Germline Human Leukocyte Antigen Status is Associated With Immunotherapy-Induced Pneumonitis and Treatment Response in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With High Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Expression.

Introduction: The germline human leukocyte antigen (HLA) status has been found to be associated with immunotherapy outcomes in patients with NSCLC, but its correlation to immunotherapy-induced pneumonitis and prognostic impact in the Asian population remains largely unknown.

Methods: We evaluated the HLA genotype of the germline and available tumor samples in 42 patients with programmed death-ligand 1 expression of 50% or higher undergoing pembrolizumab immunotherapy. The HLA allele expression was correlated with tumor response, disease survival, and the occurrence of pneumonitis.

Metagenomic deciphers the mobility and bacterial hosts of antibiotic resistance genes under antibiotics and heavy metals co-selection pressures in constructed wetlands.

Both antibiotics and heavy metals exert significant selection pressures on antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs). This study aimed to investigate the co-selection effects of doxycycline (DC) and cadmium (Cd) on ARGs in constructed wetlands (CWs). The results demonstrated that under antibiotic and heavy metal co-selection pressures, single high concentration DC/Cd or double high, relative abundances of metagenomics assembled genomes all reached 55.

Citrate Improves Biomimetic Mineralization Induced by Polyelectrolyte-Cation Complexes Using PAsp-Ca&Mg Complexes.

Magnesium ions are highly enriched in early stage of biological mineralization of hard tissues. Paradoxically, hydroxyapatite (HAp) crystallization is inhibited significantly by high concentration of magnesium ions. The mechanism to regulate magnesium-doped biomimetic mineralization of collagen fibrils has never been fully elucidated.

Density Alters Impacts of Genotypic Evenness on Productivity in an Experimental Plant Population.

Genetic diversity plays important roles in maintaining population productivity. While the impact of genotypic richness on productivity has been extensively tested, the role of genotypic evenness has not been considered. Plant density can also affect population productivity, but its interaction with genotypic diversity has not been tested.

Co-selective Pressure of Cadmium and Doxycycline on the Antibiotic and Heavy Metal Resistance Genes in Ditch Wetlands.

Abuse of heavy metals and antibiotics results in the dissemination of metal resistance genes (MRGs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Ditch wetlands are important sinks for heavy metals and antibiotics. The relationships between bacterial communities and MRG/ARG dissemination under dual stresses of heavy metals and antibiotics remain unclear.

[Generation and phenotypic characterization of S100A9 gene knockout mice by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene targeting].

S100 calcium binding protein A9 (S100A9) is involved in a variety of biological processes such as inflammation and tumor cell migration and invasion regulation. The purpose of this study was to construct S100A9 gene-edited mice by using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, thereby providing an animal model for exploring the biological functions of this gene. According to the S100A9 gene sequence, the single-stranded small guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting exons 2 and 3 was transcribed in vitro, and a mixture of Cas9 mRNA and candidate sgRNA was injected into mouse fertilized eggs by microinjection.

Dihydropyridine Enhances the Antioxidant Capacities of Lactating Dairy Cows under Heat Stress Condition.

Heat stress (HS), a nonspecific response to environmental heat, can seriously affect dairy cow health. Feed additives may alleviate HS in dairy cows by improving rumen fermentation efficacy, stimulating feed consumption, enhancing vasodilation, and/or improving antioxidant capacity. The temperature-humidity index (THI) indicates that spring is a non-HS season, and summer is an HS season.

Folium Sennae and emodin reverse airway smooth muscle contraction.

The objective of this project was to find a bronchodilatory compound from herbs and clarify the mechanism. We found that the ethanol extract of Folium Sennae (EEFS) can relax airway smooth muscle (ASM). EEFS inhibited ASM contraction, induced by acetylcholine, in mouse tracheal rings and lung slices.

Paracetamol inhibits Ca permeant ion channels and Ca sensitization resulting in relaxation of precontracted airway smooth muscle.

The purpose of this study was to screen a bronchodilator from old drugs and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug. It has been reported that it inhibits the generation of prostaglandin and histamine, which play roles in asthma.

C, N, and P stoichiometry and their interaction with different plant communities and soils in subtropical riparian wetlands.

Ecological stoichiometry represents the balance of nutrient elements under ecological interactions, which are crucial for biogeochemical cycles in ecosystems. Little is known about carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) ecological stoichiometry in aboveground biomass, roots, and soil, especially in the subtropical riparian wetlands. Here, eight dominate plant communities in riparian wetlands were chosen, and C, N, and P contents, and C:N:P ratios of aboveground biomass, roots, and soil were investigated.

Integrated 3D bioprinting-based geometry-control strategy for fabricating corneal substitutes.

Background: The shortage of donor corneas is a severe global issue, and hence the development of corneal alternatives is imperative and urgent. Although attempts to produce artificial cornea substitutes by tissue engineering have made some positive progress, many problems remain that hamper their clinical application worldwide. For example, the curvature of tissue-engineered cornea substitutes cannot be designed to fit the bulbus oculi of patients.

NS8593 inhibits Ca permeant channels reversing mouse airway smooth muscle contraction.

Aims: This study focused on investigating whether NS8593 reverses airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction and the underlying mechanism.

Main Methods: ASM contraction in mouse tracheal rings and lung slices was measured. Currents mediated by voltage dependent Ca channels (VDCCs) and ACH-activated channels were measured using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique in single tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs).

Correction: Sodium butyrate interrupts the maturation of oocytes and enhances the development of preimplantation embryos.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Sodium butyrate interrupts the maturation of oocytes and enhances the development of preimplantation embryos.

Histone acetylation is one of the most important posttranslational modifications that contribute to transcriptional initiation and chromatin remodeling. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of sodium butyrate (NaBu), a natural histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), on the maturation of oocytes, preimplantation embryonic development, and expression of important developmental genes. The results indicated that NaBu decreased the rates of GVBD and the first polar body extrusion (PBE) in vitro in a dose-dependent manner.

Relaxant Action of Diclofenac Sodium on Mouse Airway Smooth Muscle.

Diclofenac sodium (DCF) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and is widely used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. Herein, we found that DCF could relax high K (80 mM K)-/ACh-precontracted tracheal rings (TRs) in mice. This study aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of DCF-induced relaxations.

[Study on correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level and esophageal variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients].

To explore the correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25[OH]D(3)) levels and esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) in cirrhotic patients. Eighty-three cases with liver cirrhosis hospitalized from November 2016 to January 2017 were collected. The patients were divided into bleeding group (51 cases) and non-bleeding group (32 cases) depending on the presence or absence of bleeding under gastroscopy.

Azithromycin inhibits muscarinic 2 receptor-activated and voltage-activated Ca permeant ion channels and Ca sensitization, relaxing airway smooth muscle contraction.

Azithromycin (AZM) has been used for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, the effects and underlying mechanisms of AZM remain largely unknown. The effects of AZM on airway smooth muscles (ASMs) and the underlying mechanisms were studied using isometric muscle force measurements, the examination of lung slices, imaging, and patch-clamp techniques. AZM completely inhibited acetylcholine (ACH)-induced precontraction of ASMs in animals (mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits) and humans.

Extract Inhibits Contraction of Airway Smooth Muscle.

β-adrenoceptor agonists are commonly used as bronchodilators to treat obstructive lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), however, they induce severe side effects. Therefore, developing new bronchodilators is essential. Herbal plants were extracted and the extracts' effect on airway smooth muscle (ASM) precontraction was assessed.

Deficiency of MTMR14 impairs male fertility in Mus musculus.

Calcium signalling is critical for successful fertilization. In spermatozoa, capacitation, hyperactivation of motility and acrosome reactions are all mediated by increases in intracellular Ca2+. Our previous reports have shown that deficiency of MTMR14, a novel phosphoinositide phosphatase, induces a muscle disorder by disrupting Ca2+ homeostasis.

Simulation of crop growth, time to maturity and yield by an improved sigmoidal model.

Models that accurately estimate maximum crop biomass to obtain a reliable forecast of yield are useful in crop improvement programs and aiding establishment of government policies, including those addressing issues of food security. Here, we present a new sigmoidal growth model (NSG) and compare its performance with the beta sigmoidal growth model (BSG) for capturing the growth trajectories of eight crop species. Results indicated that both the NSG and the BSG fitted all the growth datasets well (R > 0.

Low temperature degradation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans over a VO-CeO/TiO catalyst with addition of ozone.

In order to find a catalyst to destroy polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) with high efficiency, a homemade VO-CeO/TiO catalyst was prepared, and then tested in the flue gas of a waste incinerator at temperatures of 180-240 °C. The results shows the best removal efficiency (93.4%) was attained already at 200 °C, yet degradation efficiency further raised with temperature, until 240 °C.

Polygonum aviculare L. extract and quercetin attenuate contraction in airway smooth muscle.

Because of the serious side effects of the currently used bronchodilators, new compounds with similar functions must be developed. We screened several herbs and found that Polygonum aviculare L. contains ingredients that inhibit the precontraction of mouse and human airway smooth muscle (ASM).

Distinct Effects of Ca Sparks on Cerebral Artery and Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Tone in Mice and Humans.

The effects of Ca sparks on cerebral artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) and airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) tone, as well as the underlying mechanisms, are not clear. In this investigation, we elucidated the underlying mechanisms of the distinct effects of Ca sparks on cerebral artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) and airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) tone. In CASMCs, owing to the functional loss of Ca-activated Cl (Clca) channels, Ca sparks activated large-conductance Ca-activated K channels (BKs), resulting in a decreases in tone against a spontaneous depolarization-caused high tone in the resting state.