DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF SERUM INSULIN- LIKE GROWTH FACTOR BINDING PROTEIN- 3 IN CHILDREN WITH OR WITHOUT GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels in differential diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD). METHODS: To measure serum IGFBP-3 levels by RIA in normal children and adolescents, GHD children and short-stature children without GHD. RESULTS: Serum level of IGFBP-3 in 129 children with untreated GHD and with no pubertal development was 1.6 +/- 0.9 mg/L, which was less than that in normal group of the same age, but overlapped with the normal children in Tanner stage I. After six-month treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), serum level of IGFBP-3 in 59 GHD significantly increased from 1.3 +/- 0.7 mg/L to 2.7 +/- 0.9 mg/L, accompanied by an increase of body heights, growth velocities and serum level of IGF-1. Serum level of IGFBP-3 in 55 short-stature children without GHD was 3.3 +/- 2.2 mg/L, which was not significantly different from that in normal group. CONCLUSION: Serum IGFBP-3 level can reflect the status of GH secretion in children with GHD and is a useful marker for differential diagnosis of GHD.

Insulin-like growth factor 2 targets IGF1R signaling transduction to facilitate metastasis and imatinib resistance in gastrointestinal stromal tumors

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs)are typical gastrointestinal tract neoplasms.Imatinib is the first-line therapy for GIST patients.Drug resistance limits the long-term effectiveness of imatinib.The regulatory effect of insulin-like growth factor 2(IGF2)has been confirmed in various cancers and is related to resistance to chemotherapy and a worse prognosis.AIM To further investigate the mechanism of IGF2 specific to GISTs.METHODS IGF2 was screened and analyzed using Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO:GSE225819)data.After IGF2 knockdown or overexpression by transfection,the phenotypes(proliferation,migration,invasion,apoptosis)of GIST cells were characterized by cell counting kit 8,Transwell,and flow cytometry assays.We used western blotting to evaluate pathway-associated and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-associated proteins.We injected transfected cells into nude mice to establish a tumor xenograft model and observed the occurrence and metastasis of GIST.RESULTS Data from the GEO indicated that IGF2 expression is high in GISTs,associated with liver metastasis,and closely related to drug resistance.GIST cells with high expression of IGF2 had increased proliferation and migration,invasiveness and EMT.Knockdown of IGF2 significantly inhibited those activities.In addition,OEIGF2 promoted GIST metastasis in vivo in nude mice.IGF2 activated IGF1R signaling in GIST cells,and IGF2/IGF1R-mediated glycolysis was required for GIST with liver metastasis.GIST cells with IGF2 knockdown were sensitive to imatinib treatment when IGF2 overexpression significantly raised imatinib resistance.Moreover,2-deoxy-D-glucose(a glycolysis inhibitor)treatment reversed IGF2 overexpressionmediated imatinib resistance in GISTs.CONCLUSION IGF2 targeting of IGF1R signaling inhibited metastasis and decreased imatinib resistance by driving glycolysis in GISTs.

Exosome-transported IncRNA H19 regulates insulin-like growth factor-1 via the H19/let-7a/insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor axis in ischemic stroke

LncRNA(long non-coding RNA) H19 is a transcript of the H19 gene that is expressed during embryogenesis.We previously discove red a role for circular lncRNA H19 in the onset and prognosis of cerebral ischemic stroke.In this study,we used serum from patients with ischemic stroke,and mouse and cell culture models to elucidate the roles of plasma and neuronal exosomes in the regulatory effect of lncRNA H19 on insulin-like growth factor-1 and its mechanism in ischemic stroke,using western blotting,quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.Plasma exosomal IncRNA H19 was negatively associated with blood levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 in samples from patients with cerebral ischemic stroke.In a mouse model,levels of exosomal IncRNA H19 were positively correlated with plasma and cerebral lncRNA H19.In a cell co-culture model,we confirmed that IncRNA H19 was transported from neuro ns to astrocytes by exosomes to induce downregulation of insulin-like growth factor-1 through the H19/let-7 a/insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor axis.This study provides the first evidence for the transpo rtation of IncRNA H19 by exosomes and the relationship between IncRNA H19 and insulinlike growth factor-1.

Neuroprotective effects of insulin-like growth factor-2 in 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cellular and mouse models of Parkinson’s disease

Skin-derived precursor Schwann cells have been reported to play a protective role in the central nervous system. The neuroprotective effects of skin-derived precursor Schwann cells may be attributable to the release of growth factors that nourish host cells. In this study, we first established a cellular model of Parkinson’s disease using 6-hydroxydopamine. When SH-SY5 Y cells were pretreated with conditioned medium from skin-derived precursor Schwann cells, their activity was greatly increased. The addition of insulin-like growth factor-2 neutralizing antibody markedly attenuated the neuroprotective effects of skin-derived precursor Schwann cells. We also found that insulin-like growth factor-2 levels in the peripheral blood were greatly increased in patients with Parkinson’s disease and in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Next, we pretreated cell models of Parkinson’s disease with insulin-like growth factor-2 and administered insulin-like growth factor-2 intranasally to a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease induced by 6-hydroxydopamine and found that the level of tyrosine hydroxylase, a marker of dopamine neurons, was markedly restored, α-synuclein aggregation decreased, and insulin-like growth factor-2 receptor downregulation was alleviated. Finally, in vitro experiments showed that insulin-like growth factor-2 activated the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase(PI3 K)/AKT pathway. These findings suggest that the neuroprotective effects of skin-derived precursor Schwann cells on the central nervous system were achieved through insulinlike growth factor-2, and that insulin-like growth factor-2 may play a neuroprotective role through the insulin-like growth factor-2 receptor/PI3 K/AKT pathway. Therefore, insulin-like growth factor-2 may be an useful target for Parkinson’s disease treatment.

基于FP-growth算法的交通事故数据关联规则挖掘研究

为了探寻多种事故影响因素共同作用下诱发交通事故的某种规律以及各因素间的关系,本文采用FP-growth算法对收集到的交通事故数据进行分析研究,挖掘其中的潜在价值信息,找出事故发生的原因,根据分析结果给相关部门提出建议,帮助城市交通管理者制定更有效的管理措施,以达到降低交通事故发生频率的目的。

Mendelian randomization provides evidence for a causal effect of serum insulin-like growth factor family concentration on risk of atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation(AF)is one of the most common persistent arrhythmias among adult cardiovascular diseases.It is important to identify potential risk factors for AF.Members of the insulin-like growth factor(IGF)family exert a variety of effects on various cell types in the context of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases,and previous population-based studies indicate associations between IGF family members and AF.However,the causal effects of IGF family members in AF have not been evaluated.assess genetic relationships between IGF family members and AF.METHODS MR was performed based on genome-wide association study(GWAS)datasets,and concentration levels of 14 IGF family members were retrieved.An initial MR analysis was conducted to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms potentially associated with IGF serum concentrations.A GWAS meta-analysis including 60620 AF cases and 970216 control participants of European ancestry was then conducted to identify AF causal effects.Two-sample MR packages were used to perform MR analysis in R.MR-Egger,weighted median(WM),and inverse va-riance weighted(IVW)methods were used.RESULTS Core Tip:Due to the high prevalence of atrial fibrillation(AF),and adverse outcomes related to it,it is important to identify risk factors associated with development of the condition.Insulin-like growth factor(IGF)family members exert a variety of effects on various cell types in the context of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases,and previous population-based studies indicate associations between IGF family members and AF.However,the causal effects of IGF family members in AF have not been evaluated.The results of the current study provide novel insights on the pathogenesis of AF,and implic-ations of serum IGF family member concentrations when assessing the risk of AF.The study generated evidence on the potential roles of developmental pathological effects in the pathogenesis of AF.Further observational and experimental studies are critically needed.

基于FP-growth的老年行人交通事故损伤致因研究

为研究老年行人交通事故相关因素及其对损伤程度的影响,以中国交通事故深度调查数据库中2013—2023年710起机动车-老年行人事故为分析对象,利用FP-growth算法挖掘出4类影响因素28个类型变量共5594项关联规则。研究结果表明:行人年龄、碰撞速度、事故时间段及事故地点是影响老年行人事故死亡率的显著因素。特别是,行人年龄和碰撞速度对死亡率有显著影响,随着碰撞速度的增加,死亡率显著上升;60岁及以上老年行人年龄每增加1岁,其死亡率提升0.037倍。此外,事故发生在夜间、郊区或村庄的死亡率更高。研究结果可为提高老年行人交通安全,制定相关安全措施提供一定参考。

Effects of thinning on the understory light environment of different stands and the photosynthetic performance and growth of the reforestation species Phoebe bournei

Light levels determine regeneration in stands and a key concern is how to regulate the light environment of different stand types to the requirements of the understory.In this study,we selected three stands typical in south China(a Cryptomeria japonica plantation,a Quercus acutissima plantation,and a mixed stand of both)and three thinning intensities to determine the best understory light environ-ment for 3-year-old Phoebe bournei seedlings.The canopy structure,understory light environment,and photosynthe-sis and growth indicators were assessed following thin-ning.Thinning improved canopy structure and understory light availability of each stand;species composition was the reason for differences in the understory light environ-ment.Under the same thinning intensity,the mixed stand had the greatest light radiation and most balanced spectral composition.P.bournei photosynthesis and growth were closely related to the light environment;all three stands required heavy thinning to create an effective and sustained understory light environment.In a suitable understory light environment,the efficiency of light interception,absorption,and use by seedlings was enhanced,resulting in a higher carbon assimilation the main limiting factor was stomatal conductance.As a shade-avoidance signal,red/far-red radia-tion is a critical factor driving changes in photosynthesis and growth of P.bournei seedlings,and a reduction increased light absorption and use capacity and height:diameter ratios.The growth advantage transformed from diameter to height,enabling seedlings to access more light.Our findings suggest that the regeneration of shade-tolerant species such as P.bournei could be enhanced if a targeted approach to thinning based on stand type was adopted.

Dynamic changes of rumen microbiota and serum metabolome revealed increases in meat quality and growth performances of sheep fed bio‑fermented rice straw

Background Providing high-quality roughage is crucial for improvement of ruminant production because it is an essential component of their feed.Our previous study showed that feeding bio-fermented rice straw(BF)improved the feed intake and weight gain of sheep.However,it remains unclear why feeding BF to sheep increased their feed intake and weight gain.Therefore,the purposes of this research were to investigate how the rumen micro-biota and serum metabolome are dynamically changing after feeding BF,as well as how their changes influence the feed intake,digestibility,nutrient transport,meat quality and growth performances of sheep.Twelve growing Hu sheep were allocated into 3 groups:alfalfa hay fed group(AH:positive control),rice straw fed group(RS:negative control)and BF fed group(BF:treatment).Samples of rumen content,blood,rumen epithelium,muscle,feed offered and refusals were collected for the subsequent analysis.Results Feeding BF changed the microbial community and rumen fermentation,particularly increasing(P<0.05)relative abundance of Prevotella and propionate production,and decreasing(P<0.05)enteric methane yield.The histomorphology(height,width,area and thickness)of rumen papillae and gene expression for carbohydrate trans-port(MCT1),tight junction(claudin-1,claudin-4),and cell proliferation(CDK4,Cyclin A2,Cyclin E1)were improved(P<0.05)in sheep fed BF.Additionally,serum metabolome was also dynamically changed,which led to up-regulating(P<0.05)the primary bile acid biosynthesis and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid in sheep fed BF.As a result,the higher(P<0.05)feed intake,digestibility,growth rate,feed efficiency,meat quality and mono-unsaturated fatty acid concentration in muscle,and the lower(P<0.05)feed cost per kg of live weight were achieved by feeding BF.Conclusions Feeding BF improved the growth performances and meat quality of sheep and reduced their feed cost.Therefore,bio-fermentation of rice straw could be an innovative way for improving ruminant production with mini-mizing production costs.

Role of transforming growth factor-βin peripheral nerve regeneration

Injuries caused by trauma and neurodegenerative diseases can damage the peripheral nervous system and cause functional deficits.Unlike in the central nervous system,damaged axons in peripheral nerves can be induced to regenerate in response to intrinsic cues after reprogramming or in a growth-promoting microenvironment created by Schwann cells.However,axon regeneration and repair do not automatically result in the restoration of function,which is the ultimate therapeutic goal but also a major clinical challenge.Transforming growth factor(TGF)is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates various biological processes including tissue repair,embryo development,and cell growth and differentiation.There is accumulating evidence that TGF-βfamily proteins participate in peripheral nerve repair through various factors and signaling pathways by regulating the growth and transformation of Schwann cells;recruiting specific immune cells;controlling the permeability of the blood-nerve barrier,thereby stimulating axon growth;and inhibiting remyelination of regenerated axons.TGF-βhas been applied to the treatment of peripheral nerve injury in animal models.In this context,we review the functions of TGF-βin peripheral nerve regeneration and potential clinical applications.

Activation of endogenous neurogenesis and angiogenesis by basic fibroblast growth factor-chitosan gel in an adult rat model of ischemic stroke

Attempts have been made to use cell transplantation and biomaterials to promote cell proliferation,differentiation,migration,and survival,as well as angiogenesis,in the context of brain injury.However,whether bioactive materials can repair the damage caused by ischemic stroke by activating endogenous neurogenesis and angiogenesis is still unknown.In this study,we applied chitosan gel loaded with basic fibroblast growth factor to the stroke cavity 7 days after ischemic stroke in rats.The gel slowly released basic fibroblast growth factor,which improved the local microenvironment,activated endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells,and recruited these cells to migrate toward the penumbra and stroke cavity and subsequently differentiate into neurons,while enhancing angiogenesis in the penumbra and stroke cavity and ultimately leading to partial functional recovery.This study revealed the mechanism by which bioactive materials repair ischemic strokes,thus providing a new strategy for the clinical application of bioactive materials in the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Vascular endothelial growth factor B improves impaired glucose tolerance through insulin-mediated inhibition of glucagon secretion

BACKGROUND Impaired glucose tolerance(IGT)is a homeostatic state between euglycemia and hyperglycemia and is considered an early high-risk state of diabetes.When IGT occurs,insulin sensitivity decreases,causing a reduction in insulin secretion and an increase in glucagon secretion.Recently,vascular endothelial growth factor B(VEGFB)has been demonstrated to play a positive role in improving glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.Therefore,we constructed a mouse model of IGT through high-fat diet feeding and speculated that VEGFB can regulate hyperglycemia in IGT by influencing insulin-mediated glucagon secretion,thus contributing to the prevention and cure of prediabetes.AIM To explore the potential molecular mechanism and regulatory effects of VEGFB on insulin-mediated glucagon in mice with IGT.METHODS We conducted in vivo experiments through systematic VEGFB knockout and pancreatic-specific VEGFB overexpression.Insulin and glucagon secretions were detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the protein expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)was determined using western blot.Further,mRNA expression of forkhead box protein O1,phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase,and glucose-6 phosphatase was detected via quantitative polymerase chain reaction,and the correlation between the expression of proteins was analyzed via bioinformatics.RESULTS In mice with IGT and VEGFB knockout,glucagon secretion increased,and the protein expression of PI3K/AKT decreased dramatically.Further,in mice with VEGFB overexpression,glucagon levels declined,with the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.CONCLUSION VEGFB/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 can promote insulin-mediated glucagon secretion by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to regulate glucose metabolism disorders in mice with IGT.

PRaG 3.0 therapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)is a highly fatal disease with limited effective treatment especially after first-line chemotherapy.The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER-2)immunohistochemistry(IHC)positive is associated with more aggressive clinical behavior and shorter overall survival in PDAC.CASE SUMMARY We present a case of multiple metastatic PDAC with IHC mismatch repair proficient but HER-2 IHC weakly positive at diagnosis that didn’t have tumor regression after first-line nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine and PD-1 inhibitor treatment.A novel combination therapy PRaG 3.0 of RC48(HER2-antibody-drug conjugate),radio-therapy,PD-1 inhibitor,granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-2 was then applied as second-line therapy and the patient had confirmed good partial response with progress-free-survival of 6.5 months and overall survival of 14.2 month.She had not developed any grade 2 or above treatment-related adverse events at any point.Percentage of peripheral CD8^(+) Temra and CD4^(+) Temra were increased during first two activation cycles of PRaG 3.0 treatment containing radiotherapy but deceased to the baseline during the maintenance cycles containing no radiotherapy.CONCLUSION PRaG 3.0 might be a novel strategy for HER2-positive metastatic PDAC patients who failed from previous first-line approach and even PD-1 immunotherapy but needs more data in prospective trials.

Effect of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Growth and Biomass Accumulation in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

The use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) is gaining interest in agriculture because of their impact on many aspects of plant growth. The present study examines the effects of nTiO2 (5 nm and 10 nm) applied to seeds and the seedlings as a foliar application on various aspects of growth characteristics and biomass accumulation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa, cv. Grand Rapids). Application of 10 nm nTiO2 to seeds through imbibition resulted in a significant reduction in shoot biomass accumulation while 5 nm nTiO2 did not affect the biomass accumulation in lettuce. The application of 10 nm nTiO2 reduced the fresh shoot biomass accumulation by about 18% compared to the control plants. Other growth characteristics such as shoot dry biomass, root fresh and dry biomass, plant height, and leaf area were not affected by the application of both 5 nm and 10 nm nTiO2. In addition, foliar application of these nanoparticles to the lettuce seedlings did not have a significant effect on most of the growth parameters examined, and the increasing concentration ranging from 5 nm/L to 400 mg/L did not produce a consistent response in lettuce. Thus, nTiO2 application to lettuce seeds had a notable negative impact on shoot growth while foliar application did not have a significant effect on many plant growth characteristics. However, foliar applications produced some symptoms of toxicity to the foliage in the form of necrotic or chlorotic patches on the leaves, which were more pronounced with increasing concentrations of both 5 nm and 10 nm nTiO2. However, these symptoms were apparent at a concentration as low as 50 mg/L of nTiO2. Thus, foliar application of nTiO2 may not have a significant impact on many of the growth characteristics in lettuce, but it can result in foliar toxicity.

Bio-Fertilizer Improved Oil Palm Seedling Growth

In most farming systems newly introduced commercial fertilizers to be accepted, adopted and used by farmers, their effectiveness and appropriate application rates must be exhibited. This study was conducted to validate the effect and rates of a bio-fertilizer (super agric) on oil palm seedling growth. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three application rates of 0, 4 and 8 ml/L of water (treatments) replicated thrice. Following the application of super agric to oil palm seedlings for a period of six months, observations drawn from the analysis of growth data were as follows: Three months after treatment, super agric significantly (P < 0.05) increased the height and breadth of oil palm seedling compared to those which were not applied with super agric. The results also showed that when super agric was applied at a rate of 4 ml/L, the leaf length and breadth were higher compared to the control were super agric was not used. Furthermore, applications of super agric improved oil palm seedling nitrogen uptake by 31% in treatment groups as compared to the control which explained the height and breadth increase in the oil palm seedlings that were applied with super agric. On the other hand, the effect of super agric application on phosphorus uptake by seedlings was not significant. Although the height, breadth, leaf width and length were all significantly affected by super agric application, the number of oil palm leaves and spears were not affected for the period the experiment was conducted. Six months after application of super agric the growth of oil palm seedlings was favorably impacted, hence we recommend super agric to be promoted among oil palm seedling growers.

Genome-Wide Association Study and Genomic Selection for Plant Growth Habit in Peanuts Using the USDA Public Data

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production is valued at $1.28 billion annually in the USA. Plant growth habit can be used to determine plant population density and cultivation practices a given farmer uses. Erect plants are generally more compact and can be more densely planted unlike plants with more prostrate growth. The objectives of this study were to analyze publicly available datasets to identify single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with plant growth habit in peanuts and to conduct genomic selection. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was used to identify SNPs for growth habit type among 775 USDA peanut accessions. A total of 13,306 SNPs were used to conduct GWAS using five statistical models. The models used were single-marker regression, generalized linear model (PCA), generalized linear model (Q), mixed linear model (PCA), and mixed linear model (Q) and a total of 181, 1, 108, 1, and 10 SNPs were found associated with growth habit respectively. Based on this dataset, results showed that genomic selection can achieve up to 61% accuracy, depending on the training population size being used for the prediction. SNP AX-176821681 was found in all models. Gene ontology for this location shows an annotated gene, Araip.0F3YM, found 2485 bp upstream of this SNP and encodes for a peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report identifying molecular markers linked to plant growth habit type in peanuts. This finding suggests that a molecular marker can be developed to identify specific plant growth habits in peanuts, enabling early generation selection by peanut breeders.

Growth hormone promotes the reconstruction of injured axons in the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system

Previous studies have shown that growth hormone can regulate hypothalamic energy metabolism, stress, and hormone release. Therefore, growth hormone has great potential for treating hypothalamic injury. In this study, we established a specific hypothalamic axon injury model by inducing hypothalamic pituitary stalk electric lesions in male mice. We then treated mice by intraperitoneal administration of growth hormone. Our results showed that growth hormone increased the expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 and its receptors, and promoted the survival of hypothalamic neurons, axonal regeneration, and vascular reconstruction from the median eminence through the posterior pituitary. Altogether, this alleviated hypothalamic injury-caused central diabetes insipidus and anxiety. These results suggest that growth hormone can promote axonal reconstruction after hypothalamic injury by regulating the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor 1 axis.

Growth and inhibition of zinc anode dendrites in Zn-air batteries:Model and experiment

Zinc(Zn)-air batteries are widely used in secondary battery research owing to their high theoretical energy density,good electrochemical reversibility,stable discharge performance,and low cost of the anode active material Zn.However,the Zn anode also leads to many challenges,including dendrite growth,deformation,and hydrogen precipitation self-corrosion.In this context,Zn dendrite growth has a greater impact on the cycle lives.In this dissertation,a dendrite growth model for a Zn-air battery was established based on electrochemical phase field theory,and the effects of the charging time,anisotropy strength,and electrolyte temperature on the morphology and growth height of Zn dendrites were studied.A series of experiments was designed with different gradient influencing factors in subsequent experiments to verify the theoretical simulations,including elevated electrolyte temperatures,flowing electrolytes,and pulsed charging.The simulation results show that the growth of Zn dendrites is controlled mainly by diffusion and mass transfer processes,whereas the electrolyte temperature,flow rate,and interfacial energy anisotropy intensity are the main factors.The experimental results show that an optimal electrolyte temperature of 343.15 K,an optimal electrolyte flow rate of 40 ml·min^(-1),and an effective pulse charging mode.

Effects of Nitrogen-Regulating Gene AreA on Growth,Pathogenicity,and Fumonisin Synthesis of Fusarium proliferatum

Rice spikelet rot disease not only threatens rice yields but also poses risks to humans and animals due to the production of the category 2B carcinogen fumonisins by the pathogen Fusarium proliferatum.Nitrogen(N)metabolism is known to have a significant influence on fungal growth and the synthesis of secondary metabolites.AreA is a global N regulatory gene belonging to the GATA transcription factor family.In this study,we observed that theΔAreA mutant exhibited a notable reduction in growth rate and conidium production.Pathogenicity experiments revealed thatΔAreA had almost lost its ability to infect rice spikelets.

Vascular endothelial growth factor/connective tissue growth factor and proteomic analysis of aqueous humor after intravitreal conbercept for proliferative diabetes retinopathy

AIM:To investigate the role of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in the protein profile of the aqueous humor in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)following intravitreal injection of conbercept.METHODS:This study included 72 PDR patients and 8 cataract patients as controls.PDR patients were divided into 3 groups according to the intervals of 3,5,and 7d between intravitreal conbercept(IVC,0.5 mg/0.05 mL)injection and pars plana vitrectomy(PPV)performed.Aqueous humor samples were collected before and after IVC and PPV for VEGF and CTGF levels detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The differential proteomics of 10 patients who underwent PPV surgery 5d after IVC and 8 normal controls was studied,Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)analysis were performed on the data,and the protein interaction network of 23 differential proteins was studied.RESULTS:Post-IVC,VEGF levels decreased and CTGF levels increased significantly in aqueous humor,with the CTGF/VEGF ratio rising significantly at all intervals.Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)identified differentially expressed proteins between preand post-IVC samples.GO and KEGG analyses revealed involvement in immune response,stress response,complement and coagulation cascades,ferroptosis,and PPAR signaling pathways.PPI analysis highlighted key proteins like APOA1,C3,and transferrin(TF).ELISA assay confirmed the differential expression of proteins such as HBA1,SERPINA1,COL1A1,and ACTB,with significant changes in the IVC groups.CONCLUSION:The study demonstrates that IVC effectively reduces VEGF levels while increasing CTGF levels,thereby modifying the CTGF/VEGF ratio,and IVC significantly alters the protein profile in the aqueous humor of patients with PDR.Proteomic analysis reveals that these changes are associated with critical biological pathways and protein interactions involved in immune response,stress response,and cellular metabolism.