Obesity is one of the most important public health issues worldwide. Moreover, an extreme phenotype, morbid obesity (MO) has insidiously become a global problem. Therefore, we aimed to document the ...prevalence trend and to unveil the epidemiological characteristics of MO in Taiwan.
Nationally representative samples aged 19 years and above from three consecutive waves of Nutrition and Health survey in Taiwan: 1993-1996, 2005-2008, and 2013-2014 (n = 3,071; 1,673; and 1,440; respectively) were analyzed for prevalence trend. And 39 MO (BMI ≥35 kg/m2) cases from the two recent surveys compared with 156 age, gender, and survey-matched normal weight controls (BMI: 18.5-24 kg/m2) for epidemiological characteristics study. The reduced rank regression analysis was used to find dietary pattern associated with MO.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity together (BMI ≥24 kg/m2) was stabilized in the recent two surveys, but that of MO (0.4%, 0.6%, to 1.4%) and obesity (BMI ≥27 kg/m2) (11.8%, 17.9%, to 22.0%) increased sharply. MO cases tended to have lower levels of education, personal income, and physical activity. Furthermore, their dietary pattern featured with a higher consumption frequency of red meat, processed animal products, and sweets/sweetened beverage, but lower frequencies of fresh fruits, nuts, breakfast cereal, and dairy products.
This study documents a polarization phenomenon with smaller proportion of overweight people at the center and higher proportions of normal weight and obesity subjects at two extremes. MO was associated with low socioeconomic status and poor dietary pattern. The obesogenic dietary pattern became more prevalent in later time.
Sweet potato (
) is one of the most important food crops worldwide and its leaves provide a dietary source of nutrients and various bioactive compounds. These constituents of sweet potato leaves ...(SPL) vary among varieties and play important roles in treating and preventing various diseases. Recently, more attentions in health-promoting benefits have led to several in vitro and in vivo investigations, as well as the identification and quantification of bioactive compounds in SPL. Among them, many new compounds have been reported as the first identified compounds from SPL with their dominant bioactivities. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the bioactive compositions of SPL and their health benefits. Since SPL serve as a potential source of micronutrients and functional compounds, they can be further developed as a sustainable crop for food and medicinal industries.
Mutations in genes involved in the production, migration, or differentiation of cortical neurons often lead to malformations of cortical development (MCDs). However, many genetic mutations involved ...in MCD pathogenesis remain unidentified. Here we developed a genetic screening paradigm based on transposon-mediated somatic mutagenesis by in utero electroporation and the inability of mutant neuronal precursors to migrate to the cortex and identified 33 candidate MCD genes. Consistent with the screen, several genes have already been implicated in neural development and disorders. Functional disruption of the candidate genes by RNAi or CRISPR/Cas9 causes altered neuronal distributions that resemble human cortical dysplasia. To verify potential clinical relevance of these candidate genes, we analyzed somatic mutations in brain tissue from patients with focal cortical dysplasia and found that mutations are enriched in these candidate genes. These results demonstrate that this approach is able to identify potential mouse genes involved in cortical development and MCD pathogenesis.
Background
Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) occurs at a younger age and is associated with a worse prognosis than medulloblastoma; however, these two tumor entities are mostly ...indistinguishable on neuroimaging. The aim of our study was to differentiate AT/RT and medulloblastoma based on their clinical and MRI features to enhance treatment planning and outcome prediction.
Methods
From 2005–2021, we retrospectively enrolled 16 patients with histopathologically diagnosed AT/RT and 57 patients with medulloblastoma at our institute. We evaluated their clinical data and MRI findings, including lesion signals, intratumoral morphologies, and peritumoral/distal involvement.
Results
The age of children with AT/RT was younger than that of children with medulloblastoma (2.8 ± 4.9 0–17 vs. 6.5 ± 4.0 0–18, p < 0.001), and the overall survival rate was lower (21.4% vs. 66.0%, p = 0.005). Regarding lesion signals on MRI, AT/RT had a lower ADCmin (cutoff value ≤544.7 × 10−6 mm2/s, p < 0.001), a lower ADC ratio (cutoff value ≤0.705, p < 0.001), and a higher DWI ratio (cutoff value ≥1.595, p < 0.001) than medulloblastoma. Regarding intratumoral morphology, the “tumor central vein sign” was mostly exclusive to medulloblastoma (24/57, 42.1%; AT/RT 1/16, 6.3%; p = 0.007). Regarding peritumoral invasion on T2WI, AT/RT was more prone to invasion of the brainstem (p < 0.001) and middle cerebellar peduncle (p < 0.001) than medulloblastoma.
Conclusions
MRI findings of a lower ADC value, more peritumoral invasion, and absence of the “tumor central vein sign” may be helpful to differentiate AT/RT from medulloblastoma. These distinct MRI findings together with the younger age of AT/RT patients may explain the worse outcomes in AT/RT patients.
AT/RT occurs in younger patients, has more aggressive clinical behavior and is associated with much worse outcomes than medulloblastoma. On MRI, AT/RT (G‐I) can be differentiated from medulloblastoma (A‐F) by a lower ADC value, more peritumoral invasion, and the absence of the “tumor central vein sign”.
Emissive Ir(III) metal complexes possessing two tridentate chelates (bis‐tridentate) are known to be more robust compared to those with three bidentate chelates (tris‐bidentate). Here, the ...deep‐blue‐emitting, bis‐tridentate Ir(III) metal phosphors bearing both the dicarbene pincer ancillary such as 2,6‐diimidazolylidene benzene and the 6‐pyrazolyl‐2‐phenoxylpyridine chromophoric chelate are synthesized. A deep‐blue organic light‐emitting diode from one phosphor exhibits Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE(x,y)) coordinates of (0.15, 0.17) with maximum external quantum efficiency (max. EQE) of 20.7% and EQE = 14.6% at the practical brightness of 100 cd m−2.
A deep‐blue organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) from one bis‐tridentate Ir(III) phosphor 5 exhibits CIE(x,y) coordinates of (0.15, 0.17) with maximum external quantum efficiency (max. EQE) of 20.7% and EQE = 14.6% at the practical brightness of 100 cd m−2.
Therapeutic efficacy of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is often severely limited by poor penetration of therapeutics through blood-brain barrier (BBB) into brain tissues and lack of tumor targeting. ...In this regard, a functionalized upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)-based delivery system which can target brain tumor and convert deep tissue-penetrating near-infrared (NIR) light into visible light for precise phototherapies on brain tumor was developed in this work.
: The UCNP-based phototherapy delivery system was acquired by assembly of oleic acid-coated UCNPs with angiopep-2/cholesterol-conjugated poly(ethylene glycol) and the hydrophobic photosensitizers. The hybrid nanoparticles (ANG-IMNPs) were characterized by DLS, TEM, UV/vis and fluorescence spectrophotometer. Cellular uptake was examined by laser scanning confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. The PDT/PTT effect of ANG-IMNPs was evaluated using MTT assay. Tumor accumulation of NPs was determined by a non-invasive
imaging system (IVIS). The
anti-glioma effect of ANG-IMNPs was evaluated by immunohistochemical (IHC) examination of tumor tissues and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.
:
data demonstrated enhanced uptake of ANG-IMNPs by murine astrocytoma cells (ALTS1C1) and pronounced cytotoxicity by combined NIR-triggered PDT and PTT. In consistence with the increased penetration of ANG-IMNPs through endothelial monolayer
, the NPs have also shown significantly enhanced accumulation at brain tumor by IVIS. The IHC tissue examination confirmed prominent apoptotic and necrotic effects on tumor cells in mice receiving targeted dual photo-based therapies, which also led to enhanced median survival (24 days) as compared to the NP treatment without angiopep-2 (14 days).
:
and
data strongly indicate that the ANG-IMNPs were capable of selectively delivering dual photosensitizers to brain astrocytoma tumors for effective PDT/PTT in conjugation with a substantially improved median survival. The therapeutic efficacy of ANG-IMNPs demonstrated in this study suggests their potential in overcoming BBB and establishing an effective treatment against GBM.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs which post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by directing mRNA cleavage or translational inhibition. miRNAs play multiple roles in the growth, ...development and stress responses in plants. However, little is known of the wounding-responsive miRNAs and their regulation.
Here, we investigated the expression patterns of microR828 (miR828) on wounding in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas cv Tainung 57). The expression of miR828 was only detected in leaves, and was induced by wounding rather than by ethylene, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), methyl jasmonate or nitric oxide (NO). Moreover, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) was necessary for miR828 accumulation in leaves on wounding.
Two miR828 target candidates, named IbMYB and IbTLD, were obtained by cDNA cloning, and their mRNA cleavage caused by miR828 was confirmed by cleavage site mapping, agro-infiltration and transgenics studies. The reduction in IbMYB and IbTLD expression coincided with the induction of miR828, demonstrating thatIbMYB and IbTLD might be miR828 targets. Furthermore, transgenic sweet potato overexpressing miR828 precursor affected lignin and H2O2 contents.
These results showed that cGMP could regulate wounding-responsive miR828, which repressed the expression of IbMYB and IbTLD. Subsequently, lignin and H2O2 were accumulated to participate in defense mechanisms.
Spinal metastasis from malignant primary brain tumors (MPBTs) in pediatric patients is rare and often appears as enhancing lesions on MRI. However, some indolent enhancing spinal lesions (IESLs) ...resulting from previous treatment mimic metastasis on MRI, leading to unnecessary investigation and treatment. In 2005-2020, we retrospectively enrolled 12 pediatric/young patients with clinical impression of spinal metastasis and pathological diagnosis of their spinal lesions. Three patients had MPBT with IESL, and 9 patients had malignant tumors with metastases. The histopathologic diagnosis of IESL was unremarkable marrow change. We evaluated their MRI, CT, and bone scan findings. The following imaging findings of IESL vs. spinal metastasis were noted: (1) IESLs appeared round/ovoid (3/3, 100%), whereas spinal metastasis appeared irregular (9/9, 100%) (P = 0.005); (2) target-shaped enhancement was noted in (3/3, 100%) vs. (0/9, 0%) of cases, respectively (P = 0.005); (3) pathologic fracture of the vertebral body was noted in (1/3, 33.3%) vs. (9/9, 100%) of cases, respectively (P = 0.045); (4) expansile vertebral shape was noted in (0/3, 0%) vs. (9/9, 100%) of cases, respectively (P = 0.005); (5) obliteration of the basivertebral vein was noted in (0/3, 0%) vs. (9/9, 100%) of cases, respectively (P = 0.005); and (6) osteoblastic change on CT was noted in (3/3, 100%) vs. (2/9, 22.2%) of cases, respectively (P = 0.034). IESL in pediatric patients with MPBT can be differentiated from metastasis based on their imaging characteristics. We suggest close follow-up rather than aggressive investigation and treatment for IESL.
Network is a useful way for presenting many types of biological data including protein-protein interactions, gene regulations, cellular pathways, and signal transductions. We can measure nodes by ...their network features to infer their importance in the network, and it can help us identify central elements of biological networks.
We introduce a novel Cytoscape plugin cytoHubba for ranking nodes in a network by their network features. CytoHubba provides 11 topological analysis methods including Degree, Edge Percolated Component, Maximum Neighborhood Component, Density of Maximum Neighborhood Component, Maximal Clique Centrality and six centralities (Bottleneck, EcCentricity, Closeness, Radiality, Betweenness, and Stress) based on shortest paths. Among the eleven methods, the new proposed method, MCC, has a better performance on the precision of predicting essential proteins from the yeast PPI network.
CytoHubba provide a user-friendly interface to explore important nodes in biological networks. It computes all eleven methods in one stop shopping way. Besides, researchers are able to combine cytoHubba with and other plugins into a novel analysis scheme. The network and sub-networks caught by this topological analysis strategy will lead to new insights on essential regulatory networks and protein drug targets for experimental biologists. According to cytoscape plugin download statistics, the accumulated number of cytoHubba is around 6,700 times since 2010.
SUMMARY
Terrestrial plants emit volatiles into the atmosphere to attract both pollinators and the enemies of herbivores, for defense. Phalaenopsis bellina is a scented orchid species in which the ...main scent components are monoterpenes, including linalool and geraniol, and their derivatives. Here, we investigated whether ABC transporters are involved in floral scent emission. We carried out whole‐genome identification of ABC transporter‐related genes using four floral transcriptomics libraries of P. bellina. We identified 86 ABC subfamily G genes related to terpenoid transport. After comparing the gene expression patterns of P. bellina with that of Phalaenopsis aphrodite subsp. formosana, a scentless species, followed by gene‐to‐gene correlation analysis, PbABCG1 and PbABCG2 were selected. The temporal expression of both PbABCG1 and PbABCG2 was highly correlated with that of the key enzyme PbGDPS and the major transcription factor PbbHLH4 in monoterpene biosynthesis, with optimal expression on day 5 post‐anthesis. Spatial gene expression analysis showed that PbABCG1 was highly expressed in sepals, whereas PbABCG2 was expressed in the lip. Subcellular localization with a GFP fusion protein revealed that both PbABCG1 and PbABCG2 are cytoplasmic membrane proteins. Co‐downregulation of PbABCG1 and PbABCG2 using both double‐strand RNA interference and tobacco rattle virus‐based gene silencing led to a significant decrease in monoterpene emission, accompanied by an increase in the internal monoterpene pools. Furthermore, ectopic expression of PbABCG1 and PbABCG2 in an ABC16− mutant yeast strain rescued its tolerance to geraniol. Altogether, our results indicate that PbABCG1 and PbABCG2 play substantial roles in monoterpene transport/emission in P. bellina floral scent.
Significance Statement
The biosynthesis and regulation of volatile organic compounds are understood well, but the mechanism through which they are emitted to the atmosphere has remained unclear until now. We identified two PbABCG1 and PbABCG2 transporters and assessed them for involvement in the emission of monoterpene floral scent in Phalaenopsis bellina, the results suggest that PbABCG1 and PbABCG2 play a substantial role in the transport/emission of monoterpenes from flowers.
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