Abstract Objective: In this article, the author aims to discuss and review the relationship between gut microbiota and Tourette syndrome, and whether the change in gut microbiota can affect the severity of Tourette syndrome. Sources: Literature from PubMed, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure was mainly reviewed. Both original studies and review articles were discussed. The articles were required to be published as of May 2022. Summary of the findings: Current studies on the gut microbiome have found that the gut microbiome and brain seem to interact. It is named the brain-gut-axis. The relationship between the brain-gut axis and neurological and psychiatric disorders has been a topic of intense interest. Tourette syndrome is a chronic neurological disease that seriously affects the quality of life of children, and there appears to be an increase in Ruminococcaceae and Bacteroides in the gut of patients with Tourette syndrome. After clinical observation and animal experiments, there appear to be particular gut microbiota changes in Tourette syndrome. It provides a new possible idea for the treatment of Tourette syndrome. Probiotics and fecal microbial transplantation have been tried to treat Tourette syndrome, especially Tourette syndrome which is not sensitive to drugs, and some results have been achieved. Conclusions: The relationship between gut microbiota and Tourette syndrome and how to alleviate Tourette syndrome by improving gut microbiota are new topics, more in-depth and larger sample size research is still needed.

SUMMARY: Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (C. tinctoria Nutt.) can protect diabetic kidneys, but the mechanisms are unclear. This work is to investigate the potential mechanisms of C. tinctoria Nutt. in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy based on network pharmacology analysis of its active ingredients. Twelve small molecular compounds of C. tinctoria Nutt. and targets related to diabetic nephropathy were docked by Discovery Studio 3.0. DAVID database was used for GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis. Cytoscape 3.6.1 was used to construct active ingredient-target network. Cell viability was detected with MTT. Glucose consumption was analyzed with glucose oxidase method. Protein expression was measured with Western blot and immunofluorescence. Electron microscopy observed autophagosomes. The core active ingredients of C. tinctoria Nutt. included heriguard, flavanomarein, maritimein, and marein. Twenty-one core targets of the 43 potential targets were PYGM, TLR2, RAF1, PRKAA2, GPR119, INS, CSF2, TNF, IAPP, AKR1B1, GSK3B, SYK, NFKB2, ESR2, CDK2, FGFR1, HTRA1, AMY2A, CAMK4, GCK, and ABL2. These 21 core targets were significantly enriched in 50 signaling pathways. Thirty- four signaling pathways were closely related to diabetic nephropathy, of which the top pathways were PI3K/AKT, insulin, and mTOR, and insulin resistance. The enriched GO terms included biological processes of protein phosphorylation, and the positive regulation of PI3K signaling and cytokine secretion; cellular components of cytosol, extracellular region, and extracellular space; and molecular function of protein kinase activity, ATP binding, and non-membrane spanning protein tyrosine kinase activity. In vitro experiments found that marein increased the expression of phosphorylated AKT/AKT in human renal glomerular endothelial cells of an insulin resistance model induced by high glucose, as well as increased and decreased, respectively, the levels of the microtubule-associated proteins, LC3 and P62. C. tinctoria Nutt. has many active ingredients, with main ingredients of heriguard, flavanomarein, maritimein, and marein, and may exert anti-diabetic nephropathy effect through various signaling pathways and targets.

RESUMEN: Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (C. tinctoria Nutt.) puede proteger riñones diabéticos, sin embargo los mecanismos son desconocidos. Este trabajo se realizó para investigar los potenciales mecanismos de C. tinctoria Nutt. en el tratamiento de la nefropatía diabética basado en el análisis de farmacología en red de sus principios activos. Doce compuestos moleculares pequeños de C. tinctoria Nutt. y los objetivos relacionados con la nefropatía diabética fueron acoplados por Discovery Studio 3.0. La base de datos DAVID se utilizó para el enriquecimiento GO y el análisis de la vía KEGG. Se usó Cytoscape 3.6.1 para construir una red de ingrediente-objetivo activa. La viabili- dad celular se detectó mediante MTT. El consumo de glucosa se analizó con el método de glucosa oxidasa. La expresión proteica fue determinada mediante Western blot e inmunofluorescencia. En la microscopía electrónica se observó autofagosomas. Los principales ingredientes activos de C. tinctoria Nutt. incluyeron heriguard, flavanomarein, maritimin y marein. Veintiún de los 43 objetivos potenciales fueron PYGM, TLR2, RAF1, PRKAA2, GPR119, INS, CSF2, TNF, IAPP, AKR1B1, GSK3B, SYK, NFKB2, ESR2, CDK2, FGFR1, HTRA1, AMY2A, CAMK4, GCK y ABL2. Estos 21 objetivos principales se enriquecieron significativamente en 50 vías de señalización. Treinta y cuatro vías de señalización estuvieron estrechamente relacionadas con la nefropatía diabética, de las cuales las principales vías fueron PI3K/ AKT, insulina y mTOR, y resistencia a la insulina. Los términos GO enriquecidos incluyeron procesos biológicos de fosforilación proteica, la regulación positiva de la señalización de PI3K y la secreción de citoquinas; componentes celulares del citosol, región extracelular y espacio extracelular; y la función molecular de la actividad de la proteína quinasa, la unión de ATP y la actividad de la proteína tirosina quinasa que no se extiende por la membrana. Los experimentos in vitro encontraron que la mareína aumentaba la expresión de AKT/AKT fosforilada en células endoteliales glomerulares renales humanas en un modelo de resistencia a la insulina inducida por niveles elevados de glucosa, así como aumentaron y disminuyeron respectivamente, los niveles de las proteínas asociadas a los microtúbulos, LC3 y P62. C. tinctoria Nutt. tiene muchos principios activos, con ingredientes principales de heriguard, flavanomarein, maritimain y marein, y puede ejercer un efecto de nefropatía antidiabética a través de distintass vías de señalización y objetivos.

SUMMARY: Marein is the main active substance of Coreopsis tinctoria nutt. It not only has anti-oxidation and anti-tumor effects, but also can lower blood lipid, prevent high blood glucose, improve insulin resistance, inhibit gluconeogenesis and promote glycogen synthesis. However, the exact mechanism of its action is still unclear. Here, we explored the effect and mechanism of Marein on insulin resistance. The mice were divided into db/m, db/db, metformin+db/db, and marein+db/db groups. The body weight and kidney weight were recorded. Serum biochemical and renal function tests were measured after 8 weeks of continuous administration. Kidney tissues were subjected to HE staining, PAS staining, and Masson staining. The effect of marein on PI3K/Akt signal and autophagy pathway was detected by Western blot. After 8 weeks of Marein intervention, the body weight and kidney weight of mice did not change significantly, but the fasting blood glucose and blood lipid levels were significantly reduced than db/db group. Marein significantly improved the insulin resistance index, increased serum adiponectin and improved glucose and lipid metabolism disorders of db/db mice. Moreover, marein improved the basement membrane thickness of glomeruli and tubules, improved glomerular sclerosis and tubular fibrosis, as well as renal insufficiency, thereby protecting kidney function and delaying the pathological damage. Furthermore, marein increased the expression of PI3K and the phosphorylation of Akt/Akt (Ser473), and promoted the expression of LC3II/I, Beclin1 and ATG5. Additionally, it promoted the expression of FGFR1 in the kidney of db/db mice, and promoted the increase of serum FGF21 and FGF23. Marein has a protective effect on the kidneys of diabetic mice. It protects diabetic nephropathy by regulating the IRS1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to improve insulin resistance. Therefore, marein may be an insulin sensitizer.

RESUMEN: Marein es la principal sustancia activa de Coreopsis tinctoria nutt. No solo tiene efectos antioxidantes y antitumorales, sino que también puede reducir los lípidos en sangre, prevenir la glucemia alta, mejorar la resistencia a la insulina, inhibir la gluconeogénesis y promover la síntesis de glucógeno. Sin embargo, el mecanismo exacto de su acción aún no está claro. Se analizó el efecto y el mecanismo de Marein sobre la resistencia a la insulina. Los ratones se dividieron en grupos db / m, db / db, metformina + db / db y mareína + db / db. Se registró el peso corporal y el peso de los riñones. Se midieron las pruebas de función renal y bioquímica sérica después de 8 semanas de administración continua. Los tejidos renales se sometieron a tinción HE, tinción PAS y tinción Masson. El efecto de la mareína sobre la señal de PI3K / Akt y la vía de autofagia se detectó mediante Western blot. Al término de 8 semanas de tratamiento con mareína, el peso corporal y el peso de los riñones de los ratones no cambiaron significativamente, pero los niveles de glucosa en sangre y lípidos en sangre en ayunas se redujeron significativamente en relación a los del grupo db / db. Marein mejoró significativamente el índice de resistencia a la insulina, aumentó la adiponectina sérica y mejoró los trastornos del metabolismo de la glucosa y los lípidos de los ratones db / db. Además, la mareína mejoró el grosor de la membrana basal de los glomérulos y túbulos, mejoró la esclerosis glomerular y la fibrosis tubular, así como la insuficiencia renal, protegiendo la función renal y retrasando el daño patológico. Además, la mareína aumentó la expresión de PI3K y la fosforilación de Akt / Akt (Ser473), y promovió la expresión de LC3II / I, Beclin1 y ATG5. Además, promovió la expresión de FGFR1 en el riñón de ratones db / db y el aumento de FGF21 y FGF23 en suero. Marein tiene un efecto protector sobre los riñones de ratones diabéticos. Protege la nefropatía diabética regulando la vía de señalización IRS1 / PI3K / Akt para mejorar la resistencia a la insulina. Por tanto, la mareína puede ser un sensibilizador a la insulina.

Background: As key gene regulators, microRNAs post-transcriptionally modulate gene expression via binding to partially complementary sequence in the 3? UTR of target mRNA. An accurate, rapid and quantitative tool for sensing and validation of miRNA targets is of crucial significance to decipher the functional implications of miRNAs in cellular pathways. Results: Taking advantage of an improved restriction-free cloning method, we engineered a novel built-in dual luciferase reporter plasmid where Firefly and Renilla luciferase genes were assembled in a single plasmid named ?pFila?. This design eliminates the transfection of a separate control plasmid and thus minimizes the time and labor required for miRNA-target sensing assays. pFila consistently produces Firefly and Renilla luciferase activities when transfected into human-, monkey- and mouse-derived mammalian cell systems. Moreover, pFila is capable of recapitulating the interaction of miR-16 and its known target CCNE1 in Hela cells. Additionally, pFila is shown to be a sensitive miR-biosensor by evaluating the inhibition efficiency of endogenous miRNA. Conclusions: pFila would facilitate miRNA target identification and verification in a rapid and simplified manner. Also, pFila is a sensitive biosensor for active miRNA profiling in vivo.

Humans and guinea pigs are species which are unable to synthesize ascorbic acid (vitamin C) because, unlike rodents, they lack the enzyme L-gulonolactone oxidase (Gulo). Although the phenotype of lacking vitamin C in humans, named scurvy, has long been well known, information on the impact of lacking Gulo on the gene expression profiles of different tissues is still missing. This knowledge could improve our understanding of molecular pathways in which Gulo may be involved. Recently, we discovered a deletion that includes all 12 exons in the gene for Gulo in the sfx mouse, characterized by spontaneous bone fractures. We report here the initial analysis of the impact of the Gulo gene deletion on the murine gene expression profiles in the liver, femur and kidney.

Population size and phenotypic measurement are two key factors determining the detection power of quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping. We evaluated how these two controllable factors quantitatively affect the detection of QTL and their localization using a large F2 murine mapping population and found that three main points emerged from this study. One finding was that the sensitivity of QTL detection significantly decreased as the population size decreased. The decrease in the percentage logarithm of the odd score (LOD score, which is a statistical measure of the likelihood of two loci being lied near each other on a chromosome) can be estimated using the formula 1 - n/N, where n is the smaller and N the larger population size. This empirical formula has several practical implications in QTL mapping. We also found that a population size of 300 seems to be a threshold for the detection of QTL and their localization, which challenges the small population sizes commonly-used in published studies, in excess of 60% of which cite population sizes <300. In addition, it seems that the precision of phenotypic measurement has a limited capacity to affect detection power, which means that quantitative traits that cannot be measured precisely can also be used in QTL mapping for the detection of major QTL.