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Microorganisms May 2024Soil bacteria are an important part of the forest ecosystem, and they play a crucial role in driving energy flow and material circulation. Currently, many uncertainties...
Soil bacteria are an important part of the forest ecosystem, and they play a crucial role in driving energy flow and material circulation. Currently, many uncertainties remain about how the composition and distribution patterns of bacterial communities change along altitude gradients, especially in forest ecosystems with strong altitude gradients in climate, vegetation, and soil properties. Based on dynamic site monitoring of the Baiyun Mountain Forest National Park (33°38'-33°42' N, 111°47'-111°51' E), this study used Illumina technology to sequence 120 soil samples at the site and explored the spatial distribution mechanisms and ecological processes of soil bacteria under different altitude gradients. Our results showed that the composition of soil bacterial communities varied significantly between different altitude gradients, affecting soil bacterial community building by influencing the balance between deterministic and stochastic processes; in addition, bacterial communities exhibited broader ecological niche widths and a greater degree of stochasticity under low-altitude conditions, implying that, at lower altitudes, community assembly is predominantly influenced by stochastic processes. Light was the dominant environmental factor that influenced variation in the entire bacterial community as well as other taxa across different altitude gradients. Moreover, changes in the altitude gradient could cause significant differences in the diversity and community composition of bacterial taxa. Our study revealed significant differences in bacterial community composition in the soil under different altitude gradients. The bacterial communities at low elevation gradients were mainly controlled by stochasticity processes, and bacterial community assembly was strongly influenced by deterministic processes at middle altitudes. Furthermore, light was an important environmental factor that affects differences. This study revealed that the change of altitude gradient had an important effect on the development of the soil bacterial community and provided a theoretical basis for the sustainable development and management of soil bacteria.
PubMed: 38930416
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061034 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jun 2024spp. and are two prevalent zoonotic intestinal parasites that can cause severe diarrhea and intestinal diseases in humans and many animals. Black goat () farming is...
spp. and are two prevalent zoonotic intestinal parasites that can cause severe diarrhea and intestinal diseases in humans and many animals. Black goat () farming is increasingly important in China due to the remarkable adaptability, high reproductive performance, rapid growth rate, and significant economic value of black goats. A number of studies have indicated that black goats are the potential reservoir of multiple zoonotic protozoans in China; however, the prevalence and zoonotic status of and spp. in black goats in Shanxi Province is still unknown. Thus, a total of 1200 fecal samples of black goats were collected from several representative regions at different altitudes in Shanxi Province and were examined for the presence and genotypes of and spp. by amplifying the beta-giardin (), glutamate dehydrogenase (), and triosephosphate isomerase () loci of and SSU rRNA of spp. using PCR and sequence analysis methods, respectively. The overall prevalence of and spp. in black goats in Shanxi Province were 7.5% and 3.5%, respectively. Two assemblages (B and E) of and four subtypes (ST5, ST10, ST14, and ST30) of spp. were identified, with assemblage E and ST10 as the prevalent genotype and subtype in black goats, respectively. One novel multilocus genotype (MLG) was identified in MLG-E and was designated as MLG-E12. For both and spp., the prevalence was significantly related to the region and age groups ( < 0.05). This is the first report on the prevalence of and spp. in black goats in Shanxi Province. These results not only provide baseline data for the prevention and control of both parasites in black goats in Shanxi Province, but also enhance our understanding of the genetic composition and zoonotic potential of these two parasites.
PubMed: 38929427
DOI: 10.3390/ani14121808 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Hydroalcoholic extracts from Malbec and Torrontés wine pomaces ( L.) originating from the high-altitude vineyards of Argentina's Calchaquí Valleys were characterized....
Exploring the Phytochemical Composition and the Bioactive Properties of Malbec and Torrontés Wine Pomaces from the Calchaquíes Valleys (Argentina) for Their Sustainable Exploitation.
Hydroalcoholic extracts from Malbec and Torrontés wine pomaces ( L.) originating from the high-altitude vineyards of Argentina's Calchaquí Valleys were characterized. Total phenolics, hydroxycinnamic acids, orthodiphenols, anthocyanins, non-flavonoid phenolics, total flavonoids, flavones/flavonols, flavanones/dihydroflavonols, and tannins were quantified through spectrophotometric methods, with the Malbec extract exhibiting higher concentrations in most of phytochemical groups when compared to Torrontés. HPLC-DAD identified more than 30 phenolic compounds in both extracts. Malbec displayed superior antiradical activity (ABTS cation, nitric oxide, and superoxide anion radicals), reduction power (iron, copper, and phosphomolybdenum), hypochlorite scavenging, and iron chelating ability compared to Torrontés. The cytotoxicity assessments revealed that Torrontés affected the viability of HT29-MTX and Caco-2 colon cancer cells by 70% and 50%, respectively, at the highest tested concentration (1 mg/mL). At the same time, both extracts did not demonstrate acute toxicity in or in red blood cell assays at 500 µg/mL. Both extracts inhibited the lipoxygenase enzyme (IC: 154.7 and 784.7 µg/mL for Malbec and Torrontés), with Malbec also reducing the tyrosinase activity (IC: 89.9 µg/mL), and neither inhibited the xanthine oxidase. The substantial phenolic content and diverse biological activities in the Calchaquí Valleys' pomaces underline their potentialities to be valorized for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.
PubMed: 38928737
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121795 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024During the adaptive evolution of animals, the host and its gut microbiota co-adapt to different elevations. Currently, there are few reports on the rumen...
During the adaptive evolution of animals, the host and its gut microbiota co-adapt to different elevations. Currently, there are few reports on the rumen microbiota-hepato-intestinal axis of Tibetan sheep at different altitudes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the regulatory effect of rumen microorganism-volatile fatty acids (VFAs)-VFAs transporter gene interactions on the key enzymes and genes related to gluconeogenesis in Tibetan sheep. The rumen fermentation parameters, rumen microbial densities, liver gluconeogenesis activity and related genes were determined and analyzed using gas chromatography, RT-qPCR and other research methods. Correlation analysis revealed a reciprocal relationship among rumen microflora-VFAs-hepatic gluconeogenesis in Tibetan sheep at different altitudes. Among the microbiota, (), (), and () were significantly correlated with propionic acid ( < 0.05), while propionic acid was significantly correlated with the transport genes monocarboxylate transporter 4 () and anion exchanger 2 () ( < 0.05). Propionic acid was significantly correlated with key enzymes such as pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvic acid carboxylase and glucose (Glu) in the gluconeogenesis pathway ( < 0.05). Additionally, the expressions of these genes were significantly correlated with those of the related genes, namely, forkhead box protein O1 () and mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 () ( < 0.05). The results showed that rumen microbiota densities differed at different altitudes, and the metabolically produced VFA contents differed, which led to adaptive changes in the key enzyme activities of gluconeogenesis and the expressions of related genes.
Topics: Animals; Gluconeogenesis; Sheep; Rumen; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Liver; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Tibet; Altitude; Adaptation, Physiological; Fermentation
PubMed: 38928432
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126726 -
Biology Jun 2024, as one of the Traditional Chinese Medicinal materials, possesses a variety of pharmacological activities and high medicinal value. However, in recent years, the wild...
, as one of the Traditional Chinese Medicinal materials, possesses a variety of pharmacological activities and high medicinal value. However, in recent years, the wild resources of have been severely depleted due to global climate change and human activities, and artificial cultivation faces problems such as unstable yield and active ingredient content. This poses a serious obstacle to the development and utilization of its resources. Therefore, this experiment took as the research object and used 894 distribution records of and 36 climatic environmental factors, using the MaxEnt model and GIS technology to explore the main climatic factors affecting the distribution of . Additionally, by utilizing the principles of ecological niche theory, the potential suitable distribution regions of across past, present, and future timelines were predicted, which can ascertain the dynamics of its spatial distribution patterns and the trend of centroid migration. The results indicate that the main environmental factors affecting the geographical distribution of are solar radiation in April (Srad4), solar radiation in September (Srad9), mean temperature of driest quarter (Bio9), solar radiation in November (Srad11), annual mean temperature (Bio1), and annual precipitation (Bio12). Under future climate scenarios, there is a remarkable trend of expansion in the suitable distribution areas of . The centroid migration indicates a trend of migration towards the northwest direction and high-altitude areas. These results can provide a scientific basis for formulating conservation and sustainable use management strategies for resources.
PubMed: 38927332
DOI: 10.3390/biology13060452 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Coccinella transversoguttata is an important predatory beetle in Asia and America. Currently, few studies have investigated C. transversoguttata in China especially in...
Coccinella transversoguttata is an important predatory beetle in Asia and America. Currently, few studies have investigated C. transversoguttata in China especially in the Tibetan plateau. In this study, full-length 16 s rRNA sequencing and qPCR experiment were performed on eight C. transversoguttata populations collected from Tibet to analyze their bacterial communities and bacteria abundance. In summary, our results revealed the microbial compositions, diversities and bacterial titers in the bacterial communities in C. transversoguttata populations in the Tibetan plateau. In future, there is a need to explore the differences in microbiota among various C. transversoguttata populations collected from different locations. These results add to our understanding of the complex bacterial communities of C. transversoguttata and their utilization as potential biocontrol factors.
Topics: Tibet; Animals; Bacteria; Coleoptera; Microbiota; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Phylogeny; Biodiversity
PubMed: 38926503
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65446-x -
Emergency Medicine Clinics of North... Aug 2024Altitude-related illness occurs as a result of inadequate acclimatization. The mainstay of prevention is a slow, graded ascent profile which gives the body time to... (Review)
Review
Altitude-related illness occurs as a result of inadequate acclimatization. The mainstay of prevention is a slow, graded ascent profile which gives the body time to respond to a low-oxygen environment. The diagnosis of these conditions is often difficult in resource-limited environments, so history and a physical exam are key in identifying patients who will require descent and evacuation. Treatment modalities such as supplemental oxygen, portable hyperbaric chambers, and medications, are all temporizing measures until the patient can be safely evacuated to a lower elevation.
Topics: Humans; Altitude Sickness; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Altitude; Mountaineering
PubMed: 38925772
DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2024.02.013 -
Sleep Medicine Jun 2024Both sleep disturbance and anxiety are common problems that significantly affect human health, but little is known about their causal relationship. The aim of this study...
BACKGROUND
Both sleep disturbance and anxiety are common problems that significantly affect human health, but little is known about their causal relationship. The aim of this study was to explore the causal relationship between them with a large sample of community-dwelling adults included.
METHODS
Data for this study were extracted from the baseline survey of West China Natural Population Cohort Study (WCNPCS) and follow-up in the following year. The sleep quality was assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and anxiety was screened using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). Age, gender, educational level, marital status, smoking status, drinking status, depressive symptoms, loneliness and chronic diseases were taken as covariant factors. Logistic regression and cross-lagged models were used for data analyses.
RESULTS
A total of 16699 participants (67.5 % females) were enrolled, with the average age of participants being 57.3 ± 12.7 years. A total of 40.50 % of participants experienced poor sleep quality at baseline and 40.52 % at follow-up. The prevalence of anxiety was 7.58 % at baseline and 4.62 % at follow-up. The results showed that the risk of developing anxiety in individuals with sleep disturbance at baseline was 1.89 times higher than those without (95%CI = 1.43-2.48). Similarly, anxiety increased the risk of developing sleep disturbance by 1.20-fold (95%CI = 1.03-1.39). These results were further supported by the cross-lagged panel models.
CONCLUSION
Sleep disturbance and anxiety are mutually causal, and the effect of poor sleep on anxiety seems to be more significant. Timely interventions targeting sleep may help to break the vicious circle between sleep disturbance and anxiety symptoms, and improve the quality of life.
PubMed: 38924831
DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2024.06.022 -
Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part... Jun 2024Preparation for oxidative stress (POS) has been widely reported in animals under controlled laboratory conditions, but whether this phenomenon is visible in animals...
Preparation for oxidative stress (POS) has been widely reported in animals under controlled laboratory conditions, but whether this phenomenon is visible in animals under natural conditions remains to be explored. Altitudinal gradients provide a good opportunity to address this question, since environmental conditions become more hostile with increasing altitude. Here, we investigated the levels of oxidative stress, oxidative damage, and antioxidant defenses in Chinese toads (Bufo gargarizans) along an altitudinal gradient (50 m, 1200 m, 2300 m, 3400 m above sea level). The results show that changing altitude led to a significantly lower ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione in liver, with a higher value at 50 m. This ratio in muscle tissues did not differ significantly between altitudes of 50 m, 2300 m, and 3400 m. However, reduced glutathione content increased significantly along the altitude, with higher values in liver at 2300 m and higher values in skeletal muscle at 3400 m. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content in liver did not change significantly with increasing altitude. Brain and muscle tissues showed a higher MDA content at 50 m than the other three altitudes. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase, as well as total antioxidant capacity, also displayed tissue-specific upregulation in heart, skeletal muscle, and brain, but all of these antioxidant enzymes except for glutathione-S-transferase were significantly reduced in liver along the altitudinal gradient. In summary, environmental factors at higher altitude did not lead to higher levels of oxidative stress and oxidative damage in B. gargarizans, mainly due to stronger antioxidant defenses. This study corroborates the occurrence of POS in high-altitude toads living under field conditions and contributes to revealing the biochemical adaptations to extreme environments at higher altitude.
PubMed: 38924686
DOI: 10.1002/jez.2842 -
The Journal of Physiology Jun 2024During sea-level exercise, blood flow through intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses (IPAVA) in humans without a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is negatively correlated...
During sea-level exercise, blood flow through intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses (IPAVA) in humans without a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is negatively correlated with pulmonary pressure. Yet, it is unknown whether the superior exercise capacity of Tibetans well adapted to living at high altitude is the result of lower pulmonary pressure during exercise in hypoxia, and whether their cardiopulmonary characteristics are significantly different from lowland natives of comparable ancestry (e.g. Han Chinese). We found a 47% PFO prevalence in male Tibetans (n = 19) and Han Chinese (n = 19) participants. In participants without a PFO (n = 10 each group), we measured heart structure and function at rest and peak oxygen uptake ( ), peak power output ( ), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), blood flow through IPAVA and cardiac output ( ) at rest and during recumbent cycle ergometer exercise at 760 Torr (SL) and at 410 Torr (ALT) barometric pressure in a pressure chamber. Tibetans achieved a higher than Han, and a higher at ALT without differences in heart rate, stroke volume or . Blood flow through IPAVA was generally similar between groups. Increases in PASP and total pulmonary resistance at ALT were comparable between the groups. There were no differences in the slopes of PASP plotted as a function of during exercise. In those without PFO, our data indicate that the superior aerobic exercise capacity of Tibetans over Han Chinese is independent of cardiopulmonary features and more probably linked to differences in local muscular oxygen extraction. KEY POINTS: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) prevalence was 47% in Tibetans and Han Chinese living at 2 275 m. Subjects with PFO were excluded from exercise studies. Compared to Han Chinese, Tibetans had a higher peak workload with acute compression to sea level barometric pressure (SL) and acute decompression to 5000 m altitude (ALT). Comprehensive cardiac structure and function at rest were not significantly different between Han Chinese and Tibetans. Tibetans and Han had similar blood flow through intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses (IPAVA) during exercise at SL. Peak pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and total pulmonary resistance were different between SL and ALT, with significantly increased PASP for Han compared to Tibetans at ALT. No differences were observed between groups at acute SL and ALT.
PubMed: 38924564
DOI: 10.1113/JP286303