Effects of sustained viral response on lipid in Hepatitis C: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Direct-acting Antiviral Agents (DAAs) influence serum lipids of patients with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). This paper presents an analysis of the relevant literature to investigate the effects of DAAs in treating hepatitis C to achieve a sustained viral response (SVR) on lipid parameters. METHODS: PubMed,Web of science, Embase and Central databases were searched, with a deadline of September 2023. Studies on the effects of sustained viral response on lipid parameters after DAAs treatment for hepatitis C were selected. The required information was extracted from the included studies, and then the Stata 12.0 was used to analyze the data quantitatively. RESULTS: Of 32 studies, the results showed that total cholesterol (TC) levels increased from the end of treatment (WMD = 20.144, 95%CI = 3.404, 36.884,P = 0.018) to one year after treatment (WMD = 24.900, 95%CI = 13.669, 36.131, P < 0.001). From the end of treatment (WMD = 17.728, 95%CI = 4.375, 31.082, P = 0.009) to one year after treatment (WMD = 18.528, 95%CI = 7.622, 29.433, P < 0.001), the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were also increased. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were elevated from 4 weeks after treatment (WMD = 6.665, 95%CI = 3.906, 9.424, P < 0.001) to 24 weeks after treatment (WMD = 3.159,95% CI = 0.176, 6.142, P = 0.038). Triglyceride (TG) levels showed no significant change after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis C patients who achieved SVR on DAAs showed the increase of lipid levels and the improvement of hepatic inflammation indicators AST and ALT. This may provide evidence-based medical evidence for the follow-up and monitoring of blood lipids and hyperlipidemia treatment. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020180793.

Bioinspired carbon nanotube-based nanofluidic ionic transistor with ultrahigh switching capabilities for logic circuits.

The voltage-gated ion channels, also known as ionic transistors, play substantial roles in biological systems and ion-ion selective separation. However, implementing the ultrafast switchable capabilities and polarity switching of ionic transistors remains a challenge. Here, we report a nanofluidic ionic transistor based on carbon nanotubes, which exhibits an on/off ratio of 104 at operational gate voltage as low as 1 V. By controlling the morphology of carbon nanotubes, both unipolar and ambipolar ionic transistors are realized, and their on/off ratio can be further improved by introducing an Al2O3 dielectric layer. Meanwhile, this ionic transistor enables the polarity switching between p-type and n-type by controlled surface properties of carbon nanotubes. The implementation of constructing ionic circuits based on ionic transistors is demonstrated, which enables the creation of NOT, NAND, and NOR logic gates. The ionic transistors are expected to have profound implications for low-energy consumption computing devices and brain-machine interfacing.

Bio-inspired Two-dimensional Nanofluidic Ionic Transistor for Neuromorphic Signal Processing.

Voltage-gated ion channels prevalent in neurons play important roles in generating action potential and information transmission by responding to transmembrane potential. Fabricating bio-inspired ionic transistors with ions as charge carriers will be crucial for realizing neuro-inspired devices and brain-liking computing. Here, we reported a two-dimensional nanofluidic ionic transistor based on a MXene membrane with sub-1 nm interlayer channels. By applying a gating voltage on the MXene nanofluidic, a transmembrane potential will be generated to active the ionic transistor, which is similar to the transmembrane potential of neuron cells and can be effectively regulated by changing membrane parameters, e.g., thickness, composition, and interlayer spacing. For the symmetric MXene nanofluidic, a high on/off ratio of ~2000 can be achieved by forming an ionic depletion or accumulation zone, contingent on the sign of the gating potential. An asymmetric PET/MXene-composited nanofluidic transitioned the ionic transistor from ambipolar to unipolar, resulting in a more sensitive gate voltage characteristic with a low subthreshold swing of 560 mV/decade. Furthermore, ionic logic gate circuits, including the "NOT", "NAND", and "NOR" gate, were implemented for neuromorphic signal processing successfully, which provides a promising pathway towards highly parallel, low energy consumption, and ion-based brain-like computing.

Ionic Transistors.

Biological voltage-gated ion channels, which behave as life's transistors, regulate ion transport precisely and selectively through atomic-scale selectivity filters to sustain important life activities. By this inspiration, voltage-adaptable ionic transistors that use ions as signal carriers may provide an alternative information processing unit beyond solid-state electronic devices. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the first generation of biomimetic ionic transistors, including their operating mechanisms, device architecture development, and property characterizations. Despite its infancy, significant progress has been made in the applications of ionic transistors in fields such as DNA detection, drug delivery, and ionic circuits. Challenges and prospects of full exploitation of ionic transistors for a broad spectrum of practical applications are also discussed.

Different hydraulic and photosynthetic responses to summer drought between newly sprouted and established Moso bamboo culms.

The subtropical regions in China are prone to recurrent summer droughts induced by the Western Pacific Subtropical High-Pressure, which has induced the death of tens of millions of culms of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis (Carriere) J. Houzeau), a widely distributed giant bamboo with high economic and ecological values. In the future, the intensity and frequency of the summer drought are projected to increase in these areas due to global climate change, which may lead to significant age-specific mortality of Moso bamboo. So far, it is still unclear about the age-specific response mechanisms of hydraulic traits and carbon balance of Moso bamboo when it is suffering to an ongoing summer drought. This study aimed to investigate the hydraulic and photosynthetic responses of newly sprouted (1 year old) and established (2-5 years old) culms of Moso bamboo to summer drought, which was manipulated by throughfall reduction in Lin'an of Zhejiang. The results showed that both newly sprouted and established culms had a gradually weakening hydraulic conductivity and photosynthesis during the whole drought process. In the early stage of the manipulated drought, the established culms had more loss of hydraulic conductivity than the newly sprouted culms. However, the newly sprouted culms had significant more loss of hydraulic conductivity and lower photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance in the middle and late stages of the manipulated drought. The results suggest that the newly sprouted culms were more susceptible to summer drought than established culms due to the combined effects of hydraulic damage and photosynthetic restriction, explaining why the newly sprouted culms have higher mortality than elder culms when subjected to extreme drought. These findings provided insights into the mechanisms of Moso bamboo's age-specific drought-induced mortality, which will help for the anti-drought management of bamboo.

Reprogramming of lipid metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma resulting in downregulation of phosphatidylcholines used as potential markers for diagnosis and prediction.

BACKGROUND: Aberrant methylation and metabolic perturbations may deepen our understanding of hepatocarcinogenesis and help identify novel biomarkers for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to develop an HCC model based on a multi-omics. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Four hundred patient samples (200 with HCC and 200 with hepatitis B virus-related liver disease (HBVLD)) were subjected to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and multiplex bisulfite sequencing. Integrative analysis of clinical data, CpG data, and metabolome for the 20 complete imputation datasets within a for-loopwas used to identify biomarker. RESULTS: Totally, 1,140 metabolites were annotated, of which 125 were differentially expressed. Lipid metabolism reprogramming in HCC, resulting in phosphatidylcholines (PC) significantly downregulated, partly due to the altered mitochondrial beta-oxidation of fatty acids with diverse chain lengths. Age, sex, serum-fetoprotein levels, cg05166871,cg14171514, cg18772205, PC (O-16:0/20:3(8Z, 11Z, 14Z)), and PC (16:1(9Z)/P-18:0) were used to develop the HCC model. The model presented a good diagnostic and an acceptable predictive performance. The cumulative incidence of HCC in low- and high-risk groups of HBVLD patients were 1.19% and 21.40%, respectively (p = 0.0039). CONCLUSIONS: PCs serve as potential plasma biomarkers and help identify patients with HBVLD at risk of HCC who should be screened for early diagnosis and intervention.

Evaluation of blood-based PRO-C3 testing as a diagnostic marker for staging liver fibrosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: With the global increase in chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, there is an increasing need to identify non-invasive biomarkers to measure the severity of disease progression while reducing reliance on pathological biopsies. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the diagnostic value of PRO-C3 as a biomarker for staging liver fibrosis in patients with viral hepatitis or fatty liver disease. METHODS: Articles published until January 6, 2023, were searched in the PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio, and likelihood ratios were integrated using a random-effects model, and a summary receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed. Publication bias was also detected. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses, as well as sensitivity analysis, were also performed. RESULTS: Fourteen studies with 4315 patients were included. Summary area under the curve of PRO-C3 for the identification of significant fibrosis (≥ F2) and advanced fibrosis (≥ F3) was 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-0.83). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses suggested that disease type and sample size may be the primary factors of heterogeneity in PRO-C3 diagnosis of ≥ F2, while study design, study sample type, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit brand may be the primary sources of heterogeneity in PRO-C3 diagnosis of ≥ F3. CONCLUSIONS: PRO-C3 demonstrated clinically meaningful diagnostic accuracy when used alone as a non-invasive biomarker for diagnosing the liver fibrosis stage in individuals with viral hepatitis or fatty liver disease.

Partitioning of respired CO2 in newly sprouted Moso bamboo culms.

Stem respiration (R s) plays a vital role in ecosystem carbon cycling. However, the measured efflux on the stem surface (E s) is not always in situ R s but only part of it. A previously proposed mass balance framework (MBF) attempted to explore the multiple partitioning pathways of R s, including sap-flow-transported and internal storage of R s, in addition to E s. This study proposed stem photosynthesis as an additional partitioning pathway to the MBF. Correspondingly, a double-chamber apparatus was designed and applied on newly sprouted Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) in leafless and leaved stages. R s of newly sprouted bamboo were twice as high in the leafless stage (7.41 ± 2.66 µmol m-2 s-1) than in the leaved stage (3.47 ± 2.43 µmol m-2 s-1). E s accounted for ~80% of R s, while sap flow may take away ~2% of R s in both leafless and leaved stages. Culm photosynthesis accounted for ~9% and 13% of R s, respectively. Carbon sequestration from culm photosynthesis accounted for approximately 2% of the aboveground bamboo biomass in the leafless stage. High culm photosynthesis but low sap flow during the leafless stage and vice versa during the leaved stage make bamboo an outstanding choice for exploring the MBF.

Charges Transfer in Interfaces for Energy Generating.

Under the threat of energy crisis and environmental pollution, the technology for sustainable and clean energy extraction has received considerable attention. Owing to the intensive exploration of energy conversion strategies, expanded energy sources are successfully converted into electric energy, including mechanical energy from human motion, kinetic energy of falling raindrops, and thermal energy in the ambient. Among these energy conversion processes, charge transfer at different interfaces, such as solid-solid, solid-liquid, liquid-liquid, and gas-contained interfaces, dominates the power-generating efficiency. In this review, the mechanisms and applications of interfacial energy generators (IEGs) with different interface types are systematically summarized. Challenges and prospects are also highlighted. Due to the abundant interfacial interactions in nature, the development of IEGs offers a promising avenue of inexhaustible and environmental-friendly power generation to solve the energy crisis.

External validation and improvement of the scoring system for predicting the prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma after interventional therapy.

Background: Currently, locoregional therapies, such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and ablation, play an important role in the treatment of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, an easy-to-use scoring system that predicts recurrence to guide individualized management of HCC with varying risks of recurrence remains an unmet need. Methods: A total of 483 eligible HCC patients treated by TACE combined with ablation from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2019, were included in the temporal external validation cohort and then used to explore possibilities for refinement of the original scoring system. We investigated the prognostic value of baseline variables on recurrence-free survival (RFS) using a Cox model and developed the easily applicable YA score. The performances of the original scoring system and YA score were assessed according to discrimination (area under the receiver operating curve [AUROC] and Harrell's concordance index [C-statistic]), calibration (calibration curves), and clinical utility [decision curve analysis (DCA) curves]. Finally, improvement in the ability to predict in the different scoring systems was assessed using the Net Reclassification Index (NRI). The YA score was lastly compared with other prognostic scores. Results: During the median follow-up period of 35.6 months, 292 patients experienced recurrence. In the validation cohort, the original scoring system exhibited high discrimination (C-statistic: 0.695) and calibration for predicting the prognosis in HCC. To improve the prediction performance, the independent predictors of RFS, including gender, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-γ-carboxyprothrombin (DCP), tumor number, tumor size, albumin-to-prealbumin ratio (APR), and fibrinogen, were incorporated into the YA score, an improved score. Compared to the original scoring system, the YA score has better discrimination (c-statistic: 0.712VS0.695), with outstanding calibration and the clinical net benefit, both in the training and validation cohorts. Moreover, the YA score accurately stratified patients with HCC into low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups of recurrence and mortality and outperformed other prognostic scores. Conclusion: YA score is associated with recurrence and survival in early- and middle-stage HCC patients receiving local treatment. Such score would be valuable in guiding the monitoring of follow-up and the design of adjuvant treatment trials, providing highly informative data for clinical management decisions.

Age effects of Moso bamboo on leaf isoprene emission characteristics.

Isoprene is a highly reactive volatile organic compound that significantly affects atmospheric oxidant capacity, regional air quality, and climate change. Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), a species widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in China, is a strong isoprene emitter with great potential for carbon sequestration. Carbon sequestration is negatively correlated with culm age; however, the effect of this correlation on isoprene emissions remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the photosynthetic and isoprene emission characteristics of Moso bamboo at different culm ages. The results showed that the age effect on isoprene emission was different from that on photosynthesis; the net photosynthesis rate (Pn) was the highest in young, followed by mature, and then old bamboo, whereas the isoprene emission rate (Iso) was the highest in young, followed by old, and then mature bamboo. Moreover, the percentage of carbon loss as isoprene emission (C-loss) during photosynthesis of old bamboo was 35% higher than that of mature bamboo under standard conditions (leaf temperature: 30°C; light intensity: 1000 µmol m-2 s-1). Therefore, we strongly recommend considering the culm age when establishing an isoprene emission model of Moso bamboo. Additionally, because the Iso and C-loss of old bamboo were higher than those of mature bamboo, we suggest that attention should be paid to the management of bamboo age structure and timely felling of aged bamboo to reduce environmental risk.

Effect of HBsAg expression in liver tissue on prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after minimally invasive interventional therapy.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between pathologic markers and prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who received transcatheter chemoembolization combined with locoregional ablation therapy. Methods: This retrospective study included 111 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). All patients underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with locoregional ablation therapy, and received core needle biopsy before therapy in Beijing You 'an Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016. Demographic, pathological indicators and clinical laboratory data were collected. The cumulative recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated and compared by Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test, and Cox proportional risk model was used to screen for independent predictors of recurrence and long-term prognosis in HCC patients. Results: There was a correlation between HBsAg expression in liver tissue and prognosis of HCC patients. Patients with negative HBsAg expression had longer 1-,3- and 5-year RFS rates than positive HBsAg expression (78.3%, 43.5%, 30.4% and 58.5%, 24.5%, 17.0%, P=0.018). Meanwhile,the postoperative 1-,3-and 5-year OS rates of HCC patients in the negative HBsAg expression group were significantly higher than those of HCC patients in the positive HBsAg expression group (100%, 89.1%, 80.4% and 100%, 75.5%, 58.5%, P=0.008). Conclusions: The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with negative HBsAg expression was better than that with positive HBsAg expression. Accordingly, the expression of the liver HBsAg before combined therapy was a prognostic indicator for OS and RFS. For patients with liver HBsAg positive, follow-up should be strengthened and corresponding intervention measures should be taken to improve prognosis.

Effects of calcium on cell wall metabolism enzymes and expression of related genes associated with peel creasing in Citrus fruits.

Fruit peel creasing is a serious pre-harvest physiological disorder in citrus, influencing fruit quality, storage, and yield. Four- and eight-year-old 'Hongjiang' oranges grafted onto Canton lemon rootstocks were treated with calcium and calcium inhibitors, respectively, to study the effects of different treatments on fruit creasing rate, mechanical properties of the peel, cell wall metabolism enzyme activities, and the expression of related genes. Foliar application of 0.5% calcium nitrate significantly reduced the fruit creasing rate, while treatment with EGTA and LaCl3, inhibitors of calcium uptake, increased the fruit creasing rate; But the effect of calcium nitrate treatment on changing the mechanical properties of pericarp and inhibiting the activity of hydrolase (PG, Cx and PE) was not very significant. Furthermore, it was observed that the expression levels of genes (PG, Cx, and PE) encoding cell wall-degrading enzymes were significantly lower in the normal fruit peel than in the creased fruit peel. Meanwhile, the expression levels of PG, Cx, and PE were higher in the peel of shaded fruit than in the peel of exposed fruit. During the high incidence period of fruit creasing, calcium nitrate treatment down-regulated the expression of PG, Cx, and PE, while EGTA treatment up-regulated the expression of these genes. In conclusion, foliar spraying of calcium nitrate at the fruit rapid enlargement stage can increase the Ca content in the peel of 'Hongjiang' orange and significantly suppress the expression of cell wall degrading enzymes genes (PG, PE and Cx) in 'Hongjiang' orange peel during the high occurrence period of fruit creasing, resulting in reducing the occurrence of fruit creasing and cracking.

Nomogram established on account of Lasso-Cox regression for predicting recurrence in patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: To investigate the risk factors for recurrence in patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after minimally invasive treatment with curative intent, then to construct a prediction model based on Lasso-Cox regression and visualize the model built. Methods: Clinical data were collected from 547 patients that received minimally invasive treatment in our hospital from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016. Lasso regression was used to screen risk factors for recurrence. Then we established Cox proportional hazard regression model and random survival forest model including several parameters screened by Lasso regression. An optimal model was selected by comparing the values of C-index, then the model was visualized and the nomogram was finally plotted. Results: The variables screened by Lasso regression including age, gender, cirrhosis, tumor number, tumor size, platelet-albumin-bilirubin index (PALBI), and viral load were incorporated in the Cox model and random survival forest model (P<0.05). The C-index of these two models in the training sets was 0.729 and 0.708, and was 0.726 and 0.700 in the validation sets, respectively. So we finally chose Lasso-Cox regression model, and the calibration curve in the validation set performed well, indicating that the model built has a better predictive ability. And then a nomogram was plotted based on the model chosen to visualize the results. Conclusions: The present study established a nomogram for predicting recurrence in patients with early-stage HCC based on the Lasso-Cox regression model. This nomogram was of some guiding significance for screening populations at high risk of recurrence after treatment, by which doctors can formulate individualized follow-up strategies or treatment protocols according to the predicted risk of relapse for patients to improve the long-term prognosis.

Bioinspired Artificial Ion Pumps.

Ion pumps are important membrane-spanning transporters that pump ions against the electrochemical gradient across the cell membrane. In biological systems, ion pumping is essential to maintain intracellular osmotic pressure, to respond to external stimuli, and to regulate physiological activities by consuming adenosine triphosphate. In recent decades, artificial ion pumping systems with diverse geometric structures and functions have been developing rapidly with the progress of advanced materials and nanotechnology. In this Review, bioinspired artificial ion pumps, including four categories: asymmetric structure-driven ion pumps, pH gradient-driven ion pumps, light-driven ion pumps, and electron-driven ion pumps, are summarized. The working mechanisms, functions, and applications of those artificial ion pumping systems are discussed. Finally, a brief conclusion of underpinning challenges and outlook for future research are tentatively discussed.

Correlation Between Components of Malnutrition Diagnosed by Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition Criteria and the Clinical Outcomes in Gastric Cancer Patients: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Objective: Malnutrition is recognized as a risk factor for poor outcome in patients with gastric cancer (GC). In 2018, the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) published standardized criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition. Our aim was to investigate whether any of the components of the GLIM diagnostic criteria were related to worse clinical outcomes in patients with GC. Methods: This study analyzed patients with GC who underwent radical gastrectomy in our hospital between 2014 and 2019. A preoperative nutritional assessment was performed for each patient. Matching was based on the presence of three GLIM components: high weight loss (WL), low body mass index (BMI), and low skeletal muscle index (SMI). Results: The analysis included 1,188 patients, including 241 (20.3%) with high WL, 156 (13.1%) with low BMI, and 355 (29.9%) with low SMI. Before matching, patients who met the GLIM component criteria were mostly associated with older age, low nutritional reserves, and late tumor progression. After matching, the clinical characteristics of the three cohorts were balanced. In the matched queue, the survival prognosis of the high WL group was worse than that of the non-WL group, and the postoperative complication rate was higher in the low SMI group than in the normal SMI group (P <0.05). In addition, the clinical outcomes in the low and normal BMI groups were similar (P >0.05). Conclusion: Of the GLIM criteria, high WL and low SMI may be associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with GC, while a low BMI may not be associated with outcome.

Association of HSD17B13 rs72613567: TA allelic variant with liver disease: review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: To assess the association of HSD17B13 rs72613567:TA allelic variant with liver disease, we performed the current review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Seven studies were identified by a search of CNKI,CBM,MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases from inception to November 2021. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using random effects model or fixed effects model based on the between-study heterogeneity. The Stata 14.0 software was employed for data analysis. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that the HSD17B13 rs72613567:TA allelic variant can decrease the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients, alcoholic fatty liver disease (ALD) patients and viral hepatitis patients (TA vs T OR = 0.766, 95% CI = 0.682-0.860, P = 0.000; TATA + TAT vs TT OR = 0.755, 95% CI = 0.645-0.885, P = 0.001) or healthy controls(TA vs T OR = 0.649, 95% CI = 0.431-0.977, P = 0.038). Besides, the HSD17B13 rs72613567:TA allelic variant can also provide protection from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) not only in entire population (TA vs T OR = 0.669, 95% CI = 0.524-0.856, P = 0.001) but also in healthy people (TA vs T OR = 0.600, 95% CI = 0.464-0.777, P = 0.000). No significant publication bias found in this airticle. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest HSD17B13 rs72613567:TA allelic variant can reduce the risk of HCC and NAFLD in the entire population studied.

Growing in Mixed Stands Increased Leaf Photosynthesis and Physiological Stress Resistance in Moso Bamboo and Mature Chinese Fir Plantations.

Mixed-stand plantations are not always as beneficial for timber production and carbon sequestration as monoculture plantations. Systematic analyses of mixed-stand forests as potential ideal plantations must consider the physiological-ecological performance of these plantations. This study aimed to determine whether mixed moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens (Pradelle) Mazel ex J. Houz.) and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) stands exhibited better physiological-ecological performance than monoculture plantations of these species. We analyzed leaf photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, antioxidant enzyme activities, chlorophyll content and leaf chemistry in a moso bamboo stand, a Chinese fir stand and a mixed stand with both species. The results showed that both species in the mixed stand exhibited significantly higher leaf net photosynthesis rate (Amax), instantaneous carboxylation efficiency (CUE), chlorophyll content, maximum quantum yield of photosynthesis (Fv/Fm), photochemical quenching coefficient (qP), PSII quantum yield [Y(II)], leaf nitrogen content, and antioxidant enzyme activities than those in the monoculture plantations. However, the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) in Chinese fir and 2-year-old moso bamboo was significantly lower in the mixed stand than in the monocultures. In addition, the water use efficiency (WUE) of Chinese fir was significantly higher in the mixed stand. The results suggest that the increase in leaf net photosynthetic capacity and the improved growth in the mixed stand could be attributed primarily to the (i) more competitive strategies for soil water use, (ii) stronger antioxidant systems, and (iii) higher leaf total nitrogen and chlorophyll contents in the plants. These findings suggest that mixed growth has beneficial effects on the leaf photosynthesis capacity and physiological resistance of moso bamboo and Chinese fir.

Electroacupuncture Improves Cognitive Function in Senescence-Accelerated P8 (SAMP8) Mice via the NLRP3/Caspase-1 Pathway.

Background. Clinically, electroacupuncture (EA) is the most common therapy for aging-related cognitive impairment (CI). However, the underlying pathomechanism remains unidentified. The aims of this study were to observe the effect of EA on cognitive function and explore the potential mechanism by which EA acts on the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway. Main Methods. Thirty male SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into the model, the 2 Hz EA and 10 Hz EA groups. Ten male SAMR1 mice were assigned to the control group. Cognitive function was assessed through the Morris water maze test. Hippocampal morphology and cell death were observed by HE and TUNEL staining, respectively. The serum IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α levels were measured by ELISA. Hippocampal NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, GSDM-D, IL-1ß, IL-18, Aß, and tau proteins were detected by Western blotting. Key Findings. Cognitive function, hippocampal morphology, and TUNEL-positive cell counts were improved by both EA frequencies. The serum IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α levels were decreased by EA treatment. However, 10 Hz EA reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells in the CA1 region and serum IL-1ß and IL-6 levels more effectively than 2 Hz EA. NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway-related proteins were significantly downregulated by EA, but 2 Hz EA did not effectively reduce ASC protein expression. Interestingly, both EA frequencies failed to reduce the expression of Aß and tau proteins. Significance. The effects of 10 Hz EA at the GV20 and ST36 acupoints on the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway may be a mechanism by which this treatment relieves aging-related CI in mice.

DSN/TdT recycling digestion based cyclic amplification strategy for microRNA assay.

Sensitive and specific detection of microRNAs (miRNAs) is of great significance for early cancer diagnosis. Here we report a simple and sensitive fluorescence signal amplification strategy that based on DSN/TdT recycling digestion for miRNA detection. DSN initiates DNA digestion on 3'-phosphate-primer/miRNA heteroduplex which causes miRNA recycle. The digested DNA strands with 3'-OH ends enable TdT to synthesize a polydeoxyguanylic tails on the 3'-end. The DNAs with polydeoxyguanylic tails are converted to double-stranded-DNA prior to initiation of DSN/TdT recycling digestion. With the cooperation of TdT and DSN, a new round of digestion and extension is triggered, leading to massive fluorophores separating and signal amplification. The amplification strategy produces large amounts of 3'-OH probes that can be used directly for dsDNA enrichment and DSN digestion. Moreover, both DSN digestion and TdT extension are sequence-independent reaction without the need of complex sequences design. In addition, this strategy is utilized to analyze miRNA samples from MCF-7 cell lysates and Cu (II) ion samples, indicating its potential application in actual sample analysis. The method shows a promising analytical platform for DNA nicking-related studies and tumor biomarkers measuring in clinical diagnostics.