Terrestrial water storage anomalies emphasize interannual variations in global mean sea level during 1997-1998 and 2015-2016 El Nino Events

© The Author(s), 2021. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Kuo, Y.-N., Lo, M.-H., Liang, Y.-C., Tseng, Y.-H., & Hsu, C.-W. Terrestrial water storage anomalies emphasize interannual variations in global mean sea level during 1997-1998 and 2015-2016 El Nino Events. Geophysical Research Letters, 48(18), (2021): e2021GL094104, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094104.Interannual variations in global mean sea level (GMSL) closely correlate with the evolution of El Niño-Southern Oscillation. However, GMSL differences occur in extreme El Niños; for example, in the 2015–2016 and 1997–1998 El Niños, the peak GMSL during the mature stage of the former (9.00 mm) is almost 2.5 times higher than the latter (3.72 mm). Analyses from satellite and reanalysis data sets show that the disparity in GMSL is primarily due to barystatic (ocean mass) changes. We find that the 2015–2016 event developed not purely as an Eastern Pacific El Niño event but with Central Pacific (CP) El Niño forcing. CP El Niños contribute to a stronger negative anomaly of global terrestrial water storage and subsequent higher barystatic heights. Our results suggest that the mechanism of hydrology-related interannual variations of GMSL should be further emphasized, as more CP El Niño events are projected to occur.This study was supported by a grant of MOST 106-2111-M-002-010-MY4 to National Taiwan University

Association of vitamin D deficiency with post-stroke depression: a retrospective cohort study from the TriNetX US collaborative networks

BackgroundPost-stroke depression (PSD) affects up to one-third of patients who survive stroke. This matched cohort study aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and PSD using a global health research network.MethodsAdult patients with first-ever stroke were eligible for inclusion if their circulating vitamin D levels were available within 3 months before the onset of stroke. Patients were subdivided into those with VDD [VDD group, 25(OH) D < 20 ng/mL] and those with normal vitamin D levels [control group, 25(OH) D: 30–80 ng/mL]. By using propensity score matching (PSM), potential confounding factors were adjusted. The primary outcomes were the association of VDD with the risk of PSD at the 3-month and 12-month follow-ups, while the secondary outcomes were the relationships between VDD and the risk of pneumonia as well as emergency department visits at the 12-month follow-up.ResultsAfter PSM, 758 individuals were included in each group, with no significant differences in baseline characteristics. Musculoskeletal diseases, metabolic disorders, and hypertension were the three leading comorbidities in both the groups. The incidence of PSD was not significantly different between the two groups at the 3-month (5.8% vs. 4.7%, p = 0.358) and 12-month (11.6% vs. 10.2%, p = 0.364) follow-up. VDD was not associated with an increased risk of PSD at the 3-month [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.258, p = 0.358] or 12-month follow-up (HR = 1.210, p = 0.364). In addition, VDD was not associated with an increased risk of pneumonia (HR = 1.053, p = 0.823) or emergency visits at the 12-month follow-up (HR = 1.206, p = 0.148).ConclusionThe results revealed no significant link between VDD and PSD risk during the 3-month and 12-month follow-up periods, suggesting that VDD might not play a substantial role in PSD risk. However, further extensive studies employing a prospective design are necessary to explore the potential protective effects of vitamin D against PSD and validate these findings

Association between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis of observational studies

BackgroundSystemic inflammation is one of the underlying mechanisms of cognitive impairment. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has emerged as a systemic inflammation indicator. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between high NLR and cognitive impairment (CI) risk.MethodA comprehensive systematic search was conducted to identify eligible studies published until May 30, 2023. The reference group comprised patients with the lowest NLR level, whereas the exposure group comprised those with the highest NLR level. The main outcome was to examine the relationship between NLR and CI risk. The secondary outcome included the association between patient characteristics or comorbidities and CI risk.ResultsThis meta-analysis included 11 studies published between 2018 and 2023, involving 10,357 patients. Patients with CI had a higher NLR than those without (mean difference=0.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26–0.44, p < 00001, I2 = 86%). Consistently, pooled results revealed an association between high NLR and CI risk (odds ratio [OR]=2.53, 95% CI:1.67–3.82, p<0.0001, I2 = 84%). Furthermore, aging (mean difference =4.31 years, 95% CI:2.83–5.8, p < 0.00001, I2 = 92%), diabetes (OR=1.59, 95% CI:1.35–1.88, p < 0.00001, I2 = 66%), and hypertension (OR=1.36, 95% CI:1.19–1.57, p < 0.00001, I2 = 0%) were significant risk factors for CI. However, no significant associations were observed between CI and male gender (OR = 0.84, 95% CI:0.64–1.11, p = 0.22, I2 = 81%), body mass index (mean = −0.32 kg/m2, 95% CI: −0.82, 0.18, p = 0.2, I2 = 82%), alcohol consumption (OR = 1.11, 95% CI:0.95−1.3, p = 1.35, I2 = 0%), and smoking (OR = 0.99, 95% CI:0.87–1.13, p = 0.86, I2 = 0%). Meta-regression found that diabetes and hypertension, but not age, significantly moderated the association between NLR and CI.ConclusionThis meta-analysis showed a significant association between high NLR and increased CI risk. Moreover, meta-regression identified diabetes and hypertension, but not age, as significant moderating factors in the relationship between NLR and CI. To validate and strengthen these findings, further large-scale studies are required.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023430384, identifier CRD42023430384

Astragalus Polysaccharides Attenuate Postburn Sepsis via Inhibiting Negative Immunoregulation of CD4+CD25high T Cells

BACKGROUND: Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) isolated from one of the Chinese herbs, Astragalus mongholicus, are known to have a variety of immunomodulatory activities. However, it is not yet clear whether APS can exert an effect on the immune functions of regulatory T cells (Tregs). This study was carried out to investigate the effect of APS on the immune function of peripheral blood Tregs in postburn sepsis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: BALB/C mice were randomly divided into six groups as follows: sham burn group, burn control (burn without infection animals) group, burn plus P. aeruginosa group, burn plus P. aeruginosa with APS (50 mg/kg) treatment group, burn plus P. aeruginosa with APS (100 mg/kg) treatment group, and burn plus P. aeruginosa with APS (200 mg/kg) treatment group, and they were sacrificed on postburn day 1, 3, 5, and 7, respectively, with seven animals at each time point. Magnetic microbeads were used to isolate peripheral blood Tregs and CD4(+) T cells. Phenotypes were analyzed by flow cytometry, and cytokine levels were determined with ELISA. In the burn plus P. aeruginosa group, forkhead/winged helix transcription factor p3 (Foxp3) expression on CD4(+)CD25(+)Tregs were strongly enhanced in comparison to the sham group, and the capacity of CD4(+)CD25(+)Tregs to produce interleukin (IL)-10 was markedly increased. Administration of APS to inhibit CD4(+)CD25(+)Tregs could significantly decrease expression of Foxp3 on CD4(+)CD25(+)Tregs, and IL-10 production in burned mice with P. aeruginosa infection. At the same time, proliferative activity and expression of IL-2 and IL-2Rα on CD4(+) T cells were restored. In contrast, anti-Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) antibody could block the effect of APS on Tregs immune function. CONCLUSION: APS might suppress CD4(+)CD25(+)Treg activity, at least in part, via binding TLR4 on Tregs and trigger a shift of Th2 to Th1 with activation of CD4(+) T cells in burned mice with P. aeruginosa infection

Genome, Functional Gene Annotation, and Nuclear Transformation of the Heterokont Oleaginous Alga \u3ci\u3eNannochloropsis oceanica\u3c/i\u3e CCMP1779

Unicellular marine algae have promise for providing sustainable and scalable biofuel feedstocks, although no single species has emerged as a preferred organism. Moreover, adequate molecular and genetic resources prerequisite for the rational engineering of marine algal feedstocks are lacking for most candidate species. Heterokonts of the genus Nannochloropsis naturally have high cellular oil content and are already in use for industrial production of high-value lipid products. First success in applying reverse genetics by targeted gene replacement makes Nannochloropsis oceanica an attractive model to investigate the cell and molecular biology and biochemistry of this fascinating organism group. Here we present the assembly of the 28.7 Mb genome of N. oceanica CCMP1779. RNA sequencing data from nitrogen-replete and nitrogendepleted growth conditions support a total of 11,973 genes, of which in addition to automatic annotation some were manually inspected to predict the biochemical repertoire for this organism. Among others, more than 100 genes putatively related to lipid metabolism, 114 predicted transcription factors, and 109 transcriptional regulators were annotated. Comparison of the N. oceanica CCMP1779 gene repertoire with the recently published N. gaditana genome identified 2,649 genes likely specific to N. oceanica CCMP1779. Many of these N. oceanica–specific genes have putative orthologs in other species or are supported by transcriptional evidence. However, because similarity-based annotations are limited, functions of most of these species-specific genes remain unknown. Aside from the genome sequence and its analysis, protocols for the transformation of N. oceanica CCMP1779 are provided. The availability of genomic and transcriptomic data for Nannochloropsis oceanica CCMP1779, along with efficient transformation protocols, provides a blueprint for future detailed gene functional analysis and genetic engineering of Nannochloropsis species by a growing academic community focused on this genus

Validating Antimetastatic Effects of Natural Products in an Engineered Microfluidic Platform Mimicking Tumor Microenvironment

Development of new, antimetastatic drugs from natural products has been substantially constrained by the lack of a reliable in vitro screening system. Such a system should ideally mimic the native, three-dimensional (3D) tumor microenvironment involving different cell types and allow quantitative analysis of cell behavior critical for metastasis. These requirements are largely unmet in the current model systems, leading to poor predictability of the in vitro collected data for in vivo trials, as well as prevailing inconsistency among different in vitro tests. In the present study, we report application of a 3D, microfluidic device for validation of the antimetastatic effects of 12 natural compounds. This system supports co-culture of endothelial and cancer cells in their native 3D morphology as in the tumor microenvironment and provides real-time monitoring of the cells treated with each compound. We found that three compounds, namely sanguinarine, nitidine, and resveratrol, exhibited significant antimetastatic or antiangiogenic effects. Each compound was further examined for its respective activity with separate conventional biological assays, and the outcomes were in agreement with the findings collected from the microfluidic system. In summary, we recommend use of this biomimetic model system as a new engineering tool for high-throughput evaluation of more diverse natural compounds with varying anticancer potentials

Multicomponent polysaccharide alginate-based bioinks

3D-Bioprinting has seen a rapid expansion in the last few years, with an increasing number of reported bioinks. Alginate is a natural biopolymer that forms hydrogels by ionic cross-linking with calcium ions. Due to its biocompatibility and ease of gelation, it is an ideal ingredient for bioinks. This review focuses on recent advances on bioink formulations based on the combination of alginate with other polysaccharides. In particular, the molecular weight of the alginate and its loading level has an impact on materials performance, as well as the loading of the divalent metal salt and its solubility, which affects the cross-linking of the gel. Alginate is often combined with other polysaccharides that can sigificantly modify the properties of the gel, and can optimise alginate for use in different biological applications. It is also possible to combine alginate with sacrificial polymers, which can temporarily reinforce the 3D printed construct, but then be removed at a later stage. Other additives can be formulated into the gels to enhance performance, including nanomaterials that tune rheological properties, peptides to encourage cell adhesion, or growth factors to direct stem cell differentiation. The ease of formulating multiple components into alginate gels gives them considerable potential for further development. In summary, this review will facilitate the identification of different alginate-polysaccharide bioink formulations and their optimal applications, and help inform the design of second generation bioinks, allowing this relatively simple gel system to achieve more sophisticated control over biological processes