Mechanistic Insights into Substrate Recognition and Catalysis of a New Ulvan Lyase of Polysaccharide Lyase Family 24.

Ulvan is an important marine polysaccharide. Bacterial ulvan lyases play important roles in ulvan degradation and marine carbon cycling. Until now, only a small number of ulvan lyases have been characterized.

Identification of the hub genes in gastric cancer through weighted gene co-expression network analysis.

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the most lethal tumors and is characterized by poor prognosis and lack of effective diagnostic or therapeutic biomarkers. The aim of this study was to find hub genes serving as biomarkers in gastric cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Methods: GSE66229 from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was used as training set.

The relationship between endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy in apoptosis of BEAS-2B cells induced by cigarette smoke condensate.

Cigarette smoke (CS) is one of the severe risk factors for the development of the pulmonary disease. However, the underlying mechanisms, especially the CS-induced the human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) apoptosis related to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and autophagy, remains to be studied. This study aims to investigate the relationship between ERS and autophagy in apoptosis induced by CS condensate (CSC).

Anatomical variation of mesophyll conductance due to salt stress in Populus cathayana females and males growing under different inorganic nitrogen sources.

Synergistic regulation in leaf architecture and photosynthesis is essential for salt tolerance. However, how plant sex and inorganic nitrogen sources alter salt stress-dependent photosynthesis remains unknown. Leaf anatomical characteristics and photosynthesis of Populus cathayana Rehder females and males were investigated under salt stress conditions combined with nitrate NO3- and ammonium NH4+ supplies to clarify the underlying mechanisms.

Clinical findings in a group of COVID-19 patients: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly across countries and has infected tens of millions of people all over the world. So far, the pandemic is ongoing globally, and the situation is still worsening.

Methods: In this retrospective, single-center cohort analysis, we included 25 adult inpatients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 disease from the affiliated hospital of Xuzhou Medical University (Xuzhou, China).

miR-128-3p serves as an oncogenic microRNA in osteosarcoma cells by downregulating ZC3H12D.

Osteosarcoma is the second leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide in children and adolescents. ZC3H12D has been shown to negatively regulate Toll-like receptor signaling and serves as a possible tumor suppressor gene. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are known to play an important role in the proliferation of human osteosarcoma cells.

Altered striatum centered brain structures in SHANK3 deficient Chinese children with genotype and phenotype profiling.

SHANK3 deficiency represents one of the most replicated monogenic risk factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and SHANK3 caused ASD presents a unique opportunity to understand the underlying neuropathological mechanisms of ASD. In this study, genetic tests, comprehensive clinical and neurobehavioral evaluations, as well as multimodal structural MRI using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were conducted in SHANK3 group (N = 14 with SHANK3 defects), ASD controls (N = 26 with idiopathic ASD without SHANK3 defects) and typically developing (TD) controls (N = 32). Phenotypically, we reported several new features in Chinese SHANK3 deficient children including anteverted nares, sensory stimulation seeking, dental abnormalities and hematological problems.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals regulation of fetal ovary development in the monkey (Macaca fascicularis).

Germ cells are vital for reproduction and heredity. However, the mechanisms underlying female germ cell development in primates, especially in late embryonic stages, remain elusive. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of 12,471 cells from whole fetal ovaries, and explored the communications between germ cells and niche cells.

Identification by Comprehensive Bioinformatics Analysis of KIF15 as a Candidate Risk Gene for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Background: Previous studies have shown that kinesin family proteins () play an indispensable roles in several types of cancer. However, the expression and clinical significance of in triple-negative breast cancer remain unclear.

Methods: In this study, the role of , including gene expression analysis, methylation characteristic, CNV characteristic, and miRNA target regulation, was evaluated using multiple bioinformatic tools based on TCGA database.

Competitive plasmonic biomimetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for sensitive detection of bisphenol A.

A plasmonic biomimetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PBELISA) method was developed for ultrasensitive and on-site visual detection of bisphenol A (BPA). The PBELISA was an enzyme-linked immunoassay using molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) film as biomimetic antibody combined with catalase (CAT)-mediated growth of plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). With the BPA concentration increased, a distinguished color change was observed from colorless to blue and then red.

Intra- and intersexual interactions shape microbial community dynamics in the rhizosphere of Populus cathayana females and males exposed to excess Zn.

In this study, we intended to investigate the responses of rhizospheric bacterial communities of Populus cathayana to excess Zn under different planting patterns. The results suggested that intersexual and intrasexual interactions strongly affect plant growth and Zn extraction in both sexes, as well as rhizosphere-associated bacterial community structures. Females had a higher capacity of Zn accumulation and translocation than males under all planting patterns.

Crystal structures of γ-glutamylmethylamide synthetase provide insight into bacterial metabolism of oceanic monomethylamine.

Monomethylamine (MMA) is an important climate-active oceanic trace gas and ubiquitous in the oceans. γ-Glutamylmethylamide synthetase (GmaS) catalyzes the conversion of MMA to γ-glutamylmethylamide, the first step in MMA metabolism in many marine bacteria. The gmaS gene occurs in ∼23% of microbial genomes in the surface ocean and is a validated biomarker to detect MMA-utilizing bacteria.

Serum triglyceride level and hypertension are highly associated with the recovery of COVID-19 patients.

The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has been a global pandemic and caused thousands of deaths worldwide. So far, although some studies suggested some medications may be helpful, there is no effective treatment for COVID-19. It is critical to find important risk factors that affects the recovery or severity of COVID-19 and guide the treatment for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

Risk factors of liver injury in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Jiangsu, China: A retrospective, multi-center study.

We aimed to describe liver injury and identify the risk factors of liver injury in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients without chronic liver diseases (CLD). The clinical data of 228 confirmed COVID-19 patients without CLD were retrospectively collected from ten hospitals in Jiangsu, China. Sixty-seven (29.

Electropolymerized Conjugated Microporous Nanoskin Regulating Polysulfide and Electrolyte for High-Energy Li-S Batteries.

A popular practice in Li-S battery research is to utilize highly nanostructured hosts and excessive electrolytes to enhance sulfur-specific capacities. However, from the perspective of commercialization, this is a less meaningful approach in the pursuit of high-energy Li-S batteries. Herein, we report the fabrication of a nanoskin composed of a conjugated microporous polymer by electropolymerization to create a closed system for a sulfur cathode.

Assessment of migration regularity of phthalates from food packaging materials.

Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are one of the essential plastic additives which may lead to plenty of harmful effects, including reproductive toxicity, teratogenicity, and carcinogenicity. Increasing attention has been paid to the migration of plasticizer. In this article, the disposable plastic lunch boxes were taken as the research object.

Kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 positivity of infected and recovered patients from a single center.

Recurrence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positive detection in infected but recovered individuals has been reported. Patients who have recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could profoundly impact the health care system. We sought to define the kinetics and relevance of PCR-positive recurrence during recovery from acute COVID-19 to better understand risks for prolonged infectivity and reinfection.

Real-world practice patterns and outcomes in Veterans with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

To describe practices and outcomes in veterans with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Using Veteran Affairs Cancer Registry System and electronic health record data, we identified relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients completing second-line treatment (2L) in 2000-2016. Treatments were classified as aggressive/nonaggressive.

Design Comorbidity Portfolios to Improve Treatment Cost Prediction of Asthma Using Machine Learning.

Comorbidity is an important factor to consider when trying to predict the cost of treating asthma patients. When an asthmatic patient suffered from comorbidity, the cost of treating such a patient becomes dependent on the nature of the comorbidity. Therefore, lack of recognition of comorbidity on asthmatic patient poses a challenge in predicting the cost of treatment.

[Analysis of the changes of inflammatory cytokine levels in patients with critical coronavirus disease 2019 undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the changes of inflammatory cytokine levels and prognosis of patients with critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. The clinical date of critical COVID-19 patients undergoing IMV who were hospitalized in Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from February 4th to March 25th in 2020 were collected.

A Novel Mediation Strategy of DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice Based on an Iron-Enriched Probiotic and Bioluminescence Tracing.

Iron deficiency (ID) caused by blood loss and/or reduced iron absorption is a serious problem influencing health in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, traditional iron supplements may fail to meet no side effect demands for ID of IBD; thus, a new iron supplementation is highly desired to be developed. Herein, for the first time, probiotic NKU556 with an iron-enriching ability was screened from Chinese traditional fermented food then employed to intervene DSS-induced colitis with bioluminescence tracing in mice.

Structural and molecular basis for the substrate positioning mechanism of a new PL7 subfamily alginate lyase from the arctic.

Alginate lyases play important roles in alginate degradation in the ocean. Although a large number of alginate lyases have been characterized, little is yet known about those in extremely cold polar environments, which may have unique mechanisms for environmental adaptation and for alginate degradation. Here, we report the characterization of a novel PL7 alginate lyase AlyC3 from sp.