Description of three new species of Gyrodactylus von Nordmann, 1832 (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) on bitterling fishes (Acheilognathinae) from China.

Three new species of Gyrodactylus are described from three species of bitterling in Donghu Lake, China: Gyrodactylus ocellorhodei n. sp. from Rhodeus ocellatus; G. sinenorhodei n. sp. from Rhodeus sinensis; and G. acheilorhodei n. sp. from Acheilognathus macropterus. All the three new species showed similar opisthaptor morphology, especially the marginal hooks: all had a slender and perpendicular sickle shaft, and flat sickle base with distinct heel and inner arch which was different from the G. rhodei-group species parasitic on bitterling. Multivariate analyses based on hamulus and marginal hooks suggested that these three new species cannot be completely distinguished, despite some morphology divergence observed in certain less reliable morphometric features, such as hamulus root length, ventral bar total length and process shape. These three new species shared an identical 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequence, while the variation in the Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS1-ITS2) sequence among them (8.4-11.2%, K2P) far exceeded the 1% ITS sequence difference that had been suggested as a threshold for species delimitation of Gyrodactylus. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS1-ITS2 showed that all these sequenced Gyrodactylus spp. parasitic on the subfamily Acheilognathinae host formed a monophyletic group. However, a clear differentiation (18.9-20.9%, K2P of ITS1-ITS2) could be found between the subgroup from China (G. ocellorhodei n. sp., G. sinenorhodei n. sp. and G. acheilorhodei n. sp.) and that from Europe (G. rhodei).

Aggressive vertebral hemangiomas contain no adipose tissue resulting in thoracic spine kyphosis: A case report.

RATIONALE: Aggressive vertebral hemangiomas (AVHs) destroy continuous vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs and resulting in spinal kyphosis is extremely rare. The very aggressive behavior was attributable to its significant vascular component and contained no adipose tissue. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a case of thoracic spine kyphosis of AVHs with multiple vertebral bodies and intervertebral disc destruction in a 45-year-old woman. DIAGNOSES: Based on the imaging studies, the patient underwent surgical removal of this lesion and spinal reconstruction. Histopathology consistent with vertebral hemangioma and contained no adipose. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent surgical removal of the lesion and spinal reconstruction. After subperiosteal dissection of the paraspinal muscles and exposure of the laminae, the laminae of the T5-7 vertebrae were removed and exposing the lesion. The lesion was soft and showed cystic changes, completely curetted and autogenous bone was implanted. Vertebroplasty was performed through T3-T9 pedicles bilaterally. Pedicle screw fixation was performed for segmental fixation and fusion. OUTCOMES: After 9 days of operation, the incision healed cleanly and free of pain. She was discharged in good general condition. The patient remained asymptomatic after follow-up 6 months of postoperative. LESSONS: AVHs destroy multiple vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs and resulting in spinal kyphosis is extremely rare.

Chronic exposure to gestodene impairs reproductive system in adult female zebrafish (Daniarerio).

Gestodene (GES) is widely used in human therapy and animal husbandry and is frequently detected in aquatic environments. Although GES adversely affects aquatic organisms at trace levels, its effects on the reproductive biology of fish remain inconclusive. In this study, female zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to environmentally relevant levels of GES for the evaluation of the effects of GES on the reproductive system by using endpoints including gene expression, plasma steroid concentrations, histological and morphological analyses, copulatory behavior, and reproductive output. Adult female zebrafish exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of GES (4.0, 40.2, and 372.7 ng/L) for 60 d demonstrated stagnant ovarian oocyte development, evidenced by an increase in the percentage of perinuclear and atretic oocytes and a decrease in the percentage of late vitellogenic oocytes. GES-exposed females were less attractive to males and had lower copulatory intimacy than females in control. Consequently, spawning (44.3-49.2 %) and egg fertilization rates (27.9-32.0 %) were decreased. The decreased survival of fertilized eggs and hatching rates were accompanied by increased malformations. These negative effects were associated with abnormal transcriptional levels of gonadal steroid hormones, which were regulated by genes (Hsd17ß3, Hsd11ß2, Hsd20ß, Cyp19a1a, and Cyp11b). Overall, our findings suggest that GES impairs the reproductive system of zebrafish, which may threaten population stability.

Panax notoginseng saponins improve oral submucous fibrosis by inhabiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signal pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic, insidious, progressive mucosal disease that may be affected by mutations in the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) is a powerful anti-fibrosis agent; however, its effect and mechanism in treating OSF remain unclear. This study investigated the effect and mechanism of PNS treatment for OSF. STUDY DESIGN: Arecoline was used to induce OSF models in vivo and in vitro, which were then treated with PNS. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson trichrome staining were used to observe histopathology changes; E-cadherin and ß-catenin were detected by Immunohistochemical assay, and type Ⅰ collagen (CollA1) and ß-catenin were detected by immunofluorescent staining. The Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and fibrosis signs were assessed using Western Blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: The expression of CollA1, Wnt1, and ß-catenin were increased, and E-cadherin, GSK-3ß, and ß-catenin expression were decreased in OSF models. PNS and inhibitor intervention increased E-cadherin, Wnt1, and ß-catenin and decreased CollA1 and GSK-3ß in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: PNS can improve OSF by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signal pathway and thus may be used as a potential medicine for the treatment of OSF.

[The Polymorphism Analysis of HLA Class II Alleles Based on Next-Generation Sequencing and Prevention Strategy for Allele Dropout].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the accuracy of next-generation sequencing technology (NGS) in detecting the polymorphisms of HLA-DRB1, DQB1, DQA1, DRB3, DRB4, DRB5, DPA1 and DPB1 alleles in randomly-selected unrelated healthy individuals from Shenzhen Han population, investigate the potential reason for HLA-DRB1 allele dropout in routine NGS, and establish an internal quality control system. METHODS: NGS-based HLA class II genotyping was performed on 1 012 samples using the MiSeqDxTM platform. The suspected missed alleles indicated by the quality control software and HLA-DRB1 homozygotes were confirmed by PCR-SSOP or PCR-SBT methods. RESULTS: A total of 139 alleles were detected, including HLA-DRB1(45), DRB3(7), DRB4(5), DRB5(7), DQA1(17), DQB1(21), DPA1(10) and DPB1(27). HLA-DRB1*09:01(17.09%),15:01(10.72%); DRB3*02:02(25.99%),03:01(10.18%); DRB4*01:03(36.46%); DRB5*01:01(15.42%); DQA1*01:02(20.01%),03:02(17.19%); DQB1*03:01(19.47%),03:03(17.98%), 05:02(11.66%), 06:01(10.67%); DPA1*02:02(54.45%), 01:03(31.18%) and DPB1*05:01(39.13%), 02:01(16.90%) alleles were the most common alleles in Shenzhen Han population (frequencies >10%). There was no statistical difference between the gene frequencies of HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 loci in our study. The HLA Common and Well-Documented Alleles in China (CWD2.4) (χ2=12.68, P >0.05). 94 cases of HLA-DRB1 homozygous samples detected by NGS were retested by PCR-SSOP or SBT method, and one case of allele dropout at HLA-DRB1 locus was found. SBT method confirmed that the allele of DRB1*04:03 was missed. The laboratory internal quality control system was established. Two cases of new alleles were detected and named by WHO Nomenclature Committee for Factors of the HLA System. CONCLUSION: The HLA genotyping results based on NGS showed a significantly lower ambiguity rate. The HLA class II alleles exhibit genetic polymorphism in the Han population of unrelated healthy individuals in Shenzhen. The independent method based on NGS in clinical histocompatibility testing has limitations and requires internal quality control strategies to avoid allele-dropout events.

Genome assembly of a symbiotic balantidia (Balantidium ctenopharyngodoni) in fish hindgut.

Balantidium ctenopharyngodoni is identified as the sole ciliate species that exclusively resides within the hindgut of grass carp with high prevalence and intensity. In this study, the successful cultivation of B. ctenopharyngodoni enabled us to collect enough cells for genome sequencing. Consequently, we acquired a high-quality genome assembly spanning 68.66 Mb, encompassing a total of 22,334 nanochromosomes. Furthermore, we predicted 29,348 protein-coding genes, and 95.5% of them was supported by the RNA-seq data. The trend of GC content in the subtelomeric regions of single-gene chromosomes was similar to other ciliates containing nanochromosomes. A large number of genes encoding carbohydrate-binding modules with affinities for starch and peptidoglycans was identified. The identification of mitochondrion-related organelles (MROs) within genome indicates its well-suited adaptation to the anaerobic conditions in the hindgut environment. In summary, our results will offer resources for understanding the genetic basis and molecular adaptations of balantidia to hindgut of herbivorous fish.

Ginsenoside Rb1, Compound K and 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol Attenuate High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemia in Rats via Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Bile Acid Metabolism.

Hyperlipidemia, characterized by elevated serum lipid concentrations resulting from lipid metabolism dysfunction, represents a prevalent global health concern. Ginsenoside Rb1, compound K (CK), and 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), bioactive constituents derived from Panax ginseng, have shown promise in mitigating lipid metabolism disorders. However, the comparative efficacy and underlying mechanisms of these compounds in hyperlipidemia prevention remain inadequately explored. This study investigates the impact of ginsenoside Rb1, CK, and PPD supplementation on hyperlipidemia in rats induced by a high-fat diet. Our findings demonstrate that ginsenoside Rb1 significantly decreased body weight and body weight gain, ameliorated hepatic steatosis, and improved dyslipidemia in HFD-fed rats, outperforming CK and PPD. Moreover, ginsenoside Rb1, CK, and PPD distinctly modified gut microbiota composition and function. Ginsenoside Rb1 increased the relative abundance of Blautia and Eubacterium, while PPD elevated Akkermansia levels. Both CK and PPD increased Prevotella and Bacteroides, whereas Clostridium-sensu-stricto and Lactobacillus were reduced following treatment with all three compounds. Notably, only ginsenoside Rb1 enhanced lipid metabolism by modulating the PPARγ/ACC/FAS signaling pathway and promoting fatty acid ß-oxidation. Additionally, all three ginsenosides markedly improved bile acid enterohepatic circulation via the FXR/CYP7A1 pathway, reducing hepatic and serum total bile acids and modulating bile acid pool composition by decreasing primary/unconjugated bile acids (CA, CDCA, and ß-MCA) and increasing conjugated bile acids (TCDCA, GCDCA, GDCA, and TUDCA), correlated with gut microbiota changes. In conclusion, our results suggest that ginsenoside Rb1, CK, and PPD supplementation offer promising prebiotic interventions for managing HFD-induced hyperlipidemia in rats, with ginsenoside Rb1 demonstrating superior efficacy.

Trimethylamine N-Oxide Improves Exercise Performance by Reducing Oxidative Stress through Activation of the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) has attracted interest because of its association with cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and evidence for the beneficial effects of TMAO is accumulating. This study investigates the role of TMAO in improving exercise performance and elucidates the underlying molecular mechanisms. Using C2C12 cells, we established an oxidative stress model and administered TMAO treatment. Our results indicate that TMAO significantly protects myoblasts from oxidative stress-induced damage by increasing the expression of Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NQO1), and catalase (CAT). In particular, suppression of Nrf2 resulted in a loss of the protective effects of TMAO and a significant decrease in the expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1. In addition, we evaluated the effects of TMAO in an exhaustive swimming test in mice. TMAO treatment significantly prolonged swimming endurance, increased glutathione and taurine levels, enhanced glutathione peroxidase activity, and increased the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant genes, including HO-1, NQO1, and CAT, in skeletal muscle. These findings underscore the potential of TMAO to counteract exercise-induced oxidative stress. This research provides new insights into the ability of TMAO to alleviate exercise-induced oxidative stress via the Nrf2 signaling pathway, providing a valuable framework for the development of sports nutrition supplements aimed at mitigating oxidative stress.

Immune response and apoptosis of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) gills to Chilodonella hexasticha infection: Insights from histopathological and multi-omics analyses.

Gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) is an important economically farmed fish in China. Chilodonella hexasticha parasitizes on the gills and fins of host fish, causing disruption to their normal respiration and movement, ultimately resulting in death of the fish. In this study, a combination of histopathological, immunohistochemical, transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), multi-omics, and molecular approaches were employed to identify the immune reaction and cell apoptosis in gill tissue in response to C. hexasticha infection. Significant lamellae fusion, hyperplasia, hyperemia, necrosis, and desquamation of infected gibel carp gills were observed. In total, the expression of 3619 genes was higher, and 3143 lower, for gills in the infected group compared to the control group. Furthermore, 76 metabolites were significantly increased and 105 were significantly decreased in the infected group compared with the control group. From the qRT-PCR analysis results, immune system-related genes encoding IL-8, CXCL8a, and CXC11 were significantly up-regulated in infected gibel carp, while ZAP70 was significantly down-regulated. Immunohistochemical results also showed the down-regulated ZAP70 in the infected group. Apoptosis-related genes encoding CASP3 and Mcl-1b were up-regulated in response to C. hexasticha infection. These genes indicate the activation of CASP family-related apoptosis and Bim-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. TUNEL assays also revealed severe apoptosis in the infected group. Based on this study's results, it can be concluded that C. hexasticha infection leads to histopathological changes in the gills of infected fish, and induces both a significant immune response and apoptosis.

Investigating the correlation of delirium after cardiac surgery with memories and posttraumatic stress disorder consequences of intensive care unit: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the differences in post-intensive care unit memory and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms between patients with and without delirium, and assess the correlations between the two. DESIGN: Prospective cohort observation study. SETTING: A cardiac intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in China. We enrolled 318 consecutive patients after cardiac surgery between December 2017 and March 2019. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU from intensive care unit admission to discharge. Intensive care unit memory was assessed using the ICU-Memory Tool through face-to-face interviews one week after discharge. Posttraumatic stress disorder was measured telephonically using the Impact of Events Scale-revised questionnaire at three months post-discharge. RESULTS: Eighty patients each in the delirium and non-delirium groups were enrolled for follow-up interviews. Patients with delirium had vaguer memories of pre-intensive care unit admission and of their stay, and recollected more memories of feelings (vs. without delirium). Posttraumatic stress disorder was diagnosed in 14 patients with and in seven without delirium, with non-significant differences between groups. Delirium did not influence post-intensive care unit factual, feeling, and delusional memories, nor posttraumatic stress disorder and hyperarousal, intrusion, and avoidance. The memories of feelings were positively correlated with the last three (r = 0.285, r = 0.390 and r = 0.373, respectively). CONCLUSION: Patients with delirium had vague intensive care unit memories. Memories of feelings were positively correlated with symptoms of hyperarousal, intrusion, and avoidance. Delirium did not influence factual, feeling, or delusional memories nor posttraumatic stress disorder incidence and symptoms. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Interventions are needed to reduce the impact of vague memory in patients with post-intensive care unit delirium. Memories of feelings should be focused on because of their correlation with hyperarousal, intrusion, and avoidance. Delirium prevention and early recognition measures are suggested.

Strong mitonuclear discordance in the phylogeny of Neodermata and evolutionary rates of Polyopisthocotylea.

The genomic evolution of Polyopisthocotylea remains poorly understood in comparison to the remaining three classes of Neodermata: Monopisthocotylea, Cestoda, and Trematoda. Moreover, the evolutionary sequence of major events in the phylogeny of Neodermata remains unresolved. Herein we sequenced the mitogenome and transcriptome of the polyopisthocotylean Diplorchis sp., and conducted comparative evolutionary analyses using nuclear (nDNA) and mitochondrial (mtDNA) genomic datasets of Neodermata. We found strong mitonuclear discordance in the phylogeny of Neodermata. Polyopisthocotylea exhibited striking mitonuclear discordance in relative evolutionary rates: the fastest-evolving mtDNA in Neodermata and a comparatively slowly-evolving nDNA genome. This was largely attributable to its very long stem branch in mtDNA topologies, not exhibited by the nDNA data. We found indications that the fast evolution of mitochondrial genomes of Polyopisthocotylea may be driven both by relaxed purifying selection pressures and elevated levels of directional selection. We identified mitochondria-associated genes encoded in the nuclear genome: they exhibited unique evolutionary rates, but not correlated with the evolutionary rate of mtDNA, and there is no evidence for compensatory evolution (they evolved slower than the rest of the genome). Finally, there appears to exist an exceptionally large (≈6.3 kb) nuclear mitochondrial DNA segment (numt) in the nuclear genome of newly sequenced Diplorchis sp. A 3'-end segment of the 16S rRNA gene encoded by the numt was expressed, suggesting that this gene acquired novel, regulatory functions after the transposition to the nuclear genome. In conclusion, Polyopisthocotylea appears to be the lineage with the fastest-evolving mtDNA sequences among all of Bilateria, but most of the substitutions were accumulated deep in the evolutionary history of this lineage. As the nuclear genome does not exhibit a similar pattern, the circumstances underpinning this evolutionary phenomenon remain a mystery.

A study of machine learning models for rapid intraoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules for clinical practice in China.

BACKGROUND: In China, rapid intraoperative diagnosis of frozen sections of thyroid nodules is used to guide surgery. However, the lack of subspecialty pathologists and delayed diagnoses are challenges in clinical treatment. This study aimed to develop novel diagnostic approaches to increase diagnostic effectiveness. METHODS: Artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques were used to automatically diagnose histopathological slides. AI-based models were trained with annotations and selected as efficientnetV2-b0 from multi-set experiments. RESULTS: On 191 test slides, the proposed method predicted benign and malignant categories with a sensitivity of 72.65%, specificity of 100.0%, and AUC of 86.32%. For the subtype diagnosis, the best AUC was 99.46% for medullary thyroid cancer with an average of 237.6 s per slide. CONCLUSIONS: Within our testing dataset, the proposed method accurately diagnosed the thyroid nodules during surgery.

Investigation of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis infection in fish from natural water bodies in the Lhasa and Nagqu regions of Tibet.

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis in fish inhabiting natural water bodies in the Lhasa and Nagqu regions of Tibet in September 2020 and August 2021. The results showed that Schizopygopsis selincuoensis had the highest prevalence of I. multifiliis at 33.73% (56/166), followed by Triplophysa tibetana at 30.00% (6/20), Triplophysa brevicauda at 27.91% (12/43) and Schizopygopsis thermalis at 23.66% (31/131). No infection with I. multifiliis was observed in exotic fish species. In addition, the prevalence of I. multifiliis in Boqu Zangbo (river), Selincuo Lake and Cuona Lake in the Nagqu region was found to be significantly higher than that in Lalu Wetland and Chabalang Wetland in the Lhasa region (P < 0.05). The study revealed a significantly lower prevalence in Lhasa River than in Cuona Lake (P < 0.05). Notably, our findings revealed instances of I. multifiliis infections even in saline water bodies, thereby emphasizing the potential threat that this parasite poses to the preservation of indigenous fish resources in Tibet. Consequently, immediate and effective countermeasures are imperative. This study represents the first systematic investigation of I. multifiliis infection in natural water bodies in Tibet.

Interactions between Balantidium ctenopharyngodoni and microbiota reveal its low pathogenicity in the hindgut of grass carp.

BACKGROUND: Hosts, parasites, and microbiota interact with each other, forming a complex ecosystem. Alterations to the microbial structure have been observed in various enteric parasitic infections (e.g. parasitic protists and helminths). Interestingly, some parasites are associated with healthy gut microbiota linked to the intestinal eubiosis state. So the changes in bacteria and metabolites induced by parasite infection may offer benefits to the host, including protection from other parasitesand promotion of intestinal health. The only ciliate known to inhabit the hindgut of grass carp, Balantidium ctenopharyngodoni, does not cause obvious damage to the intestinal mucosa. To date, its impact on intestinal microbiota composition remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the microbial composition in the hindgut of grass carp infected with B. ctenopharyngodoni, as well as the changes of metabolites in intestinal contents resulting from infection. RESULTS: Colonization by B. ctenopharyngodoni was associated with an increase in bacterial diversity, a higher relative abundance of Clostridium, and a lower abundance of Enterobacteriaceae. The family Aeromonadaceae and the genus Citrobacter had significantly lower relative abundance in infected fish. Additionally, grass carp infected with B. ctenopharyngodoni exhibited a significant increase in creatine content in the hindgut. This suggested that the presence of B. ctenopharyngodoni may improve intestinal health through changes in microbiota and metabolites. CONCLUSIONS: We found that grass carp infected with B. ctenopharyngodoni exhibit a healthy microbiota with an increased bacterial diversity. The results suggested that B. ctenopharyngodoni reshaped the composition of hindgut microbiota similarly to other protists with low pathogenicity. The shifts in the microbiota and metabolites during the colonization and proliferation of B. ctenopharyngodoni indicated that it may provide positive effects in the hindgut of grass carp.

Identification of hub genes distinguishing subtypes in endometrial stromal sarcoma through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis.

Diagnosing low-grade and high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LG-ESS and HG-ESS) is a challenge. This study aimed to identify biomarkers. 22 ESS cases were analyzed using Illumina microarrays. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified via Limma. DEGs were analyzed with String and Cytoscape. Core genes were enriched with GO and KEGG, their pan-cancer implications and immune aspects were studied. 413 DEGs were found by exome sequencing, 2174 by GSE85383 microarray. 36 common genes were identified by Venn analysis, and 10 core genes including RBFOX1, PCDH7, FAT1 were selected. Core gene GO enrichment included cell adhesion, T cell proliferation, and KEGG focused on related pathways. Expression was evaluated across 34 cancers, identifying immune DEGs IGF1 and AVPR1A. Identifying the DEGs not only helps improve our understanding of LG-ESS, HG-ESS but also promises to be potential biomarkers for differential diagnosis between LG-ESS and HG-ESS and new therapeutic targets.

Characterization of the novel HLA-A*30:211 allele by next generation sequencing in a Chinese individual.

HLA-A*30:211 differs from HLA-A*30:01:01:01 by one nucleotide change at nucleotide 344 in exon 3 from G to C.

Full-length sequence of the novel HLA-A*02:1103 allele by next generation sequencing in a Chinese individual.

HLA-A*02:1103 differs from HLA-A*02:01:01:01 by one nucleotide change at nucleotide 811 in exon 4 from G to A.

Parent and Friend Emotion Socialization in Early Adolescence: Their Unique and Interactive Contributions to Emotion Regulation Ability.

During early adolescence, parental influence diminishes, whereas friends' influence increases in shaping emotion regulation abilities. However, it is unclear how parents and friends jointly contribute to emotion regulation abilities and how their joint effects vary by gender. This study examines fathers, mothers, and friends as simultaneous emotional socializers and considers the young adolescents' gender. The analysis drew on 438 young Chinese adolescents (55.7% girls, Mage = 11.39, SD = 1.28) who participated in a longitudinal survey over one year. Results showed that parental and friend emotion socialization have both distinct and joint effects. Friends' responses provided a unique contribution to emotion regulation abilities across gender, whereas parents' responses displayed unique contributions among girls. In predicting girls' emotion regulation abilities, mothers' supportive responses explained the additional variance beyond friends' responses, whereas fathers' unsupportive responses moderated the predictive power of friends' responses. These findings clarify emotion-related socialization theories and emphasize the importance of gender specific prevention programs focusing on emotion socialization from both parents and friends in early adolescence.

HIF-1α is an important regulator of IL-8 expression in human bone marrow stromal cells under hypoxic microenvironment.

The secretion of IL-8 has been found increasing for different reasons in human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), resulting in poor prognosis in patients with hematologic neoplasms. Hypoxia, a typical feature of numerous hematologic neoplasms microenvironment, often produces hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) which stabilizes and promotes tumor progression. Besides, hypoxic conditions also induce IL-8 production in BMSCs. However, very little is known about the mechanism of increased IL-8 expression in BMSCs caused by hypoxia. In the present study, HIF-1α and IL-8 were found highly expressed in BMSC lines under hypoxic conditions. In addition, the expression and secretion of IL-8 were significantly inhibited by the knockdown of HIF-1α under hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, HIF-1α was found to transcriptionally regulate IL-8 by binding to the region of IL-8 promoter at - 147 to - 140. Collectively, these results demonstrate that IL-8's increase is partly due to the hypoxic microenvironment in hematologic neoplasms, and activation of HIF-1α in BMSCs contributes to the induction and transcriptional regulation of IL-8 expression.

Alterations of gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids induced by Balantidium polyvacuolum in the hindgut of Xenocyprinae fishes providing new insights into the relationship among protozoa, gut microbiota and host.

Introduction: Parasitic ciliates are protozoans with a global distribution. Along with the gut microbiota, they have formed a micro-ecosystem that affects the host's nutrition, metabolism, and immunity. The interactions and relationships among the three components of this microecosystem (protozoa, gut microbiota, and host) remain only partially understood. Xenocypris fish and the unique ciliate Balantidium polyvacuolum in its hindgut are good materials to study the interplay. Methods: In this study, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) identification were used. Network was also constructed to understand their relationships. Results: We found that the gut microbiota of B. polyvacuolum-infected X. davidi and X. argentea had higher diversity, richness, and evenness than uninfected ones. B. polyvacuolum could lead to an increase of Fusobacterium and Chloroflexi in both X. davidi and X. argentea, while significantly increase the abundance of genera Romboutsia and Clostridium in X. argentea. Besides, B. polyvacuolum could significantly increase the content of total SCFAs and acetic acid in X. davidi and increase the concentrations of propionic, isobutyric and butanoic acids in X. argentea. Furthermore, correlation analyses showed that B. polyvacuolum may alter SCFAs by affecting key SCFAs-producing bacteria such as Clostridium and Cetobacterium. Discussion: This study greatly expands our understanding of relationships among B. polyvacuolum, gut microbiota and host Xenocypris fish, which sheds new insights into the mechanism of interaction among protozoa, gut microbiota and host.