Objective To examine the literature on binge eating to gain a better understanding of its biological foundations and their role in the eating disorders. Method Literature review and synthesis. Results Research using animal models has revealed several factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of binge eating. These factors, including stress, food restriction, the presence of palatable foods, and environmental conditioning, parallel many of the precursory circumstances leading to binge eating in individuals with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Discussion The animal literature has opened a new avenue to aid in the understanding of the neurobiological basis of binge eating. Future endeavors examining the genetic and environmental correlates of binge eating behavior will further contribute the understanding the biological foundations of binge eating and assist with establishing diagnostic criteria and the development of novel treatments for eating disorders marked by binge eating.

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As a major component of soil organic phosphorus (P), phytate-P is unavailable to plants unless hydrolysed by phytase to release inorganic phosphate. However, knowledge on natural variation in root-associated phytase activity and its underlying molecular mechanisms in plants remains fragmentary. In this study, variations in root internal and associated phytase activity were observed among 39 genotypes of Stylosanthes guianensis (Stylo), which is well adapted to acid soils. Furthermore, TPRC2001-1, the genotype with the highest root-associated phytase activity, was more capable of utilizing extracellular phytate-P than Fine-stem, the genotype with the lowest root-associated phytase activity. After protein liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis, a purple acid phosphatase (PAP), SgPAP23, was identified and cloned from TPRC2001-1. SgPAP23 exhibited high activity against phytate-P and was mainly localized on the plasma membrane. Furthermore, SgPAP23 overexpression resulted in significant increases of root-associated phytase activity and thus facilitated extracellular phytate-P utilization in both bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) hairy roots and Arabidopsis thaliana. The results herein support the conclusion that SgPAP23 is a primary contributor to the superior extracellular phytate-P utilization in stylo and thus is used to develop cultivars with efficient extracellular phytate-P utilization.

GmPHR25, which is up-regulated by phosphate starvation, is a vital regulator in the phosphorus signaling network, and controls phosphate homeostasis in soybean.

COVID-19 has spread globally to over 200 countries with more than 40 million confirmed cases and one million deaths as of November 1, 2020. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to COVID-19, shows extremely high rates of infectivity and replication, and can result in pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, or even mortality. SARS-CoV-2 has been found to be continue rapidly evolving, with several genomic variants emerging in different regions throughout the world. In addition, despite intensive study of the spike protein, its origin and molecular mechanisms in mediating host invasion are still only partially resolved. Finally, the repertoire of drugs for COVID-19 treatment is still limited, with several candidates still under clinical trial and no effective therapeutic yet reported. Although vaccines based on either DNA/mRNA or protein have been deployed, their efficacy against emerging variants requires ongoing study, with multivalent vaccines supplanting the first generation vaccines due to their low efficacy against new strains. Here, we provide a systematic review of studies on the epidemiology, immunological pathogenesis, molecular mechanisms and structural biology, as well as approaches for drug or vaccine development for SARS-CoV-2.

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Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide derivate from chitin, offers a promising alternative biomaterial for use in wound dressings. In this work, the safety and efficacy of a next-generation KA01 chitosan wound dressing in facilitating the healing of nonhealing chronic wounds was studied. This open multicenter comparative prospective randomized clinical study was conducted at three medical centers in China. A total of 90 patients (45 in test group and 45 in control group) with unhealed chronic wounds including pressure ulcers, vascular ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and wounds with minor infections, or at risk of infection, were treated with the next generation chitosan wound dressing as the test article or traditional vaseline gauze as a control. Baseline assessments were undertaken with the primary end point being wound area reduction. The secondary end points included pain reduction (using the NRS11 pain scale) at dressing change, wound exudate levels, wound depth and duration of the treatment. After 4 weeks treatment, the wound area reduction was significantly greater in the test group (65.97 ± 4.48%) than the control group (39.95 ± 4.48%). The average pain level in the test group was 1.12 ± 0.23 and 2.30 ± 0.23 in the control group. The wound depth was also lower in the test group 0.30 ± 0.48 cm than the control group 0.54 ± 0.86 cm. The level of exudate fell and the dressing could be removed integrally in both the test and control groups. The mean duration of the test group was 27.31 ± 5.37 days and control group 27.09 ± 6.44 days. No adverse events were reported in either group. In conclusion this open multicenter comparative prospective randomized clinical study has provided compelling evidence that the next generation chitosan wound dressing can enhance wound progression towards healing by facilitating wound reepithelialization and reducing the patients pain level. Furthermore the dressing was shown to be clinically safe and effective in the management of chronic wounds.

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