Polymer-based cascaded waveguide Bragg grating for blood glucose sensing.

Waveguide Bragg grating (WBG) blood glucose sensing, as a biological sensing technology with broad application prospects, plays an important role in the fields of health management and medical treatment. In this work, a polymer-based cascaded WBG is applied to glucose detection. We investigated photonic devices with two different grating structures cascaded-a crossed grating and a bilateral grating-and analyzed the effects of the crossed grating period, bilateral grating period, and number of grating periods on the sensing performance of the glucose sensor. Finally, the spectral reflectance characteristics, response time, and sensing specificity of the cascaded WBG were evaluated. The experimental results showed that the glucose sensor has a sensitivity of 175 nm/RIU in a glucose concentration range of 0-2 mg/ml and has the advantages of high integration, a narrow bandwidth, and low cost.

Complete genome sequence of a novel totivirus isolated from the leaves of Myrica rubra.

Chinese bayberry is a fruit that is appreciated for its taste. A novel totivirus associated with rolling, disfiguring, chlorotic and vein-clearing symptoms on the leaf apices of Chinese bayberry was identified by transcriptome sequencing and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). The complete genome of the virus was determined to be 4959 nucleotides long, and it contains two open reading frames (ORFs). Its genomic organization is similar to that of previously reported totiviruses. ORF1 encodes a putative coat protein (CP) of 765 aa, and ORF2 encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of 815 aa. These two putative proteins share 55.1% and 62.6%, amino acid sequence identity, respectively, with the corresponding proteins of Panax notoginseng virus A, respectively. According to the demarcation criteria for totivirus species established by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), the new virus should be considered a member of a new species in the genus totivirus, family Orthototiviridae, which we have tentatively named ''Myrica rubra-associated totivirus'' (MRaTV).

Expression and Purification of Recombinant Bowman-Birk Trypsin Inhibitor from Foxtail Millet Bran and Its Anticolorectal Cancer Effect In Vitro and In Vivo.

Trypsin inhibitors derived from plants have various pharmacological activities and promising clinical applications. In our previous study, a Bowman-Birk-type major trypsin inhibitor from foxtail millet bran (FMB-BBTI) was extracted with antiatherosclerotic activity. Currently, we found that FMB-BBTI possesses a prominent anticolorectal cancer (anti-CRC) activity. Further, a recombinant FMB-BBTI (rFMB-BBTI) was successfully expressed in a soluble manner in host strain Escherichia coli. BL21 (DE3) was induced by isopropyl-ß-d-thiogalactoside (0.1 mM) at 37 °C for 3.5 h by the pET28a vector system. Fortunately, a purity greater than 93% of rFMB-BBTI with anti-CRC activity was purified by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity chromatography. Subsequently, we found that rFMB-BBTI displays a strikingly anti-CRC effect, characterized by the inhibition of cell proliferation and clone formation ability, cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, and induction of cell apoptosis. It is interesting that the rFMB-BBTI treatment had no obvious effect on normal colorectal cells in the same concentration range. Importantly, the anti-CRC activity of rFMB-BBTI was further confirmed in the xenografted nude mice model. Taken together, our study highlights the anti-CRC activity of rFMB-BBTI in vitro and in vivo, uncovering the clinical potential of rFMB-BBTI as a targeted agent for CRC in the future.

Amylopectin chain length distributions and amylose content are determinants of viscoelasticity and digestibility differences in mung bean starch and proso millet starch.

This study aimed to reveal the underlying mechanisms of the differences in viscoelasticity and digestibility between mung bean starch (MBS) and proso millet starch (PMS) from the viewpoint of starch fine molecular structure. The contents of amylopectin B2 chains (14.94-15.09 %), amylopectin B3 chains (14.48-15.07 %) and amylose long chains (183.55-198.84) in MBS were significantly higher than PMS (10.45-10.76 %, 12.48-14.07 % and 70.59-88.03, respectively). MBS with higher amylose content (AC, 28.45-31.80 %) not only exhibited a lower weight-average molar mass (91,750.65-128,120.44 kDa) and R1047/1022 (1.1520-1.1904), but also was significantly lower than PMS in relative crystallinity (15.22-23.18 %, p < 0.05). MBS displayed a higher storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G'') than PMS. Although only MBS-1 showed two distinct and discontinuous phases, MBS exhibited a higher resistant starch (RS) content than PMS (31.63-39.23 %), with MBS-3 having the highest RS content (56.15 %). Correlation analysis suggested that the amylopectin chain length distributions and AC played an important role in affecting the crystal structure, viscoelastic properties and in vitro starch digestibility of MBS and PMS. These results will provide a theoretical and scientific basis for the development of starch science and industrial production of low glycemic index starchy food.

Whole-Genome Resequencing-Based Qualitative Trait Locus Mapping Correlated yellow with the Mutant Color in Honeybees, Apis cerana cerana.

The honeybee, Apis cerana cerana (Ac), is an important pollinator and has adapted to the local ecological environment with relevant coloration. The cuticle coloration of the brown (br) mutant is brown instead of black in wild-type individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and characterize the gene responsible for the br mutation. Genome resequencing with allele segregation measurement using Euclidean distance followed by Lowess regression analysis revealed that the color locus linked to the mutation was located on chromosome 11. A 2-base deletion on exon 4 was identified in the g7628 (yellow) gene after genome assembly and sequence cloning. In addition, the cuticle color of the abdomen of worker bees changed from black to brown when a defect was induced in the yellow gene using short interfering RNA (siRNA); however, the survival rate did not decrease significantly. These results indicate that the yellow gene participated in the body pigmentation, and its defect was responsible for the br mutation. This study promotes the understanding of the molecular basis of body coloration in honeybees, enriching the molecular mechanisms underlying insect pigmentation.

UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS and network pharmacology for deciphering the active compounds and mechanisms of stir-fried Raphani Semen in treating functional dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: As a traditional digestive medicine, stir-fried Raphani Semen (SRS) has been used to treat food retention for thousands of years in China. Modern research has shown that SRS has a good therapeutic effect on functional dyspepsia (FD). However, the active components and mechanism of SRS in the treatment of FD are still unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to elucidate the material basis and mechanism of SRS for treating FD based on UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS/MS combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking. METHODS: The compounds of SRS water decoction were identified by UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS/MS and the potential targets of these compounds were predicted by Swiss Target Prediction. FD-associated targets were collected from disease databases. The overlapped targets of SRS and FD were imported into STRING to construct Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network. Then, the Metascape was used to analyze Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway after introducing overlapped targets. Finally, the active components and core targets were obtained by analyzing the "component-target-pathway" network, and the affinity between them was verified by molecular docking. RESULTS: 53 components were identified, and 405 targets and 1487 FD-related targets were collected. GO and KEGG analysis of 174 overlapped targets showed that SRS had important effects on hormone levels, serotonin synapses, calcium signaling pathway and cAMP signaling pathway. 7 active components and 15 core targets were screened after analyzing the composite network. Molecular docking results showed that multiple active components had high affinity with most core targets. CONCLUSION: SRS can treat FD through a variety of pathways, which provides a direction for the modern application of SRS in FD treatment.

LRP1 induces anti-PD-1 resistance by modulating the DLL4-NOTCH2-CCL2 axis and redirecting M2-like macrophage polarisation in bladder cancer.

The tumour microenvironment (TME) drives bladder cancer (BLCA) progression. Targeting the TME has emerged as a promising strategy for BLCA treatment in recent years. Furthermore, checkpoint blockade therapies are only beneficial for a minority of patients with BLCA, and drug resistance is a barrier to achieving significant clinical effects of anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed death protein ligand-1 (PD-L1) therapy. In this study, higher low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) levels were related to a poorer prognosis for patients with various cancers, including those with higher grades and later stages of BLCA. Enrichment analysis demonstrated that LRP1 plays a role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), NOTCH signalling pathway, and ubiquitination. LRP1 knockdown in BLCA cells delayed BLCA progression both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, LRP1 knockdown suppressed EMT, reduced DLL4-NOTCH2 signalling activity, and downregulated M2-like macrophage polarisation. Patients with BLCA and higher LRP1 levels responded weakly to anti-PD-1 therapy in the IMvigor210 cohort. Moreover, LRP1 knockdown enhanced the therapeutic effects of anti-PD-1 in mice. Taken together, our findings suggest that LRP1 is a potential target for improving the efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy by preventing EMT and M2-like macrophage polarisation by blocking the DLL4-NOTCH2 axis.

Comprehensive Analysis of Fatty Acid Metabolism in Diabetic Nephropathy from the Perspective of Immune Landscapes, Diagnosis and Precise Therapy.

Objective: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) represents the principal cause of end-stage renal diseases worldwide, lacking effective therapies. Fatty acid (FA) serves as the primary energy source in the kidney and its dysregulation is frequently observed in DN. Nevertheless, the roles of FA metabolism in the occurrence and progression of DN have not been fully elucidated. Methods: Three DN datasets (GSE96804/GSE30528/GSE104948) were obtained and combined. Differentially expressed FA metabolism-related genes were identified and subjected to DN classification using "ConsensusClusterPlus". DN subtypes-associated modules were discovered by "WGCNA", and module genes underwent functional enrichment analysis. The immune landscapes and potential drugs were analyzed using "CIBERSORT" and "CMAP", respectively. Candidate diagnostic biomarkers of DN were screened using machine learning algorithms. A prediction model was constructed, and the performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). The online tool "Nephroseq v5" was conducted to reveal the clinical significance of the candidate diagnostic biomarkers in patients with DN. A DN mouse model was established to verify the biomarkers' expression. Results: According to 39 dysregulated FA metabolism-related genes, DN samples were divided into two molecular subtypes. Patients in Cluster B exhibited worse outcomes with a different immune landscape compared with those in Cluster A. Ten potential small-molecular drugs were predicted to treat DN in Cluster B. The diagnostic model based on PRKAR2B/ANXA1 was created with ideal predictive values in early and advanced stages of DN. The correlation analysis revealed significant association between PRKAR2B/ANXA1 and clinical characteristics. The DN mouse model validated the expression patterns of PRKAR2B/ANXA1. Conclusion: Our study provides new insights into the role of FA metabolism in the classification, immunological pathogenesis, early diagnosis, and precise therapy of DN.

Plant-based proteins: advances in their sources, digestive profiles in vitro and potential health benefits.

Plant-based proteins (PBPs), which are environmentally friendly and sustainable sources of nutrition, can address the emerging challenges facing the global food supply due to the rapidly increasing population. PBPs have received much attention in recent decades as a result of high nutritional values, good functional properties, and potential health effects. This review aims to summarize the nutritional, functional and digestive profiles of PBPs, the health effects of their hydrolysates, as well as processing methods to improve the digestibility of PBPs. The diversity of plant protein sources plays an important role in improving the PBPs quality. Several types of models such as in vitro (the static and semi-dynamic INFOGEST) and in silico models have been proposed and used in simulating the digestion of PBPs. Processing methods including germination, fermentation, thermal and non-thermal treatment can be applied to improve the digestibility of PBPs. PBPs and their hydrolysates show potential health effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive and anti-cancer activities. Based on the literature, diverse PBPs are ideal protein sources, and exhibit favorable digestive properties and health benefits that could be further improved by different processing technologies. Future research should explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the bioactivity of PBPs and their hydrolysates.

Effect of high moisture extrusion on the structure and physicochemical properties of Tartary buckwheat protein and its in vitro digestion.

Tartary buckwheat is rich in nutrients and its protein supports numerous biological functions. However, the digestibility of Tartary buckwheat protein (TBP) poses a significant limitation owing to its inherent structure. This study aimed to assess the impact of high moisture extrusion (HME, 60 % moisture content) on the structural and physicochemical attributes, as well as the in vitro digestibility of TBP. Our results indicated that TBP exhibited unfolded and amorphous microstructures after HME. The protein molecular weight of TBP decreased after HME, and a greater degradation was observed at 70 °C than 100 °C. In particular, HME at 70 °C caused an almost complete disappearance of bands near 35 kDa compared with HME at 100 °C. In addition, compared with native TBP (NTBP, 44.53 µmol/g protein), TBP subjected to HME at 70 °C showed a lower disulfide bond (SS) content (42.67 µmol/g protein), whereas TBP subjected to HME at 100 °C demonstrated a higher SS content (45.70 µmol/g protein). These changes endowed TBP with good solubility (from 55.96 % to 83.31 % at pH 7), foaming ability (20.00 %-28.57 %), and surface hydrophobicity (8.34-23.07). Furthermore, the emulsifying activity (EA) and in vitro digestibility are closely related to SS content. Notably, extruded TBP (ETBP) obtained at 70 °C exhibited higher EA and digestibility than NTBP, whereas ETBP obtained at 100 °C showed the opposite trend. Consequently, HME (especially at 70 °C) demonstrated significant potential as a processing technique for improving the functional and digestive properties of TBP.

Clinical correlation and prognostic value of xanthine and inflammatory factors in postpartum depression.

OBJECTIVES: As a common postpartum complication, postpartum depression is an important social and health problem. Postpartum depression causes many changes in relevant indicators, such as inflammatory factors and thyroid hormones. However, the effects of inflammatory factors, thyroid hormones and xanthine on postpartum depression have not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, it is of great clinical significance to clarify the changes in the key indicators of postpartum depression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 139 pregnant women were included in this study. Finally, only 56 patients completed the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EPDS) evaluation and blood sample collection. RESULTS: In the current study, 34 (60.7%) patients were normal, 10 (17.9%) women were depressive tendency and 12 (21.4%) women developed depression. Among the serum indexes detected, the expression levels of thyroid function indexes T3, T4 and TSH, and inflammatory factors, such as hs-CRP, IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α, in the EPDS ≥ 9 group were slightly higher than those in the normal group (EPDS < 9). Xanthine levels in the depression group (EPDS ≥ 13) were significantly higher than normal group (EPDS < 9). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that xanthine levels in patients with postpartum depression were increased significantly, but there were no significant changes in thyroid function and some inflammatory indexes. Therefore, timely detection and intervention of maternal xanthine may help reduce the incidence of postpartum depression.

New insights into the typical nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound-quinoline degradation and detoxification by microbial consortium: Integrated pathways, meta-transcriptomic analysis and toxicological evaluation.

As the primary source of COD in industrial wastewater, quinoline has aroused increasing attention because of its potential teratogenic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic effects in the environment. The activated sludge isolate quinoline-degrading microbial consortium (QDMC) efficiently metabolizes quinoline. However, the molecular underpinnings of the degradation mechanism of quinoline by QDMC have not been elucidated. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the dominant genera included Diaphorobacter, Bacteroidia, Moheibacter and Comamonas. Furthermore, a positive strong correlation was observed between the key bacterial communities (Diaphorobact and Bacteroidia) and quinoline degradation. According to metatranscriptomics, genes associated with quorum sensing, ABC transporters, component systems, carbohydrate, aromatic compound degradation, energy metabolism and amino metabolism showed high expression, thus improving adaptability of microbial community to quinoline stress. In addition, the mechanism of QDMC in adapting and resisting to extreme environmental conditions in line with the corresponding internal functional properties and promoting biogegradation efficiency was illustrated. Based on the identified products, QDMC effectively mineralized quinoline into low-toxicity metabolites through three major metabolic pathways, including hydroxyquinoline, 1,2,3,4-H-quinoline, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoline and 1-oxoquinoline pathways. Finally, toxicological, genotoxicity and phytotoxicity studies supported the detoxification of quinoline by the QDMC. This study provided a promising approach for the stable, environmental-friendly and efficient bioremediation applications for quinoline-containing wastewater.

Value of GPR, APPRI and FIB-4 in the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: There is an urgent need for novel biomarkers that are inexpensive, effective and easily accessible to complement the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between serum gamma-glutamate-transpeptidase to platelet ratio, alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index, fibrosis index based on four factors and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, and to determine the optimal cut-offs for predicting hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Based on a prospective cohort study, 44 215 participants who were cancer-free at baseline (2011-13) were included in the study. Cox proportional hazard models and receiver operating characteristics curves were used to analyze the diagnostic value and optimal cut-off value of gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase to platelet ratio, alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index and fibrosis index based on four factors in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma patients. RESULTS: Gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase to platelet ratio, alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index and fibrosis index based on four factors can be used as early independent predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma risk. The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in the fourth quantile of gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase to platelet ratio and alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index was 4.04 times (hazard ratio = 4.04, 95% confidence interval: 2.09, 7.80) and 2.59 times (hazard ratio = 2.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.45, 4.61), respectively, compared with the first quantile. With fibrosis index based on four factors first quantile as a reference, fibrosis index based on four factors fourth quantile had the highest risk (hazard ratio = 18.58, 95% confidence interval: 7.55, 45.72). Receiver operating characteristic results showed that fibrosis index based on four factors had a stronger ability to predict the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (area under curve = 0.81, 95% confidence interval: 0.80, 0.81), and similar results were shown for gender stratification. In the total population, the optimal cut-off values of gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase to platelet ratio, alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index and fibrosis index based on four factors were 0.208, 0.629 and 1.942, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase to platelet ratio, alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index and fibrosis index based on four factors were independent predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma risk. Amongst them, fibrosis index based on four factors shows a stronger predictive ability for hepatocellular carcinoma risk, and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase to platelet ratio and alkaline phosphatase-to-platelet ratio index can be used as complementary indicators.

Fabrication and characterization of polymer optical waveguide Bragg grating for pulse signal sensing.

Polymer materials have the advantages of a low Young's modulus and low-cost preparation process. In this paper, a polymer-based optical waveguide pressure sensor based on a Bragg structure is proposed. The change in the Bragg wavelength in the output spectrum of the waveguide Bragg grating (WBG) is used to linearly characterize the change in pressure acting on the device. The polymer-based WBG was developed through a polymer film preparation process, and the experimental results show that the output signal of the device has a sensitivity of 1.275 nm/kPa with a measurement range of 0-12 kPa and an accuracy of 1 kPa. The experimental results indicate that the device already perfectly responds to a pulse signal. It has significant potential application value in medical diagnostics and health testing, such as blood pressure monitoring, sleep quality monitoring, and tactile sensing.

Microring structure for flexible polymer waveguide-based optical pressure sensing.

Flexible pressure sensors provide a promising platform for artificial smart skins, and photonic devices provide a new technique to fabricate pressure sensors. Here, we present a flexible waveguide-based optical pressure sensor based on a microring structure. The waveguide-based optical pressure sensor is based on a five-cascade microring array structure with a size of 1500 µm × 500 µm and uses the change in output power to linearly characterize the change in pressure acting on the device. The results show that the device has a sensing range of 0-60 kPa with a sensitivity of 23.14 µW/kPa, as well as the ability to detect pulse signals, swallowing, hand gestures, etc. The waveguide-based pressure sensors offer the advantages of good output linearity, high integration density and easy-to-build arrays.

Molecular pathology and clinical treatment of independent HPV primary serous carcinoma of the uterine cervix (USCC): A case report.

On October 23, 2020, a 69-year-old Chinese female patient was admitted to Yuncheng Hospital due to a history of postmenopausal bleeding and lower abdominal pain for 5 months. The HPV test and pathology results indicated the presence of independent HPV in primary serous carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The genetic testing identified variants of uncertain significance (PAX8 p.Tyr 410 Ter and TP53 p.Asn 247 Ile), microsatellite instability stable (MSI-S), tumor mutational burden (TMB) 7.33Muts/Mb, and an elevated tumor neoantigen burden. Before undergoing radical hysterectomy treatment, the patient exhibited a positive response to three cycles of intravenous docetaxel (100 mg/3 h) and carboplatin (450 mg/1 h). Following the surgery, she received an additional three cycles of docetaxel (100 mg/3 h) and carboplatin (500 mg/1 h), accompanied by 25 cycles of radiation therapy (DT 46Gy/2Gy/23f). Concurrently, cisplatin (450 mg/1 h) was administered. As of now, the patient has achieved 20 months of disease-free survival.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the component variations of Raphani Semen during the stir-frying process and elucidation of transformation pathways of multiple components.

Raphani Semen (RS) encompasses two distinct application forms in Chinese clinical practice: raw RS (RRS) and stir-fried RS (SRS). They exhibit divergent drug properties and effects, as described in traditional Chinese medicine theory known as "Sheng shu yi zhi, sheng sheng shu jiang". The dissimilarity in RS's drug properties is intrinsically linked to alterations in its internal components during the stir-frying process. Previous studies have demonstrated that stir-frying renders myrosinase inactive, thereby preventing the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosinolates in RS. However, the precise enzymatic hydrolysis pathway and products of glucosinolates remain unclear. Furthermore, it remains uncertain whether other components undergo changes influenced by endogenous enzymes. The objective of this study is to systematically analyze the chemical components disparities between RRS and SRS using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-TOF-MS). Additionally, it seeks to elucidate the potential transformation pathways of multiple components from an enzymatic hydrolysis perspective. We have developed a sensitive and efficient high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QQQ-MS) method for quantifying the content of 5 characteristic components, including glucoraphenin, sinapine thiocyanate, sulforaphene, sinapic acid, and 3',6-disinapoylsucrose. Based on retention time and MS spectra, we have identified 19 characteristic components in both SRS and RRS, encompassing glucosinolates and sulfur-containing derivatives, oligosaccharide esters, and small-molecule phenolic acids. Notably, 18 of these components undergo changes during the enzymatic hydrolysis process, leading to the identification of 4 transformation pathways: glucoraphenin, 6-sinapoylglucoraphenin, 3',6-disinapoylsucrose and ß-D-(3,4-disinapoyl) furanofructosyl-α-D-(6-sinapisoyl) glucoside, along with 3'-O-sinapoyl-6-O-feruloylsucrose. Quantitative analysis reveals significant differences, including lower levels of glucoraphenin in RRS compared to SRS, higher sulforaphene and sinapic acid levels in RRS, while sinapine thiocyanate and 3',6-disinapoylsucrose remain unchanged before and after stir-frying. The results of this study highlight distinct chemical compositions between RRS and SRS. Additionally, the method of characterization and content determination constructed in this paper has strong practical value and provides a useful approach for comprehensively evaluating the chemical composition and quality of RS.

Starch chain-length distributions determine cooked foxtail millet texture and starch physicochemical properties.

Starch chain-length distributions play an important role in controlling cereal product texture and starch physicochemical properties. Cooked foxtail millet texture and starch physicochemical properties were investigated and correlated with starch chain-length distributions in eight foxtail millet varieties. The average chain lengths of amylopectin and amylose were in the range of DP 24-25 and DP 878-1128, respectively. The percentage of short amylopectin chains (Ap1) was negatively correlated with hardness but positively correlated with adhesiveness and cohesion. Conversely, the amount of amylose intermediate chains was positively correlated with hardness but negatively correlated with adhesiveness and cohesion. Additionally, the amount of amylose long chains was negatively correlated with adhesiveness and chewiness. The relative crystallinity (RC) of starch decreased with reductions in the length of amylopectin short chains in foxtail millet. Pasting properties were mainly influenced by the relative length of amylopectin side chains and the percentage of long amylopectin branches (Ap2). Longer amylopectin long chains resulted in lower gelatinization temperature and enthalpy (ΔH). The amount of starch branched chains had important effects on the gelatinization temperature range (ΔT). These results can provide guidance for breeders and food scientists in the selection of foxtail millet with improved quality properties.

Pulmonary interleukin 1 beta/serum amyloid A3 axis promotes lung metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by facilitating the pre-metastatic niche formation.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests a vital role of the pre-metastatic niche in the formation of distant metastasis of many cancers. However, how the pre-metastatic niche is formed and promotes pulmonary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. METHODS: Orthotopic liver tumor models and RNA-Seq were used to identify dysregulated genes in the pre-metastatic lung. Il1b knockout (Il1b-/-) mice and lentivirus-mediated gene knockdown/overexpression were utilized to demonstrate the role of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß)/serum amyloid A3 (SAA3) in the pre-metastatic niche formation and pulmonary metastasis. The potential molecular mechanisms were investigated by RNA-Seq, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry, luciferase reporter assay, double immunofluorescent staining and H&E staining. RESULTS: Accumulation of myeloid cells and upregulation of IL-1ß were observed in the pre-metastatic lung of orthotopic liver tumor models. Myeloid cells accumulation and pulmonary metastasis were suppressed in Il1b-/- mice and Il1r1-silencing mice. Mechanistically, SAA3 and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) were identified as potential downstream targets of IL-1ß. Overexpression of SAA3 in the lungs of Il1b-/- mice restored myeloid cells accumulation and pulmonary metastasis of the orthotopic HCC xenografts. Moreover, alveolar macrophages-derived IL-1ß dramatically enhanced SAA3 expression in alveolar epithelial cells in an NF-κB dependent manner and increased MMP9 levels in an autocrine manner. Furthermore, SAA3 recruited myeloid cells to the lung without affecting the expression of MMP9 in myeloid cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a key role of pulmonary IL-1ß and SAA3 in creating a permissive lung pre-metastatic niche by enhancing MMP9 expression and recruiting myeloid cells, respectively, thus promoting pulmonary metastasis of HCC.

Genetic Basis and Expression Pattern Indicate the Biocontrol Potential and Soil Adaption of Lysobacter capsici CK09.

Lysobacter species have attracted increasing attention in recent years due to their capacities to produce diverse secondary metabolites against phytopathogens. In this research, we analyzed the genomic and transcriptomic patterns of Lysobacter capsici CK09. Our data showed that L. capsici CK09 harbored various contact-independent biocontrol traits, such as fungal cell wall lytic enzymes and HSAF/WAP-8294A2 biosynthesis, as well as several contact-dependent machineries, including type 2/4/6 secretion systems. Additionally, a variety of hydrolytic enzymes, particularly extracellular enzymes, were found in the L. capsici CK09 genome and predicted to improve its adaption in soil. Furthermore, several systems, including type 4 pili, type 3 secretion system and polysaccharide biosynthesis, can provide a selective advantage to L. capsici CK09, enabling the species to live on the surface in soil. The expression of these genes was then confirmed via transcriptomic analysis, indicating the activities of these genes. Collectively, our research provides a comprehensive understanding of the biocontrol potential and soil adaption of L. capsici CK09 and implies the potential of this strain for application in the future.