Hepatic Steatosis Analysis in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Based on Artificial Intelligence.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver, excluding excessive alcohol consumption and other known causes of liver injury. Animal models are often used to explore different pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic targets of MASLD. The aim of this study is to apply an artificial intelligence (AI) system based on second-harmonic generation (SHG)/two-photon-excited fluorescence (TPEF) technology to automatically assess the dynamic patterns of hepatic steatosis in MASLD mouse models.

Full-Length Transcriptome Profile of Revealed by Nanopore Sequencing.

The Asian honey bee () plays a crucial role in providing abundant bee products and in maintaining ecological balance. Despite the availability of the genomic sequence of the Asian honey bee, its transcriptomic information remains largely incomplete. To address this issue, here we constructed three pooled RNA samples from the queen, drone, and worker bees of and performed full-length RNA sequencing using Nanopore single-molecule sequencing technology.

A four-step biosynthetic pathway involving C-3 oxidation-reduction reactions from cycloastragenol to astragaloside IV in Astragalus membranaceus.

Astragaloside IV is a significant chemical component derived from the medicinal plant Astragalus membranaceus. Despite the characterization of several glycosyltransferases from A. membranaceus, the complete biosynthetic pathway of astragaloside IV has not been fully elucidated.

Exploring the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Liver Diseases from the Heterogeneity of Target Cells.

The incidence of autoimmune liver diseases (ALDs) and research on their pathogenesis are increasing annually. However, except for autoimmune hepatitis, which responds well to immunosuppression, primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis are insensitive to immunosuppressive therapy. Besides the known effects of the environment, genetics, and immunity on ALDs, the heterogeneity of target cells provides new insights into their pathogenesis.

Measurable residual disease testing by next generation sequencing is more accurate compared with multiparameter flow cytometry in adults with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Results of measurable residual disease (MRD)-testing by next-generation sequencing (NGS) correlate with relapse risk in adults with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receiving chemotherapy or an allotransplant from a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical relative or HLA-matched unrelated donor. We studied cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and survival prediction accuracy using a NGS-based MRD-assay targeting immunoglobulin genes after 2 courses of consolidation chemotherapy cycles in 93 adults with B-cell ALL most receiving HLA-haplotype-matched related transplants. Prediction accuracy was compared with MRD-testing using multi-parameter flow cytometry (MPFC).

The Juvenile-Hormone-Responsive Factor Regulates Caste Differentiation in Honey Bees.

Honey bees are typical model organisms for the study of caste differentiation, and the juvenile hormone (JH) is a crucial link in the regulatory network of caste differentiation in honey bees. To investigate the mechanism of JH-mediated caste differentiation, we analyzed the effect of the JH response gene on this process. We observed that expression levels were significantly higher in queen larvae than in worker larvae at the 48 h, 84 h, and 120 h larval stages, and were regulated by JH.

Insights into the missing apiosylation step in flavonoid apiosides biosynthesis of Leguminosae plants.

Apiose is a natural pentose containing an unusual branched-chain structure. Apiosides are bioactive natural products widely present in the plant kingdom. However, little is known on the key apiosylation reaction in the biosynthetic pathways of apiosides.

A highly selective -rhamnosyltransferase from and insights into its mechanisms.

-Glycosides are important natural products with various bioactivities. In plant biosynthetic pathways, the -glycosylation step is usually catalyzed by -glycosyltransferases (CGTs), and most of them prefer to accept uridine 5'-diphosphate glucose (UDP-Glc) as sugar donor. No CGTs favoring UDP-rhamnose (UDP-Rha) as sugar donor has been reported, thus far.

Lower alanine aminotransferase levels are associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in nonalcoholic fatty liver patients.

Background: Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are often considered a marker to evaluate liver disease and its severity.

Aim: To investigate the association between ALT levels and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III) from 1988 to 1994 and NHANES-III-related mortality data from 2019 onward were used to obtain the necessary data for the study.

Functional characterization, structural basis, and regio-selectivity control of a promiscuous flavonoid 7,4'-di--glycosyltransferase from var. .

A highly efficient and promiscuous 7,4'-di--glycosyltransferase ZjOGT3 was discovered from the medicinal plant var. . ZjOGT3 could sequentially catalyse 4'- and 7--glycosylation of flavones to produce 7,4'-di--glycosides with obvious regio-selectivity.

A Global Survey of the Full-Length Transcriptome of by Single-Molecule Long-Read Sequencing.

As important pollinators, honey bees play a crucial role in both maintaining the ecological balance and providing products for humans. Although several versions of the western honey bee genome have already been published, its transcriptome information still needs to be refined. In this study, PacBio single-molecule sequencing technology was used to sequence the full-length transcriptome of mixed samples from many developmental time points and tissues of queens, workers and drones.

Phenotypic dimorphism between honeybee queen and worker is regulated by complicated epigenetic modifications.

Phenotypic dimorphism between queens and workers is an important biological characteristic of honeybees that has been the subject of intensive research. The enormous differences in morphology, lifespan, physiology, and behavior between queens and workers are caused by a complicated set of factors. Epigenetic modifications are considered to play an important role in this process.

[Simulation and Regulation of Sustainable Utilization of Water Resources in China Based on Improved Water Resources Ecological Footprint Model].

The original ecological footprint model of water resources was improved here to explore the rational policy of water resources development and utilization. Aiming to address the problems of high complexity, weak applicability, and insufficient systematicness and dynamics of the existing water resources ecological footprint model, the grey water footprint was introduced into the model to quantify the water for decontamination. In the calculation of the water resources ecological footprint index, the rainwater collection project, seawater desalination, and water resources regeneration, unconventional water sources were considered, and when combined with the system dynamics simulation technology, the SD model of water resources sustainable utilization in China was established.

The diverging epigenomic landscapes of honeybee queens and workers revealed by multiomic sequencing.

The role of the epigenome in phenotypic plasticity is unclear presently. Here we used a multiomics approach to explore the nature of the epigenome in developing honey bee (Apis mellifera) workers and queens. Our data clearly showed distinct queen and worker epigenomic landscapes during the developmental process.

Transcriptome changes of Apis mellifera female embryos with fem gene knockout by CRISPR/Cas9.

The sex of honey bees is decided by a regulatory cascade comprising of csd, fem and Amdsx. In order to further identify other genes involved in sex determination and differentiation of honey bees in the early stages of embryo development, the CRISPR/Cas9 method was used to knock out fem gene in the embryonic stage of diploid western honey bees, and RNA-seq was used to analyze gene expression changes in the embryo after fem knockout. Finally, we found that the bees had undergone gender changes due to fem knockout.

Incomplete response to ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cholangitis: criteria, epidemiology, and possible mechanisms.

Introduction: As a common autoimmune disease with the characteristic of early complication, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) leads to an increasing number of mortalities among people with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) waiting for liver transplantation. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the only approved first-line medicine for PBC, and a good response to treatment could acquire an ideal prognosis. Patients with poor UDCA response usually have more adverse outcomes and worse survival, therefore, the management of this group become a major consideration.

Hepatitis B functional cure and immune response.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a hepatotropic virus, which damage to hepatocytes is not direct, but through the immune system. HBV specific CD4 T cells can induce HBV specific B cells and CD8 T cells. HBV specific B cells produce antibodies to control HBV infection, while HBV specific CD8 T cells destroy infected hepatocytes.

An Ideal Hallmark Closest to Complete Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Patients: High-sensitivity Quantitative HBsAg Loss.

In the era of antiviral therapy, the main goal of treatment has shifted from the persistent inhibition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication to the pursuit of serological clearance of HBs surface antigen (HBsAg). Based on the life cycle of HBV, HBsAg originates from covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and integrated HBV DNA, thus reflecting their transcriptional activity. Complete HBsAg loss may mean elimination or persistent inactivity of the HBV genome including cccDNA and integrated HBV DNA.

Treatment of ursodeoxycholic acid with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants may improve the long-term survival rate in primary biliary cholangitis patients.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune cholestatic liver disease. The clinical effectiveness of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) plus glucocorticoids and/or immunosuppressants remains controversial in PBC patients. The study aimed to compare the efficacy of monotherapy and combination therapy in patients with PBC and to assess the factors affecting the efficacy.

A Comparison of RNA Interference via Injection and Feeding in Honey Bees.

RNA interference (RNAi) has been used successfully to reduce target gene expression and induce specific phenotypes in several species. It has proved useful as a tool to investigate gene function and has the potential to manage pest populations and reduce disease pathogens. However, it is not known whether different administration methods are equally effective at interfering with genes in bees.

Advances in plant-derived C-glycosides: Phytochemistry, bioactivities, and biotechnological production.

C-glycosides represent a large group of natural products with a C-C bond between the aglycone and the sugar moiety. They exhibit great structural diversity, wide natural distribution, and significant biological activities. By the end of 2021, at least 754 C-glycosides and their derivatives have been isolated and characterized from plants.

Extent and complexity of RNA processing in honey bee queen and worker caste development.

The distinct honeybee () worker and queen castes have become a model for the study of genomic mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity. Here we performed a nanopore-based direct RNA sequencing with exceptionally long reads to compare the mRNA transcripts between queen and workers at three points during their larval development. We found thousands of significantly differentially expressed transcript isoforms (DEIs) between queen and worker larvae.

Structure transition of a C monolayer on the Bi(111) surface.

The interfacial structures of C molecules adsorbed on solid surfaces are essential for a wide range of scientific and technological processes in carbon-based nanodevices. Here, we report structural transitions of the C monolayer on the Bi(111) surface studied low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). With an increase in temperature, the structure of the C monolayer transforms from local-order structures to a (√93 × √93) R20° superstructure, and then to a (11 × 11) R0° superstructure.

GuRhaGT, a highly specific saponin 2''--rhamnosyltransferase from .

A highly regio- and donor-specific 2''--rhamnosyltransferase GuRhaGT was characterised from the medicinal plant . GuRhaGT could efficiently catalyse rhamnosylation at 2''-OH of the C-3 glycosyl moiety of triterpenoid saponins.