The role of T cells and shared genes in psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease based on single-cell RNA and comprehensive analysis.

Psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a similar etiology, including abnormal activation of T cells. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis was used to search for shared genes. GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis were then performed. Secondly, single-cell RNA analysis (scRNA-seq) and immune infiltration were employed to explore the immune imbalance of the diseases. By weighted gene co expression network analysis (WGCNA), we obtained hub shared genes. Furthermore, we analyzed the diagnostic performance and immune association with the hub genes. Finally, functional enrichment of miRNAs related to hub shared genes was carried out. Single-cell analysis showed a high proportion of T cells among infiltrated immune cells and immune infiltration showed CD4+ T and γδ T cells were significantly elevated in diseases. Hub shared genes, LCN2, CXCL1 and PI3 had excellent diagnostic properties and were positively correlated with neutrophils, CD4+ T and γδ T cells. IL17 and TNF signaling pathway were the common pathway. In conclusion, CD4+ and γδ T cells and hub shared genes may play a crucial part in common mechanism between psoriasis and IBD. Moreover, hub shared genes may be potential diagnostic markers.

Chemical Composition, Security and Bioactivity of the Red Pigment from Penicillium purpurogenum Li-3.

The chemical composition, security and bioactivity of pigments from Penicillium purpurogenum Li-3 strain screened by our group were firstly studied in this work. DPPH and the filter disc diffusion method were used to determine the biological activities of the red pigments. The pigment was characterized by UV/VIS, FT-IR, NMR and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. HPLC/MS was used to detect mycotoxins (citrinin) in fermentation broth. An acute toxicity was detected in the embryos of zebrafish. As a consequence, the crude red pigment from the AcOEt fraction showed better DPPH scavenge capacity and antibacterial activity. Spectroscopic (UV, FT-IR, 13 C-NMR) and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis revealed that the Penicillium purpurogenum Li-3 red pigment (RPs) was monascus-like pigment and its molecular weight was 439.1997. Moreover, the red pigment was shown to be weak cytotoxic against the zebrafish embryos. The yield of the red pigment increased 69 % under optimized culture conditions. These outstanding properties will enlarge the application of RPs for natural food additives, new antioxidant and antibacterial drug development.

Vitamin D status in Chinese pregnant women and their newborns in Beijing and their relationships to birth size.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and their newborns in Beijing, China and the influence of vitamin D deficiency on birth size. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Data were collected from pregnant women who delivered during April to May 2010 at 306 Hospital of PLA in Beijing, China. SUBJECTS: Participants in the study were seventy healthy nulliparous pregnant women with singleton pregnancies who delivered healthy babies at full term and their newborns. RESULTS: Severe vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) < 25 nmol/l) was detected in 54·5 % of mothers and 46·6 % of newborns. Neither mothers nor newborns had serum 25(OH)D concentrations that reached the normal level (>75 nmol/l). The concentration of 25(OH)D in mothers was positively correlated with that in cord blood (r = 0·89, P < 0·001). Newborns of mothers with severe vitamin D deficiency had lower birth length and birth weight. The head circumference and birth weight were lower in vitamin D-deficient newborns. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that pregnant women and neonates residing in Beijing are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency. Neonatal 25(OH)D concentrations are dependently related to maternal 25(OH)D levels. Maternal and neonatal vitamin D status influences newborn size.

[Raman spectroscopic quantitative analysis of cluster structure of binary alkali silicate glasses].

A calibration method for Raman spectroscopic quantitative analysis of binary alkaline silicate glasses is proposed. By applying ab initio quantum chemistry simulation, Raman optical activities (ROA) of various cluster units consisting of silicon-oxygen tetrahedra (SiOT) with different number of non-bridging oxygen (NBO) can be obtained. Thus, experimental results could be calibrated in order to reflect and represent directly the true relative density of various silicon-oxygen tetrahedra existing inside the silicate glasses. Cation effect on the intensity of Raman bands was also observed and discussed.

[Temperature dependent Raman spectra and micro-structure study of cuspidine in solid and liquid phases].

Cuspidine plays an important role in conventional metallurgical continuous casting mould flux. An UV laser source was used to record its ambient and high temperature Raman spectra (temperature range: 298-1 723 K) combined with a charge coupled device (CCD) detector. Both increasing and decreasing processes as well as characteristic spectra and shifts in wavenumber were observed. Micro-structure of cuspidine in liquid state is not unitary and different from that in solid state, suggesting multi clusters coexisting. Density functional theory (DFT) simulation method was applied to calculate its wavenumbers of Raman active vibrations by introducing the crystal spatial configuration model of cuspidine. Thus the experimental vibrational wavenumbers of the characteristic peaks could be assigned. This will help study physical and chemical behavior of cuspidine in continuous casting mould flux and provide an unique in-situ method under varying temperature with Raman spectroscopic technique.