Transcriptome Profiling of Testis during Sexual Maturation Stages in Eriocheir sinensis Using Illumina Sequencing

The testis is a highly specialized tissue that plays dual roles in ensuring fertility by producing spermatozoa and hormones. Spermatogenesis is a complex process, resulting in the production of mature sperm from primordial germ cells. Significant structural and biochemical changes take place in the seminiferous epithelium of the adult testis during spermatogenesis. The gene expression pattern of testis in Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) has not been extensively studied, and limited genetic research has been performed on this species. The advent of high-throughput sequencing technologies enables the generation of genomic resources within a short period of time and at minimal cost. In the present study, we performed de novo transcriptome sequencing to produce a comprehensive transcript dataset for testis of E. sinensis. In two runs, we produced 25,698,778 sequencing reads corresponding with 2.31 Gb total nucleotides. These reads were assembled into 342,753 contigs or 141,861 scaffold sequences, which identified 96,311 unigenes. Based on similarity searches with known proteins, 39,995 unigenes were annotated based on having a Blast hit in the non-redundant database or ESTscan results with a cut-off E-value above 10−5. This is the first report of a mitten crab transcriptome using high-throughput sequencing technology, and all these testes transcripts can help us understand the molecular mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis and testis maturation

Genomic and biochemical approaches in the discovery of mechanisms for selective neuronal vulnerability to oxidative stress

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Oxidative stress (OS) is an important factor in brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Certain neurons in different brain regions exhibit selective vulnerability to OS. Currently little is known about the underlying mechanisms of this selective neuronal vulnerability. The purpose of this study was to identify endogenous factors that predispose vulnerable neurons to OS by employing genomic and biochemical approaches.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this report, using <it>in vitro </it>neuronal cultures, <it>ex vivo </it>organotypic brain slice cultures and acute brain slice preparations, we established that cerebellar granule (CbG) and hippocampal CA1 neurons were significantly more sensitive to OS (induced by paraquat) than cerebral cortical and hippocampal CA3 neurons. To probe for intrinsic differences between <it>in vivo </it>vulnerable (CA1 and CbG) and resistant (CA3 and cerebral cortex) neurons under basal conditions, these neurons were collected by laser capture microdissection from freshly excised brain sections (no OS treatment), and then subjected to oligonucleotide microarray analysis. GeneChip-based transcriptomic analyses revealed that vulnerable neurons had higher expression of genes related to stress and immune response, and lower expression of energy generation and signal transduction genes in comparison with resistant neurons. Subsequent targeted biochemical analyses confirmed the lower energy levels (in the form of ATP) in primary CbG neurons compared with cortical neurons.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Low energy reserves and high intrinsic stress levels are two underlying factors for neuronal selective vulnerability to OS. These mechanisms can be targeted in the future for the protection of vulnerable neurons.</p

EriB targeted inhibition of microglia activity attenuates MPP+ induced DA neuron injury through the NF-κB signaling pathway

Abstract Accumulating evidence indicates that microglia activation is associated with an increased risk for developing Parkinson’s disease (PD). With the progressive and selective degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons, proinflammatory cytokines are elevated in the substantia nigra (SN) of PD patients. Thus, anti-inflammation has become one of the therapeutic strategies of PD. Eriocalyxin B (EriB), a diterpenoid isolated from Isodoneriocalyx, was previously reported to have anti-inflammatory effects. MPTP mouse model and MPP+ cell model were prepared to detect the role of EriB in regulating microglia activation and neuron protection. Midbrain tissue and primary cultured microglia and neuron were used to examine microglia activation and neuron damage by immunofluorescence, real-time PCR, western-blot and Elisa assay. Open field activity test was to evaluate the changes of behavioral activity in MPTP-induced PD mouse model. EriB was efficacious in protecting DA neurons by inhibiting microglia activation in PD mice model. Treatment with EriB led to amelioration of disordered sports of PD mice model, which correlated with reduced microglia-associated inflammation and damaged DA neurons. EriB treatment abolished MPP+ induced microglia activation damages to DA neurons in a microglia and DA neurons co-culture system. The underlying mechanism of EriB-induced protective effects involved inhibition of microglia associated proinflammatory cytokines production through the phenotypic shift of microglial cells as well as activator of transcription and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. These findings demonstrate that EriB exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects through selective modulation of microglia activation by targeting NF-κB signaling pathways, thus exerting the protective effect against on MPP+-induced DA neurons injury. This study may provide insights into the promising therapeutic role of EriB for PD

Super-tough and thermo-healable hydrogel - promising for shape-memory absorbent fiber

Recoverable hydrogels with high stretch and toughness have been synthesized by a one-step radical polymerization. They consist of covalently crosslinked polyacrylamide (PAAm) and ionically crosslinked carrageenan. Such double network (DN) hydrogels can be stretched beyond 20 times their initial length, and their fracture energy reached a high value of similar to 9500 J m(-2). By comparing hydrogel tensile properties at different temperatures, the contribution of ionic network to the toughness was quantitatively determined in percentage for the first time. The stretched hydrogels were completely healed by short treatment at a mild temperature. Through drying at stretch, they were also transformed into stiff absorbent fibers that still preserved their shape memory of wet state

H2S‐Releasing Versatile Montmorillonite Nanoformulation Trilogically Renovates the Gut Microenvironment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Modulation

Abstract Abnormal activation of the intestinal mucosal immune system, resulting from damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier and extensive invasion by pathogens, contributes to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Current first‐line treatments for IBD have limited efficacy and significant side effects. An innovative H2S‐releasing montmorillonite nanoformulation (DPs@MMT) capable of remodeling intestinal mucosal immune homeostasis, repairing the mucosal barrier, and modulating gut microbiota is developed by electrostatically adsorbing diallyl trisulfide‐loaded peptide dendrimer nanogels (DATS@PDNs, abbreviated as DPs) onto the montmorillonite (MMT) surface. Upon rectal administration, DPs@MMT specifically binds to and covers the damaged mucosa, promoting the accumulation and subsequent internalization of DPs by activated immune cells in the IBD site. DPs release H2S intracellularly in response to glutathione, initiating multiple therapeutic effects. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that DPs@MMT effectively alleviates colitis by eliminating reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibiting inflammation, repairing the mucosal barrier, and eradicating pathogens. RNA sequencing revealed that DPs@MMT exerts significant immunoregulatory and mucosal barrier repair effects, by activating pathways such as Nrf2/HO‐1, PI3K‐AKT, and RAS/MAPK/AP‐1, and inhibiting the p38/ERK MAPK, p65 NF‐κB, and JAK‐STAT3 pathways, as well as glycolysis. 16S rRNA sequencing demonstrated that DPs@MMT remodels the gut microbiota by eliminating pathogens and increasing probiotics. This study develops a promising nanoformulation for IBD management

Association between anxiety, depression, and symptom burden in patients with advanced colorectal cancer: A multicenter cross‐sectional study

Abstract Objectives Patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) have multiple concurrent physical and psychological symptoms. This study aimed to explore the relationship between anxiety, depression, and symptom burden in advanced CRC. Methods A multicenter cross‐sectional study was conducted in 10 cancer centers from geographically and economically diverse sites in China. A total of 454 patients with advanced CRC completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. Multiple regression analysis was applied to explore the relationship between anxiety, depression and symptom burden. Results About one‐third of the patients showed symptoms of anxiety or depression. Patients with anxiety or depression reported significantly higher symptom burden than those without (p < 0.001). Patients with anxiety or depression reported a higher proportion of moderate‐to‐severe (MS) symptom number than those without (p < 0.001). About 52% of the patients with anxiety or depression reported at least three MS symptoms. The prevalence of MS symptoms was ranging from 7.3% (shortness of breath) to 22% (disturbed sleep), and in patients with anxiety or depression was 2–10 times higher than in those without (p < 0.001). Disease stage (β = −2.55, p = 0.003), anxiety (β = 15.33, p < 0.001), and depression (β = 13.63, p < 0.001) were associated with higher symptom burden. Conclusions Anxiety and depression in patients with advanced cancer correlated with higher symptom burden. Findings may lead oncology professionals to pay more attention to unrecognized and untreated psychological symptoms in symptom management for advanced cancer patients