Anti-inflammatory Polyketides from an Endophytic Fungus Chaetomium sp. UJN-EF006 of Vaccinium bracteatum.

Seven new polyketides including three chromone derivatives (1-3) and four linear ones incorporating a tetrahydrofuran ring (4-7), along with three known compounds (8-10), were obtained from the fermentation of an endophytic fungus (Chaetomium sp. UJN-EF006) isolated from the leaves of Vaccinium bracteatum. The structures of these fungal metabolites have been elucidated by spectroscopic means including MS, NMR and electronic circular dichroism. A preliminary anti-inflammatory screening with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced RAW264.7 cell model revealed moderate NO production inhibitory activity for compounds 1 and 4. In addition, the expression of three LPS-induced inflammatory factors IL-6, iNOS and COX-2 was also blocked by 1 and 4.

Translation and validation of the Chinese version of the orthorexia nervosa assessment questionnaires among college students.

PURPOSE: The main objective of the study was to translate, validate, and compare the Chinese ORTO scales (ORTO-15 and ORTO-R). The secondary objective was to assess factors that may be related with risk of orthorexia nervosa (ON). METHODS: Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted on March-to-June 2021 for ORTO-15 and April 2022 for ORTO-R. ORTO questionnaires were translated into Chinese using the forward-backward-forward method. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), discriminant validity and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to examine the construct validity of the questionnaires. The internal consistency was assessed using the Cronbach alpha coefficient and the test-retest reliability. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to explore potential factors related with ON scores. RESULTS: Totally, 1289 and 1084 eligible participants were included for assessment of ORTO-15 and ORTO-R, with the mean age of 20.9 ± 2.0 years and 21.0 ± 2.3 years. The internal consistency of Chinese ORTO-15 scale and ORTO-R scale were both satisfactory (α = 0.79, ICC = 0.79; α = 0.77, ICC = 0.82). However, all ORTO-15 models showed a poor fit using CFA whereas the ORTO-R was characterized by acceptable goodness-of-fit. Multivariate linear regression indicated that physical activities and mental disorders were positively associated with ON risk assessed by both ORTO-R and ORTO-15. CONCLUSION: The Chinese ORTO-R scale was a more reliable tool to screen for ON tendencies than the Chinese version of ORTO-15. Mental disorders and physical activities might be associated with the increased ON risk. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V (descriptive cross-sectional study).

Clinical Correlates and Reference Intervals for Cystatin C in a Han Population from Southeast China.

BACKGROUND: Cystatin C (CysC) is an endogenous filtration marker for estimation of kidney function. This study aimed to define the reference interval (RI) for serum CysC in a southeast Chinese adult population and to explore the variables that affect serum CysC levels. METHODS: 532 reference individuals (259 male, 273 female, aged 18 - 79 years) were recruited from Guangzhou, China. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) was used to investigate the association between serum CysC levels and clinical factors including age, gender, body mass index, lifestyle, and biochemistry parameters. Reference values were defined using a parametric method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guideline (C28A3). RESULTS: The mean serum CysC levels were significantly lower in females than in males (p < 0.001). Serum CysC levels increased with age (~0.047 mg/L increase per decade). MRA demonstrated that serum CysC levels correlated significantly with serum creatinine (Cr), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin (ALB), and uric acid (UA) concentrations, although their relationships were less prominent than those of gender or age. The RIs for serum CysC levels were calculated at 0.73 - 1.17 mg/L for subjects aged 18 - 49 years and at 0.73 - 1.49 mg/L for those aged 50 - 79 years. CONCLUSIONS: The RIs for serum CysC were established in a southeast Chinese population. In addition to gender and age, serum Cr, HDL-C, ALP, ALB, and UA also influenced serum CysC levels.

[Higher procalcitonin level in diabetic nephropathy patients compared with healthy volunteers].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference of procalcitonin (PCT) level between uninfected diabetic nephropathy patients and healthy volunteers. METHODS: This study enrolled 76 patients with diabetes only [DM group, 24 h urinary micro albumin (mALB) < 30 mg/24 h], 81 patients with early DN (EDN group, mALB 30-300 mg/24 h), 87 DN patients (DN group, mALB > or = 300 mg/24 h), and 82 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. All the patients were free of systemic infection. PCT levels and various laboratory parameters including metabolic and kidney functions as well as inflammatory element profiles were assessed. RESULTS: The PCT level of DN group was significantly higher than that of healthy control group, DM group and EDN group (P < 0.001 or P < 0.05). Spearman's test showed a significant positive correlation between PCT and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, r = 0.541, P < 0.01), Urine acid (UA) (r = 0. 320, P < 0.01), Urea (r = 0.324, P < 0.01), creatinine (Cr) (r= 0.403, P < 0.01), alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (alpha-HBD) (r = 0.791, P < 0.01) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = 0.694, P < 0.001) in diabetic nephropathy patients respectively. CONCLUSION: Serum PCT level of patients with diabetic nephropathy is higher than that of healthy volunteers, which may be associated with minimal inflammation and kidney function damage.

Association between TRP channels and glutamatergic synapse gene polymorphisms and migraine and the comorbidities anxiety and depression in a Chinese population.

Background: Genetic and environmental factors contribute to migraine and the comorbidities of anxiety and depression. However, the association between genetic polymorphisms in the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and glutamatergic synapse genes with the risk of migraine and the comorbidities of anxiety and depression remain unclear. Methods: 251 migraine patients containing 49 comorbidities with anxiety and 112 with depression and 600 controls were recruited. A customized 48-plex SNPscan kit was used for genotyping 13 SNPs of nine target genes. Logistic regression was conducted to analyze these SNPs' association with the susceptibility of migraine and comorbidities. The generalized multifactor dimension reduction (GMDR) was applied to analyze the SNP-SNP and gene-environment interactions. The GTEx database was used to examine the effects of the significant SNPs on gene expressions. Results: The TRPV1 rs8065080 and TRPV3 rs7217270 were associated with an increased risk of migraine in the dominant model [ORadj (95% CI): 1.75 (1.09-2.90), p = 0.025; 1.63 (1.02-2.58), p = 0.039, respectively]. GRIK2 rs2227283 was associated with migraine in the edge of significance [ORadj (95% CI) = 1.36 (0.99-1.89), p = 0.062]. In migraine patients, TRPV1 rs222741 was associated with both anxiety risk and depression risk in the recessive model [ORadj (95% CI): 2.64 (1.24-5.73), p = 0.012; 1.97 (1.02-3.85), p = 0.046, respectively]. TRPM8 rs7577262 was associated with anxiety (ORadj = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.10-0.76, p = 0.011). TRPV4 rs3742037, TRPM8 rs17862920 and SLC17A8 rs11110359 were associated with depression in dominant model [ORadj (95% CI): 2.03 (1.06-3.96), p = 0.035; 0.48 (0.23-0.96), p = 0.042; 0.42 (0.20-0.84), p = 0.016, respectively]. Significant eQTL and sQTL signals were observed for SNP rs8065080. Individuals with GRS (Genetic risk scores) of Q4 (14-17) had a higher risk of migraine and a lower risk of comorbidity anxiety than those with Genetic risk scores scores of Q1 (0-9) groups [ORadj (95% CI): 2.31 (1.39-3.86), p = 0.001; 0.28 (0.08-0.88), p = 0.034, respectively]. Conclusion: This study suggests that TRPV1 rs8065080, TRPV3 rs7217270, and GRIK2 rs2227283 polymorphism may associate with migraine risk. TRPV1 rs222741 and TRPM8 rs7577262 may associate with migraine comorbidity anxiety risk. rs222741, rs3742037, rs17862920, and rs11110359 may associate with migraine comorbidity depression risk. Higher GRS scores may increase migraine risk and decrease comorbidity anxiety risk.

A population-based characterization study of anti-mitochondrial M2 antibodies and its consistency with anti-mitochondrial antibodies.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of anti-mitochondrial antibody subtype M2 (AMA-M2) and assess its consistency with AMA in a general population. METHODS: A total of 8954 volunteers were included to screen AMA-M2 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sera with AMA-M2 >50 RU/mL were further tested for AMA using an indirect immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: The population frequency of AMA-M2 positivity was 9.67%, of which 48.04% were males and 51.96% were females. The AMA-M2 positivity in males had a peak and valley value of 7.81% and 16.88% in those aged 40 to 49 and ≥70 years, respectively, whereas it showed a balanced age distribution in females. Transferrin and immunoglobulin M were the risk factors for AMA-M2 positivity and exercise was the only protective factor. Of 155 cases with AMA-M2 >50 RU/mL, 25 cases were AMA-positive, with a female-to-male ratio of 5.25:1. Only 2 people, with very high AMA-M2 of 760 and >800 RU/mL, met the diagnostic criteria of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), making the prevalence of PBC 223.36 per million in southern China. CONCLUSION: We found that AMA-M2 has a low coincidence rate with AMA in the general population. A new decision-making point for AMA-M2 is needed to improve consistency with AMA and diagnostic accuracy.

Microarray Expression Profile of Exosomal circRNAs from High Glucose Stimulated Human Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells.

Introduction: Circular RNA (circRNAs) are a type of non-coding RNA (ncRNAs) with a wealth of functions. Recently, circRNAs have been identified as important regulators of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), owing to their stability and enrichment in exosomes. However, the role of circRNAs in exosomes of tubular epithelial cells in DKD development has not been fully elucidated. Methods: In our study, microarray technology was used to analyze circRNA expression in cell supernatant exosomes isolated from HK-2 cells with or without high glucose (HG) treatment. The small interfering RNAs (siRNA) and plasmid overexpression were used to validate functions of differentially expressed circRNAs. Results: We found that exosome concentration was higher in HG-stimulated HK-2 cells than in controls. A total of 235 circRNAs were significantly increased and 458 circRNAs were significantly decreased in the exosomes of the HG group. In parallel with the microarray data, the qPCR results showed that the expression of circ_0009885, circ_0043753, and circ_0011760 increased, and the expression of circ_0032872, circ_0004716, and circ_0009445 decreased in the HG group. Rescue experiments showed that the effects of high glucose on regulation of CCL2, IL6, fibronetin, n cadherin, e cadherin and epcam expression can be reversed by inhibiting or overexpressing these circRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) biological pathway analyses indicated that circRNA parental genes are associated with glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and inflammatory processes, which are important in DKD development. Further analysis of circRNA/miRNA interactions indicated that 152 differentially expressed circRNAs with fold change (FC) ≥1.5 could be paired with 43 differentially expressed miRNAs, which are associated with diabetes or DKD. Discussion: Our results indicate that exosomal circRNAs may be promising diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers, and may play a critical role in the progression of DKD.

Research progress in bioremediation of petroleum pollution.

With the enhancement of environmental protection awareness, research on the bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon environmental pollution has intensified. Bioremediation has received more attention due to its high efficiency, environmentally friendly by-products, and low cost compared with the commonly used physical and chemical restoration methods. In recent years, bacterium engineered by systems biology strategies have achieved biodegrading of many types of petroleum pollutants. Those successful cases show that systems biology has great potential in strengthening petroleum pollutant degradation bacterium and accelerating bioremediation. Systems biology represented by metabolic engineering, enzyme engineering, omics technology, etc., developed rapidly in the twentieth century. Optimizing the metabolic network of petroleum hydrocarbon degrading bacterium could achieve more concise and precise bioremediation by metabolic engineering strategies; biocatalysts with more stable and excellent catalytic activity could accelerate the process of biodegradation by enzyme engineering; omics technology not only could provide more optional components for constructions of engineered bacterium, but also could obtain the structure and composition of the microbial community in polluted environments. Comprehensive microbial community information lays a certain theoretical foundation for the construction of artificial mixed microbial communities for bioremediation of petroleum pollution. This article reviews the application of systems biology in the enforce of petroleum hydrocarbon degradation bacteria and the construction of a hybrid-microbial degradation system. Then the challenges encountered in the process and the application prospects of bioremediation are discussed. Finally, we provide certain guidance for the bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted environment.

Mobile carbohydrates in Himalayan treeline trees I. Evidence for carbon gain limitation but not for growth limitation.

To test whether the altitudinal distribution of trees is determined by a carbon shortage or an insufficient sugar fraction (sugar:starch ratio) in treeline trees, we studied the status of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) and their components (total soluble sugars and starch) in Abies fabri (Mast.) Craib and Picea balfouriana var. hirtella Rehd. et Wils. trees along three elevational gradients, ranging from lower elevations to the alpine treeline, on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. For comparison, we investigated a low-altitude species (Tsuga yunnanensis (Franch.) Pritz.) which served as a warm-climate reference because it is distributed in closed montane forests below 3100 m a.s.l. in the study area. The carbon status of T. yunnanensis responded to altitude differently from that of the treeline species. At the species level, total NSC was not consistently more abundant in treeline trees than in trees of the same species growing at lower elevations. Thus there was no consistent evidence for carbon limitation of growth in treeline trees. For the three treeline species studied (P. balfouriana and A. fabri in the Kang-Ding Valley and A. fabri in the Mo-Xi Valley), winter NSC concentrations in treeline trees were significantly lower than in lower-elevation trees of the same species, suggesting that, in winter, carbon is limited in treeline trees. However, in no case was there total overwinter depletion of NSC or its components in treeline trees. Treeline and low-altitude species had similar sugar:starch ratios of about three at their upper-elevational limits in April. We conclude that survival and growth of trees at the elevational or latitudinal climate limit depend not only on NSC concentration in perennial tissues, but also on the maintenance of an overwintering sugar:starch ratio greater than three.

A proper triage for detecting women with high-risk human papillomavirus genotypes other than HPV16/18.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 capsid protein detection in cervical exfoliated cells as a proper triage for women with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) genotypes other than HPV 16/18. STUDY DESIGN: From January 2013 to June 2015, a total of 513 women aged 30-65 years infected with non-16/18 hrHPV were enrolled into the study. Primary HPV testing, HPV 16/18 genotyping and Papanicolaou (Pap) test were performed in all eligible women. HPV L1 capsid protein was detected by immunocytochemistry in cervical exfoliated cells. All hrHPV positive women underwent colposcopy and further biopsy if indicated. Relationships between HPV L1 capsid protein expression and histologic diagnosis, as well as cytology were analyzed. RESULTS: The positive expression rate of HPV L1 capsid protein in CIN2+ group was significantly lower than that in CIN1 or better group (16.3% vs. 66.7%, P=0.000). Compared with the Pap test, HPV L1 detection achieved higher sensitivity (83.7% vs. 51.2%, P=0.000), higher negative predictive value (NPV) (95.3% vs. 88.6%, P=0.002), and significant lower specificity (66.7% vs.76.1%, P=0.002) while identifying CIN2+. Compared with the Pap test, HPV L1 detection achieved higher sensitivity (89.7% vs. 51.7%, P=0.008), higher NPV (99.0% vs. 96.2%, P=0.043), and significant lower specificity (61.2% vs.73.8%, P=0.000) while identifying CIN3+. CONCLUSION: Because of its higher sensitivity and NPV than that of Pap test, HPV L1 capsid protein detection in cervical exfoliated cells reduces the missed identification of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in women with hrHPV genotypes other than HPV 16/18. HPV L1 capsid protein detection could be a potential triage for women with non-16/18 hrHPV infection.

[Screening, identification and biocontrol effect of antagonistic actinomycetes against the pathogen of Cytospora sp. for apple tree]. / è‹¹æžœæ ‘è çƒ‚ç— èŒæ‹®æŠ—æ”¾çº¿èŒçš„ç­›é€‰ã€é‰´å®šåŠé˜²æ•ˆ.

The pathogen of Cytospora sp. was considered as the target fungus to evaluate the bio-control potential of antagonistic actinomycetes against Cytospora sp. in the present study, which was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of apple tree. Moreover, the antagonistic effect of actinomycetes against Cytospora sp. growth was determined by the method of confrontation and growth rate, and the screened antagonistic strain was identified by the method of morphology and molecular biology. Also, the inhibitory activity of strain ZZ-9 against the conidium germination and mycelia growth of Cytospora sp. was determined in vivo, and its bio-control effect on Cytospora sp. growth was determined in detached apple twigs. The results showed that fifteen strains of actinomycetes had the inhibitory effect on Cytospora sp. growth, among all the isolated strains, which accounted for 18.8% and especially the inhibitory rate of eight strains was more than 50%. In addition, among all the screened strains, the strain ZZ-9 presented the highest inhibitory rate of 96.4%, which was significantly higher than those of the other isolated strains. The strain ZZ-9 was initially identified as Streptomyces rochei according to cultural characteristics, physiological and biochemical properties and 16S rDNA analysis. The nucleotide sequences in GenBank accession number was registered as KT986228. Different dilution of ZZ-9 fermentation had significant inhibitory effect on Cytospora sp. conidium germination and mycelia growth. The inhibitory rates of the 50 times fermentation on both conidium germination and mycelia growth were more than 80%. The inhibited mycelia's color was deepened, the mycelia branches were increased, and the ends of hyphae were swelled and deformed, even the protoplasm was concentrated and released. The bio-control effect of the ZZ-9 stock solution on Cytospora sp. growth was more than 75% in detached apple twigs. Thus, our results indicated that the strain ZZ-9 could be used for controlling apple tree Valsa canker in vivo and vitro.

Seasonal dynamics of mobile carbon supply in Quercus aquifolioides at the upper elevational limit.

Many studies have tried to explain the physiological mechanisms of the alpine treeline phenomenon, but the debate on the alpine treeline formation remains controversial due to opposite results from different studies. The present study explored the carbon-physiology of an alpine shrub species (Quercus aquifolioides) grown at its upper elevational limit compared to lower elevations, to test whether the elevational limit of alpine shrubs (<3 m in height) are determined by carbon limitation or growth limitation. We studied the seasonal variations in non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and its pool size in Q. aquifolioides grown at 3000 m, 3500 m, and at its elevational limit of 3950 m above sea level (a.s.l.) on Zheduo Mt., SW China. The tissue NSC concentrations along the elevational gradient varied significantly with season, reflecting the season-dependent carbon balance. The NSC levels in tissues were lowest at the beginning of the growing season, indicating that plants used the winter reserve storage for re-growth in the early spring. During the growing season, plants grown at the elevational limit did not show lower NSC concentrations compared to plants at lower elevations, but during the winter season, storage tissues, especially roots, had significantly lower NSC concentrations in plants at the elevational limit compared to lower elevations. The present results suggest the significance of winter reserve in storage tissues, which may determine the winter survival and early-spring re-growth of Q. aquifolioides shrubs at high elevation, leading to the formation of the uppermost distribution limit. This result is consistent with a recent hypothesis for the alpine treeline formation.

[Altitudinal changes in leaf mass per unit area and tissue non-structural carbohydrates content of Abies fabri on Gongga Mountain of southwest China].

Taking the northeast slope of Moxi vally and southwest slope of Kangding vally in Gongga Mountain of Southwest China as sampling sites, this paper investigated the leaf mass per unit area (LMA) and tissue non-structural carbohydrates content (NSC) of Abies fabri distributed at the positions from lower elevations to alpine treeline during the periods of dormancy and vigorous growth. The results indicated that A. fabri had higher LMA and NSC in warm-moist Moxi valley than in hot-dry Kangding valley. The LMA and NSC of treeline trees were all higher than those of the trees at lower elevations, which was more obvious during the period of vigorous growth. The overall altitudinal changing trends of LMA and NSC in Gongga Mountain of Southwest China did not support the hypothesis of 'carbon limitation could induce the formation of alpine treeline'.