A Novel Assay Reveals Hygrotactic Behavior in <i>Drosophila</i>

<div><p>Humidity is one of the most important factors that determines the geographical distribution and survival of terrestrial animals. The ability to detect variation in humidity is conserved across many species. Here, we established a novel behavioral assay that revealed the thirsty <i>Drosophila</i> exhibits strong hygrotactic behavior, and it can locate water by detecting humidity gradient. In addition, exposure to high levels of moisture was sufficient to elicit proboscis extension reflex behavior in thirsty flies. Furthermore, we found that the third antennal segment was necessary for hygrotactic behavior in thirsty flies, while arista was required for the avoidance of moist air in hydrated flies. These results indicated that two types of hygroreceptor cells exist in <i>Drosophila</i>: one located in the third antennal segment that mediates hygrotactic behavior in thirst status, and the other located in arista which is responsible for the aversive behavior toward moist air in hydration status. Using a neural silencing screen, we demonstrated that synaptic output from the mushroom body α/β surface and posterior neurons was required for both hygrotactic behavior and moisture-aversive behavior.</p></div

Quantification of hygrotactic behavior in thirsty <i>Drosophila</i>.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Diagram for measuring aggregation value and hygrotaxis index in hygrotactic behavior. Aggregation values represent the aggregation strength at different time points during the test. NO_t denotes the number of flies within the red circle at the moment during the test; NO₀ is the number of flies in the red circle at the beginning of the test; NO_sum denotes the total number of flies in the test. Hygrotaxis index is used to represent the strength of hygrotactic behavior. (<b>B</b>) Plotting of the aggregation value as a function of time in wild type flies dehydrated for 8 hours. N = 12. (<b>C</b>) Hygrotaxis index of wild type flies dehydrated for 8 hours. ***, p < 0.001 (Student’s t test). N = 12. (<b>D</b>) The curve of hygrotaxis index vs. dehydration time in wild type flies. N = 12. (<b>E</b>) Relationship between hygrotaxis index and the shortest distance from flies to water source. Wild type flies were dehydrated for 10 hours before tests. N = 12. Data are presented as mean ± SEM.</p

MB α/βsp neurons are required for hygrosensation.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Immunofluorescent detection of mCD8::GFP driven by <i>NP3061-Gal4</i> and <i>NP5286-Gal4</i> in the adult fly brain. Both Gal4 lines display specific GFP expression in MB α/βsp neurons, which had been characterized in a previous work [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0119162#pone.0119162.ref027" target="_blank">27</a>]. Scale bar, 50 μm. (<b>B</b>) Inhibiting synaptic output from MB α/βsp neurons (<i>NP3061-Gal4 > TNT</i>, <i>NP5286-Gal4 > TNT</i>) impairs the hygrotactic behavior in flies dehydrated for 8 hours. N = 12. (<b>C</b>) Inhibiting synaptic output from MB α/βsp neurons significantly reduced the rate of moisture-induced PER in dehydrated flies. N = 8 trials with 50 flies per trial per genotype. (<b>D</b>) Blocking the activity of MB α/βsp neurons did not affect the water-drinking behavior of dehydrated flies. N = 8 trials with 50 flies per trial per genotype. (<b>E</b>) Blocking the activity of MB α/βsp neurons did not reduce weight loss during 8 hours of dehydration or water intake within 10 minutes of water-feeding following dehydration (flies carrying <i>NP5286-Gal4 > TNT</i> drank more water than wild type and control flies). Data represent the weight variations of 50 female flies. N = 12. (<b>F</b>) In T-maze humidity choice assays, the flies expressing TNT driven by <i>NP3061-Gal4</i> or <i>NP5286-Gal4</i> exhibited impaired avoidance behavior toward moist air before dehydration, and also showed reduced preference for moist air after eight-hour dehydration. N = 15. NS, not significant (p > 0.05); ***, p < 0.001 (ANOVA with Tukey post hoc test). Data are presented as mean ± SEM.</p

Third antennal segments are required for hygrotactic behavior.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Scanning electron microscope photograph showing the third antennal segment and arista of <i>Drosophila</i>. (<b>B</b>) The hygrotactic behavior was tested in wild type flies and the wild type flies that had removed aristae or both third antennal segments and aristae. Ablation of the third antennal segments and aristae abolished hygrotactic behavior, while removing the aristae alone did not affect hygrotactic behavior. All tested flies were dehydrated for 8 hours. (<b>C</b>) Ablation of the third antennal segments and aristae greatly reduced the hygrotaxis index in wild type flies dehydrated for 8 hours. N = 12. (<b>D</b>) Ablation of the third antennal segments and aristae significantly reduced moisture-induced PER rate in wild type flies dehydrated for 8 hours, while removing the aristae alone did not affect the PER rate. N = 8 trials with 50 flies per trial per condition. (<b>E</b>) Schematic diagram of the T-maze apparatus used in the humidity choice assay. Two tubes in the apparatus were filled with moist air (~99% RH) and dry air (~3% RH), respectively. Flies were placed between the two tubes, and allowed to make a choice between the two types of air. (<b>F</b>) The effect of sensory organ ablation on humidity choice behavior in wild type flies. Before dehydration, the intact wild type flies avoid moist air, while the wild type flies with the ablation of aristae or both the third antennal segments and aristae showed no bias towards dry or moist air. After dehydration for 8 hours, the intact flies and flies with aristae removed exhibited a strong preference for moist air, while flies with both third antennal segments and aristae removed showed no humidity preference. N = 15. NS, not significant (p > 0.05); ***, p < 0.001 (ANOVA with Tukey post hoc test). Data are presented as mean ± SEM.</p

Advances in the management of radiation-induced cystitis in patients with pelvic malignancies

Radiotherapy plays a vital role as a treatment for malignant pelvic tumors, in which the bladder represents a significant organ at risk involved during tumor radiotherapy. Exposing the bladder wall to high doses of ionizing radiation is unavoidable and will lead to radiation cystitis (RC) because of its central position in the pelvic cavity. Radiation cystitis will result in several complications (e.g. frequent micturition, urgent urination, and nocturia) that can significantly reduce the patient’s quality of life and in very severe cases become life-threatening. Existing studies on the pathophysiology, prevention, and management of radiation-induced cystitis from January 1990 to December 2021 were reviewed. PubMed was used as the main search engine. Besides the reviewed studies, citations to those studies were also included. In this review, the symptoms of radiation cystitis and the mainstream grading scales employed in clinical situations are presented. Next, preclinical and clinical research on preventing and treating radiation cystitis are summarized, and an overview of currently available prevention and treatment strategies as guidelines for clinicians is provided. Treatment options involve symptomatic treatment, vascular interventional therapy, surgery, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), bladder irrigation, and electrocoagulation. Prevention includes filling up the bladder to remove it from the radiation field and delivering radiation based on helical tomotherapy and CT-guided 3D intracavitary brachytherapy techniques.</p

Table_1_Knowledge, attitude, and practice of atrial fibrillation in high altitude areas.docx

BackgroundTo investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of atrial fibrillation (AF) among the general population in high-altitude areas.MethodologyA web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population in high-altitude areas.ResultsA total of 786 valid questionnaires were enrolled, with a mean age of 34.75 ± 14.16 years. The mean score of knowledge, attitude and practice were 8.22 ± 6.50 (possible range: 0–10), 28.90 ± 5.63 (possible range: 8–40), 34.34 ± 6.44 (possible range: 9–45), respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that knowledge scores (OR = 1.108, 95% CI = 1.075–1.142, p ConclusionThe general population in high-altitude regions had adequate knowledge, positive attitude, and proactive practice towards AF. The SEM was suitable for explaining general population’ KAP regarding AF, revealing that knowledge directly and positively affected attitude and practice.</p

Free-Radical-Promoted Copper-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Alkylation of α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids with ICH₂CF₃ and Its Analogues

A novel and efficient free-radical-promoted copper-catalyzed decarboxylative alkylation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids with ICH₂CF₃ and its analogues has been developed. This methodology provides a convenient access to the synthesis of allylic trifluoromethyl and β-CF₃ ketone containing compounds as well as other biologically useful fluorinated molecules and materials

A Regulatory Effect of INMAP on Centromere Proteins: Antisense <i>INMAP</i> Induces CENP-B Variation and Centromeric Halo

<div><p>CENP-B is a highly conserved protein that facilitates the assembly of specific centromere structures both in interphase nuclei and on mitotic chromosomes. INMAP is a conserved protein that localizes at nucleus in interphase cells and at mitotic apparatus in mitotic cells. Our previous results showed that <i>INMAP</i> over-expression leads to spindle defects, mitotic arrest and formation of polycentrosomal and multinuclear cells, indicating that INMAP may modulate the function of (a) key protein(s) in mitotic apparatus. In this study, we demonstrate that INMAP interacts with CENP-B and promotes cleavage of the N-terminal DNA binding domain from CENP-B. The cleaved CENP-B cannot associate with centromeres and thus lose its centromere-related functions. Consistent with these results, CENP-B in <i>INMAP</i> knockdown cells becomes more diffused around kinetochores. Although <i>INMAP</i> knockdown cells do not exhibit gross defects in mitotic spindle formation, these cells go through mitosis, especially prophase and metaphase, with different relative timing, indicating subtle abnormality. These results identify INMAP as a model regulator of CENP-B and support the notion that INMAP regulates mitosis through modulating CENP-B-mediated centromere organization.</p></div

Construction of CAC1493-1494 deletion mutants.

<p><b>A</b>. Identification of an insertion mutant by PCR using primers Cac1494B and Pex1494E flanking the target site; <b>B</b>. Identification of the deletion mutants by PCR using primers P1492-5s and Pex1494E; <b>C</b>. Schematic show of operon CAC1493-1494 and the expected deleted operon CAC1493-1494 in the chromosome; <b>D</b>. Southern blot analysis of CAC1493-1494 deletion using CAC34 probe.</p

Supporting Information from Fluorimetric detection of reserpine in mouse serum through online post-column electrochemical derivatization

Supplementary materials included figures that made the work complete