The gut microbiota has been linked to cardiovascular diseases. However, the composition and functional capacity of the gut microbiome in relation to cardiovascular diseases have not been systematically examined. Here, we perform a metagenome-wide association study on stools from 218 individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD) and 187 healthy controls. The ACVD gut microbiome deviates from the healthy status by increased abundance of Enterobacteriaceae and Streptococcus spp. and, functionally, in the potential for metabolism or transport of several molecules important for cardiovascular health. Although drug treatment represents a confounding factor, ACVD status, and not current drug use, is the major distinguishing feature in this cohort. We identify common themes by comparison with gut microbiome data associated with other cardiometabolic diseases (obesity and type 2 diabetes), with liver cirrhosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Our data represent a comprehensive resource for further investigations on the role of the gut microbiome in promoting or preventing ACVD as well as other related diseases.

Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of kernel shape and weight in common wheat was conducted using a set of 131 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from 'Chuan 35050' 9 'Shannong 483'. The RIL and their two parental genotypes were evaluated for kernel length (KL), kernel width (KW), thousand-kernel weight (TKW), and test weight (TW) in four different environments. Twenty QTL were located on 12 chromosomes, 1A, 1B, 1D, 2A, 2B, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5D, 6A, 6B, and 7B, with single QTL in different environments explaining 5.9-26.4% of the phenotypic variation. Six, three, four, and seven QTL were detected for KL, KW, TKW, and TW, respectively. The additive effects for 17 QTL were positive with Chuan 35050 increasing the QTL effects, whereas the remaining three QTL were negative with Shannong 483 increasing the effects. Eight QTL (40%) were detected in two or more environments. Two QTL clusters relating to KW, TKW, and TW were located on chromosomes 2A and 5D, and the co-located QTL on chromosome 6A involved a QTL for KW found in two environments and a QTL for TKW detected in four environments.

A novel multifunctional MOF-based composite with good biocompatibility, high drug loading capacity, sustained drug release and outstanding MR imaging capability was developed through a simple in situ growth procedure for simultaneous drug delivery and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Patients with peripheral nerve injuries, especially severe injury, often face poor nerve regeneration and incompletely functional recovery, even after surgical nerve repair. Current researches have extensively focused on the new approaches for the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. This review summarizes treatments of peripheral nerve injures, from conventional suturing method, to conduit coaptation with stem cell and growth factor, and review the developments of research and clinical application of these therapies.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is top risk factor for health in modern society, causing high mortality rate each year. However, there is no reliable way for early diagnosis and prevention of CHD so far. So study the mechanism of CHD and development of novel biomarkers is urgently needed. In this study, metabolomics and metagenomics technology are applied to discover new biomarkers from plasma and urine of 59 CHD patients and 43 healthy controls and trace their origin. We identify GlcNAc-6-P which has good diagnostic capability and can be used as potential biomarkers for CHD, together with mannitol and 15 plasma cholines. These identified metabolites show significant correlations with clinical biochemical indexes. Meanwhile, GlcNAc-6-P and mannitol are potential metabolites originated from intestinal microbiota. Association analysis on species and function levels between intestinal microbes and metabolites suggest a close correlation between Clostridium sp. HGF2 and GlcNAc-6-P, Clostridium sp. HGF2, Streptococcus sp. M143, Streptococcus sp. M334 and mannitol. These suggest the metabolic abnormality is significant and gut microbiota dysbiosis happens in CHD patients.

Host-seeking, ovipositional behavior and mating of insects are controlled mainly by odor perception through sensory organs such as antennae. Antennal chemoreception is extremely important for insect survival. Several antennal chemosensory receptors are involved in mediating the odor detection in insects, especially the odorant receptors (ORs) and ionotropic receptors (IRs), to ensure the specificity of the olfactory sensory neuron responses. In the present study, we identified the chemosensory receptor gene repertoire of the parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator, a generalist endoparasitoid that infests more than 40 types of Lepidopterous larvae and is widely distributed in the Palaearctic region. By transcriptome sequencing of male and female antennae we identified 60 candidate odorant receptors, six candidate ionotropic receptors and two gustatory receptors in M. mediator. The full-length sequences of these putative chemosensory receptor genes were obtained by using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends PCR (RACE-PCR) method. We also conducted reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) combined with real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for investigating the expression profiles of these chemosensory receptor genes in olfactory and non-olfactory tissues. The tissue- and sex-biased expression patterns may provide insights into the roles of the chemosensory receptor in M. mediator. Our findings support possible future study of the chemosensory behavior of M. mediator at the molecular level.

No abstract

Ketogenic diet (KD), the “High‐fat, low‐carbohydrate, adequate‐protein” diet strategy, replacing glucose with ketone bodies, is effective against several diseases, from intractable epileptic seizures, metabolic disorders, tumors, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, and neurodegeneration to skeletal muscle atrophy and peripheral neuropathy. Key mechanisms include augmented mitochondrial efficiency, reduced oxidative stress, and regulated phospho‐AMP‐activated protein kinase, gamma‐aminobutyric acid‐glutamate, Na+/K+ pump, leptin and adiponectin levels, ghrelin levels, lipogenesis, ketogenesis, lipolysis, and gluconeogenesis. In cancer cells, KD targets glucose metabolism, suppresses insulin‐like growth factor‐1 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways, and reduces cancer cachexia and muscle waste and fatigue. An associated increased skeletal proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ coactivator‐1α activity alters systemic ketone body homeostasis, contributing toward attenuated diabetic hyperketonemia. Antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory properties enable KD enhance endurance and sports performances while preventing exercise‐induced muscle and organ debility. KD reduces metabolic syndromes‐associated allodynia and promotes peripheral axonal and sensory regeneration. This review enlightens effects of KD on various disease conditions. Practical applications It is increasingly being realized that diet plays a very important role in our fight against several diseases. This can range from neurological disorders to diabetes and cancer. In this context, the potential of KD, the “High‐fat, low‐carbohydrate, adequate‐protein” diet strategy, is increasingly being realized. In this article, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the benefits of KD against many diseases and discuss the underlying biochemical mechanisms. We hope that our write‐up will stimulate further research on KD and help generate an interest for the populations to adopt this healthy diet. It can help overcome the problems associated with weight and dysregulated metabolism.