Data_Sheet_1_Genetically predicted chronic rhinosinusitis and the risk of stroke: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.xlsx

ObjectiveThe causal association between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and stroke remains uncertain due to the susceptibility of observational studies to confounding and the possibility of reverse causality. This study aims to examine the potential causal relationship between CRS and the risk of stroke, encompassing various subtypes.MethodsIn this research, we utilized genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for CRS from FinnGen. We identified significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with CRS and used them as instrumental variables (IVs). GWAS data for any ischemic stroke (AIS), ischemic stroke (IS), large-artery atherosclerotic stroke (LAS), small-vessel strokes (SVS), cardioembolic strokes (CES), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), lobar ICH, and non-lobar ICH came from multi-ancestry GWAS datasets. We conducted two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses using inverse variance weighting (IVW), weighted median, and MR-Egger regression methods to investigate potential causal relationships between CRS and stroke. Both heterogeneity and pleiotropy were evaluated by sensitivity analyses.ResultThe IVW analysis revealed no significant associations between CRS and AIS (OR = 0.99, 95% CI [0.93–1.05], p = 0.73), IS (OR = 0.97, 95% CI [0.81–1.17], p = 0.09), SVS (OR = 0.96, 95% CI [0.82–1.12], p = 0.58), LAS (OR = 0.91, 95% CI [0.77–1.08], p = 0.09), CES (OR = 0.97, 95% CI [0.81–1.17], p = 0.79), ICH (OR = 1.28, 95% CI [0.74–2.22], p = 0.28), lobar ICH (OR = 1.22, 95% CI [0.60–2.50], p = 0.28), and non-lobar ICH (OR = 1.25, 95% CI [0.65–2.40], p = 0.79). Sensitivity analysis found no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy.ConclusionAccording to genetic evidence, this Mendelian randomization (MR) study does not indicate a causal relationship between CRS and stroke in European populations. However, further studies are necessary to comprehensively evaluate the potential association between CRS and stroke.</p

Data_Sheet_2_Genetically predicted chronic rhinosinusitis and the risk of stroke: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.docx

ObjectiveThe causal association between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and stroke remains uncertain due to the susceptibility of observational studies to confounding and the possibility of reverse causality. This study aims to examine the potential causal relationship between CRS and the risk of stroke, encompassing various subtypes.MethodsIn this research, we utilized genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for CRS from FinnGen. We identified significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with CRS and used them as instrumental variables (IVs). GWAS data for any ischemic stroke (AIS), ischemic stroke (IS), large-artery atherosclerotic stroke (LAS), small-vessel strokes (SVS), cardioembolic strokes (CES), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), lobar ICH, and non-lobar ICH came from multi-ancestry GWAS datasets. We conducted two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses using inverse variance weighting (IVW), weighted median, and MR-Egger regression methods to investigate potential causal relationships between CRS and stroke. Both heterogeneity and pleiotropy were evaluated by sensitivity analyses.ResultThe IVW analysis revealed no significant associations between CRS and AIS (OR = 0.99, 95% CI [0.93–1.05], p = 0.73), IS (OR = 0.97, 95% CI [0.81–1.17], p = 0.09), SVS (OR = 0.96, 95% CI [0.82–1.12], p = 0.58), LAS (OR = 0.91, 95% CI [0.77–1.08], p = 0.09), CES (OR = 0.97, 95% CI [0.81–1.17], p = 0.79), ICH (OR = 1.28, 95% CI [0.74–2.22], p = 0.28), lobar ICH (OR = 1.22, 95% CI [0.60–2.50], p = 0.28), and non-lobar ICH (OR = 1.25, 95% CI [0.65–2.40], p = 0.79). Sensitivity analysis found no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy.ConclusionAccording to genetic evidence, this Mendelian randomization (MR) study does not indicate a causal relationship between CRS and stroke in European populations. However, further studies are necessary to comprehensively evaluate the potential association between CRS and stroke.</p

Being Two Is Better than Being One: A Facile Strategy to Fabricate Multicomponent Nanoparticles for Efficient Gene Delivery

Multifunctionality is necessary in the design of efficient gene vectors due to the existence of multiple barriers during gene delivery. Traditional methods in the design of polyfunctional materials for this purpose are associated with sophisticated syntheses and high costs. Here, we proposed a facile coassembly approach to fabricate multicomponent nanoparticles for efficient gene delivery. The resulting particles contain different functional dendrimers and show favorable physicochemical characteristics. All the combinations in the fabrication of multicomponent nanoparticles show a synergistic effect in improving transfection efficacy. The prepared nanoparticles successfully address two or more barriers in the gene delivery process and show minimal toxicity on the transfected cells. The combination of high transfection efficacy and low cytotoxicity suggests that the prepared multicomponent nanoparticles as promising carriers in gene delivery

Data_Sheet_1_Higher ultra processed foods intake is associated with low muscle mass in young to middle-aged adults: a cross-sectional NHANES study.docx

DesignUltra-processed foods (UPFs) have become a pressing global health concern, prompting investigations into their potential association with low muscle mass in adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed data from 10,255 adults aged 20−59 years who participated in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) during cycles spanning from 2011 to 2018. The primary outcome, low muscle mass, was assessed using the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) definition, employing restricted cubic splines and weighted multivariate regression for analysis. Sensitivity analysis incorporated three other prevalent definitions to explore optimal cut points for muscle quality in the context of sarcopenia.ResultsThe weighted prevalence of low muscle mass was 7.65%. Comparing the percentage of UPFs calories intake between individuals with normal and low muscle mass, the values were found to be similar (55.70 vs. 54.62%). Significantly linear associations were observed between UPFs consumption and low muscle mass (P for non-linear = 0.7915, P for total = 0.0117). Upon full adjustment for potential confounding factors, participants with the highest UPFs intake exhibited a 60% increased risk of low muscle mass (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.26, P for trend = 0.003) and a decrease in ALM/BMI (β = −0.0176, 95% CI: −0.0274 to −0.0077, P for trend = 0.003). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the consistency of these associations, except for the International Working Group on Sarcopenia (IWGS) definition, where the observed association between the highest quartiles of UPFs (%Kcal) and low muscle mass did not attain statistical significance (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 0.97 to 1.87, P for trend = 0.082).ConclusionOur study underscores a significant linear association between higher UPFs consumption and an elevated risk of low muscle mass in adults. These findings emphasize the potential adverse impact of UPFs on muscle health and emphasize the need to address UPFs consumption as a modifiable risk factor in the context of sarcopenia.</p

Phylogenetic trees based on whole genome sequences of <i>Diospyros</i>.

<p>(a) Maximum likelihood tree, (b) Maximum parsimony tree.</p

Table1.DOCX

<p>Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a destructive disease of wheat worldwide. The disease is preferably controlled by growing resistant cultivars. Wheat cultivar Xiaoyan 6 (XY 6) has been resistant to stripe rust since its release. In the previous studies, XY 6 was found to have higher-temperature seedling-plant (HTSP) resistance. However, the molecular mechanisms of HTSP resistance were not clear. To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in HTSP resistance, we sequenced 30 cDNA libraries constructed from XY 6 seedlings exposed to several temperature treatments. Compared to the constant normal (15°C) and higher (20°C) temperature treatments, 1395 DEGs were identified in seedlings exposed to 20°C for 24 h (to activate HTSP resistance) and then kept at 15°C. These DEGs were located on all 21 chromosomes, with 29.2% on A, 41.1% on B and 29.7% on D genomes, by mapping to the Chinese Spring wheat genome. The 1395 DEGs were enriched in ribosome, plant-pathogen interaction and glycerolipid metabolism pathways, and some of them were identified as hub proteins (phosphatase 2C10), resistance protein homologs, WRKY transcription factors and protein kinases. The majority of these genes were up-regulated in HTSP resistance. Based on the differential expression, we found that phosphatase 2C10 and LRR receptor-like serine/threonine protein kinases are particularly interesting as they may be important for HTSP resistance through interacting with different resistance proteins, leading to a hypersensitive response.</p

Global alignment of Ebenaceae genome and other published chloroplast genomes in Ericales using VISTA.

<p>Y-axis indicates the range of identity (50%–100%). Alignment was performed using <i>D. kaki</i> as a reference.</p

Image3.TIF

<p>Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a destructive disease of wheat worldwide. The disease is preferably controlled by growing resistant cultivars. Wheat cultivar Xiaoyan 6 (XY 6) has been resistant to stripe rust since its release. In the previous studies, XY 6 was found to have higher-temperature seedling-plant (HTSP) resistance. However, the molecular mechanisms of HTSP resistance were not clear. To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in HTSP resistance, we sequenced 30 cDNA libraries constructed from XY 6 seedlings exposed to several temperature treatments. Compared to the constant normal (15°C) and higher (20°C) temperature treatments, 1395 DEGs were identified in seedlings exposed to 20°C for 24 h (to activate HTSP resistance) and then kept at 15°C. These DEGs were located on all 21 chromosomes, with 29.2% on A, 41.1% on B and 29.7% on D genomes, by mapping to the Chinese Spring wheat genome. The 1395 DEGs were enriched in ribosome, plant-pathogen interaction and glycerolipid metabolism pathways, and some of them were identified as hub proteins (phosphatase 2C10), resistance protein homologs, WRKY transcription factors and protein kinases. The majority of these genes were up-regulated in HTSP resistance. Based on the differential expression, we found that phosphatase 2C10 and LRR receptor-like serine/threonine protein kinases are particularly interesting as they may be important for HTSP resistance through interacting with different resistance proteins, leading to a hypersensitive response.</p

Dynamic Softening or Stiffening a Supramolecular Hydrogel by Ultraviolet or Near-Infrared Light

The development of light-responsive hydrogels that exhibit switchable size and mechanical properties with temporal and spatial resolution is of great importance in many fields. However, it remains challenging to prepare smart hydrogels that dramatically change their properties in response to both ultraviolet (UV) and near-infrared (NIR) lights. Here, we designed a dual-light responsive supramolecular gel by integrating UV light-switchable host–guest recognition, temperature responsiveness, and NIR photothermal ability in the gel. The gel could rapidly self-heal and is capable of both softening and stiffening controlled by UV and NIR lights, respectively. Besides stiffness modulation, the bending direction of the gel can be controlled by UV or NIR light irradiation. The smart gel makes it possible to generate dynamic materials that respond to both UV and NIR lights and represents a useful tool that might be used to modulate cellular microenvironments with spatiotemporal resolution

The comparison of inverted-repeat (IR) and single-copy (SC) borders among nine chloroplast genomes.

<p>Gene annotation or portions are represented by gray boxes above or below.</p