Single-cell and spatial heterogeneity landscapes of mature epicardial cells

Tbx18,Wt1,and Tcf21 have been identified as epicardial markers during the early embryonic stage.However,the gene markers of mature epicardial cells remain unclear.Single-cell transcriptomic analysis was performed with the Seurat,Monocle,and CellphoneDB packages in R software with standard procedures.Spatial transcriptomics was performed on chilled Visium Tissue Optimization Slides(10x Genomics)and Visium Spatial Gene Expression Slides(10x Genomics).Spatial transcriptomics analysis was performed with Space Ranger software and R software.Immunofluorescence,whole-mount RNA in situ hybridization and X-gal staining were performed to validate the analysis results.Spatial transcriptomics analysis revealed distinct transcriptional profiles and functions between epicardial tissue and non-epicardial tissue.Several gene markers specific to postnatal epicardial tissue were identified,including Msln,C3,Efemp1,and Upk3b.Single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed that cardiac cells from wildtype mouse hearts(from embryonic day 9.5 to postnatal day 9)could be categorized into six major cell types,which included epicardial cells.Throughout epicardial development,Wt1,Tbx18,and Upk3b were consistently expressed,whereas genes including Msln,C3,and Efemp1 exhibited increased expression during the mature stages of development.Pseudotime analysis further revealed two epicardial cell fates during maturation.Moreover,Upk3b,Msln,Efemp1,and C3 positive epicardial cells were enriched in extracellular matrix signaling.Our results suggested Upk3b,Efemp1,Msln,C3,and other genes were mature epicardium markers.Extracellular matrix signaling was found to play a critical role in the mature epicardium,thus suggesting potential therapeutic targets for heart regeneration in future clinical practice.

不同发酵条件对小台农芒果酒中的Vc含量及风味的影响

为了研究不同发酵条件对小台农芒果酒中的Vc含量和风味的影响,以海南小台农芒果为主要原料,以不同梯度的果胶酶、酵母添加量和发酵时间为单因素实验,测定Vc、总糖、滴定酸、可溶性固形物等指标,在此基础上进行L33正交实验,确定最佳酿造工艺。结果筛选出两种工艺,一种工艺为果胶酶添加量为0.15%,酵母添加量为0.20 g/L,发酵时间为7 d,此工艺下酿造的小台农芒果酒总体评分最高为85分,Vc为33.89 mg/100 g,具有浓郁的芒果香气,酒体结构感强,酒香与果香融合较好,余味较长;另一种工艺为果胶酶添加量0.20%,酵母添加量0.20 g/L,发酵时间8 d,在此工艺下芒果酒最终评分为74,Vc含量为37.27 mg/100 g,但其酒精度较高,酒体较淡薄,结构感不强,后味略苦。因此,从风味上考虑,则优选第一种工艺为佳,果胶酶添加量为0.15%、酵母添加量为0.20g/L、发酵时间为7d;从Vc含量上考虑,则第二种工艺为最佳选择,果胶酶添加量为0.2%、酵母添加量为0.20 g/L、发酵时间为8d。

Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea:A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective:Epicardial adipose tissue(EAT)is a potential risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea(OSA).We performed a meta-analysis to assess the association of EAT with OSA.Methods:The PubMed,EMBASE,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,and Wanfang databases were searched by two independent investigators for all observational studies assessing the association of EAT with OSA.Then we assessed the association of EAT thickness(EAT-t)and EAT volume(EAT-v)with OSA by a meta-analysis.Results:Ten studies were included in the fi nal analysis.Compared with that in controls,EAT-t in OSA patients was signifi cantly increased(standardized mean difference 0.88,95%confi dence interval 0.72-1.05,P=0.000).Furthermore,EAT-t was greater in OSA patients than in controls with similar BMIs.However,we did not fi nd signifi cant differences in EAT-v between OSA patients and controls(standardized mean difference 2.46,95%confi dence interval−0.36 to 5.29,P=0.088).EAT-t in the mild,moderate,and severe OSA subgroups was greater than in the controls.In addition,there were signifi cant differences in EAT-t among the mild,moderate,and severe OSA subgroups.Conclusions:EAT-t was greater in patients with OSA than in controls,and EAT-t was also associated with the severity of OSA.These fi ndings may provide a new clue for the pathogenesis and treatment of OSA.

An investigation of long-term outcome of rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin and cyclosporine therapy for pediatric severe aplastic anemia

Children with severe aplastic anemia(SAA)face heterogeneous prognoses after immunosuppressive therapy(IST).There are few models that can predict the long-term outcomes of IST for these patients.The objective of this paper is to develop a more effective prediction model for SAA prognosis based on clinical electronic medical records from 203 children with newly diagnosed SAA.In the early stage,a novel model for long-term outcomes of SAA patients with IST was developed using machine-learning techniques.Among the indicators related to long-term efficacy,white blood cell count,lymphocyte count,absolute reticulocyte count,lymphocyte ratio in bone-marrow smears,C-reactive protein,and the level of IL-6,IL-8 and vitamin B12 in the early stage are strongly correlated with long-term efficacy(P<.05).Taken together,we analyzed the long-term outcomes of rabbit antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporine therapy for children with SAA through machine-learning techniques,which may shorten the observation period of therapeutic effects and reduce treatment costs and time.

Genomic landscapes of Chinese sporadic autism spectrum disordersrevealed by whole-genome sequencing

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with considerable clinical and genetic heterogeneity.In this study,we identified all classes of genomic variants from whole-genome sequencing (WGS) dataset of 32 Chinese trios with ASD,including de novo mutations,inherited variants,copy number variants (CNVs) and genomic structural variants.A higher mutation rate (Poisson test,P<2.2×10) in exonic (1.37×10) and 3’-UTR regions (1.42×10) was revealed in comparison with that of whole genome (1.05×10).Using an integrated model,we identified 87 potentially risk genes (P<0.01) from 4832 genes harboring various rare deleterious variants,including CHD8 and NRXN2,implying that the disorders may be in favor to multiple-hit.In particular,frequent rare inherited mutations of several microcephaly-associated genes (ASPM,WDR62,and ZNF335)were found in ASD.In chromosomal structure analyses,we found four de novo CNVs and one de novo chromosomal rearrangement event,including a de novo duplication of UBE3A-containing region at 15q11.2-q13.1,which causes Angelman syndrome and microcephaly,and a disrupted TNR due to de novo chromosomal translocation t (1;5) (q25.1;q33.2).Taken together,our results suggest that abnormalities of centrosomal function and chromatin remodeling of the microcephaly-associated genes may be implicated in pathogenesis of ASD.Adoption of WGS as a new yet efficient technique to illustrate the full genetic spectrum in complex disorders,such as ASD,could provide novel insights into pathogenesis,diagnosis and treatment.