The P10K database: a data portal for the protist 10 000 genomes project.

Protists, a highly diverse group of microscopic eukaryotic organisms distinct from fungi, animals and plants, exert crucial roles within the earth's biosphere. However, the genomes of only a small fraction of known protist species have been published and made publicly accessible. To address this constraint, the Protist 10 000 Genomes Project (P10K) was initiated, implementing a specialized pipeline for single-cell genome/transcriptome assembly, decontamination and annotation of protists. The resultant P10K database (https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/p10k/) serves as a comprehensive platform, collating and disseminating genome sequences and annotations from diverse protist groups. Currently, the P10K database has incorporated 2959 genomes and transcriptomes, including 1101 newly sequenced datasets by P10K and 1858 publicly available datasets. Notably, it covers 45% of the protist orders, with a significant representation (53% coverage) of ciliates, featuring nearly a thousand genomes/transcriptomes. Intriguingly, analysis of the unique codon table usage among ciliates has revealed differences compared to the NCBI taxonomy system, suggesting a need to revise the codon tables used for these species. Collectively, the P10K database serves as a valuable repository of genetic resources for protist research and aims to expand its collection by incorporating more sequenced data and advanced analysis tools to benefit protist studies worldwide.

A liquid-to-solid phase transition of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 initiated by oxidation and disease mutation.

Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) has a high propensity to misfold and form abnormal aggregates when it is subjected to oxidative stress or carries mutations associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the transition from functional soluble SOD1 protein to aggregated SOD1 protein is not completely clear. Here, we propose that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) represents a biophysical process that converts soluble SOD1 into aggregated SOD1. We determined that SOD1 undergoes LLPS in vitro and cells under oxidative stress. Abnormal oxidation of SOD1 induces maturation of droplets formed by LLPS, eventually leading to protein aggregation and fibrosis, and involves residues Cys111 and Trp32. Additionally, we found that pathological mutations in SOD1 associated with ALS alter the morphology and material state of the droplets and promote the transformation of SOD1 to solid-like oligomers which are toxic to nerve cells. Furthermore, the fibrous aggregates formed by both pathways have a concentration-dependent toxicity effect on nerve cells. Thus, these combined results strongly indicate that LLPS may play a major role in pathological SOD1 aggregation, contributing to pathogenesis in ALS.

Dynamics and timing of diversification events of ciliated eukaryotes from a large phylogenomic perspective.

Ciliophora, an exceptionally diverse lineage of unicellular eukaryotes, exhibits a remarkable range of species richness across classes in the ciliate Tree of Life. In this study, we have acquired transcriptome and genome data from 40 representative species in seven ciliate classes. Utilizing 247 genes and 105 taxa, we devised a comprehensive phylogenomic tree for Ciliophora, encompassing over 60 % of orders and constituting the most extensive dataset of ciliate species to date. We established a robust phylogenetic framework that encompasses ambiguous taxa and the major classes within the phylum. Our findings support the monophyly of each of two subphyla (Postciliodesmatophora and Intramacronucleata), along with three subclades (Protocruzia, CONTHREEP, and SAPML) nested within Intramacronucleata, and elucidate evolutionary positions among the major classes within the phylum. Drawing on the robust ciliate Tree of Life and three constraints, we estimated the radiation of Ciliophora around 1175 Ma during the middle of the Proterozoic Eon, and most of the ciliate classes diverged from their sister lineage during the latter half of this period. Additionally, based on the time-calibrated tree and species richness pattern, we investigated net diversification rates of Ciliophora and its classes. The global net diversification rate for Ciliophora was estimated at 0.004979 species/Ma. Heterogeneity in net diversification rates was evident at the class level, with faster rates observed in Oligohymenophorea and Spirotrichea than other classes within the subclades CONTHREEP and SAPML, respectively. Notably, our analysis suggests that variations in net diversification rates, rather than clade ages, appear to contribute to the differences in species richness in Ciliophora at the class level.

Historical and dispersal processes drive community assembly of multiple aquatic taxa in glacierized catchments in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.

Understanding the relative role of dispersal dynamics and niche constraints is not only a core task in community ecology, but also becomes an important prerequisite for bioassessment. Despite the recent progress in our knowledge of community assembly in space and time, patterns and processes underlying biotic communities in alpine glacierized catchments remain mostly ignored. To fill this knowledge gap, we combined the recently proposed dispersal-niche continuum index (DNCI) with traditional constrained ordinations and idealized patterns of species distributions to unravel community assembly mechanisms of different key groups of primary producers and consumers (i.e., phytoplankton, epiphytic algae, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and fishes) in rivers in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the World's Third Pole. We tested whether organismal groups with contrasting body sizes differed in their assembly processes, and discussed their applicability in bioassessment in alpine zones. We found that community structure of alpine river biotas was always predominantly explained in terms of dispersal dynamics and historical biogeography. These patterns are most likely the result of differences in species-specific functional attributes, the stochastic colonization-extinction dynamics driven by multi-year glacier disturbances and the repeated hydrodynamic separation among alpine catchments after the rising of the Qilian mountains. Additionally, we found that the strength of dispersal dynamics and niche constraints was partially mediated by organismal body sizes, with dispersal processes being more influential for microscopic primary producers. Finding that zooplankton and macroinvertebrate communities followed clumped species replacement structures (i.e., Clementsian gradients) supports the notion that environmental filtering also contributes to the structure of high-altitude animal communities in glacierized catchments. In terms of the applied fields, we argue that freshwater bioassessment in glacierized catchments can benefit from incorporating the metacommunity perspective and applying novel approaches to (i) detect the optimal spatial scale for species sorting and (ii) identify and eliminate the species that are sensitive to dispersal-related processes.

Large-scale phylogenetic analysis provides insights into the diversification and evolution of sessilid peritrich ciliates (Protista: Ciliophora).

The Peritrichia is a speciose and morphologically distinctive assemblage of ciliated protists that was first observed by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek over 340 years ago. In the last two decades, the phylogenetic relationships of this group have been increasingly debated as morphological and molecular analyses have generated contrasting conclusions, mainly owing to limited sampling. In the present study, we performed expanded phylogenetic analyses of 152 sessilid peritrichs collected from 14 different provinces of China and 141 SSU rDNA peritrich sequences from GenBank. The results of the analyses revealed new divergent relationships between and within major clades that challenge the morphological classification of this group including, (1) the recovery of four major phylogenetically divergent clades in the monophyletic order Sessilida, (2) aboral structures such as the stalk and spasmoneme were evolutionary labile, (3) the stalk or/and spasmoneme was lost in each divergent clade indicating that parallel evolution occurred in sessilid peritrichs and (4) the life cycle and habit drive the diversity of aboral structures as well as diversification and evolution in peritrichs.

E3 ubiquitin ligase MAGI3 degrades c-Myc and acts as a predictor for chemotherapy response in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence and chemoresistance constitute the leading cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC). Thus, it is of great significance to clarify the underlying mechanisms and identify predictors for tailoring adjuvant chemotherapy to improve the outcome of CRC. METHODS: By screening differentially expressed genes (DEGs), constructing random forest classification and ranking the importance of DEGs, we identified membrane associated guanylate kinase, WW and PDZ domain containing 3 (MAGI3) as an important gene in CRC recurrence. Immunohistochemical and western blot assays were employed to further detect MAGI3 expression in CRC tissues and cell lines. Cell counting kit-8, plate colony formation, flow cytometry, sub-cutaneous injection and azoxymethane plus dextran sulfate sodium induced mice CRC assays were employed to explore the effects of MAGI3 on proliferation, growth, cell cycle, apoptosis, xenograft formation and chemotherapy resistance of CRC. The underlying molecular mechanisms were further investigated through gene set enrichment analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination, GST fusion protein pull-down and immunohistochemical staining assays. RESULTS: Our results showed that dysregulated low level of MAGI3 was correlated with recurrence and poor prognosis of CRC. MAGI3 was identified as a novel substrate-binding subunit of SKP1-Cullin E3 ligase to recognize c-Myc, and process c-Myc ubiquitination and degradation. Expression of MAGI3 in CRC cells inhibited cell growth, promoted apoptosis and chemosensitivity to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy by suppressing activation of c-Myc in vitro and in vivo. In clinic, the stage II/III CRC patients with MAGI3-high had a significantly good recurrence-free survival (~ 80%, 5-year), and were not necessary for further adjuvant chemotherapy. The patients with MAGI3-medium had a robustly good response rate or recurrence-free survival with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, and were recommended to undergo fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: MAGI3 is a novel E3 ubiquitin ligase by degradation of c-Myc to regulate CRC development and may act as a potential predictor of adjuvant chemotherapy for CRC patients.

Novel Dielectric Barrier Discharge Trap for Arsenic Introduced by Electrothermal Vaporization: Possible Mechanism and Its Application.

In this work, a novel integrated dielectric barrier discharge (IDBD) reactor coupled to an electrothermal vaporizer (ETV) was established for arsenic determination. It is for the first time gas-phase enrichment (GPE) was fulfilled based on the hyphenation of ETV and DBD. The mechanisms of evolution of arsenic atomic and molecular species during vaporization, transportation, trapping, and release processes were investigated via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and other approaches. Tentative mechanisms were deduced as follows: the newly designed DBD atomizer (DBDA) tube upstream to the air inlet fulfills the atomization of arsenic nanoparticles in vaporized aerosol, leading to free arsenic atoms that are indispensable for forming arsenic oxides; the DBD trap (DBDT) tube traps arsenic oxides under an O2-domininating atmosphere and then releases arsenic atoms under H2-dominating atmospheres. In essence, this process is a physical-chemical process rather than an electrostatic particle deposition. Such a trap and release sequence separates matrix interference and enhances analytical sensitivity. Under the optimized conditions, the method detection limit (LOD) was 0.04 mg/kg and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were within 6% for As standard solution and real seafood samples, indicating adequate analytical sensitivity and precision. The mean spiked recoveries for laver, kelp, and Undaria pinnatifida samples were 95-110%, and the results of the certified reference materials (CRMs) were consistent with certified values. This ETV-DBD preconcentration scheme is easy and green and has low cost for As analysis in seafood samples. DBD was proved a novel ETV transportation enhancement and preconcentration technique for arsenic, revealing its potential in rapid arsenic analysis based on direct solid sampling ETV instrumentation.

A novel scoring system integrating molecular abnormalities with IPSS-R can improve the risk stratification in patients with MDS.

BACKGROUND: The treatment strategies for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) are usually based on the risk stratification system. However, few risk signatures which integrate the revised international prognostic scoring system (IPSS-R) with gene mutations can be easily applied in the real world. METHODS: The training cohort of 63 MDS patients was conducted at Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University from January 2013 to April 2020. The validation cohort of 141 MDS patients was obtained from GSE129828. The mutation scoring system was based on the number of mutations and a unique favorable prognostic factor, which is SF3B1 mutation. Univariate Cox, multivariate Cox, and LASSO regression analyses were used to determine the significant factors that influenced the overall survival. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the efficiency of the prognostic model. RESULTS: A novel risk scoring system we named "mutation combined with revised international prognostic scoring system (MIPSS-R)" was developed based on the results derived from multivariate analysis which assigned points to the IPSS-R and the mutation scores according to their relative statistical weight. Based on the quintile of the new scores, patients were divided into five risk levels. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed the superiority of MIPSS-R in separating patients from different groups, comparing with IPSS-R both in the training cohort (p = 1.71e-08 vs. p = 1.363e-04) and validation cohort (p = 1.788e-04 vs. p = 2.757e-03). The area under the ROC of MIPSS-R was 0.79 in the training cohort and 0.62 in the validation cohort. The retrospective analysis of our house patients showed that the risk levels of 57.41% of patients would adjust according to MIPSS-R. After changing risk levels, 38.71% of patients would benefit from treatment strategies that MIPSS-R recommends. CONCLUSION: A mutation scoring system was conducted based on the number of mutations and a unique favorable prognostic factor. MIPSS-R, the novel integral risk stratification system was developed by integrating IPSS-R and the mutation scores, which is more effective on prognosis and treatment guidance for MDS patients.

Influence of tillage practices on phosphorus forms in aggregates of Mollisols from northeast China.

BACKGROUND: Phosphorus (P) is an essential mineral nutrient for crop growth and development. Much remains unknown regarding the content and distribution of P forms in different soil aggregates as affected by tillage practices. A 3-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of no-tillage (NT), rotary tillage (RT), subsoiling (SS), and deep tillage (DT) on soil aggregate distribution pattern, aggregate-associated P content, and to understand the conversion trend. RESULTS: Tillage has the potential to accelerate the processes in transforming macro-aggregates (> 0.25 mm) into micro-aggregates (< 0.25 mm). Greatest aggregate stability was attained under RT. Total phosphorus (TP) and available phosphorus (AP) under NT were increased by 21.1-82.0% in contrast to other tillage treatments. The NT had high content in inorganic phosphorus (IP), aluminum phosphorus (Al-P), and iron phosphorus (Fe-P) with 416.7, 107.9, and 99.1 mg·kg-1 on average, respectively. Aggregates with a size dimension of < 2 mm were more sensitive than other sizes of aggregates. IP was evenly distributed throughout all aggregates, ranging from 336.3 to 430.6 mg kg-1 . No differences in organic phosphorus (OP) were found in all tillage treatments, while NT promoted the transformation of labile OP to IP. The AP and OP were generally more abundant in aggregates of 2 to 0.25 mm and < 0.25 mm. CONCLUSION: Short-term NT can improve soil structure and increase P reserves, thus, enhancing the conversion of P from being scarce to available. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Elevated TNFRSF4 gene expression is a predictor of poor prognosis in non-M3 acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: We used bioinformatic tools to dichotomize 157 non-M3 AML patients from the TCGA dataset based on the presence or absence of TP53 mutations, and screened out a key gene related to TP53 mutation for future analysis. METHODS: DEGs were analyzed by R package "DESeq2" and then run GSEA, GO enrichment, KEGG pathway and PPI network. Hub genes were selected out according to MCC. Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test was used for survival analysis. Mann-Whitney U's nonparametric t test and Fisher's exact test was used for continuous and categorical variables respectively. p value< 0.05 was considered to be statistical significance. RESULTS: TNFRSF4 was final screened out as a key gene. Besides TP53 mutation (p = 0.0118), high TNFRSF4 was also associated with FLT3 mutation (p = 0.0102) and NPM1 mutation (p = 0.0024). Elevated TNFRSF4 was significantly related with intermediate (p = 0.0004) and poor (p = 0.0011) risk stratification as well as relapse statute (p = 0.0099). Patients with elevated TNFRSF4 expression had significantly shorter overall survival (median survival: 2.35 months vs. 21 months, p < 0.0001). Based on our clinical center data, TNFRSF4 expression was significantly higher in non-M3 AML patients than HDs (p = 0.0377) and MDS patients (EB-1, 2; p = 0.0017). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated TNFRSF4 expression was associated with TP53, FLT3 and NPM1 mutation as well as poor clinical outcome. TNFRSF4 expression was significantly higher in non-M3 AML patients than HDs and MDS (EB-1, 2) patients. TNFRSF4 is need for future functional and mechanistic studies to investigate the role in non-M3 AML.

HPV16 E6 promotes cervical cancer cell migration and invasion by downregulation of NHERF1.

HPV16 is the predominant type of HPV causing invasive cervical cancer. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of the unparalleled carcinogenic power of HPV16 compared to other types of high-risk (HR)-HPV including HPV18 remains elusive. The PDZ binding motif (PBM) of high-risk HPV E6 plays an important role in neoplasia and progression of cervical cancer. HPV16 E6 rather than HPV18 E6, interacted with NHERF1 by its PBM region, and induced degradation of NHERF1. NHERF1 retarded the assembly of cytoskeleton by downregulation of ACTN4, thereby inhibited the migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells in both cell and mouse model. HPV16 E6 was confirmed to enhance actin polymerization with increased ACTN4 level by downregulation of NHERF1, and result in enhanced migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells. GSEA analysis of cervical cancer specimens also showed that HPV16 E6 rather than HPV18 E6, was significantly associated with actin cytoskeleton assembly. That downregulation of NHERF1 by HPV16 E6 promoted cytoskeleton assembly and cell invasion, was an important cause in cervical cancer carcinogenesis. These findings provided the differential mechanism between HPV16 E6 and HPV18 E6 in the development and progression of cervical cancer, which may partially explain the differences of carcinogenic power between these two types of HR-HPVs.

The role of Capon in multiple myeloma.

Capon is a ligand protein of nitric oxide synthase 1. Recently, studies have shown that Capon is involved in the development of tumors. It is independent of the regulation of nitric oxide synthase 1 in this process. At the same time, studies have found that nitric oxide synthase 1 is expressed in multiple myeloma, but its role in the development and progression of myeloma remains unclear. In this study, we found that there was a different expression of Capon between the normal multiple myeloma cells and the adherent multiple myeloma cells. In the process of myeloma cell proliferation, the reduced expression of Capon reduces the arrest of the cell cycle in the G1 phase and promotes the proliferation of myeloma cells. Cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance is one of the most important factors, which affect the chemotherapy effect of multiple myeloma. If the expression of Capon is decreased, myeloma cells are adhered to fibronectin or bone marrow stromal cells (bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells). In addition, the sensitivity of the cell line to chemotherapeutic agents was reduced after silencing Capon in the myeloma cell line which was adhered to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. We also found that reduced expression of Capon resulted in the activation of the AKT signaling pathway. In conclusion, these results may be helpful in studying the role of Capon in multiple myeloma.

Gray matter volume alterations in de novo Parkinson's disease: A mediational role in the interplay between sleep quality and anxiety.

OBJECTIVE: Parkinson's disease (PD) is increasingly recognized for its non-motor symptoms, among which emotional disturbances and sleep disorders frequently co-occur. The commonality of neuroanatomical underpinnings for these symptoms is not fully understood. This study is intended to investigate the differences in gray matter volume (GMV) between PD patients with anxiety (A-PD) and those without anxiety (NA-PD). Additionally, it seeks to uncover the interplay between GMV variations and the manifestations of anxiety and sleep quality. METHODS: A total of 37 A-PD patients, 43 NA-PD patients, and 36 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited, all of whom underwent voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis. Group differences in GMV were assessed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Partial correlation between GMV, anxiety symptom, and sleep quality were analyzed. Mediation analysis explored the mediating role of the volume of GMV-distinct brain regions on the relationship between sleep quality and anxiety within the PD patient cohort. RESULTS: A-PD patients showed significantly lower GMV in the fusiform gyrus (FG) and right inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) compared to HCs and NA-PD patients. GMV in these regions correlated negatively with Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) scores (right ITG: r = -0.690, p < 0.001; left FG: r = -0.509, p < 0.001; right FG: r = -0.576, p < 0.001) and positively with sleep quality in PD patients (right ITG: r = 0.592, p < 0.001; left FG: r = 0.356, p = 0.001; right FG: r = 0.470, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed that GMV in the FG and right ITG mediated the relationship between sleep quality and anxiety symptoms, with substantial effect sizes accounted for by the right ITG (25.74%) and FG (left: 11.90%, right: 15.59%). CONCLUSION: This study has shed further light on the relationship between sleep disturbances and anxiety symptoms in PD patients. Given the pivotal roles of the FG and the ITG in facial recognition and the recognition of emotion-related facial expressions, our findings indicate that compromised sleep quality, under the pathological conditions of PD, may exacerbate the reduction in GMV within these regions, impairing the recognition of emotional facial expressions and thereby intensifying anxiety symptoms.

Effects of aeolian deposition on soil properties and microbial carbon metabolism function in farmland of Songnen Plain, China.

The effects of wind erosion, one of the crucial causes of soil desertification in the world, on the terrestrial ecosystem are well known. However, ecosystem responses regarding soil microbial carbon metabolism to sand deposition caused by wind erosion, a crucial driver of biogeochemical cycles, remain largely unclear. In this study, we collected soil samples from typical aeolian deposition farmland in the Songnen Plain of China to evaluate the effects of sand deposition on soil properties, microbial communities, and carbon metabolism function. We also determined the reads number of carbon metabolism-related genes by high-throughput sequencing technologies and evaluated the association between sand deposition and them. The results showed that long-term sand deposition resulted in soil infertile, roughness, and dryness. The impacts of sand deposition on topsoil were more severe than on deep soil. The diversity of soil microbial communities was significantly reduced due to sand deposition. The relative abundances of Nitrobacteraceae, Burkholderiaceae, and Rhodanobacteraceae belonging to α-Proteobacteria significantly decreased, while the relative abundances of Streptomycetaceae and Geodermatophilaceae belonging to Actinobacteria increased. The results of the metagenomic analysis showed that the gene abundances of carbohydrate metabolism and carbohydrate-activity enzyme (GH and CBM) significantly decreased with the increase of sand deposition amount. The changes in soil microbial community structure and carbon metabolism decreased soil carbon emissions and carbon cycling in aeolian deposition farmland, which may be the essential reasons for land degradation in aeolian deposition farmland.

Altered volume of the amygdala subregions in patients with chronic low back pain.

Background: Neuroimaging studies have suggested a pivotal role for the amygdala involvement in chronic low back pain (CLBP). However, the relationship between the amygdala subregions and CLBP has not yet been delineated. This study aimed to analyze whether the amygdala subregions were linked to the development of CLBP. Methods: A total of 45 patients with CLBP and 45 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. All subjects were asked to complete a three-dimensional T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (3D-T1 MRI) scan. FreeSurfer 7.3.2 was applied to preprocess the structural MRI images and segment the amygdala into nine subregions. Afterwards, comparisons were made between the two groups in terms of the volumes of the amygdala subregions. Correlation analysis is utilized to examine the relationship between the amygdala subregion and the scale scores, as well as the pain duration in patients with CLBP. Additionally, logistic regression was used to explore the risk of the amygdala and its subregions for CLBP. Results: In comparison to HCs, patients with CLBP exhibited a significant enlargement of the left central nucleus (Ce) and left cortical nucleus (Co). Furthermore, the increased volume of the left Ce was associated with a higher risk of CLBP. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the left Ce and left Co may be involved in the pathophysiological processes of CLBP. Moreover, the volume of the left Ce may be a biomarker for detecting the risk of CLBP.

Altered cortical thickness and structural covariance networks in chronic low back pain.

BACKGROUND: Despite regional brain structural changes having been reported in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), the topological properties of structural covariance networks (SCNs), which refer to the organization of the SCNs, remain unclear. This study applied graph theoretical analysis to explore the alterations of the topological properties of SCNs, aiming to comprehend the integration and separation of SCNs in patients with CLBP. METHODS: A total of 38 patients with CLBP and 38 healthy controls (HCs), balanced for age and sex, were scanned using three-dimensional T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. The cortical thickness was extracted from 68 brain regions, according to the Desikan-Killiany atlas, and used to reconstruct the SCNs. Subsequently, graph theoretical analysis was employed to evaluate the alterations of the topological properties in the SCNs of patients with CLBP. RESULTS: In comparison to HCs, patients with CLBP had less cortical thickness in the left superior frontal cortex. Additionally, the cortical thickness of the left superior frontal cortex was negatively correlated with the Visual Analogue Scale scores of patients with CLBP. Furthermore, patients with CLBP, relative to HCs, exhibited lower global efficiency and small-worldness, as well as a longer characteristic path length. This indicates a decline in the brain's capacity to transmit and process information, potentially impacting the processing of pain signals in patients with CLBP and contributing to the development of CLBP. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the clustering coefficient, local efficiency, nodal efficiency, nodal betweenness centrality, or nodal degree between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: From the regional cortical thickness to the complex brain network level, our study demonstrated changes in the cortical thickness and topological properties of the SCNs in patients with CLBP, thus aiding in a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of CLBP.

Global One Health index for zoonoses: A performance assessment in 160 countries and territories.

The One Health (OH) approach is used to control/prevent zoonotic events. However, there is a lack of tools for systematically assessing OH practices. Here, we applied the Global OH Index (GOHI) to evaluate the global OH performance for zoonoses (GOHI-Zoonoses). The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process algorithm and fuzzy comparison matrix were used to calculate the weights and scores of five key indicators, 16 subindicators, and 31 datasets for 160 countries and territories worldwide. The distribution of GOHI-Zoonoses scores varies significantly across countries and regions, reflecting the strengths and weaknesses in controlling or responding to zoonotic threats. Correlation analyses revealed that the GOHI-Zoonoses score was associated with economic, sociodemographic, environmental, climatic, and zoological factors. Additionally, the Human Development Index had a positive effect on the score. This study provides an evidence-based reference and guidance for global, regional, and country-level efforts to optimize the health of people, animals, and the environment.

Synergistic effect of HDAC inhibitor Chidamide with Cladribine on cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by targeting HDAC2/c-Myc/RCC1 axis in acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: More effective targeted therapy and new combination regimens are needed for Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), owing to the unsatisfactory long-term prognosis of the disease. Here, we investigated the synergistic effect and the mechanism of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, Chidamide in combination with Cladribine, a purine nucleoside antimetabolite analog in the disease. METHODS: Cell counting kit-8 assays and Chou-Talalay's combination index were used to examine the synergistic effect of Chidamide and Cladribine on AML cell lines (U937, THP-1, and MV4-11) and primary AML cells. PI and Annexin-V/PI assays were used to detect the cell cycle effect and apoptosis effect, respectively. Global transcriptome analysis, RT-qPCR, c-MYC Knockdown, western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were employed to explore the molecule mechanisms. RESULTS: The combination of Chidamide with Cladribine showed a significant increase in cell proliferation arrest, the G0/G1 phase arrest, and apoptosis compared to the single drug control in AML cell lines along with upregulated p21Waf1/Cip1 expression and downregulated CDK2/Cyclin E2 complex, and elevated cleaved caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP. The combination significantly suppresses the c-MYC expression in AML cells, and c-MYC knockdown significantly increased the sensitivity of U937 cells to the combination compared to single drug control. Moreover, we observed HDAC2 interacts with c-Myc in AML cells, and we further identified that c-Myc binds to the promoter region of RCC1 that also could be suppressed by the combination through c-Myc-dependent. Consistently, a positive correlation of RCC1 with c-MYC was observed in the AML patient cohort. Also, RCC1 and HDAC2 high expression are associated with poor survival in AML patients. Finally, we also observed the combination significantly suppresses cell growth and induces the apoptosis of primary cells in AML patients with AML1-ETO fusion, c-KIT mutation, MLL-AF6 fusion, FLT3-ITD mutation, and in a CMML-BP patient with complex karyotype. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated the synergistic effect of Chidamide with Cladribine on cell growth arrest, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in AML and primary cells with genetic defects by targeting HDAC2/c-Myc/RCC1 signaling in AML. Our data provide experimental evidence for the undergoing clinical trial (Clinical Trial ID: NCT05330364) of Chidamide plus Cladribine as a new potential regimen in AML.

Effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons fluoranthene on the soil aggregate stability and the possible underlying mechanism.

Soil contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is an increasing problem in many countries, impacting the ecological environment's sustainable development. This study investigated the effects of fluoranthene (Fla) on soil aggregate stability. A possible mechanism for the interaction of Fla with soil aggregates was proposed by characterizing the aggregate structure. The results showed that Fla significantly improved the aggregate stability in the concentration range of 0-30.0 mg/kg. The content of macro-aggregates reached the maximum value at 10 mg/kg of Fla, which increased by 24.25% compared with the control group, while the content of large-aggregates decreased by 12.11%. Meanwhile, the mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) increased by 56.63% and 37.66%, respectively. However, the macro-aggregates zeta potential value and specific surface area (SSA) decreased by 12.68% and 13.61%, respectively. The cracks of macro-aggregates were also significantly reduced. In addition, Fla-based free radicals were detected on the macro-aggregates. The absorption peak of the C-O group significantly increased, indicating that Fla may be covalently bound to the aggregates by aromatic ether bonds, which is a possible mechanism for the interaction between Fla and aggregates. This study provides theoretical support for revealing the effects of PAHs on soil.

Effects of application of phosphate and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria on bacterial diversity and phosphorus fractions in a Phaeozems.

The aim of this study is to improve the utilization of phosphorus (P) in soil, and to study the effects of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) on P fractions and bacterial communities. In this experiment, we reduced the amount of P fertilizer by 30 % and 40 % respectively to studied the effects of combined application of bacterial fertilizers on soil microbial community and phosphate transformation process under different fertilization rates. The results showed that the application of PSB affected the transformation process of different P fractions. PSB had the most significant impact on organic phosphorus (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the abundance of bacteria was significantly correlated to the P fractions, indicating that the application of PSB had affected the bacterial community structure. In addition, Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis showed that there was a causal relationship between the various visual variables. SEM confirmed the response relationship between bacterial communities and P components. Based on these results, we concluded that the application of PSB increased the sensitivity of P components, especially Olsen-P and MBP, to soil microorganisms. The application of PSB is an effective method to improve P utilization.