP70) in the traditional (two o'clock method after TTC staining) and modified (rectangular method) groups were increased. There were no significant differences between the groups. The rectangular method proposed herein is based on a modification of the diagonal method and parallel line method, which could provide a directly observable infarct borderline and a sufficient sampling area for subsequent experimental operations regardless of the cerebral infarct location. The assessed biomarkers (SOD2, caspase-3, caspase-9, and HSP70) demonstrated the reliability and reproducibility of the rectangular method, which may facilitate inter-laboratory comparisons.

Highly Antibacterial and Antioxidative Carbon Nanodots/Silk Fibroin Films for Fruit Preservation.

The issues of fruit waste and safety resulting from rot have spurred a demand for improved packaging systems. Herein, we present highly antibacterial and antioxidative carbon nanodot/silk fibroin (CD/SF) films for fruit preservation. The films are composed of CDs and SF together with a small amount of glycerol via hydrogen bonding, exhibiting outstanding biosafety, transparency, and stretchability. The films effectively integrate key functionalities (atmosphere control, resistance to food-borne pathogens, and antioxidation properties) and can be manufactured in large sizes (about 20 × 30 cm), boasting a transmission rate of 13 183 cm3/m2·day for oxygen and 2860 g/m2·day for water vapor, favoring the preservation of fresh fruits. A convenient dip-coating method enables in situ fabrication of films with a thickness of approximately 14 µm directly on the fruits' surface providing comprehensive protection. Importantly, the films are washable and biodegradable. This work presents a promising technology to produce multifunctional and eco-friendly antibacterial packaging systems.

Posttranslational modifications of ACE2 protein: Implications for SARS-CoV-2 infection and beyond.

The present worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has highlighted the important function of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) entry. A deeper understanding of ACE2 could offer insights into the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. While ACE2 is subject to regulation by various factors in vivo, current research in this area is insufficient to fully elucidate the corresponding pathways of control. Posttranslational modification (PTM) is a powerful tool for broadening the variety of proteins. The PTM study of ACE2 will help us to make up for the deficiency in the regulation of protein synthesis and translation. However, research on PTM-related aspects of ACE2 remains limited, mostly focused on glycosylation. Accordingly, a comprehensive review of ACE2 PTMs could help us better understand the infection process and provide a basis for the treatment of COVID-19 and beyond.

The role of sex hormones and receptors in HBV infection and development of HBV-related HCC.

Gender disparity in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related diseases has been extensively documented. Epidemiological studies consistently reported that males have a higher prevalence of HBV infection and incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Further investigations have revealed that sex hormone-related signal transductions play a significant role in gender disparity. Sex hormone axes showed significantly different responses to virus entry and replication. The sex hormones axes change the HBV-specific immune responses and antitumor immunity. Additionally, Sex hormone axes showed different effects on the development of HBV-related disease. But the role of sex hormones remains controversial, and researchers have not reached a consensus on the role of sex hormones and the use of hormone therapies in HCC treatment. In this review, we aim to summarize the experimental findings on sex hormones and provide a comprehensive understanding of their roles in the development of HCC and their implications for hormone-related HCC treatment.

Combined metabolome and transcriptome analysis reveals a critical role of lignin biosynthesis and lignification in stem-like pneumatophore development of the mangrove Avicennia marina.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Transcriptional and metabolic regulation of lignin biosynthesis and lignification plays crucial roles in Avicennia marina pneumatophore development, facilitating its adaptation to coastal habitats. Avicennia marina is a pioneer mangrove species in coastal wetland. To cope with the periodic intertidal flooding and hypoxia environment, this species has developed a complex and extensive root system, with its most unique feature being a pneumatophore with a distinct above- and below-ground morphology and vascular structure. However, the characteristics of pneumatophore lignification remain unknown. Studies comparing the anatomy among above-ground pneumatophore, below-ground pneumatophore, and feeding root have suggested that vascular structure development in the pneumatophore is more like the development of a stem than of a root. Metabolome and transcriptome analysis illustrated that the accumulation of syringyl (S) and guaiacyl (G) units in the pneumatophore plays a critical role in lignification of the stem-like structure. Fourteen differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) and 10 differentially expressed genes involved in the lignin biosynthesis pathway were targeted. To identify genes significantly associated with lignification, we analyzed the correlation between 14 genes and 8 metabolites and further built a co-expression network between 10 transcription factors (TFs), including 5 for each of MYB and NAC, and 23 enzyme-coding genes involved in lignin biosynthesis. 4-Coumarate-CoA ligase, shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and peroxidase were identified to be strongly correlated with these TFs. Finally, we examined 9 key candidate genes through quantitative real-time PCR to validate the reliability of transcriptome data. Together, our metabolome and transcriptome findings reveal that lignin biosynthesis and lignification regulate pneumatophore development in the mangrove species A. marina and facilitate its adaptation to coastal habitats.

Diminished ovarian reserve causes adverse ART outcomes attributed to effects on oxygen metabolism function in cumulus cells.

BACKGROUND: Declining oocyte quality in women with advanced age has been a major impediment to assisted reproductive treatments' (ART) success rate. However, aging is often accompanied by a diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). Cumulus cells (CCs) are known to play an important role in the development and maturation of oocytes, and the quality of CCs actually reflects the quality of the oocyte. In this study, CCs were used to investigate the real reasons for the decline in oocyte quality in older women. METHODS: Ninety-nine CC samples were subdivided into 4 different groups according to the different age and ovarian reserve status. Other than clinical ART results, transcriptional expression profiles were performed in CCs to detect the differences. RESULTS: The results were that DOR, no matter in young or advanced age group, was found to be significantly associated with adverse ART outcomes. Of note, there were no statistically significant changes in ART outcomes in the group at advanced age with normal ovarian reserve (NOR), compared to the young with NOR. DOR induced a series of transcriptional variations in CCs commonly enriched in oxygen metabolism. CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that the ART outcomes in advanced patients were attributable to the DOR. The oxygen metabolic changes may interfere with CCs' function of supporting oocytes. This study can provide guidance for ART practice that not age but ovarian reserve status is the main predictor for ART outcomes, and ovarian reserve status should be timely assessed when the clinical manifestations are still mild in elderly women.

Effect of SMOF lipid emulsion on physical growth and extrauterine growth retardation in very preterm infants: Insights from a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of soybean, medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCTs), olive oil, and fish oil (SMOF) on short-term clinical outcomes, physical growth, and extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) in very preterm infants. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study of very preterm infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units at five tertiary hospitals in China between January 2021 and December 2021. According to the type of fat emulsion used in parenteral nutrition (PN), eligible very preterm infants were divided into the MCTs/long-chain triacylglycerol (MCT/LCT) group and SMOF group. Change in weight z-score (weight Δz) between measurements at birth and at 36 wk of postmenstrual age or at discharge, the incidence of EUGR, and short-term clinical outcomes between the two groups were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: We enrolled 409 very preterm infants, including 205 in the MCT/LCT group and 204 in the SMOF group. Univariate analysis showed that infants in the SMOF group had significantly longer duration of invasive mechanical ventilation and PN, longer days to reach total enteral nutrition, and a higher proportion of maximum weight loss than those in MCT/LCT group (all P < 0.05). After adjusting for the confounding variables, multifactorial logistic regression analysis of short-term clinical outcomes showed that SMOF had protective effects on PN-associated cholestasis (odds ratio [OR], 0.470; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.266-0.831) and metabolic bone disease of prematurity (OR, 0.263; 95% CI, 0.078-0.880). Additionally, SMOF was an independent risk factor for lower weight growth velocity (ß = -0.733; 95% CI, -1.452 to -0.015) but had no effect on the incidence of EUGR (OR, 1.567; 95% CI, 0.912 to -2.693). CONCLUSION: Compared with MCT/LCT, SMOF can reduce the risk for PN-associated cholestasis and metabolic bone disease of prematurity in very preterm infants and has a negative effect on growth velocity but has no effect on the incidence of EUGR.