Bacillus velezensis DJ1 exhibits broad-spectrum antagonistic activity against diverse phytopathogenic fungi, while its biocontrol mechanisms against Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of maize stalk rot, remain poorly characterized. In this study, we integrated genomics and transcriptomics to elucidate the antifungal mechanisms of strain DJ1. The results demonstrated that DJ1 inhibited F. graminearum with the efficacy of 64.4%, while its polyketide crude extract achieved the control efficacy of 55% in pot experiments against this disease. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a single circular chromosome (3 929 792 bp, GC content of 47%) harboring 12 biosynthetic gene clusters for secondary metabolites, six of which encoded known antimicrobial compounds (macrolactin H, bacillaene, difficidin, surfactin, fengycin, and bacilysin). Transcriptomic analysis identified 243 differentially expressed genes (152 upregulated and 91 downregulated, P < 0.05), which were potentially associated with the antagonistic activity against F. graminearum. KEGG enrichment analysis highlighted activation (P < 0.05) of cysteine/methionine metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, and polyketide biosynthesis pathways, indicating that DJ1 employed synergistic strategies involving antimicrobial compound synthesis, energy metabolism enhancement, and nutrient competition to suppress pathogens. This study provides a theoretical foundation for developing novel microbial resources and application technologies to combat phytopathogenic fungi.
Fusarium/drug effects* ; Bacillus/metabolism* ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control* ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology* ; Genomics ; Zea mays/microbiology* ; Transcriptome ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Antibiosis ; Multigene Family ; Multiomics

Background::While type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered a putative causal risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), the intrinsic link underlying T2DM and CAD is not fully understood. We aimed to highlight the importance of integrated care targeting both diseases by investigating the phenotypic and genetic relationships between T2DM and CAD.Methods::We evaluated phenotypic associations using data from the United Kingdom Biobank ( N = 472,050). We investigated genetic relationships by leveraging genomic data conducted in European ancestry for T2DM, with and without adjustment for body mass index (BMI) (T2DM: Ncase/ Ncontrol = 74,124/824,006; T2DM adjusted for BMI [T2DM adjBMI]: Ncase/ Ncontrol = 50,409/523,897) and for CAD ( Ncase/ Ncontrol = 181,522/984,168). We performed additional analyses using genomic data conducted in multiancestry individuals for T2DM ( Ncase/ Ncontrol = 180,834/1,159,055). Results::Observational analysis suggested a bidirectional relationship between T2DM and CAD (T2DM→CAD: hazard ratio [HR] = 2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.01–2.24; CAD→T2DM: HR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.63–1.81). A positive overall genetic correlation between T2DM and CAD was observed ( rg = 0.39, P = 1.43 × 10 -75), which was largely independent of BMI (T2DM adjBMI–CAD: rg = 0.31, P = 1.20 × 10 –36). This was corroborated by six local signals, among which 9p21.3 showed the strongest genetic correlation. Cross-trait meta-analysis replicated 101 previously reported loci and discovered six novel pleiotropic loci. Mendelian randomization analysis supported a bidirectional causal relationship (T2DM→CAD: odds ratio [OR] = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.11-1.16; CAD→T2DM: OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.07-1.18), which was confirmed in multiancestry individuals (T2DM→CAD: OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.10-1.16; CAD→T2DM: OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04-1.13). This bidirectional relationship was significantly mediated by systolic blood pressure and intake of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, with mediation proportions of 54.1% (95% CI: 24.9-83.4%) and 90.4% (95% CI: 29.3-151.5%), respectively. Conclusion::Our observational and genetic analyses demonstrated an intrinsic bidirectional relationship between T2DM and CAD and clarified the biological mechanisms underlying this relationship.

Objective The study aimed to investigate the impact of rare earth elements(REEs)exposure on pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET)by analyzing samples from spouses. Methods A total of 141 couples were included.Blood and follicular fluid from the wives and semen plasma from the husbands,were analyzed for REEs using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS).Spearman's correlation coefficients and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to assess correlations and compare REE concentrations among three types of samples,respectively.Logistic models were utilized to estimate the individual REE effect on IVF-ET outcomes,while BKMR and WQS models explored the mixture of REE interaction effects on IVF-ET outcomes. Results Higher La concentration in semen(median 0.089 ng/mL,P=0.03)was associated with a lower fertilization rate.However,this effect was not observed after artificial selection intervention through intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)(P=0.27).In semen,the REEs mixture did not exhibit any significant association with clinical pregnancy. Conclusion Our study revealed a potential association between high La exposure in semen and a decline in fertilization rate,but not clinical pregnancy rate.This is the first to report REEs concentrations in follicular fluid with La,Ce,Pr,and Nd found at significantly lower concentrations than in serum,suggesting that these four REEs may not accumulate in the female reproductive system.However,at the current exposure levels,mixed REEs exposure did not exhibit reproductive toxicity.

ObjectiveTo explore the current status and issues regarding the application of ancient books in clinical practice guidelines and expert consensus of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） published in China， and to provide methodological recommendations for the incorporation of ancient books in the development of TCM guidelines. MethodsWe searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）， WanFang Data， VIP， SinoMed， PubMed， Embase， as well as six industry websites including China Association of Chinese Medicine， National Group Standards Information Platform， and Chinese Association of the Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine，etc. TCM clinical practice guidelines or expert consensus issued during January 1st， 2017， to November 26th， 2022 were searched. Clinical practice guidelines or expert consensus that explicitly referred to ancient books were included， and the content regarding the searching for ancient books， sources of access to ancient books， methods of evaluating the level of evidence， methods of evaluating the level of recommendation， and methods of evaluating the evidence for the ancient books were analysed. ResultsA total of 1,215 TCM clinical practice guidelines or expert consensus were retrieved， with 442 articles explicitly mentioning the application of ancient books， including 300 （67.87%） clinical practice guidelines and 142 （32.13%） expert consensus. Sixty of the 442 publications explicitly reported that ancient books searching had been conducted （13.57%）； among these 60 publications 27 （45.00%） explicitly reported ancient books searching strategies， and the most frequent method was manual searching with a total of 24 articles （40.00%）. The most popular search source was Chinese Medical Dictionary， a TCM classics database， with a total of 18 articles. 197 articles （44.57%） explicitly reported the evaluation criteria for the level of evidence， of which 141 articles （71.57%） involved the evaluation criteria for the ancient books； 413 articles （93.44%） mentioned ancient books in the recommendations， and only the source of formula name was mentioned in 409 （99.03%） of the publications. ConclusionThe current application of ancient books in TCM clinical practice guidelines and expert consensus is limited， with issues of non-standard searching and evaluation methods. Standar-dization and uniformity are needed in evidence grading and recommendation standards. Future research should clarify the scope and methods of applying ancient book， emphasize their integration with modern research evidence， and enhance their value and quality in the development of TCM clinical practice guidelines.

In order to establish a rapid,specific and sensitive detection method for Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus(SEZ)and to understand the infection status of SEZ in horses ente-ring China,specific primers were designed and synthesized based on the conserved gene comB of standard strain SEZ(ATCC 43079)in this work.Then,the pMD19-T-comB recombinant plasmid was constructed and used as a standard positive template.After that,the fluorescence-based quantitative PCR(qPCR)detection method based on SYBR Green Ⅰ dye was established.Totally,477 equine entry serum samples from 6 countries,including Netherlands,Belgium,Japan,Germa-ny,Argentina and New Zealand,during 2018 to 2023,were randomly selected and detected for SEZ by the qPCR method.Results showed that the established qPCR method had specific amplification for only SEZ,which illustrated a good specificity.Sensitivity test of the method showed that the limited detection amount was 4.58 X101 copies/μL.And the repeatability test showed that the coef-ficient of variation of intra-batch repeatability was less than 0.5％,while the inter-batch repeat-ability was less than 3.0％,which indicated good repeatability and high stability.Retrospective a-nalysis showed that totally 11 of 477 positive samples were detected,with a relatively low positive rate of 2.31％(11/477).Among them,all the 40 samples from Netherlands in 2018 were negative(0/40).In the samples of 2019,one positive was detected from Belgium(1/20),while all other 36 samples which form Japan and Germany were negative.In the samples of 2021,three samples(3/34)from Japan and one sample(1/20)from Argentina were positive,and all the other 40 samples from the Netherlands were negative.In the samples of 2022,76 samples from Netherlands were all negative.While in the 2023,5(5/126)of 126 samples from Netherlands and one(1/88)of 88 from New Zealand were found positive with SEZ.To summarize,The SYBR Green Ⅰ qPCR method for the diagnosis of SEZ was successfully established,and it could provide necessary technical support for the rapid quarantine of China's entry-exit and port departments,as well as the epidemiological investigation of the disease.

The dual-core system is an innovative concept in the development of narrative therapy in China,that is,the client has the inner state of the original model and the developmental model at the same time.This paper constructs the concept of a dual-core system,which relocates the relationship between problems and resources,em-phasizes the experience of problems,and assists counselors in locating the"nearest development area"of clients.It makes the client's problems and healing both opposed and unified,forming a dynamic,binary self-identity system that ultimately empowers the client's life.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of serum serine protease (Corin) in chronic renal failure (CRF) complicated with heart failure.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 120 patients, (64.05±13.89) years old, 77 male (64.17%), with chronic renal failure combined with heart failure admitted to Zhengzhou People′s Hospital from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. The control group consisted of 87 patients, (60.59±8.78) years old, 54 male (62.07%), with simple chronic renal failure. Clinical information, laboratory test indicators and echocardiographic parameters were collected. Serum Corin concentration was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The experimental group was divided into grade Ⅱ(31 cases), grade Ⅲ(47 cases) and grade Ⅳ(42 cases) according to the New York College of Cardiology heart function classification system. Serum Corin levels were compared between the experimental group and the control group and among different cardiac function grades. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between serum Corin and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), D-dimer. ROC analysis was conducted to assess the predictive value of serum Corin in CRF complicated with heart failure and cardiac function classification; Binary Logistic regression was used to construct a multi-index joint prediction model, the joint prediction probability was obtained, and ROC curve was drawn to compare the diagnostic value of serum Corin and BNP in CRF combined with heart failure and the diagnostic value of serum Corin combined with D-dimer and BNP in CRF combined with heart failure.Results:The serum Corin level[2 568.97±477.70 pg/ml vs. 1 727.81±480.60 pg/ml, t=12.47, P<0.001], BNP [700.00(256.00, 2 089.75) pg/ml compared with 88.00 (43.00, 230.00) pg/ml, Z=-9.00, P<0.001], D-dimer [1 150.00(643.00, 1 874.75)μg/L compared with 556.00 (301.00, 865.00)μg/L, Z=-6.57, P<0.001] in chronic renal failure complicated with heart failure group was higher than that in simple CRF group, and the difference was statistically significant. Among patients with CRF complicated with heart failure, serum Corin[2 231.74±311.39 pg/ml vs. 2 562.09±365.30 pg/ml vs. 2 825.57±536.83 pg/ml, F=74.33, P<0.001], BNP [234.00(168.00, 612.00) pg/ml compared with 514.00(260.00, 1 455.00) pg/ml compared with 2 200.00(640.50, 4 682.75) pg/ml, H=29.42, P<0.001], D-dimer [753.00(514.00, 1 280.00) μg/L compared with 1 187.00(590.00, 1 840.00) μg/L compared with 1 603.00(810.00, 3 313.25) μg/L, H=14.98, P<0.001] increased with the increase of cardiac function grade, and the difference was statistically significant. According to Spearman correlation analysis, serum Corin was positively correlated with BNP ( r=0.409) and D-dimer ( r=0.299), P<0.001. According to the ROC analysis, the AUC of serum Corin in the diagnosis of CRF complicated with heart failure and cardiac function grade Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ were 0.890(95% CI 0.846-0.935), 0.807 (95% CI 0.728-0.885), 0.911 (95% CI 0.864-0.959), 0.927 (95% CI 0.882-0.972) respectively; the AUC of BNP in the diagnosis of CRF complicated with heart failure was 0.867 (95% CI 0.817-0.916), the AUC of serum Corin combined with D-dimer, BNP combined with D-dimer, serum Corin combined with D-dimer and BNP in the diagnosis of CRF complicated with heart failure were respectively 0.930 (95% CI 0.897-0.962), 0.892 (95% CI 0.847-0.936), 0.952 (95% CI 0.927-0.977). Conclusions:Serum Corin expression is elevated in patients with CRF complicated with heart failure, and the degree of elevation is related to cardiac function grade. Serum Corin has a good diagnostic value for CRF complicated with heart failure and its severity. Serum Corin is expected to become a new biomarker for diagnosis of CRF complicated with heart failure.

Cohort study is one of the important research methods in analytical epidemiology because of its clear time sequence relationship, which is better than other observational studies in demonstrating causal association. However, screening diagnosis or other methods are often used to exclude the individuals with outcome events during the enrollment process of the subjects in cohort studies. The accuracy of screening diagnosis and the effectiveness of exclusion will affect the accuracy of the baseline status assessment of the subjects included in the study, which may lead to the causal time sequence reversal of exposure-outcome in the estimation of causal effect. Landmark analysis can be used to control reverse causality by excluding subjects with potentially unknown expose-outcome timing. In this paper, we describe the basic principles and analytical steps of landmark analysis, and use data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey to explore the relationship between physical activity and frailty, and introduce the specific application of landmark analysis for the purpose of facilitating its application and inferring causal effects more accurately in cohort studies.

With completing a baseline survey of a large natural population cohort, conducting regular follow-up has become a key factor in further improving the quality of cohort construction and ensuring its sustainable development. Typical cohort follow-up methods include repeat surveys, routine monitoring, and community-oriented surveillance. However, in practical applications, there are often issues such as high costs, difficulty, and high error rates. Telephone follow-up is an important supplementary method to the methods mentioned above, as it has the characteristics of low cost, fast response, and high quality. However, the with difficult organization, quality control is challenging, response rates are low, and management levels vary widely, which limits its widespread use in large-scale population cohort studies. Given the above problems, this study draws on customer relationship management based on the actual needs of the China Northwest Cohort follow-up. It relies on the REDCap electronic data collection platform to build a telephone follow-up management and quality control system. Targeted solutions are provided for key issues in telephone follow-up implementation, including organizational structure, project management, data collection, and process quality control, to improve the quality control level of telephone follow-up comprehensively and thereby enhance the quality and efficiency of follow-up. We hope to provide standardized follow-up programs and efficient quality control tools for newly established and existing cohort studies.