Gene Variants Related to Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Diseases May Correlate with Severe Outcome of COVID-19

Background: Severe outcomes of COVID-19 account for up to 15% of all cases. The study aims to check if any gene variants related to cardiovascular (CVD) and pulmonary diseases (PD) are correlated with a severe outcome of COVID-19 in a Polish cohort of COVID-19 patients. Methods: In this study, a subset of 747 samples from unrelated individuals collected across Poland in 2020 and 2021 was used and whole-genome sequencing was performed. Results: The GWAS analysis of SNPs and short indels located in genes related to CVD identified one variant significant in COVID-19 severe outcome in the HADHA gene, while for the PD gene panel, we found two significant variants in the DRC1 gene. In this study, both potentially protective and risk variants were identified, of which variants in the HADHA gene deserve the most attention. Conclusions: This is the first study reporting the association between the HADHA and DRC1 genetic variants and COVID-19 severe outcome based on the cohort WGS analysis. Although all the identified variants are localised in introns, they may be correlated and therefore inherited along with other risk variants, potentially causative to severe outcome of COVID-19 but not discovered yet.     

IL-33 and IL-37: A Possible Axis in Skin and Allergic Diseases

Interleukin (IL)-37 and IL-33 are among the latest cytokines identified, playing a role in several inflammatory conditions, spanning from systemic conditions to tumors to localized diseases. As newly discovered interleukins, their role is still scarcely understood, but their potential role as therapeutic targets or disease activity markers suggests the need to reorganize the current data for a better interpretation. The aim of this review is to collect and organize data produced by several studies to create a complete picture. The research was conducted on the PubMed database, and the resulting articles were sorted by title, abstract, English language, and content. Several studies have been assessed, mostly related to atopic dermatitis and immunologic pathways. Collective data demonstrates a pro-inflammatory role of IL-33 and an anti-inflammatory one for IL-37, possibly related to each other in an IL-33/IL-37 axis. Although further studies are needed to assess the safety and plausibility of targeting these two interleukins for patients affected by skin conditions, the early results indicate that both IL-33 and IL-37 represent markers of disease activity.     

Advances in Human Mitochondria-Based Therapies

Mitochondria are the key biological generators of eukaryotic cells, controlling the energy supply while providing many important biosynthetic intermediates. Mitochondria act as a dynamic, functionally and structurally interconnected network hub closely integrated with other cellular compartments via biomembrane systems, transmitting biological information by shuttling between cells and tissues. Defects and dysregulation of mitochondrial functions are critically involved in pathological mechanisms contributing to aging, cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, and other severe human diseases. Mediating and rejuvenating the mitochondria may therefore be of significant benefit to prevent, reverse, and even treat such pathological conditions in patients. The goal of this review is to present the most advanced strategies using mitochondria to manage such disorders and to further explore innovative approaches in the field of human mitochondria-based therapies.     

采后BTH处理及粉红单端孢(Trichothecium roseum)挑战接种对厚皮甜瓜果实苯丙烷代谢活性的诱导

以‘玉金香’甜瓜为试材,用0.1g/LBTH浸泡处理10min,测定BTH处理及T.roseum挑战接种对果实苯丙烷代谢关键酶活性和产物积累的影响。结果表明,BTH处理有效降低了损伤接种T.roseum的病斑直径,提高了果实体内苯丙氨酸解氨酶（PAL）、4-香豆酰-辅酶A连接酶（4CL）的活性,增加了总酚、类黄酮及木质素含量。T.roseum挑战接种可进一步促进上述苯丙烷代谢关键酶活性的提高和产物的积累。由此表明,采后BTH处理可通过诱导厚皮甜瓜果实的苯丙烷代谢来增强果实对采后病害的抗性。      

采前喷施拮抗菌罗伦隐球酵母对草莓保鲜效果的影响

研究采前喷施拮抗菌罗伦隐球酵母(Cryptococcus laurentii)对常温贮藏(20℃,4d)后的\     

肠道菌群微生态平衡与人体健康的研究进展

人体肠道微生物种类繁多且数量庞大。正常肠道菌群作为人体的天然屏障,对维持人体健康起着重要的作用。机体内外环境的变化可影响肠道菌群的结构,造成肠道菌群失衡,继而引发或加重疾病,影响人体健康。通过膳食补充益生菌和益生元,选择性地剌激和调节肠道菌群的数量和组成,保持肠道菌群的微生态平衡,是预防和治疗疾病,促进人体健康的有效措施。本文综述了国内外关于肠道菌群的组成及功能、与相关疾病及治疗的关系以及维持肠道微生态平衡的措施。      

Molecular Mechanisms of Parthanatos and Its Role in Diverse Diseases

Differential evolution of apoptosis, programmed necrosis, and autophagy, parthanatos is a form of cell death mediated by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), which is caused by DNA damage. PARP1 hyper-activation stimulates apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) nucleus translocation, and accelerates nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion, leading to DNA fragmentation. The mechanisms of parthanatos mainly include DNA damage, PARP1 hyper-activation, PAR accumulation, NAD⁺ and ATP depletion, and AIF nucleus translocation. Now, it is reported that parthanatos widely exists in different diseases (tumors, retinal diseases, neurological diseases, diabetes, renal diseases, cardiovascular diseases, ischemia-reperfusion injury...). Excessive or defective parthanatos contributes to pathological cell damage; therefore, parthanatos is critical in the therapy and prevention of many diseases. In this work, the hallmarks and molecular mechanisms of parthanatos and its related disorders are summarized. The questions raised by the recent findings are also presented. Further understanding of parthanatos will provide a new treatment option for associated conditions.     

Pituitary Tumor-Transforming Gene 1/Delta like Non-Canonical Notch Ligand 1 Signaling in Chronic Liver Diseases

The management of chronic liver diseases (CLDs) remains a challenge, and identifying effective treatments is a major unmet medical need. In the current review we focus on the pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG1)/delta like non-canonical notch ligand 1 (DLK1) axis as a potential therapeutic target to attenuate the progression of these pathological conditions. PTTG1 is a proto-oncogene involved in proliferation and metabolism. PTTG1 expression has been related to inflammation, angiogenesis, and fibrogenesis in cancer and experimental fibrosis. On the other hand, DLK1 has been identified as one of the most abundantly expressed PTTG1 targets in adipose tissue and has shown to contribute to hepatic fibrosis by promoting the activation of hepatic stellate cells. Here, we extensively analyze the increasing amount of information pointing to the PTTG1/DLK1 signaling pathway as an important player in the regulation of these disturbances. These data prompted us to hypothesize that activation of the PTTG1/DLK1 axis is a key factor upregulating the tissue remodeling mechanisms characteristic of CLDs. Therefore, disruption of this signaling pathway could be useful in the therapeutic management of CLDs.     

一类离散时间的SIR传染病模型

本文建立了一类离散时间的SIR传染病模型。利用差分方程理论和不等式性质,分析得到易感者、染病者以及恢复者的最终状态,发现染病者数量的变化规律及阈值条件,并与相应的连续时间模型进行了比较。     

钢筋混凝土梁桥的常见病害与处理

针对钢筋混凝土梁桥经常出现的几种病害状况,提出相应的处理方案及具体措施,为此类桥梁的检测、维修加固、设计和施工提供参考及建议,以推广钢筋混凝土梁桥的应用。