Towards a low-emission agrifood sector in the People’s Republic of China: A country profile

The global food system is responsible for 23 – 42% of total net anthropogenic emissions. The food systems of all countries need to be transformed to lower their emissions while producing sufficient, nutritious and healthy food. The Low-Emissions Food Systems (Mitigate+) Initiative aims to offer a comprehensive, evidence-based and holistic approach to reducing agrifood systems emissions. It explores possible pathways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing food security and nutrition and livelihoods and preserving the environment. In this context, a set of country profiles are being developed opening avenues towards low-emission food systems. The present document focuses on China’s agrifood system. Net greenhouse gas emissions from China’s agrifood system reached 1.9 GtCO2eq in 2020, accounting for 14.2% of nationwide total greenhouse gas emissions. China pledged to cut its CO2 emissions by 65% between 2005 and 2030, to reach an emission peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. To feed its large population while reducing its carbon footprint, China must transition to a low-emission agricultural model. This report illustrates the progress made by China towards this goal and it discusses the remaining challenges. Three main categories of measures have been identified that are advancing low-emission agriculture in China: (i) adopt protective cultivation practices; (ii) enhance carbon sequestration in forest, rangeland and wetland ecosystems; and (iii) develop innovative low-emission technologies and practices. This document formulates seven specific policy recommendations to address current challenges and accelerate the needed transition towards low-emission agriculture in China

PO-238 Urinary metabolomics study on the anti-depression effect of different exercise modes on CUMS model rats

Objective To study the effects of different exercise modes on CUMS depression model rats by 1H-NMR metabolomics technique, and to explore the mechanism of exercise anti-depression and to find the best exercise mode. Methods Forty-eight male SD rats were divided into control group (group C), model group (group M), aerobic exercise group (group A), and resistance exercise group (group R), 12 per group. The group C was routinely reared, chronic mild unpredictable stress + orphaned 8 weeks to establish a depression model of CUMS rats. In the 5th week of modeling, rats in group A and group R were trained in aerobic and resistance exercise for 4 weeks. The changes of body mass were observed during the experiment. The effects of exercise on the behavior of CUMS rats were observed by sucrose preference experiment and open field experiment. The levels of plasma BDNF, CORT and 5-HT were measured to reveal the pathological changes of the model. 1H-NMR metabolomics techniques combined with multivariate statistical analysis methods were used to investigate the regulation of urinary endogenous metabolites and the regulation of metabolic pathways in CUMS depression rats.  Results 1) After four weeks of modeling, compared with the group C, the body weight, saccharide water preference rate, the crossing number and the number of erectings in the group M, group A and group R were significantly lower (P<0.05 or P< 0.01), indicating that the modeling was successful; after eight weeks of modeling, compared with the group C, the body weight, saccharide water preference rate, the crossing number and the number of erectings in the group M, was significantly lower (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the group A and group R. 2)Compared with group C, the levels of BDNF and 5-HT in group M were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), the level of CORT was significantly increased (P<0.01), and the levels of BDNF, 5-HT and CORT in group A were not significantly different, the CORT levels were significantly increased in group R(P <0.01), BDNF and 5-HT levels were not significantly different; compared with group M, BDNF, 5-HT levels in group A were significantly increased (P <0.05) and the level of CORT was significantly decreased (P<0.01), the levels of BDNF and 5-HT in group R were significantly increased (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in CORT level. Compared with group A, the levels of BDNF and 5-HT in group R were not significant,but CORT levels increased significantly (P<0.05). 3)A total of 14 potential biomarkers in the urine of CUMS depression model rats were found . Compared with group C, the levels of leucine, valine, lactic acid, citric acid, inositol, pyruvic acid, β-hydroxybutyric acid, acetoacetic acid, trimethylamine, pantothenic acid, β-hydroxyisovaleric acid, alanine and succinic acid in the urine of group M were significantly increased, and the level of α-ketoglutaric acid was significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Group A can significantly callback 8 potential biomarkersof leucine, lactic acid, citric acid, pyruvic acid, β-hydroxybutyric acid, alanine, lactic acid and pantothenic acid (P<0.05 or P<0.01) , the group R can significantly callbackt the 6 potential biomarkers of lactic acid, acetoacetic acid, inositol, trimethylamine, β-hydroxy isovaleric acid and alanine. Two types of exercise can regulate urinary metabolites in depressed rats. 4) 1H-NMR metabolic pathway analysis showed that aerobic exercise mainly improves the urine metabolism of depressed rats by regulating TCA cycle, pantothenic acid and COA biosynthesis, and pyruvate metabolism. The resistance exercise mainly improved the urine metabolism characteristics of depressed rats by regulating the synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, pyruvate metabolism and inositol phosphate metabolism. Conclusions Aerobic exercise and resistance exercise all can effectively improve depressive symptoms, adjust the urine biomarkers of depressed rats to varying degrees, which may be related to different metabolic pathways involved in exercise modes. &nbsp

PO-217 Plasma metabolomics study on the anti-depression effect of different exercise modes on CUMS model rats

Objective Objective: To study the anti-depression effect of different modes of exercise on CUMS rats and explore the mechanism by 1 H-NMR metabonomics methods. Methods Methods: Healthy male SD rats were got on sugar consumption training within one week of adaptive feeding, rats with similar scores were then randomly divided into control group (group C), model group (group M), aerobic exercise group (group A), and resistance exercise group (group R) by open field test. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) procedure was conducted for four weeks, assess the success or failure of the model through behavioral indicators (rat increased amount of body weight, sucrose preference, crossings and rearings in open field test). The rats that were successfully modeled continued to undergo CUMS procedure for four weeks, and the rats in group A and group R were given different exercise training at the same time. After the end of training, the rats were executed and the blood sample was taken from the abdominal aorta to determine plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. In order to further explore the mechanism of action of different exercise modes, the plasma was analyzed by 1H-HMR metabonomics technique and the metabolic pathways were analyzed by metaboAnalyst. Results Results: 1) After 4 weeks of CUMS, the behavioral indicators of group M, group A and group R were significantly lower than those of group C (p＜0.05，p＜0.01，p＜0.001), indicating that the rat model of CUMS was prepared successfully. 2) After 4 weeks of exercise intervention, the behavioral indicators, SOD, CAT and GSH-PX activities of rats in group C, group A and group R were significantly higher than those in group M(p＜0.05，p＜0.01), MDA content is significantly lower than that in group M (p＜0.01), there was no significant difference in behavioral and biochemical indicators between the group A and the group R. 3)A total of fifteen pathological markers were found in group M, such as isoleucine, valine, N-acetyl glycoprotein and so on (P<0.05 and VIP>1). Six metabolites among the fifteen pathological markers reverted significantly afteraerobic exercise training (P<0.05 or P<0.001), such as N-acetyl glycoprotein, leucine, lactic acid, LDL, glucose and acetoacetate, which mainly involved in 3 metabolic pathways including ketone bodies, butanoate metabolism, and biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids. Another six metabolites reverted significantly after resistance exercise training (P<0.01 or P<0.001), such as lactic acid, glucose, creatine phosphate, acetoacetic acid, inositol and choline, which mainly involved in 3 metabolic pathways including ketone bodies, butanoate metabolism, and inositol phosphate metabolism. The above results suggest that both modes of exercise can improve the characteristics of plasma metabolites of depressed rats. Conclusions Conclusion: Different modes of exercise can effectively improve depressive symptoms, reduce the oxidative stress and adjust the plasma biomarkers of depressed rats to varying degrees, which may be related to different metabolic pathways involved in exercise modes. &nbsp

PO-194 Urinary metabolomics study on effects of Rhodiola on Marathon Amateurs after Quantitative Exercise Load

Objective To study the effect of Chinese medicine Rhodiola on oxidative stress injury in amateur marathon runners after quantitative exercise load (20 km) and explore its mechanism. Methods Eight marathon amateurs were divided into four groups according to different test time, including before and after quantitative exercise load (group C and group CE), before and after quantitative exercise load after taking a month of the Rhodiola (group MC and group ME). The participants had serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as myocardial enzyme index - creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) and glutamic oxaline aminotransferase (AST/GOT) activity evaluated. In order to further explore the mechanism of action of Rhodiola, the urine was analyzed by 1H-HMR metabonomics technique. Results 1) Compared with group C, the activity of serum CK, LDH and AST/GOT of group CE increased significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05), MDA content and SOD activity also increased significantly (P<0.05). A total of fifteen potential biomarkers were found in group CE, such as valine, lactic acid, 2- hydroxy isobutyric acid and so on (P<0.05 and VIP>1). 2) Compared with group CE, the activity of serum CK and AST/GOT and the content of MDA of group ME decreased significantly (P<0.05), eleven metabolites among the fifteen potential biomarkers reverted significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05), which mainly involved in 4 metabolic pathways including alanine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid metabolism and so on. Conclusions Rhodiola can enhance the antioxidant capacity and improve myocardial damage of marathon amateurs after quantitative exercise load, which may be due to increased synthesis and utilization of aminoacyl-tRNA and other amino acids

Dissecting the roles and clinical potential of YY1 in the tumor microenvironment

Yin-Yang 1 (YY1) is a member of the GLI-Kruppel family of zinc finger proteins and plays a vital dual biological role in cancer as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor during tumorigenesis and tumor progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is identified as the “soil” of tumor that has a critical role in both tumor growth and metastasis. Many studies have found that YY1 is closely related to the remodeling and regulation of the TME. Herein, we reviewed the expression pattern of YY1 in tumors and summarized the function and mechanism of YY1 in regulating tumor angiogenesis, immune and metabolism. In addition, we discussed the potential value of YY1 in tumor diagnosis and treatment and provided a novel molecular strategy for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumors

Large-scale Identification of Chemically Induced Mutations in Drosophila melanogaster.

Forward genetic screens using chemical mutagens have been successful in defining the function of thousands of genes in eukaryotic model organisms. The main drawback of this strategy is the time-consuming identification of the molecular lesions causative of the phenotypes of interest. With whole-genome sequencing (WGS), it is now possible to sequence hundreds of strains, but determining which mutations are causative among thousands of polymorphisms remains challenging. We have sequenced 394 mutant strains, generated in a chemical mutagenesis screen, for essential genes on the Drosophila X chromosome and describe strategies to reduce the number of candidate mutations from an average of -3500 to 35 single-nucleotide variants per chromosome. By combining WGS with a rough mapping method based on large duplications, we were able to map 274 (-70%) mutations. We show that these mutations are causative, using small 80-kb duplications that rescue lethality. Hence, our findings demonstrate that combining rough mapping with WGS dramatically expands the toolkit necessary for assigning function to genes

Genome dynamics and diversity of Shigella species, the etiologic agents of bacillary dysentery

The Shigella bacteria cause bacillary dysentery, which remains a significant threat to public health. The genus status and species classification appear no longer valid, as compelling evidence indicates that Shigella, as well as enteroinvasive Escherichia coli, are derived from multiple origins of E.coli and form a single pathovar. Nevertheless, Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 causes deadly epidemics but Shigella boydii is restricted to the Indian subcontinent, while Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei are prevalent in developing and developed countries respectively. To begin to explain these distinctive epidemiological and pathological features at the genome level, we have carried out comparative genomics on four representative strains. Each of the Shigella genomes includes a virulence plasmid that encodes conserved primary virulence determinants. The Shigella chromosomes share most of their genes with that of E.coli K12 strain MG1655, but each has over 200 pseudogenes, 300∼700 copies of insertion sequence (IS) elements, and numerous deletions, insertions, translocations and inversions. There is extensive diversity of putative virulence genes, mostly acquired via bacteriophage-mediated lateral gene transfer. Hence, via convergent evolution involving gain and loss of functions, through bacteriophage-mediated gene acquisition, IS-mediated DNA rearrangements and formation of pseudogenes, the Shigella spp. became highly specific human pathogens with variable epidemiological and pathological features

Vitamin E stabilizes iron and mitochondrial metabolism in pulmonary fibrosis

Introduction: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a fatal chronic lung disease that causes structural damage and decreased lung function and has a poor prognosis. Currently, there is no medicine that can truly cure PF. Vitamin E (VE) is a group of natural antioxidants with anticancer and antimutagenic properties. There have been a few reports about the attenuation of PF by VE in experimental animals, but the molecular mechanisms are not fully understood.Methods: Bleomycin-induced PF (BLM-PF) mouse model, and cultured mouse primary lung fibroblasts and MLE 12 cells were utilized. Pathological examination of lung sections, immunoblotting, immunofluorescent staining, and real-time PCR were conducted in this study.Results: We confirmed that VE significantly delayed the progression of BLM-PF and increased the survival rates of experimental mice with PF. VE suppressed the pathological activation and fibrotic differentiation of lung fibroblasts and epithelial-mesenchymal transition and alleviated the inflammatory response in BLM-induced fibrotic lungs and pulmonary epithelial cells in vitro. Importantly, VE reduced BLM-induced ferritin expression in fibrotic lungs, whereas VE did not exhibit iron chelation properties in fibroblasts or epithelial cells in vitro. Furthermore, VE protected against mitochondrial dysmorphology and normalized mitochondrial protein expression in BLM-PF lungs. Consistently, VE suppressed apoptosis in BLM-PF lungs and pulmonary epithelial cells in vitro.Discussion: Collectively, VE markedly inhibited BLM-induced PF through a complex mechanism, including improving iron metabolism and mitochondrial structure and function, mitigating inflammation, and decreasing the fibrotic functions of fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Therefore, VE presents a highly potential therapeutic against PF due to its multiple protective effects with few side effects

The transcription factor Ets1 is important for CD4 repression and Runx3 up-regulation during CD8 T cell differentiation in the thymus

The transcription factor Ets1 contributes to the differentiation of CD8 lineage cells in the thymus, but how it does so is not understood. In this study, we demonstrate that Ets1 is required for the proper termination of CD4 expression during the differentiation of major histocompatability class 1 (MHC I)–restricted thymocytes, but not for other events associated with their positive selection, including the initiation of cytotoxic gene expression, corticomedullary migration, or thymus exit. We further show that Ets1 promotes expression of Runx3, a transcription factor important for CD8 T cell differentiation and the cessation of Cd4 gene expression. Enforced Runx3 expression in Ets1-deficient MHC I–restricted thymocytes largely rescued their impaired Cd4 silencing, indicating that Ets1 is not required for Runx3 function. Finally, we document that Ets1 binds at least two evolutionarily conserved regions within the Runx3 gene in vivo, supporting the possibility that Ets1 directly contributes to Runx3 transcription. These findings identify Ets1 as a key player during CD8 lineage differentiation and indicate that it acts, at least in part, by promoting Runx3 expression

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat