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Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine formula for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance (IR). The effects of GQD treatment on intestinal flora and its metabolism, however, are yet to be understood. In this study, the effects of GQD treatment on the fecal metabonome of high fructose-induced IR rats were investigated with a 1H NMR-based approach. The IR model was established by feeding the rats with 10% fructose solution for 8 consecutive weeks. The animals in the GQD treatment group were gavaged with GQD daily (18.2 g/kg/day) from the 5th to 8th week. Compared with control group, The IR rats showed significantly increases in water/food intakes, body weight and IR index at the ends of the 4th and 8th week. The fasted plasma glucose (FPG) level of the IR rats increased by the end of the 8th week. The GQD treatment lowered the IR index and normalized fecal metabonome by increasing the levels of propionate, acetate, succinate, taurine and glycerol, while decreasing the levels of n-butyrate, alanine and glutamate. These results indicated that the GQD treatment induced positive changes in amino acid metabolism, fatty acid oxidation and gut microbiota metabolism in the IR rats.

Abstract Background Ferns have generally been neglected in studies of chloroplast genomics. Before this study, only one polypod and two basal ferns had their complete chloroplast (cp) genome reported. Tree ferns represent an ancient fern lineage that first occurred in the Late Triassic. In recent phylogenetic analyses, tree ferns were shown to be the sister group of polypods, the most diverse group of living ferns. Availability of cp genome sequence from a tree fern will facilitate interpretation of the evolutionary changes of fern cp genomes. Here we have sequenced the complete cp genome of a scaly tree fern Alsophila spinulosa (Cyatheaceae). Results The Alsophila cp genome is 156,661 base pairs (bp) in size, and has a typical quadripartite structure with the large (LSC, 86,308 bp) and small single copy (SSC, 21,623 bp) regions separated by two copies of an inverted repeat (IRs, 24,365 bp each). This genome contains 117 different genes encoding 85 proteins, 4 rRNAs and 28 tRNAs. Pseudogenes of ycf66 and trnT-UGU are also detected in this genome. A unique trnR-UCG gene (derived from trnR-CCG) is found between rbcL and accD. The Alsophila cp genome shares some unusual characteristics with the previously sequenced cp genome of the polypod fern Adiantum capillus-veneris, including the absence of 5 tRNA genes that exist in most other cp genomes. The genome shows a high degree of synteny with that of Adiantum, but differs considerably from two basal ferns (Angiopteris evecta and Psilotum nudum). At one endpoint of an ancient inversion we detected a highly repeated 565-bp-region that is absent from the Adiantum cp genome. An additional minor inversion of the trnD-GUC, which is possibly shared by all ferns, was identified by comparison between the fern and other land plant cp genomes. Conclusion By comparing four fern cp genome sequences it was confirmed that two major rearrangements distinguish higher leptosporangiate ferns from basal fern lineages. The Alsophila cp genome is very similar to that of the polypod fern Adiantum in terms of gene content, gene order and GC content. However, there exist some striking differences between them: the trnR-UCG gene represents a putative molecular apomorphy of tree ferns; and the repeats observed at one inversion endpoint may be a vestige of some unknown rearrangement(s). This work provided fresh insights into the fern cp genome evolution as well as useful data for future phylogenetic studies.

Bemisia tabaci is a pest that poses a significant threat to the survival of Nicotiana tabacum and leads to decreased production and economic losses. However, it is still unknown whether proteomic changes occur in resistant N. tabacum in response to B. tabaci stresses. In the present study, iTRAQ was performed to unmask the regulating networks mediated by candidate proteins involved in resistance against B. tabaci. A total of 357 differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) responsible for B. tabaci infestation were identified, including 178 upregulated and 179 downregulated proteins. The majority of DAPs were involved in the regulation of ROS production, cell expansion, citrate cycle (TCA cycle), photosynthesis, carbon fixation, and metabolic pathways. Moreover, the expression patterns of several genes encoding DAPs were validated by qRT-PCR. Our results indicate these proteins play a significant role in the resistance of N. tabacum against B. tabaci infestation. These findings also provide a valuable proteomic resource for the elucidation of the mechanism of resistance against B. tabaci. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects memory, and its prevalence is rising. Increasing evidence suggests that dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) may be involved in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we report that the permeability of the BBB is increased and that AD-like alterations are present in Slit-2 overexpressing transgenic mice. We found that behavioral change and the corresponding molecular diagnostic markers of AD, such as hippocampal neuron apoptosis, amyloid-β (Aβ) protein deposition, and acetylcholinesterase expression, were increased in the Slit-2 transgenic mice. Moreover, the endothelial cells were dysfunctional, the size of the lateral ventricle cavity increased, and the permeability of the BBB increased. Additionally, there was an increased serum level of glutamate indicating that the BBB is related to AD. Finally, histopathological analysis of other organs in the Slit-2 overexpressing mice did not show any marked abnormalities. These findings demonstrate that Slit2 overexpression may be responsible for AD-like alterations and the increased BBB permeability in these mice. Our study provides a potential novel mechanism for the development of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polymorphism of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene is demonstrated to affect the activity of its encoding protein and the subsequent downstream effects mediated by vitamin D. Mutations in VDR gene FokI have been suggested in the development of various cancers. Whether the polymorphism of the VDR gene FokI confers risk to ovarian cancer still remains controversial across the published studies in different ethnicity. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the role of VDR gene FokI variant in the susceptibility to ovarian cancer. Six publications with 14 individual case–control studies involving a total of 10,964 subjects were finally included into our study after a comprehensive literature search of the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Wanfang databases. The strength of the association between the VDR gene FokI polymorphism and ovarian cancer risk was estimated under the allelic (T vs. C), homozygous (TT vs. CC), additive (CT vs. CC), recessive (TT vs. CC + CT), and dominant (CT + TT vs. CC) gene models. The overall odds ratios (ORs) for the contrast models of T vs. C, TT vs. CC, CT vs. CC, and CT + TT vs. CC indicated that the VDR gene FokI variant was related to an increased risk of ovarian cancer (OR T vs. C = 1.09, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.15, POR = 0.004; OR TT vs. CC = 1.17, 95 % CI 1.04–1.32, POR = 0.011; OR CT vs. CC = 1.10, 95 % CI 1.01–1.20, POR = 0.027; OR CT + TT vs. CC = 1.12, 95 % CI 1.03–1.21, POR = 0.007). The stratified analysis among the Caucasians also identified a significant association between the VDR gene FokI polymorphism and the susceptibility to ovarian cancer. The present meta-analysis with large available published data has revealed that the VDR gene FokI polymorphism confers susceptibility to ovarian cancer, particularly among the Caucasian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of breast cancer is high, with serious implications in terms of lives and health. Relevant data show that there are approximately 1 million new cases of breast cancer reported annually, with a rising trend. Some patients have poor treatment effects and are prone to anxiety and other negative emotions, which affect their quality of life (QoL)., Aim: To explore the correlation between mental resilience, QoL, and anxiety in patients with breast cancer., Methods: Using convenience sampling, 200 patients with breast cancer were selected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University. These patients were investigated using the Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire to analyze the impact of resilience in patients with breast cancer on their QoL and anxiety., Results: The mean (SD) mental resilience score of the patients with breast cancer was 59.68 (± 9.84) points, the anxiety score was 49.87 (± 8.26) points, and the QoL score was 59.73 (± 8.29) points. Overall, they showed low mental resilience, mild anxiety, and medium QoL. Anxiety was negatively correlated with mental resilience and QoL ( r = -0.275, r = -0.289, P < 0.05). QoL was positively correlated with mental resilience ( r = 0.513, P < 0.05). Anxiety was a mediating variable between mental resilience and QoL, accounting for 8.58% of the mediating effect., Conclusion: Regarding psychological elasticity, anxiety plays an intermediary role in QoL among patients with breast cancer. Medical staff can improve patients' mental resilience by reducing their anxiety and improving their QoL., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance(~1H-NMR) is used to investigate the effect of Renshenjian Decoction on serum and urine metabolism of type 2 diabetic rats with insulin resistance induced by high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin(STZ). After the successful establishment of the insulin resistance model of type 2 diabetes, administration for 35 days, the serum and urine of rats were taken. Once the ~1H-NMR data have been collected and processed, PCA and OPLS-DA were used to analyze them. The results show that: compared with the blank group, the contents of methionine, taurine, α-glucose and β-glucose in the serum of the model group increased significantly(P&lt;0.001), while the contents of 3-hydroxybutyric acid, lactic acid and unsaturated fatty acids decreased significantly(P&lt;0.01). In the model group, the contents of trimethylamine oxide, glycine, α-glucose, β-glucose, taurine and phosphocholine in urine increased significantly(P&lt;0.05), while the contents of creatine, lactic acid, acetic acid and citric acid decreased significantly(P&lt;0.05). Compared with the model group, the contents of 3-hydroxybutyric acid and unsaturated fatty acids in serum of rats in the treatment group increased significantly(P&lt;0.05), while the contents of taurine, α-glucose and β-glucose decreased significantly(P&lt;0.01). In the treatment group, the contents of lactic acid, taurine and creatine in urine increased significantly(P&lt;0.05), while the contents of trimethylamine oxide, glycine, α-glucose, β-glucose and phosphocholine decreased significantly(P&lt;0.01). The results show that Renshenjian Decoction can regulate metabolic disorder and promote the metabolic phenotype to return to the normal range. It displayed therapeutic effect on type 2 diabetic rats with insulin resistance and provided a certain scientific basis for the biological basic research of Renshenjian Decoction by improving insulin resistance in diabetes mellitus.

Phytochrome 3 (PHY3) is a novel chimeric photoreceptor that can respond to both red/far red and blue light. Using this photoreceptor, some cryptogams could enhance light sensitivity under low light environment. But PHY3 sequence information is still extremely limited. In the present study, a full-length PHY3 genomic sequence was cloned from a fern Allantodia dilatata (Bl.) Ching by inverse PCR approaches. Sequence analysis showed that introns were absent in the gene. It contained a 4 278 bp open reading frame, encoding a deduced protein of 1 425 amino acid residues with a theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of 6.29 and a calculated molecular mass about 157 kDa. Protein domain search and structure analyses indicated that PHY3 originated from the recombination of two different photoreceptors. Its N-terminal section consisted of a putative functional phytochrome chromophore-binding domain including PAS, GAF, and PHY, whereas the C-terminal region possessed a nearly complete phototropin motif with two LOV and one STKc domains.