Blackwinstead7091

The genus Cuscuta comprises stem holoparasitic plant species with wide geographic distribution. Cuscuta spp. obtain water, nutrients, proteins, and mRNA from their host plants via a parasitic organ called the haustorium. As the haustorium penetrates into the host tissue, search hyphae elongate within the host tissue and finally connect with the host's vascular system. Invasion by Cuscuta spp. evokes various reactions within the host plant's tissues. Here, we show that, when Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) is invaded by Cuscuta campestris, ethylene biosynthesis by the host plant promotes elongation of the parasite's search hyphae. The expression of genes encoding 1-aminocylclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthases, ACC SYNTHASE2 (AtACS2) and ACC SYNTHASE6 (AtACS6), was activated in the stem of Arabidopsis plants upon invasion by C. campestris. When the ethylene-deficient Arabidopsis acs octuple mutant was invaded by C. campestris, cell elongation and endoreduplication of the search hyphae were significantly reduced, and the inhibition of search hyphae growth was complemented by exogenous application of ACC. In contrast, in the C. campestris-infected Arabidopsis ethylene-insensitive mutant etr1-3, no growth inhibition of search hyphae was observed, indicating that ETHYLENE RESPONSE1-mediated ethylene signaling in the host plant is not essential for parasitism by C. campestris. Overall, our results suggest that C. campestris recognizes host-produced ethylene as a stimulatory signal for successful invasion.Orobanche cumana is a holoparasitic plant that attaches to host-plant roots and seriously reduces the yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Effective control methods are lacking with only a few known sources of genetic resistance. In this study, a seed-soak agroinoculation (SSA) method was established, and recombinant tobacco rattle virus vectors were constructed to express RNA interference (RNAi) inducers to cause virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in sunflower. A host target gene HaTubulin was systemically silenced in both leaf and root tissues by the SSA-VIGS approach. Trans-species silencing of O. cumana genes were confirmed for 10 out of 11 target genes with silencing efficiency of 23.43%-92.67%. Knockdown of target OcQR1, OcCKX5, and OcWRI1 genes reduced the haustoria number, and silencing of OcEXPA6 caused further phenotypic abnormalities such as shorter tubercles and necrosis. Overexpression of OcEXPA6 caused retarded root growth in alfalfa (Medicago sativa). The results demonstrate that these genes play an important role in the processes of O. cumana parasitism. High-throughput small RNA (sRNA) sequencing and bioinformatics analyses unveiled the distinct features of target gene-derived siRNAs in O. cumana such as siRNA transitivity, strand polarity, hotspot region, and 21/22-nt siRNA predominance, the latter of which was confirmed by Northern blot experiments. The possible RNAi mechanism is also discussed by analyzing RNAi machinery genes in O. cumana. check details Taken together, we established an efficient host-induced gene silencing technology for both functional genetics studies and potential control of O. cumana. The ease and effectiveness of this strategy could potentially be useful for other species provided they are amenable to SSA.

The association between smoking and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) relies on old meta-analyses including exclusively non-Jewish White populations. Uncertainty persists regarding the role of smoking in other ethnicities.

We systematically searched Medline/PubMed, Embase and Scopus for studies examining tobacco smoking and the risk of developing IBD, i.e., Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). Two authors independently extracted study data and assessed each study's risk-of-bias. We examined heterogeneity and small-study effect, and calculated summary estimates using random-effects models. Stratified analyses and meta-regression were employed to study the association between study-level characteristics and effect estimates. The strength of epidemiological evidence was assessed through prespecified criteria.

We synthesized 57 studies examining the smoking-related risk of developing CD and UC. Non-Jewish White smokers were at increased risk of CD (29 studies; RR 1.95, 95% CI 1.69‒2.24; moderate ross different ethnicities to improve our understanding on the role of smoking in CD pathogenesis.Acute respiratory distress syndrome is characterized by hypoxemia, altered alveolar-capillary permeability, and neutrophil-dominated inflammatory pulmonary edema. Despite decades of research, an effective drug therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome remains elusive. The ideal pharmacotherapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome should demonstrate antiprotease activity and target injurious inflammatory pathways while maintaining host defense against infection. Furthermore, a drug with a reputable safety profile, low possibility of off-target effects, and well-known pharmacokinetics would be desirable. The endogenous 52-kd serine protease α1-antitrypsin has the potential to be a novel treatment option for acute respiratory distress syndrome. The main function of α1-antitrypsin is as an antiprotease, targeting neutrophil elastase in particular. However, studies have also highlighted the role of α1-antitrypsin in the modulation of inflammation and bacterial clearance. In light of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the identification of a treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome is even more pertinent, and α1-antitrypsin has been implicated in the inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Chronological age (CA) is a predictor of adverse COVID-19 outcomes; however, CA alone does not capture individual responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we evaluated the influence of aging metrics PhenoAge and PhenoAgeAccel to predict adverse COVID-19 outcomes. Furthermore, we sought to model adaptive metabolic and inflammatory responses to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection using individual PhenoAge components.

In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed cases admitted to a COVID-19 reference center in Mexico City. PhenoAge and PhenoAgeAccel were estimated using laboratory values at admission. Cox proportional hazards models were fitted to estimate risk for COVID-19 lethality and adverse outcomes (ICU admission, intubation, or death). To explore reproducible patterns which model adaptive responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we used k-means clustering using PhenoAge components.

We included 1068 subjects of whom 222 presented critical illness and 218 died. PhenoAge was a better predictor of adverse outcomes and lethality compared to CA and SpO2 and its predictive capacity was sustained for all age groups. Patients with responses associated to PhenoAgeAccel>0 had higher risk of death and critical illness compared to those with lower values (log-rank p<0.001). Using unsupervised clustering we identified four adaptive responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection 1) Inflammaging associated with CA, 2) metabolic dysfunction associated with cardio-metabolic comorbidities, 3) unfavorable hematological response, and 4) response associated with favorable outcomes.

Adaptive responses related to accelerated aging metrics are linked to adverse COVID-19 outcomes and have unique and distinguishable features. PhenoAge is a better predictor of adverse outcomes compared to CA.

Adaptive responses related to accelerated aging metrics are linked to adverse COVID-19 outcomes and have unique and distinguishable features. PhenoAge is a better predictor of adverse outcomes compared to CA.

To determine whether music engagement influences middle-aged and older adults' performance on episodic memory tasks.

Secondary data analysis of a sample (N = 4,592) of cognitively healthy adults from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study were used for this study. Multivariable regression models were used to analyze the cross-sectional differences in performance on tasks of episodic memory between participants who listened to music (n= 3,659) or sang or played an instrument (n= 989).

On average, participants recalled 10.3 words out of a possible 20. Regression analyses showed that both music listening and singing or playing an instrument were independently associated with significantly better episodic memory.

The findings provide the first population-based evidence that music engagement is associated with better episodic memory among middle-aged and older adults. Future studies should examine whether the association is causal or has a dose response.

The findings provide the first population-based evidence that music engagement is associated with better episodic memory among middle-aged and older adults. Future studies should examine whether the association is causal or has a dose response.

Hospital deaths after sepsis have decreased substantially and most young adult survivors rapidly recover (RAP). However, many older survivors develop chronic critical illness (CCI) with poor long-term outcomes. The etiology of CCI is multifactorial and the relative importance remains unclear. Sepsis is caused by a dysregulated immune response and biomarkers reflecting a persistent inflammation, immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome (PICS) have been observed in CCI after sepsis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare serial PICS biomarkers in a) older (versus young) adults and b) older CCI (versus older RAP) patients to gain insight into underlying pathobiology of CCI in older adults.

Prospective longitudinal study with young (≤ 45 years) and older (≥ 65 years) septic adults who were characterized by a) baseline predisposition, b) hospital outcomes, c) serial SOFA organ dysfunction scores over 14 days, d) Zubrod Performance status at three, six and 12-month follow-up and e) mortality over 12 months. Serial blood samples over 14 days were analyzed for selected biomarkers reflecting PICS.

Compared to the young, more older adults developed CCI (20% vs 42%) and had markedly worse serial SOFA scores, performance status and mortality over 12 months. Additionally, older (versus young) and older CCI (versus older RAP) patients had more persistent aberrations in biomarkers reflecting inflammation, immunosuppression, stress metabolism, lack of anabolism and anti-angiogenesis over 14 days after sepsis.

Older (versus young) and older CCI (versus older RAP) patient subgroups demonstrate early biomarker evidence of the underlying pathobiology of PICS.

Older (versus young) and older CCI (versus older RAP) patient subgroups demonstrate early biomarker evidence of the underlying pathobiology of PICS.Since the beginning of the pandemic, patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have been considered at high-risk for infection and complications of COVID-19. However, IBD patients and patients taking immunosuppressive therapy were excluded from clinical phase III vaccine trials, complicating the assessment of effectiveness of these new vaccines. From past experience we know that adapted vaccination strategies may be appropriate in some IBD patients to optimize immunogenicity. We review current evidence on SARS-CoV-2 vaccination relevant to IBD patients, including immune responses from humoral to cellular, emerging data on new variants and off-label vaccination schemes. We also identify clinical and scientific knowledge gaps that can be translated into both large-scale population-based studies and targeted vaccine studies to describe the precise immune responses induced by SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in IBD patients. We strongly endorse the recommendation of vaccinating IBD patients to ensure maximal protection from COVID-19 both for the individual and the community.