Salivary and fecal microbiota: potential new biomarkers for early screening of colorectal polyps

ObjectiveGut microbiota plays an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis through microbes and their metabolites, while oral pathogens are the major components of CRC-associated microbes. Multiple studies have identified gut and fecal microbiome-derived biomarkers for precursors lesions of CRC detection. However, few studies have used salivary samples to predict colorectal polyps. Therefore, in order to find new noninvasive colorectal polyp biomarkers, we searched into the differences in fecal and salivary microbiota between patients with colorectal polyps and healthy controls.MethodsIn this case–control study, we collected salivary and fecal samples from 33 patients with colorectal polyps (CP) and 22 healthy controls (HC) between May 2021 and November 2022. All samples were sequenced using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing and compared with the Nucleotide Sequence Database. The salivary and fecal microbiota signature of colorectal polyps was established by alpha and beta diversity, Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) and random forest model analysis. In addition, the possibility of microbiota in identifying colorectal polyps was assessed by Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC).ResultsIn comparison to the HC group, the CP group’s microbial diversity increased in saliva and decreased in feces (p < 0.05), but there was no significantly difference in microbiota richness (p > 0.05). The principal coordinate analysis revealed significant differences in β-diversity of salivary and fecal microbiota between the CP and HC groups. Moreover, LEfSe analysis at the species level identified Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Leptotrichia wadei, Prevotella intermedia, and Megasphaera micronuciformis as the major contributors to the salivary microbiota, and Ruminococcus gnavus, Bacteroides ovatus, Parabacteroides distasonis, Citrobacter freundii, and Clostridium symbiosum to the fecal microbiota of patients with polyps. Salivary and fecal bacterial biomarkers showed Area Under ROC Curve of 0.8167 and 0.8051, respectively, which determined the potential of diagnostic markers in distinguishing patients with colorectal polyps from controls, and it increased to 0.8217 when salivary and fecal biomarkers were combined.ConclusionThe composition and diversity of the salivary and fecal microbiota were significantly different in colorectal polyp patients compared to healthy controls, with an increased abundance of harmful bacteria and a decreased abundance of beneficial bacteria. A promising non-invasive tool for the detection of colorectal polyps can be provided by potential biomarkers based on the microbiota of the saliva and feces

Carbon nanotubes production from real-world waste plastics and the pyrolysis behaviour

The investigation of the pyrolysis behaviour of real-world waste plastics (RWWP) and using them as the feedstock to produce carbon nanotubes (CNTs) could serve as an effective solution to address the global waste plastics catastrophe. This research aimed to characterize the pyrolysis behaviour of RWWP via thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and fast pyrolysis-TG/mass spectrometry (Py-TG/MS) analyses. Activation energies (131.04 kJ mol -171.04 kJ mol ) for RWWP pyrolysis were calculated by three methods: Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) method, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) method, and Starink method. Py-TG/MS results indicated that the RWWP could be identified as polystyrene (RWWP-1), polyethylene (RWWP-2), polyethylene terephthalate (RWWP-3, 4), and polypropylene (RWWP-5, 6). In addition, RWWP-1, 2, 5, 6 outperform RWWP-3 and 4 as sources of carbon for producing CNTs. The results showed a high carbon yield of 32.21 wt% and a high degree of CNT purity at 93.04%. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Production, characterization, and epitope mapping of a monoclonal antibody against genotype VII Newcastle disease virus V protein

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) V protein is crucial for viral interferon (IFN) antagonism and virulence, determining its host range restriction. However, little information is available on the B cell epitopes of V protein and the subcellular movement of V protein in the process of NDV infection. In this study, the monoclonal antibody (mAb) clone 3D7 against genotype VII NDV V protein was generated by immunizing mice with a purified recombinant His-tagged carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) region of V protein. Fine epitope mapping analysis and B-cell epitope prediction indicated that mAb 3D7 recognized a linear epitope 152RGPAELWK159, which is located in the V protein CTD region. Sequence alignment showed that the mAb clone 3D7-recognized epitope is highly conserved among Class II genotype VII NDV strains, but not among other genotypes, suggesting it could serve as a genetic marker to differentiate NDV genotypes. Furthermore, the movement of V protein during NDV replication in infected cells were determined by using this mAb. It was found that V protein localized around the nucleus during virus replication. The establishment of V protein-specific mAb and identification of its epitope extend our understanding of the antigenic characteristics of V protein and provide a basis for the development of epitope-based diagnostic assays

Effects of obesity with reduced 25(OH)D levels on bone health in elderly Chinese people: a nationwide cross-sectional study

BackgroundObesity is often accompanied by lower 25(OH)D levels, whereas these two parameters exhibit opposite effects on bone health. It is uncertain what are the effects of lower 25(OH)D levels in obesity on bone health in elderly Chinese people.MethodsA nationally representative cross-sectional analysis of China Community-based Cohort of Osteoporosis (CCCO) was performed from 2016 to 2021, which consisted of 22,081 participants. Demographic data, disease history, Body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), the levels of the biomarkers of vitamin D status and those of bone metabolism markers were measured for all participants (N = 22,081). The genes (rs12785878, rs10741657, rs4588, rs7041, rs2282679 and rs6013897) related to 25(OH)D transportation and metabolism were performed in a selected subgroup (N = 6008).ResultsObese subjects exhibited lower 25(OH)D levels (p < 0.05) and higher BMD (p < 0.001) compared with those of normal subjects following adjustment. The genotypes and allele frequency of rs12785878, rs10741657, rs6013897, rs2282679, rs4588 and rs7041 indicated no significant differences among three BMI groups following correction by the Bonferroni’s method (p > 0.05). The levels of total 25(OH)D (ToVD) were significantly different among the GC1F, GC1S and GC2 haplotype groups (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that ToVD levels were significantly correlated with parathyroid hormone levels, BMD, risk of osteoporosis (OP) and the concentration levels of other bone metabolism markers (p < 0.05). Generalized varying coefficient models demonstrated that the increasing BMI, ToVD levels and their interactions were positively associated with BMD outcomes (p < 0.001), whereas the reduced levels of ToVD and BMI increased the risk of OP, which was noted notably for the subjects with reduced ToVD levels (less than 20.69 ng/ml) combined with decreased BMI (less than 24.05 kg/m2).ConclusionThere was a non-linear interaction of BMI and 25(OH)D. And higher BMI accompanied by decreased 25(OH)D levels is associated with increased BMD and decreased incidence of OP, optimal ranges exist for BMI and 25(OH)D levels. The cutoff value of BMI at approximately 24.05 kg/m2 combined with an approximate value of 25(OH)D at 20.69 ng/ml are beneficial for Chinese elderly subjects

The evaluation of implantable venous access ports in patients with cancer

Cancer itself is relatively hidden. Most cancers have a long incubation period. Chemotherapy drugs cause great damage to blood vessels. Many tumor patients are also accompanied by diabetes, hypertension, vascular embolism and other diseases. The vascular condition is generally poor, so veins appear during puncture and treatment. The probability of inflammation increases significantly. If the chemotherapeutic drugs extravasate, it will cause local tissue necrosis, reduce the quality of life of patients, and increase the economic burden of patients. Implantable venous port access (IVPA) have the advantages of avoiding repeated puncture, less irritation, safe infusion, and long use time, and are widely used. - Methods used: Descriptive literature review methods - Key results: Through these articles, we knew that how to evaluate the IVAP site and how to prevent infections in IVAP site in patients with cancer. - Analysis of the results: There are 5 points to evaluate the IVAP site. The most important point for preventing infection is strict aseptic care of the puncture site. -Conclusions and recommendations: Infection remains the most common complication of the venous access system in cancer patients. Changing the access needle and clear dressing every 7 days is a safe, cost-effective, and efficient way to disinfect and keep the exit site clean. Keywords: Evaluation, Implantable venous access ports, Cancer

Characterizing the responses of vegetation to climate change in the Tibet Plateau using remote sensing data

It is of great significance to investigate the changes in vegetation and its response to climate change in Tibet due to the sensitivity and vulnerability of the area to climate change. The spatiotemporal pattern of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and its trends between 2001 and 2015 were depicted using NDVI from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS). The responses of vegetation to climatic variables were analyzed through linear regression and correlation analysis with tropical rainfall measuring mission precipitation data and MODIS land surface temperature (LST) data. The results showed that (1) the average annual NDVI gradually decreased from the southeast to the northwest in accordance with the variations in LST and precipitation, (2) the annual NDVI increased from 2001 to 2015 at a rate of 0.3 x 10(-3) per year. The LST exhibited an average annual increase of 0.05 degrees C while precipitation remained relatively stable, (3) the correlation between NDVI and precipitation was positive in the central region, whereas it became negative in the southeast and northeast. The correlation between NDVI and LST was opposite of that between NDVI and precipitation, and (4) the increases in NDVI in the tropical monsoon rain forest and rain forest, subalpine coniferous forest, and alpine meadow vegetation types in the southeast depended more on LST than precipitation. In contrast, the increases in NDVI responded strongly to precipitation in the alpine bush and meadow, alpine grassland, alpine desert, and alpine desert steppe vegetation types in the northwest. (c) 2018 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)Science and Technology Service Network Initiative of the Chinese Academy of Science [KFJ-STS-ZDTP-015]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [41661144028]This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1- MCP) treatment on antioxidant enzymes of postharvest Japanese apricot

‘Longyan Mei’, a Japanese apricot species, was used to investigate the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene treatment on the browning index, soluble solid content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA) and enzyme activity of active oxygen-related metabolism of post-harvest Japanese apricot. The results show that 1-MCP inhibited the browning rate, maintained a high content of SSC and TA, controlled the increase of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activity at prophase of storage, and increased the enzyme activities of SOD, POD and CAT at the end of the storage.Keywords: Japanese apricot, 1-MCP, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT)African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(7), pp. 689-69