COVID-19-related post-traumatic growth in the general public: a cross-sectional study from Yunnan, China.

To investigate post-traumatic growth induced by COVID-19 pandemic in certain Yunnan residents and to analyze its influencing factors. A total of 581 permanent residents of Yunnan province completed the electronic questionnaire from 18 April 2020 to 26 April 2020. Logistic regression analysis showed that the educational levels, self-perceived health status, family history of infectious diseases, family history of infectious diseases, personality and frequency of going through COVID-19 related news were influencing factors of PTG (P < 0.05). As a traumatic event, the threat of COVID-19 may enable some people to gain positive psychological development in adversity. This will provide reference for public psychological crisis intervention following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Development and validation of the cancer symptoms discrimination scale: a cross-sectional survey of students in Yunnan, China.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to devise a Cancer symptoms Discrimination Scale (CSDS) suitable for China based on a cross-sectional survey. METHODS: The CSDS was developed using the classical measurement theory. A total of 3610 students from Yunnan province, China, participated in the cross-sectional survey. The test version of the scale was modified by the item analysis method, and after the official version of CSDS was developed, its reliability and validity were verified. A univariate analysis of variance and a multiple linear regression model were used to analyze the influencing factors of cancer symptoms discrimination among the university/college students. RESULTS: There were 21 items in total for the CSDS, including 3 subscales --- common clinical manifestations (11 items), physical appearance defects (6 items), and drainage tube(s) wearing (4 items). This CSDS had good validity (GFI = 0.930, AGFI = 0.905, RMR = 0.013, I-CVIs> 0.80, and the Pearson correlation coefficient was satisfactory.) and reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.862, spearman-brown coefficient = 0.875). The multiple linear regression showed that certain factors may affect the students' discrimination level against cancer symptoms (P < 0.05), including gender, major, current education degree, guardian's highest record of formal schooling, self-rated health status, history of care for cancer patients, family relationship, ways of cancer knowledge acquisition, good/poor understanding of cancer-related information, degree of cancer fear, and their perception of cancer infectiousness. CONCLUSION: This CSDS, with good reliability and validity, can be used for the evaluation of the discrimination risk and levels against cancer symptoms among healthy students.

Biochemical and Structural Characterization of a Five-domain GH115 α-Glucuronidase from the Marine Bacterium Saccharophagus degradans 2-40T.

Glucuronic acid (GlcAp) and/or methylglucuronic acid (MeGlcAp) decorate the major forms of xylan in hardwood and coniferous softwoods as well as many cereal grains. Accordingly, the complete utilization of glucuronoxylans or conversion to sugar precursors requires the action of main chain xylanases as well as α-glucuronidases that release the α- (1→2)-linked (Me)GlcAp side groups. Herein, a family GH115 enzymefrom the marine bacterium Saccharophagus degradans 2-40(T), SdeAgu115A, demonstrated activity toward glucuronoxylan and oligomers thereof with preference toward MeGlcAp linked to internal xylopyranosyl residues. Unique biochemical characteristics of NaCl activation were also observed. The crystal structure of SdeAgu115A revealed a five-domain architecture, with an additional insertion C(+) domain that had significant impact on the domain arrangement of SdeAgu115A monomer and its dimerization. The participation of domain C(+) in substrate binding was supported by reduced substrate inhibition upon introducing W773A, W689A, and F696A substitutions within this domain. In addition to Asp-335, the catalytic essentiality of Glu-216 was revealed by site-specific mutagenesis. A primary sequence analysis suggested that the SdeAgu115A architecture is shared by more than half of GH115 members, thus defining a distinct archetype for GH115 enzymes.

Cognition of the warning symptoms and risk factors for cancer among Chinese college students: a cross-sectional study based on a summer social practice activity.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the cognition of cancer warning symptoms and cancer risk factors among Chinese college students, analyze the influencing factors, and explain the correlations between cancer cognition and cancer symptom discrimination, cancer fear and psychological distress. METHODS: Chinese college students were recruited in this cross-sectional study funded by a summer social practice activity in Yunnan Province, China. Cognition rates of cancer warning symptoms and cancer risk factors were evaluated using Cancer Warning symptoms Cognition Questionnaire (CWSCQ) and Cancer Risk Factors Cognition Questionnaire (CRFCQ), respectively. Factors associated with cognition of cancer warning symptoms, and factors associated with cognition of cancer risk factors were evaluated using multiple linear regression analysis. Interactions between cancer cognition, cancer symptom discrimination, psychological distress, and cancer fear were evaluated by structural equation modeling. RESULTS: There were 846 effective samples, with an effective rate of 80.9%. The cognition rates of cancer warning symptoms were from 47.9% to 84.4%, which were affected by cancer symptom discrimination, education, attitudes towards cancer screening, living expenses, drinking history, and ways to obtain cancer knowledge (p < 0.05). The cognition rates of cancer risk factors were from 46.3% to 91.3% in participants, which were affected by education, cancer symptom discrimination, psychological distress, attitudes towards cancer screening, life satisfaction, cancer history in relatives and friends, ways to obtain cancer knowledge, smoking history, and nursing history for cancer patients (p < 0.05). Cancer cognition and cancer symptom discrimination showed intermediary effects on psychological distress and cancer fear (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The overall cancer cognition situation among Chinese college students is not optimistic, which highlights the necessity of improving the cancer health literacy among Chinese college students. With the increasing morbidity and mortality rates of cancer, it is necessary to raise awareness of early detection, and early treatment of cancer among the general public. Health education interventions are helpful to improve cancer health literacy.

RNA binding protein RBM46 regulates mitotic-to-meiotic transition in spermatogenesis.

Meiosis entry during spermatogenesis requires reprogramming from mitotic to meiotic gene expression profiles. Transcriptional regulation has been extensively studied in meiosis entry, but gain of function for master transcription factors is insufficient to down-regulate mitotic genes. RNA helicase YTHDC2 and its partner MEIOC emerge as essential posttranscriptional regulators of meiotic entry. However, it is unclear what governs the RNA binding specificity of YTHDC2/MEIOC. Here, we identified RNA binding protein RBM46 as a component of the YTHDC2/MEIOC complex. Testis-specific Rbm46 knockout in mice causes infertility with defective mitotic-to-meiotic transition, phenocopying global Ythdc2 or Meioc knockout. RBM46 binds to 3' UTR of mitotic transcripts within 100 nucleotides from YTHDC2 U-rich motifs and targets these transcripts for degradation. Dysregulated RBM46 expression is associated with human male fertility disorders. These findings establish the RBM46/YTHDC2/MEIOC complex as the major posttranscriptional regulator responsible for down-regulating mitotic transcripts during meiosis entry in mammalian spermatogenesis, with implications for understanding meiosis-related fertility disorders.

Development and reliability and validity test of the Fear of Cancer Scale (FOCS).

OBJECTIVE: To develop a Fear of Cancer Scale (FOCS) for non-cancer populations. METHODS: FOCS was developed by classical measurement theory. A total of 15 college students were invited to conduct semi-structured interviews. Seven experts were invited for expert consultation. A total of 2012 Chinese college students who had completed the electronic questionnaire on WJX.cn platform was included. The reliability and validity of FOCS were verified. Multiple linear regression analysis was adopted to explore the influencing factors of cancer fear among college students and further verify the validity of FOCS. RESULTS: There were 17 items in the FOCS, including two subscales - direct fear (8 items), and indirect fear (9 items). FOCS had good validity and reliability. Multiple linear regression showed that GAD-7 score, CSDS score, negative coping score, positive coping score, guardian's highest education, gender, life satisfaction, nationality and major were the influencing factors of cancer fear (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The 17-item FOCS was a reliable and valid measure to examine the level of cancer fear in non-cancer populations.

Structural characterization of the family GH115 α-glucuronidase from Amphibacillus xylanus yields insight into its coordinated action with α-arabinofuranosidases.

The coordinated action of carbohydrate-active enzymes has mainly been evaluated for the purpose of complete saccharification of plant biomass (lignocellulose) to sugars. By contrast, the coordinated action of accessory hemicellulases on xylan debranching and recovery is less well characterized. Here, the activity of two family GH115 α-glucuronidases (SdeAgu115A from Saccharophagus degradans, and AxyAgu115A from Amphibacillus xylanus) on spruce arabinoglucuronoxylan (AGX) was evaluated in combination with an α-arabinofuranosidase from families GH51 (AniAbf51A, aka E-AFASE from Aspergillus niger) and GH62 (SthAbf62A from Streptomyces thermoviolaceus). The α-arabinofuranosidases boosted (methyl)-glucuronic acid release by SdeAgu115A by approximately 50 % and 30 %, respectively. The impact of the α-arabinofuranosidases on AxyAgu115A activity was comparatively low, motivating its structural characterization. The crystal structure of AxyAgu115A revealed increased length and flexibility of the active site loop compared to SdeAgu115A. This structural difference could explain the ability of AxyAgu115A to accommodate more highly substituted arabinoglucuronoxylan, and inform enzyme selections for improved AGX recovery and use.

Psychological distress in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic: Preliminary development of an assessment scale.

COVID-19 is now spreading worldwide, and poses some public mental health problems which requires close attention. This study aims to develop a scale of COVID-19 related psychological distress in healthy public (CORPD) to assess the severity of psychological distress in uninfected healthy populations. We compiled a 14-item scale which contains two dimensions- Anxiety & fear and Suspicion -using the classical measurement theory. 652 Chinese citizens consented and completed a survey through an online questionnaire APP. The reliability test showed that the scale had good internal consistency reliability and Split-Half reliability, and the validity test showed that it had good structure validity, content validity and criterion correlation validity. This scale can be used to assess the psychological distress of people in China and in other COVID-19-hit regions and countries. It also provides a reference for future studies on COVID-19 or other respiratory infectious diseases related public mental health.

Characterization of a hemolysin gene ytjA from Bacillus subtilis.

Bacillus subtilis is popularly used as a probiotic in many fields. Although recent research has found that some secondary metabolites of B. subtilis could cause hemolysis, the hemolytic mechanism in B. subtilis is still unclear. In this paper, the hemolysis-associated gene ytjA was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the hemolytic activity of the expressed soluble protein was indicated by the presence of clear hemolytic zones on sheep blood agar plates. In addition, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed that the ytjA gene was transcribed in B. subtilis. These results suggest that ytjA is one of the hemolysin genes responsible for hemolysis in B. subtilis.

A novel acetyl xylan esterase enabling complete deacetylation of substituted xylans.

BACKGROUND: Acetylated 4-O-(methyl)glucuronoxylan (GX) is the main hemicellulose in deciduous hardwood, and comprises a ß-(1→4)-linked xylopyranosyl (Xylp) backbone substituted by both acetyl groups and α-(1→2)-linked 4-O-methylglucopyranosyluronic acid (MeGlcpA). Whereas enzymes that target singly acetylated Xylp or doubly 2,3-O-acetyl-Xylp have been well characterized, those targeting (2-O-MeGlcpA)3-O-acetyl-Xylp structures in glucuronoxylan have remained elusive. RESULTS: An unclassified carbohydrate esterase (FjoAcXE) was identified as a protein of unknown function from a polysaccharide utilization locus (PUL) otherwise comprising carbohydrate-active enzyme families known to target xylan. FjoAcXE was shown to efficiently release acetyl groups from internal (2-O-MeGlcpA)3-O-acetyl-Xylp structures, an activity that has been sought after but lacking in known carbohydrate esterases. FjoAcXE action boosted the activity of α-glucuronidases from families GH67 and GH115 by five and nine times, respectively. Moreover, FjoAcXE activity was not only restricted to GX, but also deacetylated (3-O-Araf)2-O-acetyl-Xylp of feruloylated xylooligomers, confirming the broad substrate range of this new carbohydrate esterase. CONCLUSION: This study reports the discovery and characterization of the novel carbohydrate esterase, FjoAcXE. In addition to cleaving singly acetylated Xylp, and doubly 2,3-O-acetyl-Xylp, FjoAcXE efficiently cleaves internal 3-O-acetyl-Xylp linkages in (2-O-MeGlcpA)3-O-acetyl-Xylp residues along with densely substituted and branched xylooligomers; activities that until now were missing from the arsenal of enzymes required for xylan conversion.

Action of a GH115 α-glucuronidase from Amphibacillus xylanus at alkaline condition promotes release of 4-O-methylglucopyranosyluronic acid from glucuronoxylan and arabinoglucuronoxylan.

Glucuronic acid and/or 4-O-methyl-glucuronic acid (GlcA/MeGlcA) are substituents of the main xylans present in hardwoods, conifers, and many cereal grains. α-Glucuronidases from glycoside hydrolase family GH115 can target GlcA/MeGlcA from both internally and terminally substituted regions of xylans. The current study describes the first GH115 α-glucuronidase, AxyAgu115A, from the alkaliphilic organism Amphilbacillus xylanus. AxyAgu115A was active in a wide pH range, and demonstrated better performance in alkaline condition compared to other characterized GH115 α-glucuronidases, which generally show optimal activity in acidic conditions. Specifically, its relative activity between pH 5.0 and pH 8.5 was above 80%, and was 35% of maximum at pH 10.5; although the enzyme lost 30% and 80% relative residual activity after 24-h pre-incubation at pH 9 and pH 10, respectively. AxyAgu115A was also similarly active towards glucuronoxylan as well as comparatively complex xylans such as spruce arabinoglucurunoxylan. Accommodation of complex xylans was supported by docking analyses that predicted accessibility of AxyAgu115A to branched xylo-oligosaccharides. MeGlcA release by AxyAgu115A from each xylan sample was increased by up to 30% by performing the reaction at pH 11.0 rather than pH 4.0, revealing applied benefits of AxyAgu115A for xylan recovery and processing.

Direct and up-close views of plant cell walls show a leading role for lignin-modifying enzymes on ensuing xylanases.

BACKGROUND: A key barrier that limits the full potential of biological processes to create new, sustainable materials and fuels from plant fibre is limited enzyme accessibility to polysaccharides and lignin that characterize lignocellulose networks. Moreover, the heterogeneity of lignocellulosic substrates means that different enzyme combinations might be required for efficient transformation of different plant resources. Analytical techniques with high chemical sensitivity and spatial resolution that permit direct characterization of solid samples could help overcome these challenges by allowing direct visualization of enzyme action within plant fibre, thereby identify barriers to enzyme action. RESULTS: In the current study, the high spatial resolution (about 30 nm) of scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), and the detection sensitivity (ppm) of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), were harnessed for the first time to investigate the progression of laccase, cellulase and xylanase activities through wood samples, and to evaluate complementary action between lignin-modifying and polysaccharide-degrading enzymes. In particular, complementary insights from the STXM and ToF-SIMS analyses revealed the key role of laccase in promoting xylanase activity throughout and between plant cell walls. CONCLUSIONS: The spatial resolution of STXM clearly revealed time-dependent progression and spatial distribution of laccase and xylanase activities, whereas ToF-SIMS analyses confirmed that laccase promoted protein penetration into fibre samples, leading to an overall increase in polysaccharide degradation. Spectromicroscopic visualizations of plant cell wall chemistry allowed simultaneous tracking of changes to lignin and polysaccharide contents, which provides new possibilities for investigating the complementary roles of lignin-modifying and carbohydrate-active enzymes.