The Gut Microbiome Signatures Discriminate Healthy From Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

Cross talk occurs between the human gut and the lung through a gut-lung axis involving the gut microbiota. However, the signatures of the human gut microbiota after active Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection have not been fully understood. Here, we investigated changes in the gut microbiota in tuberculosis (TB) patients by shotgun sequencing the gut microbiomes of 31 healthy controls and 46 patients. We observed a dramatic changes in gut microbiota in tuberculosis patients as reflected by significant decreases in species number and microbial diversity. The gut microbiota of TB patients were mostly featured by the striking decrease of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producingbacteria as well as associated metabolic pathways. A classification model based on the abundance of three species, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Roseburia inulinivorans, and Roseburia hominis, performed well for discriminating between healthy and diseased patients. Additionally, the healthy and diseased states can be distinguished by SNPs in the species of B. vulgatus. We present a comprehensive profile of changes in the microbiota in clinical TB patients. Our findings will shed light on the design of future diagnoses and treatments for M. tuberculosis infections

Effects of extreme drought on plant nutrient uptake and resorption in rhizomatous vs bunch grass dominated grasslands

Both the dominance and the mass ratio hypotheses predict that plant internal nutrient cycling in ecosystems is determined by the dominant species within plant communities. We tested this hypothesis under conditions of extreme drought by assessing plant nutrient (N, P and K) uptake and resorption in response to experimentally imposed precipitation reductions in two semiarid grasslands of northern China. These two communities shared similar environmental conditions, but had different dominant species-one was dominated by a rhizomatous grass (Leymus chinensis) and the other by a bunchgrass (Stipa grandis). Results showed that responses of N to drought differed between the two communities with drought decreasing green leaf N concentration and resorption in the community dominated by the rhizomatous grass, but not in the bunchgrass-dominated community. In contrast, negative effects of drought on green leaf P and K concentrations and their resorption efficiencies were consistent across the two communities. Additionally, in each community, the effects of extreme drought on soil N, P and K supply did not change synchronously with that on green leaf N, P and K concentrations, and senesced leaf N, P and K concentrations showed no response to extreme drought. Consistent with the dominance/mass ratio hypothesis, our findings suggest that differences in dominant species and their growth form (i.e., rhizomatous vs bunch grass) play an important nutrient-specific role in mediating plant internal nutrient cycling across communities within a single region

Truncating Mutation in the Autophagy Gene \u3cem\u3eUVRAG\u3c/em\u3e Confers Oncogenic Properties and Chemosensitivity in Colorectal Cancers

Autophagy-related factors are implicated in metabolic adaptation and cancer metastasis. However, the role of autophagy factors in cancer progression and their effect in treatment response remain largely elusive. Recent studies have shown that UVRAG, a key autophagic tumour suppressor, is mutated in common human cancers. Here we demonstrate that the cancer-related UVRAG frameshift (FS), which does not result in a null mutation, is expressed as a truncated UVRAGFS in colorectal cancer (CRC) with microsatellite instability (MSI), and promotes tumorigenesis. UVRAGFS abrogates the normal functions of UVRAG, including autophagy, in a dominant-negative manner. Furthermore, expression of UVRAGFS can trigger CRC metastatic spread through Rac1 activation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, independently of autophagy. Interestingly, UVRAGFS expression renders cells more sensitive to standard chemotherapy regimen due to a DNA repair defect. These results identify UVRAG as a new MSI target gene and provide a mechanism for UVRAG participation in CRC pathogenesis and treatment response

Volcanic Age and Geochemistry of the Permian Linxi Formation in Northeast China: Implications for the Tectonic Evolution of the Paleo-Asian Ocean

The tectonic evolution of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO) has been well studied, including its gradual narrowing and closure by subduction. However, aspects of the tectonic evolution of the oceanic domain remain unclear, including the exact timing and nature of the closure. The Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) was formed by the closure of the PAO and, therefore, contains information about the tectonic evolution of the oceanic domain. Here, we report a study of the petrology, geochronology, and geochemistry of the Taohaiyingzi section of the Permian Linxi Formation in Alukhorqin Banner (Northeast China) in the central part of the CAOB. A newly discovered andesitic tuff from the lower part of the Linxi Formation yields a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 262.2 ± 1.1 Ma (n = 87), indicating that the lower part of the Linxi Formation of the Taohaiyingzi section was deposited during the late Guadalupian. Provenance weathering indicators show that the sedimentary rocks of the Linxi Formation are of low maturity. Element geochemical characteristics indicate that the Linxi Formation clastic rocks were derived from eroded magmatic rocks that formed in a continental arc setting and were deposited close to the arc in a continental arc basin environment. The active margin setting was generated by the subduction of the paleo-Asian oceanic plate beneath the Xilinhot–Songliao block. The inferred palaeosalinity of the sedimentary environment changed gradually from brackish to fresh water, suggesting the end of oceanic plate subduction during the late Guadalupian, and the closure of the PAO during or after the Lopingian

Variation in carbon isotope discrimination in Cleistogenes squarrosa (Trin.) Keng: patterns and drivers at tiller, local, catchment, and regional scales

Understanding the patterns and drivers of carbon isotope discrimination in C4 species is critical for predicting the effects of global change on C3/C4 ratio of plant community and consequently on ecosystem functioning and services. Cleistogenes squarrosa (Trin.) Keng is a dominant C4 perennial bunchgrass of arid and semi-arid ecosystems across the Mongolian plateau of the Eurasian steppe. Its carbon isotope discrimination (13Δ) during photosynthesis is relatively large among C4 species and it is variable. Here the 13Δ of C. squarrosa and its potential drivers at a nested set of scales were examined. Within cohorts of tillers, 13Δ of leaves increased from 5.1‰ to 8.1‰ from old to young leaves. At the local scale, 13Δ of mature leaves varied from 5.8‰ to 8.4‰, increasing with decreasing grazing intensity. At the catchment scale, 13Δ of mature leaves varied from 6.2‰ to 8.5‰ and increased with topsoil silt content. At the regional scale, 13Δ of mature leaves varied from 5.5‰ to 8.9‰, increasing with growing-season precipitation. At all scales, 13Δ decreased with increasing leaf nitrogen content (Nleaf). Nleaf was positively correlated with grazing intensity and leaf position along tillers, but negatively correlated with precipitation. The presence of the correlations across a range of different environmental contexts strongly implicates Nleaf as a major driver of 13Δ in C. squarrosa and, possibly, other C4 species

MicroRNAs : An Emerging Player In Autophagy

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved self-digestion process for the quality control of intracellular entities in eukaryotes. In the past few years, mounting evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs)-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression represents an integral part of the autophagy regulatory network and may have a substantial effect on autophagy-related physiological and pathological conditions including cancer. Herein, we examine some of the molecular mechanisms by which microRNAs manipulate the autophagic machinery to maintain cellular homeostasis and their biological outputs during cancer development. A better understanding of interaction between microRNAs and cellular autophagy may ultimately benefit future cancer diagnostic and anticancer therapeutics

Radiographic and clinical outcomes following MIS-TLIF in patients with adult lumbar degenerative scoliosis

Abstract Background Patients suffering from adult lumbar degenerative scoliosis (ALDS) are commonly complicated with advanced age, osteoporosis, cardiopulmonary insufficiency, and some other medical comorbidity. Therefore, the traditional open surgery can lead to high rate of postoperative complications. The purposes of this study were to introduce our experiences and explore the efficacy and feasibility of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) in the treatment of patients with ALDS. Methods From January 2008 to January 2014, a retrospective study of 22 patients with ALDS treated with MIS-TLIF was followed up at least 2 years. All patients suffered from one-level lumbar stenosis, and the nerve root block was performed to make sure the exact level. The clinical and radiographic outcomes were evaluated preoperatively and at the time of 2-year follow-up. Results The mean visual analog scale (VAS) back pain scores decreased from 6.2 ± 1.8 preoperatively to 2.2 ± 0.7 at 2-year follow-up (P < 0.05), and the mean VAS leg pain scores decreased from 8.2 ± 0.7 preoperatively to 1.4 ± 1.4 at 2-year follow-up (P < 0.05). The Oswestry Disability Index score improved from 62.4 ± 16.1% preoperatively to 24.2 ± 9.3% at 2-year follow-up (P < 0.05). The average lumbar curve was 20.7° ± 7.0° preoperatively and 12.7° ± 7.1° at 2-year follow-up (P < 0.05). The lumbar lordosis changed from − 39.5° ± 13.6° to − 43.6° ± 10.6° at 2-year follow-up (P < 0.05). Solid fusion was achieved in all patients. Conclusion The technique of MIS-TLIF can be used to treat the patients with ALDS whose symptom is mainly from one-level lumbar stenosis, achieving favorable clinical outcomes and good fusion, with less blood loss and complications

The Impact of Jobs Outside One's Hometown and Left-Behind Family Members on the Return Intentions of Migrant Workers: A Multi-Dimensional Comparative Analysis

In the process of leaving one's hometown for work, migrant workers face the problem of family separation, resulting in a large number of left-behind children, women, and elderly. The separation between the "jobs" and "family" of migrant workers makes them consider not only their "jobs" but also their "family" when making mobility choices. However, few existing studies have conducted in-depth multi-dimensional comparative analyses on return intentions from the perspectives of "jobs" and "family" at the same time. Drawing on data from the 2014 and 2016 "Migrants' Dynamic Monitoring Survey" and case interview data, using a mixed research method of quantitative and qualitative research, starting from Neoclassical Economics (NE) and the New Economics of Labor Migration (NELM), and based on multi-dimensional comparative analysis, this study discusses the impact of jobs outside one's hometown and left-behind family members on the return intentions of migrant workers. Results indicate that such jobs decrease migrants' intentions to return, while left-behind family members increase their return intentions. The former has a greater influence than the latter. The impact of left-behind family members on return intentions was weakened in the following order: left-behind children, left-behind spouses, and left-behind parents. From a generational perspective, the impact of jobs outside one's hometown on the new generation of migrant workers is greater than on the old generation, and the impact of left-behind children on the younger generation of migrant workers is greater than on the old generation, while the impact of left-behind spouses shows an opposite trend. From the perspective of social change, the impact of jobs outside one's hometown strengthen, and that of left-behind children increase. The opposite is true for left-behind spouses and left-behind parents. The results show that: (1) NE is more suitable than NELM for explaining the impact of jobs outside one's hometown on the return intentions of migrant workers in China; (2) NELM is more suitable than NE to explain the impact of left-behind family members on the return intentions of migrant workers in China; (3) When analyzing the influence mechanism of left-behind family members on the return intentions of migrant workers in China, we should not only focus on one dimension of economy but also explain the phenomenon from the perspective of family culture and family responsibility. This study contributes to the literature by expanding and supplementing the views of NE and NELM and developing and deepening the empirical study of migrant workers' return intentions through a multi-dimensional comparative analysis in combination with China's context. This study suggests that the relevant government departments should take measures to promote the realization of the dream of having both "jobs" and "family" at the same time for migrant workers as well as to promote their family construction