Physiological Responses of Juvenile Bullfrogs () to Salinity Stress.

Bullfrogs () are increasingly farmed for their high nutritional value and adaptability to intensive aquaculture systems. However, salinity stress due to environmental changes and habitat salinization poses a significant challenge for both wild and farmed bullfrogs. This study examines the physiological responses of juvenile bullfrogs to varying salinity levels (0, 2, 4, 6 ppt) to better understand their capacity for osmoregulation and adaptation to salinization.

Structure-Based Design of Covalent SARS-CoV-2 Papain-like Protease Inhibitors.

The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a highly transmissible and pathogenic RNA betacoronavirus. Like other RNA viruses, SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve with or without drug selection pressure, and many variants have emerged since the beginning of the pandemic. The papain-like protease, PL, is a cysteine protease that cleaves viral polyproteins as well as ubiquitin and ISG15 modifications from host proteins.

The Composition and Function of Intestinal Microbiota Were Altered in Farmed Bullfrog Tadpoles () during Metamorphosis.

The bullfrog is one of the main farmed frog species in China, with a low overall survival of farmed bullfrogs from hatching to harvest since bullfrog tadpoles are fragile during the metamorphosis period. The intestinal bacterial community can play crucial roles in animal development; however, little is known about the alteration of the gut microbial community of during metamorphosis. The present study used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to investigate the intestinal bacterial community in at four distinct developmental stages.

Effects of Sophora flavescens dietary supplementation on the growth performance, haematological indices, and intestinal bacterial community of Oreochromis niloticus.

Sophora flavescens is considered to be of various medicinal and economic importance. Previous studies have shown that it has antibacterial, antioxidant, and immune-enhancing functions. To explore the full potential of S.

Integrating commercial graphite with network-like carbon fibers for high-rate and long-term cycling K-storage.

K can reversibly intercalate into graphite by forming KC (279 mA h g, ≈0.2 V) in conventional carbonate electrolytes, but the large ionic radius of K (1.38 Å) easily results in structural degradation and rapid capacity decay.

A prospective cohort study on the effect of lipid accumulation product index on the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a chronic disease with a serious prognosis, and obesity is a risk factor for CVD. Lipid accumulation product index (LAP) is a new indicator of obesity, waist circumference, and triglycerides were included in the formula, but its association with CVD is inconsistent. Therefore, this study researched the effect of LAP levels on CVD.

Gut Microbiota-Derived Butyrate Induces Epigenetic and Metabolic Reprogramming in Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells to Alleviate Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

Background & Aims: Gut dysbiosis and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are implicated in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) pathogenesis. However, it remains unknown whether gut microbiota or their metabolites can modulate MDSCs homeostasis to rectify immune dysregulation in PBC.

Methods: We measured fecal short-chain fatty acids levels using targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and analyzed circulating MDSCs using flow cytometry in 2 independent PBC cohorts.

MGAT5/TMEM163 variant is associated with prognosis in ursodeoxycholic acid-treated patients with primary biliary cholangitis.

Background: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic immune-mediated liver disease. Previous genome-wide meta-analysis has identified the association between variants in TMEM163 with PBC. Here we aimed to evaluate the association between variants near the reported risk loci of TMEM163 at 2q21.

A+T rich interaction domain protein 3a (Arid3a) impairs Mertk-mediated efferocytosis in cholestasis.

Background & Aims: Macrophages are key elements in the pathogenesis of cholestatic liver diseases. Arid3a plays a prominent role in the biologic properties of hematopoietic stem cells, B lymphocytes and tumor cells, but its ability to modulate macrophage function during cholestasis remains unknown.

Methods: Gene and protein expression and cellular localization were assessed by q-PCR, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry.

Ultrastable Graphite-Potassium Anode through Binder Chemistry.

Graphite with abundant reserves has attracted enormous research interest as an anode of potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) owing to its high plateau capacity of 279 mAh g at ≈0.2 V in conventional carbonate electrolytes. Unfortunately, it suffers from fast capacity decay during K storage.

Synthesis of -(acyloxy)--alkynylamides generation of "C" from hypervalent alkynyliodane and a weak base.

The first synthesis of -(acyloxy)ynamides was realized through the coupling of -(acyloxy)amides and hypervalent alkynyliodane under mild conditions. This reaction probably involves biradical species ("C") generation and radical processes. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that -(acyloxy)ynamide could be transformed into a -sulfonylimidate derivative by a copper catalyst.

A Potential Immune-Related miRNAs Regulatory Network and Corresponding Diagnostic Efficacy in Schizophrenia.

Purpose: Immune-related pathways actively participate in the progression of schizophrenia (SCZ), however, roles of immune-related miRNAs in SCZ are still unclear.

Methods: A microarray expression study was conducted to explored roles of immune-related genes in SCZ. Functional enrichment analysis by using "clusterProfiler" was used to identify molecular alterations of SCZ.

A regulatory variant at 19p13.3 is associated with primary biliary cholangitis risk and ARID3A expression.

Genome-wide association studies have identified 19p13.3 locus associated with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Here we aim to identify causative variant(s) and initiate efforts to define the mechanism by which the 19p13.

Bioinformatics analysis based on high-throughput sequencing data to identify hub genes related to different clinical types of COVID-19.

This article aims to explore hub genes related to different clinical types of cases with COVID-19 and predict the therapeutic drugs related to severe cases. The expression profile of GSE166424 was divided into four data sets according to different clinical types of COVID-19 and then calculated the differential expression genes (DEGs). The specific genes of four clinical types of COVID-19 were obtained by Venn diagram and conducted enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks analysis, screening hub genes, and ROC curve analysis.

CircFOXP1 alleviates brain injury after acute ischemic stroke by regulating STAT3/apoptotic signaling.

According to previous studies, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in multiple pathological processes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the relationship between circFOXP1 and IS has not yet been reported. Here, we found that circFOXP1 expression was significantly decreased in the peripheral blood of AIS patients compared to controls and was associated with the severity and prognosis of AIS.

Phylogeny, Morphology, Distribution, and Pathogenicity of Seven Species from Leaf-Blighted in HaiNan Island, China.

Leaf blight caused by species constrains trees in China. Calonectria leaf disease on in China was first reported in HaiNan Island in 1985. No systematic investigation of species associated with diseased in HaiNan has been performed.

Exploring biomarkers for ischemic stroke through integrated microarray data analysis.

Stroke is the third leading cause of disability-adjusted life years worldwide, and drugs available for its treatment are limited. This study aimed to explore high-confidence candidate genes associated with ischemic stroke (IS) through bioinformatics analysis and identify potential diagnostic biomarkers and gene-drug interactions. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were integrated to identify overlapping genes.

Studies and Clinical Observations Imply a Synergistic Effect Between Epstein-Barr Virus and Dengue Virus Infection.

Dengue virus (DENV) infection can lead to a complex spectrum of clinical outcomes, ranging from asymptomatic infection to life-threatening severe dengue. The reasons for thus drastically varying manifestations of the disease remain an enigma. Herein, we reported an original discovery of the synergistic effect between preexisting Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and DENV superinfection and of a strong correlation of these two viruses in the clinical samples from dengue patients.

Intestinal bacterial overgrowth in the early stage of severe acute pancreatitis is associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: In the early stage of acute pancreatitis (AP), a large number of cytokines induced by local pancreatic inflammation seriously damage the intestinal barrier function, and intestinal bacteria and endotoxins enter the blood, causing inflammatory storm, resulting in multiple organ failure, infectious complications, and other disorders, eventually leading to death. Intestinal failure occurs early in the course of AP, accelerating its development. As an alternative method to detect small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, the hydrogen breath test is safe, noninvasive, and convenient, reflecting the number of intestinal bacteria in AP indirectly.

A novel approach for the forensic diagnosis of drowning by microbiological analysis with next-generation sequencing and unweighted UniFrac-based PCoA.

The diagnosis of drowning is one of the major challenges in forensic practice, especially when the corpse is in a state of decomposition. Novel indicators of drowning are desired in the field of forensic medicine. In the past decade, aquatic bacteria have attracted great attention from forensic experts because they can easily enter the blood circulation with drowning medium, and some of them can proliferate in the corpse.

Epidemiological investigation of infection in elderly people in Beijing.

Background: The () infection rate in China is approximately 50%. is a pathogenic factor of peptic ulcer and chronic gastritis. In addition, infection may also be associated with a variety of cardiovascular diseases in elderly people, such as arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and cerebral infarction, having deleterious effect on their health.

Histone deacetylase gene PtHDT902 modifies adventitious root formation and negatively regulates salt stress tolerance in poplar.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate gene transcription, and play a critical role in plant growth, development and stress responses. HD2 proteins are plant specific histone deacetylases. In woody plants, functions of HD2s are not known.

[Spatial and temporal changes of farmland soil acidification and their influencing factors in different regions of Guangdong Province, Chin].

Based on the three datasets from 1980s, 2010 and 2015 in Guangdong Province, we analyzed the spatial and temporal variations of soil pH in farmlands in different regions of Guangdong Province and analyzed the driving factors for such variations. The results showed that the spatial distribution of soil pH in Guangdong Province changed significantly in different periods. During 1980s to 2010, soil pH showed an acidification trend with a decline of 0.

A research roadmap for next-generation sequencing informatics.

Next-generation sequencing technologies are fueling a wave of new diagnostic tests. Progress on a key set of nine research challenge areas will help generate the knowledge required to advance effectively these diagnostics to the clinic.