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Purpose: Medial acetabular bone defects are frequently encountered in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA), but few studies have focused on their reconstruction. This study aimed to report the radiographic and clinical results after medial acetabular wall reconstruction using metal disc augments in revision THA. Methods: Forty consecutive revision THA cases using metal disc augments for medial acetabular wall reconstruction were identified. Post-operative cup orientation, the centre of rotation (COR), stability of acetabular components and peri-augments osseointegration were measured. The pre-operative and post-operative Harris Hip Score (HHS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) were compared. Results: The mean post-operative inclination and anteversion were 41.88 ± 6.70° and 16.73 ± 5.35°, respectively. The median vertical and lateral distance between the reconstructed CORs and the anatomic CORs were −3.45 mm (interquartile range [IQR]: −11.30 mm, −0.02 mm) and 3.18 mm (IQR: −0.03 mm, 6.99 mm). Thirty-eight cases completed the minimum two year clinical follow-up, whereas 31 had a minimum two year radiographic follow-up. Acetabular components were radiographically stable with bone ingrowth in 30 cases (30/31, 96.8%) while one case was classified as radiographic failure. Osseointegration around disc augments was observed in 25 of 31 cases (80.6%). The median HHS improved from 33.50 (IQR: 27.50–40.25) pre-operatively to 90.00 (IQR: 86.50–96.25) (p < 0.001), whereas the median WOMAC significantly improved from 38.02 (IQR: 29.17–46.09) to 85.94 (IQR: 79.43–93.75) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In revision THA with severe medial acetabular bone defect, disc augments could provide favorable cup position and stability, peri-augments osseointegration, with satisfactory clinical scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two new species, namely Clitopilus highlandensis and C. subalbidus, are proposed based on morphological and molecular analyses. Clitopilus highlandensis differs from C. abprunulus by its greyish yellow and convex pileus, and larger basidiospores. Clitopilus subalbidus is similar to C. albidus but distinguished from the latter by its inflated hyphae in the lamellar trama and bigger basidiospores. The evidence from the phylogenetic tree constructed with RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) further supports the morphological taxonomy. The phylogenetic tree, comprehensive descriptions, photographs, macro- and microscopic comparisons are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prognosis of biliary tract cancer (BTC) remains unsatisfactory. This single-arm, phase II clinical trial (ChiCTR2000036652) investigated the efficacy, safety, and predictive biomarkers of sintilimab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin as the first-line treatment for patients with advanced BTCs. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included toxicities, progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR); multi-omics biomarkers were assessed as exploratory objective. Thirty patients were enrolled and received treatment, the median OS and PFS were 15.9 months and 5.1 months, the ORR was 36.7%. The most common grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events were thrombocytopenia (33.3%), with no reported deaths nor unexpected safety events. Predefined biomarker analysis indicated that patients with homologous recombination repair pathway gene alterations or loss-of-function mutations in chromatin remodeling genes presented better tumor response and survival outcomes. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis revealed a markedly longer PFS and tumor response were associated with higher expression of a 3-gene effector T cell signature or an 18-gene inflamed T cell signature. Sintilimab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin meets pre-specified endpoints and displays acceptable safety profile, multiomics potential predictive biomarkers are identified and warrant further verification. Chemotherapeutic agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown modest efficacy in patients with advanced biliary tract cancers (BTCs). Here the authors report the results of a phase II trial of the anti-PD1 antibody sintilimab plus chemotherapy (gemcitabine and cisplatin) as first-line treatment for patients with advanced BTCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purposes: The aim of this study was to describe and compare the femoral morphologies of Hartofilakidis types C1 and C2 developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), and discuss the potential influence on subsequent total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: We analyzed preoperative CT data from 81 patients (42 C1 and 39 C2 subtypes) who underwent THA for arthritis secondary to Hartofilakidis type C DDH. The CT data was three-dimensionally reconstructed and measured of following parameters: neck-shaft angle, femoral neck length, anteversion, medial inclination, femoral offset, height of the greater trochanter and femoral head, mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) widths of the medullary canal. The canal flare indices and ML-to-AP ratio were further calculated. We also reviewed surgical and follow-up records to compare the different implants utilized and the clinical results between C1 and C2 hips. Results: The C2 femurs had a significantly lower neck-shaft angle (119.0° vs. 124.0°), shorter femoral neck (37.0 mm vs. 41.2 mm), larger medial cortical inclination (158.8° vs. 149.1°), and higher position of the greater trochanter. The C2 femurs were narrower and had a smaller canal flare index (2.88 ± 0.50) than C1 femurs (3.64 ± 0.69). The ML-to-AP ratio of the proximal femoral medullary canal was significantly smaller in the C2 group. Accordingly, C2 femurs required thinner stems, more non-sprouted sleeves, and had a higher rate and required a longer length of shortening osteotomies. At an average follow-up of 36.0 months, the C1 and C2 groups had a similar Harris Hip Score (83.5 ± 14.3 vs. 84.2 ± 9.8, P = 0.771) and no stem loosening occurred in either group. Conclusion: C1 and C2 proximal femurs have substantial differences in the coronal, sagittal, and axial planes. In the setting of THA, C2 femurs may therefore require thinner stems, more non-sprouted sleeves, and have a higher rate and require a longer length of shortening osteotomies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Clitopilus abprunulus (Entolomataceae, Agaricales) is described as a new species based on collections from North Macedonia with both morphological and molecular evidence. It differs from other species in Clitopilus by its grayish pileus, eccentric stipe, and inflated cells in the lamellar trama. The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were sequenced and used for phylogenetic analyses. The results based on ITS sequences using both Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) methods indicated that the new species was distinct from other species. The systematic position of the pleuromutilin-producing taxa in Clitopilus was elucidated, it was found that all of them were clustered into a single lineage within C. section Scyphoides. In addition, an epitype for C. ravus is designated, and the shape changes of the basidiospores of this taxon during their development are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome is characterized by increased pulmonary inflammation, where T helper 17 (Th17) cells play an important regulatory role. Notch signaling critically regulates Th17 differentiation and is known to be linked with proximal T cell by protein kinase C theta (PKCθ). We hypothesized that PKCθ inhibition could attenuate ALI by suppressing Th17 response via the Notch signaling pathway. Male C57BL/6 mice were treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS and N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-l-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT, a Notch signaling inhibitor), or LPS and PKCθ inhibitor (PI), and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), blood, and lung tissues were harvested at 48 h after the LPS challenge. CD4+ T cells were treated with DAPT or PI and harvested after 72 h. PKCθ inhibition markedly attenuated pathological changes and decreased the wet to dry weight ratio of the mouse lungs. The total cell and neutrophil counts, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α) in BALF, myeloperoxidase activity in lung tissue, and the leukocyte count in whole blood were markedly reduced by PKCθ inhibition. The concentration of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22 in BALF, and the percentage of CD4+IL-17A+ T cells in the lungs were significantly downregulated by PKCθ inhibition. A similar trend was observed for the expression of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t and IL-23 receptor after PKCθ inhibition accompanied with inactivation of the Notch signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro. Collectively, these data demonstrated that PKCθ inhibition protects against LPS-induced ALI by suppressing the differentiation and pathogenicity of Th17, at least partially, through a Notch-dependent mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main impurities in aluminum melt are hydrogen and A203, which can deteriorate melt quality and materials performance. However, the diffusion process of H atoms in aluminum melt and the interactions among Al atoms, A203 and hydrogen have been studied rarely. Molecular mechanics and dynamics simulations are employed to study the diffusion behaviors of different types of hydrogen, such as free H atoms, H atoms in H2 and H+ ions in H20 using COMPASS force field. Correspondingly, force field types h, h1h and h1o are used to describe different types of hydrogen which are labeled as Hh, Hh1h and Hh10. The results show that the adsorption areas are maximum for Hh10, followed by h1h and Hh. The diffusion ability of Hh10 is the strongest whereas Hh is hard to diffuse in aluminum melt because of the differences in radius and potential well depth of various types of hydrogen. A203 cluster makes the Al atoms array disordered, creating the energy conditions for hydrogen diffusion in aluminum melt. A203 improves the diffusion of Hh and Hh10, and constrains h1h which accumulates around it and forms gas porosities in aluminum. HMo is the most dispersive in aluminum melt, moreover, the distance of AI-Hh10 is shorter than that of Al-h1h, both of which are detrimental to the removal of Hh10. The simulation results indicate that the gas porosities can be eliminated by the removal of A203 inclusions, and the dispersive hydrogen can be removed by adsorption function of gas bubbles or molten fluxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a new pressure-parametrization model to explain the accelerated expansion of the late-time Universe by considering the baryon matter and dark contents (dark matter and dark energy) as a unified dark fluid. To realize this model more physically, we reconstruct it with the quintessence and phantom scalar fields, respectively. We use the recent cosmological data to constrain this model, distinguish it from the standard cosmological model and find that the value of the Hubble constant H0 = 68.34-0.92+0.53 supports the global measurement by the Planck satellite at the 1s confidence level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion : Pseudomonas fluorescens induces gibberellin and ethylene signaling via hydrogen peroxide in planta . Ethylene activates abscisic acid signaling. Hormones increase sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis gene expression and enzyme activity, inducing essential oil accumulation. Atractylodes lancea is a famous Chinese medicinal plant, whose main active components are essential oils. Wild A. lancea has become endangered due to habitat destruction and over-exploitation. Although cultivation can ensure production of the medicinal material, the essential oil content in cultivated A. lancea is significantly lower than that in the wild herb. The application of microbes as elicitors has become an effective strategy to increase essential oil accumulation in cultivated A. lancea. Our previous study identified an endophytic bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens ALEB7B, which can increase essential oil accumulation in A. lancea more efficiently than other endophytes; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown (Physiol Plantarum 153:30-42, 2015; Appl Environ Microb 82:1577-1585, 2016). This study demonstrates that P. fluorescens ALEB7B firstly induces hydrogen peroxide (HO) signaling in A. lancea, which then simultaneously activates gibberellin (GA) and ethylene (ET) signaling. Subsequently, ET activates abscisic acid (ABA) signaling. GA and ABA signaling increase expression of HMGR and DXR, which encode key enzymes involved in sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis, leading to increased levels of the corresponding enzymes and then an accumulation of essential oils. Specific reactive oxygen species and hormone signaling cascades induced by P. fluorescens ALEB7B may contribute to high-efficiency essential oil accumulation in A. lancea. Illustrating the regulation mechanisms underlying P. fluorescens ALEB7B-induced essential oil accumulation not only provides the theoretical basis for the inducible synthesis of terpenoids in many medicinal plants, but also further reveals the complex and diverse interactions among different plants and their endophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marasmius albopurpureus, a new species belonging to section Globulares, was found on a subtropical island, Baili Island, in southern China. It is characterized by its white to purple rugulose to sulcate pileus, distant and sometimes underdeveloped lamellae, and long basidiospores. It is described, illustrated and compared with similar taxa according to the morphological and molecular data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amanita exitialis is a lethal mushroom in East Asia. α-Amanitin is one kind of the leading peptide toxins responsible for mushroom poisoning, which are mainly from the fatal amanitae. In the study, the full-length cDNA sequences of α-amanitin ( α-AMA) and phallacidin ( PHA) from A. exitialis were cloned and analyzed; in addition, the expression patterns of α-AMA in three parts as well as four developmental stages of the fruitbody were first characterized by quantitative real-time PCR. Results demonstrate that α-AMA and PHA were highly homologous to the toxin genes reported from A. bisporigera; the α-AMA could be expressed in all parts and stages of the fruitbody, from late elongation stage to late mature stage, α-AMA showed the highest expression level in the pileus, followed by the stipe and volva in sequence, while at the early elongation stage, the highest expression level was found in the stipe, followed by the pileus and volva. Further analysis revealed that the higher expression level of α-AMA was closely associated with the development stages, and the expression of α-AMA was accumulated in the more vigorous growth parts and stages, from which could be inferred that α-AMA might play an important role in the development of A. exitialis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amanita macrocarpa from Guangdong Province of China is described. The new species is a large, brownish orange to light brown mushroom, characterized by numerous pyramidal warts on the pileus, yellowish lamellae, a large annulus at the middle of the stipe, and amyloid ellipsoidal basidiospores. Phylogenetic analyses of the new species and related taxa based on the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal DNA (LSU) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences are provided. Morphological and molecular data show that A. macrocarpa is a member of Amanita, section Lepidella, and clearly different from any known taxon of the section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brandt's vole ( Lasiopodomys brandtii) distribution is discontinuous in Inner Mongolia with some populations isolated from others. Recently, some isolated populations have suffered extinction, and the factors responsible remain elusive. Genetic drift is one of the processes affecting population genetic differentiation, and can play a substantial role in the divergence of small, isolated populations. Using seven microsatellite markers, we genotyped four geographically isolated populations of Brandt's vole, all of which exhibit episodic fluctuations in population density. The results showed a strong genetic differentiation among the geographically distinct populations (total F = 0.124) and in particular, one population (Zhengxiangbaiqi) was isolated from all others ( F values were greatest between Zhengxiangbaiqi and other populations). Furthermore, high levels of inbreeding ( F values ranged from 0.205 to 0.290) within each distinct population suggest that inbreeding has and is likely occurring in Brandt's vole populations. These processes can decrease average individual fitness and consequently increase the risk of extinction of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study related to total synthesis and cytotoxicity of naturally occurring Lespedezol E. It discusses origination of the species along with an analysis of its isolation from current state. It further mentions medicinal properties of the species and how it is used as medical treatment in various places. It also presents chemical bonding of the process.