Generation of inheritable A-to-G transitions using adenine base editing and NG-PAM Cas9 in .

Towards precise genome editing, base editors have been developed by fusing catalytically compromised Cas9 with deaminase components, mediating C-to-T (cytosine base editors) or A-to-G (adenine base editors) transition. We developed a set of vectors consisting of a 5'-NG-3' PAM-recognising variant of SpCas9 with adenosine deaminases, TadA7.10 or TadA8e.

Evaluation of Intestinal Microbial Metabolites in Preterm Infants with Different Initial Feeding Methods by In Vitro Fermentation Modeling System.

We aim to explore the intestinal microbial metabolites in preterm infants with noninvasive methods and analyze the effects of initial feeding methods. Preterm infants with gestational weeks lower than 34 were recruited for fecal sample collection every 7 days. Fecal pH, ammonia, bile acid, and secretory IgA (sIgA) were tested.

The Change of Cytokines and Gut Microbiome in Preterm Infants for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a devastating form of chronic lung disease that develops in preterm infants. BPD is speculated to arise from abnormal inflammatory responses, which is related to the composition of commensal microbiota, leading us to hypothesize that BPD susceptibility could be influenced by gut microbiota through inflammatory responses. This study is aimed to detect cytokines and the differences in fecal gut microbial composition in the BPD patients.

The EDS1-PAD4-ADR1 node mediates Arabidopsis pattern-triggered immunity.

Plants deploy cell-surface and intracellular leucine rich-repeat domain (LRR) immune receptors to detect pathogens. LRR receptor kinases and LRR receptor proteins at the plasma membrane recognize microorganism-derived molecules to elicit pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), whereas nucleotide-binding LRR proteins detect microbial effectors inside cells to confer effector-triggered immunity (ETI). Although PTI and ETI are initiated in different host cell compartments, they rely on the transcriptional activation of similar sets of genes, suggesting pathway convergence upstream of nuclear events.

Management of Follow-Up With Preterm Infants During the Outbreak in China.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) swept Wuhan in January 2020. Other cities in China also suffered during the pandemic. Routine medical services were conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Unit (NICU) as usual, but the follow-up after discharge was seriously affected.

Cytokines and Exhaled Nitric Oxide Are Risk Factors in Preterm Infants for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common complication of extremely preterm birth. This study was aimed at detecting cytokine and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels to evaluate their mechanisms and predicted significance for BPD. Preterm infants born at   ≤ 32  were recruited, and clinical data were collected.

MulayCap: Multi-Layer Human Performance Capture Using a Monocular Video Camera.

We introduce MulayCap, a novel human performance capture method using a monocular video camera without the need for pre-scanning. The method uses "multi-layer" representations for geometry reconstruction and texture rendering, respectively. For geometry reconstruction, we decompose the clothed human into multiple geometry layers, namely a body mesh layer and a garment piece layer.

Genetics of autoimmunity in plants: an evolutionary genetics perspective.

Autoimmunity in plants has been found in numerous hybrids as a form of hybrid necrosis and mutant panels. Uncontrolled cell death is a main cellular outcome of autoimmunity, which negatively impacts growth. Its occurrence highlights the vulnerable nature of the plant immune system.

The BIR2/BIR3-Associated Phospholipase Dγ1 Negatively Regulates Plant Immunity.

Plants have evolved effective strategies to defend themselves against pathogen invasion. Starting from the plasma membrane with the recognition of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) via pattern recognition receptors, internal cellular signaling pathways are induced to ultimately fend off the attack. Phospholipase D (PLD) hydrolyzes membrane phospholipids to produce phosphatidic acid (PA), which has been proposed to play a second messenger role in immunity.

Photosynthesis-inspired H generation using a chlorophyll-loaded liposomal nanoplatform to detect and scavenge excess ROS.

A disturbance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis may cause the pathogenesis of many diseases. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, this work proposes a photo-driven H-evolving liposomal nanoplatform (Lip NP) that comprises an upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) that is conjugated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via a ROS-responsive linker, which is encapsulated inside the liposomal system in which the lipid bilayer embeds chlorophyll a (Chla). The UCNP functions as a transducer, converting NIR light into upconversion luminescence for simultaneous imaging and therapy in situ.

Plant cell surface immune receptor complex signaling.

Plant plasma membrane pattern recognition receptors are key to microbe sensing and activation of immunity to microbial invasion. Plants employ several types of such receptors that differ mainly in the structure of their ectodomains and the presence or absence of a cytoplasmic protein kinase domain. Plant immune receptors do not function as single entities, but form larger complexes which undergo compositional changes in a ligand-dependent manner.

Associations of breast milk adiponectin, leptin, insulin and ghrelin with maternal characteristics and early infant growth: a longitudinal study.

Breast milk (BM) hormones have been hypothesised as a nutritional link between maternal and infant metabolic health. This study aimed to evaluate hormone concentrations in BM of women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and the relationship between maternal factors, BM hormones and infant growth. We studied ninety-six nulliparous women with (n 48) and without GDM and their exclusively breastfed term singletons.

Comparing Arabidopsis receptor kinase and receptor protein-mediated immune signaling reveals BIK1-dependent differences.

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) sense microbial patterns and activate innate immunity against attempted microbial invasions. The leucine-rich repeat receptor kinases (LRR-RK) FLS2 and EFR, and the LRR receptor protein (LRR-RP) receptors RLP23 and RLP42, respectively, represent prototypical members of these two prominent and closely related PRR families. We conducted a survey of Arabidopsis thaliana immune signaling mediated by these receptors to address the question of commonalities and differences between LRR-RK and LRR-RP signaling.

An In Situ Depot for Continuous Evolution of Gaseous H Mediated by a Magnesium Passivation/Activation Cycle for Treating Osteoarthritis.

Inflammation is involved in many human pathologies, including osteoarthritis (OA). Hydrogen (H ) is known to have anti-inflammatory effects; however, the bioavailability of directly administered H gas is typically poor. Herein, a local delivery system that can provide a high therapeutic concentration of gaseous H at inflamed tissues is proposed.

In Situ Nanoreactor for Photosynthesizing H Gas To Mitigate Oxidative Stress in Tissue Inflammation.

Hydrogen gas can reduce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are produced in inflamed tissues. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, this work proposes a multicomponent nanoreactor (NR) that comprises chlorophyll a, l-ascorbic acid, and gold nanoparticles that are encapsulated in a liposomal (Lip) system that can produce H gas in situ upon photon absorption to mitigate inflammatory responses. Unlike a bulk system that contains free reacting molecules, this Lip NR system provides an optimal reaction environment, facilitating rapid activation of the photosynthesis of H gas, locally providing a high therapeutic concentration thereof.

In situ depot comprising phase-change materials that can sustainably release a gasotransmitter HS to treat diabetic wounds.

Patients with diabetes mellitus are prone to develop refractory wounds. They exhibit reduced synthesis and levels of circulating hydrogen sulfide (HS), which is an ephemeral gaseous molecule. Physiologically, HS is an endogenous gasotransmitter with multiple biological functions.

Recent advances in CO bubble-generating carrier systems for localized controlled release.

This article reviews recent progress in the development of carbon dioxide (CO) bubble-generating drug carriers, including their designs and operating mechanisms; these carriers constitute an advanced class of stimuli-responsive delivery systems with considerable potential. The drug carriers contain stimuli-responsive agents, which are stable before they reach the target location, but enable rapid drug release that is triggered by the generation of CO bubbles, which are chemically inert, under certain stimuli. These CO bubble-generating carrier systems can be used to accumulate locally a delivered drug at the diseased tissue, while reducing side effects on the normal tissue, improving their therapeutic effectiveness.

Feasibility of Pediatric Chest CT Using Spectral Filtration on Third-generation Dual-source CT.

Objective To prospectively investigate the radiation dose and image quality of pediatric chest CT using Sn100 kV on a third-generation dual-source CT (DSCT)in comparison to standard 100 kV chest CT. Methods From December 12,2015 to June 30,2016,45 consecutive pediatric patients referred for non-contrast chest CT scan in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were prospectively enrolled as study group. They were examined at 100 kV with a dedicated tin filter on a third-generation DSCT.

Acidity-triggered charge-convertible nanoparticles that can cause bacterium-specific aggregation in situ to enhance photothermal ablation of focal infection.

Focal infections that are caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming an ever-growing challenge to human health. To address this challenge, a pH-responsive amphiphilic polymer of polyaniline-conjugated glycol chitosan (PANI-GCS) that can self-assemble into nanoparticles (NPs) in situ is developed. The PANI-GCS NPs undergo a unique surface charge conversion that is induced by their local pH, favoring bacterium-specific aggregation without direct contact with host cells.

Signal transduction and regulation of IbpreproHypSys in sweet potato.

Hydroxyproline-rich glycopeptides (HypSys) are small signalling peptides containing 18-20 amino acids. The expression of IbpreproHypSys, encoding the precursor of IbHypSys, was induced in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas cv. Tainung 57) through wounding and IbHypSys treatments by using jasmonate and H2 O2 .

Controlled Release of an Anti-inflammatory Drug Using an Ultrasensitive ROS-Responsive Gas-Generating Carrier for Localized Inflammation Inhibition.

Inflammation is associated with many diseases, in which activated inflammatory cells produce various reactive oxygen species (ROS), including H2O2. This work proposes an ultrasensitive ROS-responsive hollow microsphere (HM) carrier that contains an anti-inflammatory drug, an acid precursor consisting of ethanol and FeCl2, and sodium bicarbonate (SBC) as a bubble-generating agent. In cases of inflamed osteoarthritis, the H2O2 at low concentration diffuses through the HMs to oxidize their encapsulated ethanol in the presence of Fe(2+) by the Fenton reaction, establishing an acidic milieu.

[Clinical review of enteral feeding of extremely low birth weight infants].

Objective: To review the clinical data of enteral feeding of extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI), and analyze the influencing factors.

Method: From Jan. 2000 to Jan.