Changes in health-promoting metabolites associated with high-altitude adaptation in honey.

The levels of metabolites in honey are influenced by floral origin, production region, and bee species. However, how environmental factors affect honey quality remains unclear. Based on untargeted metabolomics and using UPLC Q-Orbitrap MS, we analyzed 3596 metabolites in 51 honey samples from Yunnan and Shennongjia. Comparative analysis revealed that geniposidic acid, kynurenic acid and caffieine accumulated at significantly different levels between Shennongjia and Yunnan honey. Based on cluster structure analysis, 36 Yunnan honey samples were divided into two distinct groups by altitude. Notably, quercetin, hyperoside, taxifolin, rutin, tryptophan, astragalin and phenylalanine were higher levels in high-altitude honey (>1700 m), whereas abscisic acid was higher levels in low-altitude honey (≤1700 m). Among these, significantly elevated levels of hyperoside, taxfolin, astragalin, and tryptophan were observed in honey collected from high-altitude areas in Shennongjia. Our findings highlight the effect of altitude on honey health-promoting components, providing valuable insights into honey quality.

Duck compound probiotics fermented diet alters the growth performance by shaping the gut morphology, microbiota and metabolism.

Dietary absorption and digestion are influenced by the microbiota, morphology, and digestive enzymes of intestines, and fermentation is a popular and effective technique to enhance animal rearing growth performance. This study aims to explore the pivotal role of Muscovy duck probiotics fermented feedstuff (FF) in altering the growth performance by reshaping gut morphology, microorganisms and metabolism. The findings showed that FF considerably raised the levels of fatty acids (FA) and small peptides (7-19AA) in the diet. Further feeding trial data reveals that FF greatly increased the Muscovy duck average daily gain (ADG) but had no effect on their daily feed intake (DFI), and the FCR significantly dropped (P < 0.05). Additionally, it was evident that FF improved the integrity of the intestinal mucosa in Muscovy duck by increasing villus height, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, and lowering crypt depth. Then, in comparison to the control group (NC), there was a significant increase in the gene expression of the mucosal tight junction proteins Occludin, Claudin-1, and Zo-1 in the intestine of Muscovy duck. Additionally, there was higher expression of the mucosal transport channels SGLT-1, PepT1, AQP2, AQP3, and AQP10 in the similarly colon site, jejunum, and duodenum. Furthermore, in AB-PAS/PAS-stained duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and similarly colon site, FF markedly increased relative mucus output and goblet cells while decreasing epithelial cell apoptosis. Following 16S sequencing data indicated that the intestinal microbiota was altered and the diversity and richness of gut microbes was greatly enhanced by FF. Particularly, the boost of core probiotics, such as Rothia of duodenum, Limosilactobacillus and Lentilactobacillus of jejunum, Lactococcus and Rothia of ileum, Ligilactobacillus and Entocuccus of similarly colon site, Gallibacterium of caecum. And reduced potentially pathogenic bacteria (Campylobacter, Prevotellaceae, Clostridia-vadinBB60, and Oscillospira). Nontargeted metabolomics assay for intestinal content confirmed an increased organic acids (oxidanesulfonic acid, cholic acid, gallic acid, coumaric acid, pipecollc acid, 13s-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid) and glycosides metabolites (5-hydroxydantrolene, 3-hydroxyguanfacine glucuronide, acetylleucine, astragalin, xanthosine, taxiphylin, sinapine, denudatine, penylalanyl-tyrosine and phenylalanyl-valine). These findings demonstrated that FF, a viable option to improve Muscovy duck growth performance through reconstructed intestinal morphology, microorganisms, and metabolism, subsequently promoted the gut health and increased diet digestion and absorption. The study that is being presented offers scientific proof that FF might be a useful strategy for improving Muscovy duck growth performance.

Bifurcation of bound states in the continuum in periodic structures.

In lossless dielectric structures with a single periodic direction, a bound state in the continuum (BIC) is a special resonant mode with an infinite quality factor (Q factor). The Q factor of a resonant mode near a typical BIC satisfies Q∼1/(ß-ß ∗)2, where ß and ß ∗ are the Bloch wavenumbers of the resonant mode and the BIC, respectively. However, for some special BICs with ß ∗=0 (referred to as super-BICs by some authors), the Q factor satisfies Q ∼ 1/ß6. Although super-BICs are usually obtained by merging a few BICs through tuning a structural parameter, they can be precisely characterized by a mathematical condition. In this Letter, we consider arbitrary perturbations to structures supporting a super-BIC. The perturbation is given by δF(r), where δ is the amplitude and F(r) is the perturbation profile. We show that for a typical F(r), the BICs in the perturbed structure exhibit a pitchfork bifurcation around the super-BIC. The number of BICs changes from one to three as δ passes through zero. However, for some special profiles F(r), there is no bifurcation, i.e., there is only a single BIC for δ around zero. In that case, the super-BIC is not associated with a merging process for which δ is the parameter.

[Effects of Combined Stress of High Density Polyethylene Microplastics and Chlorimuron-ethyl on Soybean Growth and Rhizosphere Bacterial Community].

With the vigorous development of agriculture in China， plastic mulch film and pesticides are widely used in agricultural production. However， the accumulation of microplastics （formed by the degradation of plastic mulch film） and pesticides in soil has also caused many environmental problems. At present， the environmental biological effects of microplastics or pesticides have been reported， but there are few studies on the combined effects on crop growth and the rhizosphere soil bacterial community. Therefore， in this study， the high density polyethylene microplastics （HDPE， 500 mesh） were designed to be co-treated with sulfonylurea herbicide chlorimuron-ethyl to study their effects on soybean growth. In addition， the effects of the combined stress of HDPE and chlorimuron-ethyl on soybean rhizosphere soil bacterial community diversity， structure composition， microbial community network， and soil function were investigated using high-throughput sequencing technology， interaction network， and PICRUSt2 function analysis to clarify the combined toxicity of HDPE and chlorimuron-ethyl to soybean. The results showed that the half-life of chlorimuron-ethyl in soil was prolonged by the 1% HDPE treatment （from 11.5 d to 14.3 d）， and the combined stress of HDPE and chlorimuron-ethyl had more obvious inhibition effects on soybean growth than that of the single pollutant or control. The HiSeq 2 500 sequencing showed that the rhizosphere bacterial community of soybean was composed of 20 phyla and 312 genera under combined stress， the number of phyla and genera was significantly less than that of the control and single pollutant treatment， and the relative abundances of bacteria with potential biological control and plant growth-promoting characteristics （such as Nocardioides and Sphingomonas） were reduced. Alpha diversity analysis showed that the combined stress significantly reduced the richness and diversity of the soybean rhizosphere bacterial community， and Beta diversity analysis showed that the combined stress significantly changed the structure of the bacterial community. The dominant flora of the rhizosphere bacterial community were regulated， and the abundances of secondary functional layers such as amino acid metabolism， energy metabolism， and lipid metabolism were reduced under combined stress by the analysis of LEfSe and PICRUSt2. It was inferred from the network analysis that the combined stress of HDPE and chlorimuron-ethyl reduced the total number of connections and network density of soil bacteria， simplified the network structure， and changed the important flora species to maintain the stability of the network. The results above indicated that the combined stress of HDPE and chlorimuron-ethyl significantly affected the growth of soybean and changed the rhizosphere bacterial community structure， soil function， and network structure. Compared with that of the single pollutant treatment， the potential risk of combined stress was greater. The results of this study can provide guidance for evaluating the ecological risks of polyethylene microplastics and chlorimuron-ethyl and for the remediation of contaminated soil.

Penthorum chinense Pursh inhibits ferroptosis in cellular and Caenorhabditis elegans models of Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Ferroptosis, a unique type of cell death triggered by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a debilitating condition marked by memory loss and cognitive impairment due to the accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aß) and hyperphosphorylated Tau protein. Increasing evidence suggests that inhibitors of ferroptosis could be groundbreaking in the treatment of AD. METHOD: In this study, we established in vitro ferroptosis using erastin-, RSL-3-, hemin-, and iFSP1-induced PC-12 cells. Using MTT along with Hoechst/PI staining, we assessed cell viability and death. To determine various aspects of ferroptosis, we employed fluorescence probes, including DCFDA, JC-1, C11 BODIPY, Mito-Tracker, and PGSK, to measure ROS production, mitochondrial membrane potential, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial morphology, and intracellular iron levels. Additionally, Western blotting, biolayer interferometry technology, and shRNA were utilized to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, p-CAX APP Swe/Ind- and pRK5-EGFP-Tau P301L overexpressing PC-12 cells, along with Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) strains CL4176, CL2331, and BR5270, were employed to examine ferroptosis in AD models. RESULTS: Here, we conducted a screening of our natural medicine libraries and identified the ethanol extract of Penthorum chinense Pursh (PEE), particularly its ethyl acetate fraction (PEF), displayed inhibitory effects on ferroptosis in cells. Specifically, PEF inhibited the generation of ROS, lipid peroxidation, and intracellular iron levels. Furthermore, PEF demonstrated protective effects against H2O2-induced cell death, ROS production, and mitochondrial damage. Mechanistic investigations unveiled PEF's modulation of intracellular iron accumulation, GPX4 expression and activity, and FSP1 expression. In p-CAX APP Swe/Ind and pRK5-EGFP-Tau P301L overexpressing PC-12 cells, PEF significantly reduced cell death, as well as ROS and lipid peroxidase production. Moreover, PEF ameliorated paralysis and slowing rate in Aß and Tau transgenic C. elegans models, while inhibiting ferroptosis, as evidenced by decreased DHE intensity, lipid peroxidation levels, iron accumulation, and expression of SOD-3 and gst-4. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the suppressive effects of PEF on ferroptosis in AD cellular and C. elegans models. This study helps us better understand how ferroptosis affects AD and emphasizes the potential of PCP as a candidate for AD intervention.

Diagnostic performance of intravascular ultrasound-based fractional flow reserve in evaluating of intermediate left main stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The recently introduced ultrasonic flow ratio (UFR), is a novel fast computational method to derive fractional flow reserve (FFR) from intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images. In the present study, we evaluate the diagnostic performance of UFR in patients with intermediate left main (LM) stenosis. METHODS: This is a prospective, single center study enrolling consecutive patients with presence of intermediated LM lesions (diameter stenosis of 30%-80% by visual estimation) underwent IVUS and FFR measurement. An independent core laboratory assessed offline UFR and IVUS-derived minimal lumen area (MLA) in a blinded fashion. RESULTS: Both UFR and FFR were successfully achieved in 41 LM patients (mean age, 62.0 ± 9.9 years, 46.3% diabetes). An acceptable correlation between UFR and FFR was identified (r = 0.688, P < 0.0001), with an absolute numerical difference of 0.03 (standard difference: 0.01). The area under the curve (AUC) in diagnosis of physiologically significant coronary stenosis for UFR was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.87-1.01), which was significantly higher than angiographic identified stenosis > 50% (AUC = 0.66, P < 0.001) and numerically higher than IVUS-derived MLA (AUC = 0.82; P = 0.09). Patient level diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity for UFR to identify FFR ≤ 0.80 was 82.9% (95% CI: 70.2-95.7), 93.1% (95% CI: 82.2-100.0), 58.3% (95% CI: 26.3-90.4), respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with intermediate LM diseases, UFR was proved to be associated with acceptable correlation and high accuracy with pressure wire-based FFR as standard reference. The present study supports the use of UFR for functional evaluation of intermediate LM stenosis.

Two novel pathogenic variants in the TCOF1 found in two Chinese cases of Treacher Collins syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Treacher Collins Ι syndrome (TCS1, OMIM:154500) is an autosomal dominant disease with a series of clinical manifestations such as craniofacial dysplasia including eye and ear abnormalities, small jaw deformity, cleft lip, as well as repeated respiratory tract infection and conductive hearing loss. Two cases of Treacher Collins syndrome with TCOF1(OMIM:606847) gene variations were reported in the article, with clinical characteristics, gene variants and the etiology. METHODS: The clinical data of two patients with Treacher Collins syndrome caused by TCOF1 gene variation were retrospectively analyzed. The whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed to detect the pathogenic variants of TCOF1 gene in the patients, and the verification of variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Proband 1 presented with bilateral craniofacial deformities, conductive hearing loss and recurrent respiratory tract infection. Proband 2 showed bilateral craniofacial malformations with cleft palate, which harbored similar manifestations in her family. She died soon after birth due to dyspnea and feeding difficulties. WES identified two novel pathogenic variants of TCOF1 gene in two probands, each with one variant. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the heterozygous variation NM_001371623.1: c.877del (p. Ala293Profs*34) of TCOF1 gene was detected in Proband 1, which was evaluated as a likely pathogenic (LP) and de novo variant. Another variant found in Proband 2 was NM_001135243.1: c.1660_1661del (p. D554Qfs*3) heterozygous variation, which was evaluated as a pathogenic variation and the variant inherited from the mother. To date, the two variants have not been reported before. CONCLUSION: Our study found two novel pathogenic variants of TCOF1 gene and clarified the etiology of Treacher Collins syndrome. We also enriched the phenotypic spectrum of Treacher Collins syndrome and TCOF1 gene variation spectrum in the Chinese population, and provided the basis for clinical diagnosis, treatment and genetic counseling.

A multifactorial study of mass movement in the hilly and gully Loess Plateau based on intensive field surveys and remote sensing techniques.

Mass movements, driven by various non-linearly correlated factors, exhibit high randomness, posing vast difficulties for field observations and subsequent investigations into the underlying mechanisms. In this study 157 mass movement incidents (including collapses, slump and spalling) and their primary influencing factors were surveyed in a small catchment of the hilly and gully Loess Plateau, China, through intensive field investigations and remote sensing techniques. The spatial pattern of mass movement and its relation with the influencing factors were assessed, while the relative impact of different factors was studied using the canonical correlation analysis. Results showed that 1) Mass movements predominantly occurred on gully slopes steeper than 70°. Collapses were the main type of mass movement, accounting for 87.9 % of the number of samples. 2) With regard to the impact of individual factors, rainstorms (rainfall intensity >50 mm day-1) significantly enhanced the occurrence frequency, erosion area and erosion volume of mass movement. The occurrence frequency and erosion area / volume were highest at a soil dry bulk density of 1.34 g cm-3 and 1.54 g cm-3, respectively. Mass movement occurred most frequently on unvegetated or unrooted gully slopes, where the resisting effect of vegetation on mass movement was absent. Gully slopes with smooth rather than rugged profiles were also found to be typical areas of mass movement. The occurrence frequency of mass movement decreased with the elevated topographic wetness index (TWI) and distance to slope top and increased with the distance to channels. 3) For the relative impact of different factors, rainfall and shear strength were key factors facilitating and resisting the onset of mass movement, respectively, while topography exerted the greatest influence on the erosion area and volume. This study revealed the relative influence of different factors on occurrence and scale of mass movement, providing a useful reference for modelling and control of the problem.

Fluorescence emission mechanism for the π-conjugated zwitterion 2,4-Bisimidazolylphenol base on ESIPT: A TDDFT theoretical reconsideration.

Molecules with zwitterionic characteristics exhibit significant potential for utilization in nonlinear optics, optoelectronics, and organic lasers owing to their large dipole moments. Recently, the synthesized compound 2,4-bis (4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl) phenol (2,4-bImP) by Sakai et al. has been noticed for its unique photochromic properties in solvents [J. Phys. Chem. A, 125 (2021), 4784-4792]. The observed fluorescence in chloroform was attributed to the keto tautomer. Based on the excited state intramolecular proton transfer, the photochromism of 2,4-bImP in chloroform was interpreted as zwitterion production. However, the zwitterion with a specific electronic structure can be in resonance with the conventional neutral structure. The impact of the resonance contribution from the zwitterion and the conventional neutral structure on fluorescence attribution was not taken into account in the previous studies. In this investigation, the ESIPT mechanism of the 2,4-bImP in chloroform has been explored using both the density functional theory and the time-dependent density functional theory. The optimized geometric configuration parameters illustrate the molecular resonant properties. The calculated fluorescence spectra on the basis of the optimization results further corroborate that the fluorescence peaks after proton transfer originates from the resonance of the zwitterionic and the neutral configuration. The zwitterionic nature of the molecule was demonstrated by electrostatic potential and atomic dipole modified Hesfeld atomic charge (ADCH) analysis. Furthermore, the characterization of potential energy curves and IR spectrum further verified the resonance of both the zwitterionic and neutral structures. The results reveal that the 2,4-bImP molecule generates the neutral o-quinoid structure and the zwitterionic structure resonance phenomenon following ESIPT. The aforementioned resonance structure offers novel insights into the ascription of fluorescence. These discoveries establish the theoretical foundation for the exploration and development of zwitterions.

A prospective, single-arm trial of PD-1 inhibitors plus chemoradiotherapy for solitary metachronous metastasis nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Initial treatment for Recurrent/Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (R/M NPC) often involves Gemcitabine plus cisplatin with or without PD-1 inhibitors. However, PD-1 inhibitors' effectiveness varies, prompting for better treatments. This study explores effect and safety of combining PD-1 inhibitors with chemoradiotherapy for oligometastatic NPC patients. METHODS: Oligometastatic NPC patients underwent radical treatment with PD-1 inhibitors and chemotherapy, followed by concurrent PD-1 inhibitors and chemoradiotherapy, and then maintenance PD-1 inhibitors. Objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were calculated by irRECIST-1.1, and CTCAE-4.0 was used to evaluate the toxicity. RESULTS: The study enrolled 47 patients with a median age of 46. The median follow-up lasted 16.5 months, with metastatic lesions receiving a median radiation dose of 45 Gy. The median courses of PD-1 inhibitors and chemotherapy were 9.5 and 5 respectively. The metastasis sites included lung (40.8 %), liver (21.1 %), mediastinal lymph node (7.9 %), abdominal lymph nodes (3.9 %), bone (21.1 %), adrenal gland (3.9 %), and brain (1.3 %). ORR and DCR were 85.1 % and 100 % at 3 months after radiotherapy. The median survival was not reached yet, and 1 and 2-year OS rates were 93.1 % and 78.4 %. The median PFS was 18 months, with 1 and 2-year PFS rates of 70.2 % and 47.7 % respectively. PD-L1 expression showed a positive correlation for PFS. Twenty-five patients experienced grade 3 or 4 adverse events (AE) that were possibly related to chemotherapy. No grade 5 AE was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The synergy of concurrent PD-1 inhibitors and chemoradiotherapy shows promising efficacy and an acceptable toxicity for oligometastasis NPC patients.

Early Outcomes of Bone Autografting in the Bilateral Atlantoaxial Joints Applied in Posterior Fusion Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Cable-dragged reduction and cantilever beam internal fixation can provide promising results in the treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation or instability. However, bilateral atlantoaxial joints bone autografting has not been conducted in this technique. We aim to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of bilateral atlantoaxial joints bone autografting in posterior cable-dragged reduction and cantilever-beam internal fixation. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we included 14 patients with a minimum 24-month follow-up from December 2019 to September 2020. The granular bone harvested from the iliac crest was packed into the bilateral atlantoaxial joints of 14 patients in posterior cable-dragged reduction and cantilever-beam internal fixation. X-ray imaging and cervical computed tomography (CT) were performed during follow-up. The time required for bone fusion was recorded. The clinical outcomes were evaluated using the JOA scores, NDI, and VAS scores. Mann-Whitney U test, the chi-squared test, or the Fisher exact test were used to compare the two groups regarding patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, bone fusion rates, and cervical sagittal alignment. RESULTS: The operations were successfully performed in all patients without any intraoperative complications. The mean operation time was (169.64 ± 20.91) minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was (130.71 ± 33.62) mL. All patients received satisfactory reductions and firm bony fusion at the final follow-up. The fusion rates were 64.29% in the atlantoaxial joints and 21.43% in post bone graft area at 3 months postoperatively, and a significant difference was observed (p = 0.022). Besides, the cervical sagittal alignment in all patients was well maintained in the last follow-up compared to preoperatively. Importantly, a complete bony fusion in the atlantoaxial joints was observed in all patients. Moreover, the JOA, NDI, and VAS scores had improved significantly at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Bone autografting of the bilateral atlantoaxial joints is a safe and effective technique to increase bone fusion rates, shorten bone fusion time, and reduce complication rates when the cable-dragged reduction and cantilever beam internal fixation approach is used. Therefore, it is a cost-effective surgical procedure for treating patients with atlantoaxial dislocation or instability.

Splicing factor SRSF1 is essential for homing of precursor spermatogonial stem cells in mice.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are essential for continuous spermatogenesis and male fertility. The underlying mechanisms of alternative splicing (AS) in mouse SSCs are still largely unclear. We demonstrated that SRSF1 is essential for gene expression and splicing in mouse SSCs. Crosslinking immunoprecipitation and sequencing data revealed that spermatogonia-related genes (e.g. Plzf, Id4, Setdb1, Stra8, Tial1/Tiar, Bcas2, Ddx5, Srsf10, Uhrf1, and Bud31) were bound by SRSF1 in the mouse testes. Specific deletion of Srsf1 in mouse germ cells impairs homing of precursor SSCs leading to male infertility. Whole-mount staining data showed the absence of germ cells in the testes of adult conditional knockout (cKO) mice, which indicates Sertoli cell-only syndrome in cKO mice. The expression of spermatogonia-related genes (e.g. Gfra1, Pou5f1, Plzf, Dnd1, Stra8, and Taf4b) was significantly reduced in the testes of cKO mice. Moreover, multiomics analysis suggests that SRSF1 may affect survival of spermatogonia by directly binding and regulating Tial1/Tiar expression through AS. In addition, immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry and co-immunoprecipitation data showed that SRSF1 interacts with RNA splicing-related proteins (e.g. SART1, RBM15, and SRSF10). Collectively, our data reveal the critical role of SRSF1 in spermatogonia survival, which may provide a framework to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the posttranscriptional network underlying homing of precursor SSCs.

Photoinduced Triphenylphosphine and Iodide Salt Promoted Reductive Decarboxylative Coupling.

The transient electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex has been an emerging area in the photoinduced organic synthesis field, generating radicals without exogenous transition-metal or organic dye-based photoredox catalysts. The catalytic platform to form suitable photoactive EDA complexes for photochemical reduction reactions remains underdeveloped. Herein, a general photoinduced reductive alkylation via the EDA complex strategy is described. A simple yet multifunctional system, triphenylphosphine and iodide salt, promotes the photoinduced decarboxylative hydroalkylation, and reductive defluorinative decarboxylative alkylation of trifluoromethyl alkenes, to access trifluoromethyl alkanes and gem-difluoroalkenes. Moreover, decarboxylative hydroalkylation can be applied to more kinds of electron-deficient alkenes as a general Giese addition reaction.

Genome-Wide Identification of bZIP Transcription Factors in Cymbidium ensifolium and Analysis of Their Expression under Low-Temperature Stress.

The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors constitute the most widely distributed and conserved eukaryotic family. They play crucial roles in plant growth, development, and responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses, exerting strong regulatory control over the expression of downstream genes. In this study, a genome-wide characterization of the CebZIP transcription factor family was conducted using bioinformatic analysis. Various aspects, including physicochemical properties, phylogenetics, conserved structural domains, gene structures, chromosomal distribution, gene covariance relationships, promoter cis-acting elements, and gene expression patterns, were thoroughly analyzed. A total of 70 CebZIP genes were identified from the C. ensifolium genome, and they were randomly distributed across 18 chromosomes. The phylogenetic tree clustered them into 11 subfamilies, each exhibiting complex gene structures and conserved motifs arranged in a specific order. Nineteen pairs of duplicated genes were identified among the 70 CebZIP genes, with sixteen pairs affected by purifying selection. Cis-acting elements analysis revealed a plethora of regulatory elements associated with stress response, plant hormones, and plant growth and development. Transcriptome and qRT-PCR results demonstrated that the expression of CebZIP genes was universally up-regulated under low temperature conditions. However, the expression patterns varied among different members. This study provides theoretical references for identifying key bZIP genes in C. ensifolium that confer resistance to low-temperature stress, and lays the groundwork for further research into their broader biological functions.

Computer-aided investigation of Traditional Chinese Medicine mechanisms: A case study of San-Ao decoction in asthma treatment.

The San-Ao Decoction (SAD) is a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula used to alleviate respiratory symptoms, including asthma. However, its precise mechanisms of action have remained largely unknown. In this study, we utilized computer-aided approaches to explore these mechanisms. Firstly, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of SAD, which allowed us to identify the 28 main ingredients. Then, we employed computer simulations to investigate the potential active ingredients of SAD and the corresponding binding sites of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1). The simulations revealed that D509 and D647 were the potential binding sites for TRPV1. Notably, molecular dynamics (MD) studies indicated that site D509 may function as an allosteric site of TRPV1. Furthermore, to validate the computer-aided predictions, we performed experimental studies, including in vitro and in vivo assays. The results of these experiments confirmed the predictions made by our computational models, providing further evidence for the mechanisms of action of San-Ao Decoction in asthma treatment. Our findings demonstrated that: i) D509 and D647 of TRPV1 are the key binding sites for the main ingredients of SAD; ii) SAD or its main ingredients significantly reduce the influx of Ca2+ through TRPV1, following the TCM principle of "Jun, Chen, Zuo, Shi"; iii) SAD shows efficiency in comprehensive in vivo validation. In conclusion, our computer-aided investigation of San-Ao Decoction in asthma treatment has provided valuable insights into the therapeutic mechanisms of this TCM formula. The combination of computational analysis and experimental validation has proven effective in enhancing our understanding of TCM and may pave the way for future discoveries in the field.

Arsenic biogeochemical cycling association with basin-scale dynamics of microbial functionality and organic matter molecular composition.

Geogenic arsenic (As)-contaminated groundwater is a sustaining global health concern that is tightly constrained by multiple interrelated biogeochemical processes. However, a complete spectrum of the biogeochemical network of high-As groundwater remains to be established, concurrently neglecting systematic zonation of groundwater biogeochemistry on the regional scale. We uncovered the geomicrobial interaction network governing As biogeochemical pathways by merging in-field hydrogeochemical monitoring, metagenomic analyses, and ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) characterization of dissolved organic matter. In oxidizing to weakly reducing environments, the nitrate-reduction and sulfate-reduction encoding genes (narGHI, sat) inhibited the dissolution of As-bearing iron minerals, leading to lower As levels in groundwater. In settings from weakly to moderately reducing, high abundances of sulfate-reduction and iron-transport encoding genes boosted iron mineral dissolution and consequent As release. As it evolved to strongly reducing stage, elevated abundance of methane cycle-related genes (fae, fwd, fmd) further enhanced As mobilization in part by triggering the formation of gaseous methylarsenic. During redox cycling of N, S, Fe, C and As in groundwater, As migration to groundwater and immobilization in mineral particles are geochemically constrained by basin-scale dynamics of microbial functionality and DOM molecular composition. The study constructs a theoretical model to summarize new perspectives on the biogeochemical network of As cycling.

The promotive role of lncRNA MIR205HG in proliferation, invasion, and migration of melanoma cells via the JMJD2C/ALKBH5 axis.

Melanoma is a highly malignant skin cancer. This study aimed to investigate the role of long non-coding RNA MIR205 host gene (lncRNA MIR205HG) in proliferation, invasion, and migration of melanoma cells via jumonji domain containing 2C (JMJD2C) and ALKB homolog 5 (ALKBH5). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction or Western blot assay showed that MIR205HG, JMJD2C, and ALKBH5 were increased in melanoma cell lines. Cell counting kit-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays showed that silencing MIR205HG inhibited proliferation, invasion, and migration of melanoma cells. RNA immunoprecipitation, actinomycin D treatment, and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that MIR205HG may bind to human antigen R (HuR, ELAVL1) and stabilized JMJD2C expression, and JMJD2C may increase the enrichment of H3K9me3 in the ALKBH5 promotor region to promote ALKBH5 transcription. The tumor xenograft assay based on subcutaneous injection of sh-MIR205HG-treated melanoma cells showed that silencing MIR205HG suppressed tumor growth and reduced Ki67 positive rate by inactivating the JMJD2C/ALKBH5 axis. Generally, MIR205HG facilitated proliferation, invasion, and migration of melanoma cells through HuR-mediated stabilization of JMJD2C and increasing ALKBH5 transcription by erasing H3K9me3.

Long-term MNNG exposure promotes gastric carcinogenesis by activating METTL3/m6A/miR1184 axis-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

As the representative item of environmental chemical carcinogen, MNNG was closely associated with the onset of Gastric cancer (GC), while the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we comprehensively analyzed the potential clinical significance of METTL3 in multiple GC patient cohorts. Additionally, we demonstrated that long-term exposure to MNNG elevated METTL3 and EMT marker expression by in vitro and in vivo models. Furthermore, the depletion of METTL3 impacted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenesis of MNNG malignant transformation cells and GC cells. By me-RIP sequencing, we identified a panel of vital miRNAs potentially regulated by METTL3 that aberrantly expressed in MNNG-induced GC cells. Mechanistically, we showed that METTL3 meditated miR-1184/TRPM2 axis by regulating the process of miRNA-118. Our results provide novel insights into critical epigenetic molecular events vital to MNNG-induced gastric carcinogenesis. These findings suggest the potential therapeutic targets of METTL3 for GC treatment.

Lactobacillus plantarum supernatant inhibits growth of Riemerella anatipestifer and mediates intestinal antimicrobial defense in Muscovy ducks.

Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) is an important pathogen of waterfowl, with multiple serotypes and a lack of cross-protection between each serotype, which leads to the continued widespread in the world and causing significant economic losses to the duck industry. Thus, prevention and inhibition of RA infection are of great concern. Previous research has established that Lactobacillus plantarum supernatant (LPS) can prevents the pathogenic bacteria infection. However, LPS whether inhibits RA and underlying mechanisms have not yet been clarified. In this study, we investigated the direct and indirect effects of LPS-ZG7 against RA infection in Muscovy ducks. The results demonstrated that LPS-ZG7 prevented RA growth in the presence of pH-neutralized, and the inhibition was relatively stable and unaffected by heat, acid-base and ultraviolet light (UV). Following flow cytometry data found that LPS-ZG7 increased RA membrane permeability and leakage of intracellular molecules. And scanning electron microscopy revealed LPS-ZG7 damaged the RA membrane integrity and leading to RA death. Furthermore, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis represented that LPS-ZG7 upregulated mucosal tight junction proteins occludin, claudin-1, and Zo-1 in Muscovy ducks, and increasing mucosal transport channels SGLT-1, PepT1, AQP2, AQP3, and AQP10 in duodenum, jejunum, and colon, then decreased the intestinal permeability and intestinal barrier disruption which were caused from RA. From the data, it is apparent that LPS-ZG7 enhanced intestinal mucosal integrity by rising villus height, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio and lower crypt depth. LPS-ZG7 significantly decreased intestinal epithelia cells apoptosis caused by RA invasion, and enhanced intestinal permeability and contribute to barrier dysfunction, ultimately improving intestinal health of host, indirectly leading to reduce diarrhea rate and mortality caused by RA. Overall, this study strengthens the idea that LPS-ZG7 directly inhibited the RA growth by increased RA membrane permeability and damaged the RA membrane integrity, and then indirectly enhanced intestinal mucosal integrity, improved intestinal health of host and mediated intestinal antimicrobial defense.

BCAS2 regulates oocyte meiotic prophase I by participating in mRNA alternative splicing.

Oocyte meiotic prophase I (MI) is an important event in female reproduction. Breast cancer amplified sequence 2 (BCAS2) is a component of the spliceosome. Previous reports have shown that BCAS2 is critical in male germ cell meiosis, oocyte development, and early embryo genome integrity. However, the role of BCAS2 in oocyte meiosis has not been reported. We used Stra8-GFPCre mice to knock out Bcas2 in oocytes during the pachytene phase. The results of fertility tests showed that Bcas2 conditional knockout (cKO) in oocytes results in infertility in female mice. Morphological analysis showed that the number of primordial follicles in the ovaries of 2-month-old (M) mice was significantly reduced and that follicle development was blocked. Further analysis showed that the number of primordial follicles decreased and that follicle development was slowed in 7-day postpartum (dpp) ovaries. Moreover, primordial follicles undergo apoptosis, and DNA damage cannot be repaired in primary follicle oocytes. Meiosis was abnormal; some oocytes could not reach the diplotene stage, and more oocytes could not develop to the dictyotene stage. Alternative splicing (AS) analysis revealed abnormal AS of deleted in azoospermia like (Dazl) and diaphanous related formin 2 (Diaph2) oogenesis-related genes in cKO mouse ovaries, and the process of AS was involved by CDC5L and PRP19.