DNA target binding-induced pre-crRNA processing in type II and V CRISPR-Cas systems.

Precursor (pre)-CRISPR RNA (crRNA) processing can occur in both the repeat and spacer regions, leading to the removal of specific segments from the repeat and spacer sequences, thereby facilitating crRNA maturation. The processing of pre-crRNA repeat by Cas effector and ribonuclease has been observed in CRISPR-Cas9 and CRISPR-Cas12a systems. However, no evidence of pre-crRNA spacer cleavage by any enzyme has been reported in these systems.

White Matter Lesions, Risk Factors, and Etiological Classification in Young versus Old Cerebral Infarction Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: To compare the differences in risk factors and etiological classification between cerebral infarction in young patients and elderly patients, and explore the correlation between cerebral infarction in young patients and white matter lesions (WMLs).

Methods: Sixty young patients with cerebral infarction and 142 elderly patients with cerebral infarction were included. The distributions of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, smoking status, alcohol consumption status, migraine status, and WMLs in the two groups were carefully investigated and statistically analyzed.

[Effect of Modified Xiaoyao Powder on intestinal barrier and intestinal flora in mice with metabolic associated fatty liver disease based on "gut-liver axis"].

This study explores the effects and mechanisms of Modified Xiaoyao Powder on the intestinal barrier and intestinal flora in mice with metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD) based on the " gut-liver axis". Sixty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, bifidobacterium tetrad tablet group(SQ), and Modified Xiaoyao Powder groups with low,medium and high doses(XL, XM, XH), with 10 mice in each group. All the mice were administrated with a high-fat diet to build the MAFLD model except the normal group and then treated with related drugs for 12 weeks.

Causal association between mental disorders and cerebrovascular diseases: Evidence from Mendelian randomization study.

Background And Objective: Observational studies have suggested that mental disorders and cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) may be risk factors for each other, but genetic evidence of a causal relationship is still lacking. We used Mendelian randomization (MR) studies to explore the causal relationship between mental disorders and CVDs from the genetic perspective.

Methods: To investigate the causal association between major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder and schizophrenia five kinds of mental disorders and CVDs using two-sample two-way MR analysis based on publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) data.

Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy: a case report and review of literature.

Background: Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy is a rare autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease. It is a rare disease in the world. Therefore, sharing clinical encounters of this case can deepen global awareness and understanding of the disease.

Causal relationship between sleep disorders and the risk of Alzheimer's disease: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background And Objective: Epidemiological studies have shown that sleep disorders are risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the causal relationship between sleep disorders and AD risk is unknown. We aim to assess the potential genetic causal association between sleep characteristics and AD, which may contribute to early identification and prediction of risk factors for AD.

Methods: Seven sleep-related traits and the outcome phenotype AD were selected from published genome-wide association studies (GWASs).

Trans-nuclease activity of Cas9 activated by DNA or RNA target binding.

Type V and type VI CRISPR-Cas systems have been shown to cleave nonspecific single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) in trans, but this has not been observed in type II CRISPR-Cas systems using single guide RNA. We show here that the type II CRISPR-Cas9 systems directed by CRISPR RNA and trans-activating CRISPR RNA dual RNAs show RuvC domain-dependent trans-cleavage activity for both ssDNA and ssRNA substrates. Cas9 possesses sequence preferences for trans-cleavage substrates, preferring to cleave T- or C-rich ssDNA substrates.

Association of lipid accumulation product with all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality: Result from NHANES database.

Background And Aim: At present, there are few studies on the relationship between lipid accumulation product (LAP) and mortality. This study aims to explore the relationship between adult LAP and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.

Methods And Results: The study people from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Structural basis for MTA1c-mediated DNA N6-adenine methylation.

DNA N6-adenine methylation (6 mA) has recently been found to play a crucial role in epigenetic regulation in eukaryotes. MTA1c, a newly discovered 6 mA methyltransferase complex in ciliates, is composed of MTA1, MTA9, p1 and p2 subunits and specifically methylates ApT dinucleotides, yet its mechanism of action remains unknown. Here, we report the structures of Tetrahymena thermophila MTA1 (TthMTA1), Paramecium tetraurelia MTA9 (PteMTA9)-TthMTA1 binary complex, as well as the structures of TthMTA1-p1-p2 and TthMTA1-p2 complexes in apo, S-adenosyl methionine-bound and S-adenosyl homocysteine-bound states.

Highly sensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen using copper-free click chemistry on the surface of azide cofunctionalized graphene oxide.

In this study, we reported a highly sensitive method for detecting carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) based on an azide cofunctionalized graphene oxide (GO-N) and carbon dot (CDs) biosensor system. Carbon dots-labeled DNA (CDs-DNA) combined with GO-N using copper-free click chemistry (CFCC), which quenched the fluorescence of the CDs via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Upon the addition of CEA, fluorescence was recovered due to the combination of CEA and aptamer.

Aptamer-based biosensor for detecting carcinoembryonic antigen.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), as one of the common tumor markers, is a human glycoprotein involved in cell adhesion and is expressed during human fetal development. Since the birth of human, CEA expression is largely inhibited, with only low levels in the plasma of healthy adults. Generally, CEA will overexpressed in many cancers, including gastric, breast, ovarian, lung, and pancreatic cancers, especially colorectal cancer.

Cocaine detection using aptamer and molybdenum disulfide-gold nanoparticle-based sensors.

The current work highlighted a novel colorimetric sensor based on aptamer and molybdenum disulfide (MoS)-gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) that was developed for cocaine detection with high sensitivity. Due to the presence of the plasmon resonance band on the surface of AuNPs, AuNPs aggregated and the color was changed from red to blue after adding a certain concentration of NaCl. We used MoS to optimize the sensing system of AuNPs.

The detection of mercury ion using DNA as sensors based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

Mercury ion (Hg) is a heavy metal that can cause serious water pollution. With the accumulation of large quantities in lakes, rivers, freshwater and aquatic life, Hg can pass through the food chain, entering the human body and endangering health. Hg detection has therefore become important thereby attracting extensive interests.

Comparative mapping in watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai].

The first single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) maps for watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai] were constructed and compared.

Presence of tannins in sorghum grains is conditioned by different natural alleles of Tannin1.

Sorghum, an ancient old-world cereal grass, is the dietary staple of over 500 million people in more than 30 countries in the tropics and semitropics. Its C4 photosynthesis, drought resistance, wide adaptation, and high nutritional value hold the promise to alleviate hunger in Africa. Not present in other major cereals, such as rice, wheat, and maize, condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins) in the pigmented testa of some sorghum cultivars have been implicated in reducing protein digestibility but recently have been shown to promote human health because of their high antioxidant capacity and ability to fight obesity through reduced digestion.