Sleep as a mediator between chronic diseases and depression: a NHANES study (2005–2018)

ObjectiveThis article investigates the relationship between common chronic diseases and depression among US adults and examines the mediating role of sleep in this relationship, using a cross-sectional study to offer recommendations for depression prevention.MethodsThis study analyzed data from 10,710 participants collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2005 and 2018. Logistic regression, subgroup analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, and mediation analysis were employed to explore the relationship between common chronic diseases and depression, and the mediating role of sleep.ResultsThe adjusted model indicated that stroke (OR = 1.712, 95% CI: 1.399, 2.103), heart disease (OR = 1.419, 95% CI: 1.262, 1.598), diabetes (OR = 1.243, 95% CI: 1.116, 1.386), and hypertension (OR = 1.249, 95% CI: 1.160, 1.346) were associated with an increased probability of depression. Additionally, trouble sleeping (OR = 2.059, 95% CI: 1.790, 2.375) was associated with an increased probability of depression, while sleep hours (OR = 0.867, 95% CI: 0.846, 0.888) may decrease this probability. RCS analysis showed a non-linear relationship between sleep hours and the risk of depression. The final mediation analysis showed that trouble sleeping mediated 3.66% of the effect of stroke, 12.68% of heart disease, and 17.76% of diabetes on depression. Furthermore, trouble sleeping mediated 11.07% of the impact of hypertension on depression, while sleep hours mediated 5.36% of this impact.ConclusionChronic diseases and sleep problems may increase the likelihood of depression among U.S. adults, with sleep serving as a mediator between chronic diseases and depression

A complete DNA sequence map of the ovine Major Histocompatibility Complex

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ovine Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) harbors clusters of genes involved in overall resistance/susceptibility of an animal to infectious pathogens. However, only a limited number of ovine MHC genes have been identified and no adequate sequence information is available, as compared to those of swine and bovine. We previously constructed a BAC clone-based physical map that covers entire class I, class II and class III region of ovine MHC. Here we describe the assembling of a complete DNA sequence map for the ovine MHC by shotgun sequencing of 26 overlapping BAC clones.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>DNA shotgun sequencing generated approximately 8-fold genome equivalent data that were successfully assembled into a finished sequence map of the ovine MHC. The sequence map spans approximately 2,434,000 nucleotides in length, covering almost all of the MHC loci currently known in the sheep and cattle. Gene annotation resulted in the identification of 177 protein-coding genes/ORFs, among which 145 were not previously reported in the sheep, and 10 were ovine species specific, absent in cattle or other mammals. A comparative sequence analyses among human, sheep and cattle revealed a high conservation in the MHC structure and loci order except for the class II, which were divided into IIa and IIb subregions in the sheep and cattle, separated by a large piece of non-MHC autosome of approximately 18.5 Mb. In addition, a total of 18 non-protein-coding microRNAs were predicted in the ovine MHC region for the first time.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>An ovine MHC DNA sequence map was successfully assembled by shotgun sequencing of 26 overlapping BAC clone. This makes the sheep the second ruminant species for which the complete MHC sequence information is available for evolution and functional studies, following that of the bovine. The results of the comparative analysis support a hypothesis that an inversion of the ancestral chromosome containing the MHC has shaped the MHC structures of ruminants, as we currently observed in the sheep and cattle. Identification of relative large numbers of microRNAs in the ovine MHC region helps to provide evidence that microRNAs are actively involved in the regulation of MHC gene expression and function.</p

Three-Dimensional Microwave Imaging for Concealed Weapon Detection Using Range Stacking Technique

Three-dimensional (3D) microwave imaging has been proven to be well suited for concealed weapon detection application. For the 3D image reconstruction under two-dimensional (2D) planar aperture condition, most of current imaging algorithms focus on decomposing the 3D free space Green function by exploiting the stationary phase and, consequently, the accuracy of the final imagery is obtained at a sacrifice of computational complexity due to the need of interpolation. In this paper, from an alternative viewpoint, we propose a novel interpolation-free imaging algorithm based on wavefront reconstruction theory. The algorithm is an extension of the 2D range stacking algorithm (RSA) with the advantages of low computational cost and high precision. The algorithm uses different reference signal spectrums at different range bins and then forms the target functions at desired range bin by a concise coherent summation. Several practical issues such as the propagation loss compensation, wavefront reconstruction, and aliasing mitigating are also considered. The sampling criterion and the achievable resolutions for the proposed algorithm are also derived. Finally, the proposed method is validated through extensive computer simulations and real-field experiments. The results show that accurate 3D image can be generated at a very high speed by utilizing the proposed algorithm

Hydroxysafflor yellow A alleviates oxidative stress and inflammatory damage in the livers of mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and modulates gut microbiota

IntroductionHydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), its primary bioactive metabolite of Carthamus tinctorius L. (safflower), has shown therapeutic potential in various inflammatory diseases. However, its role in alleviating inflammation and oxidative stress in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unclear. This study investigates the therapeutic effects of HSYA in mice with NAFLD, focusing on its impact on gut microbiota and serum non-targeted metabolomics to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its efficacy.MethodsNAFLD was induced in mice using a high-fat diet (HFD), followed by intragastric administration of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA). Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) were quantified to evaluate liver function and lipid metabolism. Oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, were also assessed. The pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β in serum were measured using ELISA. The hepatic expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream effector, Caspase-1, was analyzed by Western blot. Histopathological examination of liver tissues was performed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&amp;E) staining to evaluate structural damage. Furthermore, alterations in the gut microbiota composition were characterized via 16S rDNA sequencing of fecal samples. Untargeted metabolomics was conducted to identify serum metabolic variations and elucidate enriched metabolic pathways associated with HSYA treatment.ResultsHSYA significantly inhibited HFD-induced weight gain and alleviated liver inflammation. It reduced serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and triglycerides (TG) (P &lt; 0.05). HSYA administration decreased hepatic mRNA and protein expression of nucleotide binding oligomerization domain like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1 and interleukin - 1β (IL-1β) while increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (P &lt; 0.05). Gut microbiota analysis revealed a significant increase in the abundance of Turicibacter, while a reduction of Ruminococcus. Serum metabolomics identified a reduction in inflammation-associated metabolites, such as phenylalanine and tyrosine, alongside enhanced phenylalanine and tyrosine biosynthesis pathways.DiscussionHSYA demonstrates potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, effectively mitigating liver inflammation and oxidative stress in NAFLD mice. Its therapeutic mechanisms may involve modulating gut microbiota and regulating serum phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism, offering insights into its potential as a treatment for NAFLD

Increase of Albinistic Hosts Caused by Gut Parasites Promotes Self-Transmission

Paranosema locustae is a gut parasite that has been applied widely in the control of grasshoppers in many parts of the world. Usually, P. locustae is transmitted horizontally via passive modes under natural conditions but in the current study, a positive transmission strategy of P. locustae was demonstrated. First, infection by P. locustae resulted in the cuticula of infected Locusta migratoria nymphs to become lighter in color: normally only a small proportion of locusts are pale with most either being partly or mostly black; but locusts infected with P. locustae became pale. And it was found that the change to pale occurred even among uninfected black and partly black nymphs reared with infected locusts. The eumelanin of the thorax and abdomen of infected individuals decreased significantly, as did the level of dopamine. In addition, there was a decrease in phenol oxidase activity and the expression of henna and pale, which are involved in the synthesis of cuticle melanin, decreased. What is the ecological significance of this increase in light-colored hosts caused by P. locustae? We discovered that light-colored locusts were more susceptible to the microsporidian pathogen than dark-colored individuals were, because of their weaker melanization. Phenol oxidase activity in pale locusts was lower than that of black locusts, but the serpin expression level of pale locusts was higher than that of black individuals. When examined for infection, it was found that initially uninfected nymphs had picked up P. locustae infections indicating that infections are readily passed from one pale locust to another. The infection rate of healthy locusts reared with light-colored locusts infected with P. locustae was 100% which was more than with black-colored ones. The increase in albinistic locusts clearly promoted the prevalence of P. locustae in the total population. In conclusion, these results elucidated a new strategy of positive self-transmission in P. locustae.Importance:Mother Nature always grants wisdom to her creatures and feeds them carefully. This wisdom is particularly apparent in the relationships between two interacting species. In this study, our team focused on the interaction between L. migratoria and P. locustae. In a previous study, it was found that L. migratoria isolate infected individuals, reducing avoiding the spread of P. locustae, in a previous study. The solitary, pale individuals infected by P. locustae were left behind as locust groups marched ahead, leading to a kind of behavioral immunity in the insects. Here, we reported that P. locustae promotes pigmentation loss in L. migratoria, causing a larger proportion of light-colored individuals, and these lighter individuals which possessed weaker immunity against pathogens. This strategy is advantageous to P. locustae, as it promotes its propagation and spread. These extraordinary abilities of L. migratoria and P. locustae have accumulated over millennia of years of interaction

Heading for 20 Years of Quasi-Global Precipitation with the New Version 06 IMERG

The U.S. Global Precipitation Measurement mission (GPM) science team is developing a long-term dataset based on intercalibrated estimates from the international constellation of precipitation-relevant satellites and other data. The Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) merged precipitation product (IMERG) is computed at the half hour, 0.1 x 0.1 resolution globally in three "Runs"Early, Late, and Final (4 hours, 14 hours, and 3.5 months after observation time, respectively). GPM is well into computing the new Version 06, which will be the first time IMERG covers the last two decades and routinely provides morphed estimates in polar regions where the surface is snow- and ice-free.A few salient features of the IMERG algorithm will be summarized, then representative examples of IMERG products will be shown. This starts with basic results, such as animations of maps, then extends to preliminary analyses of dataset characteristics. For example, the diurnal cycle demonstrates improvements over V05

Status and Examples for the Version 06 IMERG Multi-Satellite Products

After five years of development following the launch of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) missionCore Observatory, the GPM data products are now being extended across the joint Tropical Rainfall MeasuringMission (TRMM) and GPM eras. Version 06 of the U.S. GPM team's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals forGPM (IMERG) merged precipitation product provides a consistent intercalibration for all precipitation productscomputed from individual satellites with the TRMM and GPM Core Observatory sensors as the TRMM- andGPM-era calibrators, respectively, and incorporates monthly surface gauge data. One major change in the basicIMERG algorithm for V06 is that precipitation motion vectors (used to drive the quasi-Lagrangian interpolation,or "morphing") are computed by tracking vertically integrated vapor (TQV) fields analyzed in MERRA2 andGEOS5. This innovation provides globally complete coverage, expanding IMERG's coverage beyond the 60N-Slatitude band previously provided by IR-based vectors, although precipitation over snowy/icy surfaces is stillmasked out as unreliable. A second innovation is that the Quality Index (QI) data field computed for the half-hourlydatasets has been refined to include estimates of correlation at microwave overpass times.We will summarize the processing status for V06 IMERG, for which the retrospective processing shouldbe actively advancing at meeting time. We will show early examples of performance. For example, the TQVmotion vectors are typically slightly better than the IR-based vectors at all latitudes. The transition across theTRMM/GPM data boundary will be discussed, including the necessity of filling in the TRMM-based calibrationsover the latitude band 35-65 in each hemisphere. The notional schedule for the eventual retirement of thepredecessor TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) multi-satellite dataset will be updated as well

A Quick Summary of IMERG Versions and Features

This talk will summarize the shifts in IMERG (Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement)) from Version 03 to 04 in early Spring 2016, and to Version 05 in late Summer 2017. For example, Version 04 replaced approximate pre-launch calibrations with GPM Core Observatory-based calibrations, while Version 05 introduced improved estimates for the primary GPM instrument products (DPR, GMI, and Combined Instrument). In Version 04 the IR estimates were routinely calibrated to the passive microwave estimates. As analysis showed that the Combined Instrument estimates (the IMERG calibration standard) tend to be biased high over land and low over ocean at higher latitudes, in Version 04 we climatologically calibrated IMERG to the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) monthly Satellite-Gauge product, except in low- and mid-latitude ocean regions. This calibration leaves the relative time series intact, and only adjusts the mean of the entire series. In Version 05 the primary GPM instrument products have reduced biases, but calibration to GPCP continues to be necessary to achieve the most realistic estimates. Finally, retrospective processing back into the TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) era is expected in early 2018, after which the legacy TMPA (TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis) dataset will be retired

An Improvement of Shotgun Proteomics Analysis by Adding Next-Generation Sequencing Transcriptome Data in Orange

BACKGROUND: Shotgun proteomics data analysis usually relies on database search. Because commonly employed protein sequence databases of most species do not contain sufficient protein information, the application of shotgun proteomics to the research of protein sequence profile remains a big challenge, especially to the species whose genome has not been sequenced yet. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this paper, we present a workflow with integrated database to partly address this problem. First, we downloaded the homologous species database. Next, we identified the transcriptome of the sample, created a protein sequence database based on the transcriptome data, and integtrated it with homologous species database. Lastly, we developed a workflow for identifying peptides simultaneously from shotgun proteomics data. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We used datasets from orange leaves samples to demonstrate our workflow. The results showed that the integrated database had great advantage on orange shotgun proteomics data analysis compared to the homologous species database, an 18.5% increase in number of proteins identification