Harnessing microbial co-culture to increase the production of known secondary metabolites.

Covering: 2019 to 2024Secondary metabolites (SMs) are naturally occurring defense or signaling molecules that are also utilized as human and animal drugs, crop protection agents, and fine chemicals. Currently, SMs are primarily produced in monoculture settings, devoid of the intricate microbial interactions found in natural environments. Monoculture may lead to the silencing of gene clusters, requiring various genetic or bioprocess strategies to activate the biosynthesis of the corresponding metabolites.

Constructing organoid-brain-computer interfaces for neurofunctional repair after brain injury.

The reconstruction of damaged neural circuits is critical for neurological repair after brain injury. Classical brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) allow direct communication between the brain and external controllers to compensate for lost functions. Importantly, there is increasing potential for generalized BCIs to input information into the brains to restore damage, but their effectiveness is limited when a large injured cavity is caused.

Beyond weight loss: the potential of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a heterogeneous syndrome with various phenotypes, and obesity is one of the most common and clinically relevant phenotypes of HFpEF. Obesity contributes to HFpEF through multiple mechanisms, including sodium retention, neurohormonal dysregulation, altered energy substrate metabolism, expansion of visceral adipose tissue, and low-grade systemic inflammation. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone in the incretin family.

Multiomic meta-analysis suggests a correlation between steroid hormone-related genes and litter size in goats.

Litter size is a key indicator of production performance in livestock. However, its genetic basis in goats remains poorly understood. In this work, a genome-wide selection sweep analysis (GWSA) on 100 published goat genomes with different litter rates was performed for the first time to identify candidate genes related to kidding rate.

Designing Symmetric Gradient Honeycomb Structures with Carbon-Coated Iron-Based Composites for High-Efficiency Microwave Absorption.

The impedance matching of absorbers is a vital factor affecting their microwave absorption (MA) properties. In this work, we controllably synthesized Material of Institute Lavoisier 88C (MIL-88C) with varying aspect ratios (AR) as a precursor by regulating oil bath conditions, followed by one-step thermal decomposition to obtain carbon-coated iron-based composites. Modifying the precursor MIL-88C (Fe) preparation conditions, such as the molar ratio between metal ions and organic ligands (M/O), oil bath temperature, and oil bath time, influenced the phases, graphitization degree, and AR of the derivatives, enabling low filler loading, achieving well-matched impedance, and ensuring outstanding MA properties.

Effects of exogenous melatonin on growth and physiological characteristics of seedlings under drought stress.

To clarify the alleviation effect of exogenous melatonin (MT) on under drought stress, we examined the response of 'Yanchi' seedlings to simulated drought stress with polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-6000), by investigating the effects of exogenous addition of different concentrations (0, 1, 10, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg·L) of MT on seedlings growth and physiological characteristics under drought stress. The results showed that drought stress significantly inhibited the growth of seedlings, and that exogenous addition of different concentrations of MT could alleviate the growth inhibition caused by drought stress, with the strongest mitigation effect observed at MT concentration of 100 mg·L. Compared with the drought stress treatment alone, exogenous addition of 100 mg·L MT under drought stress increased plant height, aboveground dry weight, and leaf relative water content by 58.

Identification of Key Immune-Related Genes in the Treatment of Heart Failure After Myocardial Infarction with Empagliflozin Based on RNA-Seq.

Purpose: Heart failure is a serious complication after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). It is crucial to investigate the mechanism of action of empagliflozin in the treatment of heart failure.

Methods: A total of 20 wild type (WT) male C57BL6/J mice were used to establish a model of heart failure after myocardial infarction and randomly divided into 2 groups: treatment group and control group.

Integration of RNA-Seq and Machine Learning Identifies Hub Genes for Empagliflozin Benefitable Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the hub genes of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) treated with Empagliflozin using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and bioinformatics methods, including machine learning.

Methods: From February 2021 to February 2023, nine patients with HFrEF were enrolled from our hospital's cardiovascular department. In addition to routine drug treatment, these patients received 10 mg of Empagliflozin once daily for two months.

[Severity Differences and Mechanisms of Algal Blooms Among Sections in Pengxi River of the Three Gorges Reservoir].

Since the impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam, 50% of the first-order tributaries in the reservoir area have had frequent algal blooms but with variations regarding the geographical locations of the seriously bloomed sections and the scope of the latter being influenced by the mainstream. This study took the Pengxi River, a first-order tributary of the reservoir area, as an example in order to explore the difference in eutrophication among the river sections and the influence of the Yangtze River on its tributaries. During the spring bloom season of 2019, sampling was carried out in one-week intervals for a total duration of one month.

Sanwei sandalwood decoction ameliorates acute ischemiareperfusion injury in rats by modulating myocyte electrophysiological characteristics.

Sanwei sandalwood decoction (SWTX) is a classical Chinese medicine formula and clinically effective treatment for coronary heart disease, including myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Because the treatment mechanism of SWTX in I/R injury remains obscure, we intended to analyze the potential cardioprotective effects of SWTX in rats with myocardial I/R injury. Our research revealed that SWTX prolonged ventricular conduction time in a dose-dependent manner.

Progress on deer genome research.

Deer family is one of the most abundant mammalian families in the world. Deer species are distributed in wide geographic ranges including the North Pole, tropical regions and high-altitude mountains. Of these deer species, China accounts for more than 40% of them and is the main site for deer evolution.

Oxidative Stress Induction Is a Rational Strategy to Enhance the Productivity of Fermentations for the Antioxidant Secondary Metabolite Antrodin C.

Antioxidant metabolites contribute to alleviating oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in microorganisms. We utilized oxidative stressors such as hydrogen peroxide supplementation to increase the yield of the bioactive secondary metabolite antioxidant antrodin C in submerged fermentations of the medicinal mushroom . Changes in the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities of the cells indicate that ROS are critical to promote antrodin C biosynthesis, while the ROS production inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium cancels the productivity-enhancing effects of HO.

Leonurine Exerts Anti-Catabolic and Anti-Apoptotic Effects via Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Signaling Pathways in Chondrocytes.

BACKGROUND Leonurine confers neuroprotection, inhibits myocardial apoptosis, ameliorates endothelial dysfunction, and shows anti-inflammatory effects, and may be beneficial for clinical applications. However, the effects of leonurine on chondrocytes remain unknown. Here, we investigated the protective role of leonurine in rat chondrocytes.

Tricetin Protects Rat Chondrocytes against IL-1-Induced Inflammation and Apoptosis.

Tricetin is a well-studied flavonoid with a wide range of pharmacological activities in cancer and inflammation. However, the ability of tricetin to ameliorate the inflammation that occurs in osteoarthritis (OA) has not been determined. This study explored the effects of tricetin on interleukin- (IL-) 1-induced rat chondrocytes.

Management of the uncinate process via the artery first approach in laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy.

Background: Uncinate process dissection is one of the major challenges for surgeons when performing laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the artery first approach for handling uncinate process dissection in laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy.

Methods: Between February 2015 and June 2018, a total of 91 consecutive patients without vascular encasement underwent selective laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy, including the first 26 consecutive cases treated with the conventional approach and the remaining 65 with the artery first approach applied for uncinate process dissection.

Production of bioactive metabolites by submerged fermentation of the medicinal mushroom Antrodia cinnamomea: recent advances and future development.

Edible and medicinal mushrooms have usually been considered as a sustainable source of unique bioactive metabolites, which are valued as promising provisions for human health. Antrodia cinnamomea is a unique edible and medicinal fungus widespread in Taiwan, which has attracted much attention in recent years for its high value in both scientific research and commercial applications owing to its potent therapeutic effects, especially for its hepatic protection and anticancer activity. Due to the scarcity of the fruiting bodies, the cultivation of A.

Follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1) promotes chondrocyte expression of matrix metalloproteinase and inflammatory factors via the NF-κB pathway.

Background: The expression of follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1) is closely associated with diseases of the musculoskeletal system. However, despite being a well characterized inflammatory mediator, the effects of FSTL1 on chondrocytes are not completely understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of FSTL1 on the expression of inflammatory and catabolic factors in rat chondrocytes.

Paeoniflorin inhibits IL-1β-induced MMP secretion via the NF-κB pathway in chondrocytes.

Paeoniflorin serves important cellular roles, exerting anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-pulmonary fibrosis effects and possesses immune-modulatory properties. However, the exact role of paeoniflorin in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of paeoniflorin on articular surfaces .

Regulation of autophagy by tea polyphenols in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Objective: To investigate the effect of tea polyphenols on cardiac function in rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy, and the mechanism by which tea polyphenols regulate autophagy in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups: a normal control group (NC), an obesity group (OB), a diabetic cardiomyopathy group (DCM), a tea polyphenol group (TP), an obesity tea polyphenol treatment group (OB-TP), and a diabetic cardiomyopathy tea polyphenol treatment group (DCM-TP). After successful modeling, serum glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were determined; cardiac structure and function were inspected by ultrasonic cardiography; myocardial pathology was examined by staining with hematoxylin-eosin; transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the morphology and quantity of autophagosomes; and expression levels of autophagy-related proteins LC3-II, SQSTM1/p62, and Beclin-1 were determined by Western blotting.

Paeoniflorin inhibits IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis by regulating the Bax/Bcl-2/caspase-3 signaling pathway.

Apoptosis serves a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Increasing evidence has demonstrated that paeoniflorin exerts key properties (including anticancer, anti-inflammation and neuroprotective) for clinical applications. However, the precise role of paeoniflorin in articular cartilage apoptosis remains unknown.

Screening weight related genes of velvet antlers by whole genome re-sequencing.

The velvet antler is a special organ that has important biological significance for deer, and its growth is a complicated biological metabolism process. Growing evidence suggests that genetics factors play essential roles in the weight of velvet antlers. In this study, we investigated five sika deer (Cervus nippon) populations under the same feeding condition, and screened genetic variations in the 100 samples (including 50 heavy and 50 light velvet antler weight samples) by whole genome re-sequencing.

Current Advances on the Structure, Bioactivity, Synthesis, and Metabolic Regulation of Novel Ubiquinone Derivatives in the Edible and Medicinal Mushroom Antrodia cinnamomea.

In recent years, Antrodia cinnamomea has attracted great attention around the world as an extremely precious edible and medicinal mushroom. Ubiquinone derivatives, which are characteristic metabolites of A. cinnamomea, have shown great bioactivities.

Diagnostic performance of computed tomography angiography in the detection of coronary artery in-stent restenosis: evidence from an updated meta-analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of computed tomography angiography (CTA) ≥64 slices for detecting coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR) and determine the influence of separate characteristics on diagnostic accuracy.

Methods: We searched the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases for studies of CTA ≥64 slices in diagnosing ISR. We pooled data on bivariate modelling, and subgroup analysis was also performed.

Rosmarinic acid down-regulates NO and PGE expression via MAPK pathway in rat chondrocytes.

Rosmarinic acid (RosA) is a water-soluble polyphenol, which can be isolated from many herbs such as orthosiphon diffuses and rosmarinus officinalis. Previous studies have shown that RosA possesses various biological properties. In this study, we investigate the anti-osteoarthritic effects of RosA in rat articular chondrocytes.

Construction of ICG encapsulated WO@MSN as a fluorescence carrier for real-time tracked photothermal therapy.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has drawn tremendous attention because of its high therapeutic efficiency in targeting cells while minimizing the damage to normal tissues and organs. Tungsten oxide (WO, WO) plays a pivotal role in PTT development and its use in PTT systems has been extensively studied. However, it is difficult to control morphology of WO through conventional hydrothermal method.