Large-scale across species transcriptomic analysis identifies genetic selection signatures associated with longevity in mammals.

Lifespan varies significantly among mammals, with more than 100-fold difference between the shortest and longest living species. This natural difference may uncover the evolutionary forces and molecular features that define longevity. To understand the relationship between gene expression variation and longevity, we conducted a comparative transcriptomics analysis of liver, kidney, and brain tissues of 103 mammalian species. We found that few genes exhibit common expression patterns with longevity in the three organs analyzed. However, pathways related to translation fidelity, such as nonsense-mediated decay and eukaryotic translation elongation, correlated with longevity across mammals. Analyses of selection pressure found that selection intensity related to the direction of longevity-correlated genes is inconsistent across organs. Furthermore, expression of methionine restriction-related genes correlated with longevity and was under strong selection in long-lived mammals, suggesting that a common strategy is utilized by natural selection and artificial intervention to control lifespan. Our results indicate that lifespan regulation via gene expression is driven through polygenic and indirect natural selection.

Polyphenol nanocomplex modulates lactate metabolic reprogramming and elicits immune responses to enhance cancer therapeutic effect.

Cancer lactate metabolic reprogramming induces an elevated level of extracellular lactate and H+, leading to an acidic immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TEM). High lactic acid level may affect the metabolic programs of various cells that comprise an antitumor immune response, therefore, restricting immune-mediated tumor destruction, and leading to therapeutic resistance and unsatisfactory prognosis. Here, we report a metal-phenolic coordination-based nanocomplex loaded with a natural polyphenol galloflavin, which inhibits the function of lactate dehydrogenase, reducing the production of lactic acid, and alleviating the acidic immunosuppressive TME. Besides, the co-entrapped natural polyphenol carnosic acid and the synthetic PEG-Ce6 polyphenol derivative (serving as a photosensitizer) could induce immunogenic cancer cell death upon laser irradiation, which further activates immune system and promotes immune cell recruitment and infiltration in tumor tissues. We demonstrated that this nanocomplex-based combinational therapy could reshape the TME and elicit immune responses in a murine breast cancer model, which provides a promising strategy to enhance the therapeutic efficiency of drug-resistant breast cancer.

A nature-inspired multifunctional adhesive for cartilage tissue-biomaterial integration.

Surgical adhesives play a crucial role in tissue integration and repair, yet their application in wet conditions has been severely limited by inadequate adhesive strength and subpar biocompatibility. Furthermore, tissue adhesives have rarely been reported in cartilage tissue repair. In this study, a three-armed dopamine-modified hyaluronic acid derivative adhesive was prepared to function as a bio-inspired adhesive in moist environments. To meet the clinical requirements for cartilage tissue adhesion, we studied its chemical structure, including microscopic morphology, adhesion properties with materials and tissues, in vivo degradation rules, and biological evaluation. The OGMHA8-DOPA adhesive with the optimal aldehyde substitution degree and dopamine-grafting rate was determined by analyzing the experimental conditions. SEM results revealed that the cartilage tissue adhered to a porous interconnected structure. The excellent biocompatibility of the material not only facilitated chondrocyte adhesion but also supported their proliferation on its surface. Animal experiments have demonstrated that this material has no observable inflammatory response or incidence of fibrous capsule formation. The degradation timeline of the material extends beyond the duration of two weeks. The dopamine-modified adhesive exhibited a tight interfacial binding force between the biomaterial and cartilage tissue and excellent biocompatibility in watery tissue, revealing its potential for application in cartilage tissue repair and minimally invasive surgery.

Prenatal diagnosis of a trisomy 7 mosaic case: CMA, CNV-seq, karyotyping, interphase FISH, and MS-MLPA, which technique to choose?

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to perform a prenatal genetic diagnosis of a high-risk fetus with trisomy 7 identified by noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and to evaluate the efficacy of different genetic testing techniques for prenatal diagnosis of trisomy mosaicism. METHODS: For prenatal diagnosis of a pregnant woman with a high risk of trisomy 7 suggested by NIPT, karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) were performed on an amniotic fluid sample. Low-depth whole-genome copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to clarify the results further. In addition, methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) was performed to analyze the possibility of uniparental disomy(UPD). RESULTS: Amniotic fluid karyotype analysis revealed a 46, XX result. Approximately 20% mosaic trisomy 7 was detected according to the CMA result. About 16% and 4% of mosaicism was detected by CNV-seq and FISH, respectively. MS-MLPA showed no methylation abnormalities. The fetal ultrasound did not show any detectable abnormalities except for mild intrauterine growth retardation seen at 39 weeks of gestation. After receiving genetic counseling, the expectant mother decided to continue the pregnancy, and follow-up within three months of delivery was normal. CONCLUSION: In high-risk NIPT diagnosis, a combination of cytogenetic and molecular genetic techniques proves fruitful in detecting low-level mosaicism. Furthermore, the exclusion of UPD on chromosome 7 remains crucial when NIPT indicates a positive prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 7.

Orthogonal genome-wide screens of bat cells identify MTHFD1 as a target of broad antiviral therapy.

Bats are responsible for the zoonotic transmission of several major viral diseases, including those leading to the 2003 SARS outbreak and likely the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While comparative genomics studies have revealed characteristic adaptations of the bat innate immune system, functional genomic studies are urgently needed to provide a foundation for the molecular dissection of the viral tolerance in bats. Here we report the establishment of genome-wide RNA interference (RNAi) and CRISPR libraries for the screening of the model megabat, Pteropus alecto. We used the complementary RNAi and CRISPR libraries to interrogate P. alecto cells for infection with two different viruses: mumps virus and influenza A virus, respectively. Independent screening results converged on the endocytosis pathway and the protein secretory pathway as required for both viral infections. Additionally, we revealed a general dependence of the C1-tetrahydrofolate synthase gene, MTHFD1, for viral replication in bat cells and human cells. The MTHFD1 inhibitor, carolacton, potently blocked replication of several RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. We also discovered that bats have lower expression levels of MTHFD1 than humans. Our studies provide a resource for systematic inquiry into the genetic underpinnings of bat biology and a potential target for developing broad-spectrum antiviral therapy.

Nucleic Acid Amplification by Template-Dominated Click Chemistry for Ultrasensitive DNA/RNA Detection on an Electrochemical Readout Platform.

As an enzyme-free exponential nucleic acid amplification method, the click chemistry-mediated ligation chain reaction (ccLCR) has shown great prospects in the molecular diagnosis. However, the current optics-based ccLCR is challenged by remarkable nonspecific amplification, severely hindering its future application. This study demonstrated that the severe nonspecific amplification was generated probably due to high random collision in the high DNA probe concentration (µM level). To solve this hurdle, a nucleic acid template-dominated ccLCR was constructed using nM-level DNA probes and read on an electrochemical platform (cc-eLCR). Under the optimal conditions, the proposed cc-eLCR detected a low-level nucleic acid target (1 fM) with a single-base resolution. Furthermore, this assay was applied to detect the target of interest in cell extracts with a satisfactory result. The proposed cc-eLCR offers huge possibility for click chemistry-mediated enzyme-free exponential nucleic acid amplification in the application of medical diagnosis and biomedical research.

Recycling Bonded Nd-Fe-B Magnet Wastes by Chemical Reaction and Its Mechanism.

The difficulty of short-process bonded Nd-Fe-B magnet waste recycling lies in the effective removal of the cured polymer matrix while protecting the magnetic powder. In this study, the polymer matrix in bonded Nd-Fe-B magnet waste was destroyed using sodium hydroxide ethanol solution, and the effect of the recycling process on the magnetic powders was studied. The nonmagnetic polymer matrix was removed, while the magnetic phase was not destroyed. The carbon and oxygen contents of the recycled magnetic powders decreased by 92.96 and 89.30%, respectively, while the MS (saturation magnetization), Mr (remanence), and Hcj (coercivity) values of the recycled magnetic powders were 99.8, 98.5, and 95.9% of the original magnetic powders, respectively. The curing and decomposition processes of the polymer matrix were also analyzed. During the curing process, dicyandiamide and bisphenol A epoxy resin acted as bridges and skeletons, respectively, finally forming a thermosetting three-dimensional network structure. In the alkaline alcohol solution, the bridges and skeletons were destroyed by the free hydroxyl groups and free hydrogen radicals in ethanol, and small molecular products were dissolved in the solution.

Establishment and evaluation of qPCR and real-time recombinase-aided amplification assays for detection of largemouth bass ranavirus.

Largemouth bass ranavirus disease (LMBVD) caused by largemouth bass ranavirus (LMBV) has resulted in severe economic losses in the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) farming industry in China. Early and accurate diagnosis is the key measure for the prevention and control of LMBVD. In this study, a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and a real-time recombinase-aided amplification (real-time RAA) assay were established for the detection of LMBV. The sensitivity and specificity of these two methods, and the efficacy for detection of LMBV from clinical samples were also evaluated. Results showed that the real-time RAA reaction was completed in <30 min at 39℃ with a detection limit of 58.3 copies, while qPCR reaction required 60 min with a detection limit of 5.8 copies. Both methods were specific for LMBV, where no cross-reactions observed with the other tested fish pathogens. Comparing the amplification results of both assays to the results obtained by virus isolation using 53 clinical tissue samples, results showed that the clinical sensitivity of real-time RAA and qPCR were 93.75% and 100% respectively, and the clinical specificity of both were 100%. Our results showed that qPCR is more suitable for quantitative analysis and accurate detection of LMBV in the laboratory, while real-time RAA is more suitable as a point-of-care diagnostic tool for on-site detection and screening of LMBV under farm conditions and in poorly equipped laboratories.

[Comprehensive genetic analysis in first or second trimester pregnancy loss using chromosomal microarray with single nucleotide polymorphism probes].

OBJECTIVE: To explore possible genetic causes associated with early pregnancy loss using chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) probes. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed by the CMA of samples from 961 patients who spontaneously aborted in our hospital before the 20th week of pregnancy. RESULTS: (1) The total chromosome abnormality rate in miscarriage samples was 54.44% (515/946), including single chromosome abnormality (39.53%), two chromosome abnormality (2.22%), multi-chromosome abnormality (0.42%), triploidy or hypertriploidy (4.86%), copy number variants (CNVs) in 41 cases (4.33%), regions of homozygosity (ROH, 0.74%), mosaic (2.22%) and chimera (0.11%). (2) CNV analysis of 41 cases showed that 85.36% were pathogenic and likely pathogenic, 12.20% were classified as clinical significance unknown and 2.44% were interpreted as likely benign; (3) Among the cases of ROH, 2 cases shown whole-genome homozygosity and 1 case had completely homozygous at chromosome 21. The homozygous regions in 2 cases were located at the end of the short arm of chromosome 16, suggesting the mechanism of ROH in such cases could be the result of isodisomy. CONCLUSION: Chromosome abnormality is an important genetic factor causing pregnancy loss. The application of CMA with SNP probes can indeed improve the detection rate of chromosome abnormalities and evaluate the risk of reproductive fertility in patients with pregnancy loss.

[Standards for the interpretation of constitutional copy number gain: Recommendation from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen)].

Copy number variants (CNVs) are common causes of human genetic diseases. CNVs detection has become a routine component of genetic testing, especially for pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders, multiple congenital abnormalities, prenatal evaluation of fetuses with structural anomalies detected by ultrasound. Although the technologies for CNVs detection are continuously improving, the interpretation is still challenging, with significant discordance across different laboratories. In 2020, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen) developed a guideline for the interpreting and reporting of constitutional copy number variants, which introduced a quantitative, evidence-based scoring framework. Here, we detailed the key points of interpreting the copy number gain based on the guideline, used six examples of different categories to illuminate the scoring process and principles. We encourage a professional understanding and application of this guideline for the detected copy number gains in China in order to further improve the clinical evaluation accuracy and consistency across different laboratories.

[A consensus on prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling for chromosomal mosaicism].

With the extensive application of highly sensitive genetic techniques in the field of prenatal diagnosis, prenatal chromosomal mosaicisms including true fetal mosaicisms and confined placental mosaicisms are frequently identified in clinical settings, and the diagnostic criteria and principle of genetic counseling and clinical management for such cases may vary significantly among healthcare centers across the country. This not only has brought challenges to laboratory technician, genetic counselor and fetal medicine doctor, but can also cause confusion and anxiety of the pregnant woman and their family members. In this regard, we have formulated a consensus over the prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling for chromosomal mosaicisms with the aim to promote more accurate and rational evaluation for fetal chromosomal mosaicisms in prenatal clinics.

Monozygotic twins discordant for homologous Robertsonian translocation trisomy 21 of 46, XX, + 21, der (21;21) (q10; q10) in a twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, case report.

BACKGROUND: Monozygotic twins are nearly identical in genotype and phenotype because monozygotic twins arise from one fertilized oocyte. In all cases of discordant karyotype in monozygotic twins, trisomy 21 accounts for about one in 385,000. Monozygotic twins discordant for Robertsonian translocation trisomy 21 of the der (21;21)(q10;q10), in which the additional chromosome originates from the father is rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 28-year-old parous woman, G3P1A0, came to our institution for a dating scan at 8 weeks of gestation. The transvaginal ultrasound examination demonstrated a monochorionic diamniotic pregnancy. She and her husband were healthy, with no family history of trisomy 21 or other congenital diseases. The ultrasound examination of nuchal translucency thickness was discordant in twins at 13 weeks (twin A, NT 1.4 mm with CRL being 65 mm; twin B, NT 7.8 mm with CRL being 69 mm). At 17+ 4 weeks, twin A was normal, but ventricular septal defect and the hypoplastic left heart was detected in twin B. The deepest vertical pocket was 18 mm in twin A (oligohydramnios) and 102 mm in Twin B (polyhydramnios). The bladder in twin A was absent. Ultrasound findings indicated TTTS Stage II. Amniocentesis was performed for the two fetuses. The karyotyping results revealed 46, XX in twin A but 46,XX,+ 21,der (21;21)(q10;q10) in twin B. For twin B, the parents opted for selective fetal termination by radiofrequency ablation. The procedure was uneventful. At 40+ 5 weeks, twin A was born with a birth weight of 4120 g by vaginal delivery. CONCLUSIONS: The early detection of discordant karyotype and twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is beneficial to the early intervention. In monozygotic twins with a discordant anomaly, the discordant karyotype should be considered.

A Rare Case of Hb H Disease and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Anemia is common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The association between thalassemia and SLE is rare. In this study, we report the first patient who was found to have a severe hemolytic anemia caused by combination of SLE and Hb H disease. The patient had a more severe presentation in the hematological system. Our case indicates that for a patient who was diagnosed with SLE and developed deterioration in her hematological cell lines, investigation of other possible coexisting causes would be warranted.

Improved Efficiency Roll-Off and Operational Lifetime of Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with a Tetradentate Platinum(II) Complex by Using an n-Doped Electron-Transporting Layer.

The efficiency roll-off and operational lifetime of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with a tetradentate Pt(II) emitter is improved by engaging an n-doped electron-transporting layer (ETL). Compared to those devices with non-doped ETL, the driving voltage is lowered, the charged carrier is balanced, and the exciton density in the emissive layer (EML) is decreased in the device with n-doped ETL with 8-hydroxyquinolinolatolithium (Liq). High luminance of almost 70,000 cd m-2 and high current efficiency of 40.5 cd A-1 at high luminance of 10,000 cd m-2 is achieved in the device with 50 wt%-Liq-doped ETL. More importantly, the extended operational lifetime of 1945 h is recorded at the initial luminance of 1000 cd m-2 in the 50 wt%-Liq-doped device, which is longer than that of the device with non-doped ETL by almost 10 times. This result manifests the potential application of tetradentate Pt(II) complexes in the OLED industry.

[Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis of regions of homozygosity and uniparental disomy].

The overall prevalence of uniparental disomy (UPD) across all chromosomes was estimated to be around one birth in 2000. To date, more than 4170 UPD cases have been registered. UPD for chromosomes 6, 7, 11, 14, 15, and 20 can result in clinically recognizable imprinting disorders due to abnormal levels of imprinted gene expression. For other chromosomes, the clinical consequences associated with UPD are not apparent, unless when a recessive genetic disorder is unmasked by UPD or regions of homozygosity (ROH). A clinical practice guideline will assist in strengthening the precise analysis and interpretation of the clinical significance of ROH/UPD. This guideline summarizes the conception, mechanism and clinical consequences of ROH/UPD, as well as the principles for data analysis, with an aim to standardize the clinical application and data interpretation.

[Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis of regions of homozygosity and uniparental disomy].

The overall prevalence of uniparental disomy (UPD) across all chromosomes was estimated to be around one birth in 2000. To date, more than 4170 UPD cases have been registered. UPD for chromosomes 6, 7, 11, 14, 15, and 20 can result in clinically recognizable imprinting disorders due to abnormal levels of imprinted gene expression. For other chromosomes, the clinical consequences associated with UPD are not apparent, unless when a recessive genetic disorder is unmasked by UPD or regions of homozygosity (ROH). A clinical practice guideline will assist in strengthening the precise analysis and interpretation of the clinical significance of ROH/UPD. This guideline summarizes the conception, mechanism and clinical consequences of ROH/UPD, as well as the principles for data analysis, with an aim to standardize the clinical application and data interpretation.

[Consensus on technological standards for non-invasive prenatal screening of pathogenic copy number variations by high-throughput sequencing of maternal plasma cell-free DNA].

Genomic disorders caused by pathogenic copy number variation (pCNV) have proven to underlie a significant proportion of birth defects. With technological advance, improvement of bioinformatics analysis procedure, and accumulation of clinical data, non-invasive prenatal screening of pCNV (NIPS-pCNV) by high-throughput sequencing of maternal plasma cell-free DNA has been put to use in clinical settings. Specialized standards for clinical application of NIPS-pCNV are required. Based on the discussion, 10 pCNV-associated diseases with well-defined conditions and 5 common chromosomal aneuploidy syndromes are recommended as the target of screening in this consensus. Meanwhile, a standardized procedure for NIPS-pCNV is also provided, which may facilitate propagation of this technique in clinical settings.

Face-to-Face Orientation of Quasiplanar Donor and Acceptor Enables Highly Efficient Intramolecular Exciplex Fluorescence.

Intramolecular through-space charge-transfer (TSCT) excited states have been exploited for developing thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters, but the tuning of excited state dynamics by conformational engineering remains sparse. Designed here is a series of TSCT emitters with precisely controlled alignment of the donor and acceptor segments. With increasing intramolecular π-π interactions, the radiative decay rate of the lowest singlet excited state (S1 ) progressively increased together with a suppression of nonradiative decay, leading to significantly enhanced photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 0.99 in doped thin films. A high-efficiency electroluminescence device, with a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 23.96 %, was achieved and maintains >20 % at a brightness of 1000 cd m-2 . This work sheds light on the importance of conformation control for achieving high-efficiency intramolecular exciplex emitters.

[A consensus recommendation for the interpretation and reporting of copy number variation and regions of homozygosity in prenatal genetic diagnosis].

Chromosomal microdeletions and microduplications have been proven to be a significant proportion of genetic factors underlying birth defects. Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and next generation sequencing-based copy number variation (CNV-seq) assay have been recommended as first-tier tests for prenatal evaluation of disease-causing CNV across the genome. With the broad application of such technologies in prenatal genetic diagnosis, there is a needed to enhance the consistency in interpretation and reporting of CNV results in clinical laboratories across China. In addition, a standard guideline for prenatal analysis and reporting of regions of homozygosity (ROH) is also required. To assist the classification, interpretation and reporting of CNV/ROH, the following recommendations have been developed, which may enhance a standard application of CMA/CNV-seq techniques in prenatal genetic diagnosis.

[A consensus recommendation for the interpretation and reporting of exome sequencing in prenatal genetic diagnosis].

With the rapid development and adaptation of high-throughput sequencing in clinical settings, application of exome sequencing (ES) has been gradually expanded from pediatric to prenatal diagnosis in recent years. There is an urgent need to establish criteria for clinical grade ES in order to facilitate such a complex testing. The standardization of pre- and post-test consultation, quality control for sample processing process and validation of bioinformatics data analysis, and more importantly data interpretation and reporting, as well as appropriate reporting scope, is of great importance for health care stakeholders. To achieve this, a committee composed of a wide range of healthcare professionals has proposed an ES standard for prenatal diagnosis. This has provided expert opinion on the genetic counseling and reporting standards of prenatal ES for the purpose of applying ES technology in prenatal setting.