Abstract Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are proteins synthesized in plants and responsible for their tolerance to environmental stresses. However, little information is available on the GST gene family of sweet potato, a globally important crop. The genetic evolution of GSTs in sweet potato remains unclear. The present study investigated the GST gene family in sweet potato by transcriptomic and comparative genomic analyses. A total of 51 GSTs were identified. Gene expression analysis showed differential expression patterns of the GSTs between two investigated varieties. Some GST expression levels were either up- or downregulated under oxidative, salinity and drought stresses. The results of the investigation provided new insights on the GST gene family in sweet potato, which may further the understanding of the roles of these genes in regulating abiotic stresses.

Abstract Shewanella and Pseudomonas are considered to be the main spoilage bacteria for chilled fish. This work focused on the spoilage and adhesion ability of two spoilage bacteria (Shewanella spp. S-1 and Pseudomonas spp. P-1), and the adhesion inhibitory effects of Bacillus subtilis against the spoilage bacteria in large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea). We aimed to develop a feasible solution to prolong the shelf life of large yellow croaker. The spoilage and adhesion characteristics of Shewanella spp. and Pseudomonas spp. strains were compared. It was found that Shewanella spp. induced more significant spoilage of large yellow croaker than Pseudomonas spp. at low temperature in vitro. In addition, Shewanella spp. demonstrated stronger adhesion to the intestinal mucus than Pseudomonas spp. in vitro. The results of a one-week feeding experiment showed that Shewanella was more likely to adhere to large yellow croaker intestines than Pseudomonas. The supplementation of B. subtilis strain BS08 effectively inhibited the proliferation of Shewanella and slowed the spoilage process of large yellow croaker.

Abstract In this paper, the ultra-high drop hammer impact test system is adopted for the vertical impact experiment on six SFSRCBs with steel fiber volume fraction of 2.0% and build the relevant numerical model. The research variables mainly include impact energy, impact mass and cumulative impact mode. The results show that, under a single equal energy impact, with the increase of the impact speed, the crack distribution of the specimen gradually tends to the mid-span local position. Compared with the impact mass, the impact speed has a greater effect on the failure mode, deformation resistance and deformation recovery ability of SFSRCBs. When the total cumulative impact energy is the same as the single impact energy, then the overall damage of the specimen caused by high-mass low-velocity cumulative impact is less significant than that caused by low-mass high-velocity cumulative impact. Combined with the finite element analysis, the calculation formula of the maximum deflection of SFSRCB under impact load is obtained. Finally, the calculation method of the impact damage evaluation factor of SFSRCBs is proposed.

Abstract Drug resistance is a crucial obstacle to achieve satisfactory chemotherapeutic effects. Numerous studies have shown that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway plays a significant role in various processes of cellular events and tumor progression, while few studies have focused on the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in drug resistance of endothelial cells. The present study aims to explore the relationship of PI3K/Akt signaling and cellular resistance to anticancer drugs in human microvessel endothelial cells (HMEC-1). We established stable sunitinib-resiatant human microvessel endothelial cells (HMEC-su) after long-term exposure to sunitinib (a small-molecule tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor) for 12 months. HMEC-su showed significant alternations of cell morphology and exhibited a 2.32-fold higher IC50 of sunitinib than parental HMEC-1 cells. Expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer-resistance protein (ABCG2) which mediates drug efflux, increased significantly in HMEC-su lines compared with HMEC-1 cells by western blots assay. Our study further demonstrates that LY294002 (blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway) enhances the sensibility of HMEC-su to suntinib and inhibits the gene transcription and protein expression of P-gp, ABCG2 in HMEC-su cells. In conclusion, these results indicate that LY294002 could reverse P-gp and ABCG2 mediated-drug resistance to sunitinib in HMEC-su cells by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling.

The objective of this study was to analyze the infection rate and drug resistance of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and Mycoplasma hominis (MH) in the genitourinary tract of Chinese patients. From December 2018 to June 2019, vaginal secretion or urinary secretion of outpatients in our hospital were selected for culture and drug sensitivity analysis of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis. In 4082 Chinese samples, 1567 Mycoplasma were detected, a detection rate of 38.39%, among which 1366 cases were UU single positive, accounting for 33.47%, 15 cases were MH single positive, accounting for 0.36%, 186 cases were UU and MH mixed positive, accounting for 4.56%. The most affected age groups were 21-30 years and 31-40 years, accounting for 19.09 and 15.05%, respectively. The results of drug sensitivity showed that doxycycline, minocycline, josamycin, clarithromycin, and roxithromycin were more sensitive to mycoplasma infection. The distribution of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in the human genitourinary system and their sensitivity to antibiotics is different for sex and age groups.

In this study, the effects of sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) leaves (SL) on the biochemical parameters and metabolomic profiling in Altay lamb (Ovis aries) were observed. Sixty six-month-old male Altay lambs (body weight 28.0 ± 3.5 kg) were randomly assigned to four groups (n=15). The experimental groups were named as CON, 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5%. The group CON, contained animals fed with a basal diet. Animals of the other groups were fed a treatment diet consisting of 2.5% (Group 2.5%), 5.0% (Group 5.0%) and 7.5% (Group 7.5%) SL. The experimental period lasted 56 days. The results showed that the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) increased with the increase in the levels of dietary SL. Dietary SL showed a direct relationship with total protein (TP), albumin, globulin and total cholesterol (TC) content of the experimental animals. However, an indirect relationship was observed between dietary SL and the concentration of urea nitrogen (UN). The concentrations of glucose, high -density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) showed quadratic change. Additional changes occurred in the endogenous metabolites involving multiple pathways. The pathways were tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, the metabolism of protein and amino acid and the metabolism of fatty acid and steroid. The changes in metabolites primarily revealed an increase in amino acids and carbohydrates and a decrease in lipid metabolites. These findings provide a comprehensive insight into the effects of the metabolic aspects of sea-buckthorn leaves on Altay lambs. In addition, the present research results provide a better understanding to the development and utilization of sea-buckthorn as a healthy additive for small ruminant production.

Abstract Background: Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is the main cause of pediatric brain tumor death. This study was designed to identify key genes associated with DIPG. Methods: The gene expression profile GSE50021, which consisted of 35 pediatric DIPG samples and 10 normal brain samples, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by limma package. Functional and pathway enrichment analyses were performed by the DAVID tool. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and transcription factor (TF)-microRNA (miRNA)-target gene network were constructed using Cytoscape. Moreover, the expression levels of several genes were validated in human glioma cell line U251 and normal glia HEB cells through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: A total of 378 DEGs were screened (74 up-regulated and 304 down-regulated genes). In the PPI network, GRM1, HTR2A, GRM7 and GRM2 had higher degrees. Besides, GRM1 and HTR2A were significantly enriched in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, and calcium signaling pathway. In addition, TFAP2C was a significant down-regulated functional gene and hsa-miR-26b-5p had a higher degree in the TF-miRNA-target gene network. PCR analysis revealed that GRM7 and HTR2A were significantly downregulated while TFAP2C was upregulated in U251 cells compared with that in HEB cells (p < 0.001). GRM2 was not detected in cells. Conclusions: GRM1 and HTR2A might function in DIPG through the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway and the calcium signaling pathway. Furthermore, the TFAP2C and hsa-miR-26b-5p might play important roles in the development and progression mechanisms of DIPG.

ABSTRACT Alginate is a major component of brown algae, but it cannot be utilized for ethanol fermentation by industrial microorganisms. A natural alginate degrading and ethanol producing strain was obtained in our previous research. However, the research on the ethanol metabolism process of the natural alginate fermentation strain is lacked. In this research, the key enzyme and metabolic process of ethanol fermentation were studied. Three kinds of key enzyme including alginate lyase, pyruvate dehydrogenase and ethanol dehydrogenase were determined. The enzyme activity in the metabolic process was relatively high at 60-96 h which was the most important period during the fermentation. Meanwhile the concentration change of the important substances including soluble sugar, reducing sugar, acidity, pyruvic acid and ethanol were tracked and analyzed. Total soluble sugar and reducing sugar change tendency during the fermentation was similar. In the whole fermentation process, the fermentation broth was acidic. The value of pyruvic acid content reached highest at 72 h. During 48-96 h, the growth of ethanol concentration was very obvious. The alginate metabolic process in natural alginate fermentation strain was to generate extracellular alginate lyase to degrade alginate to produce reducing sugar, and then some intermediate metabolites formed such as pyruvic acid. Finally under the effect of pyruvate dehydrogenase and ethanol dehydrogenase, ethanol was produced.

The effect of bisacodyl on the treatment of rats with slow transit constipation (STC) was studied. Forty-five female Wister rats were divided into control group, STC group, and STC bisacodyl group. The immunohistochemical method was used to determine interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and the expression of c-Kit protein. Body mass and the number of defecations were significantly decreased in the STC group compared with the control group on the 100th day after diphenoxylate administration, while dry weight of feces was significantly increased and the intestinal transit time was prolonged. There were significant differences in the number of defecations, dry weight of feces, and intestinal transit time among the three groups. The number of defecations was higher, dry weight of feces was lower, and intestinal transit time was shorter in the STC bisacodyl group compared to the STC group. In addition, ICC basement membrane dissolution occurred in the colon wall of the STC group. The connection between ICC and surrounding cells was destroyed, and the nucleus shrunken to different degrees. Moreover, c-Kit expression in the STC group was significantly lower than the control group. The connection between ICC and surrounding cells in the STC bisacodyl group was significantly stronger than the STC group, and the number of ICC and the expression of c-Kit were increased. Bisacodyl could reduce the severity of STC in rats by increasing the number of ICC and the expression of c-Kit.

Electrosynthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from methanol and carbon monoxide using an Cu(phen)Cl2 catalyst was achieved at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The catalytic activity of the ligand 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and the catalytic system were analyzed. The IR characterization results for the complex catalyst showed that copper ions were coordinated by nitrogen atoms of phen. In addition, the effects of the influencing factors, such as reaction time (t), reaction temperature (T) and the surface area of the working electrode (SWE) were studied.

CONTEXTO: As complicações cardiovasculares são a principal causa de morte em pacientes com acromegalia, e a morte súbita tem sido associada a taquiarritmias ventriculares. Em outros pacientes com risco de vida por taquiarritmias ventriculares malignas, a aplicação cirúrgica de um cardioversor-desfibrilador implantável (CDI) provou ser altamente eficaz na redução das taxas de morte súbita. RELATO DE CASO: O presente artigo relata o caso de um paciente acromegálico de 50 anos de idade e do sexo masculino, que apresentava sintomas de síncope induzida por taquicardia ventricular. Foi implantado cirurgicamente nesse paciente um CDI e na mesma intervenção cirúrgica foi completamente removido um adenoma hipofisário responsável pela acromegalia. A cirurgia foi bem-sucedida e o paciente deixou de sofrer de arritmias ventriculares. Durante seis meses de acompanhamento, não se documentaram, nesse paciente, episódios arrítmicos. CONCLUSÃO: A taquiarritmia ventricular maligna pode ser efetivamente controlada em pacientes com acromegalia pela implantação de um CDI combinado com a remoção cirúrgica do adenoma hipofisário.

CONTEXT: In patients with acromegaly, cardiovascular complications are the main cause of death; sudden death has been associated with ventricular tachyarrhythmias. In other patients with life-threatening malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias, surgical placement of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has proved highly effective in reducing sudden death rates. CASE REPORT: The present article reports the case of a 50-year-old male acromegalic patient who presented symptoms of syncope induced by ventricular tachycardia. An ICD was surgically implanted and a pituitary adenoma, which was responsible for the acromegaly, was completely removed in the same procedure. The surgery was successful and the ventricular arrhythmias were effectively terminated. During six months of follow-up, no documented arrhythmic episodes occurred. CONCLUSION: In patients with acromegaly, malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia might be effectively controlled by implantation of an ICD and surgical removal of the pituitary adenoma.

For immobilization of puerarin glycosidase from Microbacterium oxydans CGMCC 1788 on DEAE-52 cellulose, the optimal amount of enzyme protein was 12 mg protein: 1 g DEAE-52 cellulose; the optimal pH was 6.5; and the optimal immobilization time was 6 hr. The specific activity of immobilized enzyme was 36.67 mU.g-1 carrier with an immobilization yield of 98.87% and an enzyme recovery yield of 92.43%. The molar transformation rates of puerarin by immobilized enzyme and by the relative bacterial cell amount equal to the same amount of enzyme were 53.3% and 2.2%, respectively, after 1 hr of transformation. The former molar transformation rate, which was similar to that for free enzyme, was more than 24-fold greater than the latter. The immobilized puerarin glycosidase showed improved enzymatic properties and stability. The immobilized puerarin glycosidase retained 88% of its initial activity after being reused 10 times.

A new cation exchangers (CAXs) gene was cloned and characterized from Capsella bursapastoris by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA sequence of cax from C. bursa-pastoris (designated as Cbcax51) was 1754 bp containing a 1398 bp open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 466 amino-acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 50.5 kDa and an isoelectric point of 5.69. The predicted CbCAX51 contained an IMP dehydrogenase/GMP reductase domain, two Na+/Ca2+ exchanger protein domains. Comparative and bioinformatics analyses revealed that CbCAX51 showed extensive homology with CAX from other plant species. The expression analysis by different treatments indicated that Cbcax51 could be activated by cold triggering and was related to the cold acclimation process, but its expression is regulated negatively by drought and not affected by ABA or salt.