Search

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of ultrasound-based deep learning (DL) models in distinguishing breast phyllodes tumours (PTs) from fibroadenomas (FAs) and their clinical utility in assisting radiologists with varying diagnostic experiences. Methods: We retrospectively collected 1180 ultrasound images from 539 patients (247 PTs and 292 FAs). Five DL network models with different structures were trained and validated using nodule regions annotated by radiologists on breast ultrasound images. DL models were trained using the methods of transfer learning and 3-fold cross-validation. The model demonstrated the best evaluation index in the 3-fold cross-validation was selected for comparison with radiologists' diagnostic decisions. Two-round reader studies were conducted to investigate the value of DL model in assisting 6 radiologists with different levels of experience. Results: Upon testing, Xception model demonstrated the best diagnostic performance (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve: 0.87; 95% CI, 0.81-0.92), outperforming all radiologists (all P < .05). Additionally, the DL model enhanced the diagnostic performance of radiologists. Accuracy demonstrated improvements of 4%, 4%, and 3% for senior, intermediate, and junior radiologists, respectively. Conclusions: The DL models showed superior predictive abilities compared to experienced radiologists in distinguishing breast PTs from FAs. Utilizing the model led to improved efficiency and diagnostic performance for radiologists with different levels of experience (6-25 years of work). Advances in knowledge: We developed and validated a DL model based on the largest available dataset to assist in diagnosing PTs. This model has the potential to allow radiologists to discriminate 2 types of breast tumours which are challenging to identify with precision and accuracy, and subsequently to make more informed decisions about surgical plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of ultrasound-based deep learning (DL) models in distinguishing breast phyllodes tumours (PTs) from fibroadenomas (FAs) and their clinical utility in assisting radiologists with varying diagnostic experiences. Methods: We retrospectively collected 1180 ultrasound images from 539 patients (247 PTs and 292 FAs). Five DL network models with different structures were trained and validated using nodule regions annotated by radiologists on breast ultrasound images. DL models were trained using the methods of transfer learning and 3-fold cross-validation. The model demonstrated the best evaluation index in the 3-fold cross-validation was selected for comparison with radiologists' diagnostic decisions. Two-round reader studies were conducted to investigate the value of DL model in assisting 6 radiologists with different levels of experience. Results: Upon testing, Xception model demonstrated the best diagnostic performance (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve: 0.87; 95% CI, 0.81-0.92), outperforming all radiologists (all P < .05). Additionally, the DL model enhanced the diagnostic performance of radiologists. Accuracy demonstrated improvements of 4%, 4%, and 3% for senior, intermediate, and junior radiologists, respectively. Conclusions: The DL models showed superior predictive abilities compared to experienced radiologists in distinguishing breast PTs from FAs. Utilizing the model led to improved efficiency and diagnostic performance for radiologists with different levels of experience (6-25 years of work). Advances in knowledge: We developed and validated a DL model based on the largest available dataset to assist in diagnosing PTs. This model has the potential to allow radiologists to discriminate 2 types of breast tumours which are challenging to identify with precision and accuracy, and subsequently to make more informed decisions about surgical plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer is a significant health concern worldwide, with metastatic CRC (mCRC) presenting a particularly challenging prognosis. The FRESCO-2 trial highlighted the potential of fruquintinib in heavily pretreated mCRC patients. Aim: Given the recent changes in drug pricing in China and the evolving mCRC treatments, this study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of fruquintinib in the context of current Chinese healthcare standards. Method: This study utilized data from the FRESCO-2 trial, incorporating a partitioned-survival model to simulate three health states: Progression-Free Survival, Progressive Disease, and death. Costs and utility values were derived from published literature and the FRESCO-2 trial. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the base-case result and to understand the impact of various parameters on the ICER. Results: The base-case analysis revealed a total cost of $11,089.05 for the fruquintinib group and $5,374.48 for the placebo group. The overall QALYs were higher in the fruquintinib group (0.61 QALYs) compared to the placebo group (0.43 QALYs). The ICER was calculated to be $31,747.67 per QALY. Sensitivity analyses identified the utility of progression-free survival, the cost of fruquintinib, and the costs of best supportive care as significant determinants of ICER. Conclusion: Fruquintinib emerges as a promising therapeutic option for refractory mCRC. However, its cost-effectiveness depends on selected willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold. While the drug's ICER surpasses the WTP based on China's 2022 GDP per capita, it remains below the threshold set at three times the national GDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) immobilization (Nim, including microbial N assimilation) and plant N uptake (PNU) are the two most important pathways of N retention in soils. The ratio of Nim to PNU (hereafter Nim:PNU ratio) generally reflects the degree of N limitation for plant growth in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the key factors driving the pattern of Nim:PNU ratio across global ecosystems remain unclear. Here, using a global data set of 1018 observations from 184 studies, we examined the relative importance of mycorrhizal associations, climate, plant, and soil properties on the Nim:PNU ratio across terrestrial ecosystems. Our results show that mycorrhizal fungi type (arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi) in combination with soil inorganic N mainly explain the global variation in the Nim:PNU ratio in terrestrial ecosystems. In AM fungi‐associated ecosystems, the relationship between Nim and PNU displays a weaker negative correlation (r = −.06, p <.001), whereas there is a stronger positive correlation (r =.25, p <.001) in EM fungi‐associated ecosystems. Our meta‐analysis thus suggests that the AM‐associated plants display a weak interaction with soil microorganisms for N absorption, while EM‐associated plants cooperate with soil microorganisms. Furthermore, we find that the Nim:PNU ratio for both AM‐ and EM‐associated ecosystems gradually converge around a stable value (13.8 ± 0.5 for AM‐ and 12.1 ± 1.2 for EM‐associated ecosystems) under high soil inorganic N conditions. Our findings highlight the dependence of plant–microbial interaction for N absorption on both plant mycorrhizal association and soil inorganic N, with the stable convergence of the Nim:PNU ratio under high soil N conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DJ‐1, also known as Parkinson's disease protein 7 (Park7), is a multifunctional protein that regulates oxidative stress and mitochondrial function. Dysfunction of DJ‐1 is implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with an increased risk of PD. Here we show that homocysteine thiolactone (HTL), a reactive thioester of homocysteine (Hcy), covalently modifies DJ‐1 on the lysine 182 (K182) residue in an age‐dependent manner. The N‐homocysteinylation (N‐hcy) of DJ‐1 abolishes its neuroprotective effect against oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, exacerbating cell toxicity. Blocking the N‐hcy of DJ‐1 restores its protective effect. These results indicate that the N‐hcy of DJ‐1 abolishes its neuroprotective effect and promotes the progression of PD. Inhibiting the N‐hcy of DJ‐1 may exert neuroprotective effect against PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that aboveground productivity usually increases with precipitation. However, how belowground carbon (C) processes respond to changes in precipitation remains elusive, although belowground net primary productivity (BNPP) represents more than one-half of NPP and soil stores the largest terrestrial C in the biosphere. This paper reviews the patterns of belowground C processes (BNPP and soil C) in response to changes in precipitation from transect studies, manipulative experiments, modeling and data integration and synthesis. The results suggest the possible existence of nonlinear patterns of BNPP and soil C in response to changes in precipitation, which is largely different from linear response for aboveground productivity. C allocation, root turnover time and species composition may be three key processes underlying mechanisms of the nonlinear responses to changes in precipitation for belowground C processes. In addition, microbial community structure and long-term ecosystem processes (e.g. mineral assemblage, soil texture, aggregate stability) may also affect patterns of belowground C processes in response to changes in precipitation. At last, we discuss implications and future perspectives for potential nonlinear responses of belowground C processes to changes in precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to propose a deep learning (DL)–based framework for identifying the composition of thyroid nodules and assessing their malignancy risk. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study using ultrasound images from four hospitals. Convolutional neural network (CNN) models were constructed to classify ultrasound images of thyroid nodules into solid and non-solid, as well as benign and malignant. A total of 11,201 images of 6784 nodules were used for training, validation, and testing. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) was employed as the primary evaluation index. Results: The models had AUCs higher than 0.91 in the benign and malignant grading of solid thyroid nodules, with the Inception-ResNet AUC being the highest at 0.94. In the test set, the best algorithm for identifying benign and malignant thyroid nodules had a sensitivity of 0.88, and a specificity of 0.86. In the human vs. DL test set, the best algorithm had a sensitivity of 0.93, and a specificity of 0.86. The Inception-ResNet model performed better than the senior physicians (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the optimal model based on the external test set were 0.90 and 0.75, respectively. Conclusions: This research demonstrates that CNNs can assist thyroid nodule diagnosis and reduce the rate of unnecessary fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Clinical relevance statement: High-resolution ultrasound has led to increased detection of thyroid nodules. This results in unnecessary fine-needle aspiration and anxiety for patients whose nodules are benign. Deep learning can solve these problems to some extent. Key Points: • Thyroid solid nodules have a high probability of malignancy. • Our models can improve the differentiation between benign and malignant solid thyroid nodules. • The differential performance of one model was superior to that of senior radiologists. Applying this could reduce the rate of unnecessary fine-needle aspiration of solid thyroid nodules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Thermo‐sensitive genic male sterile (TGMS) lines are the core of two‐line hybrid rice (Oryza sativa). However, elevated or unstable critical sterility‐inducing temperatures (CSITs) of TGMS lines are bottlenecks that restrict the development of two‐line hybrid rice. However, the genes and molecular mechanisms controlling CSIT remain unknown.Here, we report the CRITICAL STERILITY‐INDUCING TEMPERATURE 2 (CSIT2) that encodes a really interesting new gene (RING) type E3 ligase, controlling the CSIT of thermo‐sensitive male sterility 5 (tms5)‐based TGMS lines through ribosome‐associated protein quality control (RQC).CSIT2 binds to the large and small ribosomal subunits and ubiquitinates 80S ribosomes for dissociation, and may also ubiquitinate misfolded proteins for degradation. Mutation of CSIT2 inhibits the possible damage to ubiquitin system and protein translation, which allows more proteins such as catalases to accumulate for anther development and inhibits abnormal accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and premature programmed cell death (PCD) in anthers, partly rescuing male sterility and raised the CSIT of tms5‐based TGMS lines.These findings reveal a mechanism controlling CSIT and provide a strategy for solving the elevated or unstable CSITs of tms5‐based TGMS lines in two‐line hybrid rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homocysteine (Hcy) is an important metabolite in methionine metabolism. When the metabolic pathway of homocysteine is abnormal, it will accumulate in the body and eventually lead to hyperhomocysteinemia. In recent years, many studies have found that hyperhomocysteinemia is related to the occurrence and development of Parkinson's disease. This study reviews the roles of homocysteine in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and illustrates the harmful effects of hyperhomocysteinemia on Parkinson's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinsonism is a clinical syndrome that is caused by Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we report a patient who exhibited progressive parkinsonism, epilepsy, and cognitive impairment and was diagnosed with adult-onset neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (ANCLs). The patient carries a mutation (p.Leu116 del) in the DNAJC5 gene that encodes cysteine string protein (CSPα). Since the patient shows typical parkinsonism and loss of dopamine transporter in the striatum, we investigated the effect of wild-type and L116del mutant CSPα on the aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) and neurotoxicity in vitro. Overexpression of wild-type CSPα attenuated the phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and aggregation of α-syn induced by α-syn fibrils. Moreover, wild-type CSPα inhibits oxidative stress and cell apoptosis and rescues inefficient SNARE complex formation induced by α-syn fibrils in SH-SY5Y cells. However, these protective effects of CSPα were abolished by the L116del mutation. Collectively, these results indicate that L116 deletion in CSPα promotes α-syn pathology and neurotoxicity. Boosting CSPα may be therapeutically useful for treating synucleinopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an incurable X‐linked recessive genetic disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. Many researchers aim to restore truncated dystrophin via viral vectors. However, the low packaging capacity and immunogenicity of vectors have hampered their clinical application. Herein, we constructed four lentiviral vectors with truncated and sequence‐optimized dystrophin genes driven by muscle‐specific promoters. The four lentiviral vectors stably expressed mini‐dystrophin in C2C12 muscle cells in vitro. To estimate the treatment effect in vivo, we transferred the lentiviral vectors into neonatal C57BL/10ScSn‐Dmdmdx mice through local injection. The levels of modified dystrophin expression increased, and their distribution was also restored in treated mice. At the same time, they exhibited the restoration of pull force and a decrease in the number of mononuclear cells. The remissions lasted 3–6 months in vivo. Moreover, no integration sites of vectors were distributed into the oncogenes. In summary, this study preliminarily demonstrated the feasibility and safety of lentiviral vectors with mini‐dystrophin for DMD gene therapy and provided a new strategy to restore truncated dystrophin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endogenous reference genes play a crucial role in the qualitative and quantitative PCR detection of genetically modified crops. Currently, there are no systematic studies on the banana endogenous reference gene. In this study, the MaSPS1 gene was identified as a candidate gene through bioinformatics analysis. The conservation of this gene in different genotypes of banana was tested using PCR, and its specificity in various crops and fruits was also examined. Southern blot analysis showed that there is only one copy of MaSPS1 in banana. The limit of detection (LOD) test showed that the LOD of the conventional PCR method is approximately 20 copies. The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) method also exhibited high specificity, with a LOD of approximately 10 copies. The standard curve of the qPCR method met the quantitative requirements, with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1.14 × 10−2 ng—about 20 copies. Also, the qPCR method demonstrated good repeatability and stability. Hence, the above results indicate that the detection method established in this study has strong specificity, a low detection limit, and good stability. It provides a reliable qualitative and quantitative detection system for banana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To scrutinize the relationship between vitamin B2 consumption and cognitive function based on the NHANES database. Methods: This cross-sectional study included eligible older adults from the NHANES 2011–2014. Vitamin B2 intake was determined from dietary interview data for two 24-h periods. Cognitive function was evaluated through the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), Animal Fluency Test (AFT), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). The regression analyses were used to evaluate the association of vitamin B2 intake with cognitive performance. Stratified analyses based on gender, race, and body mass index (BMI) were conducted. Results: Higher vitamin B2 intake was correlated with higher scores on each test. As compared to the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of vitamin B2 intake was related to a 45.1-fold increase (P = 0.004) on the DSST test sores. Moreover, those who were males, non-Hispanic whites, or had a BMI of 18.5 to 30 kg/m2 had a stronger relationship between total vitamin B2 consumption and cognitive function. Conclusion: It's possible that older persons who consume more vitamin B2 have enhanced performance in some areas of cognitive function. To determine the causal link between vitamin B2 consumption and cognitive performance, further long-term research is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The accumulation and aggregation of α‐synuclein (α‐Syn) are characteristic of Parkinson's disease (PD). Epidemiological evidence indicates that hyperlipidemia is associated with an increased risk of PD. The levels of 27‐hydroxycholesterol (27‐OHC), a cholesterol oxidation derivative, are increased in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with PD. However, whether 27‐OHC plays a role in α‐Syn aggregation and propagation remains elusive. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether 27‐OHC regulates α‐Syn aggregation and propagation. Methods: Purified recombinant α‐Syn, neuronal cultures, and α‐Syn fibril‐injected mouse model of PD were treated with 27‐OHC. In addition, CYP27A1 knockout mice were used to investigate the effect of lowering 27‐OHC on α‐Syn pathology in vivo. Results: 27‐OHC accelerates the aggregation of α‐Syn and enhances the seeding activity of α‐Syn fibrils. Furthermore, the 27‐OHC‐modified α‐Syn fibrils localize to the mitochondria and induce mitochondrial dysfunction and neurotoxicity. Injection of 27‐OHC‐modified α‐Syn fibrils induces enhanced spread of α‐Syn pathology and dopaminergic neurodegeneration compared with pure α‐Syn fibrils. Similarly, subcutaneous administration of 27‐OHC facilitates the seeding of α‐Syn pathology. Genetic deletion of cytochrome P450 27A1 (CYP27A1), the enzyme that converts cholesterol to 27‐OHC, ameliorates the spread of pathologic α‐Syn, degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway, and motor impairments. These results indicate that the cholesterol metabolite 27‐OHC plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PD. Conclusions: 27‐OHC promotes the aggregation and spread of α‐Syn. Strategies aimed at inhibiting the CYP27A1‐27‐OHC axis may hold promise as a disease‐modifying therapy to halt the progression of α‐Syn pathology in PD. © 2023 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is a transmembrane protein that is predominantly expressed by microglia in the brain. The proteolytic shedding of TREM2 results in the release of soluble TREM2 (sTREM2), which is increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). It remains unknown whether sTREM2 regulates the pathogenesis of AD. Here we identified transgelin-2 (TG2) expressed on neurons as the receptor for sTREM2. The microglia-derived sTREM2 binds to TG2, induces RhoA phosphorylation at S188, and deactivates the RhoA-ROCK-GSK3β pathway, ameliorating tau phosphorylation. The sTREM2 (77-89) fragment, which is the minimal active sequence of sTREM2 to activate TG2, mimics the inhibitory effect of sTREM2 on tau phosphorylation. Overexpression of sTREM2 or administration of the active peptide rescues tau pathology and behavioral defects in the tau P301S transgenic mice. Together, these findings demonstrate that the sTREM2-TG2 interaction mediates the cross-talk between microglia and neurons. sTREM2 and its active peptide may be a potential therapeutic intervention for tauopathies including AD. In this study, the authors found that sTREM2 attenuates tau hyperphosphorylation by activating transgelin-2. They developed an active peptide that mimics the protective effect of sTREM2, which may be an innovative therapeutic intervention for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-line hybrid breeding can fully utilize heterosis in crops. In thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (TGMS) lines, low critical sterility-inducing temperature (CSIT) is vital to safeguard the production of two-line hybrid seeds in rice (Oryza sativa), but the molecular mechanism determining CSIT is unclear. Here, we report the cloning of CSIT1 , which encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and show that CSIT1 modulates the CSIT of thermo-sensitive genic male sterility 5 (tms5)-based TGMS lines through ribosome-associated quality control (RQC). Biochemical assays demonstrated that CSIT1 binds to the 80S ribosomes and ubiquitinates abnormal nascent polypeptides for degradation in the RQC process. Loss of CSIT1 function inhibits the possible damage of tms5 to the ubiquitination system and protein translation, resulting in enhanced accumulation of anther-related proteins such as catalase to suppress abnormal accumulation of reactive oxygen species and premature programmed cell death in the tapetum, thereby leading to a much higher CSIT in the tms5 -based TGMS lines. Taken together, our findings reveal a regulatory mechanism of CSIT, providing new insights into RQC and potential targets for future two-line hybrid breeding. This study shows that the E3 ubiquitin ligase CSIT1 ubiquitinates abnormal proteins by ribosome-associated quality control and affects the programmed cell death in the tapetum to regulate critical sterility-inducing temperature of thermo-sensitive genic male sterility in rice. The results reveals a regulatory mechanism of critical sterility-inducing temperature, providing new insights into ribosome-associated quality control and potential targets for two-line hybrid breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second-most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the aberrant deposition of α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation in neurons. Recent reports have shown that retinoic acid (RA) ameliorates motor deficits. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this article, we investigated the effects of RA on cellular and animal models of PD. We found that RA is beneficial for neuronal survival in PD-associated models. In α-Syn preformed fibrils-treated mice, RA administration relieved the formation of intracellular inclusions, dopaminergic neuronal loss, and behavioral deficits. α-Syn preformed fibrils-treated SH-SY5Y cells manifested decreased cell viability, apoptosis, α-Syn aggregation, and autophagy defects. All these negative phenomena were alleviated by RA. More importantly, RA could inhibit the neurotoxicity via inhibiting α-Syn preformed fibrils-induced STAT1-PARP1 signaling, which could also be antagonized by IFN-γ. In conclusion, RA could hinder α-Syn preformed fibrils-induced toxicity by inhibiting STAT1-PARP1 signaling. Thus, we present new insight into RA in PD management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Studies have revealed that a combination of crizotinib and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) could be an effective treatment option for patients with sensitizing EGFR mutations and de novo or acquired MET amplification. Until now, there have been few reports of the response in patients harboring three mutations. Case Presentation: A patient was diagnosed with advanced lung adenocarcinoma harboring EGFR Del19, L858R mutation and METex14. She received osimertinib, and repeated imaging revealed further tumor progression. Sixty-six days later, combined treatment with osimertinib and crizotinib was initiated. Unfortunately, the patient succumbed to death at home after 17 days. Conclusion: This report firstly provided a lung adenocarcinoma patient with two common EGFR mutations (Del19 and L858R) and METex14. Our case raises a reminder about the tolerance and safety of combination therapy, especially in older peoples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root exudates are an important pathway for plant–microbial interactions and are highly sensitive to climate change. However, how extreme drought affects root exudates and the main components, as well as species‐specific differences in response magnitude and direction, are poorly understood. In this study, root exudation rates of total carbon (C) and its components (e.g., sugar, organic acid, and amino acid) were measured under the control and extreme drought treatments (i.e., 70% throughfall reduction) by in situ collection of four tree species with different growth rates in a subtropical forest. We also quantified soil properties, root morphological traits, and mycorrhizal infection rates to examine the driving factors underlying variations in root exudation. Our results showed that extreme drought significantly decreased root exudation rates of total C, sugar, and amino acid by 17.8%, 30.8%, and 35.0%, respectively, but increased root exudation rate of organic acid by 38.6%, which were largely associated with drought‐induced changes in tree growth rates, root morphological traits, and mycorrhizal infection rates. Specifically, trees with relatively high growth rates were more responsive to drought for root exudation rates compared with those with relatively low growth rates, which were closely related to root morphological traits and mycorrhizal infection rates. These findings highlight the importance of plant growth strategy in mediating drought‐induced changes in root exudation rates. The coordinations among root exudation rates, root morphological traits, and mycorrhizal symbioses in response to drought could be incorporated into land surface models to improve the prediction of climate change impacts on rhizosphere C dynamics in forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is a major food crop in the world. Owing to the shortage of rural labor and the development of agricultural mechanization, direct seeding has become the main method of rice cultivation. At present, the main problems faced by direct seeding of rice are low whole seedling rate, serious weeds, and easy lodging of rice in the middle and late stages of growth. Along with the rapid development of functional genomics, the functions of a large number of genes have been confirmed, including seed vigor, low-temperature tolerance germination, low oxygen tolerance growth, early seedling vigor, early root vigor, resistance to lodging, and other functional genes related to the direct seeding of rice. A review of the related functional genes has not yet been reported. In this study, the genes related to direct seeding of rice are summarized to comprehensively understand the genetic basis and mechanism of action in direct seeding of rice and to lay the foundation for further basic theoretical research and breeding application research in direct seeding of rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aggregation of α‐synuclein plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Epidemiological evidence indicates that high level of homocysteine (Hcy) is associated with an increased risk of PD. However, the molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that homocysteine thiolactone (HTL), a reactive thioester of Hcy, covalently modifies α‐synuclein on the K80 residue. The levels of α‐synuclein K80Hcy in the brain are increased in an age‐dependent manner in the TgA53T mice, correlating with elevated levels of Hcy and HTL in the brain during aging. The N‐homocysteinylation of α‐synuclein stimulates its aggregation and forms fibrils with enhanced seeding activity and neurotoxicity. Intrastriatal injection of homocysteinylated α‐synuclein fibrils induces more severe α‐synuclein pathology and motor deficits when compared with unmodified α‐synuclein fibrils. Increasing the levels of Hcy aggravates α‐synuclein neuropathology in a mouse model of PD. In contrast, blocking the N‐homocysteinylation of α‐synuclein ameliorates α‐synuclein pathology and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. These findings suggest that the covalent modification of α‐synuclein by HTL promotes its aggregation. Targeting the N‐homocysteinylation of α‐synuclein could be a novel therapeutic strategy against PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical forests are among the most productive and vulnerable ecosystems in the planet. Several global forestation programs are aiming to plant millions of trees in tropical regions in the future decade. Mycorrhizal associations are known to largely influence forest soil carbon (C) stocks. However, to date, little is known on whether and how different tree mycorrhizal types affect soil respiration (Rs) and C stocks in tropical forests. In this study, we used a three-decade tropical common garden experiment, with three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and three ectomycorrhizal (EM) monocultures, to investigate the impacts of tree mycorrhizal type on Rs and soil C stocks. Associating biotic (e.g. root biomass, litter dynamic, soil microbes) and abiotic factors (e.g. microclimate) were also measured. Our results showed that AM stands supported significantly higher Rs and soil C stock, litter turnover rate and fine root biomass than EM stands. Further statistical analysis displayed that tree mycorrhizal type was the most important factor in regulating Rs and soil C stock compared with other biotic or abiotic factors. Moreover, we found that mycorrhizal type directly and indirectly affected Rs and soil C stocks via fine root biomass and litter dynamic, i.e. litter production, litter standing crop and litter turnover rate. Our findings highlight important effects of tree mycorrhizal type on forest C cycle, suggesting that planting AM tree species could contribute to promotion of soil C stock in tropical ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer remains the most common gynecologic malignancy, because of its chemotherapy resistance and relapse. Anlotinib, a new oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has shown encouraging antitumor activity in several preclinical and clinical trials, while its effect on ovarian cancer has not been reported. In this study, we investigated the antitumor activity and underlying mechanism of anlotinib in ovarian cancer. Cell viability was analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Migration was measured by wound-healing assay. The cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis rate were detected by flow cytometry. In vivo antitumor effect was analyzed in mouse ovarian carcinoma peritoneal metastasis model. We found that anlotinib inhibited the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells in a dose- and time- dependent manner by inducing G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, anlotinib upregulated the the phosphorylation of Histone H3, and expression of p21 protein in vitro. In addition, anlotinib inhibited the migration of ovarian cancer cells in vitro. Furthermore, anlotinib inhibited tumor growth by inhibiting cell proliferation and suppressing ovarian cancer angiogenesis in vivo. This study demonstrated the extraordinary anti-ovarian cancer effect of anlotinib, which may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants and microbes are the primary drivers in affecting the formation and accrual of soil organic carbon (SOC) for natural ecosystems. However, experimental evidence elucidating their underlying mechanisms for SOC accumulation remains elusive. Here, we quantified plant and microbial contributions to SOC accrual in successional subtropical forests by measuring leaf-, root-, and microbial biomarkers, root and leaf litter inputs, and microbial C decomposition. The long-term monitoring results showed that SOC accumulated rapidly at the early-successional stage, but changed little at the mid- and late-successional stages. SOC accrual rate was positively correlated with fine-root production and microbial C turnover, but negatively with annual litterfall. Biomarker data exhibited that the rapid SOC accumulation was jointly driven by root- and microbe-derived C inputs from the early- to mid-successional stages. In contrast, aboveground litterfall considerably contributed to soil C accrual from the mid- to late-successional stages compared to belowground processes, although SOC accumulation is low. Our study revealed the importance of root production and microbial anabolism in SOC accrual at the early stages of forest succession. Incorporating these effects of belowground C inputs on SOC formation and accumulation into earth system models might improve model performance and projection of long-term soil C dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass allocation in plants is fundamental for understanding and predicting terrestrial carbon storage. Yet, our knowledge regarding warming effects on root: shoot ratio (R/S) remains limited. Here, we present a meta-analysis encompassing more than 300 studies and including angiosperms and gymnosperms as well as different biomes (cropland, desert, forest, grassland, tundra, and wetland). The meta-analysis shows that average warming of 2.50 °C (median = 2 °C) significantly increases biomass allocation to roots with a mean increase of 8.1% in R/S. Two factors associate significantly with this response to warming: mean annual precipitation and the type of mycorrhizal fungi associated with plants. Warming-induced allocation to roots is greater in drier habitats when compared to shoots (+15.1% in R/S), while lower in wetter habitats (+4.9% in R/S). This R/S pattern is more frequent in plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, compared to ectomycorrhizal fungi. These results show that precipitation variability and mycorrhizal association can affect terrestrial carbon dynamics by influencing biomass allocation strategies in a warmer world, suggesting that climate change could influence belowground C sequestration. Biomass allocation in plants is fundamental for understanding and predicting terrestrial carbon storage. Here, the authors conduct a meta-analysis showing that warming effect on plant root:shoot is influenced by precipitation and the type of mycorrhizal fungi associated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is one of the most important components in the global carbon cycle, which is largely influenced by climate and plant traits. Although previous studies have examined the impacts of climatic factors (e.g., mean annual temperature (MAT) and precipitation (MAP)) or plant traits (e.g., leaf area index, leaf nitrogen) on DOC, the relative importance of climate and plant traits on DOC flux remains unclear on a global scale. In this study, we compiled 153 pairs of DOC observational data from 84 forest sites to explore the relative importance of climate and plant traits on DOC flux with a linear mixed model, variance partitioning, and random forest approaches. Our results showed that DOC fluxes from throughfall and the litter layer were higher in broadleaved forests than those in coniferous forests. Throughfall-DOC flux increased significantly with MAT and MAP in coniferous forests, but that from the litter layer showed no significant correlations with climate factors. In broadleaved forests, throughfall-DOC flux increased with potential evapotranspiration (PET), while that from the litter layer was positively correlated with MAT. Meanwhile, throughfall-DOC flux had negative relationships with specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen content (LN), and leaf phosphorus content (LP) in broadleaved forests, but it showed a positive correlation with SLA in coniferous forests. Litter-layer-DOC flux increased with LN in broadleaved forests, but this correlation was the opposite in coniferous forests. Using the variance partitioning approach, plant traits contributed to 29.0% and 76.4% of the variation of DOC from throughfall and litter layer, respectively, whereas climate only explained 19.1% and 8.3%, respectively. These results indicate that there is a more important contribution by plant traits than by climate in driving the spatial variability of global forest DOC flux, which may help enhance forest management as a terrestrial carbon sink in the future. Our findings suggest the necessity of incorporating plant traits into land surface models for improving predictions regarding the forest carbon cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long‐term contribution of global forest restoration to support multiple dimensions of biodiversity and ecosystem function remains largely illusive across contrasting climates and forest types. This hampers the capacity to predict the future of forest rewilding under changing global climates. Here, 120 studies are synthesized across five continents, and it is found that forest restoration promotes multiple dimensions of biodiversity and ecosystem function such as soil fertility, plant biomass, microbial habitat, and carbon sequestration across contrasting climates and forest types. Based on global relationship between stand age and soil organic carbon stock, planting 350 million hectares of forest under the UN Bonn Challenge can sequester >30 Gt soil C in the surface 20 cm over the next century. However, these findings also indicate that predicted increases in temperature and reductions in precipitation can constrain the positive effects of forest rewilding on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Further, important tradeoffs are found in very old forests, with considerable disconnection between biodiversity and ecosystem function. Together, these findings provide evidence of the importance of the multidimensional rewilding of forests, suggesting that on‐going climatic changes may dampen the expectations of the positive effects of forest restoration on biodiversity and ecosystem function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Introduction: Renal function impairment related to type 2 diabetes (T2DM) presents serious threat to public health. Previous studies suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor-B (VEGF-B) might contribute to renal injury. Therefore, this study investigated the association of serum VEGF-B level with the risk of renal function impairment in T2DM patients. Materials and Methods: Serum VEGF-B levels were measured in 213 patients with type 2 diabetes and 31 healthy participants. Participants with type 2 diabetes were further divided into a group of 112 participants with eGFR<90 mL/min/1.73m2 and 101 participants with eGFR≥ 90 mL/min/1.73m2. Clinical data were collected, and a binary logistic regression model was employed to test the association between potential predictors and eGFR. Results: Serum VEGF-B levels evaluated in type 2 diabetes patients compared with healthy controls. In patients with type 2 diabetes, serum VEGF-B level was positively correlated with triglyceride, serum creatinine and cystatin C while negatively correlated with HDL-C and eGFR. Binary logistic regression showed that serum VEGF-B level was an independent risk factor of eGFR<90 mL/min/1.73m2. Conclusions: Serum VEGF-B level is associated with renal function impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes and may be a potential drug target for diabetic kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital media, as a high-tech method, has gradually affected all aspects of social production, including artistic creation, in the information age. Contemporary painting art, as an important form of artistic expression, will inevitably be baptized by digital media in the tide of time. The color of digital media ushers in a new era in contemporary painting. The development of deep learning makes the research field of artificial intelligence move towards a deeper and more practical level. Among them, CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) has very important research value in image feature expression. The digitization of painting works is of great significance to the effective use of painting resources. The traditional image classification methods do not consider the subjective characteristics of painting works, and most of the features need to be extracted manually, resulting in the loss of detailed features. The research and design of image retrieval system in this paper is based on CNN. One is to extract the features of the image using convolution neural network. The scale of image data sets in the resource database is still small. For the field of deep learning research, data sets can only be regarded as small-scale data sets. Combined with the actual situation, the convolution neural network model is trained, and the better convolution neural network structure Artnet is selected through experimental analysis. It is a seven-layer network structure including two volume layers, two pool layers, and a full connection layer. The second is to design and implement a practical image retrieval system based on Artnet and effectively integrate it with other systems of the project as an important function of the project construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Climate warming and biodiversity loss both alter plant productivity, yet we lack an understanding of how biodiversity regulates the responses of ecosystems to warming. In this study, we examine how plant diversity regulates the responses of grassland productivity to experimental warming using meta‐analytic techniques. Location: Global. Major taxa studied: Grassland ecosystems. Methods: Our meta‐analysis is based on warming responses of 40 different plant communities obtained from 20 independent studies on grasslands across five continents. Results: Our results show that plant diversity and its responses to warming were the most important factors regulating the warming effects on plant productivity, among all the factors considered (plant diversity, climate and experimental settings). Specifically, warming increased plant productivity when plant diversity (indicated by effective number of species) in grasslands was lower than 10, whereas warming decreased plant productivity when plant diversity was greater than 10. Moreover, the structural equation modelling showed that the magnitude of warming enhanced plant productivity by increasing the performance of dominant plant species in grasslands of diversity lower than 10. The negative effects of warming on productivity in grasslands with plant diversity greater than 10 were partly explained by diversity‐induced decline in plant dominance. Main conclusions: Our findings suggest that the positive or negative effect of warming on grassland productivity depends on how biodiverse a grassland is. This may mainly be due to differences in how warming may affect plant dominance and subsequent shifts in interspecific interactions in grasslands of different plant diversity levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic lymphangioma (CL) is a rare benign tumor that mainly occurs in the neck and axilla and usually occurs in children, whereas lymphangiosarcoma (LAS) is a rare invasive tumor, usually secondary to chronic lymphedema caused by various causes, with a rare malignant transformation from CL. We presented the case of a 63-year-old woman who underwent four surgical excisions for multiple recurrence of CL in the right groin. The changes of imaging and pathological examination revealed the unusual process of its gradual malignant transformation into LAS. We followed up the patient for 16 years, and she eventually died of LAS complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical studies have shown similarities in the genetic background and biological functional characteristics between Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and that HT may increase risks of PTC. Here, we set to determine the gene expression specificity of HT and PTC by screening related genes or co-expressed genes and exploring their genetic correlation. Referencing the Oncomine database, HT-related genes were discovered to be expressed in many different types of thyroid cancer, such as TSHR that is highly expressed in thyroid cancer. An in-depth genetic analysis and verification of 35 cancer and paracancerous tissue pairs from patients with thyroid cancer, and 35 tissues and blood cells pairs from patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis was conducted. Gene chip technology research showed that TSHR, BACH2, FOXE1, RNASET2, CTLA4, PTPN22, IL2RA and other HT-related genes were all expressed in PTC, in which TSHR was significantly over-expressed in PTC patients sensitive to radioactive iodine therapy, while BACH2 was significantly under-expressed in these patients. The biologically significant candidate Tag SNP highlighted from HT-related genes was screened by the high-throughput detection method. Somatic mutations in patients with HT and PTC were detected by target region capture technique, and 75 mutations were found in patients with HT and PTC. The upstream regulatory factors of the different genes shared by HT and PTC were analyzed based on Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), and it was found that HIF-1α and PD-L1 could be used as important upstream regulatory signal molecules. These results provide a basis for screening key diagnostic genes of PTC by highlighting the relationship between some HT-related genes and their polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of PTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both biochar and nitrogen (N) addition have been proposed for enhancing plant productivity and increasing carbon (C) sequestration. Although numerous studies have been conducted to examine responses of soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes to biochar or N addition, biochar is often co‐applied with N fertilizer and the interactive effects of the two factors still remain unclear. In this study, we performed a meta‐analysis of manipulative experiments with 267 two‐factor observations to quantify the main and interactive effects of biochar and N addition on soil GHG fluxes at a global scale. Our results showed that biochar addition significantly increased soil CO2 emission by 10.1%, but decreased N2O emission by 14.7%. Meanwhile, N addition increased both soil CO2 and N2O emissions by 11.6% and 288%, respectively. The combination of biochar and N addition also exhibited significant positive effect on CO2 (+18.0%) and N2O (+148%) emissions, but there were non‐significant changes in CH4 fluxes. Consequently, antagonistic interaction between biochar and N addition was observed in soil GHG fluxes and their global warming potential (GWP), except for CH4 uptake showing an additive interaction. This synthesis highlights the importance of the interactive effects between biochar and N addition, providing a quantitative basis to develop sustainable strategies toward widespread application of biochar to preserve cropping system and mitigate climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: A dwarfism gene LacDWARF1 was mapped by combined BSA-Seq and comparative genomics analyses to a 65.4 kb physical genomic region on chromosome 05. Dwarf architecture is one of the most important traits utilized in Cucurbitaceae breeding because it saves labor and increases the harvest index. To our knowledge, there has been no prior research about dwarfism in the sponge gourd. This study reports the first dwarf mutant WJ209 with a decrease in cell size and internodes. A genetic analysis revealed that the mutant phenotype was controlled by a single recessive gene, which is designated Lacdwarf1 (Lacd1). Combined with bulked segregate analysis and next-generation sequencing, we quickly mapped a 65.4 kb region on chromosome 5 using F2 segregation population with InDel and SNP polymorphism markers. Gene annotation revealed that Lac05g019500 encodes a gibberellin 3β-hydroxylase (GA3ox) that functions as the most likely candidate gene for Lacd1. DNA sequence analysis showed that there is an approximately 4 kb insertion in the first intron of Lac05g019500 in WJ209. Lac05g019500 is transcribed incorrectly in the dwarf mutant owing to the presence of the insertion. Moreover, the bioactive GAs decreased significantly in WJ209, and the dwarf phenotype could be restored by exogenous GA3 treatment, indicating that WJ209 is a GA-deficient mutant. All these results support the conclusion that Lac05g019500 is the Lacd1 gene. In addition, RNA-Seq revealed that many genes, including those related to plant hormones, cellular process, cell wall, membrane and response to stress, were significantly altered in WJ209 compared with the wild type. This study will aid in the use of molecular marker-assisted breeding in the dwarf sponge gourd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To preliminarily identify three common benign parotid gland tumors: pleomorphic adenomas (PA), Warthin tumors (WT), and basal cell adenomas (BCA) by qualitative and quantitative analyses using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Methods: Preoperative images of parotid gland masses were analyzed, including 129 cases of ultrasonography (US) and color Doppler sonography (CDS) and 110 cases of qualitative and quantitative CEUS. The diagnosis was confirmed by postsurgical pathology outcomes. Results: PA presented low and heterogeneous enhancement and echo-free area, whereas most WT and BCA presented with high and relatively homogeneous enhancement. Compared with WT and BCA groups, a "slow in" pattern was more common in the PA group and a "slow out" pattern was more frequently noted in the WT group than in the PA and BCA groups. The unique features of qualitative CEUS in the PA group enable distinguishing PA from the 2 other groups. The further distinction among the groups was made based on quantitative parameters of time-intensity curves (TICs), which revealed that the mean peak intensity (PI), mean transit time (MTT), the area under the curve (AUC), and time from peak to one half (HT) exhibited significant differences. ROC analysis was next applied to determine the optimal cutoff points to predict the diagnostic tendency among the groups. When the rising slope (RS) was >2.145, the possibility of BCA was greater than WT. Conclusions: CEUS ultrasound is of significant value in the differential diagnosis of the 3 common benign parotid gland masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of aprepitant and its effect on the quality of life when added to standard antiemetic therapy as salvage therapy. Patients and methods: This is an open-label, noncomparative prospective phase II clinical trial. A total of 224 patients receiving initial moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) were enrolled. Patients received standard antiemetic treatment (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT3) antagonists + dexamethasone) in the first cycle. Patients failing to achieve a complete response (CR) during cycle 1 entered cycle 2 with the addition of aprepitant as salvage treatment. Results: Of the 224 patients eligible for cycle 1, 159 (71.0%, 95% CI 65.0–77.0) had a CR, and 65 patients with a noncomplete response (NCR) proceeded to cycle 2 to receive aprepitant-based salvage therapy. Then, 49 (75.4%, 95% CI 64.6–84.1) of these patients achieved a CR. The Functional Living Index-Emesis (FLIE) questionnaire showed that NCR patients in cycle 1 had an improved quality of life after receiving aprepitant-based salvage therapy in cycle 2 (cycle 1 and 2: 80.3 vs 114.0, P < 0.001). Failing to achieve a CR had a significant impact on the quality of life in both cycle 1 (FLIE score of NCR and CR patients: 80.3 vs 119.7, P < 0.001) and cycle 2 (FLIE score of NCR and CR patients: 88.3 vs 122.4, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The addition of aprepitant as salvage therapy for patients with gastrointestinal cancer is effective and has a positive effect on quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of droughts, with potential impacts on carbon (C) release from soil (i.e. soil respiration, Rs). Although numerous studies have investigated drought‐induced changes in Rs, how roots and the soil microbial community regulate responses of Rs to drought remains unclear.We conducted a 4‐year field experiment (2014–2017) with three treatments (i.e. 70% rainfall reduction, control and ambient) in a subtropical forest to examine effects of drought on Rs and its components [i.e. autotrophic (Ra) and heterotrophic respiration (Rh)] and explore the mechanisms underlying these effects.Drought significantly decreased Rs by 17% averaged over the 4 years, but it had no significant effect in the first experimental year. The decrease in Rs was mediated by soil fungi and fine root biomass. Fine root biomass was correlated negatively with Ra and Rs under drought, but positively in the control treatment. Furthermore, drought treatments increased physiological stress in the bacterial community. Structural equation model (SEM) analysis suggested that under drought conditions, microclimate affected Rs via its impact on fine root biomass and fungal biomass.Our results highlight the complex interactions between microclimate, roots and soil microbes in regulating Rs under drought in subtropical forest ecosystems. Incorporating these interactions into land surface models may improve predictions of climate change impacts on forest ecosystems. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a typical multisystem disease, characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands leading to glandular dysfunction. Multiple systemic manifestations occur in those of serious conditions, with different courses and outcomes. Its pathogenesis is complex, and its diagnosis and management are being constantly updated and improved. We have failed to have much progress in targeted immunotherapy for pSS, and as yet this is still based on empirical treatment. Many studies have tried to define pSS more accurately, to study its pathogenesis, to find effective treatment strategies, opening up new avenues for early diagnosis and precise management of pSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early breast cancer with one or two sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) may omit axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) if followed by radiotherapy. However, only less than one-third of the patients have positive non-SLNs and can truly benefit from radiotherapy. Before any regional treatment decision, the risk of non-SLN metastasis must be identified. The authors previously developed a predictive model for non-SLN involvement using CK19 mRNA and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) score in a training set. They designed a further study to evaluate the predictive effect using the model prospectively in a validation set of one or two involved SLNs. Methods: This study identified early breast cancer patients at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from July 2017 to June 2018. The CK19 mRNA tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and CEUS scores were collected before surgery. Patients with one or two involved SLNs were enrolled and underwent ALND. The estimated percentage of non-SLN involvement was calculated by the authors' model formula and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomogram. The false-negative rates, predictive accuracy, and area under curve (AUC) were compared between two predictive models. Results: The study enrolled 235 patients, and 35.36% (83/235) of them had non-SLN involvement. The authors' model had a false-negative rate of 6% and an accuracy of 94.9%. The AUC was 0.952 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.922–0.982), which was significantly higher than that of the MSKCC model at all three cutoff value levels. Conclusion: The authors' model, using CK19 mRNA and the CEUS score, showed the potential predictive value of non-SLNs before surgery for early breast cancer patients. Clinicaltrials Registry: NCT02992067, NCT03280134. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES) is known to cause severe psychiatric symptoms but is also a very rare clinical disease in which the specific aetiology is unknown. According to current reports, there are major causes of the disease, including viral or bacterial infection, epilepsy, anti-epileptic drug withdrawal, high-altitude cerebral oedema, and metabolic disorders such as hypoglycaemia and hypernatraemia. In this article, we report a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) who presented with RESLES.Case Presentation: A 34-year-old female patient who presented with fever and progression of disorder of consciousness was eventually diagnosed with RESLES based on brain imaging. Moreover, clinical features and peripheral smears demonstrating schistocytes and thrombocytopenia confirmed a diagnosis of TTP. RESLES can be improved by plasma exchange therapy.Conclusion: This rare case highlights the occurrence of RESLES as a presenting feature of the expanding list of unusual neurological manifestations of TTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is becoming a global health problem due to its increasing prevalence and potential adverse effects, including cardiovascular diseases and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the association between SCH and NAFLD remains controversial. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) have been reported to be implicated in lipid metabolism disorders; however, how miRNAs regulate hepatic lipid metabolism in SCH mice remains unknown. The present study investigated miRNA alterations and proteome profiles in an SCH mouse model, which was generated by methimazole administration in mice for 16 weeks. Next, the profiles of 17 miRNAs that are critical to hepatic lipid metabolism and the proteome were investigated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and iTRAQ labeling in the liver specimens of SCH (n=9) and control (n=7) mice. Putative target prediction of miRNAs was also conducted using TargetScan and miRanda. Compared with the control mice, SCH mice had 8 miRNAs and 36 proteins with significantly different expression in the liver tissues. Furthermore, a regulatory module containing 3 miRNAs (miR-34a-5p, miR-24-3p and miR-130a-3p) and 4 proteins (thioredoxin, selenium-binding protein 2, elongation factor 1β and prosaposin) was identified. Overall, integrated analysis of miRNAs and the proteome highlighted a regulatory module between miRNAs and proteins, which, to a certain extent, may contribute to a better understanding of hepatic lipid metabolism disorders in SCH mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a complex disease affected by various environmental factors, genetic factors and their interactions. Because genetic factors occupy an irreplaceable place in the pathogenesis of IS, the identification of genetic factors has become one of the hot spots in the current research. In the present study, we aimed to identify possible gene targets and relevant drug molecules in the pathogenesis of IS. Microarray dataset of GSE16561 was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between IS group and control group were obtained using limma package in R. Ground-Operation Simulation package in R language was used to cluster DEGs according to their biological process, cellular components and molecular functions with respect to the GO annotation. The DEGs were analyzed by Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes online database and Cytoscape software to predict their interaction relationship. Finally, the DEGs were submitted to DGIdb dataset and related drug molecules were retrieved. 20 DEGs were identified from IS group including 1 downregulated and 19 upregulated genes. The function enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were enriched in three GO terms, mainly including inflammatory response, positive regulation of protein kinase activity and innate immune response. Finally, 10 drug molecules were identified from the DEGs. Our study identified some potential biological targets and drug molecules for the treatment of IS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the key carbon (C) fluxes between biosphere and atmosphere, soil respiration (Rs) and ecosystem respiration (Re) play vital roles in regulating global C balance and climate‐biosphere feedback in the Earth system. Despite the fact that numerous manipulative studies and a few meta‐analyses have been conducted to examine the responses of Rs and its components (i.e. autotrophic [Ra] and heterotrophic respiration [Rh]) as well as Re to grazing (G) or global change factors, the interactive effects between grazing and global change factors remain poorly understood.Here, we performed a comprehensive meta‐analysis of manipulative experiments with both grazing and global change factors to quantify their individual and interactive effects on Rs and its components as well as Re.Our results showed that grazing and drought significantly decreased Rs by 12.35% and 20.95%, respectively, whereas warming (W), nitrogen addition (N) and increased precipitation (P) stimulated it by 2.12%, 5.49% and 13.44%, respectively. Similarly, grazing, warming, nitrogen addition and increased precipitation increased Re by 7.21%, 4.94%, 48.45% and 21.57%, respectively, while drought decreased it by 16.86%. However, the combinations of grazing with warming (GW), nitrogen addition (GN) and increased precipitation (GP) exhibited non‐significant effects on Rs. More importantly, additive interactions between grazing and global change factors exhibited a substantial predominance on Rs, Ra, Rh and Re rather than synergistic and antagonistic ones.Synthesis and applications. Our findings highlight the crucial importance of the interactive effects between grazing and global change factors on soil respiration (Rs) and ecosystem respiration (Re). Therefore, incorporating this key influence on ecosystem processes into Earth system models (ESMs) could better improve the prediction of climate‐biosphere feedbacks and develop sustainable strategies for grassland management in the Anthropocene. Our findings highlight the crucial importance of the interactive effects between grazing and global change factors on soil respiration (Rs) and ecosystem respiration (Re). Therefore, incorporating this key influence on ecosystem processes into Earth system models (ESMs) could better improve the prediction of climate‐biosphere feedbacks and develop sustainable strategies for grassland management in the Anthropocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal wetlands are increasingly recognized as important ecosystems for long-term carbon (C) storage. However, how soil aggregation mediates C accumulation and sequestration in these ecosystems remains unclear. Using the 13C isotope tracer from the invasion of a C4 plant, Spartina alterniflora, into the native ecosystem originally covered by C3 plants across Eastern Chinese coastal wetlands, we investigated a potential C stabilization process via soil structural protection. We quantified changes in soil aggregates, soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total nitrogen (STN), and natural 13C isotope abundance within aggregate fractions across a chronosequence of 0-, 4-, 8-, and 12-year S. alterniflora invasion. Our results showed that soil aggregate stability increased significantly along the chronosequence. Meanwhile, SOC and STN concentrations increased with invasion time in the whole soil and aggregate fractions, which were linked to increasing soil aggregate stability. The contribution of S. alterniflora-derived SOC increased from 18.96 to 40.24% in the 0–20 cm layer and from 4.66 to 32.04% in the 20–40 cm layer across the chronosequence from 4 to 12 years with the highest proportion observed in macro-aggregates. Our results indicate that invasion of S. alterniflora to coastal wetlands can sequester more C largely due to formation and stabilization of soil aggregates by soil structural protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and diabetes mellitus are closely related and often occur together in individuals. However, the underlying mechanism of this association is still uncertain. In this study we re-analyzed the data of a mature database (NHANES, 1999 ~ 2002) and found that both fasting plasma glucose levels and the proportion of hyperglycemic subjects among SCH patients were higher than that found in euthyroid controls. SCH was also associated with a 2.29-fold increased risk for diabetes. Subsequently, we established an SCH mouse model and subjected it to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and an insulin tolerance test (ITT). SCH mice exhibited impaired glucose and insulin tolerance. Increased HOMA-IR and decreased ISI indexes, indicating insulin resistance (IR), were also observed in the SCH state. Hepatic ERp29 and Bip, as well as IRE1α and XBP-1s, were induced significantly in SCH mice, suggesting the induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, particularly involving the IRE1α/XBP-1s pathway. Interestingly, when we relieved ER stress using 4-phenyl butyric acid, abnormal glucose metabolism, and IR status in SCH mice were improved. Our findings suggest that ER stress, predominantly involving the IRE1α/XBP-1s pathway, may play a pivotal role in abnormal glucose metabolism and IR in SCH that may help develop potential strategies for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]