Border-associated macrophages are located at the interface between the brain and the periphery, including the perivascular spaces, choroid plexus, and meninges. Until recently, the functions of border-associated macro...Border-associated macrophages are located at the interface between the brain and the periphery, including the perivascular spaces, choroid plexus, and meninges. Until recently, the functions of border-associated macrophages have been poorly understood and largely overlooked. However, a recent study reported that border-associated macrophages participate in stroke-induced inflammation, although many details and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we performed a comprehensive single-cell analysis of mouse border-associated macrophages using sequencing data obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO) database(GSE174574 and GSE225948). Differentially expressed genes were identified, and enrichment analysis was performed to identify the transcription profile of border-associated macrophages. CellChat analysis was conducted to determine the cell communication network of border-associated macrophages. Transcription factors were predicted using the ‘pySCENIC' tool. We found that, in response to hypoxia, borderassociated macrophages underwent dynamic transcriptional changes and participated in the regulation of inflammatory-related pathways. Notably, the tumor necrosis factor pathway was activated by border-associated macrophages following ischemic stroke. The pySCENIC analysis indicated that the activity of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(Stat3) was obviously upregulated in stroke, suggesting that Stat3 inhibition may be a promising strategy for treating border-associated macrophages-induced neuroinflammation. Finally, we constructed an animal model to investigate the effects of border-associated macrophages depletion following a stroke. Treatment with liposomes containing clodronate significantly reduced infarct volume in the animals and improved neurological scores compared with untreated animals. Taken together, our results demonstrate comprehensive changes in border-associated macrophages following a stroke, providing a theoretical basis for targeting border-associated macrophages-induced neuroinflammation in stroke treatment.展开更多
Global brain ischemia and neurological deficit are consequences of cardiac arrest that lead to high mortality.Despite advancements in resuscitation science,our limited understanding of the cellular and molecular mecha...Global brain ischemia and neurological deficit are consequences of cardiac arrest that lead to high mortality.Despite advancements in resuscitation science,our limited understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying post-cardiac arrest brain injury have hindered the development of effective neuroprotective strategies.Previous studies primarily focused on neuronal death,potentially overlooking the contributions of non-neuronal cells and intercellular communication to the pathophysiology of cardiac arrest-induced brain injury.To address these gaps,we hypothesized that single-cell transcriptomic analysis could uncover previously unidentified cellular subpopulations,altered cell communication networks,and novel molecular mechanisms involved in post-cardiac arrest brain injury.In this study,we performed a single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the hippocampus from pigs with ventricular fibrillation-induced cardiac arrest at 6 and 24 hours following the return of spontaneous circulation,and from sham control pigs.Sequencing results revealed changes in the proportions of different cell types,suggesting post-arrest disruption in the blood-brain barrier and infiltration of neutrophils.These results were validated through western blotting,quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction,and immunofluorescence staining.We also identified and validated a unique subcluster of activated microglia with high expression of S100A8,which increased over time following cardiac arrest.This subcluster simultaneously exhibited significant M1/M2 polarization and expressed key functional genes related to chemokines and interleukins.Additionally,we revealed the post-cardiac arrest dysfunction of oligodendrocytes and the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells into oligodendrocytes.Cell communication analysis identified enhanced post-cardiac arrest communication between neutrophils and microglia that was mediated by neutrophil-derived resistin,driving pro-inflammatory microglial polarization.Our findings provide a comprehensive single-cell map of the post-cardiac arrest hippocampus,offering potential novel targets for neuroprotection and repair following cardiac arrest.展开更多
The occurrence of severe thalassemia,an inherited blood disorder that is either blood-transfusiondependent or fatal,can be mitigated through carrier screening.Here,we aim to evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of ...The occurrence of severe thalassemia,an inherited blood disorder that is either blood-transfusiondependent or fatal,can be mitigated through carrier screening.Here,we aim to evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of pre-conceptional and early pregnancy screening initiatives for severe thalassemia prevention in a diverse population of 28,043 women.Using next-generation sequencing(NGS),we identify 4,226(15.07%)thalassemia carriers across 29 ethnic groups and categorize them into high-(0.75%),low-(25.86%),and unknown-risk(69.19%)groups based on their spouses'screening results.Post-screening follow-up reveals 59 fetuses with severe thalassemia exclusively in high-risk couples,underscoring the efficacy of risk classification.Among 25,053 live births over 6 months of age,two severe thalassemia infants were born to unknown-risk couples,which was attributed to incomplete screening and late NGS-based testing for a rare variant.Notably,64 rare variants are identified in 287 individuals,highlighting the genetic heterogeneity of thalassemia.We also observe that migrant flow significantly impacts carrier rates,with 93.90%of migrants to Chenzhou originating from high-prevalence regions in southern China.Our study demonstrates that NGS-based screening during pre-conception and early pregnancy is effective for severe thalassemia prevention,emphasizing the need for continuous screening efforts in areas with high and underestimated prevalence.展开更多
This study establishes and validates a method for the precise quantification of aquatic microbial loads using microbial diversity absolute quantitative sequencing.By adding synthetic spike-in DNA to water samples from...This study establishes and validates a method for the precise quantification of aquatic microbial loads using microbial diversity absolute quantitative sequencing.By adding synthetic spike-in DNA to water samples from the Dahei River prior to DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene sequencing,it generates standard curves to convert sequencing data into absolute microbial copy numbers.The method,which is proved highly accurate(R^(2)>0.99),reveals a clear contrast between the river sites:the upstream community has not only a significantly higher total microbial load but also a completely different makeup of species compared to the downstream site.This approach effectively overcomes the limitations of relative abundance analysis,providing a powerful tool for environmental monitoring,and proposes key steps for future standardization to ensure data comparability and integration.展开更多
Background In the modern sheep production systems,the reproductive performance of ewes determines the economic profitability of farming.Revealing the genetic mechanisms underlying differences in the litter size is imp...Background In the modern sheep production systems,the reproductive performance of ewes determines the economic profitability of farming.Revealing the genetic mechanisms underlying differences in the litter size is important for the selection and breeding of highly prolific ewes.Hu sheep,a high-quality Chinese sheep breed,is known for its high fecundity and is often used as a model to study prolificacy traits.In the current study,animals were divided into two groups according to their delivery rates in three consecutive lambing seasons(namely,the high and low reproductive groups with≥3 lambs and one lamb per season,n=3,respectively).The ewes were slaughtered within 12 h of estrus,and unilateral ovarian tissues were collected and analyzed by 10×Genomics single-cell RNA sequencing.Results A total of 5 types of somatic cells were identified and corresponding expression profiles were mapped in the ovaries of each group.Noticeably,the differences in the ovary somatic cell expression profiles between the high and low reproductive groups were mainly clustered in the granulosa cells.Furthermore,four granulosa cell subtypes were identified.GeneSwitches analysis revealed that the abundance of JPH1 expression and the reduction of LOC101112291 expression could lead to different evolutionary directions of the granulosa cells.Additionally,the expression levels of FTH1 and FTL in mural granulosa cells of the highly reproductive group were significantly higher.These genes inhibit necroptosis and ferroptosis of mural granulosa cells,which helps prevent follicular atresia.Conclusions This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the high fecundity of Hu sheep.The differences in gene expression profiles,particularly in the granulosa cells,suggest that these cells play a critical role in female prolificacy.The findings also highlight the importance of genes such as JPH1,LOC101112291,FTH1,and FTL in regulating granulosa cell function and follicular development.展开更多
Bacterial diseases affecting corals pose an enormous threat to the health of coral reefs. The relationship between certain bacterial species and coral diseases remain largely unknown. Pigment abnormalities are common ...Bacterial diseases affecting corals pose an enormous threat to the health of coral reefs. The relationship between certain bacterial species and coral diseases remain largely unknown. Pigment abnormalities are common in Porites lutea. Here we used Illumina 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze the bacterial communities associated with healthy P. lutea and P. lutea with pigment abnormalities. We observed an increase of alpha diversity of the bacterial community of P. lutea with pigment abnormalities, relative to healthy corals. We then identified changes in the abundance of individual operational taxonomic units(OTUs) between pigmented and healthy corals. We were able to identify eight OTUs associated with pigment abnormalities, which are possibly the causative agents of pigment abnormalities.展开更多
The controversial subject of chronic Lyme disease has occupied medical discourse for years while contributing to unprecedented patient suffering in the United States and abroad. A general misunderstanding of Lyme dise...The controversial subject of chronic Lyme disease has occupied medical discourse for years while contributing to unprecedented patient suffering in the United States and abroad. A general misunderstanding of Lyme disease and overconfidence in the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommended two-step test for Lyme disease has led to misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment over the years. This leads to increasing medical expenses and worse outcomes for patients. The two-step test, an ELISA immunoblot followed by a confirmatory Western blot, yields accuracy rates as low as 29% for acute Lyme disease and 75% for chronic Lyme disease. While these practices have been a staple of microbiology for decades, these accuracy rates are unacceptable for diagnostic tests when better technology is available. PathoDNA, a Next-Generation DNA sequencing test for Lyme disease and other tick-borne pathogens, achieves accuracy rates of 98% for <em>B. burgdorferi</em> and 95% or greater for other common tick-borne pathogens with superior sensitivity and selectivity. PathoDNA is a Clinical Laboratory Improvement and Amendments (CLIA)-validated laboratory test that achieves these results utilizing Next Generational DNA Sequencing and a proprietary bioinformatics database. Thus, it allows for rapid results and specific identification of tick-borne illnesses. In this article, we will compare this promising technology against the existing standards for diagnosing and testing Lyme disease. We believe that PathoDNA can set a new standard for identifying <em>Borrelia</em> and diagnosing Lyme disease along with other tick-borne infections.展开更多
An accurate assessment of host and pathogen gene expression during infection is critical for understanding the molecular aspects of host-pathogen interactions.Often,pathogen-derived transcripts are difficult to ascert...An accurate assessment of host and pathogen gene expression during infection is critical for understanding the molecular aspects of host-pathogen interactions.Often,pathogen-derived transcripts are difficult to ascertain at early infection stages owing to the unfavourable transcript representation compared to the host genes.In this study,we compare two sequencing techniques,RNAseq and enrichment sequencing(RenSeq and PenSeq)of cDNA,to investigate gene expression patterns in the doubled monoploid potato(DM)infected with the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans.Our results reveal distinct advantages of cDNA RenSeq and PenSeq over traditional RNAseq in terms of target gene representation and transcriptional quantification at early infection stages.Throughout the infection time course,cDNA enrichment sequencing enables transcriptomic analyses for more targeted host and pathogen genes.For highly expressed genes that were sampled in parallel by both cDNA enrichment and RNAseq,a high level of concordance in expression profiles is observed,indicative of at least semi-quantitative gene expression representation following enrichment.展开更多
Genotyping by target sequencing(GBTS)integrates the advantages of silicon-based technology(high stability and reliability)and genotyping by sequencing(high flexibility and cost-effectiveness).However,GBTS panels are n...Genotyping by target sequencing(GBTS)integrates the advantages of silicon-based technology(high stability and reliability)and genotyping by sequencing(high flexibility and cost-effectiveness).However,GBTS panels are not currently available in pigs.In this study,based on GBTS technology,we first developed a 50K panel,including 52,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs),in pigs,designated GBTS50K.A total of 6,032 individuals of Large White,Landrace,and Duroc pigs from 10 breeding farms were used to assess the newly developed GBTS50K.Our results showed that GBTS50K obtained a high genotyping ability,the SNP and individual call rates of GBTS50K were 0.997–0.998,and the average consistency rate and genotyping correlation coefficient were 0.997 and 0.993,respectively,in replicate samples.We also evaluated the efficiencies of GBTS50K in the application of population genetic structure analysis,selection signature detection,genome-wide association studies(GWAS),genotyped imputation,genetic selection(GS),etc.The results indicate that GBTS50K is plausible and powerful in genetic analysis and molecular breeding.For example,GBTS50K could gain higher accuracies than the current popular GGP-Porcine bead chip in genomic selection on 2 important traits of backfat thickness at 100 kg and days to 100 kg in pigs.Particularly,due to the multiple SNPs(mSNPs),GBTS50K generated 100K qualified SNPs without increasing genotyping cost,and our results showed that the haplotype-based method can further improve the accuracies of genomic selection on growth and reproduction traits by 2 to 6%.Our study showed that GBTS50K could be a powerful tool for underlying genetic architecture and molecular breeding in pigs,and it is also helpful for developing SNP panels for other farm animals.展开更多
BACKGROUND The gastric microbiome is closely associated with gastric cancer,and single-region 16S rRNA sequencing has limitations in analyzing its characteristics,necessitating the search for a better sequencing metho...BACKGROUND The gastric microbiome is closely associated with gastric cancer,and single-region 16S rRNA sequencing has limitations in analyzing its characteristics,necessitating the search for a better sequencing method.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of multi-region 16S rRNA gene sequencing in studying the microbiome of gastric cancer tissues.METHODS Patients with gastric cancer(n=118)who underwent surgery at Liyang People's Hospital from January 2022 to December 2024 were enrolled.Fifty-nine paraffinembedded and 59 fresh tissue samples were obtained.The ZymoBIOMICSTM microbial community standard and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 were used as positive controls.Multi-region and single-region 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed.Species identification,detection rates at varying microbial abundances,operational taxonomic unit(OTU)counts,and alpha diversity indices in gastric cancer tissues were compared between the two methods.RESULTS Multi-region 16S rRNA sequencing identified more species(eight species and eight genera)in the positive controls compared with single-region sequencing(one species and six genera).Detection rates at concentrations of 103,102,and 10 CFU/mg were significantly higher using multi-region sequencing(P<0.05).Multi-region sequencing also revealed significantly higher OTU counts and alpha diversity indices(Shannon,Simpson,and Chao1)in gastric cancer tissues(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Compared with single-region sequencing,multi-region 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrates superior species resolution and detection sensitivity,providing a more comprehensive profile of microbial diversity in gastric cancer tissues.展开更多
BACKGROUND Adenomatous polyposis confers an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.APC and MUTYH are the major genes investigated in patients suspected of having polyposis.In addition to APC and MUTYH genes,ot...BACKGROUND Adenomatous polyposis confers an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.APC and MUTYH are the major genes investigated in patients suspected of having polyposis.In addition to APC and MUTYH genes,other genes,such as POLE,POLD1,NTHL1,MBD4,MSH3 and MLH3,have recently been associated with polyposis phenotypes,conferring heterogeneity in terms of the clinical,etiological and heritable aspects of patients with polyposis.AIM To investigate the underlying variant landscape in patients with suspected polyposis who lack variants in the APC and MUTYH genes using whole-exome sequencing.METHODS Twenty-seven participants were included in the study and subjected to germline whole-exome sequencing.In addition,their clinical-pathological,personal,and family history data were collected.RESULTS The mean age at diagnosis was 51 years,and most participants had attenuated forms of polyposis(88.9%),with 63.0%diagnosed with a primary tumor,mostly colorectal cancer(76.5%).Among the variants identified,17 were classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic(in 12 participants),including variants in genes involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,such as ST7 L,A1CF,and DKK4,and variants in DNA-repair genes,such as NTHL1,PNKP,and PMS2,as well as a variant found at the FRK gene identified in a patient with classic polyposis at age 19 and with a family history of polyps.CONCLUSION This study identified novel genes potentially associated with polyposis in patients lacking germline pathogenic variants in the APC and MUTYH genes.These findings support the use of next-generation sequencing for screening,expanding the scope of polyposis-related variants beyond these two genes.展开更多
In order to save manpower and time costs,and to achieve simultaneous detection of multiple animal-derived components in meat and meat products,this study used multiple nucleotide polymorphism(MNP)marker technology bas...In order to save manpower and time costs,and to achieve simultaneous detection of multiple animal-derived components in meat and meat products,this study used multiple nucleotide polymorphism(MNP)marker technology based on the principle of high-throughput sequencing,and established a multi-locus 10 animalderived components identification method of cattle,goat,sheep,donkey,horse,chicken,duck,goose,pigeon,quail in meat and meat products.The specific loci of each species could be detected and the species could be accurately identified,including 5 loci for cattle and duck,3 loci for sheep,9 loci for chicken and horse,10 loci for goose and pigeon,6 loci for quail and 1 locus for donkey and goat,and an adulteration model was established to simulate commercially available samples.The results showed that the method established in this study had high throughput,good repeatability and accuracy,and was able to identify 10 animalderived components simultaneously with 100%repeatability accuracy.The detection limit was 0.1%(m/m)in simulated samples of chicken,duck and horse.Using the method established in this study to test commercially available samples,4 samples from 14 commercially available samples were detected to be inconsistent with the labels,of which 2 did not contain the target ingredient and 2 were adulterated with small amounts of other ingredients.展开更多
BACKGROUND Gallbladder neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC)represents a subtype of gallbladder malignancies characterized by a low incidence,aggressive nature,and poor prognosis.Despite its clinical severity,the genetic alte...BACKGROUND Gallbladder neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC)represents a subtype of gallbladder malignancies characterized by a low incidence,aggressive nature,and poor prognosis.Despite its clinical severity,the genetic alterations,mechanisms,and signaling pathways underlying gallbladder NEC remain unclear.CASE SUMMARY This case study presents a rare instance of primary gallbladder NEC in a 73-year-old female patient,who underwent a radical cholecystectomy with hepatic hilar lymphadenectomy and resection of liver segments IV-B and V.Targeted gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis tools,including STRING,GeneMANIA,Metascape,TRRUST,Sangerbox,cBioPortal and GSCA,were used to analyze the biological functions and features of mutated genes in gallbladder NEC.Twelve mutations(APC,ARID2,IFNA6,KEAP1,RB1,SMAD4,TP53,BTK,GATA1,GNAS,and PRDM3)were identified,and the tumor mutation burden was determined to be 9.52 muts/Mb via targeted gene sequencing.A protein-protein interaction network showed significant interactions among the twelve mutated genes.Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were used to assess mutation functions and pathways.The results revealed 40 tumor-related pathways.A key regulatory factor for gallbladder NEC-related genes was identified,and its biological functions and features were compared with those of gallbladder carcinoma.CONCLUSION Gallbladder NEC requires standardized treatment.Comparisons with other gallbladder carcinomas revealed clinical phenotypes,molecular alterations,functional characteristics,and enriched pathways.展开更多
Glial cells play crucial roles in regulating physiological and pathological functions,including sensation,the response to infection and acute injury,and chronic neurodegenerative disorders.Glial cells include astrocyt...Glial cells play crucial roles in regulating physiological and pathological functions,including sensation,the response to infection and acute injury,and chronic neurodegenerative disorders.Glial cells include astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system,and satellite glial cells and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system.Despite the greater understanding of glial cell types and functional heterogeneity achieved through single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing in animal models,few studies have investigated the transcriptomic profiles of glial cells in the human spinal cord.Here,we used high-throughput single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to map the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes in the human spinal cord.To explore the conservation and divergence across species,we compared these findings with those from mice.In the human spinal cord,astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes were each divided into six distinct transcriptomic subclusters.In the mouse spinal cord,astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes were divided into five,four,and five distinct transcriptomic subclusters,respectively.The comparative results revealed substantial heterogeneity in all glial cell types between humans and mice.Additionally,we detected sex differences in gene expression in human spinal cord glial cells.Specifically,in all astrocyte subtypes,the levels of NEAT1 and CHI3L1 were higher in males than in females,whereas the levels of CST3 were lower in males than in females.In all microglial subtypes,all differentially expressed genes were located on the sex chromosomes.In addition to sex-specific gene differences,the levels of MT-ND4,MT2A,MT-ATP6,MT-CO3,MT-ND2,MT-ND3,and MT-CO_(2) in all spinal cord oligodendrocyte subtypes were higher in females than in males.Collectively,the present dataset extensively characterizes glial cell heterogeneity and offers a valuable resource for exploring the cellular basis of spinal cordrelated illnesses,including chronic pain,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,and multiple sclerosis.展开更多
AIM:To estimate if nanopore targeted sequencing(NTS)could identify pathogens causing postoperative endophthalmitis and further determine the feasibility of clinical application of NTS.METHODS:A total of 55 patients(55...AIM:To estimate if nanopore targeted sequencing(NTS)could identify pathogens causing postoperative endophthalmitis and further determine the feasibility of clinical application of NTS.METHODS:A total of 55 patients(55 eyes)with postoperative endophthalmitis were retrospectively included in this study with their medical records.Intraocular fluid samples were examined by NTS and microbial culture.All included patients had undergone examinations including measurement of best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and intraocular pressure(IOP),slit-lamp biomicroscopy,and indirect ophthalmoscopy;additionally,they underwent B-ultrasound,anterior segment photography,and fundus photography if necessary.RESULTS:Among 55 patients with postoperative endophthalmitis,the age was 65.25±15.04y and there were 30 female(54.54%)patients.Forty-one(74.54%)vitreous humor samples and fourteen(25.45%)aqueous humor samples were sent for both NTS and microbial culture.NTS had a notable higher detection rate than microbial culture in detecting pathogens(90.91%vs 38.18%,χ^(2)=33.409,P<0.001).NTS exhibited high sensitivity of pathogen detection in both microbial culture positive and negative samples(100%and 85.29%,respectively).In 16 of 21(76.19%)patients who showed culture-positivity,their results corresponded with those of NTS.Moreover,in two patients(9.52%),NTS showed a better species resolution than microbial culture;in three patients(14.28%),NTS identified additional pathogens.As for fungus,the positive detection rate of NTS was significantly higher than that of microbial culture(20%vs 3.64%,χ^(2)=7.066,P=0.008).Also,NTS could detect multi-infection by bacteria and fungi than microbial culture(32.73%vs 0,χ^(2)=21.522,P<0.001).NTS could detect bacteria as well as fungi simultaneously within 48h in all patients.Meanwhile,NTS had a shorter detection time than microbial culture(1.13±0.34 vs 2.67±0.55d,Z=-9.218,P<0.001).After the NTS results were obtained,15 patients received additional intravitreal/intracameral anti-infection treatment.At follow-up,there was a statistically significant improvement in the visual acuity relative to the baseline(Z=−5.222,P<0.001).CONCLUSION:NTS can provide rapid identification and highly sensitive detection of pathogens among patients with postoperative endophthalmitis,which can guide anti-infection treatment and improve visual prognosis.展开更多
BACKGROUND Hemorrhoids,a prevalent chronic condition globally,significantly impact patients'quality of life.While various surgical interventions,such as external stripping and internal ligation,procedure for prola...BACKGROUND Hemorrhoids,a prevalent chronic condition globally,significantly impact patients'quality of life.While various surgical interventions,such as external stripping and internal ligation,procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids,and tissue selecting technique,are employed for treatment,they are often associated with postoperative complications,including unsatisfactory defecation,bleeding,and anal stenosis.In contrast,Xiaozhiling injection,a traditional Chinese medicine-based therapy,has emerged as a minimally invasive and effective alternative for internal hemorrhoids.This treatment offers distinct advantages,such as reduced dietary restrictions,broad applicability,and minimal induction of systemic inflammatory responses.Additionally,Xiaozhiling injection effectively eliminates hemorrhoid nuclei,prevents local tissue necrosis,preserves anal cushion integrity,and mitigates postoperative complications,including bleeding and prolapse.Despite its clinical efficacy,the molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects remain poorly understood,warranting further investigation.AIM To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of Xiaozhiling injection in the treatment of internal hemorrhoids.METHODS An internal hemorrhoid model was established in rats,and the rats were randomly divided into a modeling group[control group(CK group)]and a treatment group.One week after injection,Stereo-seq and electron microscopy were used to study the changes in gene expression and subcellular structures in fibroblasts.RESULTS Single-cell sequencing revealed differences in the expression and transcript levels of the genes collagen 3 alpha 1,decorin,and actin alpha 2 in fibroblasts between the CK group and the treatment group.Spatial transcriptome analysis revealed that genes of the sphingosine kinase 1(Sphk1)/sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P)pathway spatially overlapped with key genes of the transforming growth factor beta 1 pathway,namely,Sphk1,S1P receptor,and transforming growth factor beta 1,in the treatment group.The proportion of fibroblasts was lower in the treatment group than in the CK group,and Xiaozhiling treatment had a significant effect on the proportion of fibroblasts in hemorrhoidal tissue.Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant increase in the expression of a fibroblast marker.Electron microscopy showed that the endoplasmic reticulum of fibroblasts contained a large amount of glycogen,indicating cell activation.Fibroblast activation and the expression of key genes of the Sphk1-S1P pathway could be observed at the injection site,suggesting that after Xiaozhiling intervention,the Sphk1-S1P pathway could be activated to promote fibrosis.CONCLUSION Xiaozhiling injection exerts its therapeutic effects on internal hemorrhoids by promoting collagen synthesis and secretion in fibroblasts.After Xiaozhiling intervention,the Sphk1-S1P pathway can be activated to promote fibrosis.展开更多
N^(6)-methyladenine(6mA)is a prevalent DNA modification and is involved in a wide range of human diseases.Previous studies have indicated that 6mA is enriched in mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)of mammals.By employing an evol...N^(6)-methyladenine(6mA)is a prevalent DNA modification and is involved in a wide range of human diseases.Previous studies have indicated that 6mA is enriched in mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)of mammals.By employing an evolved adenine deaminase,we developed a deaminase-mediated sequencing(DM-seq)method that could achieve genome-wide mapping of 6mA in mammalian mtDNA at single-base resolution.In this study,we used an engineered adenine deaminase,known as TadA8e protein,to map 6mA in mtDNA of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)by DM-seq.Through high-throughput sequencing,we identified sixteen 6mA sites in both HCC and adjacent normal tissue mtDNA.The results revealed an increased overall 6mA level in mtDNA associated with HCC.Furthermore,an elevation in 6mA level was observed alongside a decrease in the m RNA levels of the corresponding genes,indicating that increased6mA level hindered transcription processes related to these genes.These findings demonstrate that 6mA in mtDNA is correlated with HCC and provide evidence supporting the inhibitory effect of elevated 6mA level on subsequent transcriptional activity.This research illuminates the intricate relationship between 6mA modification and transcriptional regulation in the context of HCC,offering valuable insights into the role of 6mA modification in HCC pathogenesis.展开更多
基金supported by Qingdao Key Medical and Health Discipline ProjectThe Intramural Research Program of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University,No. 4910Qingdao West Coast New Area Science and Technology Project,No. 2020-55 (all to SW)。
文摘Border-associated macrophages are located at the interface between the brain and the periphery, including the perivascular spaces, choroid plexus, and meninges. Until recently, the functions of border-associated macrophages have been poorly understood and largely overlooked. However, a recent study reported that border-associated macrophages participate in stroke-induced inflammation, although many details and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we performed a comprehensive single-cell analysis of mouse border-associated macrophages using sequencing data obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO) database(GSE174574 and GSE225948). Differentially expressed genes were identified, and enrichment analysis was performed to identify the transcription profile of border-associated macrophages. CellChat analysis was conducted to determine the cell communication network of border-associated macrophages. Transcription factors were predicted using the ‘pySCENIC' tool. We found that, in response to hypoxia, borderassociated macrophages underwent dynamic transcriptional changes and participated in the regulation of inflammatory-related pathways. Notably, the tumor necrosis factor pathway was activated by border-associated macrophages following ischemic stroke. The pySCENIC analysis indicated that the activity of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(Stat3) was obviously upregulated in stroke, suggesting that Stat3 inhibition may be a promising strategy for treating border-associated macrophages-induced neuroinflammation. Finally, we constructed an animal model to investigate the effects of border-associated macrophages depletion following a stroke. Treatment with liposomes containing clodronate significantly reduced infarct volume in the animals and improved neurological scores compared with untreated animals. Taken together, our results demonstrate comprehensive changes in border-associated macrophages following a stroke, providing a theoretical basis for targeting border-associated macrophages-induced neuroinflammation in stroke treatment.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China,Nos.82325031(to FX),82030059(to YC),82102290(to YG),U23A20485(to YC)Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science and Technology Major Project,No.2023ZD0505504(to FX),2023ZD0505500(to YC)the Key R&D Program of Shandong Province,No.2022ZLGX03(to YC).
文摘Global brain ischemia and neurological deficit are consequences of cardiac arrest that lead to high mortality.Despite advancements in resuscitation science,our limited understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying post-cardiac arrest brain injury have hindered the development of effective neuroprotective strategies.Previous studies primarily focused on neuronal death,potentially overlooking the contributions of non-neuronal cells and intercellular communication to the pathophysiology of cardiac arrest-induced brain injury.To address these gaps,we hypothesized that single-cell transcriptomic analysis could uncover previously unidentified cellular subpopulations,altered cell communication networks,and novel molecular mechanisms involved in post-cardiac arrest brain injury.In this study,we performed a single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the hippocampus from pigs with ventricular fibrillation-induced cardiac arrest at 6 and 24 hours following the return of spontaneous circulation,and from sham control pigs.Sequencing results revealed changes in the proportions of different cell types,suggesting post-arrest disruption in the blood-brain barrier and infiltration of neutrophils.These results were validated through western blotting,quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction,and immunofluorescence staining.We also identified and validated a unique subcluster of activated microglia with high expression of S100A8,which increased over time following cardiac arrest.This subcluster simultaneously exhibited significant M1/M2 polarization and expressed key functional genes related to chemokines and interleukins.Additionally,we revealed the post-cardiac arrest dysfunction of oligodendrocytes and the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells into oligodendrocytes.Cell communication analysis identified enhanced post-cardiac arrest communication between neutrophils and microglia that was mediated by neutrophil-derived resistin,driving pro-inflammatory microglial polarization.Our findings provide a comprehensive single-cell map of the post-cardiac arrest hippocampus,offering potential novel targets for neuroprotection and repair following cardiac arrest.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81760037)Yunling Scholar Project of Yunnan Province(YNWR-YLXZ-2019-0005)+1 种基金Hunan Provincial Innovation Platform and Talent Program(2018SK4004)Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation(2019JJ80048).
文摘The occurrence of severe thalassemia,an inherited blood disorder that is either blood-transfusiondependent or fatal,can be mitigated through carrier screening.Here,we aim to evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of pre-conceptional and early pregnancy screening initiatives for severe thalassemia prevention in a diverse population of 28,043 women.Using next-generation sequencing(NGS),we identify 4,226(15.07%)thalassemia carriers across 29 ethnic groups and categorize them into high-(0.75%),low-(25.86%),and unknown-risk(69.19%)groups based on their spouses'screening results.Post-screening follow-up reveals 59 fetuses with severe thalassemia exclusively in high-risk couples,underscoring the efficacy of risk classification.Among 25,053 live births over 6 months of age,two severe thalassemia infants were born to unknown-risk couples,which was attributed to incomplete screening and late NGS-based testing for a rare variant.Notably,64 rare variants are identified in 287 individuals,highlighting the genetic heterogeneity of thalassemia.We also observe that migrant flow significantly impacts carrier rates,with 93.90%of migrants to Chenzhou originating from high-prevalence regions in southern China.Our study demonstrates that NGS-based screening during pre-conception and early pregnancy is effective for severe thalassemia prevention,emphasizing the need for continuous screening efforts in areas with high and underestimated prevalence.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.32160172)the Key Science-Technology Project of Inner Mongolia(2023KYPT0010)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China(Grant No.2025QN03006)the 2023 Inner Mongolia Public Institution High-level Talent Introduction Scientific Research Support Project.
文摘This study establishes and validates a method for the precise quantification of aquatic microbial loads using microbial diversity absolute quantitative sequencing.By adding synthetic spike-in DNA to water samples from the Dahei River prior to DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene sequencing,it generates standard curves to convert sequencing data into absolute microbial copy numbers.The method,which is proved highly accurate(R^(2)>0.99),reveals a clear contrast between the river sites:the upstream community has not only a significantly higher total microbial load but also a completely different makeup of species compared to the downstream site.This approach effectively overcomes the limitations of relative abundance analysis,providing a powerful tool for environmental monitoring,and proposes key steps for future standardization to ensure data comparability and integration.
基金supported by the mutton sheep industry technology system construction project of Shaanxi Province(NYKJ-2021-YL(XN)43).
文摘Background In the modern sheep production systems,the reproductive performance of ewes determines the economic profitability of farming.Revealing the genetic mechanisms underlying differences in the litter size is important for the selection and breeding of highly prolific ewes.Hu sheep,a high-quality Chinese sheep breed,is known for its high fecundity and is often used as a model to study prolificacy traits.In the current study,animals were divided into two groups according to their delivery rates in three consecutive lambing seasons(namely,the high and low reproductive groups with≥3 lambs and one lamb per season,n=3,respectively).The ewes were slaughtered within 12 h of estrus,and unilateral ovarian tissues were collected and analyzed by 10×Genomics single-cell RNA sequencing.Results A total of 5 types of somatic cells were identified and corresponding expression profiles were mapped in the ovaries of each group.Noticeably,the differences in the ovary somatic cell expression profiles between the high and low reproductive groups were mainly clustered in the granulosa cells.Furthermore,four granulosa cell subtypes were identified.GeneSwitches analysis revealed that the abundance of JPH1 expression and the reduction of LOC101112291 expression could lead to different evolutionary directions of the granulosa cells.Additionally,the expression levels of FTH1 and FTL in mural granulosa cells of the highly reproductive group were significantly higher.These genes inhibit necroptosis and ferroptosis of mural granulosa cells,which helps prevent follicular atresia.Conclusions This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the high fecundity of Hu sheep.The differences in gene expression profiles,particularly in the granulosa cells,suggest that these cells play a critical role in female prolificacy.The findings also highlight the importance of genes such as JPH1,LOC101112291,FTH1,and FTL in regulating granulosa cell function and follicular development.
基金The China-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation Fund Project "China-Indonesia Bitung Ecological Station Establishment"the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.41506180the Public Science and Technology Research Funds Projects of Ocean under contract No.201505009
文摘Bacterial diseases affecting corals pose an enormous threat to the health of coral reefs. The relationship between certain bacterial species and coral diseases remain largely unknown. Pigment abnormalities are common in Porites lutea. Here we used Illumina 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze the bacterial communities associated with healthy P. lutea and P. lutea with pigment abnormalities. We observed an increase of alpha diversity of the bacterial community of P. lutea with pigment abnormalities, relative to healthy corals. We then identified changes in the abundance of individual operational taxonomic units(OTUs) between pigmented and healthy corals. We were able to identify eight OTUs associated with pigment abnormalities, which are possibly the causative agents of pigment abnormalities.
文摘The controversial subject of chronic Lyme disease has occupied medical discourse for years while contributing to unprecedented patient suffering in the United States and abroad. A general misunderstanding of Lyme disease and overconfidence in the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommended two-step test for Lyme disease has led to misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment over the years. This leads to increasing medical expenses and worse outcomes for patients. The two-step test, an ELISA immunoblot followed by a confirmatory Western blot, yields accuracy rates as low as 29% for acute Lyme disease and 75% for chronic Lyme disease. While these practices have been a staple of microbiology for decades, these accuracy rates are unacceptable for diagnostic tests when better technology is available. PathoDNA, a Next-Generation DNA sequencing test for Lyme disease and other tick-borne pathogens, achieves accuracy rates of 98% for <em>B. burgdorferi</em> and 95% or greater for other common tick-borne pathogens with superior sensitivity and selectivity. PathoDNA is a Clinical Laboratory Improvement and Amendments (CLIA)-validated laboratory test that achieves these results utilizing Next Generational DNA Sequencing and a proprietary bioinformatics database. Thus, it allows for rapid results and specific identification of tick-borne illnesses. In this article, we will compare this promising technology against the existing standards for diagnosing and testing Lyme disease. We believe that PathoDNA can set a new standard for identifying <em>Borrelia</em> and diagnosing Lyme disease along with other tick-borne infections.
基金supported by the Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services (RESAS) Division of the Scottish Government through project JHI-B1-1the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) through awards BB/ S015663/1+2 种基金BB/X009068/1Research Leaders 2025 fellowship funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 754380the Research/Scientific Computing teams at The James Hutton Institute and NIAB for providing computational resources and technical support for the “UK’s Crop Diversity Bioinformatics HPC” (BBSRC grant BB/ S019669/1)。
文摘An accurate assessment of host and pathogen gene expression during infection is critical for understanding the molecular aspects of host-pathogen interactions.Often,pathogen-derived transcripts are difficult to ascertain at early infection stages owing to the unfavourable transcript representation compared to the host genes.In this study,we compare two sequencing techniques,RNAseq and enrichment sequencing(RenSeq and PenSeq)of cDNA,to investigate gene expression patterns in the doubled monoploid potato(DM)infected with the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans.Our results reveal distinct advantages of cDNA RenSeq and PenSeq over traditional RNAseq in terms of target gene representation and transcriptional quantification at early infection stages.Throughout the infection time course,cDNA enrichment sequencing enables transcriptomic analyses for more targeted host and pathogen genes.For highly expressed genes that were sampled in parallel by both cDNA enrichment and RNAseq,a high level of concordance in expression profiles is observed,indicative of at least semi-quantitative gene expression representation following enrichment.
基金supported by the grants from the Key R&D Program of Shandong Province,China(2022LZGC003)the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(CARS-35)+1 种基金the National Key Research and Development Project of China(2019YFE0106800)the 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University。
文摘Genotyping by target sequencing(GBTS)integrates the advantages of silicon-based technology(high stability and reliability)and genotyping by sequencing(high flexibility and cost-effectiveness).However,GBTS panels are not currently available in pigs.In this study,based on GBTS technology,we first developed a 50K panel,including 52,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs),in pigs,designated GBTS50K.A total of 6,032 individuals of Large White,Landrace,and Duroc pigs from 10 breeding farms were used to assess the newly developed GBTS50K.Our results showed that GBTS50K obtained a high genotyping ability,the SNP and individual call rates of GBTS50K were 0.997–0.998,and the average consistency rate and genotyping correlation coefficient were 0.997 and 0.993,respectively,in replicate samples.We also evaluated the efficiencies of GBTS50K in the application of population genetic structure analysis,selection signature detection,genome-wide association studies(GWAS),genotyped imputation,genetic selection(GS),etc.The results indicate that GBTS50K is plausible and powerful in genetic analysis and molecular breeding.For example,GBTS50K could gain higher accuracies than the current popular GGP-Porcine bead chip in genomic selection on 2 important traits of backfat thickness at 100 kg and days to 100 kg in pigs.Particularly,due to the multiple SNPs(mSNPs),GBTS50K generated 100K qualified SNPs without increasing genotyping cost,and our results showed that the haplotype-based method can further improve the accuracies of genomic selection on growth and reproduction traits by 2 to 6%.Our study showed that GBTS50K could be a powerful tool for underlying genetic architecture and molecular breeding in pigs,and it is also helpful for developing SNP panels for other farm animals.
基金Supported by Liyang People's Hospital Technology Project,No.2021YJKT0013。
文摘BACKGROUND The gastric microbiome is closely associated with gastric cancer,and single-region 16S rRNA sequencing has limitations in analyzing its characteristics,necessitating the search for a better sequencing method.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of multi-region 16S rRNA gene sequencing in studying the microbiome of gastric cancer tissues.METHODS Patients with gastric cancer(n=118)who underwent surgery at Liyang People's Hospital from January 2022 to December 2024 were enrolled.Fifty-nine paraffinembedded and 59 fresh tissue samples were obtained.The ZymoBIOMICSTM microbial community standard and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 were used as positive controls.Multi-region and single-region 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed.Species identification,detection rates at varying microbial abundances,operational taxonomic unit(OTU)counts,and alpha diversity indices in gastric cancer tissues were compared between the two methods.RESULTS Multi-region 16S rRNA sequencing identified more species(eight species and eight genera)in the positive controls compared with single-region sequencing(one species and six genera).Detection rates at concentrations of 103,102,and 10 CFU/mg were significantly higher using multi-region sequencing(P<0.05).Multi-region sequencing also revealed significantly higher OTU counts and alpha diversity indices(Shannon,Simpson,and Chao1)in gastric cancer tissues(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Compared with single-region sequencing,multi-region 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrates superior species resolution and detection sensitivity,providing a more comprehensive profile of microbial diversity in gastric cancer tissues.
基金Supported by the National Oncology Care Support Program,No.25000.056766/2015-64.
文摘BACKGROUND Adenomatous polyposis confers an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.APC and MUTYH are the major genes investigated in patients suspected of having polyposis.In addition to APC and MUTYH genes,other genes,such as POLE,POLD1,NTHL1,MBD4,MSH3 and MLH3,have recently been associated with polyposis phenotypes,conferring heterogeneity in terms of the clinical,etiological and heritable aspects of patients with polyposis.AIM To investigate the underlying variant landscape in patients with suspected polyposis who lack variants in the APC and MUTYH genes using whole-exome sequencing.METHODS Twenty-seven participants were included in the study and subjected to germline whole-exome sequencing.In addition,their clinical-pathological,personal,and family history data were collected.RESULTS The mean age at diagnosis was 51 years,and most participants had attenuated forms of polyposis(88.9%),with 63.0%diagnosed with a primary tumor,mostly colorectal cancer(76.5%).Among the variants identified,17 were classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic(in 12 participants),including variants in genes involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,such as ST7 L,A1CF,and DKK4,and variants in DNA-repair genes,such as NTHL1,PNKP,and PMS2,as well as a variant found at the FRK gene identified in a patient with classic polyposis at age 19 and with a family history of polyps.CONCLUSION This study identified novel genes potentially associated with polyposis in patients lacking germline pathogenic variants in the APC and MUTYH genes.These findings support the use of next-generation sequencing for screening,expanding the scope of polyposis-related variants beyond these two genes.
基金financially supported by National Key R&D Program(2021YFF0701905)。
文摘In order to save manpower and time costs,and to achieve simultaneous detection of multiple animal-derived components in meat and meat products,this study used multiple nucleotide polymorphism(MNP)marker technology based on the principle of high-throughput sequencing,and established a multi-locus 10 animalderived components identification method of cattle,goat,sheep,donkey,horse,chicken,duck,goose,pigeon,quail in meat and meat products.The specific loci of each species could be detected and the species could be accurately identified,including 5 loci for cattle and duck,3 loci for sheep,9 loci for chicken and horse,10 loci for goose and pigeon,6 loci for quail and 1 locus for donkey and goat,and an adulteration model was established to simulate commercially available samples.The results showed that the method established in this study had high throughput,good repeatability and accuracy,and was able to identify 10 animalderived components simultaneously with 100%repeatability accuracy.The detection limit was 0.1%(m/m)in simulated samples of chicken,duck and horse.Using the method established in this study to test commercially available samples,4 samples from 14 commercially available samples were detected to be inconsistent with the labels,of which 2 did not contain the target ingredient and 2 were adulterated with small amounts of other ingredients.
基金Supported by School-Level Key Projects at Bengbu Medical College,No.2021byzd109.
文摘BACKGROUND Gallbladder neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC)represents a subtype of gallbladder malignancies characterized by a low incidence,aggressive nature,and poor prognosis.Despite its clinical severity,the genetic alterations,mechanisms,and signaling pathways underlying gallbladder NEC remain unclear.CASE SUMMARY This case study presents a rare instance of primary gallbladder NEC in a 73-year-old female patient,who underwent a radical cholecystectomy with hepatic hilar lymphadenectomy and resection of liver segments IV-B and V.Targeted gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis tools,including STRING,GeneMANIA,Metascape,TRRUST,Sangerbox,cBioPortal and GSCA,were used to analyze the biological functions and features of mutated genes in gallbladder NEC.Twelve mutations(APC,ARID2,IFNA6,KEAP1,RB1,SMAD4,TP53,BTK,GATA1,GNAS,and PRDM3)were identified,and the tumor mutation burden was determined to be 9.52 muts/Mb via targeted gene sequencing.A protein-protein interaction network showed significant interactions among the twelve mutated genes.Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were used to assess mutation functions and pathways.The results revealed 40 tumor-related pathways.A key regulatory factor for gallbladder NEC-related genes was identified,and its biological functions and features were compared with those of gallbladder carcinoma.CONCLUSION Gallbladder NEC requires standardized treatment.Comparisons with other gallbladder carcinomas revealed clinical phenotypes,molecular alterations,functional characteristics,and enriched pathways.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82301403(to DZ)。
文摘Glial cells play crucial roles in regulating physiological and pathological functions,including sensation,the response to infection and acute injury,and chronic neurodegenerative disorders.Glial cells include astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system,and satellite glial cells and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system.Despite the greater understanding of glial cell types and functional heterogeneity achieved through single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing in animal models,few studies have investigated the transcriptomic profiles of glial cells in the human spinal cord.Here,we used high-throughput single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to map the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes in the human spinal cord.To explore the conservation and divergence across species,we compared these findings with those from mice.In the human spinal cord,astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes were each divided into six distinct transcriptomic subclusters.In the mouse spinal cord,astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes were divided into five,four,and five distinct transcriptomic subclusters,respectively.The comparative results revealed substantial heterogeneity in all glial cell types between humans and mice.Additionally,we detected sex differences in gene expression in human spinal cord glial cells.Specifically,in all astrocyte subtypes,the levels of NEAT1 and CHI3L1 were higher in males than in females,whereas the levels of CST3 were lower in males than in females.In all microglial subtypes,all differentially expressed genes were located on the sex chromosomes.In addition to sex-specific gene differences,the levels of MT-ND4,MT2A,MT-ATP6,MT-CO3,MT-ND2,MT-ND3,and MT-CO_(2) in all spinal cord oligodendrocyte subtypes were higher in females than in males.Collectively,the present dataset extensively characterizes glial cell heterogeneity and offers a valuable resource for exploring the cellular basis of spinal cordrelated illnesses,including chronic pain,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,and multiple sclerosis.
基金Supported by Open Project of Key Laboratory of Hubei Province(No.2023KFZZ026).
文摘AIM:To estimate if nanopore targeted sequencing(NTS)could identify pathogens causing postoperative endophthalmitis and further determine the feasibility of clinical application of NTS.METHODS:A total of 55 patients(55 eyes)with postoperative endophthalmitis were retrospectively included in this study with their medical records.Intraocular fluid samples were examined by NTS and microbial culture.All included patients had undergone examinations including measurement of best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and intraocular pressure(IOP),slit-lamp biomicroscopy,and indirect ophthalmoscopy;additionally,they underwent B-ultrasound,anterior segment photography,and fundus photography if necessary.RESULTS:Among 55 patients with postoperative endophthalmitis,the age was 65.25±15.04y and there were 30 female(54.54%)patients.Forty-one(74.54%)vitreous humor samples and fourteen(25.45%)aqueous humor samples were sent for both NTS and microbial culture.NTS had a notable higher detection rate than microbial culture in detecting pathogens(90.91%vs 38.18%,χ^(2)=33.409,P<0.001).NTS exhibited high sensitivity of pathogen detection in both microbial culture positive and negative samples(100%and 85.29%,respectively).In 16 of 21(76.19%)patients who showed culture-positivity,their results corresponded with those of NTS.Moreover,in two patients(9.52%),NTS showed a better species resolution than microbial culture;in three patients(14.28%),NTS identified additional pathogens.As for fungus,the positive detection rate of NTS was significantly higher than that of microbial culture(20%vs 3.64%,χ^(2)=7.066,P=0.008).Also,NTS could detect multi-infection by bacteria and fungi than microbial culture(32.73%vs 0,χ^(2)=21.522,P<0.001).NTS could detect bacteria as well as fungi simultaneously within 48h in all patients.Meanwhile,NTS had a shorter detection time than microbial culture(1.13±0.34 vs 2.67±0.55d,Z=-9.218,P<0.001).After the NTS results were obtained,15 patients received additional intravitreal/intracameral anti-infection treatment.At follow-up,there was a statistically significant improvement in the visual acuity relative to the baseline(Z=−5.222,P<0.001).CONCLUSION:NTS can provide rapid identification and highly sensitive detection of pathogens among patients with postoperative endophthalmitis,which can guide anti-infection treatment and improve visual prognosis.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81774118the Foreign Cooperation Project of Science and Technology Department of Fujian Province,No.2023I0021the Medical Innovation Project of Fujian Province,No.2024CXB013.
文摘BACKGROUND Hemorrhoids,a prevalent chronic condition globally,significantly impact patients'quality of life.While various surgical interventions,such as external stripping and internal ligation,procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids,and tissue selecting technique,are employed for treatment,they are often associated with postoperative complications,including unsatisfactory defecation,bleeding,and anal stenosis.In contrast,Xiaozhiling injection,a traditional Chinese medicine-based therapy,has emerged as a minimally invasive and effective alternative for internal hemorrhoids.This treatment offers distinct advantages,such as reduced dietary restrictions,broad applicability,and minimal induction of systemic inflammatory responses.Additionally,Xiaozhiling injection effectively eliminates hemorrhoid nuclei,prevents local tissue necrosis,preserves anal cushion integrity,and mitigates postoperative complications,including bleeding and prolapse.Despite its clinical efficacy,the molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects remain poorly understood,warranting further investigation.AIM To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of Xiaozhiling injection in the treatment of internal hemorrhoids.METHODS An internal hemorrhoid model was established in rats,and the rats were randomly divided into a modeling group[control group(CK group)]and a treatment group.One week after injection,Stereo-seq and electron microscopy were used to study the changes in gene expression and subcellular structures in fibroblasts.RESULTS Single-cell sequencing revealed differences in the expression and transcript levels of the genes collagen 3 alpha 1,decorin,and actin alpha 2 in fibroblasts between the CK group and the treatment group.Spatial transcriptome analysis revealed that genes of the sphingosine kinase 1(Sphk1)/sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P)pathway spatially overlapped with key genes of the transforming growth factor beta 1 pathway,namely,Sphk1,S1P receptor,and transforming growth factor beta 1,in the treatment group.The proportion of fibroblasts was lower in the treatment group than in the CK group,and Xiaozhiling treatment had a significant effect on the proportion of fibroblasts in hemorrhoidal tissue.Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant increase in the expression of a fibroblast marker.Electron microscopy showed that the endoplasmic reticulum of fibroblasts contained a large amount of glycogen,indicating cell activation.Fibroblast activation and the expression of key genes of the Sphk1-S1P pathway could be observed at the injection site,suggesting that after Xiaozhiling intervention,the Sphk1-S1P pathway could be activated to promote fibrosis.CONCLUSION Xiaozhiling injection exerts its therapeutic effects on internal hemorrhoids by promoting collagen synthesis and secretion in fibroblasts.After Xiaozhiling intervention,the Sphk1-S1P pathway can be activated to promote fibrosis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22277093)the Key Research and Development Project of Hubei Province(No.2023BCB094)。
文摘N^(6)-methyladenine(6mA)is a prevalent DNA modification and is involved in a wide range of human diseases.Previous studies have indicated that 6mA is enriched in mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)of mammals.By employing an evolved adenine deaminase,we developed a deaminase-mediated sequencing(DM-seq)method that could achieve genome-wide mapping of 6mA in mammalian mtDNA at single-base resolution.In this study,we used an engineered adenine deaminase,known as TadA8e protein,to map 6mA in mtDNA of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)by DM-seq.Through high-throughput sequencing,we identified sixteen 6mA sites in both HCC and adjacent normal tissue mtDNA.The results revealed an increased overall 6mA level in mtDNA associated with HCC.Furthermore,an elevation in 6mA level was observed alongside a decrease in the m RNA levels of the corresponding genes,indicating that increased6mA level hindered transcription processes related to these genes.These findings demonstrate that 6mA in mtDNA is correlated with HCC and provide evidence supporting the inhibitory effect of elevated 6mA level on subsequent transcriptional activity.This research illuminates the intricate relationship between 6mA modification and transcriptional regulation in the context of HCC,offering valuable insights into the role of 6mA modification in HCC pathogenesis.
