The innate immune sensor NLRP3 inflammasome overactivation is involved in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. PGAM5 is a mitochondrial phosphatase involved in NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages. However, the role of PGAM5 in ulcerative colitis and the mechanisms underlying PGAM5 regulating NLRP3 activity remain unknown. Here, we show that PGAM5 deficiency ameliorates dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice via suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation. By combining APEX2-based proximity labeling focused on PGAM5 with quantitative proteomics, we identify NEK7 as the new binding partner of PGAM5 to promote NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and activation in a PGAM5 phosphatase activity-independent manner upon inflammasome induction. Interfering with PGAM5-NEK7 interaction by punicalagin inhibits the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages and ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in mice. Altogether, our data demonstrate the PGAM5-NEK7 interaction in macrophages for NLRP3 inflammasome activation and further provide a promising therapeutic strategy for ulcerative colitis by blocking the PGAM5-NEK7 interaction.

Microbial communities such as those residing in the human gut are highly diverse and complex, and many with important implications for health and diseases. The effects and functions of these microbial communities are determined not only by their species compositions and diversities but also by the dynamic intra- and inter-cellular states at the transcriptional level. Powerful and scalable technologies capable of acquiring single-microbe-resolution RNA sequencing information in order to achieve a comprehensive understanding of complex microbial communities together with their hosts are therefore utterly needed. Here we report the development and utilization of a droplet-based smRNA-seq (single-microbe RNA sequencing) method capable of identifying large species varieties in human samples, which we name smRandom-seq2. Together with a triple-module computational pipeline designed for the bacteria and bacteriophage sequencing data by smRandom-seq2 in four human gut samples, we established a single-cell level bacterial transcriptional landscape of human gut microbiome, which included 29,742 single microbes and 329 unique species. Distinct adaptive response states among species in Prevotella and Roseburia genera and intrinsic adaptive strategy heterogeneity in Phascolarctobacterium succinatutens were uncovered. Additionally, we identified hundreds of novel host-phage transcriptional activity associations in the human gut microbiome. Our results indicated that smRandom-seq2 is a high-throughput and high-resolution smRNA-seq technique that is highly adaptable to complex microbial communities in real-world situations and promises new perspectives in the understanding of human microbiomes.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics* ; Bacteriophages/physiology* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods* ; Bacteria/virology*

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an important sugar crop. Biotic and abiotic stresses such as diseases, cold, and drought are major factors limiting sugarcane production. β-1,3-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.39), a member of the pathogenesis-related protein family, plays an essential role not only in the plant defenses against pathogens but also in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. To systematically investigate the sugarcane β-1,3-glucanase gene family, 132 glycoside hydrolase (GH) 17 family members were identified in the genomes of the sugarcane wild species Saccharum spontaneum 'Np-X', the tropical species S. officinarum 'LA-Purple', and the Saccharum spp. hybrid cultivar 'R570'. The results of the phylogenetic analysis categorized them into four subfamilies, of which subfamily Ⅳ had the largest proportion of members (102). The members of the sugarcane GH17 gene family contained five conserved motifs and 0-16 introns. The majority of the GH17 genes exhibited a genome-wide replication pattern, with 89.50% originating from S. spontaneum 'Np-X' and S. officinarum 'LA-Purple', while 58.10% of them in the Saccharum spp. hybrid cultivar 'R570' belonged to the discrete replication type. Four major classes of cis-acting elements were identified in the promoters, including the elements related to plant growth, development, and tissue-specific expression (14.21%), light-responsive elements (38.24%), biotic or abiotic stress-responsive elements (9.18%), and hormone-responsive elements (38.37%), which suggested that this gene family was involved in plant growth, development, hormone responses, and stress responses. Transcriptome and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analyses showed that the sugarcane GH17 genes exhibited tissue-specific expression and were differentially expressed under low temperature, drought, and hormone treatments, as well as during the interactions between different sugarcane genotypes and Sporisorium scitamineum, suggesting their potential roles in plant defenses. In addition, some SsGlu genes (SsGlu5, SsGlu20, SsGlu21, SsGlu25, SsGlu28, and SsGlu39) were expected to serve as candidate stress-related genes. This study lays a foundation for further revealing the molecular mechanisms of the stress resistance of sugarcane via β-1,3-glucanase genes.
Saccharum/physiology* ; Stress, Physiological/genetics* ; Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase/metabolism* ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics*

Objective:To explore the challenges in the implementation of drug centralized volume-based procurement policies in hospitals and propose corresponding optimization suggestions.Methods:From August to December 2023, a purposive sampling was conducted to select 11 pharmaceutical experts from tertiary hospitals in China for Delphi method. The survey content included " policy recommendations for promoting the acceleration and expansion of national drug centralized procurement and retaining surplus medical insurance funds for centralized procurement" .Results:Survey participants gave feedback on a set of existing problems found in the implementation of drug centralized procurement policies and proposed corresponding optimization methods. Kendall′s W coefficient of the specialist consultation was 0.332( P<0.05), demonstrating good consistency and concentration of the expert opinions. Among the problems, the score of drug supply guarantee was the highest(mean value of importance was 4.45). At the same time, the recommendation of strengthening monitoring and early warning, coordination and dispatch, and effectively ensuring the supply of centralized drug procurement had the highest score and concentration(mean value of importance was 4.91, coefficient of variation was 0.06). Conclusions:Through Delphi method, this study revealed issues and optimization methods in the implementation of drug centralized procurement policies in hospitals. The findings could provide valuable insights for improvements in the pharmaceutical sector and future policy adjustments.

Objective This study used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)to investigate the changes of local brain regional homogeneity in patients with depression and childhood maltreatment,and we calculated the relationship between altered ReHo values and the severity of childhood maltreatment.Methods 25 patients with depression and childhood maltreatment,25 patients with depression without childhood maltreatment,and 25 age,gender,and education-matched healthy controls were prospectively enrolled.All subjects underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and ReHo analysis.One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the group differences,along with multiple comparison correction.Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between region ReHo values with clinical scales.Results Compared with the group of depression without childhood maltreatment,the abnormal brain regions of depression with childhood maltreatment are mainly located in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex,cerebellum,parietal gyrus,and precentral gyrus.The ReHo values of depression with childhood maltreatment in the left cerebellum and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are correlated with the severity of childhood maltreatment.Conclusions Depression with childhood mal-treatment is associated with changes in local spontaneous brain activity,which are correlated with the severity of childhood maltreatment.The brain changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and cerebellum may explain the neurobiological mechanisms of depression with childhood maltreatment.

Ulcerative colitis is a common disease of the digestive system in China,which seriously affects the quality of life of patients due to its disease characteristics,such as easy recurrence,repeated course of disease and carcinogenic tendency.Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR)are considered as new inflammatory biomarkers,which have been found to be related with ulcerative colitis.This article reviewed the clinical value of NLR and PLR in ulcerative colitis.

Objective:To develop an Arteriovenous Fistula Physical Examination Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Scale for Hemodialysis Nurses and test its reliability and validity.Methods:Based on the theory of knowledge, attitude, and practice, a preliminary scale draft was formed through a literature review, three rounds of Delphi expert consultation, and a pre-survey. Using convenience sampling, 311 hemodialysis nurses were selected for a survey from December 2022 to February 2023 for item analysis, exploratory factor analysis and reliability testing. Another survey was conducted on 260 hemodialysis nurses from February to June 2023 for confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, and discriminant validity testing.Results:The Arteriovenous Fistula Physical Examination Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Scale for Hemodialysis Nurses included three subscales and five dimensions, with a total of 33 items. The content validity index at the item level was 0.867 to 1.000, and the content validity index at the scale level was 0.992. After exploratory factor analysis, two, one, and two common factors were extracted from the knowledge, attitude, and practice subscales, with cumulative variance contribution rates of 70.114%, 75.192%, and 67.467%, respectively.Confirmatory:factor analysis showed that the model fitted well. The Cronbach's α coefficients of the three subscales were 0.929 to 0.943, the half reliability coefficients were 0.861 to 0.903, and the retest reliability coefficients were 0.824 to 0.874. Conclusions The Arteriovenous Fistula Physical Examination Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Scale for Hemodialysis Nurses has good reliability and validity and can be used to evaluate the physical examination ability of hemodialysis nurses for arteriovenous fistula.

So far, liver cancer is still a highly malignant tumor with a high incidence rate in China, and it seriously affects the life and health of Chinese people. Previous studies have shown that the development of liver cancer is associated with various factors such as virus, smoking, drinking, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. With continuous exploration, more and more studies have pointed out that nutritional factors and living environment are associated with the development and progression of liver cancer. Folic acid is a necessary nutrient for cell growth and reproduction, and its level in human body has an impact on the growth of tumor cells and is closely associated with liver cancer. This article reviews the research advances in the association between folic acid and liver cancer in recent years, so as to provide new reference and basis for the prevention and treatment of liver cancer.

Objective:To investigate the value of hemorrhage after thrombolytic (HAT) score and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in combination predicting symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods:Consective patients with AIS received intravenous thrombolysis with ateplase in Tianjin TEDA Hospital from January 2016 to December 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. sICH was defined as cerebral CT showing hemorrhage at any part of the brain after intravenous thrombolysis, and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was increased by≥4 compared with the baseline, or there was a manifestation indicating clinical aggravation. Univariate analysis was used to compare the baseline data of sICH group and non-sICH group. A binary multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the independent influencing factors of sICH. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the value of HAT score and NLR in combination predicting sICH. Results:A total of 429 patients with AIS were enrolled. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in atrial fibrillation, systolic blood pressure, NLR, HAT score and NIHSS score between the sICH group and the non-sICH group (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that NLR (odds ratio [ OR] 1.405, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.193-2.958), HAT score ( OR 1.512, 95% CI 1.207-3.169) and NIHSS score ( OR 1.221, 95% CI 1.082-2.634) had significant independent correlation with sICH after adjusting for atrial fibrillation and systolic blood pressure. The ROC curve showed that the areas under the curve of HAT score, NLR and their combination predicting sICH were 0.719 (95% CI 0.609-0.832), 0.723 (95% CI 0.618-0.835) and 0.854 (95% CI 0.765-0.931), respectively. The areas under the curve of the two methods in combination were significantly larger than those of the single method ( P=0.029 and 0.032, respectively), and their sensitivity and specificity were 74.1% and 83.5% respectively. Conclusion:Combined HAT score and NLR is of high value in predicting sICH after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with AIS, and has clinical application potential.

Objective: To compare and investigate the physicochemical characteristics and antibacterial effect of ZnO nanofilms prepared by atomic layer deposition(ALD) at different deposition cycles. Methods: According to different ALD cycles, four groups were set up (control group, 300, 600 and 1 200 cycles group). Using DEZn and water as precursors, ZnO nanofilms were prepared by ALD on the surface of pure titanium specimens. Surface morphology of the films was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM); the element composition and crystal type of the films were observed by energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD); the hydrophilicity and thickness of the films were detected by water contact angle detector and ellipsometer. The cytotoxicity of the films was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. The antibacterial effect against S. aureus in vitro of the films was evaluated by optical density method. Results: The surface morphology of the films was uniform and compact as shown through SEM. The grain size increased with the increase of the number of ALD cycles. EDS results showed that the films were mainly composed of Zn and O elements. XRD results confirmed that the composition of the films was ZnO. Results of water contact angle showed that the films were hydrophobic. The thickness of the films was nanoscale and there was a linear relationship between the thickness and ALD cycles. All experimental groups showed no cytotoxicity. The 1 200 cycles group showed the highest antibacterial rate of 65.9% and 52.3% at 24 and 48 hours respectively, which was the best among all experimental groups. Conclusion The ZnO nanofilms prepared by ALD at different cycles on pure titanium surface are uniform and compact. Thickness of the films increases with the increase of ALD cycles. The films have good biocompatibility and anti-S. aureus effect in vitro. The 1 200 cycles group has the best antibacterial effect.