Nanopore Sequencing Accurately Identifies the Mutagenic DNA Lesion O; 6; -Carboxymethyl Guanine and Reveals Its Behavior in Replication

O; 6; -carboxymethylguanine (O; 6; -CMG) is a highly mutagenic alkylation product of DNA, triggering transition mutations relevant to gastrointestinal cancer. However, precise localization of a single O; 6; -CMG with conventional sequencing platforms is challenging. Here nanopore sequencing (NPS), which directly senses single DNA bases according to their physiochemical properties, was employed to detect O; 6; -CMG. A unique O; 6; -CMG signal was observed during NPS and a single-event call accuracy of >95 % was achieved. Moreover, O; 6; -CMG was found to be a replication obstacle for Phi29 DNA polymerase (Phi29 DNAP), suggesting this lesion could cause DNA sequencing biases in next generation sequencing (NGS) approaches

Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Salmonella Phage vB_SalP_TR2

Salmonella is a widely distributed foodborne pathogen. The use of Salmonella phages as biocontrol agents has recently gained significant interest. Because the Salmonella genus has high diversity, efforts are necessary to identify lytic Salmonella phages focusing on different serovars. Here, five Salmonella phages were isolated from soil samples, and vB_SalP_TR2 was selected as a novel phage with high lytic potential against the host Salmonella serovar Albany, as well as other tested serovars, including Corvallis, Newport, Kottbus, and Istanbul. Morphological analyses demonstrated that phage vB_SalP_TR2 belongs to the Podoviridae family, with an icosahedral head (62 ± 0.5 nm in diameter and 60 ± 1 nm in length) and a short tail (35 ± 1 nm in length). The latent period and burst size of phage vB_SalP_TR2 was 15 min and 211 PFU/cell, respectively. It contained a linear dsDNA of 71,453 bp, and G + C content was 40.64%. Among 96 putative open reading frames detected, only 35 gene products were found in database searches, with no virulence or antibiotic resistance genes being identified. As a biological control agent, phage vB_SalP_TR2 exhibited a high temperature and pH tolerance. In vitro, it lysed most S. Albany after 24 h at 37°C with multiplicities of infection of 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100. In food matrices (milk and chicken meat), treatment with phage vB_SalP_TR2 also reduced the number of S. Albany compared with that in controls. These findings highlighted phage vB_SalP_TR2 as a potential antibacterial agent for the control of Salmonella in food samples

Atmospheric reactivity and oxidation capacity during summer at a suburban site between Beijing and Tianjin

Hydroxyl (OH) radicals, nitrate (NO3) radicals and ozone (O-3) play central roles in the troposphere because they control the lifetimes of many trace gases that result from anthropogenic and biogenic origins. To estimate the air chemistry, the atmospheric reactivity and oxidation capacity were comprehensively analyzed based on a parameterization method at a suburban site in Xianghe in the North China Plain from 6 July 2018 to 6 August 2018. The total OH, NO3 and O-3 reactivities at the site varied from 9.2 to 69.6, 0.7 to 27.5 and 3.3 x 10(-4 )to 1.8 x 10(-2) s(-1) with campaign-averaged values of 27.5 +/- 9.7, 2.2 +/- 2.6 and 1.2 +/- 1.7 x 10(-3) s(-1) (+/- standard deviation), respectively. NOx (NO + NO2) was by far the main contributor to the reactivities of the three oxidants, with average values of 43 %-99 %. Alkenes dominated the OH, NO3 and O-3 reactivities towards total nonmethane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), accounting for 42.9 %, 77.8 % and 94.0 %, respectively. The total OH, NO3 and O-3 reactivi- ties displayed similar diurnal variations with the lowest values during the afternoon but the highest values during rush hours, and the diurnal profile of NOx appears to be the major driver for the diurnal profiles of the reactivities of the three oxidants. A box model (a model to Simulate the concentrations of Organic vapors, Sulfuric Acid and Aerosols; SOSAA) derived from a column chemical transport model was used to simulate OH and NO3 concentrations during the observation period. The calculated atmospheric oxidation capacity (AOC) reached 4.5 x 10(8) molecules cm(-3) s(-1), with a campaign-averaged value of 7.8 x 10 7 molecules cm(-3) s(-1) dominated by OH (7.7 x 10(7) molecules cm(-3) s(-1), 98.2 %), 0 3 (1.2 x 10(6) molecules cm(-3) s(-1), 1.5 %) and NO3 (1.8 x 10(5) molecules cm(-3) s(-1), 0.3 %). Overall, the integration of OH, NO3 and O-3 reactivities analysis could provide useful insights for NMVOC pollution control in the North China Plain. We suggest that further studies, especially direct observations of OH and NO3 radical concentrations and their reactivities, are required to better understand trace gas reactivity and AOC.Peer reviewe

Association Between Intraoperative Steroid and Postoperative Mortality in Patients Undergoing Craniotomy for Brain Tumor

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread use of intraoperative steroids in various neurological surgeries to reduce cerebral edema and other adverse symptoms, there is sparse evidence in the literature for the optimal and safe usage of intraoperative steroid administration in patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors. We aimed to investigate the effects of intraoperative steroid administration on postoperative 30-day mortality in patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors. METHODS: Adult patients who underwent craniotomy for brain tumors between January 2011 to January 2020 were included at West China Hospital, Sichuan University in this retrospective cohort study. Stratified analysis based on the type of brain tumor was conducted to explore the potential interaction. RESULTS: This study included 8,663 patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumors. In patients with benign brain tumors, intraoperative administration of steroids was associated with a higher risk of postoperative 30-day mortality (adjusted OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.09-3.57). However, in patients with malignant brain tumors, no significant association was found between intraoperative steroid administration and postoperative 30-day mortality (adjusted OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.55-1.35). Additionally, administration of intraoperative steroids was not associated with acute kidney injury (adjusted OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.71-1.73), pneumonia (adjusted OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.74-1.07), surgical site infection (adjusted OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.50-1.22) within 30 days, and stress hyperglycemia (adjusted OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.81-1.38) within 24 h after craniotomy for brain tumor. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing craniotomy for benign brain tumors, intraoperative steroids were associated with 30-day mortality, but this association was not significant in patients with malignant brain tumors

Shuanghong Chen's Quick Files

The Quick Files feature was discontinued and it’s files were migrated into this Project on March 11, 2022. The file URL’s will still resolve properly, and the Quick Files logs are available in the Project’s Recent Activity

Causal effects of challenge and threat appraisals on pain self-efficacy, pain coping, and tolerance for laboratory pain: An experimental path analysis study.

BackgroundPrimary appraisals of pain as a potential threat influence pain perception and coping but comparatively less is known about related effects of challenge appraisals or causal effects of primary appraisals on secondary appraisals of perceived pain coping capacities (e.g., pain self-efficacy).MethodsTo address these gaps, young Chinese women (N = 147) and men (N = 88) were randomly assigned to one of three appraisal conditions prior to engaging in a cold pressor test (CPT): (1) a higher threat appraisal condition featuring task orienting information describing symptoms and consequences of frostbite, (2) a lower threat appraisal condition featuring orienting information about safety of the CPT, or (3) a challenge appraisal condition featuring orienting information describing benefits of persistence despite discomfort for future life satisfaction.ResultsCompared to peers in the higher threat condition, challenge condition cohorts experienced smaller decreases in task-related self-efficacy, more cognitive coping, and less catastrophizing as well as more overall pain tolerance. A path analysis indicated that self-efficacy changes, cognitive coping and catastrophizing fully mediated links of subjective challenge and threat appraisals with pain tolerance.ConclusionsInitial appraisals about the nature of pain influence, not only pain tolerance and coping, but also perceived coping capacities.PerspectiveThrough examining particular theory-based pain appraisal and coping processes, this experiment is the first to identify both perceived coping capacities (pain self-efficacy) and coping responses as factors that explain why appraisals of pain as a challenge or threat have differential effects on pain tolerance

Eye Movement Study on Attention Bias to Body Height Stimuli in Height Dissatisfied Males

The present study investigated attention bias in response to height-related words among young men in China. 47 [26 high height dissatisfied (HHD) and 21 low height dissatisfied (LHD)] men performed a dot-probe task. Eye movement (EM) recordings showed that compared to LHD men, HHD men had an avoidance bias in response to height-related words, which was revealed by less frequent first fixations on both tall-related and short-related words, and showed significantly shorter first fixations on short-related words. There was no other significant difference in EM indices (i.e., first fixation latency and gaze duration) between two groups. In addition, HHD participants were significantly slower than LHD participants when responding to probes preceded by short-related words, while there was no difference when probes were preceded by tall-related or neutral words. In sum, the present results indicate that HHD men selectively avoid cues related to short height

The Effect of Liraglutide on Lung Cancer and Its Potential Protective Effect on High Glucose-Induced Lung Senescence and Oxidative Damage

Background: Lung cancer is a malignant disease with high morbidity and mortality. Lung cancer and diabetes are closely related, and diabetic patients with lung tumors are common in clinical practice. Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, is commonly used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we examined the effect of liraglutide on lung cancer and its potential protective effect on high glucose-induced lung aging. Methods: Indirect mmunofluorescence was done to assess the expression levels of p-AKT, ki67, Caspase3, Bax and PI3K. Western blotting was conducted to determine the expression levels of BAX, BCL2, Caspase9, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, PI3K, AKT and vimentin. Cell viability, cell cycle and cell apoptosis were evaluated by colony formation, CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expression of Nf-κb, p15, p16, p21 and SMA in vivo. Besides, a high glucose-induced lung cell injury model was established to evaluate the effect of liraglutide on lung aging and oxidative damage. Sa-β-gal staining was used to assess cellular/ tissue senescence. Cell senescence-related markers (p16, p21 and p53 ) were determined by Western-blot analysis. Results: The proliferation, cell cycle, migration of lung cancer cells were significantly inhibited after treatment with liraglutide compared to control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Liraglutide inhibited the epithelial–mesenchymal transition process of lung cancer cell compared to control group (p < 0.05). Liraglutide also suppressed the proliferation of lung cancer in vivo. Besides, the BEAS-2B cell senescence induced by high glucose was significantly alleviated after treatment with liraglutide compared with control group (p < 0.05). The lung aging and endoplasmic reticulum stress was significantly suppressed after liraglutide treatment. Conclusions: This work indicates that liraglutide could inhibit lung cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. In addition, liraglutide exhibited anti-aging effects in vivo and in vivo. The current work has important implications for the treatment of patients with diabetes and lung cancer

The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training on Stress-Related Biological, Behavioral, and Health-Related Outcomes in Law Enforcement Officers

Main project page for National Institute of Justice-funded project (#2017-R2-CX-0033, PI Grupe) ABSTRACT STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: The many stressors of police work – acute critical incidents, chronic organizational stressors, and heightened public scrutiny and criticism – can have an erosive effect on the health and well-being of officers, with consequences for the well-being of the entire community. While many officers exhibit extreme resilience, this group is at elevated risk of developing sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Police departments lack access to scientifically validated preventative programs to buffer against the effects of chronic stress. SUBJECTS: 120 police officers from three Dane County, WI agencies. PARTNERSHIP: Collaboration between the UW-Madison Center for Healthy Minds, Madison Police Department, Dane County Sheriff's Office, and UW-Madison Police Department. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We will investigate a novel, 8-week training program designed for law enforcement, Madison Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training (mMBRT), which provides officers with tools and practices to enhance stress resilience. In each of 2 years of data collection, we will randomize 60 officers to mMBRT or wait-list control (WLC) groups (the WLC group will receive training at the end of each year). Before and after the training program, and at a 4-month follow-up, we will assess the impact of mMBRT on reducing perceived stress (AIM 1); improving physical and mental health outcomes (AIM 2), including behaviorally assessed and self-reported sleep quality, cardiovascular risk factors, and symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression; and positively affecting hypothesized biological and behavioral correlates of perceived stress (AIM 3). These assessments will include a week of field data collection to study the real-world impact of occupational stressors, and of mMBRT, on outcomes of interest. ANALYSIS: We will compare mMBRT and WLC groups on outcome measures at post-training and 4-month follow-up, using baseline scores as covariates, and investigate whether time engaged in practice outside of class acts as a moderator on these outcomes. We will examine baseline relationships between trauma exposure, perceived stress, health outcomes, cortisol and other biomarkers, and behavioral assessments, as well as training-related changes in these relationships. PRODUCTS, REPORTS, AND DATA ARCHIVING: The demonstration of scientifically rigorous and objective evidence for the benefits of mMBRT will motivate other departments to explore this program's potential to promote officer resilience and reduce the impact of stress. Products and reports from this study will include articles in high-impact scholarly journals; presentations at psychiatry, criminal justice, and law enforcement conferences; NIJ briefs; and non-scientific articles targeted toward police departments and the broader community