Successful cloning through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) faces significant challenges due to epigenetic obstacles. Recent studies have highlighted the roles of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 as potential contributors to these obstacles. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. In this study, we generated genome-wide maps of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 in mouse pre-implantation NT embryos. Our analysis revealed that aberrantly over-represented broad H3K4me3 domain and H3K27me3 signal lead to increased bivalent marks at gene promoters in NT embryos compared with naturally fertilized (NF) embryos at the 2-cell stage, which may link to relatively low levels of H3K36me3 in NT 2-cell embryos. Notably, the overexpression of Setd2, a H3K36me3 methyltransferase, successfully restored multiple epigenetic marks, including H3K36me3, H3K4me3, and H3K27me3. In addition, it reinstated the expression levels of ZGA-related genes by reestablishing H3K36me3 at gene body regions, which excluded H3K27me3 from bivalent promoters, ultimately improving cloning efficiency. These findings highlight the excessive bivalent state at gene promoters as a potent barrier and emphasize the removal of these barriers as a promising approach for achieving higher cloning efficiency.
Animals ; Mice ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/biosynthesis* ; Histones/genetics* ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Embryo, Mammalian/metabolism*

Objective To observe the effect of wrist-hand orthosis combined with modified constraint-induced movement therapy(mCIMT)on upper limb and hand function in patients with stroke. Methods From February,2022 to December,2023,32 patients after stroke in Huashan Hospital,Fudan University were randomly assigned to control group(n=16)and experimental group(n=16).Both groups underwent routine re-habilitation,and wore constraint glove almost four hours a day.The experimenal group wore dynamic wrist-hand orthosis four hours everyday,additionally;five days every week,for three weeks.They were evaluated with Wolf Motor Function Test(WMFT),Action Reach Arm Test(ARAT),the strength of gripping,Amount of Use(AOU)and Quality of Movement(QOM)of Motor Activity Log(MAL),Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA)and Hamil-ton Depression Scale(HAMD)before and after treatment,while root mean square ratio of affected/healthy exten-sor muscle of wrist was measured with surface electromyography Results After treatment,the scores of WMFT,ARAT,MAL-QOM,HAMA and the root mean square ratio of affected/healthy extensor muscle of wrist improved in both groups(|t|＞2.179,P＜0.05),and the improvement of WMFT score and the strength of gripping was greater in the experimental group than in the control group(|t|＞2.343,P＜0.05);the strength of gripping,the scores of MAL-AOU and HAMD improved in the experimental group(|t|＞2.819,P＜0.05). Conclusion mCIMT assisted with dynamic wrist-hand orthosis could improve upper limb and hand function in stroke pa-tients.

Modulating Tankyrases (TNKS), interactions with USP25 to promote TNKS degradation, rather than inhibiting their enzymatic activities, is emerging as an alternative/specific approach to inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Here, we identified UAT-B, a novel neoantimycin analog isolated from Streptomyces conglobatus, as a small-molecule inhibitor of TNKS-USP25 protein-protein interaction (PPI) to overcome multi-drug resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC). The disruption of TNKS-USP25 complex formation by UAT-B led to a significant decrease in TNKS levels, triggering cell apoptosis through modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Importantly, UAT-B successfully inhibited the CRC cells growth that harbored high TNKS levels, as demonstrated in various in vitro and in vivo studies utilizing cell line-based and patient-derived xenografts, as well as APC^min/+ spontaneous CRC models. Collectively, these findings suggest that targeting the TNKS-USP25 PPI using a small-molecule inhibitor represents a compelling therapeutic strategy for CRC treatment, and UAT-B emerges as a promising candidate for further preclinical and clinical investigations.

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that both Panax notoginseng saponins and concentrated growth factor can promote fracture healing,but there are few studies addressing their combined effects on fracture healing.Panax notoginseng saponins may accelerate fracture healing by promoting the release of concentrated growth factor-related factors over a certain period of time. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of Panax notoginseng saponins on concentrated growth factor release and fracture healing in rats. METHODS:Eighteen 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were numbered and randomly divided into three groups:Panax notoginseng saponins group,model control group and blank group.Panax notoginseng saponins group was fed with Panax notoginseng saponins for 2 weeks.Model control group was given 2 mL of normal saline for 2 weeks and blank group was fed normally.Concentrated growth factor was obtained by the centrifugation method both from the Panax notoginseng saponins group and model control group.After 1 week of normal feeding,all animals underwent modeling for femoral fracture.The Panax notoginseng saponins group and the model control group were implanted with autologous concentrated growth factor,and then the release concentration of growth factors at different time points(1 hour,1,3,5,7,9 and 11 days)were measured by ELISA.Fracture healing was assessed based on postoperative X-ray and hematoxylin-eosin staining of bone tissues. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the model control group,the Panax notoginseng saponins group had higher release concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor A and transforming growth factor β at 7,9,and 11 days,Platelet-derived growth factor BB at 5,9,and 11 days,and basic fibroblast growth factor at 1-11 days(P<0.01).X-ray examinations indicated that fracture healing in the Panax notoginseng saponins group was better than that in the model control group,and fracture healing in these two groups was better than that in the blank group at 2 months after surgery.Hematoxylin-eosin staining results found that the constituent osteocyte density in the Panax notoginseng saponins group was greater than that in the model control group,and the constituent osteocyte density in these two groups was better than that in the blank group.These findings indicate that Panax notoginseng saponins can increase the concentration of concentrated growth factor-related factors.After intervention with Panax notoginseng saponins,concentrated growth factors are more advantageous in promoting fracture healing in rats.

Objective:To predict the possible targets and signaling pathways of Jiangtang Xiaoke Granules in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) using computer network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.Methods:The active components and targets of Jiangtang Xiaoke Granules were collected by ETCM; the targets of DM were searched from the databases of DisGeNET and GeneCards, and the intersections of the two were taken to draw a Venny diagram; String database was used for gene transformation and network interaction analysis; the network diagram was constructed with Cytoscape3.6.0; the predicted results were supported by molecular docking technology; GO and KEGG analysis was performed through Metascape database.Results:A total of 128 active components of Jiangtang Xiaoke Granules were screened, with 607 corresponding targets, 1 240 DM related targets, and 53 core targets. Molecular docking showed that the active components had good binding energy with the core targets. GO analysis yielded 46 functional items and KEGG analysis yielded 15 pathways.Conclusion:Jiangtang Xiaoke Granules regulate glucose homeostasis by participating in a variety of biological processes through multiple components, and multiple targets, including affecting lipids and atherosclerosis, Alzheimer disease, AMPK signaling pathway, Apelin signaling pathway, and glucagon signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) following pancreaticoduodenectomy and related risk factors in elderly patients.Methods:The clinical data of elderly patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2017 to June 2020 were collected retrospectively. According to the changes of serum creatinine within 48 h or 7 days after operation, the patients were divided into AKI group and non-AKI group. The basic clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared, and the incidence of AKI was calculated. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of postoperative AKI.Results:A total of 322 elderly patients were enrolled, with age of (67.1±5.2) years old (60-85 years old) and 186 males (57.76%). Among 322 elderly patients, there were 41 patients (12.73%) suffering from AKI following pancreaticoduodenectomy. Compared with the non-AKI group, the level of bilirubin in AKI group was higher ( Z=-2.012, P=0.044), and the level of hemoglobin in AKI group was lower ( Z=-2.111, P=0.035). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that increased preoperative total bilirubin ( OR=1.003, 95% CI 1.000-1.006, P=0.027) and postoperative exploratory laparotomy ( OR=3.936, 95% CI 1.071-14.460, P=0.039) were the independent influencing factors for AKI after pancreaticoduodenectomy in elderly patients. Conclusions:The incidence of AKI after pancreaticoduodenectomy in elderly patients is 12.73%. Preoperative high bilirubin and postoperative exploratory laparotomy may be the independent risk factors for AKI after pancreaticoduodenectomy in elderly patients.

Astrocytes are increasingly recognized to play an active role in learning and memory, but whether neural inputs can trigger event-specific astrocytic Ca²⁺ dynamics in real time to participate in working memory remains unclear due to the difficulties in directly monitoring astrocytic Ca²⁺ dynamics in animals performing tasks. Here, using fiber photometry, we showed that population astrocytic Ca²⁺ dynamics in the hippocampus were gated by sensory inputs (centered at the turning point of the T-maze) and modified by the reward delivery during the encoding and retrieval phases. Notably, there was a strong inter-locked and antagonistic relationship between the astrocytic and neuronal Ca²⁺ dynamics with a 3-s phase difference. Furthermore, there was a robust synchronization of astrocytic Ca²⁺ at the population level among the hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex, and striatum. The inter-locked, bidirectional communication between astrocytes and neurons at the population level may contribute to the modulation of information processing in working memory.
Animals ; Astrocytes ; Hippocampus/physiology* ; Humans ; Memory, Short-Term/physiology* ; Mice ; Neurons/physiology* ; Population Dynamics

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Objective:To analyze the influencing factors of death in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) combined with acute kidney injury (AKI) in intensive care unit (ICU) after continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).Methods:The demographic and clinical data of ICU patients with ARDS combined with AKI after CRRT at Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 were collected. According to the final treatment results of this hospitalization, the patients were divided into death group and survival group. Survival was defined as the improved patient's condition and hospital discharge. Death was defined as the patient's death during the ICU hospitalization or confirmed death after abandoning treatment and automatically being discharged from the hospital in the follow-up. The basic clinical characteristics and CRRT status between the two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression method was used to analyze the influencing factors of death in patients.Results:A total of 132 patients were enrolled, of which 90 patients (68.2%) died, with 84 males (63.6%) and median age of 59(45, 73) years. Compared with the survival group, the death group had higher age, proportion of malignant tumors, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, number of organ dysfunction and proportion of positive balance of fluid accumulation at 72 hours, longer time from entering ICU to CRRT, and lower mean arterial pressure (minimum value) and oxygenation index (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that the age≥60 years old ( OR=4.382, 95% CI 1.543-12.440, P=0.006), large number of organ dysfunction ( OR=1.863, 95% CI 1.109-3.130, P=0.019), high SOFA score ( OR=1.231, 95% CI 1.067-1.420, P=0.004) and long time from ICU admission to CRRT ( OR=1.224, 95% CI 1.033~1.451, P=0.020) were independent influencing factors of death in patients with ARDS combined with AKI after CRRT, and high oxygenation index ( OR=0.992, 95% CI 0.986-0.998, P=0.010) was an independent protective factor for patients' prognosis. Conclusions:The mortality of patients with ARDS combined with AKI after CRRT is still high. The age≥60 years old, large number of organ dysfunction, high SOFA score and long time from ICU admission to CRRT are independent influencing factors for death, and high oxygenation index is an independent protective factor for prognosis in patients with ARDS combined with AKI after CRRT.

Objective To estimate the dose-response relationship between sedentary behavior with mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods A total of 17786 type 2 diabetic patients were recruited as participants, who were included in National Basic Public Health Service in Changshu County of Suzhou City, Qinghe District and Huai'an District in Huai'an City of Jiangsu Province. Cox proportional hazards regression model and restricted cubic spline model were employed to estimate the dose-response relationship between sedentary behavior with all-cause and cause specific mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Results Among 78114.34 person-years of the fo1low-up, the median of follow-up time was 4 years, and 1285 deaths occurred during that period. Compared to patients with sedentary behavior≤2 h/d, the multivariate adjusted hazard ratios of all-cause death associated with sedentary behavior levels of 3-4 h/d, 5-6 h/d, and≥7 h/d were 1.05(95％CI 0.92-1.20), 1.20(95％CI 1.03-1.42), and 1.39 (95％CI 1.16-1.65), respectively. Eevry increase of 1 h/d in sedentary behavior was associated with an increased hazard of death from cardiovascular disease(CVD) of 4％(HR=1.04, 95％CI 1.01-1.07) and from other causes of 6％( HR=1.06, 95％CI 1.03-1.09) . However, no significant association between sedentary behavior and malignant tumor death was found. The multivariable restrictive cubic spline regression indicated that the linear dose-response relationships were found between sedentary time with the all-cause, CVD cause, and other cause of mortality ( Non-linear test, P>0.05) . Conclusion Longer sedentary behavior could increase the risk of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes.