Upregulated SKP2 Empowers Epidermal Proliferation Through Downregulation of P27 Kip1.

Background: Excessive growth of keratinocytes is the critical event in the etiology of psoriasis. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of psoriatic keratinocyte hyperproliferation is still unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to figure out the potential contributory role of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2) in promoting the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes in psoriasis.

A training program for improving the capacity of infection high-throughput sequencing and diagnosis in China.

Background: Infectious diseases are a serious threat to human especially since the COVID-19 outbreak has proved the importance and urgency of their diagnosis and treatment again. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been widely used and recognized in clinical and carried out localized testing in hospitals. Increasing the training of mNGS detection technicians can enhance their professional quality and more effectively realize the application value of the hospital platform.

Punicalagin Alleviates Psoriasis by Inhibiting NF-κB-Mediated IL-1β Transcription and Caspase-1-Regulated IL-1β Secretion.

Psoriasis is a chronic and inflammatory skin disorder characterized by inflammation and epidermal hyperplasia. Punicalagin (PUN) is a main active ingredient of pomegranate ( L.) peel with multiple biological activities, such as antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-tumor effects.

Oral, Nasal, and Gut Microbiota in Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most frequently diagnosed neurodegenerative disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the link between microbiota composition in important mucosal interfaces (oral, nasal, and intestinal) and PD. Sequencing was undertaken of the V4-V5 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene of the microbiome from the oral cavity, nasal cavity, and gut of 91 PD patients and 91 healthy controls.

Altered Actinobacteria and Firmicutes Phylum Associated Epitopes in Patients With Parkinson's Disease.

Recent evidence suggests that inflammation was participated in the pathogenesis of PD, thus, to understand the potential mechanism of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), we performed a metagenomic analysis of fecal samples from PD patient and controls. Using a two-stage metagenome-wide association strategy, fecal DNA samples from 69 PD patients and 244 controls in three groups (comprising 66 spouses, 97 age-matched, and 81 normal samples, respectively) were analyzed, and differences between candidate gut microbiota and microbiota-associated epitopes (MEs) were compared. In the study, 27 candidate bacterial biomarkers and twenty-eight candidate epitope peptides were significantly different between the PD patients and control groups.

Clinical relevance of serum α-l-fucosidase activity in the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background And Aims: The reduced fucosylation in the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 and the IgG antibody has been observed in COVID-19. However, the clinical relevance of α-l-fucosidase, the enzyme for defucosylation has not been discovered.

Materials And Methods: 585 COVID-19 patients were included to analyze the correlations of α-l-fucosidase activity with the nucleic acid test, IgM/IgG, comorbidities, and disease progression.

Determination and genome-wide analysis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) sequences in EBV-associated gastric carcinoma from Guangdong, an endemic area of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

About 10 % of gastric carcinoma worldwide is associated with EBV, which is defined as EBV-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC). To date, EBV sequence data from EBVaGC in Guangdong, China, an endemic area of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), are not available. In the present study, two EBV genomes from EBVaGC specimens from Guangdong (designated as GDGC1 and GDGC2) were determined by next-generation sequencing, de novo assembly and joining of contigs by Sanger sequencing.

Comparative analysis of 22 Epstein-Barr virus genomes from diseased and healthy individuals.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects most of the world's population and is causally associated with several human cancers, but little is known about how EBV genetic variations might influence EBV-associated diseases and their geographical patterns. In the present study, 22 EBV whole-genome sequences from diseased and healthy individuals were analysed to explore EBV sequence variations at the whole-genome level. We found that the 22 EBV genomes were generally highly similar to each other at the genome level.

A catalog of the mouse gut metagenome.

We established a catalog of the mouse gut metagenome comprising ∼2.6 million nonredundant genes by sequencing DNA from fecal samples of 184 mice. To secure high microbiome diversity, we used mouse strains of diverse genetic backgrounds, from different providers, kept in different housing laboratories and fed either a low-fat or high-fat diet.

Human gut microbiota changes reveal the progression of glucose intolerance.

To explore the relationship of gut microbiota with the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), we analyzed 121 subjects who were divided into 3 groups based on their glucose intolerance status: normal glucose tolerance (NGT; n = 44), prediabetes (Pre-DM; n = 64), or newly diagnosed T2DM (n = 13). Gut microbiota characterizations were determined with 16S rDNA-based high-throughput sequencing. T2DM-related dysbiosis was observed, including the separation of microbial communities and a change of alpha diversity between the different glucose intolerance statuses.

The changes in MUC5AC expression in gastric cancer before and after Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Purpose: To investigate MUC5AC expression in gastric cancer before and after Hp eradication.

Methods: The MUC5AC protein and mRNA were detected in gastric cancer tissue by western blot and real time PCR protocols before and after Hp eradication (Hp positive group). Gastric cancer tissue without Hp infection served as the control group (Hp negative group).

Effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on MUC5AC protein expression in gastric cancer.

Aim: To investigate the effects of the expression of the MUC5AC protein in gastric cancer depending on the Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection status.

Materials & Methods: The MUC5AC protein and mRNA were detected using western blot and real-time PCR protocols in gastric cancer tissue and stratified for Hp infection. Gastric mucus membranes near the cancer site serve as the control group.

Low temperature crystallization of transparent, highly ordered nanoporous SnO₂ thin films: application to room-temperature hydrogen sensing.

High surface area highly ordered nanoporous thin films are the current gold standard for gas sensor use, however the nanostructure of such films is prone to collapse at annealing temperatures as low as 250 °C resulting in formation of a dense layer of limited utility. We report on a templating method used to deposit highly ordered nanoporous platinum (Pt)-doped tin dioxide (SnO(2)) thin films that are crystallized by a 100 °C water vapor hydrothermal treatment, with the low temperature process being compatible with a large variety of substrates including plastic. The resulting highly ordered nanoporous, transparent Pt-SnO(2) thin films are mechanically stable and can be annealed, as desired, at temperatures up to 800 °C for removal of the templating materials and tailoring of gas sensitivities without damage to the nanoporous structure.

Facile thermolysis synthesis of CuInS2 nanocrystals with tunable anisotropic shape and structure.

Monodisperse CuInS(2) nanocrystals are produced by injecting mixed metal-oleate precursors into hot organic solvents containing the dissolved sulphur sources. A better understanding of the formation mechanism of CuInS(2) has enabled us to tailor anisotropic shapes in the form of triangular-pyramid, circular cone, and bullet-like rods with tunable crystal phases by varying the synthetic conditions.