Assessment of risk factors for postoperative cognitive dysfunction after coronary artery bypass surgery: a single-center retrospective cohort study

Aim: To find out risk factors for postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to provide basis for clinical prevention of POCD. A total of 88 patients who underwent CABG were surveyed with Telephone Questionnaire (TICS-M) for their cognitive impairment after 3, 7, 21, 90, 180 days post-surgery. The occurrence of POCD was diagnosed by Neuropsychological Battery which included Vocabular Learning Test (VLT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Trail Making Test (TMT) and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). The preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative risk factors were assessed by the χ² or t test. Multivariate analysis was used to study the correlation between the risk factors and the occurrence of POCD. Age, aortic plaque, carotid artery stenosis, cerebrovascular disease, anesthesia time, the rate of decline in intraoperative hemoglobin concentration (ΔHb) and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score on postoperative day 2 had statistically significant (P<0.05) influence on the occurrence of POCD. Aortic plaque, carotid artery stenosis, anesthesia time and SIRS score (odds ratio (OR) value > 1, P<0.05) are the risk factors for POCD. The incidence of day-21 and -180 POCD was approximately 26.1 and 22.7%, respectively.     

GeSUT4 mediates sucrose import at the symbiotic interface for carbon allocation of heterotrophic Gastrodia elata (Orchidaceae)

Gastrodia elata, a fully mycoheterotrophic orchid without photosynthetic ability, only grows symbiotically with the fungus Armillaria. The mechanism of carbon distribution in this mycoheterotrophy is unknown. We detected high sucrose concentrations in all stages of Gastrodia tubers, suggesting sucrose may be the major sugar transported between fungus and orchid. Thick symplasm‐isolated wall interfaces in colonized and adjacent large cells implied involvement of sucrose importers. Two sucrose transporter (SUT)‐like genes, GeSUT4 and GeSUT3, were identified that were highly expressed in young Armillaria‐colonized tubers. Yeast complementation and isotope tracer experiments confirmed that GeSUT4 functioned as a high‐affinity sucrose‐specific proton‐dependent importer. Plasma‐membrane/tonoplast localization of GeSUT4‐GFP fusions and high RNA expression of GeSUT4 in symbiotic and large cells indicated that GeSUT4 likely functions in active sucrose transport for intercellular allocation and intracellular homeostasis. Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing GeSUT4 had larger leaves but were sensitive to excess sucrose and roots were colonized with fewer mutualistic Bacillus, supporting the role of GeSUT4 in regulating sugar allocation. This is not only the first documented carbon import system in a mycoheterotrophic interaction but also highlights the evolutionary importance of sucrose transporters for regulation of carbon flow in all types of plant‐microbe interactions.     

Genetic diversity of mitochondrial D-LOOP sequences in the spotted scat (Scatophagus argus) from different geographical populations along the northern coast of the South China Sea

The genetic diversity of 289 spotted scat (Scatophagus argus) from seven populations along the northern coast of the South China Sea was studied by analyzing the full-length sequences of the mitochondrial control region (D-LOOP). The S. argus D-LOOP sequence was 1,004–1,010 bp long and contained 156 variant sites. The seven studied S. argus populations had a high degree of genetic diversity (haplotype diversity [Hd] = 0.99135; nucleotide diversity (π) = 0.01313). There was no obvious genetic differentiation among the seven geographical populations and gene exchange was frequent (Fst = −0.01867–0.01117, p > .05). Four distinct mitochondrial lineages were identified in the phylogenetic tree and the haplotype network. The between-lineage Fst was 0.71690–0.84940 (p < .001), but these lineages showed no obvious phylogeographic pattern. Based on D-LOOP mutation rates, we estimated that the four lineages diverged approximately 513,800–93,600 years ago, during the Eocene ice age, at which time falling sea levels may have led to population segregation. We estimated that S. argus population expansion occurred approximately 2.29–0.68 million years ago, during the late Pleistocene. During this period, sea levels rose again, allowing previously separated lineages to come into sympatry, which eventually gave rise to a highly genetically diverse population without pyhlogeographic structure. Here, we characterized the genetic structure and differentiation of seven S. argus populations from the northern coast of the South China Sea. Our results suggested that the seven S. argus populations from the northern coast of the South China Sea have a relatively low level of genetic variation and can be considered a single unit for the purposes of fishery development, utilization, and management.     

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Exerts a Protective Role in MPTP-Induced Parkinson’s Disease via the TLR4/PI3K/AKT/NF-κB Pathway Stimulated by α-Synuclein

Neurochemical Research - Gut microbiota is closely related to the Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathogenesis. Additionally, aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) is central to PD...     

Gibberellin-Induced Alterations to the Expression of Cell Wall-Related Genes in the Xylem of Carrot Root

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Gibberellins (GAs) are a group of plant hormones that play important roles in various processes. Previous studies demonstrated that GA can increase the...     

SETD2 epidermal deficiency promotes cutaneous wound healing via activation of AKT/mTOR Signalling

ObjectivesCutaneous wound healing is one of the major medical problems worldwide. Epigenetic modifiers have been identified as important players in skin development, homeostasis and wound repair. SET domain–containing 2 (SETD2) is the only known histone H3K36 tri‐methylase; however, its role in skin wound healing remains unclear.Materials and MethodsTo elucidate the biological role of SETD2 in wound healing, conditional gene targeting was used to generate epidermis‐specific Setd2‐deficient mice. Wound‐healing experiments were performed on the backs of mice, and injured skin tissues were collected and analysed by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical staining. In vitro, CCK8 and scratch wound‐healing assays were performed on Setd2‐knockdown and Setd2‐overexpression human immortalized keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). In addition, RNA‐seq and H3K36me3 ChIP‐seq analyses were performed to identify the dysregulated genes modulated by SETD2. Finally, the results were validated in functional rescue experiments using AKT and mTOR inhibitors (MK2206 and rapamycin).ResultsEpidermis‐specific Setd2‐deficient mice were successfully established, and SETD2 deficiency resulted in accelerated re‐epithelialization during cutaneous wound healing by promoting keratinocyte proliferation and migration. Furthermore, the loss of SETD2 enhanced the scratch closure and proliferation of keratinocytes in vitro. Mechanistically, the deletion of Setd2 resulted in the activation of AKT/mTOR signalling pathway, while the pharmacological inhibition of AKT and mTOR with MK2206 and rapamycin, respectively, delayed wound closure.ConclusionsOur results showed that SETD2 loss promoted cutaneous wound healing via the activation of AKT/mTOR signalling.     

生物基分子介导纳米金属材料的制备及其应用

纳米金属材料具有纳米晶强化效应、光吸收率大、较高的表面能和单磁畴性能等优点,因其在医药、化学催化、抗菌抑毒等方面发挥着越来越重要的作用而受到人们广泛关注。近年来,随着全球石化资源消耗与日俱增,环境污染加剧,基于可再生资源的生物基分子介导纳米材料的制备研究方兴未艾。生物基分子是指直接或间接来源于生物质的小分子或大分子物质,它们多数具有生物相容性好、低毒、可降解、来源广泛、价格低廉等优点。且由于生物基分子多数具有独特的理化性质,如具有生理活性的旋光性、酸碱两性、亲水亲油性以及易与金属离子络合等,其介导合成的纳米材料还兼具其独特功能性,比如消炎、抗癌、抗氧化、抗病毒以及降血糖血脂等,进一步拓宽了纳米金属材料的应用领域。文中对近年来基于生物基分子介导纳米金属材料的制备及应用进行全面综述,为开展相关研究提供参考。     

中欧组织间合作研究项目MIX-UP助力实现“碳中和”

随着全球塑料循环体系的变革升级,提高塑料的回收利用不仅可以减少塑料在生命周期中的碳排放,还可以解决废塑料潜在的生态环境危害。文中介绍了2019年国家自然科学基金组织间国际 (地区) 合作研究项目“废塑料资源高效生物降解转化的关键科学问题与技术 (MIXed plastics biodegradation and UPcycling using microbial communities,MIX-UP)”。该项目聚焦“塑料污染”这一全球化的问题,围绕中欧双方确定的“塑料生物降解菌群”研究领域,联合中欧双方14家优势科研单位,开展实质性的重大前沿合作研究。针对废塑料生物降解中存在的解聚与重塑两个难题,项目以难降解石油基塑料 (PP、PE、PUR、PET和PS) 以及生物可降解塑料 (PLA和PHA) 的混合废塑料作为研究对象,从塑料微生物降解途径解析及关键元件的挖掘与改造、塑料高效降解混菌/多酶体系的构建与功能调控、塑料降解物的高值化炼制途径设计与利用策略3个方面展开研究。本项目将突破废塑料生物降解转化中高效降解元件挖掘、塑料降解物高值化利用的关键科学问题与技术,探索一条废塑料资源化、高值化、循环化、低碳化的新塑料循环路线,建立以“降塑再造”为核心理念的废塑料生物炼制体系,丰富我国固废资源化生物技术利用平台。项目的实施不仅有助于提升我国塑料 (生物) 循环经济的理论基础和关键技术水平,还可以推动我国与国际科研院所的多边交流与合作,促进我国在生物技术领域的创新发展,助力我国碳中和目标的实现。