Polyploidy events shaped the expansion of transcription factors in Cucurbitaceae and exploitation of genes for tendril development

Cucurbitaceae is one of the most important plant families distributed worldwide. Transcription factors (TFs) regulate plant growth at the transcription level. Here, we performed a systematic analysis of 42 641 TFs from 63 families in 14 Cucurbitaceae and 10 non-cucurbit species. Whole-genome duplication (WGD) was the dominant event type in almost all Cucurbitaceae plants. The TF families were divided into 1 210 orthogroups (OGs), of which, 112 were unique to Cucurbitaceae. Although the loss of several gene families was detected in Cucurbitaceae, the gene families expanded in five species that experienced a WGD event comparing with grape. Our findings revealed that the recent WGD events that had occurred in Cucurbitaceae played important roles in the expansion of most TF families. The functional enrichment analysis of the genes that significantly expanded or contracted uncovered five gene families, AUX/IAA, NAC, NBS, HB, and NF-YB. Finally, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the TCP gene family and identified 16 tendril-related (TEN) genes in 11 Cucurbitaceae species. Interestingly, the characteristic sequence changed from CNNFYFP to CNNFYLP in the TEN gene (Bhi06M000087) of Benincasa hispida. Furthermore, we identified a new characteristic sequence, YNN, which could be used for TEN gene exploitation in Cucurbitaceae. In conclusion, this study will serve as a reference for studying the relationship between gene family evolution and genome duplication. Moreover, it will provide rich genetic resources for functional Cucurbitaceae studies in the future

The effect of robot-assisted gait training for patients with spinal cord injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundWith the aging of the global population, Spinal injuries are often prone to occur and affect human health. The development of technology has put robots on the stage to assist in the treatment of spinal injuries.MethodsA comprehensive literature search were carried out in multiple databases, including PubMed, Medline (Ovid), Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, CKNI, Wang fang, VIP database, Sino Med, Clinical Trails until 20th, June, 2023 to collect effect of robot-assisted gait training for patients with spinal cord injury patients. Primary outcome includes any changes of gait distance and gait speed. Secondary outcomes include any changes in functions (Such as TUG, Leg strength, 10 MWT) and any advent events. Data were extracted from two independent individuals and Cochrane Risk of Bias tool version 2.0 was assessed for the included studies. Systematic review and meta-analysis were performed by RevMan 5.3 software.Results11 studies were included in meta-analysis. The result showed that gait distance [WMD = 16.05, 95% CI (−15.73, 47.83), I2 = 69%], gait speed (RAGT vs. regular treatment) [WMD = 0.01, 95% CI (−0.04, 0.05), I2 = 43%], gait speed (RAGT vs. no intervention) [WMD = 0.07, 95% CI (0.01, 0.12), I2 = 0%], leg strength [WMD = 0.59, 95% CI (−1.22, 2.40), I2 = 29%], TUG [WMD = 9.25, 95% CI (2.76, 15.73), I2 = 74%], 10 MWT [WMD = 0.01, 95% CI (−0.15, 0.16), I2 = 0%], and 6 MWT [WMD = 1.79, 95% CI (−21.32, 24.90), I2 = 0%].ConclusionRobot-assisted gait training seems to be helpful for patients with spinal cord to improve TUG. It may not affect gait distance, gait speed, leg strength, 10 MWT, and 6 MWT

Adenoid lymphocyte heterogeneity in pediatric adenoid hypertrophy and obstructive sleep apnea

IntroductionAdenoid hypertrophy is the main cause of obstructive sleep apnea in children. Previous studies have suggested that pathogenic infections and local immune system disorders in the adenoids are associated with adenoid hypertrophy. The abnormalities in the number and function of various lymphocyte subsets in the adenoids may play a role in this association. However, changes in the proportion of lymphocyte subsets in hypertrophic adenoids remain unclear.MethodsTo identify patterns of lymphocyte subsets in hypertrophic adenoids, we used multicolor flow cytometry to analyze the lymphocyte subset composition in two groups of children: the mild to moderate hypertrophy group (n = 10) and the severe hypertrophy group (n = 5).ResultsA significant increase in naïve lymphocytes and a decrease in effector lymphocytes were found in severe hypertrophic adenoids.DiscussionThis finding suggests that abnormal lymphocyte differentiation or migration may contribute to the development of adenoid hypertrophy. Our study provides valuable insights and clues into the immunological mechanism underlying adenoid hypertrophy

Identification and immunoinfiltration analysis of key genes in ulcerative colitis using WGCNA

Objective Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic non-specific inflammatory bowel disease characterized by an unclear pathogenesis. This study aims to screen out key genes related to UC pathogenesis. Methods Bioinformatics analysis was conducted for screening key genes linked to UC pathogenesis, and the expression of the screened key genes was verified by establishing a UC mouse model. Results Through bioinformatics analysis, five key genes were obtained. Subsequent infiltration analysis revealed seven significantly different immune cell types between the UC and general samples. Additionally, animal experiment results illustrated markedly decreased body weight, visible colonic shortening and damage, along with a significant increase in the DAI score of the DSS-induced mice in the UC group in comparison with the NC group. In addition, H&E staining results demonstrated histological changes including marked inflammatory cell infiltration, loss of crypts, and epithelial destruction in the colon mucosa epithelium. qRT-PCR analysis indicated a down-regulation of ABCG2 and an up-regulation of IL1RN, REG4, SERPINB5 and TRIM29 in the UC mouse model. Notably, this observed trend showed a significant dependence on the concentration of DSS, with the mouse model of UC induced by 7% DSS demonstrating a more severe disease state compared to that induced by 5% DSS. Conclusion ABCG2, IL1RN, REG4, SERPINB5 and TRIM29 were screened out as key genes related to UC by bioinformatics analysis. The expression of ABCG2 was down-regulated, and that of IL1RN, REG4, SERPINB5 and TRIM29 were up-regulated in UC mice as revealed by animal experiments

A path analysis model suggesting the association of information and beliefs with self-efficacy in osteoporosis prevention among middle-aged and older community residents in urban Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND:Osteoporosis is a chronic disease whose prevention is more effective than treatment, but it may be necessary to change people's self-efficacy to prevent this condition. This article aimed to study the pathway among information, beliefs and self-efficacy in osteoporosis prevention, and support further intervention. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted among community residents over 40 years old from two volunteer communities in urban Shanghai, China. Of 450 middle-aged and older community residents who volunteered to participate in the study, 421 (93.5%) finished the field survey effectively. RESULTS:62.9% of the residents were females. Their mean age was 64.4 ± 11.2 years. The residents showed low knowledge of osteoporosis-related information, and the mean percentage of correct response was just 61.2%. In univariate analysis, information (univariate β = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.15-0.38) and beliefs (univariate β = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.25-0.38) were associated with self-efficacy. Multivariate analysis showed that information (multiple β = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.09-0.36) and belief (multiple β = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.23-0.36) remained significant. And in the path analysis, self-efficacy was significantly predicted by beliefs (β = 0.81, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:The study highlighted the urgency of conducting the osteoporosis preventive health promotion among middle-aged and older people as their lack of information and low level of beliefs and self-efficacy about osteoporosis prevention. Future interventions should focus on improving beliefs, especially perceived benefits, perceived threats, and action clues, on osteoporosis prevention in this group

MicroRNA-877-5p promotes osteoblast differentiation by targeting EIF4G2 expression

Abstract Stimulating bone formation potentially suggests therapeutics for orthopedic diseases including osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Osteoblasts are key to bone remodeling because they act as the only bone-forming cells. miR-877-5p has a chondrocyte-improving function in osteoarthritis, but its effect on osteoblast differentiation is unknown. Here, miR-877-5p-mediated osteoblast differentiation was studied. Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure miR-877-5p expression during the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Osteoblast markers, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen type I a1 chain, and osteopontin, were measured and detected by alizarin red staining and ALP staining. Potential targets of miR-877-5p were predicted from three different algorithms: starBase ( http://starbase.sysu.edu.cn/ ), PITA ( http://genie.weizmann.ac.il/pubs/mir07/mir07_data.html ), and miRanda ( http://www.microrna.org/microrna/home.do ). It was further verified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The experimental results found that miR-877-5p was upregulated during the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Overexpression of miR-877-5p promoted osteogenic differentiation, which was characterized by increased cell mineralization, ALP activity, and osteogenesis-related gene expression. Knockdown of miR-877-5p produced the opposite result. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay showed that miR-877-5p directly targeted eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4γ2 (EIF4G2). Overexpression of EIF4G2 inhibited osteogenic differentiation and reversed the promoting effect of overexpression of miR-135-5p on osteogenic differentiation. These results indicate that miR-877-5p might have a therapeutic application related to its promotion of bone formation through targeting EIF4G2

Effect of Berberine from Coptis chinensis on Apoptosis of Intestinal Epithelial Cells in a Mouse Model of Ulcerative Colitis: Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of berberine (BBR) on endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in mice with ulcerative colitis (UC). BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups as follows: blank control, model, and low-, medium-, and high-dose BBR. A dextran sodium sulfate- (DSS-) induced model of UC was prepared, and the low-, medium-, and high-dose BBR groups were simultaneously gavaged with a BBR suspension for 7 d. Disease activity index (DAI) was assessed, and tissue damage index (TDI) was assessed from colon samples after the last administration. TUNEL assays were used to detect apoptosis of IECs. Immunohistochemistry and/or real-time PCR were applied to determine the expression of GRP78, caspase-12, and caspase-3. In all BBR treatment groups, clinical symptoms of colitis and histopathological damage were significantly reduced. The high-dose BBR group exhibited particularly pronounced decrease (p<0.01) in both DAI (0.48 ± 0.36) and TDI (1.62 ± 0.64) relative to the model group (1.50 ± 0.65 and 3.88 ± 0.04, respectively). In colon tissues of the model group, the number of apoptotic IECs was significantly increased; the expression of GRP78, caspase-12, and caspase-3 proteins was significantly increased; and the expression of the GRP78 mRNA was upregulated. In low-, medium-, and high-dose BBR groups, the number of apoptotic IECs was significantly reduced. Moreover, GRP78 and caspase-3 expression levels were significantly decreased in the medium- and high-dose BBR groups, caspase-12 expression was significantly decreased in the high-dose BBR group, and the GRP78 mRNA expression level was significantly decreased in the high-dose BBR group. BBR can effectively reduce the rate of IEC apoptosis in UC mice and alleviate the inflammatory response in the colon. The underlying mechanism seems to involve ERS modulation and inhibition of ERS-mediated activation of the caspase-12/caspase-3 apoptosis signaling pathway

Physical model tests on supporting performance of micro-pile and micro-pile with thread in natural gas pipe-landslide system in mountainous area

Natural gas pipeline projects in mountainous areas are inevitably affected by geological hazards such as landslides, which pose a serious threat to the safe operation of pipelines along the routes through landslide areas. Based on the engineering background of China-Guizhou natural gas pipeline K558 + 700 landslide, this paper studies and compares the supporting mechanism and applicability of two different support structures, namely, flower-tube micro-pile and threaded micro-pile, in pipeline landslide through indoor large-scale physical model tests. The results show that: (1) The distribution pattern of peak soil pressure along the mountain side and river side of flower tube micro-piles is basically similar along the pile depth, which is in the shape of "S" curve. The soil arching effect behind the pile is obvious, and the distribution pattern of soil pressure is generally consistent at all levels of load. In general, the distribution pattern of soil pressure on the side of the flower-pipe pile is the largest among piles, followed by the pile top, and the bottom of the pile. The soil pressure around the pile near the sliding zone is larger, so the optimization should be considered in the design of anti-slide pile. (2) The distribution diagram of the peak earth pressure along the pile depth of the threaded pile presents a double "S" curve. The distribution pattern of the peak earth pressure on the river side is significantly different from that of the mountain side, and the earth pressure at the bottom of the pile decreases greatly compared with that of the mountain side. With the increase of external load, the soil pressure around the pile increases greatly, indicating that the screw micro pile is deficient in lateral bearing capacity. (3) The bending moment of flowered pipe pile presents an "M" shape distribution along the depth direction, and the maximum positive bending moment occurs at the position 5 cm above the simulated slip surface. The pile body bending moment distribution along the depth direction is "S" shape, and the pile body positive and negative bending moment position near the simulated sliding surface roughly rotate symmetrical distribution, most of the region above the sliding surface is negative bending moment, the pile body below the sliding surface is positive bending moment. Under the same thrust load, the deformation degree of the screw micro pile is greater than that of the flower tube micro pile. (4) The load-bearing performance of the splined pipe pile is better than that of the threaded pile under thrust load, which effectively reduces the landslide thrust transferred to the pipeline; Under the large thrust load, the threaded pile can not effectively bear and offset the landslide thrust due to its insufficient flexural performance and serious deformation, and the stress transmitted to the pipe in front of the pile is large, causing more intense deformation of the pipe. Under the condition of this test, the flowered pipe micro-pile has outstanding protection benefit to the pipeline, and is more suitable for the retaining structure of the landslide area of the pipeline