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1.
Revisiting the role and mechanism of ELF3 in circadian clock modulation.
Zhu, X, Wang, H
Gene. 2024;:148378
Abstract
The gene encoding EARLY FLOWERING3 (ELF3) is necessary for photoperiodic flowering and the normal regulation of circadian rhythms. It provides important information at the cellular level to uncover the biological mechanisms that improve plant growth and development. ELF3 interactions with transcription factors such as BROTHER OF LUX ARRHYTHMO (BOA), LIGHT-REGULATED WD1 (LWD1), PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4), PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 7 (PIF7), and LUX ARRHYTHMO (LUX) suggest a role in evening complex (EC) independent pathways, demanding further investigation to elucidate the EC-dependent versus EC-independent mechanisms. The ELF3 regulation of flowering time about photoperiod and temperature variations can also optimize crop cultivation across diverse latitudes. In this review paper, we summarize how ELF3's role in the circadian clock and light-responsive flowering control in crops offers substantial potential for scientific advancement and practical applications in biotechnology and agriculture. Despite its essential role in crop adaptation, very little is known in many important crops. Consequently, comprehensive and targeted research is essential for extrapolating ELF3-related insights from Arabidopsis to other crops, utilizing both computational and experimental methodologies. This research should prioritize investigations into ELF3's protein-protein interactions, post-translational modifications, and genomic targets to elucidate its contribution to accurate circadian clock regulation.
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2.
Effect of thickened water swallow training in tube-feeding and dysphagia patients in the acute and early subacute phases of stroke: A quasi-experimental study.
Su, J, Li, Y, Xu, Z, Sun, D, Zhu, X, Dong, Y, He, M, Bu, B, Sun, J
Journal of oral rehabilitation. 2024;(4):743-753
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thickened water has been widely used in patients with dysphagia who receive oral feeding, but there is little evidence for tube-feeding patients. OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of thickened water swallow training in tube-feeding and dysphagia patients in the acute and early subacute phases of stroke. METHODS A quasi-experimental study. Hospitalised patients with acute and early subacute stroke who received tube feeding due to dysphagia were recruited from March to December 2021. Patients assigned to the intervention group (n = 23) received thickened water swallow training three times daily until the feeding tube was removed or they were discharged, and patients in the control group (n = 23) received usual care. The main outcomes were duration of tube feeding and rates of weaning at discharge. RESULTS Patients in the intervention group had a shorter tube-feeding duration (p = .046) and a higher rate of weaning at discharge (p = .017) than those in the control group. Significant interaction effects between time and group were detected regarding quality of life except for the swallowing burden dimension. CONCLUSIONS Thickened water swallow training is feasible and effective for stroke patients with tube feeding and can shorten the duration of tube feeding and improve the rates of weaning and quality of life. Healthcare providers in nonrehabilitation units should actively conduct swallowing function intervention training to maximise the potential for acute and early subacute phase rehabilitation.
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3.
Joint Exposure to Ambient Air Pollutants, Genetic Risk, and Ischemic Stroke: A Prospective Analysis in UK Biobank.
Li, P, Wang, Y, Tian, D, Liu, M, Zhu, X, Wang, Y, Huang, C, Bai, Y, Wu, Y, Wei, W, et al
Stroke. 2024;(3):660-669
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our primary objective was to assess the association between joint exposure to various air pollutants and the risk of ischemic stroke (IS) and the modification of the genetic susceptibility. METHODS This observational cohort study included 307 304 British participants from the United Kingdom Biobank, who were stroke-free and possessed comprehensive baseline data on genetics, air pollutant exposure, alcohol consumption, and dietary habits. All participants were initially enrolled between 2006 and 2010 and were followed up until 2022. An air pollution score was calculated to assess joint exposure to 5 ambient air pollutants, namely particulate matter with diameters equal to or <2.5 µm, ranging from 2.5 to 10 µm, equal to or <10 µm, as well as nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide. To evaluate individual genetic risk, a polygenic risk score for IS was calculated for each participant. We adjusted for demographic, social, economic, and health covariates. Cox regression models were utilized to estimate the associations between air pollution exposure, polygenic risk score, and the incidence of IS. RESULTS Over a median follow-up duration of 13.67 years, a total of 2476 initial IS events were detected. The hazard ratios (95% CI) of IS for per 10 µg/m3 increase in particulate matter with diameters equal to or <2.5 µm, ranging from 2.5 to 10 µm, equal to or <10 µm, nitrogen dioxide, and nitrogen oxide were 1.73 (1.33-2.14), 1.24 (0.88-1.70), 1.13 (0.89-1.33), 1.03 (0.98-1.08), and 1.04 (1.02-1.07), respectively. Furthermore, individuals in the highest quintile of the air pollution score exhibited a 29% to 66% higher risk of IS compared with those in the lowest quintile. Notably, participants with both high polygenic risk score and air pollution score had a 131% (95% CI, 85%-189%) greater risk of IS than participants with low polygenic risk score and air pollution score. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggested that prolonged joint exposure to air pollutants may contribute to an increased risk of IS, particularly among individuals with elevated genetic susceptibility to IS.
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4.
Mechanism Exploration of Environmental Pollutants on Premature Ovarian Insufficiency: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Zhu, X, Liu, M, Dong, R, Gao, L, Hu, J, Zhang, X, Wu, X, Fan, B, Chen, C, Xu, W
Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.). 2024;(1):99-106
Abstract
As a public health problem, premature ovarian insufficiency leads to infertility or sub-fertility. In addition to premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) increases the lifetime risk of bone fragility, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive impairment. To investigate the effects of environmental pollutants on the occurrence of POI and explore its mechanism, we conducted a computer search for articles published in electronic databases by December 13, 2022. Three reviewers independently examined all included studies and scored the qualities of included studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale criteria. In this meta-analysis, eight clinical studies as well as ten preclinical findings showed a pooled OR of 2.331 and 95% CI of 1.968-2.760. This confirms that environmental pollutants, including POPs, heavy metals, PAEs, PAHs, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, and cigarette smoke, are indeed significant risk factors for POI. In addition, it is demonstrated from the results of this study that signaling pathway of calcium and PI3K Akt and Xpnpep2, Col1, Col3, Col4, Cx43, Egr3, Tff1, and Ptgs2 genes may all be involved in the process. Environmental pollutants, including POPs, heavy metals, PAEs, PAHs, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, and cigarette smoke, are indeed significant risk factors for POI.
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5.
The effect of GnRH analog treatment on BMI in children treated for precocious puberty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Zhu, X, Qin, J, Xue, W, Li, S, Zhao, M, Yingliang Jin,
Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM. 2024;(4):297-308
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The purpose of the present meta-analysis was to systematically evaluate the effect of GnRHa treatment on the BMI of children with precocious puberty after GnRHa treatment as compared to before, and to analyze the effect of GnRHa treatment on the body composition of children with precocious puberty at different BMIs by classifying into normal body mass, overweight, and obese groups according to BMI at the time of initial diagnosis. CONTENT A meta-analysis was performed using Stata 12.0 software by searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP database), and Wan fang database for relevant literature on standard deviation score of body mass index (BMI-SDS) after GnRHa treatment as compared to before in children with precocious puberty. SUMMARY A total of eight studies were included with a total sample size of 715 cases, and the results of meta-analysis showed that BMI-SDS increased in children with precocious puberty after GnRHa treatment as compared to before starting [(weighted mean difference (WMD)=0.23, 95 % CI: 0.14-0.33, p=0.000)] and also increased in children with normal body mass [(WMD=0.37, 95 % CI: 0.28-0.46, p=0.000)], and there was no significant change in BMI-SDS in children in the overweight or obese group [(WMD=0.01, 95 % CI: -0.08-0.10, p=0.775)]. OUTLOOK Overall, there was an observed increase in BMI-SDS at the conclusion of GnRHa treatment in children with precocious puberty. Additionally, it was found that the effect of GnRHa treatment on body composition varied among children with different BMI status. Clinicians should emphasize the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and personalized dietary management for children.
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6.
Efficacy and safety of short-term edaravone or nerve growth factor add-on therapy for alcohol-related brain damage: A multi-centre randomised control trial.
Wang, H, Liu, L, Zhou, X, Guan, Y, Li, Y, Chen, P, Duan, R, Yang, W, Rong, X, Wu, C, et al
Addiction (Abingdon, England). 2024;(4):717-729
Abstract
AIMS: To measure the therapeutic effect of an anti-oxidant, edaravone (EDV), or neurotrophic treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF) as an add-on treatment for alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD). DESIGN Multi-centre, randomised, single-blinded, comparative clinical trial. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS One hundred and twenty-two inpatients recruited from seven hospitals in different regions of China, all diagnosed with ARBD and aged 18 to 65 years old; among them, only two were female. INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR Patients were randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments for 2 weeks: 40 patients, treatment as usual (TAU: a combination of intramuscular injections of thiamine, intravenous infusions of other B vitamins with vitamin C and oral medication with vitamin E per day); 40, EDV add-on treatment to TAU (intravenous infusion with 30 mg of EDV twice per day); and 42, NGF add-on treatment to TAU (intramuscular injection of 20 μg of NGF per day). The patients underwent follow-up for 24 weeks. MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was the composite score of executive cognitive function in the 2nd week after treatment, which was measured as the mean of the Z scores of the assessments, including the digit symbol substitute test (DSST), digit span memory test-forward (DST-F), digit span memory test-reverse (DST-R) and space span memory test (SSMT). The secondary outcomes were the composite scores at later follow-ups, the score for each component of cognitive function, global cognitive function measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), craving for alcohol and the safety of the therapies. FINDINGS EDV add-on treatment improved the composite score of executive cognitive function better than TAU in the 2nd week (adjusted mean difference: 0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.06 to 0.41; P = 0.008), but NGF add-on treatment did not (adjusted mean difference: 0.07, 95% confidence interval -0.09 to 0.24; P = 0.502). During the follow-up to 24 weeks, EDV add-on treatment improved the composite score of executive cognitive function and DST-R score better than TAU (both P < 0.01). Craving for alcohol was relieved in all three groups. No severe adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION The short-term addition of edaravone to supplementary therapy treatment for alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) improved executive cognitive function in patients with ARBD.
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7.
Impact of a mobile health intervention based on multi-theory model of health behavior change on self-management in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Jiang, Y, Sun, X, Jiang, M, Min, H, Wang, J, Fu, X, Qi, J, Yu, Z, Zhu, X, Wu, Y
Frontiers in public health. 2024;:1327442
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Theoretical models of health behavior are important guides for disease prevention and detection, treatment and rehabilitation, and promotion and maintenance of physical and mental health, but there are no intervention studies related to differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) that use theoretical models of health as a guide. In this study, we used a microblogging platform as an intervention vehicle and mobile patient-doctor interactive health education as a means of intervention, with the aim of improving the health behaviors of DTC patients as well as the corresponding clinical outcomes. METHODS This research project is a quantitative methodological study, and the trial will be a single-blind, single-center randomized controlled trial conducted at the Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. The study subjects are patients over 18 years of age with differentiated thyroid cancer who were given radioactive iodine-131 therapy as well as endocrine therapy after radical surgery for thyroid cancer. The intervention group will receive MTM-mhealth, and the realization of health education will rely on the smart terminal WeChat platform. Routine discharge education will be given to the control group at discharge. The primary outcome will be change in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from baseline and at 3 and 6 months of follow-up, and secondary outcomes will include change in self-management behavior, social cognitive and psychological, and metabolic control. DISCUSSION This study will explore a feasible mHealth intervention program applied to a population of DTC patients using the Multi-theory model of health behavior change (MTM) as a guide, with the aim of evaluating the MTM-based intervention program for clinical outcome improvement in DTC patients, as well as determining the effectiveness of the MTM-based intervention program in improving self-management skills in DTC patients. The results of this study will indicate the feasibility as well as the effectiveness of the application of health theoretical modeling combined with mHealth applications in disease prognostic health management models, and provide policy recommendations and technological translations for the development of mobility-based health management applications in the field of health management.
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8.
Amyloplast is involved in the MIZ1-modulated root hydrotropism.
Hong, Y, Liu, S, Chen, Y, Yao, Z, Jiang, S, Wang, L, Zhu, X, Xu, W, Zhang, J, Li, Y
Journal of plant physiology. 2024;:154224
Abstract
Roots exhibit hydrotropism in response to moisture gradients, with the hydrotropism-related gene Mizu-kussei1 (MIZ1) playing a role in regulating root hydrotropism in an oblique orientation. However, the mechanisms underlying MIZ1-regulated root hydrotropism are not well understood. In this study, we employed obliquely oriented experimental systems to investigate root hydrotropism in Arabidopsis. We found that the miz1 mutant displays reduced root hydrotropism but increased root gravitropism following hydrostimulation, as compared to wild-type plants. Conversely, overexpression of AtMIZ1 leads to enhanced root hydrotropism but decreased root gravitropism following hydrostimulation, as compared to wild-type plants. Using co-immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry (IP-MS), we explored proteins that interact with AtMIZ1, and we identified PGMC1 co-immunoprecipitated with MIZ1 in vivo. Furthermore, the miz1 mutant exhibited higher expression of the PGMC1 gene and increased phosphoglucomutase (PGM) activity, while AtMIZ1 overexpressors resulted in lower expression of the PGMC1 gene, reduced amyloplast amount, and reduced PGM activity in comparison to wild-type roots. In addition, different Arabidopsis natural accessions having difference in their hydrotropic response demonstrated expression level of PGMC1 was negatively correlated with hydrotropic root curvature and AtMIZ1 expression. Our results provide valuable insights into the role of amyloplast in MIZ1-regulated root hydrotropism.
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9.
Disruption of mitochondrial energy metabolism is a putative pathogenesis of Diamond-Blackfan anemia.
Xiao, R, Zhang, L, Xin, Z, Zhu, J, Zhang, Q, Zheng, G, Chu, S, Wu, J, Zhang, L, Wan, Y, et al
iScience. 2024;(3):109172
Abstract
Energy metabolism in the context of erythropoiesis and related diseases remains largely unexplored. Here, we developed a primary cell model by differentiating hematopoietic stem progenitor cells toward the erythroid lineage and suppressing the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. OXPHOS suppression led to differentiation failure of erythroid progenitors and defects in ribosome biogenesis. Ran GTPase-activating protein 1 (RanGAP1) was identified as a target of mitochondrial OXPHOS for ribosomal defects during erythropoiesis. Overexpression of RanGAP1 largely alleviated erythroid defects resulting from OXPHOS suppression. Coenzyme Q10, an activator of OXPHOS, largely rescued erythroid defects and increased RanGAP1 expression. Patients with Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) exhibited OXPHOS suppression and a concomitant suppression of ribosome biogenesis. RNA-seq analysis implied that the substantial mutation (approximately 10%) in OXPHOS genes accounts for OXPHOS suppression in these patients. Conclusively, OXPHOS disruption and the associated disruptive mitochondrial energy metabolism are linked to the pathogenesis of DBA.
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10.
Fermentation Practices Select for Thermostable Endolysins in Phages.
Oechslin, F, Zhu, X, Morency, C, Somerville, V, Shi, R, Moineau, S
Molecular biology and evolution. 2024;(3)
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Abstract
Endolysins are produced by (bacterio)phages and play a crucial role in degrading the bacterial cell wall and the subsequent release of new phage progeny. These lytic enzymes exhibit a remarkable diversity, often occurring in a multimodular form that combines different catalytic and cell wall-binding domains, even in phages infecting the same species. Yet, our current understanding lacks insight into how environmental factors and ecological niches may have influenced the evolution of these enzymes. In this study, we focused on phages infecting Streptococcus thermophilus, as this bacterial species has a well-defined and narrow ecological niche, namely, dairy fermentation. Among the endolysins found in phages targeting this species, we observed limited diversity, with a singular structural type dominating in most of identified S. thermophilus phages. Within this prevailing endolysin type, we discovered a novel and highly conserved calcium-binding motif. This motif proved to be crucial for the stability and activity of the enzyme at elevated temperatures. Ultimately, we demonstrated its positive selection within the host's environmental conditions, particularly under the temperature profiles encountered in the production of yogurt, mozzarella, and hard cheeses that rely on S. thermophilus.