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Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) is one of the most potent biotoxins ever known. Its entry into neurons could block vesicle exocytosis to abolish the release of neurotransmitters from nerve terminals, thus leading to muscle paralysis. Although there are so many peptides, antibodies and chemical compounds claimed to have anti-toxin activity, no drug is available in the clinical application except equine antitoxin serum. In the present work, a short peptide inhibitor RRGW of BoNT/A was firstly identified by computer-aided ligand-receptor binding simulation, then an RRGW derived peptide was rational designed based on the fragment of SNAP-25 (141–206 aa). Proteolytic assay showed that the anti-toxin activity of the RRGW derived peptide was much higher than that of RRGW. Digit abduction score assay demonstrated that the derived peptide delayed BoNT/A-induced muscle paralysis at a lower concentration by 20-fold than RRGW. The results supported that RRGW derived peptide can be a potential BoNT/A inhibitor candidate for further treating botulism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor-educated platelets (TEPs) have been widely reported to have promising application potential; nonetheless, platelet isolation from peripheral blood is an important but neglected step in TEPs research for platelet-based liquid biopsy. In this article, we discussed some common influence factors for platelet isolation. To investigate the factors involved in platelet isolation, a prospective multicenter study was conducted on healthy Han Chinese adults (18 to 79 years of age). A total of 208 individuals were included in the final statistical analysis out of the 226 healthy volunteers who were prospectively enrolled from four hospitals. The primary study metric was the platelet recovery rate (PRR). The similar pattern was observed in the four hospitals, The PRR at room temperature (23°C±2°C) was slightly higher than the PRR at cold temperature (4°C±2°C). Moreover, the PRR gradually decreased as the storage time increased. The PRR for samples within 2 hours of storage is significantly higher than for samples beyond 2 hours (p <.05). Additionally, PRR was also affected by the equipment used in different centers. This study confirmed several factors that influence platelet isolation. In our study, we indicated that platelet isolation should be performed within two hours of peripheral blood draw and held at room temperature until isolation, and that centrifuge models should be fixed during the extraction process, which will further improve the research progress of platelet-based liquid biopsy in cancer. What is the context? Globally, cancer is one of the leading cause of premature death. Early screening is important for cancer diagnosis and treatment and can even significantly lower cancer mortality Globally, cancer is one of the leading cause of premature death. Early screening is important for cancer diagnosis and treatment and can even significantly lower cancer mortality For the liquid biopsy, isolation is an important step. Early studies have explored the influencing factors of exosome, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and other components extraction in liquid biopsy. Despite platelet also being an excellent source of liquid biopsy, few studies have explored the factors that influence platelet isolation.Considering the importance of platelet isolation in tumor-based platelet liquid biopsy, our aim is to optimize platelet isolation conditions as much as possible to obtain a high platelet recovery rate. What is new? In this study, we conducted a prospective multicenter study ofhealthy adults from four centers, combining whole blood with platelet-richplasma to investigate factors influencing platelet recovery rate (PRR) during platelet isolation. In our study, we indicated that platelet isolation should be performed within two hours at room temperature, and that centrifuge models should be fixed during the extraction process, which will further improve the research progress of platelet-based liquid biopsy in cancer. What is the impact? In future platelet-related studies, we should fix the sample storage temperature, storage time and centrifuge model in the process of platelet extraction, so as to reduce the variables affecting platelet extraction as much as possible and ensure the stable recovery rate of platelet extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in an attempt to evaluate the impact of Broussonetia papyrifera as a roughage substitute at different levels on carcase traits, growth performance, meat quality and immune performance in Hu ram lambs. Sixty Hu rams (5 months of age, 26.70 ± 2.14 kg body weight) were randomly divided into four groups. The treatments comprised B. papyrifera supplementation at levels of 0% (G0), 30% (G30), 60% (G60) and 100% (G100) of roughage feed. The results suggested that diet supplemented with B. papyrifera (G100 group) caused a higher average weight gain (AWG) and average daily gain (ADG) than those of G0 group. The highest carcase weight was observed in the G60 group. The chemical and physical properties of the longissimus dorsi muscle of Hu rams showed no significant differences (p>.05). For fatty acid, the G60 group had significantly lower content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), higher contents of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and higher PUFA/SFA ratio than other groups (p<.05). In terms of the immune response, G60 and G100 groups significantly showed a significant rise in the immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM) (p<.05). This study indicated multiple beneficial effects of the inclusion of B. papyrifera (60% of the roughage feed) on the growth performance, carcase traits, meat quality and immune response in Hu rams. It could be used as a high-quality unconventional feedstuff for rams. The addition of Broussonetia papyrifera to the diet resulted in a significant improvement in the average weight gain (AWG) and average daily gain (ADG) of Hu rams. Adding appropriate proportion of B. papyrifera in diets positively modulates fatty acid percentage in the longissimus dorsi muscle, and also increases immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM) in blood. Broussonetia papyrifera could be used as a high-quality unconventional feedstuff for rams and has a positive effect on their growth performance, meat quality and immune performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with the increasing depth of coal mining around the world, traditional shallow geology mechanics are no longer suitable for the research on deep geological problems. In terms of deep mining, soft rock roadways in inclined rock formations show different deformation types compared with soft rock roadways in shallow horizontal strata. Based on the -1000 m track contact roadway in Qishan Mine of Xuzhou, physical model tests on the failure process of 45° and 60° inclined layered soft rock formations are carried out using physical models. The real-time monitoring of strain inside the model during the failure of soft rock formation is conducted to explore the failure mechanisms of 45° and 60° inclined layered soft rock formations in terms of in-depth high self-weight stress and horizontal tectonic stress. FLAC3D is also used for numerical simulation and comparative analysis. The roof and floor of the tunnels through 45° and 60° inclined formations fail on the left, and left and right walls fail near the bottom. The maximum displacement of the roof and floor of the 60° inclined formation is larger than that of the 45° inclined formation, and the maximum amount of deformation of left and right walls of the 45° inclined formation is larger than that of the 60° inclined formation, indicating failure features of different steeply inclined layered soft rocks roadways under high lithostatic stress and horizontal tectonic stress can provide a theoretical basis for mining and support of deep roadways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]