The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted the economy, livelihood, and physical and mental well-being of people worldwide. This study aimed to compare the mental health status during ...the pandemic in the general population of seven middle income countries (MICs) in Asia (China, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam). All the countries used the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to measure mental health. There were 4479 Asians completed the questionnaire with demographic characteristics, physical symptoms and health service utilization, contact history, knowledge and concern, precautionary measure, and rated their mental health with the IES-R and DASS-21. Descriptive statistics, One-Way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression were used to identify protective and risk factors associated with mental health parameters. There were significant differences in IES-R and DASS-21 scores between 7 MICs (p<0.05). Thailand had all the highest scores of IES-R, DASS-21 stress, anxiety, and depression scores whereas Vietnam had all the lowest scores. The risk factors for adverse mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic include age <30 years, high education background, single and separated status, discrimination by other countries and contact with people with COVID-19 (p<0.05). The protective factors for mental health include male gender, staying with children or more than 6 people in the same household, employment, confidence in doctors, high perceived likelihood of survival, and spending less time on health information (p<0.05). This comparative study among 7 MICs enhanced the understanding of metal health in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The reason why the DNA content, chromosome number and shape, and gene content of eukaryotic genomes vary independently remains a matter of speculation. The same is true for the questions of whether ...there is a general tendency for increase or decrease of genome size and chromosome number and whether genome size and/or chromosome number have an adaptive value and, if so, what this value is. Here we assume that three strategies of genome evolution (shrinkage, expansion, and equilibrium) have developed to find the optimal balance between genomic stability and plasticity. We suggest various modes of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair in combination with whole-genome duplication (WGD) and dysploid chromosome number alteration to explain the different strategies of genome size and karyotype evolution.
Despite recent developments in genomics it remains unclear why gene content, chromosome number, and genome size vary independently of each other. Is there a tendency for genome size or chromosome number to increase or decrease over time? Does genome size or chromosome number have an adaptive value and, if so, what is that value?
Genomes need a balance between required stability and some degree of variability sufficient for optimal fitness of their carriers.
Recent genomic and cytogenomic approaches indicate that, besides sex, whole-genome duplication and erroneous DNA double-strand break repair are the main sources of genome structural variation.
This motivated us to elaborate three strategies of genome evolution (shrinkage, expansion, and stasis) between which organisms may switch under the influence of stochastic mutations and/or selection pressure.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
In the fight against COVID-19, vaccination is vital in achieving herd immunity. Many Asian countries are starting to vaccinate frontline workers; however, expedited vaccine development has led to ...hesitancy among the general population. We evaluated the willingness of healthcare workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
From 12 to 21 December 2020, we recruited 1720 healthcare workers from 6 countries: China, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and Bhutan. The self-administrated survey collected information on willingness to vaccinate, perception of COVID-19, vaccine concerns, COVID-19 risk profile, stigma, pro-socialness scale, and trust in health authorities.
More than 95% of the healthcare workers surveyed were willing to vaccinate. These respondents were more likely to perceive the pandemic as severe, consider the vaccine safe, have less financial concerns, less stigmatization regarding the vaccine, higher pro-socialness mindset and trust in health authorities. A high perceived pandemic risk index, low vaccine harm index and high pro-socialness index were independent predictors in multivariable analysis.
The majority of healthcare workers in Asia are willing to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Perceived COVID-19 susceptibility, low potential risk of vaccine harm and pro-socialness are the main drivers. These findings may help formulate vaccination strategies in other countries.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Summary
The possibility to predict the outcome of targeted DNA double‐stranded break (DSB) repair would be desirable for genome editing. Furthermore the consequences of mis‐repair of potentially ...cell‐lethal DSBs and the underlying pathways are not yet fully understood. Here we study the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9‐induced mutation spectra at three selected endogenous loci in Arabidopsis thaliana by deep sequencing of long amplicon libraries. Notably, we found sequence‐dependent genomic features that affected the DNA repair outcome. Deletions of 1‐bp to <1000‐bp size and/or very short insertions, deletions >1 kbp (all due to NHEJ) and deletions combined with insertions between 5‐bp to >100 bp caused by a synthesis‐dependent strand annealing (SDSA)‐like mechanism occurred most frequently at all three loci. The appearance of single‐stranded annealing events depends on the presence and distance between repeats flanking the DSB. The frequency and size of insertions is increased if a sequence with high similarity to the target site was available in cis. Most deletions were linked to pre‐existing microhomology. Deletion and/or insertion mutations were blunt‐end ligated or via de novo generated microhomology. While most mutation types and, to some degree, their predictability are comparable with animal systems, the broad range of deletion mutations seems to be a peculiar feature of the plant A. thaliana.
Significance Statement
Little information is known of what effect the target sequence has on the result of genome editing. We found that the choice of repair pathways and the outcome regarding size and frequency of deletions and insertions at targeted double‐stranded breaks depends on the sequence context (e.g. the presence and arrangement of repeats), thus having the potential to predict the results of genome editing in Arabidopsis thaliana.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
In order to prevent genome instability, cells need to be protected by a number of repair mechanisms, including DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. The extent to which DSB repair, biased towards ...deletions or insertions, contributes to evolutionary diversification of genome size is still under debate.
We analyzed mutation spectra in Arabidopsis thaliana and in barley (Hordeum vulgare) by PacBio sequencing of three DSB-targeted loci each, uncovering repair via gene conversion, single strand annealing (SSA) or nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ). Furthermore, phylogenomic comparisons between A. thaliana and two related species were used to detect naturally occurring deletions during Arabidopsis evolution.
Arabidopsis thaliana revealed significantly more and larger deletions after DSB repair than barley, and barley displayed more and larger insertions. Arabidopsis displayed a clear net loss of DNA after DSB repair, mainly via SSA and NHEJ. Barley revealed a very weak net loss of DNA, apparently due to less active break-end resection and easier copying of template sequences into breaks. Comparative phylogenomics revealed several footprints of SSA in the A. thaliana genome.
Quantitative assessment of DNA gain and loss through DSB repair processes suggests deletion-biased DSB repair causing ongoing genome shrinking in A. thaliana, whereas genome size in barley remains nearly constant.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NMLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between uncontrolled diabetes and periodontal disease (PD) among adults in the United States. We used data from the 2009–2014 National Health and ...Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with a sample of 6108 adults ages 30 and over. To measure PD status, we used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American Academy of Periodontology’s standards. To classify DM status (no DM, DM with HbA
1c
< 9%, diabetes with HbA
1c
≥ 9%),we used self-reported Diabetes Mellitus (DM) diagnosis and laboratory report of HbA
1c
. Approximately 8.5% of the sample had controlled DM, and 1.7% had uncontrolled DM, for a total of 10.2% DM in the analysis. Multivariate logistic regression showed that compared to those without DM, PD was significantly increased with controlled DM (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.73, p < 0.05) and even more with uncontrolled DM (aOR = 2.48, 95% CI 1.52–4.04, p < 0.001), after adjusting for covariates. Factors that reduced the prevalence of PD included annual dental visits, female gender, and college education. Factors that significantly increased PD prevalence were cigarette smoking, non-white race, income < 200% Federal Poverty Level, and older age (age > 50 years). In conclusion, uncontrolled DM was significantly associated with higher odds of PD among adults in the US.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Active pharmaceutical ingredients are either extracted from biological sources—where they are synthesized in complex, dynamic environments—or prepared in stepwise chemical syntheses by reacting pure ...reagents and catalysts under controlled conditions. A combination of these two approaches, where plant extracts containing reagents and catalysts are utilized in intensified chemical syntheses, creates expedient and sustainable processes. We illustrate this principle by reacting crude plant extract, oxygen, acid, and light to produce artemisinin, a key active pharmaceutical ingredient of the most powerful antimalarial drugs. The traditionally discarded extract of Artemisia annua plants contains dihydroartemisinic acid—the final biosynthetic precursor—as well as chlorophyll, which acts as a photosensitizer. Efficient irradiation with visible light in a continuous‐flow setup produces artemisinin in high yield, and the artificial biosynthetic process outperforms syntheses with pure reagents.
Crude plant extracts contain a large variety of chemically active compounds, which can be utilized for natural product synthesis. This approach is illustrated by the partial synthesis of artemisinin with crude chlorophyll as the photosensitizer.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Phenotypic degeneration in Cordyceps militaris poses a significant concern for producers, yet the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain elusive. To address this concern, we isolated two ...strains that differ in their abilities to form fruiting bodies. Our observations revealed that the degenerated strain lost the capacity to develop fruiting bodies, exhibited limited radial expansion, increased spore density, and elevated intracellular glycerol levels. Transcriptome reanalysis uncovered dysregulation of genes involved in the MAPK signaling pathway in the degenerate strain. Our RT-qPCR results demonstrated reduced expression of sexual development genes, along with upregulation of genes involved in asexual sporulation, glycerol synthesis, and MAPK regulation, when compared to the wild-type strain. Additionally, we discovered that osmotic stress reduced radial growth but increased conidia sporulation and glycerol accumulation in all strains. Furthermore, hyperosmotic stress inhibited fruiting body formation in all neutralized strains. These findings indicate dysregulation of the MAPK signaling pathway, the possibility of the activation of the high-osmolarity glycerol and spore formation modules, as well as the downregulation of the pheromone response and filamentous growth cascades in the degenerate strain. Overall, our study sheds light on the mechanisms underlying Cordyceps militaris degeneration and identifies potential targets for improving cultivation practices.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background: The study was conducted in a Dallas lead smelter community following an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Cleanup project. Lead smelters operated in the Dallas community ...since the mid-1930s.Aim: To test the hypothesis that cadmium (Cd) exposure is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) ≥ stage 3.Subjects and methods: Subjects were African American residents aged ≥19 to ≤ 89 years (n=835). CKD ≥ stage 3 was predicted by blood Cd concentration with covariates.Results: In logistic regression analysis, CKD ≥ stage 3 was predicted by age ≥ 50 years (OR = 4.41, p < 0.0001), Cd level (OR = 1.89, p < .05), hypertension (OR = 3.15, p < 0.03), decades living in the community (OR = 1.34, p < 0.003) and T2DM (OR = 2.51, p < 0.01). Meta-analysis of 11 studies of Cd and CKD ≥ stage 3 yielded an ORRANDOM of 1.40 (p < 0.0001). Chronic environmental Cd exposure is associated with CKD ≥ stage 3 in a Dallas lead smelter community controlling covariates.Conclusion: Public health implications include screening for heavy metals including Cd, cleanup efforts to remove Cd from the environment and treating CKD with newer renal-sparing medications (e.g., SGLT-2 inhibitors, GLP-1s).
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DOBA, FSPLJ, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The study was conducted to determine the prevalence and characterization of the
isolates from suspected pigs in Vietnam.
A total of 83
strains were isolated from lung samples and nasal swabs ...collected from pigs associated with pneumonia, progressive atrophic rhinitis, or reproductive and respiratory symptoms. Isolates were subjected to multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for capsular typing, detection of virulence-associated genes and antibiotic resistance genes by PCR. The antimicrobial sensitivity profiles of the isolates were tested by disk diffusion method.
All the isolates 83/83 (100%) were identified as
by PCR: serogroup A was obtained from 40/83 (48.19%), serogroup D was detected from 24/83 strains (28.91%), and serogroup B was found in 19/83 (22.35%) isolates. The presence of 14 virulence genes was reported including adhesins group (
- 93.97%,
- 93.97%, and
- 90.36%), iron acquisition (
- 100%, and
- 85.54%), hyaluronidase (
- 84.33%), and protectins (
- 56.62%,
68.67%, and
- 100%). The dermonecrotoxin
had low prevalence (19.28%). The antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that cephalexin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and enrofloxacin were the drugs most likely active against
while amoxicillin and tetracycline were inactive. The usage of PCR revealed that 63/83 isolates were carrying at least one of the drug resistance genes.
Unlike other parts of the word, serotype B was prevalent among Vietnamese porcine
strains. The high antibiotic resistance detected among these isolates gives us an alert about the current state of imprudent antibiotic usage in controlling the pathogenic bacteria.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
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