Effects of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 on gut microbial imbalance and liver function in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B cirrhosis(HBC)is a chronic disease characterized by irreversible diffuse liver damage and aggravated by intestinal microbial imbalance and metabolic dysfunction.Although the relationship between certain single probiotics and HBC has been explored,the impact of the complex ready-to-eat Lactobacillus paracasei N1115(LP N1115)supplement on patients with HBC has not been determined.AIM To compare the changes in the microbiota,inflammatory factor levels,and liver function before and after probiotic treatment in HBC patients.METHODS This study included 160 HBC patients diagnosed at the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between October 2018 and December 2020.Patients were randomly divided into an intervention group that received LP N1115 supplementation and routine treatment and a control group that received routine treatment only.Fecal samples were collected at the onset and conclusion of the 12-wk intervention period.The structure of the intestinal microbiota and the levels of serological indicators,such as liver function and inflammatory factors,were assessed.RESULTS Following LP N1115 intervention,the intestinal microbial diversity significantly increased in the intervention group(P<0.05),and the structure of the intestinal microbiota was characterized by an increase in the proportions of probiotic microbes and a reduction in harmful bacteria.Additionally,the intervention group demonstrated notable improvements in liver function indices and significantly lower levels of inflammatory factors(P<0.05).CONCLUSION LP N1115 is a promising treatment for ameliorating intestinal microbial imbalance in HBC patients by modulating the structure of the intestinal microbiota,improving liver function,and reducing inflammatory factor levels.

Imaging for deep brain stimulation:The zona incerta at 7 Tesla

AIM:To evaluate different promising magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) methods at 7.0 Tesla(T) for the pre-stereotactic visualization of the zona incerta(ZI).METHODS:Two neuroradiologists qualitatively and quantitatively examined T2-turbo spin-echo(T2-TSE),T1-weighted gradient-echo,as well as FLASH2D-T2Star and susceptibility-weighted imaging(SWI) for the visualization of the ZI at 7.0 T MRI.Delineation and image quality for the ZI were independently examined using a 6-scale grading system.Inter-rater reliability using Cohen's kappa coefficient(κ) were assessed.Contrast-tonoise ratios(CNR),and signal-to-noise ratios(SNR) for the ZI were calculated for all sequences.Differences in delineation,SNR,and CNR between the sequences were statistically assessed using a paired t-test.For the anatomic validation the coronal FLASH2D-T2Star images were co-registered with a stereotactic atlas(Schaltenbrand-Wahren).RESULTS:The rostral part of the ZI(rZI) could easily be identified and was best and reliably visualized in the coronal FLASH2D-T2Star images.The caudal part was not definable in any of the sequences.No major artifacts in the rZI were observed in any of the scans.FLASH2D-T2Star and SWI imaging offered significant higher CNR values for the rZI compared to T2-TSE images(P > 0.05).The co-registration of the coronal FLASH2D-T2Star images with the stereotactic atlas schema(Schaltenbrand-Wahren) confirmed the correct localization of the ZI in all cases.CONCLUSION:FLASH2D-T2Star imaging(particularly coronal view) provides the reliable and currently optimal visualization of the rZI at 7.0 T.These results can facilitate a better and more precise targeting of the caudal part of the ZI than ever before.

Profile of Bionectriaceae,Calcarisporiaceae,Hypocreaceae,Nectriaceae,Tilachlidiaceae,Ijuhyaceae fam.nov.,Stromatonectriaceae fam.nov.and Xanthonectriaceae fam.nov

This paper provides outlines for Bionectriaceae,Calcarisporiaceae,Hypocreaceae,Nectriaceae,Tilachlidiaceae,Ijuhy-aceae,Stromatonectriaceae and Xanthonectriaceae with taxonomic treatments.We provide up-to-date DNA sequence-based phylogenies including combined gene analysis of ITS,LSU,rpb2,tef1 and tub2 for Hypocreales and accept 17 families.Three new families and 12 new species are introduced with descriptions and illustrations,while 13 new records and one new species combination are provided.Here we mainly detail the taxonomy of Bionectriaceae,Hypocreaceae,Nectriaceae and Tilachlidiaceae,Ijuhyaceae fam.nov.,Stromatonectriaceae fam.nov.and Xanthonectriaceae fam.nov.are introduced in this study based on phenotypic and molecular analyses.For each family we provide a list of accepted genera,the taxo-nomic history,morphological descriptions,taxonomic placement based on DNA sequence data and illustrate the type genus.Representatives of each family are illustrated based on the type herbarium material or fresh specimens where available,or provide relevant references.Notes on ecological and economic importance of the families are also given.

Fungal diversity notes 1611-1716: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on fungal genera and species emphasis in south China

This article is the 15th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series,wherein 115 taxa from three phyla,nine classes,28 orders,48 families,and 64 genera are treated.Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include a new family,five new genera,61 new species,five new combinations,one synonym,one new variety and 31 records on new hosts or new geographical distributions.Ageratinicolaceae fam.nov.is introduced and accommodated in Pleosporales.The new genera introduced in this study are Ageratinicola,Kevinia,Pseudomultiseptospora(Parabambusicolaceae),Marasmiellomycena,and Vizzinia(Porotheleaceae).Newly described species are Abrothallus altoandinus,Ageratinicola kunmingensis,Allocryptovalsa aceris,Allophoma yuccae,Apiospora cannae,A.elliptica,A.pallidesporae,Boeremia wisteriae,Calycina papaeana,Clypeo-coccum lichenostigmoides,Coniochaeta riskali-shoyakubovii,Cryphonectria kunmingensis,Diaporthe angustiapiculata,D.campylandrae,D.longipapillata,Diatrypella guangdongense,Dothiorella franceschinii,Endocalyx phoenicis,Epicoc-cum terminosporum,Fulvifomes karaiensis,F.pannaensis,Ganoderma ghatensis,Hysterobrevium baoshanense,Inocybe avellaneorosea,I.lucida,Jahnula oblonga,Kevinia lignicola,Kirschsteiniothelia guangdongensis,Laboulbenia caprina,L.clavulata,L.cobiae,L.cosmodisci,L.nilotica,L.omalii,L.robusta,L.similis,L.stigmatophora,Laccaria rubriporus,Lasiodiplodia morindae,Lyophyllum agnijum,Marasmiellomycena pseudoomphaliiformis,Melomastia beihaiensis,Nemania guangdongensis,Nigrograna thailandica,Nigrospora ficuum,Oxydothis chinensis,O.yunnanensis,Petriella thailandica,Phaeoacremonium chinensis,Phialocephala chinensis,Phytophthora debattistii,Polyplosphaeria nigrospora,Pronectria loweniae,Seriascoma acutispora,Setoseptoria bambusae,Stictis anomianthi,Tarzetta tibetensis,Tarzetta urceolata,Tetraploa obpyriformis,Trichoglossum beninense,and Tricoderma pyrrosiae.We provide an emendation for Urnula ailaoshanensis Agaricus duplocingulatoides var.brevisporus introduced as a new variety based on morphology and phylogeny.

Somatostatin-Positive Neurons in the Rostral Zona Incerta Modulate Innate Fear-Induced Defensive Response in Mice

Defensive behaviors induced by innate fear or Pavlovian fear conditioning are crucial for animals to avoid threats and ensure survival.The zona incerta(ZI)has been demonstrated to play important roles in fear learning and fear memory,as well as modulating auditory-induced innate defensive behavior.However,whether the neuronal subtypes in the ZI and specific circuits can mediate the innate fear response is largely unknown.Here,we found that somatostatin(SST)-positive neurons in the rostral ZI of mice were activated by a visual innate fear stimulus.Optogenetic inhibition of SST-positive neurons in the rostral ZI resulted in reduced flight responses to an overhead looming stimulus.Optogenetic activation of SST-positive neurons in the rostral ZI induced fear-like defensive behavior including increased immobility and bradycardia.In addition,we demonstrated that manipulation of the GABAergic projections from SST-positive neurons in the rostral ZI to the downstream nucleus reuniens(Re)mediated fear-like defensive behavior.Retrograde trans-synaptic tracing also revealed looming stimulus-activated neurons in the superior colliculus(SC)that projected to the Re-projecting SST-positive neurons in the rostral ZI(SC-ZIrSST-Re pathway).Together,our study elucidates the function of SST-positive neurons in the rostral ZI and the SC-ZIrSST-Re tri-synaptic circuit in mediating the innate fear response.

Taxonomic circumscription of Diaporthales based on multigene phylogeny and morphology

Demarcation of family,genus and species boundaries in the Diaporthales has been tentative due to uninformative illus-trations and descriptions,overlapping morphological characteristics,misplacement or poor condition of type specimens and shortage of molecular data from ex-type cultures.In this study,we obtained the type specimens or other authentic specimens of diaporthalean taxa from worldwide fungaria.We examined,described and illustrated them.This study is based on morphological characters from type or authentic specimens,details from protologue and original illustrations and molecular data obtained from GenBank.Combined analyses of nrITS,nrLSU,RPB2 and TEF1-a sequence data were used to construct the molecular phylogeny.Additionally,we provided separate phylogenetic trees for families when necessary to show the generic distribution within these families based on suitable gene markers.Based on morphology and phylogeny,we treat 17 genera previously assigned to Diaporthales genera incertae sedis within several families.For some genera we have designated new generic types as they are lacking type species or type species have affiliations with other families.We exclude Anisomycopsis from Diaporthales and place it in Xylariomycetidae genera incertae sedis.Tirisporellaceae,which was previously placed in Tirisporellales is placed in Diaporthales based on phylogeny and morphology.A new combi-nation,Dendrostoma leiphaemia propose for Amphiporthe leiphaemia(Fr.)Butin.Based on the morphological characters and molecular data we accept 27 families and 138 genera within Diaporthales,24 genera in Diaporthales genera incertae sedis and one genus in Xylariomycetidae genera incertae sedis.We provide notes for genera in Diaporthales genera incertae sedis,and excluded and doubtful genera are listed with notes on their taxonomy and phylogeny.

Microfungi associated with Clematis(Ranunculaceae)with an integrated approach to delimiting species boundaries

The cosmopolitan plant genus Clematis contains many climbing species that can be found worldwide.The genus occurs in the wild and is grown commercially for horticulture.Microfungi on Clematis were collected from Belgium,China,Italy,Thailand and the UK.They are characterized by morphology and analyses of gene sequence data using an integrated species concept to validate identifications.The study revealed two new families,12 new genera,50 new species,26 new host records with one dimorphic character report,and ten species are transferred to other genera.The new families revealed by multigene phylogeny are Longiostiolaceae and Pseudomassarinaceae in Pleosporales(Dothideomycetes).New genera are Anthodidymella(Didymellaceae),Anthosulcatispora and Parasulcatispora(Sulcatisporaceae),Fusiformispora(Amniculicolaceae),Longispora(Phaeosphaeriaceae),Neobyssosphaeria(Melanommataceae),Neoleptosporella(Chaetosphaeriales,genera incertae sedis),Neostictis(Stictidaceae),Pseudohelminthosporium(Neomassarinaceae),Pseudomassarina(Pseudomassarinaceae),Sclerenchymomyces(Leptosphaeriaceae)and Xenoplectosphaerella(Plectosphaerellaceae).The newly described species are Alloleptosphaeria clematidis,Anthodidymella ranunculacearum,Anthosulcatispora subglobosa,Aquadictyospora clematidis,Brunneofusispora clematidis,Chaetosphaeronema clematidicola,C.clematidis,Chromolaenicola clematidis,Diaporthe clematidina,Dictyocheirospora clematidis,Distoseptispora clematidis,Floricola clematidis,Fusiformispora clematidis,Hermatomyces clematidis,Leptospora clematidis,Longispora clematidis,Massariosphaeria clematidis,Melomastia clematidis,M.fulvicomae,Neobyssosphaeria clematidis,Neoleptosporella clematidis,Neoroussoella clematidis,N.fulvicomae,Neostictis nigricans,Neovaginatispora clematidis,Parasulcatispora clematidis,Parathyridaria clematidis,P.serratifoliae,P.virginianae,Periconia verrucose,Phomatospora uniseriata,Pleopunctum clematidis,Pseudocapulatispora clematidis,Pseudocoleophoma clematidis,Pseudohelminthosporium clematidis,Pseudolophiostoma chiangraiense,P.clematidis,Pseudomassarina clematidis,Ramusculicola clematidis,Sarocladium clematidis,Sclerenchymomyces clematidis,Sigarispora clematidicola,S.clematidis,S.montanae,Sordaria clematidis,Stemphylium clematidis,Wojnowiciella clematidis,Xenodidymella clematidis,Xenomassariosphaeria clematidis and Xenoplectosphaerella clematidis.The following fungi are recorded on Clematis species for the first time:Angustimassarina rosarum,Dendryphion europaeum,Dermatiopleospora mariae,Diaporthe ravennica,D.rudis,Dichotomopilus ramosissimum,Dictyocheirospora xishuangbannaensis,Didymosphaeria rubi-ulmifolii,Fitzroyomyces cyperacearum,Fusarium celtidicola,Leptospora thailandica,Memnoniella oblongispora,Neodidymelliopsis longicolla,Neoeutypella baoshanensis,Neoroussoella heveae,Nigrograna chromolaenae,N.obliqua,Pestalotiopsis verruculosa,Pseudoberkleasmium chiangmaiense,Pseudoophiobolus rosae,Pseudoroussoella chromolaenae,P.elaeicola,Ramusculicola thailandica,Stemphylium vesicarium and Torula chromolaenae.The new combinations are Anthodidymella clematidis(≡Didymella clematidis),A.vitalbina(≡Didymella vitalbina),Anthosulcatispora brunnea(≡Neobambusicola brunnea),Fuscohypha kunmingensis(≡Plectosphaerella kunmingensis),Magnibotryascoma rubriostiolata(≡Teichospora rubriostiolata),Pararoussoella mangrovei(≡Roussoella mangrovei),Pseudoneoconiothyrium euonymi(≡Roussoella euonymi),Sclerenchymomyces jonesii(≡Neoleptosphaeria jonesii),Stemphylium rosae(≡Pleospora rosae),and S.rosae-caninae(≡Pleospora rosae-caninae).The microfungi on Clematis is distributed in several classes of Ascomycota.The analyses are based on morphological examination of specimens,coupled with phylogenetic sequence data.To the best of our knowledge,the consolidated species concept approach is recommended in validating species.

Microfungi on Tamarix

Tamarix species are small trees that grow in various natural habitats and have a wide geographic distribution.Microfungal species previously found on Tamarix and recently collected in Italy and Russia were identified based on morphological characters and analyses of gene sequence data.The sexual morph of the coelomycetous genus Homortomyces was collected for the first time and is described and illustrated.A new family,Homortomycetaceae(Dothideomycetes,families incertae sedis)is introduced to accommodate Homortomyces.Two new genera Neomicrosphaeropsis(Didymellaceae)and Tamaricicola(Pleosporaceae)are introduced in this paper.Phoma tamaricicola was recollected and is placed in Neomicrosphaeropsis based on morphology and molecular data.Ten new species,Cytospora italica,C.unilocularis,Diaporthe ravennica,Eutypella tamaricis,Neomicrosphaeropsis italica,N.novorossica,N.rossica,Keissleriella tamaricicola,Paracamarosporium tamaricis and Tamaricicola muriformis are introduced,while Alternaria tenuissima,Dothiorella sarmentorum,Neofusicoccum luteum,Paraepicoccum amazonense,Pleospora herbarum and Pseudocamarosporium propinquum are reported for the first time on Tamarix spp.with descriptions and illustrations.Multi-gene analyses show that Paraepicoccum amazonense should be placed in Pleosporineae,Pleosporales,where it is closely related to Camarosporium sensu stricto.Several herbarium specimens were studied to illustrate other fungal species recorded on Tamarix species.A comprehensive account of microfungi on Tamarix is provided,which includes a list with data from the literature,as well as those identified in the present study.The taxonomic placement of most taxa discussed in this study is based on a modern taxonomic framework based on analysis of multi-gene sequence data.

Whole-Brain Connectome of GABAergic Neurons in the Mouse Zona Incerta

The zona incerta(ZI)is involved in various functions and may serve as an integrative node of the circuits for global behavioral modulation.However,the long-range connectivity of different sectors in the mouse ZI has not been comprehensively mapped.Here,we obtained whole-brain images of the input and output connections via fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography and viral tracing.The principal regions in the input-output circuits of ZI GABAergic neurons were topologically organized.The 3D distribution of cortical inputs showed rostro-caudal correspondence with different ZI sectors,while the projection fibers from ZI sectors were longitudinally organized in the superior colliculus.Clustering results show that the medial and lateral ZI are two different major functional compartments,and they can be further divided into more subdomains based on projection and input connectivity.This study provides a comprehensive anatomical foundation for understanding how the ZI is involved in integrating different information,conveying motivational states,and modulating global behaviors.

Glutamatergic Neurons in the Caudal Zona Incerta Regulate Parkinsonian Motor Symptoms in Mice

Parkinson’s disease(PD)is the second most common and fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder.In recent years,it has been recognized that neurotransmitters other than dopamine and neuronal systems outside the basal ganglia are also related to PD pathogenesis.However,little is known about whether and how the caudal zona incerta(ZIc)regulates parkinsonian motor symptoms.Here,we showed that specific glutamatergic but not GABAergic ZIc^(VgluT2) neurons regulated these symptoms.ZIc^(VgluT2) neuronal activation induced time-locked parkinsonian motor symptoms.In mouse models of PD,the ZIc^(VgluT2) neurons were hyperactive and inhibition of their activity ameliorated the motor deficits.ZIc^(VgluT2) neurons monosynaptically projected to the substantia nigra pars reticulata.Incerta-nigral circuit activation induced parkinsonian motor symptoms.Together,our findings provide a direct link between the ZIc,its glutamatergic neurons,and parkinsonian motor symptoms for the first time,help to better understand the mechanisms of PD,and supply a new important potential therapeutic target for PD.

Post subthalamic area deep brain stimulation for tremors:a mini-review

Deep brain stimulation(DBS)in the thalamic ventrointermediate nucleus(VIM)is the traditional target for the surgical treatment of pharmacologically refractory essential tremor or parkinsonian tremor.Studies in recent years on DBS in posterior subthalamic area(PSA),including the zona incerta and the prelemniscal radiation,have shown promising results in tremor suppression,particularly for those tremors difficult to be well controlled by VIM DBS,such as the proximal postural tremor,distal intention tremor and some cerebellar outflow tremor in various diseases including essential tremor and multiple sclerosis.The adverse effect profile of the PSA DBS is mild and transient,without lasting or striking dysarthria,disequilibrium or tolerance,in contrast to VIM DBS,particularly bilateral DBS.However,the studies on PSA DBS so far are still limited,with a handful of studies on bilateral PSA,and a short follow up duration compared to VIM.More studies are needed for direct comparison of these targets in the future.A review here would help to gain more insight into the benefits and limits of the PSA DBS compared to that in VIM in the clinical management of various tremors,particularly for those difficult to be well controlled by traditional VIM DBS.