Synthesis and Biological Activity of Organothiophosphoryl Polyoxotungstates

Organothiophosphoryl polyoxotungstates R∋XW∞∞O∋∃/- , R∋ P∋W∞,O∞/-, R∋PW∃O∋ Δ-(X = P, Si, Ge, B or Ga; R = PhP(S), C6H11P(S)) have been prepared from lacunary polyoxoanions and PhP(S). The products were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and NMR spectroscopy. According to spectroscopic observations, the hybrid anions consist of a lacunary anion framework on which are grafted two equivalent or groups through P-O-W bridges. Some of the title compounds showed the antigerm activity

Maternal Thermal Effects on Female Reproduction and Hatchling Phenotype in the Chinese Skink (Plestiodon chinensis)</i>

We maintained gravid Chinese skinks (Plestiodon chinensis) at three constant temperatures (25, 28 and 31 °C) during gestation, and randomly assigned eggs from each female to one of the same three temperatures for incubation to determine maternal thermal effects on female reproduction and hatchling phenotype. Maternal temperature affected egg-laying date, hatching success and hatchling linear size (snout-vent length, SVL) but not clutch size, egg size, egg component, and embryonic stage at laying. More specifically, females at higher temperatures laid eggs earlier than did those at low temperatures, eggs laid at 31 °C were less likely to hatch than those laid at 25 °C or 28 °C, and hatchlings from eggs laid at 31 °C were smaller in SVL. Our finding that maternal temperature (pre-ovipositional thermal condition) rather than incubation temperature (post-ovipositional thermal condition) affected hatching success indicated that embryos at early stages were more vulnerable to temperature than those at late stages. Our data provide an inference that moderate maternal temperatures enhance reproductive fitness in P. chinensis

DMBT1 Inhibition of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Twitching Motility Involves its N-glycosylation and cannot be Conferred by the Scavenger Receptor Cysteine-Rich Bacteria-Binding Peptide Domain.

The scavenging capacity of glycoprotein DMBT1 helps defend mucosal epithelia against microbes. DMBT1 binding to multiple bacterial species involves its conserved Scavenger Receptor Cysteine-Rich (SRCR) domains, localized to a 16-mer consensus sequence peptide, SRCRP2. Previously, we showed that DMBT1 bound Pseudomonas aeruginosa pili, and inhibited twitching motility, a pilus-mediated movement important for virulence. Here, we determined molecular characteristics required for twitching motility inhibition. Heat-denatured DMBT1 lost capacity to inhibit twitching motility and showed reduced pili binding (~40%). Size-exclusion chromatography of Lys-C-digested native DMBT1 showed that only high-Mw fractions retained activity, suggesting involvement of the N-terminal containing repeated SRCR domains with glycosylated SRCR-Interspersed Domains (SIDs). However, individual or pooled consensus sequence peptides (SRCRPs 1 to 7) showed no activity and did not bind P. aeruginosa pili; nor did recombinant DMBT1 (aa 1-220) or another SRCR-rich glycoprotein, CD163. Enzymatic de-N-glycosylation of DMBT1, but not de-O-glycosylation, reduced its capacity to inhibit twitching motility (~57%), without reducing pili binding. Therefore, DMBT1 inhibition of P. aeruginosa twitching motility involves its N-glycosylation, its pili-binding capacity is insufficient, and it cannot be conferred by the SRCR bacteria-binding peptide domain, either alone or mixed with other unlinked SRCRPs, suggesting an additional mechanism for DMBT1-mediated mucosal defense

Observational studies of the effects of wind mixing and biological process on the vertical distribution of dissolved oxygen off the Changjiang Estuary

Wind mixing is important in regulating dissolved oxygen (DO) variability; however, the transect response of DO dynamics to wind disturbance has seldom been documented with field data. In the summer of 2017, repeat transect observations off the Changjiang Estuary were conducted throughout a fresh wind (the maximum wind speed was 9.8 m s–1) event to reveal the role of physical mixing and biological activity in DO variations. After the wind event, hypoxia was alleviated presenting as the hypoxia thickness decreased from 30 m to 20 m. However, poorly ventilated near-bottom hypoxia was aggravated with a further decrease in DO. Generally, the saturation of dissolved oxygen (DOs) in depth-integrated water column increased by 9%–49% through physical diffusion with a weakened stratification and enhanced phytoplankton bloom. However, in this case, the wind-induced physical water mass mixing by transporting DO downward had a limited contribution to the water-column DO budget, while upwards nutrients induced by mixing fueled the larger vertical area of algae bloom and subsequent substantial oxygen consumption. As the wind speed increased, the air-sea exchange would be important in supplying DO, especially in nearshore areas, which could effectively offset the DO deficiency. In summary, frequently occurring fresh wind-mixing events off the Changjiang Estuary would alleviate hypoxia in the water column but probably exacerbate hypoxia at the bottom, as determined by competing ventilation and respiration roles. Such complex interactions likely occur and perform differently as wind stress varies. Thus, high-spatial and long-term process observations are required to better understand the net effects of bottom hypoxia evolution

Association of GALC, ZNF184, IL1R2 and ELOVL7 With Parkinson’s Disease in Southern Chinese

Study Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the Chinese population.Methods: A total of 250 PD patients and 240 healthy controls were recruited. The SNaPshot technique and the polymer chain reaction were used to detect 22 SNPs.Results: rs8005172 of GALC, rs9468199 of ZNF184 and rs34043159 of IL1R2, were associated with PD (rs8005172: p = 0.009, OR = 0.69, allele model, p = 0.010, additive model, p = 0.015, OR = 2.17, dominant model; p = 0.020, OR = 2.11, dominant model after adjustment; p = 0.036, OR = 1.47, recessive model after adjustment; rs9468199: p = 0.008, OR = 1.52, allele model, p = 0.008, additive model, p = 0.007, OR = 0.22, recessive model, p = 0.005, OR = 0.20, recessive model after adjustment; rs34043159: p = 0.034, OR = 1.31, allele model, p = 0.036, additive model).Conclusion: Our study revealed that GALC, ZNF184, and IL1R2 were associated with PD in the southern Chinese population. GALC was also associated with LOPD. ELOVL7 and ZNF184 were associated with EOPD. In addition, trends of association to PD, between SATB1, NMD3, and FGF20, were also found.Statement of Significance: Genetic play an important role in the pathogenesis factors of Parkinson’s disease (PD). We found that GALC, ZNF184, and IL1R2 were associated with PD. GALC was also associated with late onset of PD, while ELOVL7 and ZNF184 were associated with early onset PD. This study is the first to find an association between GALC, ZNF184, and rs2280104 with PD

The first clinical data of the SAPIEN 3 aortic valve in the treatment of aortic stenosis in China

BackgroundData on outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement with SAPIEN 3 in China is limited as it was approved by the National Medical Products since 2020. The present study was designed to collect clinical data on the SAPIEN 3 aortic valve in Chinese patients with bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valve stenosis.MethodsWe analyzed the patient characteristics, procedural features and procedural outcomes of the first 438 patients (223 for bicuspid aortic valve and 215 tricuspid aortic valve) from 21 provinces in 74 sites treated with the SAPIEN 3 valve system for transcatheter aortic valve replacement between September 2020 and May 2022.ResultsProcedural mortality was 0.7%. 5 cases during the operation were converted to surgery. Among 438 cases, permanent pacemaker implantation was performed in a total of 12 cases (2.7%). The patient had severe leaflet calcification of the aortic valve, with moderate and severe calcification reaching 39.7% and 35.2% respectively. The size of the implanted valves was predominantly 26 mm and 23 mm, reaching 42.5% and 39.5% respectively. The incidence of moderate or severe perivalvular leak in the postoperative period was 0.5%, with a predominance of 90/10 and 80/20 valve deployment height. There was a significant difference in the deployment height of the valve between bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valve, with the bicuspid aortic valve having a more deployment height of 90/10. Annulus size in bicuspid aortic valve group was significantly larger than tricuspid aortic valve group. Valve sizing for oversized, within size, and undersized were different between bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valve.ConclusionsProcedural success rates were high, with similar and good results for bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valve, low perivalvular leak for both valve types, and low permanent pacemaker implantation rates for both valve types. Annulus size, valve sizing and coronary artery height were significantly different in the BAV and TAV group

Genomic Polymorphism of the Pandemic A (H1N1) Influenza Viruses Correlates with Viral Replication, Virulence, and Pathogenicity In Vitro and In Vivo

The novel pandemic A (H1N1) virus was first identified in Mexico in April 2009 and quickly spread worldwide. Like all influenzas, the H1N1 strain-specific properties of replication, virulence, and pathogenicity are a result of the particular genomic sequence and concerted expression of multiple genes. Thus, specific mutations may support increased virulence and may be useful as biomarkers of potential threat to human health. We performed comparative genomic analysis of ten strains of the 2009 pandemic A (H1N1) influenza viruses to determine whether genotypes associated with clinical phenotypes, which ranged from mild to severe illness and up to lethal. Virus replication capacity was tested for each strain in vitro using cultured epithelial cells, while virulence and pathogenicity were investigated in vivo using the BALB/c mouse model. The results indicated that A/Sichuan/1/2009 strain had significantly higher replication ability and virulence than the other strains, and five unique non-synonymous mutations were identified in important gene-encoding sequences. These mutations led to amino acid substitutions in HA (L32I), PA (A343T), PB1 (K353R and T566A), and PB2 (T471M), and may be critical molecular determinants for replication, virulence, and pathogenicity. Our results suggested that the replication capacity in vitro and virulence in vivo of the 2009 pandemic A (H1N1) viruses were not associated with the clinical phenotypes. This study offers new insights into the transmission and evolution of the 2009 pandemic A (H1N1) virus