Gut bacterial and fungal dysbiosis in tuberculosis patients.

Background: Recent studies have more focused on gut microbial alteration in tuberculosis (TB) patients. However, no detailed study on gut fungi modification has been reported till now. So, current research explores the characteristics of gut microbiota (bacteria)- and mycobiota (fungi)-dysbiosis in TB patients and also assesses the correlation between the gut microbiome and serum cytokines.

Membrane-Based Preparation Process and Antioxidant and Anti-AGEs Activities of a Novel Propolis Ultrafiltrate.

Propolis is one functional supplement with hundreds of years of usage. However, it's rarely consumed directly for its resinous property. Herein, a pre-treated process which can remove the impurity while preserve its bioactivities is needed to maximise its therapeutic opportunities.

Dual Proton/Silver-Catalyzed Serial (5 + 2)-Cycloaddition and Nazarov Cyclization of ()-2-Arylidene-3-hydroxyindanones with Conjugated Eneynes: Synthesis of Indanone-Fused Benzo[]azulenes.

A one-pot step-economic tandem process involving (5 + 2)-cycloaddition and Nazarov cyclization reactions has been reported for the facile synthesis of indanone-fused benzo[]azulenes from ()-2-arylidene-3-hydroxyindanones and conjugated eneynes. This highly regio- and stereoselective bisannulation reaction is enabled by dual silver and Brønsted acid catalysis and opens up a new avenue for the construction of important bicyclo[5.3.

[Effects of electroacupuncture at "Zhongliao" and "Xialiao" on serotonin signaling system and short-chain fatty acids in slow transit constipation rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zhongliao" (BL33) and "Xialiao" (BL34) on the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) signaling system in colon tissue and short-chain fatty acids in feces of rats with slow transit constipation (STC), so as to explore the underlying mechanisms of EA in the treatment of STC.

Methods: A total of 32 SD rats were randomly divided into normal, model, drug control and EA groups, with 8 rats in each group. The STC model was established by intragastric administration of loperamide for 14 days.

Meta-analysis on the epidemiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease in China.

Background: No large-scale epidemiological survey on the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in China has been conducted. China has a large population and a complex geographical environment. It is important to understand the prevalence and spatial distribution of GERD in China.

TERRA and RAD51AP1 promote alternative lengthening of telomeres through an R- to D-loop switch.

Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), a telomerase-independent process maintaining telomeres, is mediated by break-induced replication (BIR). RAD52 promotes ALT by facilitating D-loop formation, but ALT also occurs through a RAD52-independent BIR pathway. Here, we show that the telomere non-coding RNA TERRA forms dynamic telomeric R-loops and contributes to ALT activity in RAD52 knockout cells.

Protocol to stimulate and delineate alternative lengthening of telomeres in human U2OS cells.

Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) is a telomerase-independent but recombination-dependent pathway that maintains telomeres. Here, we describe a protocol to stimulate the formation of ALT-associated PML bodies (APBs) and ALT activity by tethering PML-IV to telomeres in human U2OS cells. Through immunofluorescence, hybridization, and microscopy, we analyze dynamics of telomere clustering, visualize recruitment of DNA repair proteins to APBs, and measure telomere DNA synthesis during ALT.

Spatial-temporal Distribution and Influencing Factors of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Chinese Mainland, 2001-2020: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The spatial-temporal distribution of Helicobacter pylori infection in China is poorly understood. We aimed to study the spatial-temporal distribution of H. pylori infection in Chinese mainland and to explore its influencing factors.

Ding's herbal enema treats dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice by regulating the gut microbiota and maintaining the Treg/Th17 cell balance.

Ding's herbal enema (DHEP) is a traditional Chinese medicinal therapy that has been used to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) in China. The present study determined the molecular mechanism of the effect of DHEP in UC treatment. C57BL/6J mice were treated with 3.

Toxicity of CuS/CdS semiconductor nanocomposites to liver cells and mice liver.

Semiconductor nanomaterials not only bring great convenience to peoples lives but also become a potential hazard to human health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of CuS/CdS nanocomposites in hepatocytes and mice liver. The CuS/CdS semiconductor nanocomposites were synthesized by a biomimetic synthesis - ion exchange strategy.

RNA transcripts stimulate homologous recombination by forming DR-loops.

Homologous recombination (HR) repairs DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. Several HR proteins are preferentially recruited to DSBs at transcriptionally active loci, but how transcription promotes HR is poorly understood. Here we develop an assay to assess the effect of local transcription on HR.

Coinheritance of and variants in a Chinese family with juvenile-onset primary open-angle glaucoma: A case report.

Background: Juvenile-onset primary open-angle glaucoma (JOAG), characterized by severe elevation of intraocular pressure and optic neuropathy prior to the age of 40, is a rare subtype of primary open-angle glaucoma. Several genetic mutations have been associated with JOAG.

Case Summary: The proband patient was a young male, diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma at the age of 27.

Alternative lengthening of telomeres is a self-perpetuating process in ALT-associated PML bodies.

Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) is mediated by break-induced replication (BIR), but how BIR is regulated at telomeres is poorly understood. Here, we show that telomeric BIR is a self-perpetuating process. By tethering PML-IV to telomeres, we induced telomere clustering in ALT-associated PML bodies (APBs) and a POLD3-dependent ATR response at telomeres, showing that BIR generates replication stress.

Comparative review and the recent progress in detection technologies of meat product adulteration.

Meat adulteration, mainly for the purpose of economic pursuit, is widespread and leads to serious public health risks, religious violations, and moral loss. Rapid, effective, accurate, and reliable detection technologies are keys to effectively supervising meat adulteration. Considering the importance and rapid advances in meat adulteration detection technologies, a comprehensive review to summarize the recent progress in this area and to suggest directions for future progress is beneficial.

Simultaneous directed evolution of coupled enzymes for efficient asymmetric synthesis of -phosphinothricin.

The traditional strategy to improve the efficiency of an entire coupled enzyme system relies on separate direction of the evolution of enzymes involved in their respective enzymatic reactions. This strategy can lead to enhanced single-enzyme catalytic efficiency but may also lead to loss of coordination among enzymes. This study aimed to overcome such shortcomings by executing a directed evolution strategy on multiple enzymes in one combined group that catalyzes the asymmetric biosynthesis of -phosphinothricin.

Analysis of Clinical Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Recovery Stage of Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: We provide an updated meta-analysis with detailed information on a combination of TCM and routine treatment.

Methods: Retrieve appropriate articles with no language restrictions on keywords until 8 July 2019 in an electronic database. All trajectories are screened according to certain criteria.

LncRNA-AK149641 regulates the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α in P815 mast cells by targeting the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway.

Long noncoding RNAs play important roles in various biological processes. However, not much is known about their roles in inflammatory response. Mast cells, involved in innate and adaptive immunity, are one of the major effector cells in allergic inflammatory reactions and contribute to the pathogenesis of disorders, including asthma.

Synthetic lethality by targeting the RUVBL1/2-TTT complex in mTORC1-hyperactive cancer cells.

Despite considerable efforts, mTOR inhibitors have produced limited success in the clinic. To define the vulnerabilities of mTORC1-addicted cancer cells and to find previously unknown therapeutic targets, we investigated the mechanism of piperlongumine, a small molecule identified in a chemical library screen to specifically target cancer cells with a hyperactive mTORC1 phenotype. Sensitivity to piperlongumine was dependent on its ability to suppress RUVBL1/2-TTT, a complex involved in chromatin remodeling and DNA repair.

CRL4Cdt2 ubiquitin ligase regulates Dna2 and Rad16 (XPF) nucleases by targeting Pxd1 for degradation.

Structure-specific endonucleases (SSEs) play key roles in DNA replication, recombination, and repair. SSEs must be tightly regulated to ensure genome stability but their regulatory mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the activities of two SSEs, Dna2 and Rad16 (ortholog of human XPF), are temporally controlled during the cell cycle by the CRL4Cdt2 ubiquitin ligase.

Alternative lengthening of telomeres: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic outlooks.

To escape replicative senescence, cancer cells have to overcome telomere attrition during DNA replication. Most of cancers rely on telomerase to extend and maintain telomeres, but 4-11% of cancers use a homologous recombination-based pathway called alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). ALT is prevalent in cancers from the mesenchymal origin and usually associates with poor clinical outcome.

DPEP1 expression promotes proliferation and survival of leukaemia cells and correlates with relapse in adults with common B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Dehydropeptidase-1 (DPEP1) is a zinc-dependent metalloproteinase abnormally expressed in many cancers. However, its potential role in adults with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is unknown. We found that in adults with common B cell ALL high DPEP1, transcript levels at diagnosis were independently associated with an increased cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and worse relapse-free survival (RFS) compared with subjects with low transcript levels.

An R-loop-initiated CSB-RAD52-POLD3 pathway suppresses ROS-induced telomeric DNA breaks.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) inflict multiple types of lesions in DNA, threatening genomic integrity. How cells respond to ROS-induced DNA damage at telomeres is still largely unknown. Here, we show that ROS-induced DNA damage at telomeres triggers R-loop accumulation in a TERRA- and TRF2-dependent manner.

ATR Protects the Genome against R Loops through a MUS81-Triggered Feedback Loop.

R loops arising during transcription induce genomic instability, but how cells respond to the R loop-associated genomic stress is still poorly understood. Here, we show that cells harboring high levels of R loops rely on the ATR kinase for survival. In response to aberrant R loop accumulation, the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR)-Chk1 pathway is activated by R loop-induced reversed replication forks.