Search

Filamentous fungi produce a wide variety of enzymes in order to efficiently degrade plant cell wall polysaccharides. The production of these enzymes is controlled by transcriptional regulators, which also control the catabolic pathways that convert the released monosaccharides. Two transcriptional regulators, GalX and GalR, control d-galactose utilization in the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, while the arabinanolytic regulator AraR regulates l-arabinose catabolism. d-Galactose and l-arabinose are commonly found together in polysaccharides, such as arabinogalactan, xylan and rhamnogalacturonan I. Therefore, the catabolic pathways that convert d-galactose and l-arabinose are often also likely to be active simultaneously. In this study, we investigated the interaction between GalX, GalR and AraR in d-galactose and l-arabinose catabolism. For this, we generated single, double and triple mutants of the three regulators, and analysed their growth and enzyme and gene expression profiles. Our results clearly demonstrated that GalX, GalR and AraR co-regulate d-galactose catabolism in A. nidulans. GalX has a prominent role on the regulation of genes of d-galactose oxido-reductive pathway, while AraR can compensate for the absence of GalR and/or GalX.

Fungi play a critical role in the global carbon cycle by degrading plant polysaccharides to small sugars and metabolizing them as carbon and energy sources. We mapped the well-established sugar metabolic network of Aspergillus niger to five taxonomically distant species (Aspergillus nidulans, Penicillium subrubescens, Trichoderma reesei, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Dichomitus squalens) using an orthology-based approach. The diversity of sugar metabolism correlates well with the taxonomic distance of the fungi. The pathways are highly conserved between the three studied Eurotiomycetes (A. niger, A. nidulans, P. subrubescens). A higher level of diversity was observed between the T. reesei and A. niger, and even more so for the two Basidiomycetes. These results were confirmed by integrative analysis of transcriptome, proteome and metabolome, as well as growth profiles of the fungi growing on the corresponding sugars. In conclusion, the establishment of sugar pathway models in different fungi revealed the diversity of fungal sugar conversion and provided a valuable resource for the community, which would facilitate rational metabolic engineering of these fungi as microbial cell factories.

Objectives: To compare the stress distribution and crack propagation in cracked mandibular first molar restored with onlay, overlay, and two types of occlusal veneers using two different CAD/CAM materials by Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Materials and methods: A mandibular first molar was digitized using a micro CT scanning system in 2023. Three-dimensional dynamic scan data were transformed, and a 3D model of a cracked tooth was generated. Finite element models of four different models (onlay, overlay, and two types of occlusal veneer restored teeth) were designed. Two different CAD/CAM materials, including Lava Ultimate (LU) and IPS e.max CAD (EMX), were specified for both models. Each model was subjected to three different force loads on the occlusal surfaces. Stress distribution patterns and the maximum von Mises (VM) stresses were calculated and compared. Results: Compared to the base model, all restorations showed that high-stress concentration moved from the lower margin of the crack area towards the top of the crack area. The EMX-restored onlay, overlay, and occlusal veneer 2 had the lower stress in the cracked area and the lower average von Mises stress levels at the lower margin along the cracked line, especially under the 225N lateral force (P < 0.05). The occlusal veneer 1 filled with resin had a poorer stress distribution and higher stress concentration of stress at the remaining crack than the occlusal veneer 2 without resin filled inside. Conclusions: The EMX restorations with onlay, overlay, and occlusal veneer 2 showed lower stress concentration at the lower margin of crack surface compared to the LU-restored models. The occlusal veneer with internal resin filler exhibited higher stress on the end of the lower margin of the crack surface. Clinical relevance: Our results suggest that onlay, overlay ceramic restorations and occlusal veneer (without resin filling inside) may be a favorable method to prevent further crack propagation. Trial registration: A protocol was specified and registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) on 2022–04-12 (registration number: ChiCTR2200058630). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with increased mortality among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. This meta-analysis aimed to identify risk factors for the development of AKI in patients with COVID-19. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and EMBASE from 1 December 2019 to 1 January 2023. Due to significant study heterogeneity, meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models. Meta-regression and sensitivity analysis were also performed. A total of 153,600 COVID-19 patients from 39 studies were included, and 28,003 patients developed AKI. By meta-analysis, we discovered that age, male sex, obesity, black race, invasive ventilation, and the use of diuretics, steroids and vasopressors, in addition to comorbidities such as hypertension, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and diabetes, were significant risk factors for COVID-19-associated AKI. Early detection of these risk factors is essential to reduce the incidence of AKI and improve the prognosis of COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine whether carbohydrate antigen 72–4 (CA72–4) is elevated in diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and examine the association between urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) and CA72–4 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Non-dialysis patients with T2DM (n=296) and 90 healthy controls were recruited in this study. CA72–4 level was measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. DKD was defined as UACR≥ 30 mg/g in the absence of a urinary infection or other renal diseases. We found that patients with DKD had significantly higher serum CA72–4 levels compared to those with normoalbuminuria and healthy controls. Positive rates of CA72–4 increased gradually and markedly from normoalbuminuria to microalbuminuria and to macroalbuminuria in diabetic patients (7.5, 11.2, and 17.4%, respectively; P for trend< 0.05). CA72–4 also showed a positive correlation with UACR (r=0.288, P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed the association of increased UACR with an increased odds ratio of elevation of CA72–4 levels (P for trend< 0.05) after multivariable adjustment. In conclusion, serum levels of CA72–4 increase abnormally with the increase in urinary albumin excretion, which affects the specificity of diagnosis of malignancies. An appropriate interpretation of CA72–4 is essential to prevent unnecessary and even hazardous diagnostic procedures in patients with T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]