Cannabis is an important industrial crop species whose fibre, seeds, flowers and leaves are widely used by humans. The study of cannabinoids extracted from plants has been popular research topic in ...recent years. China is one of the origins of cannabis and one of the few countries with wild cannabis plants. However, the genetic structure of Chinese cannabis and the degree of adaptive selection remain unclear. The main morphological characteristics of wild cannabis in China were assessed. Based on whole-genome resequencing SNPs, Chinese cannabis could be divided into five groups in terms of geographical source and ecotype: wild accessions growing in the northwestern region; wild accessions growing in the northeastern region; cultivated accessions grown for fibre in the northeastern region; cultivated accessions grown for seed in northwestern region, and cultivated accessions in southwestern region. We further identified genes related to flowering time, seed germination, seed size, embryogenesis, growth, and stress responses selected during the process of cannabis domestication. The expression of flowering-related genes under long-day (LD) and short-day (SD) conditions showed that Chinese cultivated cannabis is adapted to different photoperiods through the regulation of Flowering locus T-like (FT-like) expression. This study clarifies the genetic structure of Chinese cannabis and offers valuable genomic resources for cannabis breeding.
Ovarian injury because of chemotherapy can decrease the levels of sexual hormones and potentia generandi of patients, thereby greatly reducing quality of life. The goal of this study was to ...investigate which transplantation method for human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) can recover ovarian function that has been damaged by chemotherapy. A rat model of ovarian injury was established using an intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide. Membrane‐labelled HUMSCs were subsequently injected directly into ovary tissue or tail vein. The distribution of fluorescently labelled HUMSCs, estrous cycle, sexual hormone levels, and potentia generandi of treated and control rats were then examined. HUMSCs injected into the ovary only distributed to the ovary and uterus, while HUMSCs injected via tail vein were detected in the ovary, uterus, kidney, liver and lung. The estrous cycle, levels of sex hormones and potentia generandi of the treated rats were also recovered to a certain degree. Moreover, in some transplanted rats, fertility was restored and their offspring developed normally. While ovary injection could recover ovarian function faster, both methods produced similar results in the later stages of observation. Therefore, our results suggest that transplantation of HUMSCs by tail vein injection represents a minimally invasive and effective treatment method for ovarian injury.
This study investigated the influence of regenerated cellulose particles (RC) on the physical stability, rheological properties and microstructure of oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions stabilized by sodium ...caseinate (Na-SC). The stability of o/w emulsions was examined by measuring droplet size and size distribution as well as visualization of their creaming properties. Creaming stability of emulsions was enhanced with the addition of 1.0% RC which eliminated any separation. With increased addition of cellulose particles, there was an improved packing of proteins onto the droplet surface which resulted in a gradual reduction in droplet sizes. Rheological measurements and microscopy showed that RC possessed superb thickening and gelling properties. The influence of RC on emulsions stabilized by Na-SC was concentration dependent, with 1.5% RC being the critical concentration, showing only slight flocculation, a smaller droplet size and a stronger gel network. These results indicate that regenerated cellulose particles have the potential to substitute for conventional polysaccharides particularly those which require larger quantities to stabilize emulsions.
Regenerated cellulose adds the accumulation of sodium caseinate on the fat granule surface in the emulsion system. The stabilization mechanism of emulsions prepared with Sodium caseinate and regenerated cellulose is by thickening and gelling mechanism. Display omitted
•Regenerated cellulose was processed by acid dissolution and water regeneration.•Regenerated cellulose was superior to microcrystalline cellulose in stabilizing o/w emulsion.•Regenerated cellulose improved the adsorption of proteins to the droplet surface.•Regenerated cellulose weakened the interaction of droplets with stronger network.•The stabilization mechanism was synergistic effects of sodium caseinate and regenerated cellulose.
The identification of genetic risk subgroups of T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL) may provide evidence for risk stratification and individualized treatment. We investigated the ...characteristics and prognostic value of tumor suppressor gene CDKN2A deletions in 101 patients with T‐ALL. The CDKN2A deletion was present in 23% (23/101) of T‐ALL by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The most common type of CDKN2A deletion was homozygous deletion (70%, 16/23). A lower frequency of CDKN2A deletion was found in patients with early T‐cell precursor (ETP) ALL than in patients with non‐ETP‐ALL (10.4% vs 34.0%; P = .008). Deletion of CDKN2A was significantly associated with younger age (P = .001), higher white blood cell (WBC) count (P < .001) and higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (P = .002). Patients with CDKN2A deletion had lower 2‐year overall survival (OS) and event‐free survival (EFS) rates than patients without CDKN2A deletion (2‐year OS: 18.6% ± 8.9% vs 47.4% ± 6.2%, P = .032; EFS: 16.4 ± 8.3 vs 38.6 ± 5.9%, P = .022). In multivariable analysis, CDKN2A deletion was an independent adverse prognostic factor for OS (P = .016). In conclusion, adult T‐ALL patients with CDKN2A deletion had a poor prognosis, and these patients might benefit from intensive chemotherapy or allogeneic hematopoietic stem‐cell transplantation.
The negative role of the activated stimulator of IFN genes (STING) has been uncovered in autoinflammatory disease and cancer. However, the role of STING in virus-related carcinogenesis is not well ...known. Herein, HPV+ tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) (n=25) and HPV− TSCC samples (n=25) were randomly collected and were verified by in situ hybridization (ISH) and p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) to assess the expression and activated status of STING through IHC. The results showed that the expression of STING was up-regulated during the development of TSCC. Interestingly, although the expression of STING showed no difference between HPV+/− TSCC samples, the activated status of STING with dark staining around the nucleus was observed in HPV+ TSCC samples. The role of activated STING was analyzed in three cell lines by siRNA and indicated that activated STING had no impact on cell viability or apoptosis but promoted the induction of several immunosuppressive cytokines, e.g., IL-10, IDO and CCL22, which facilitated the infiltration of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Moreover, increased infiltration of Foxp3+ Tregs along with increased expression of CCL22 was confirmed in HPV+ TSCC samples. An inhibitor of the MAPK/AP-1 pathway (U0126) and the silencing of c-jun significantly suppressed CCL22 induction and the recruitment of Tregs by activated STING. Furthermore, down-regulated miR-27 was verified in independent fresh TSCC samples (n=50) and eight cell lines, which enhanced STING activation and led to increased CCL22 expression for Tregs recruitment in the TSCC microenvironment. Therefore, our findings provided distinct insight into the side effects of activated STING in HPV-related carcinogenesis.
•There is increased expression of STING in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC).•HPV+ TSCC samples harbor more activated STING than HPV− TSCC samples.•Activated STING/CCL22 signals contribute to more recruitment of Tregs in HPV+ TSCC.•miR-27 could target STING to attenuate the c-Jun/CCL22 signals.•c-Jun and miR-27 might be potential therapeutic targets for HPV+ TSCC.
Allelopathy has been considered a good explanation for the successful invasion of some invasive plants. However, the real latitudinal and longitudinal allelopathic effects on native species have ...rarely been documented since many exotics have spread widely. We conducted a Petri dish experiment to determine the latitudinal and longitudinal allelopathic patterns of an invasive alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) on a common crop (Lactuca sativa) in China, and find what determines the allelopathic intensity. The results showed that the allelopathic effects of A. philoxeroides increased with the latitude while decreased with the longitude. This indicated that A. philoxeroides used its allelopathy to gain competitive advantages more in its recent invaded communities than that in its early invaded ones as A. philoxeroides is expanding from southeast China to northwest China. Furthermore, we found that the allelopathic intensity of A. philoxeroide was negatively correlated to the leaf contents of soluble carbohydrate (SC), carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), but that was positively correlated to the leaf contents of soluble protein (SP), free amino acids (FAA), plant polyphenol (PP), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). These results suggested that the allelopathic intensity of A. philoxeroide was more determined by the limited P and K nutrients as well as the intermediate allelochemicals (SP, FAA, PP) rather than the unlimited C, N and SC. Thus, we can speculate that the negative or positive effects of plant aqueous extracts are a function of not only the extract concentrations but also the trade-offs between inhibition and promotion of all components in the extracts. Then we could reduce the allelopathic effects of A. philoxeroide by controlling the component contents in the plant tissues, by fertilization or other managements, especially in the plant recent invaded communities.
Background/Aims: Chronic respiratory conditions continue to plague millions of people worldwide. We aimed to elucidate the detailed mechanisms of microRNA-485 (miR-485) in airway smooth muscle cell ...(ASMC) proliferation and apoptosis in chronic asthmatic mice. Methods: A mouse model of chronic asthma was established. Ovalbumin was used to induce chronic asthma in the mice. The levels of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IL-17 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in mice were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISAs). ASMCs were transfected with miR-485 mimic, miR-485 inhibitor and siRNA-Smurf2. The reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot analyses were applied to detect the mRNA and protein levels of Smurf2, α-SMA, TGF-β1 and decapentaplegic homolog (Smads). The MTT assay was utilized for cell proliferation, while flow cytometry was conducted to assess cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. Results: Lower expression of miR-485 and higher expression levels of TGF-β1, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IL-17 were detected in mice with chronic asthma. Smurf2 was identified as the target gene of miR-485. Upregulation of miR-485 mimic and downregulation of Smurf2 decreased expression levels of Smurf2, α-SMA, TGF-β1 and Smad3, inhibited cell proliferation and increased apoptosis, while contrary results were observed in ASMCs transfected with miR-485 inhibitor. Conclusion: Overexpressed miR-485 inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis of ASMCs through the Smurf2-mediated TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway in mice with chronic asthma.
Background
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common cardiac genetic disorder that clinically manifests with sudden death and progressive heart failure. Moreover, thyroid dysfunction is ...associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality risks. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify whether thyroid hormones could serve as an independent predictor of adverse events in patients with HCM.
Methods
The cohort consisted of 782 patients with HCM who had thyroid hormones baseline data and were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University. Patients were divided into two groups according to serum levels of free triiodothyronine (fT3): the normal fT3 and low triiodothyronine (T3) syndrome groups. Low T3 syndrome was defined as fT3 < 2.43 pmol/L with a normal thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) level. Patients whose TSH levels were abnormally high or abnormally low were excluded from this study. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) events, and the secondary endpoint was a composite of worsening heart failure (WHF) events, including heart failure death, cardiac decompensation, hospitalization for heart failure, and HCM‐related stroke. The Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression were performed for the survival analysis.
Results
After a median follow‐up of 52 months, 75 SCD events and 134 WHF events were recorded. The Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that the cumulative incidence of SCD events and WHF events were significantly higher in patients with low T3 syndrome (log‐rank p = .02 and log‐rank p = .001, respectively). Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that low T3 syndrome is a strong predictor of SCD events and WHF events (adjusted hazard ratio HR: 1.53, 95% confidence interval CI: 1.13–2.24, p < .01; HR: 3.87, 95% CI: 2.91–4.98, p < .001, respectively).
Conclusions
Low T3 syndrome is highly prevalent among patients with HCM and was independently associated with an increased risk of SCD events and WHF events. The routine assessment of serum fT3 levels may provide risk stratification in this population.
Low triiodothyronine (T3) syndrome is highly prevalent among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and was independently associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death events and worsening heart failure events.
Silicon can improve drought tolerance of plants, but the mechanism still remains unclear. Previous studies have mainly concentrated on silicon-accumulating plants, whereas less work has been ...conducted in silicon-excluding plants, such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). In this study, we investigated the effects of exogenous silicon (2.5 mmol L–1) on the chlorophyll fluorescence and expression of photosynthesis-related genes in tomato seedlings (Zhongza 9) under water stress induced by 10％ (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000). The results showed that under water stress, the growth of shoot and root was inhibited, and the chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations were decreased, while silicon addition improved the plant growth and increased the concentrations of chlorophyll and carotenoid. Under water sterss, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters such as PSll maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), effective quantum efficiency, actual photochemical quantum efficiency (ФPSII), photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR), and photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) were decreased; while these changes were reversed in the presence of added silicon. The expressions of some photosynthesis-related genes including PetE, PetF, PsbP, PsbQ, PsbW, and Psb28 were down-regulated under water stress, and exogenous Si could partially up-regulate their expressions. These results suggest that silicon plays a role in the alleviation of water stress by modulating some photosynthesis-related genes and regulating the photochemical process, and thus promoting photosynthesis.
•The antioxidant activity of XHP was evaluated.•XHP were separated based on molecular weight and polarity differences.•Peptide with the strongest activity had 74.45% scavenging effect on DPPH.•The ...sequence of main antioxidative peptide was identified as Asp-Leu-Glu-Glu.
This study mainly focused on the purification and identification of antioxidative peptides generated in dry-cured Xuanwei ham. Based on scavenging effect on free radicals and ferrous ion, the antioxidant activity of crude peptides from Xuanwei ham was assessed. From the scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl (OH) radicals and superoxide anion (O2−), it was suggested that XHP generated during the ripening period had a strong antioxidant activity. By using size exclusion chromatography, anion exchange column and reversed-phase HPLC, fractions with a strong antioxidative activity were separated based on their molecular weight and polarity differences. The fraction with strong antioxidant effect was further characterized by LC–MS/MS. The results suggest that antioxidative peptides are produced during the long processing of Xuanwei ham among which the tetrapeptide Asp-Leu-Glu-Glu could be one of the main peptides that play key role in the antioxidant activity.
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