Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The potential effects and mechanisms of breast inflammatory lesions on the occurrence and development of breast cancer

Breast cancer as the most common cancer in women has become the leading cause of cancer death for women. Although many inflammatory factors increase the risk of breast cancer, there are very few studies on the mechanisms by which inflammation affects the initiation and progression of breast cancer. Here, we profiled and compared the transcriptome of normal tissues, inflammatory breast tissues, benign breast tumors, and malignant breast tumors. To find key regulatory factors, a protein interaction network between characteristic modules in inflammatory lesions and ER-negative (ER−) breast cancer was constructed and inflammation-cancer interface genes were identified. We found that the transcriptional profile of inflammatory breast tissues was similar with ER− malignant tumors, featured with low ER expression levels and similar immune signaling pathway activation. Through comprehensive protein network analysis, we identified the interface genes and chemokine signaling pathway that have the potential to promote inflammatory cancer transformation. These interface genes could be used as a risk factor to provide a certain basis for the clinical early detection and treatment of breast cancer. This is the first study to explore the association between breast inflammatory lesions and breast cancer at the transcriptome level. Our inflammation data and research results provide a basis for future inflammation-cancer transformation analysis.
Antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida isolated from cutaneous candidiasis patients in eastern Guangdong region: A retrospective study of the past 10 years

Cutaneous candidiasis is one of the most prevalent mycotic infections caused by Candida species. The severity of infection mounts faster when the species shows antifungal resistance. In the current retrospective study, we aimed to analyze the occurrence, causes of cutaneous candidiasis, and antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida isolates from Skin and Venereal Diseases Prevention and Control Hospital of Shantou, located in eastern Guangdong, China. The laboratory data of all patients (n = 3,113) suffering from various skin and venereal infections during January 2012 to December 2021 was analyzed through Excel and GraphPad prism. Our analysis indicate that cutaneous candidiasis was 22.29% (n = 694), of which 78.53% (n = 554) of patients were males and 21.47% (n = 149) of patients were females. The median age of patients with cutaneous candidiasis was 38-year [interquartile range (30–48)]. Most cases occurred in the adult age group (19–50 years). Regarding the species type, the Candida albicans were prominently detected (n = 664, 95.68%), while non-C. albicans were found only in 30 (4.32%) patients, which were C. glabrata (n = 18), C. krusei (n = 8), C. tropicalis (n = 3), and C. parapsilosis (n = 1). The C. albicans susceptibility rate for terbinafine, miconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole, nystatin, 5-flucytosine and amphotericin B were 10.83, 29.32, 59.39, 78.53, 85.28, 87.75, 99.59, 99.41, and 100%, respectively. Finally, all C. glabrata isolates were found susceptible to all tested azole drugs with exception to miconazole against which 8.33% of isolates showed resistance. The findings of this study will help healthcare officials to establish better antifungal stewardship in the region.
The plasma proteome is favorably modified by a high protein diet but not by additional resistance training in older adults: A 17-week randomized controlled trial

Background The age-related loss of muscle mass significantly contributes to the development of chronic diseases, loss of mobility and dependency on others, yet could be improved by an optimized lifestyle. Objective The goal of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the influence of a habitual diet (CON) with either a diet containing the recommended protein intake (RP) or a high protein intake (HP), both with and without strength training, on the plasma proteome in older adults. Methods One hundred and thirty-six women and men (65–85 years) were randomly assigned to three intervention groups. CON continued their habitual diet; participants of the HP and RP group consumed either high protein or standard foods. After 6 weeks of dietary intervention, HP and RP groups additionally started a strength training intervention twice per week for 8 weeks. Twenty-four hours dietary recalls were performed every 7–10 days. Body composition was assessed and blood taken. Plasma proteomics were assessed with LC-MS. Results Participants of the HP group doubled their baseline protein intake from 0.80 ± 0.31 to 1.63 ± 0.36 g/kg BW/d; RP increased protein intake from 0.89 ± 0.28 to 1.06 ± 0.26 g/kg BW/d. The CON group kept the protein intake stable throughout the study. Combined exercise and HP initiated notable changes, resulting in a reduction in bodyfat and increased muscle mass. Proteomics analyses revealed 14 significantly affected proteins by HP diet, regulating innate immune system, lipid transport and blood coagulation, yet the additional strength training did not elicit further changes. Conclusions Combined HP and resistance exercise in healthy older adults seem to induce favorable changes in the body composition. Changes in the plasma proteome due to the high protein diet point to a beneficial impact for the innate immune system, lipid transport and blood coagulation system, all of which are involved in chronic disease development. Clinical trial registration The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04023513).
Selenium-enriched Bifidobacterium longum DD98 effectively ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis in mice

The pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) is complicated with impaired intestinal epithelial barrier and imbalanced gut microbiota. Both selenium and probiotics have shown effects in regulating intestinal flora and ameliorating UC. The objective of this study is to investigate the alleviating effects of Selenium-enriched Bifidobacterium longum DD98 (Se-B. longum DD98) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and explore the underlying mechanism. After treatment of B. longum DD98, Se-B. longum DD98, and sulfasalazine for 3 weeks, the disease severity of UC mice was decreased, with colon lengthened and pathological phenotype improved. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress parameters were also decreased. Thus, Se-B. longum DD98 showed a stronger effect on relieving the aforementioned symptoms caused by DSS-induced colitis. Exploration of the potential mechanism demonstrated that Se-B. longum DD98 showed higher activities to suppress the inflammatory response by inhibiting the activation of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), compared to B. longum DD98 and sulfasalazine. Se-B. longum DD98 also significantly improved the intestinal barrier integrity by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins including ZO-1 and occludin. 16S rDNA sequencing analyses showed that Se-B. longum DD98 improved the diversity of the intestinal flora and promoted the abundance of health-benefiting taxa including Lachnospiraceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Prevotellaceae in family level. In conclusion, compared to B. longum DD98 and sulfasalazine, Se-B. longum DD98 showed stronger therapeutic effects on DSS-induced colitis in mice and might be a promising candidate for the treatment of UC.
Identification of the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase genes and functional analysis reveal DoCCD1 is potentially involved in beta-ionone formation in Dendrobium officinale

The carotenoids are the most widely distributed secondary metabolites in plants and can be degraded by carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCD) to form apocarotenoids including an important C13 compound beta-ionone. Volatile beta-ionone can confer the violet and woody fragrance to plant essential oils, flowers, fruits, and vegetables, which therefore has been used in various industries. Dendrobium officinale is a traditional medicinal plant. However, there was limited information on the key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of beta-ionone in D. officinale. In the present study, beta-ionone was detected in stems and leaves of D. officinale and genome-wide identification and expression profiles of CCD genes were subsequently carried out. There were nine DoCCD members in D. officinale. According to the phylogenetic relationship, DoCCD proteins were classified into six subfamilies including CCD1, CCD4, CCD7, CCD8, nine-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) and zaxinone synthase (ZAS). DoCCD genes showed distinctive expression profiles and DoCCD1 gene was abundantly expressed in eight tissues. Induced expression of DoCCD1 gene resulted in discoloration of Escerichia coli strains that can accumulate carotenoids. Analysis of Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer showed that DoCCD1 enzyme can cleave lycopene to produce 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one and pseudoionone and also catalyze beta-carotene to form beta-ionone. Expression of DoCCD1 gene in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf resulted in production of abundant beta-ionone. Overall, the present study first provides valuable information on the CCD gene family in D. officinale, function of DoCCD1 gene as well as production of beta-ionone through genetic modification.
Case report: Eosinophilic pneumonia associated with vedolizumab therapy in a patient with ulcerative colitis

Extraintestinal manifestations are common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, while respiratory involvement is less common. Vedolizumab is a new class of anti-integrin biological agents approved for treating inflammatory bowel disease. In this report, we present the case of a 38-year-old patient with ulcerative colitis for 7 years who developed cough, fever, and pulmonary infiltrates after taking vedolizumab. There was a spontaneous improvement in clinical symptoms and radiological abnormalities after discontinuing vedolizumab and introducing steroids. Despite the rarity of vedolizumab-induced eosinophilic pneumonia, the case reports indicate that patients with unexplained respiratory symptoms that are taking vedolizumab should be fully contemplated.
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus VP60 protein expressed in recombinant swinepox virus self-assembles into virus-like particles with strong immunogenicity in rabbits

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is an economically significant infectious disease of rabbits, and its infection causes severe losses in the meat and fur industry. RHD Virus (RHDV) is difficult to proliferate in cell lines in vitro, which has greatly impeded the progress of investigating its replication mechanism and production of inactivated virus vaccines. RHDV VP60 protein is a major antigen for developing RHD subunit vaccines. Herein, we constructed a TK-deactivated recombinant Swinepox virus (rSWPV) expressing VP60 protein and VP60 protein coupled with His-tag respectively, and the expression of foreign proteins was confirmed using immunofluorescence assay and western blotting. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the recombinant VP60, with or without His-tag, self-assembled into virus-like particles (VLPs). Its efficacy was evaluated by comparison with available commercial vaccines in rabbits. ELISA and HI titer assays showed that high levels of neutralizing antibodies were induced at the first week after immunization with the recombinant strain and were maintained during the ongoing monitoring for the following 13 weeks. Challenge experiments showed that a single immunization with 106 PFU of the recombinant strain protected rabbits from lethal RHDV infection, and no histopathological changes or antigenic staining was found in the vaccine and rSWPV groups. These results suggest that rSWPV expressing RHDV VP60 could be an efficient candidate vaccine against RHDV in rabbits.
Regulatory role of RNA N6-methyladenosine modifications during skeletal muscle development

Functional cells in embryonic myogenesis and postnatal muscle development undergo multiple stages of proliferation and differentiation, which are strict procedural regulation processes. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant RNA modification that regulates gene expression in specific cell types in eukaryotes and regulates various biological activities, such as RNA processing and metabolism. Recent studies have shown that m6A modification-mediated transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation plays an essential role in myogenesis. This review outlines embryonic and postnatal myogenic differentiation and summarizes the important roles played by functional cells in each developmental period. Furthermore, the key roles of m6A modifications and their regulators in myogenesis were highlighted, and the synergistic regulation of m6A modifications with myogenic transcription factors was emphasized to characterize the cascade of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation during myogenesis. This review also discusses the crosstalk between m6A modifications and non-coding RNAs, proposing a novel mechanism for post-transcriptional regulation during skeletal muscle development. In summary, the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms mediated by m6A and their regulators may help develop new strategies to maintain muscle homeostasis, which are expected to become targets for animal muscle-specific trait breeding and treatment of muscle metabolic diseases.
Brain alterations of regional homogeneity, degree centrality, and functional connectivity in vulnerable carotid plaque patients with neither clinical symptoms nor routine MRI lesions: A resting-state fMRI study

Aims Based on resting-state functional MRI (fMRI), we preliminarily explored brain alterations in asymptomatic patients with vulnerable carotid plaques, but carotid stenosis was < 50%. Methods A total of 58 asymptomatic patients with vulnerable carotid plaques (stenosis <50%) and 38 healthy controls were recruited. Between-group differences in regional homogeneity (ReHo), degree centrality (DC), and functional connectivity (FC) were analyzed. Correlation analysis was performed between the ReHo or DC values in altered brain regions as well as voxel-wise abnormal FC and scores on neuropsychiatric scales, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Results Both ReHo and DC values on the left superior occipital gyrus (SOG.L) of the asymptomatic vulnerable carotid plaque group reduced, regardless of plaque location (left, right, or bilateral). Functional connections weakened between the SOG.L and right lingual gyrus (LING.R)/right inferior occipital gyrus (IOG.R), right middle frontal gyrus (MFG.R)/orbital part of superior frontal gyrus (ORBsup.R)/orbital part of middle frontal gyrus (ORBmid.R), left precentral gyrus (PreCG.L)/postcentral gyrus (PoCG.L), left supplementary motor area (SMA.L), right paracentral lobule (PCL.R), left precuneus (PCUN.L), and right postcentral gyrus (PoCG.R)/PCL.R. In ReHo-altered brain regions, ReHo values were positively correlated with Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) scores, and the setting region of abnormal ReHo as seed points, voxel-wise FC between the SOG.L and PreCG.L was negatively correlated with CRP. Conclusions Cerebral alterations of neuronal synchronization, activity, and connectivity properties in the asymptomatic vulnerable carotid plaque group were independent of the laterality of vulnerable carotid plaques. Significant relation between ReHo values on the SOG.L and HAMD indicated that even when there were neither clinical symptoms nor lesions on routine MRI, brain function might have changed already at an early stage of carotid atherosclerosis. Inflammation might play a role in linking vulnerable carotid plaques and changes of resting-state functional connectivity.
Internalizing problems and suffering due to sensory symptoms in children and adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorder

Sensory symptoms are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous studies have shown a positive correlation between sensory symptoms and internalizing problems; however, the role of the suffering due to sensory symptoms is not well understood. In the present study, we hypothesized that the relationship between sensory symptoms and internalizing problems in children is mediated by children’s and surrounding people’s suffering due to sensory symptoms. Parents of 113 students aged 6–15 years with and without ASD completed questionnaires about their children’s autistic traits, sensory symptoms, suffering due to sensory symptoms, and internalizing problems. The results showed that autistic traits and sensory symptoms were distributed as a continuum throughout children with and without ASD. Therefore, we investigated the relationship among variables in children with and without ASD attending regular classes. Structural equation modeling indicated that those who scored higher on sensory symptoms demonstrated greater suffering due to sensory symptoms as predictors of internalizing problems. Our findings provide evidence for developing a support system that specifically reduces suffering due to sensory symptoms, especially for students in regular classes.
Research on factors affecting people’s intention to use digital currency: Empirical evidence from China

In the era of FinTech, many countries are currently exploring the viability of their own digital currencies due to the vast potential in terms of efficiency, security and accessibility. Some digital currencies have been under rapid development and real-world trials have recently been deployed. The purpose of this paper is to understand the main factors that could affect people’s intention to use digital currency via an empirical study. A survey was employed to collect data and the final sample consisted of 408 respondents in China. The responses were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The results showed that financial knowledge, perceived value, openness to innovation and perceived convenience positively impact people’s intention to use digital currency. It was also found that perceived value can be significantly anteceded by perceived monetary value, perceived functional value, and perceived emotional value. In addition, the mediating effect of perceived value on the influencing path between financial knowledge and intention to use was also confirmed. The findings can be utilized by governmental related authorities or FinTech companies to enhance the perception of users and develop effective strategies for increasing their intention to use digital currency.
Evaluation of real-time nutrient analysis of fertilized raspberry using petiole sap

The time delay in receiving conventional tissue nutrient analysis results caused red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) growers to be interested in rapid sap tests to provide real-time results to guide immediate nutrient management practices. However, sap analysis has never been conducted in raspberry. The present work aimed to evaluate the relationship of petiole sap nitrate (NO3–), potassium (K+), and calcium (Ca2+) concentrations measured using compact ion meters and leaf tissue total nitrogen (TN), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca) concentrations measured using conventional tissue nutrient analysis. The relationship of petiole sap NO3– and leaf tissue TN concentrations with plant growth and production variables was also explored. Fertilizer treatments of urea were surface applied to raised beds of established “Meeker” floricane red raspberry plots at control, low, medium, and high rates (0, 34, 67, and 101 kg N ha–1, respectively) in 2019 and 2020. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Whole leaves were collected from representative primocanes in mid- and late- July and August 2019 and 2020 (i.e., four sampling time points per year). At each sampling time point, a subsample of leaves was used for petiole sap analyses of NO3–, K+, and Ca2+ concentrations using compact ion meters, and conventional tissue testing of leaf tissue TN, K, and Ca concentrations, respectively. There were no interactions between N fertilizer rate and year nor between N fertilizer rate and sampling time. No significant differences were found due to N fertilizer rate for petiole sap NO3–, K+, Ca2+ nor leaf tissue TN, K, Ca concentrations. However, significant year and sampling time effects occurred in measured petiole sap and leaf tissue nutrient concentrations. Overall, the correlations between petiole sap NO3– and leaf tissue TN, petiole sap Ca2+ and leaf tissue Ca, petiole sap K+ and leaf tissue K concentrations were non-strong and inconsistent. Future research is warranted as the interpretation of correlations between raspberry petiole sap and leaf tissue nutrient concentrations were inconclusive.
Integrative analysis of circulating microRNAs and the placental transcriptome in recurrent pregnancy loss

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a major type of pathological pregnancy that still lacks reliable early diagnosis and effective treatment. The placenta is critical to fetal development and pregnancy success because it participates in critical processes such as early embryo implantation, vascular remodeling, and immunological tolerance. RPL is associated with abnormalities in the biological behavior of placental villous trophoblasts, resulting in aberrant placental function. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly being recognized as essential regulators of placental development, as well as potential biomarkers. In this study, plasma miRNAs and placental messenger RNAs (mRNAs) from RPL patients and normal pregnant (NP) controls were sequenced and analyzed. Compared to those in NP controls, 108 circulating miRNAs and 1199 placental mRNAs were differentially expressed in RPL samples. A total of 140 overlapping genes (overlapping between plasma miRNA target genes and actual placental disorder genes) were identified, and functional enrichment analysis showed that these genes were mainly related to cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and cell migration. The regulatory network among miRNAs, overlapping genes, and downstream biological processes was analyzed by protein–protein interactions and Cytoscape. Moreover, enriched mRNAs, which were predictive targets of the differentially expressed plasma miRNAs miR-766-5p, miR-1285-3p, and miR-520a-3p, were accordingly altered in the placenta. These results suggest that circulating miRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of RPL and are potential noninvasive biomarkers for RPL.