A study on the agglomeration characteristics of the scallop aquaculture industry in China

Scallops are economically important shellfish widely cultured in China. In this study, the agglomeration characteristics of the scallop aquaculture industry in Chinese coastal provinces were explored based on data from the China Fishery Statistical Yearbook from 2012 to 2020 and the comparative advantage and concentration level of the scallop breeding industry. The data were analyzed using the comprehensive relative advantage index, location entropy, and industrial concentration degree method. Two main results revealed that Hebei Province had the highest comparative advantage in terms of efficiency, followed by Fujian, Guangdong, Shandong, Guangxi, Liaoning, and Zhejiang Provinces. Hebei Province had the highest comparative advantage in scale, followed by Liaoning, Shandong, Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and Zhejiang Provinces. Additionally, the scallop cultivation industry in Hebei, Shandong, and Liaoning Provinces showed a high concentration, and the proportion of scallop production in the national production (CR4) in the three provinces, as well as in Guangdong, accounted for more than 99% year-round. Overall, Hebei, Shandong, and Liaoning Provinces had a comparative advantage in scale, comprehensive comparative advantage, and industrial agglomeration

A novel assay based on DNA melting temperature for multiplexed identification of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A/B viruses

IntroductionThe severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza viruses can cause respiratory illnesses with similar clinical symptoms, making their differential diagnoses challenging. Additionally, in critically ill SARS-CoV-2–infected patients, co-infections with other respiratory pathogens can lead to severe cytokine storm and serious complications. Therefore, a method for simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A and B viruses will be clinically beneficial.MethodsWe designed an assay to detect five gene targets simultaneously via asymmetric PCR-mediated melting curve analysis in a single tube. We used specific probes that hybridize to corresponding single-stranded amplicons at low temperature and dissociate at high temperature, creating different detection peaks representing the targets. The entire reaction was conducted in a closed tube, which minimizes the risk of contamination. The limit of detection, specificity, precision, and accuracy were determined.ResultsThe assay exhibited a limit of detection of <20 copies/μL for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A and <30 copies/μL for influenza B, with high reliability as demonstrated by a coefficient of variation for melting temperature of <1.16% across three virus concentrations. The performance of our developed assay and the pre-determined assay showed excellent agreement for clinical samples, with kappa coefficients ranging from 0.98 (for influenza A) to 1.00 (for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza B). No false-positive, and no cross-reactivity was observed with six common non-influenza respiratory viruses.ConclusionThe newly developed assay offers a straightforward, cost-effective and nucleic acid contamination-free approach for simultaneous detection of the SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and influenza B viruses. The method offers high analytical sensitivity, reliability, specificity, and accuracy. Its use will streamline testing for co-infections, increase testing throughput, and improve laboratory efficacy

The notch regulator MAML1 interacts with p53 and functions as a coactivator.

Members of the evolutionarily conserved Mastermind (MAM) protein family, including the three related mammalian Mastermind-like (MAML) proteins MAML1-3, function as crucial coactivators of Notch-mediated transcriptional activation. Given the recent evidence of cross-talk between the p53 and Notch signal transduction pathways, we have investigated whether MAML1 may also be a transcriptional coactivator of p53. Indeed, we show here that MAML1 is able to interact with p53. We show that MAML1-p53 interaction involves the N-terminal region of MAML1 and the DNA-binding domain of p53, and we use a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay to show that MAML1 is part of the activator complex that binds to native p53-response elements within the promoter of the p53 target genes. Overexpression of wild-type MAML1 as well as a mutant, defective in Notch signaling, enhanced the p53-dependent gene induction in mammalian cells, whereas MAML1 knockdown reduced the p53-dependent gene expression. MAML1 increases the half-life of p53 protein and enhances its phosphorylation/acetylation upon DNA damage of cells. Finally, RNA interference-mediated knockdown of the single Caenorhabditis elegans MAML homolog, Lag-3, led to substantial abrogation of p53-mediated germ-cell apoptotic response to DNA damage and markedly reduced the expression of Ced-13 and Egl-1, downstream pro-apoptotic targets of the C. elegans p53 homolog Cep-1. Thus, we present evidence for a novel coactivator function of MAML1 for p53, independent of its function as a coactivator of Notch signaling pathway

The Dose-Response Relationship between Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase and Risk of Diabetes Mellitus Using Publicly Available Data: A Longitudinal Study in Japan

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between baseline serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and incident diabetes mellitus and to explore their dose-response relationship in a cohort of Japanese adults. Patients and Methods. Data were drawn from the NAGALA (NAfld in the Gifu Area, Longitudinal Analysis) study between 2004 and 2015, including hierarchical information on participants ≥18 years of age without diabetes mellitus, preexisting diabetes mellitus, heavy alcohol drinking, or other liver diseases (e.g., hepatitis B/C). The final analytic sample included 15464 participants, 373 of who were diagnosed as diabetes mellitus with a maximum 13-year follow-up. The risk of incident diabetes mellitus according to baseline serum GGT was estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and a two-piecewise linear regression model was developed to find out the threshold effect. Results. Being in the highest quintile versus the lowest quintile of GGT levels was associated with an almost twofold increased risk of incident diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio 1.83 (95% CI 1.06, 3.15)), independent of age, gender, smoking status, alcohol intake, BMI, SBP, triglycerides, fatty liver, ALT, AST, and fasting plasma glucose. Further analysis revealed a positive curvilinear association between GGT and incident diabetes mellitus, with a saturation effect predicted at 24 IU/L. When serum GGT level was less than 24 IU/L, the risk of developing diabetes mellitus increased significantly with an increase in serum GGT levels (HR 1.04 (1.02, 1.07), P=0.0017). Besides, the association was more significant in nonsmoking participants than ex- or current-smokers (P for interaction = 0.0378). Conclusion. Serum GGT level was a significant predictor of subsequent risk of diabetes mellitus, which increased by 4% for every 1 IU/L increase in GGT when GGT was less than 24 IU/L

Synergistic Effect of the MTHFR C677T and EPHX2 G860A Polymorphism on the Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Chinese Type 2 Diabetic Patients

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the combined effect of MTHFR C677T (rs1801133) and EPHX2 G860A (rs751141) polymorphism and ischemic stroke in Chinese T2DM patients. This case-control study included a total of 626 Chinese T2DM patients (236 T2DM patients with ischemic stroke and 390 T2DM patients without ischemic stroke). The rs1801133 and rs751141 were genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 17.0. Results showed that the combined effect of MTHFR TT and EPHX2 GG or GA + AA genotype has a higher risk of ischemic stroke compared with the control group (combined effect of MTHFR CC and EPHX2 GA + AA genotypes; OR = 3.46 and OR = 3.42, resp.; P=.001 and P=.002, resp.). The A allele showed marked association with a lower risk of ischemic stroke in patients with the lowest Hcy levels under additive, recessive, and dominant genetic models (OR = 0.45, OR = 0.11, and OR = 0.44, resp.; P=.002, P=.035, and P=.008, resp.), which was not observed in medium or high Hcy level groups. In conclusion, the T allele of rs1801133 and the G allele of rs751141 may be risk factors of ischemic stroke in the Chinese T2DM population

Screening Effective Antifungal Substances from the Bark and Leaves of Zanthoxylum avicennae by the Bioactivity-Guided Isolation Method

To find good antifungal substances by the bioactivity-guided isolation method, we tracked down the effective antifungal substances in the bark and leaves of Zanthoxylum avicennae, and isolated three antifungal compounds 1, 2, and 3. The structures were identified as xanthyletin, luvangetin, and avicennin by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and HRMS spectra. Particularly, compound 2 had several isomers, and the 1H-NMR spectra of 2 in different solvents showed a significant difference. To determine the stereo structure of 2, a single crystal was prepared and identified by X-ray diffraction as Luvangetin. Moreover, the difference of 1H-NMR data of 2 between in solvent dimethyl sulfoxide-d6 (DMSO-d6) and deuterated chloroform (CDCl3), and other reported isomers were discussed for the first time. The bioassay results indicated that the three compounds 1, 2, and 3 displayed low to high antifungal activities against tested phytopathogenic fungi. In particular, all compounds 1, 2, and 3 showed excellent antifungal activities against Pyricularia oryzae and Z. avicennae, with the values of half maximal effective concentration (EC50) ranging from 31 to 61 mg/L, and compound 3 was also identified as a more potent inhibitor against Fusaium graminearum (EC50 = 43.26 ± 1.76 mg/L) compared with fungicide PCA (phenazine-1-carboxylic acid) (EC50 = 52.34 ± 1.53 mg/L). The results revealed that compounds 1, 2, and 3 were the main antifungal substances of Z. avicennae, and can be used as lead compounds of a fungicide, which has good development value and prospect

Systems Metabolic Engineering of <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> for the High-Level Production of (2<i>S</i>)-Eriodictyol

(2S)-eriodictyol (ERD) is a flavonoid widely found in citrus fruits, vegetables, and important medicinal plants with neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, and anti-obesity effects. However, the microbial synthesis of ERD is limited by complex metabolic pathways and often results in a low production performance. Here, we engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae by fine-tuning the metabolism of the ERD synthesis pathway. The results showed that the ERD titer was effectively increased, and the intermediate metabolites levels were reduced. First, we successfully reconstructed the de novo synthesis pathway of p-coumaric acid in S. cerevisiae and fine-tuned the metabolic pathway using promoter engineering and terminator engineering for the high-level production of (2S)-naringenin. Subsequently, the synthesis of ERD was achieved by introducing the ThF3′H gene from Tricyrtis hirta. Finally, by multiplying the copy number of the ThF3′H gene, the production of ERD was further increased, reaching 132.08 mg L−1. Our work emphasizes the importance of regulating the metabolic balance to produce natural products in microbial cell factories

Association of Epoxide Hydrolase 2 Gene Arg287Gln with the Risk for Primary Hypertension in Chinese

Background. Epoxide hydrolase 2 (EPHX2) gene coding for soluble epoxide hydrolase is a potential candidate in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Objectives. We aimed to assess the association of a missense mutation, R287Q, in EPHX2 gene with primary hypertension risk and examine its association with enzyme activity of soluble epoxide hydrolase. Methods. This study involved 782 patients with primary hypertension and 458 healthy controls. Genotyping was done using TaqMan technique. Activity of soluble epoxide hydrolase fusion proteins was evaluated by the conversion of 11,12-EET to corresponding 11,12-DHET using ELISA kit. Results. After taking carriers of R287Q variant GG genotype as a reference, those with GA genotype had a significantly reduced risk of hypertension (adjusted odds ratio: 0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.56 to 0.93, P = 0.013). Five significant risk factors were identified, including age, body mass index, total cholesterol, homocysteine, and R287Q variant. These five risk factors for hypertension were represented in a nomogram, with a descent prediction accuracy (C-index: 0.833, P<0.001). Enzyme activity of soluble epoxide hydrolase was significantly lower in the R287Q group than in the wild type group. Conclusions. We provide evidence that R287Q mutation in EPHX2 gene was associated with reduced risk of primary hypertension and low activity of soluble epoxide hydrolase

Association of EPHX2 R287Q Polymorphism with Diabetic Nephropathy in Chinese Type 2 Diabetic Patients

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between EPHX2 rs751141 (R287Q polymorphism) and diabetic nephropathy (DN) in Chinese type 2 diabetes (T2D). This case-control study explored the association between EPHX2 rs751141 and DN in a total of 870 Chinese T2D patients (406 T2D patients with DN and 464 T2D patients without DN). DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes of the patients and rs751141 was genotyped. The A allele frequency of rs751141 was significantly lower in DN patients (20.94%) compared with non-DN controls (27.8%) (P=0.001), and the A allele of rs751141 was associated with a significantly lower risk of DN after adjustment for multiple covariates in the additive genetic model (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.52–0.88, P=0.004). Significant association between rs751141 and homocysteine (Hcy) level on the risk of DN was observed, indicating that in patients with the highest Hcy levels, the A allele showed marked association with lower risk of DN in all three genetic models. In conclusion, the A allele of exonic polymorphism in EPHX2 rs751141 is negatively associated with the incidence of DN in the Chinese T2D population, which could be modulated by Hcy level status