Global investigation into the CqCYP76AD and CqDODA families in Chenopodium quinoa: Identification, evolutionary history, and their functional roles in betalain biosynthesis.

Betalains are water-soluble pigments mainly distributed in the core Caryophyllales plants. Betalains provide plant with striking colors to attract pollinators and are beneficial to human health due to the strong antioxidant activity. To date, many studies regarding to betalain biosynthesis have been exerted in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) and four-O-clock (Mirabilis jalapa), however, the key regulators in betalain pigmentation of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) remain to be elucidated.

Anti-tumor effects of nanosecond pulsed electric fields in a murine model of pancreatic cancer.

Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields (nsPEFs) treatment has demonstrated anti-tumor effects on various cancer cell lines. However, the use of this treatment in pancreatic cancer is limited. This study demonstrated that nsPEFs treatment effectively suppressed the proliferation and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells, while also inducing DNA damage.

Glucocorticoid therapy in pancreatic portal hypertension associated with autoimmune pancreatitis: A case report.

Background: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a chronic form of pancreatitis characterized by diffused enlargement of the pancreas and irregular stenosis of the main pancreatic duct. Some studies have reported that AIP can cause hemorrhage of gastric varices (GV) related to portal hypertension (PH). However, such cases are rare.

[Efficacy of bronchoalveolar lavage combined with prone positioning in children with pneumonia and atelectasis: a prospective randomized controlled study].

Objectives: To study the efficacy of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) combined with prone positioning in children with pneumonia (MPP) and atelectasis and its effect on pulmonary function.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 94 children with MPP and atelectasis who were hospitalized in Ordos Central Hospital of Inner Mongolia from November 2020 to May 2023. The children were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, with 47 children in each group.

Uranium speciation and distribution on the surface of Shewanella putrefaciens in the presence of inorganic phosphate and zero-valent iron under anaerobic conditions.

Shewanella putrefaciens (S. putrefaciens) is one of the main microorganisms in soil bioreactors, which mainly immobilizes uranium through reduction and mineralization processes. However, the effects of elements such as phosphorus and ZVI, which may be present in the actual environment, on the mineralization and reduction processes are still not clearly understood and the environment is mostly in the absence of oxygen.

Non-occupational lead poisoning associated with traditional Chinese medicine: A case report.

Introduction: Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history and is widely popular in China because of its safety and small side effects. In Chinese families, people believe that the combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine is more effective, and in terms of conditioning and health care, they tend to rely on traditional Chinese medicine. However, the toxic and side effects of traditional Chinese medicine, especially heavy metal poisoning, should not be ignored.

Exome analysis for Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: A case report.

Background: Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare, non-genetic disorder characterized by multiple gastrointestinal polyps, and ectodermal lesions such as alopecia, fingernail atrophy, and skin mucosal pigmentation. Unfortunately, the pathogenesis of CCS is currently unknown.

Case Summary: Here, we describe the case of an elderly female with diarrhea, fatigue, and hair loss, who experienced abdominal pain for over half a year and was found to have multiple gastrointestinal polyps.

Comprehensive Analysis of Differentially Expressed Profiles of mRNA N6-Methyladenosine in Colorectal Cancer.

To comprehensively profile the landscape of the mRNA N-methyladenosine (mA) modification in human colorectal cancer (CRC). Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) was explored to compare the difference in mRNA N-methyladenosine (mA) methylation between CRC tissues and adjacent normal control (NC) tissue. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to transcribe differentially expressed mRNAs.

Potential role of fecal microbiota in patients with constipation.

Background: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for chronic functional constipation (CFC) ineffectively treated by conventional constipation medication.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with CFC underwent FMT treatment (three rounds, gastroscopy). Clinical scales, including the Wexner constipation score as the main index of efficiency, were completed at baseline; after each treatment, and at 2 and 3 months of follow up.

Dietary fiber regulates intestinal flora and suppresses liver and systemic inflammation to alleviate liver fibrosis in mice.

Objectives: Liver fibrosis is a common pathologic process related to chronic liver disease. However, there are currently no effective methods to reverse liver fibrosis. Chronic liver disease is typically associated with a major imbalance in the intestinal flora, and targeting the regulation of the intestinal flora structure may facilitate the prevention and treatment of chronic liver disease.

Construction of chimeric antigen receptor‑modified T cells targeting EpCAM and assessment of their anti‑tumor effect on cancer cells.

Colon cancer is a common malignancy worldwide and there is an urgent requirement to develop effective treatment strategies. In recent years, tumor immunotherapy has become a new method of effectively treating tumors. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell technology combines the precise targeting specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the strong toxicity and persistence of cytotoxic T cells to specifically recognize tumor‑associated antigens and promote tumor cell death efficiently and permanently, without depending on major histocompatibility complex restriction.

The effect of fecal microbiota transplantation on Hepatic myelopathy: A case report.

Rationale: Hepatic myelopathy (HM), also known as portal-systemic myelopathy, is a rare neurological complication that occurs in patients with chronic liver disease. There is no easy and feasible treatment, liver transplantation is the only accepted therapy that may be effective for patients at early stage at present. The pathogenesis of the disease is not clear yet, and the prognosis is poor.

Fecal microbiota transplantation for ulcerative colitis: a prospective clinical study.

Background: Fecal microbiota transplantation may contribute to disease remission in ulcerative colitis; however, the factors that determine the effects of treatment remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to prospectively investigate the clinical efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with ulcerative colitis and identify the bacterial signatures associated with clinical remission.

Methods: A total of 20 patients with ulcerative colitis were included in this prospective and uncontrolled study.

Common variants in the PARL and PINK1 genes increase the risk to leprosy in Han Chinese from South China.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious and neurological disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an unculturable pathogen with massive genomic decay and dependence on host metabolism. We hypothesized that mitochondrial genes PARL and PINK1 would confer risk to leprosy. Thirteen tag SNPs of PARL and PINK1 were analyzed in 3620 individuals with or without leprosy from China.

PLD4 promotes M1 macrophages to perform antitumor effects in colon cancer cells.

Phospholipase D4 (PLD4) is a newly identified protein expressed in microglia. However, the function of PLD4 in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is unknown. In the present study, we revealed that the expression of PLD4 was located in macrophages in the colon cancer mesenchymal and lymph nodes as shown by immunohistochemical analysis.

Genetic variants of the MAVS, MITA and MFN2 genes are not associated with leprosy in Han Chinese from Southwest China.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), which has massive genomic decay and dependence on host metabolism. Accumulating evidence showed a crucial role of mitochondria in metabolism and innate immunity.

Fine mapping of the GWAS loci identifies SLC35D1 and IL23R as potential risk genes for leprosy.

Background: Previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified two new leprosy associated loci (1p31.3 [rs3762318] and 6q24.3 [rs2275606]).

Regulation of CD40 signaling in colon cancer cells and its implications in clinical tissues.

CD40 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family. We reveal here a correlation between CD40 expression and colon cancer differentiation. Upon CD40 ligand (CD40L) binding, CD40/CD40L signaling inhibited colon cancer proliferation, induced apoptosis, stalled cells at G0/G1, and influenced cell adhesion and metastasis.

Stromal interaction molecule 1 plays an important role in gastric cancer progression.

Studies have shown that stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) is expressed in a variety of cancers and is related to tumor growth. The present study aimed to investigate the expression and roles of STIM1 in gastric carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting revealed that STIM1 was expressed at higher levels in gastric cancer tissues (82%) than these levels in normal gastric tissues (42%).

Fully human HER2/cluster of differentiation 3 bispecific antibody triggers potent and specific cytotoxicity of T lymphocytes against breast cancer.

The use of a bispecific antibody (BsAb) is a promising and highly specific approach to cancer therapy. In the present study, a fully human recombinant single chain variable fragment BsAb against human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2 and cluster of differentiation (CD)3 was constructed with the aim of developing an effective treatment for breast cancer. HER2/CD3 BsAb was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells and purified via nickel column chromatography.

Mitochondrial DNA copy number, but not haplogroup, confers a genetic susceptibility to leprosy in Han Chinese from Southwest China.

Background: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an unculturable pathogen with an exceptionally eroded genome. The high level of inactivation of gene function in M. leprae, including many genes in its metabolic pathways, has led to a dependence on host energy production and nutritional products.

Genetic variants of the MRC1 gene and the IFNG gene are associated with leprosy in Han Chinese from Southwest China.

Leprosy is an ancient infectious disease, with over 200,000 affected people (mainly in Asia and Africa) being registered annually. Genetic factors may confer susceptibility to this disease. In the present study, we genotyped 12 genetic variants of the MRC1 gene and the IFNG gene in 527 Han Chinese with leprosy and 583 healthy individuals from Yunnan, China, to discern potential association of these two genes with leprosy.

Trends in new leprosy case detection over 57 years (1952-2008) in Yuxi, Yunnan Province of Southwest China.

Background: Leprosy control and management in China was maintained via a vertical system. Despite substantial achievements in leprosy control in the past decades, leprosy has not been completely eliminated in several endemic areas of Yunnan Province, China.

Objectives: To report the epidemiological trends and management of leprosy in Yuxi, Yunnan Province from 1952 to 2008.