Functional Genomics and Comparative Genomics Analysis in Plants.

The study of plant genomics has significantly deepened our understanding of plant evolution and adaptation from a microscopic perspective [...

A capsule-based scaffold incorporating decellularized extracellular matrix and curcumin for islet beta cell therapy in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The transplantation of islet beta cells offers an alternative to heterotopic islet transplantation for treating type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, the use of systemic immunosuppressive drugs in islet transplantation poses significant risks to the body. To address this issue, we constructed an encapsulated hybrid scaffold loaded with islet beta cells.

A 3D bioprinted antibacterial hydrogel dressing of gelatin/sodium alginate loaded with ciprofloxacin hydrochloride.

Skin plays a crucial role in human physiological functions, however, it was vulnerable to bacterial infection which delayed wound healing. Nowadays, designing an individual wound dressing with good biocompatibility and sustaining anti-infection capability for healing of chronic wounds are still challenging. In this study, various concentrations of the ciprofloxacin (CIP) were mixed with gelatine (Gel)/sodium alginate (SA) solution to prepare Gel/SA/CIP (GAC) bioinks, following the fabrication of GAC scaffold by an extrusion 3D bioprinting technology.

Coordinated molecular and ecological adaptations underlie a highly successful parasitoid.

The success of an organism depends on the molecular and ecological adaptations that promote its beneficial fitness. Parasitoids are valuable biocontrol agents for successfully managing agricultural pests, and they have evolved diversified strategies to adapt to both the physiological condition of hosts and the competition of other parasitoids. Here, we deconstructed the parasitic strategies in a highly successful parasitoid, , which parasitizes a broad range of hosts, including the globally invasive species .

Communication between the stem cell niche and an adjacent differentiation niche through miRNA and EGFR signaling orchestrates exit from the stem cell state in the Drosophila ovary.

The signaling environment, or niche, often governs the initial difference in behavior of an adult stem cell and a derivative that initiates a path towards differentiation. The transition between an instructive stem cell niche and differentiation niche must generally have single-cell resolution, suggesting that multiple mechanisms might be necessary to sharpen the transition. Here, we examined the Drosophila ovary and found that Cap cells, which are key constituents of the germline stem cell (GSC) niche, express a conserved microRNA (miR-124).

Cohort profile for the Tongji Cardiovascular Health Study: a prospective multiomics cohort study.

Purpose: The Tongji Cardiovascular Health Study aimed to further explore the onset and progression mechanisms of cardiovascular disease (CVD) through a combination of traditional cohort studies and multiomics analysis, including genomics, metabolomics and metagenomics.

Study Design And Participants: This study included participants aged 20-70 years old from the Geriatric Health Management Centre of Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. After enrollment, each participant underwent a comprehensive series of traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factor assessments at baseline, including questionnaires, physical examinations, laboratory tests, cardiovascular health assessments and biological sample collection for subsequent multiomics analysis (whole genome sequencing, metabolomics study from blood samples and metagenomics study from stool samples).

Kidney Function Measures and Mortality: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Rationale & Objective: Individuals with a low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are at a high risk of death. However, the causes underpinning this association are largely uncertain. This study aimed to assess the causal relationship of low eGFR with all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

Caffeic acid-grafted chitosan/sodium alginate/nanoclay-based multifunctional 3D-printed hybrid scaffolds for local drug release therapy after breast cancer surgery.

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women all over the world. Mastectomy is the most effective treatment, but there are serious problems such as high tumor recurrence rate and side effects of chemotherapy. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a therapeutic strategy that can effectively promote postoperative wound healing and inhibit local tumor recurrence.

Unraveling the complex evolutionary history of lepidopteran chromosomes through ancestral chromosome reconstruction and novel chromosome nomenclature.

Background: Lepidoptera is one of the most species-rich animal groups, with substantial karyotype variations among species due to chromosomal rearrangements. Knowledge of the evolutionary patterns of lepidopteran chromosomes still needs to be improved.

Results: Here, we used chromosome-level genome assemblies of 185 lepidopteran insects to reconstruct an ancestral reference genome and proposed a new chromosome nomenclature.

Cystatin C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate and risk of stroke in the general population: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Previous results on the association between the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and stroke are mixed. Most studies derived the eGFR from serum creatinine, which is affected by non-kidney determinants and thus has possibly biased the association with stroke risk.

Methods: In this cohort study, we included 429 566 UK Biobank participants (94.

Investigation on repairing diabetic foot ulcer based on 3D bio-printing Gel/dECM/Qcs composite scaffolds.

Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most serious of the numerous complications of diabetes mellitus, causing great physical trauma and financial stress to patients, and accelerating wound healing in diabetic patients remains one of the major clinical challenges. Exosomes from adipose-derived stem cells can directly and indirectly promote wound healing. However, due to the low retention rate of exosomes in the wound, exosome treatment is difficult to achieve the expected effect.

Estimated 24-h urinary sodium excretion and risk of end-stage kidney disease.

The association between sodium intake and long-term kidney disease endpoints is debated and yet to be proven. We aimed to investigate the associations of estimated 24-h urinary sodium excretion, reflecting daily sodium intake, with the incidence of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). In this prospective cohort study including 444,375 UK Biobank participant, 865 (0.

A biocompatible double-crosslinked gelatin/ sodium alginate/dopamine/quaterniazed chitosan hydrogel for wound dressings based on 3D bioprinting technology.

438Severe skin injuries can cause serious problems, which could affect the patient's normal life, if not dealt properly in a timely and effective manner. It is an urgent requirement to develop personalized wound dressings with excellent antibacterial activity and biocompatibility to match the shape of the wound to facilitate clinical application. In this study, a bioink (GAQ) based on gelatin (Gel)/sodium alginate (SA)/ quaternized chitosan (QCS) was prepared, and GAQ hydrogel dressing grafting with dopamine (GADQ) was fabricated by an extrusion three-dimensional (3D) printing technology.

Metabolomics Provides New Insights into Host Manipulation Strategies by (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a Fruit Fly Parasitoid.

(Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an endoparasitoid wasp that can successfully parasitize a wide range of host species across the genus, including the invasive crop pest . Parasitoids are capable of regulating the host metabolism to produce the nutritional metabolites for the survival of their offspring. Here, we intend to investigate the metabolic changes in hosts after parasitization by , using the non-targeted LC-MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) metabolomics analysis.

The vitellogenin receptor gene contributes to mating and host-searching behaviors in parasitoid wasps.

Vitellogenin receptor (VgR) is essential to vitellogenin uptaking and dominates ovary maturation in insects. However, the function of VgR in parasitoid wasps is largely unknown. Here, we applied the parasitoid as a study model to investigate the function of VgR in parasitoids.

Sex-specific equations to estimate body composition: Derivation and validation of diagnostic prediction models using UK Biobank.

Background & Aims: Body mass index and waist circumference are simple measures of obesity. However, they do not distinguish between visceral and subcutaneous fat, or muscle, potentially leading to biased relationships between individual body composition parameters and adverse health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate prediction models for volumetric adipose and muscle.

Defining reference values for body composition indices by magnetic resonance imaging in UK Biobank.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard for evaluating body composition. However, the reference ranges have not been established.

Methods: Three lean tissue and seven adipose tissue parameters based on MRI data from the UK Biobank were used in this study.

Machine learning improves risk stratification of coronary heart disease and stroke.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS) are two major types of cardiovascular disease (CVD) that are increasingly exerting pressure on the healthcare system worldwide. Machine learning holds great promise for improving the accuracy of disease prediction and risk stratification in CVD. However, there is currently no clinically applicable risk stratification model for the Asian population.

Development and validation of a cardiovascular diseases risk prediction model for Chinese males (CVDMCM).

Background: Death due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) increased significantly in China. One possible way to reduce CVD is to identify people at risk and provide targeted intervention. We aim to develop and validate a CVD risk prediction model for Chinese males (CVDMCM) to help clinicians identify those males at risk of CVD and provide targeted intervention.

The odorant receptor co-receptor gene contributes to mating and host-searching behaviors in parasitoid wasps.

Background: Biological control of pest insects by parasitoid wasps is an effective and environmentally friendly strategy compared with the use of synthetic pesticides. Successful courtship and host-search behaviors of parasitoid wasps are important for biological control efficiency and are often mediated by chemical odorant cues. The odorant receptor co-receptor (Orco) gene has an essential role in the perception of odors in insects.

Parasite reliance on its host gut microbiota for nutrition and survival.

Studying the microbial symbionts of eukaryotic hosts has revealed a range of interactions that benefit host biology. Most eukaryotes are also infected by parasites that adversely affect host biology for their own benefit. However, it is largely unclear whether the ability of parasites to develop in hosts also depends on host-associated symbionts, e.

Search performance and octopamine neuronal signaling mediate parasitoid induced changes in Drosophila oviposition behavior.

Making the appropriate responses to predation risk is essential for the survival of an organism; however, the underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. Here, we find that Drosophila has evolved an adaptive strategy to manage the threat from its parasitoid wasp by manipulating the oviposition behavior. Through perception of the differences in host search performance of wasps, Drosophila is able to recognize younger wasps as a higher level of threat and consequently depress the oviposition.

Association Between Thromboelastography and Coronary Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND Thromboelastography (TEG) is a novel blood viscoelasticity detection method revealing blood coagulation status and has been reported to be helpful in predicting clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between TEG and CVD. MATERIAL AND METHODS A single-center case-control study was performed.

Helicobacter pylori infection affects the human gastric microbiome, as revealed by metagenomic sequencing.

Helicobacter pylori infection is a prevalent infectious disease, associated with many gastric diseases, including gastritis, gastric ulcer, and gastric cancer. To reveal the characteristics of the gastric microbiome in patients infected with H. pylori, we performed metagenomic shotgun sequencing of stomach swab samples from 96 patients and then conducted metagenomic association analyses between alterations in the gastric microbiome and H.

Neofunctionalization of an ancient domain allows parasites to avoid intraspecific competition by manipulating host behaviour.

Intraspecific competition is a major force in mediating population dynamics, fuelling adaptation, and potentially leading to evolutionary diversification. Among the evolutionary arms races between parasites, one of the most fundamental and intriguing behavioural adaptations and counter-adaptations are superparasitism and superparasitism avoidance. However, the underlying mechanisms and ecological contexts of these phenomena remain underexplored.