Objective To analyze the PLCβ4 gene mRNA expression and its clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on TCGA database. Methods Based on the data on 424 clinical samples (including 374 cases of HCC tissues and 50 cases of nontumor liver tissues) in the TCGA database, Kaplan–Meier method, Cox regression analysis, and immune infiltration analysis were performed to evaluate the relationship between PLCβ4 gene and the clinical characteristics and survival prognosis of HCC patients. Correlation analysis between PLCβ4 gene and 24 types of immune cells was applied to investigate the relationship between PLCβ4 gene and immune cell infiltration and mRNA expression level of TP53 gene, a high-frequency mutation gene in HCC. In addition, paraffin sections of highly, moderately, and poorly differentiated tumor tissues and normal liver tissues from HCC patients were collected. The histopathological observation was carried out via HE staining method, and the expression levels of PLCβ4 and Ki-67 proteins in each clinical sample were verified through the immunohistochemical method. Results The expression level of PLCβ4 gene in HCC was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P<0.01), and all patients in the PLCβ4 high-expression group had a significantly longer overall survival than those in the low-expression group (P<0.05), which suggested that PLCβ4 substantially affected the prognosis of HCC patients. Correlation analysis showed that the expression level of PLCβ4 gene was highly correlated with immune cell infiltration and the expression level of TP53 gene. As verified by clinical sample experiments, HE staining experiments and immunohistochemical results revealed that PLCβ4 gene expression in HCC tissue samples was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P<0.001), and it was negatively correlated with the degree of differentiation. Conclusion PLCβ4 may serve as an independent prognostic factor in HCC and is expected to be a novel molecular target for HCC treatment.

In China, the crude oil supply is highly dependent on overseas countries, and thus strengthening crude oil self-sufficiency has become an important issue of the national energy security. Tertiary oil recovery, especially polymer flooding, has been widely applied in large oil fields in China, which can increase the recovery rate by 15%-20% compared with water flooding. However, the widely used oil flooding polymers show poor thermal stability and salinity tolerance, complicated synthesis ways of monomers, and environmental unfriendliness. Moreover, the polymer flooding induces problems including pore plugging, heterogeneity intensification, high dispersion of remaining oil resources, pressure rise in injection wells, and low efficiency circulation of injection medium, which restrict the subsequent recovery of old oil fields. Here, we systematically review the developing and current situations of polymer flooding, introduce the innovative biomanufacturing of oil flooding polymers and their monomers or precursors as well as low-cost bio-based chemical raw materials for multiple compound flooding. The comprehensive study of the relationships between microbial fermentation metabolites and polymer flooding will reveal the green and low-carbon paths for polymer flooding. Such study will enable the application of enzymes produced by microorganisms in polymer production and polymer plugging removal after polymer flooding as well as the application of microbial metabolites such as biosurfactants, organic acids, alcohols, biogas, and amino acids in enhancing oil recovery. This review suggests that incorporating biomanufacturing into polymer flooding will ensure the high productivity and stability for crude oil production in China.
Polymers/metabolism* ; China ; Petroleum ; Oil and Gas Fields

O-acetyl-L-homoserine (OAH) is a promising platform compound for the production of L-methionine and other valuable compounds, while its low yield and low conversion rate limit the industrial application. To solve these problems, we constructed a strain for high OAH production with the previously constructed L-homoserine producer Escherichia coli HS33 as the chassis by systematic metabolic engineering. Firstly, PEP accumulation, pyruvate utilization, and OAH synthesis pathway (overexpressing aspB, aspA, and thrA^C1034T) were enhanced to obtain an initial strain accumulating 13.37 g/L OAH. Subsequently, the co-factor synthesis genes were integrated to supply reducing power and energy, which increased the yield to 15.79 g/L. The OAH yield of the engineered strain OAH28 was further increased to 17.49 g/L by strengthening the acetic acid reuse pathway, improving the supply of acetyl-CoA, and regulating the expression of MetX from different sources. Finally, in a 5 L fermenter, OAH28 achieved an OAH titer of 47.12 g/L, with a glucose conversion rate of 32% and productivity of 0.59 g/(L·h). The results lay a foundation for increasing the OAH production by metabolic engineering and give insights into the industrial production of OAH.
Metabolic Engineering/methods* ; Escherichia coli/genetics* ; Homoserine/biosynthesis* ; Fermentation

Synthetic biology is a crucial tool for the development of the bio-industry and bio-economy, representing a significant aspect of new quality productive forces. As a core course for graduate students in bioengineering, Synthetic Biology plays a vital role in ensuring the supply of essential talents for the development of the bio-industry in the new era. To better serve regional economic development and provide high-level talents for China's progress in the bio-industry, we analyzed typical issues encountered in the past teaching activities, set up a multi-disciplinary teaching team, optimized the course contents, adjusted the teaching mode, and mobilized students' learning interest. With the application of scientific research project as the starting point, we guided students to think and discuss deeply through the simulation of application writing and project defense, which improved students' critical thinking and innovative thinking. With industrialization as a focus, we explored a new training model combining production, education, and research through the joint practice base of the university and enterprises introduced typical cases of biomanufacturing to encourage students to engage in scientific research. The teaching reform significantly enhances the comprehensive abilities and national sentiments of graduate students. This paper hopes to serve as a reference for colleagues engaged in teaching in this field.
Synthetic Biology/education* ; Teaching ; China ; Humans

ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of Huoxue Jiedu Formulas （活血解毒方药， HJF） as an adjunctive treatement for patients with binding of stasis and toxin syndrome during the vulnerable period after acute myocardial infarction （AMI） percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI） surgery， and to explore its potential mechanism from the perspective of serum neutrophil extracellular traps （NETs）. MethodsA total of 129 patients with binding of stasis and toxin syndrome within 6 months after PCI for AMI were enrolled and divided into a treatment group （65 cases） and a control group （64 cases） based on patients' willingness to take Chinese herbal medicine. The control group received standard western medical therapy alone， while the treatment group additionally received HJF， one dose daily. Both groups were treated for four weeks. Before and after treatment， TCM syndrome scores were assessed. Seattle angina questionnaire （SAQ） was used to record angina stability and frequency scores， while the short form-36 health survey （SF-36） was employed to assess quality of life across eight dimensions， including physical functioning， role-physical， bodily pain， general health， vitality， social functioning， role-emotional， and mental health. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index （PSQI） was used to evaluate sleep quality， and the patient health questionnaire-15 （PHQ-15） was used to assess psychosomatic symptoms； Duke activity status index （DASI） was used to measure daily physical activity. Serum levels of neutrophil extracellular traps （NET） markers including myeloperoxidase-DNA （MPO-DNA）， neutrophil elastase-DNA （NE-DNA）， and citrullinated histone H3 （CitH3） were measured in 20 patients from the treatment group. ResultsAfter treatment， TCM syndrome score， PSQI score and PHQ-15 score in both groups significantly decreased， while DASI score， angina stability and frequency scores， and all eight dimensions of the SF-36 scale significantly increased （P＜0.05）. Compared to the control group， the treatment group had significantly lower TCM syndrome scores and significantly higher DASI， angina stability and frequency scores （P＜0.05）， as well as higher scores in the SF-36 dimensions of physical functioning， role-physical， social functioning， bodily pain， and vitality （P＜0.05）. After treatment， serum levels of MPO-DNA， CitH3， and NE-DNA in the treatment group were significantly reduced （P＜0.05）. ConclusionHJF combined with conventional therapy can significantly improve angina symptoms， TCM syndrome scores， and psychosomatic conditions in patients with binding of stasis and toxin syndrome during the vulnerable period after AMI. It also enhances quality of life， sleep quality， and daily physical activity. The underlying mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of serum NETs level.

In clinical practice, TCM external treatment is used to treat cancer pain, malignant pleural effusion, cancer-related fatigue and other related diseases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). TCM external treatment can also prevent and treat adverse reactions related to NSCLC treatment measures, such as postoperative cough, radiation-induced lung injury, nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy, bone marrow suppression after chemotherapy, immune and targeted drug-related rash, etc. It mainly uses external use of Chinese materia medica, acupuncture, moxibustion, scraping, acupoint pressing and other methods. Different TCM external treatment method are often used in combination to improve the curative effect. External therapy has been widely used in the treatment of NSCLC related diseases. By balancing yin and yang of viscera, promoting the recovery of body function, it can achieve the role of cancer prevention, improvement of quality of life, control of clinical symptoms, attenuation and effect enhancement.

Objective:To explore the effect of nursing intervention based on information-knowledge-attitude-practice model (IKAP) in preventing radiodermatitis in tumor radiotherapy patients.Methods:This was a quasi-experimental study. A total of 72 patients who received radiotherapy in the Department of Oncology, the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from August to October 2022 were selected and divided into the experimental group and the control group with 36 patients in each group by randomized digits table method. The control group received routine nursing, while the experimental group received nursing based on the IKAP. The self-management efficacy, radiodermatitis, self-perceived burden and quality of life of patients in the two groups were evaluated one day before and at the end of radiotherapy.Results:Thirty-five patients from each group completed the study. There were 11 males and 24 females in the control group, aged (58.09 ± 7.33) years old. There were 13 males and 22 females in the experimental group, aged (58.06 ± 7.28) years old.There was no statistically significant difference in self-management efficacy, self-perceived burden, and quality of life scores between the two groups of patients before intervention (all P>0.05). After intervention, the self-management efficacy,self-perceived burden, and quality of life scores of the experimental group were (106.89 ± 3.78), (18.69 ± 2.21), and (8.09 ± 1.27) points, respectively, the control group was (80.69 ± 5.76), (29.97 ± 2.48), and (15.91 ± 2.37) points, respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( t=2.50, 1.12, 7.24, all P<0.01). The incidence of radiodermatitis above grade 2 in the experimental group was 31.4%(12/35), which was lower than 60.0%(21/35) in the control group, the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.64, P<0.01). Conclusions:Nursing intervention based on IKAP can improve the self-management efficacy, reduce the self-perceived burden and the incidence of radiodermatitis, and further improve the quality of life of tumor radiotherapy patients.

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that cardiomyocyte apoptosis is closely related to cardiac decompensation and the cardiac aging process.Appropriate exercise can alter heart pump function in patients with heart failure as well as attenuate aging-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis,hypertrophy,and fibrotic damage. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of long-term aerobic exercise on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and the thioredoxin system in aging rats. METHODS:Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and divided into three age groups:3-month-old young group,9-month-old middle-aged group,and 18-month-old elderly group,with 12 rats in each group.Within each age group,rats were randomly assigned to sedentary and exercise subgroups(n=6 per group).The sedentary groups did not undergo any exercise intervention.The exercise groups were acclimated to a treadmill environment and subsequently subjected to treadmill exercise for 45 minutes per day,at a speed of 15 m/min,5 days per week for 10 weeks in total.At 24 hours after the final intervention,ELISA was employed to measure serum levels of cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase-MB in rats.TUNEL assay was utilized to detect cardiomyocyte apoptosis,while western blot assay was employed to assess the protein expression of Bax,Bcl-2,Caspase 3,thioredoxin-1,thioredoxin-2,thioredoxin reductase-1,thioredoxin reductase-2,thioredoxin-interacting protein,apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1,and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in rat myocardial tissue. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Serum levels of cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase-MB in the elderly sedentary group were significantly higher than those in the young and middle-aged sedentary groups and elderly exercise group(P<0.01).Serum levels of cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase-MB in the elderly sedentary group were significantly higher than those in the young and middle-aged exercise groups and elderly exercise group(P<0.01).Positive apoptotic cells in rat myocardial tissue,along with increased protein expression of Bax and Caspase 3,exhibited an age-related upward trend,while Bcl-2 protein expression showed a declining trend.In comparison with the sedentary groups within each age category,the number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes and the expression of Bax and Caspase 3 proteins were reduced to different degrees,and the expression of Bcl-2 protein was increased to different degrees in the corresponding exercise groups.Compared with the young sedentary group,middle-aged sedentary group and elderly exercise group,elderly sedentary rats showed a significant decrease in the expression of myocardial thioredoxin 1,thioredoxin 2,thioredoxin reductase 1,and thioredoxin reductase 2 proteins(P<0.05,P<0.01).The expression of myocardial thioredoxin 1,thioredoxin 2,and thioredoxin reductase 2 proteins was lower in the elderly exercise group than in the young exercise group(P<0.05,P<0.01),while the expression of thioredoxin reductase 1 and thioredoxin reductase 2 proteins was lower in the elderly exercise group than in the middle-aged exercise group(P<0.01).The protein expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein,apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1,and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in rat myocardium was significantly higher in the elderly sedentary group than the young sedentary group,middle-aged sedentary group and elderly exercise group(P<0.01).The protein expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein,apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1,and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in rat myocardium was significantly higher in the elderly exercise group than the young exercise group and middle-aged exercise group(P<0.01).To conclude,aerobic exercise may enhance the anti-apoptotic effects of thioredoxin by down-regulating the expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein in aging rat hearts,leading to the downregulation of apoptosis signal-regulated kinase 1 and P38 mitogen-activated kinase protein,thereby alleviating myocardial cell apoptosis in aging rat hearts.

Objective:To explore the protective effects of liraglutide on acute lung injury in septic mice and its mechanisms.Methods:Thirty-six male FVB/NJ mice were randomly(random number) divided into three groups: control group (Control, n=12), acute lung injury group (ALI, n=12)and liraglutide intervention group (ALI+LIRA, n=12). Mice model of acute lung injury were prepared by intratracheal instillation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa suspension, while the control group were given intratracheal instillation of equal volume of physiological saline; the mice in ALI+LIRA group were received subcutaneous injection of liraglutide (2 mg/kg) 30 minutes post-induction, while both the mice in control group and ALI group were received subcutaneous injection of equal volume physiological saline. After 24 hours, the mice were euthanized, the lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected, the lung pathological damage changes were evaluated by hematoxylin eosin staining, the expression of surfactant associated protein D (SP-D)in lung tissue were detected by immunofluorescence assay; total protein concentration in BALF were detected by BCA method, and the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)levels in BALF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), the protein expression of SP-D in BALF and lung tissue were determined by Western blot. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS software, and continuous variables were compared with one-way analysis of variance among the groups. Results:Compared with the control group, the mice in ALI group had higher lung histopathology injury score, higher total protein concentration, higher IL-6 and TNF-α levels in BALF, and had less SP-D positive cells in lung tissue; and also had lower expression of SP-D in both BALF and lung tissue, with statistical significance (all P<0.05). Compared with ALI group, the mice in ALI+LIRA group had lower lung histopathology injury score, lower total protein concentration, lower IL-6 and TNF- α levels in BALF, and had more SP-D positive cells in lung tissue; and also had higher expression of SP-D in both BALF and lung tissue, with statistical significance (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Liraglutide attenuates the severity of acute lung injury in septic mice, and its protective mechanism may be associated with the promotion of SP-D secretion.

Objective To explore the clinical and imaging features of phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor(PMT).Methods The clinical presentations,laboratory examinations,and imaging manifestations of seven patients with PMT diagnosed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results Among the 7 patients,four patients had clinical presentations of long-term fatigue and bone pain.All patients showed preoperative blood phosphorus reduction in varying degrees.X-ray examination showed systemic osteomalacia and osteoporosis,accompanied by multiple pathological fractures.On CT,the primary tumor appeared as a soft tissue density mass or a ground glass high-density nodule with irregular calcification and local bone destruction.MRI showed long T1,long T2 signal intensity,and irregular low signal foci were scattered in the T2WI fat-suppressed sequence.The enhanced scans showed moderate to significant inhomogeneous enhancement.One patient who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and two patients who underwent 18F-ALF-NOTA-Octreotide(18F-OC)PET/CT examinations showed varying degrees of radioactive concentration in the lesions.Conclusion The clinical presentations and laboratory examinations of patients with PMT have certain characteristics.Systemic osteomalacia with pseudofracture line,calcification matrix within the tumor,and significant inhomogeneous enhancement of the lesion are the key imaging features for diagnosing PMT.18F-OC PET/CT examination plays a crucial role in the systemic localization diagnosis of tumors.