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The objective of this study is to compare the epidemiologic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging features, and outcomes in patients with Cryptococcus gattii meningitis (CGM) and Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis (CNM).We performed a retrospective study of HIV-negative patients with CGM and CNM (2015-2021) distinguished by metagenomic next-generation sequencing in cerebrospinal fluid in South China.A total of 81 patients (17 CGM, 64 CNM) were enrolled (72.8% male, median age 49 years, range 21-77 years), and CGM patients were younger (median, 43 vs 53 years, p = .005). Of 17 CGM, VGI and VGII accounted for 70.6% and 29.4%, respectively. CGM patients had less underlying diseases (7/17 [41.2%] vs 48/64 [75%], p = .018) and focal neurologic deficit (3/17 [17.6%] vs 35/64 [54.7%], p = .022), had higher intracranial pressure (15/17 [88.2%] vs 25/64 [39.1%], p = .002), more meningeal enhancement (14/17 [82.4%] vs 32/64 [50%], p = .034), less parenchymal involvement (median, 1 vs 3, p = .018), more lung cryptococcomas (6/12 [50%] vs 6/47 [12.8%], p = .014), faster CSF fungal clearance (p = .004), less complications (median, 1 vs 3, p .001), and more favourable outcomes (16/17 [94.1%] vs 41/64 [64.1%], p = .035).This study demonstrated that species identification helps to guide therapy and predict outcomes.

There are remarkable genetic differences between animal major histocompatibility complex (MHC) systems and the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. HLA transgenic humanized mouse model systems offer a much better method to study the HLA-A-related principal mechanisms for vaccine development and HLA-A-restricted responses against infection in human.A recombinant gene encoding the chimeric HLA-A30 monochain was constructed. This HHD molecule contains the following: α1-α2 domains of HLA-A30, α3 and cytoplasmic domains of H-2DWe describe a novel human β2m-HLA-A30 (α1α2)-H-2DWe established a promising preclinical research animal model of HLA-A30 Tg humanized mouse, which could accelerate the identification of novel HLA-A30-restricted epitopes and vaccine development, and support the study of HLA-A-restricted responses against infection in humans.

Leaf colour is an important agronomic trait for studying molecular mechanisms in chlorophyll biosynthesis and chloroplast development. Here, a novel mutant oil yellow leaf 2 (Oy2) with a typical yellow leaf phenotype at the seedling stage was identified from the mutant population derived from the maize inbred line RP125. Compared with wild type, Oy2 mutant displays decreased chlorophyll content, reduced photosynthetic capacity and impaired chloroplast structure, which is likely controlled by a single recessive gene. The Oy2 locus was then delimited into a 117 kb region on chromosome 5 harbouring four genes, amongst which the gene Zm00001d013013, encoding a magnesium chelatase subunit D, was identified as the only candidate gene associated with Oy2 mutant phenotype. Moreover, the expression levels of candidate gene Oy2 and genes associated with chlorophyll biosynthesis and photosynthesis were tested by RNA‐seq and qRT‐PCR, implying that the causal gene Oy2 playing a critical role in chlorophyll synthesis. Taken together, we propose that the causal gene Oy2 highly associated with the yellow leaf phenotype may be helpful in elucidating photosynthetic pigments biosynthesis and chloroplast development in maize.

Histamine H1 receptor (H1R) and histamine H4 receptor (H4R) are essential in allergic inflammation. The roles of H4R have been characterized in T cell subsets, whereas the functional properties of H4R in monocytes remain unclear. In the current study, the responses of H4R in peripheral monocytes from patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) were investigated. The results confirmed that H4R has the functional effects of mediating cytokine production (i.e., down-regulating IFN-γ and up-regulating IL-6) in cells from a monocyte cell line following challenge with histamine. We demonstrated that when monocytes from AR patients were stimulated with allergen extracts of house dust mite (HDM), IFN-γ secretion was dependent on H4R activity, but IL-6 secretion was based on H1R activity. Furthermore, a combination of H1R and H4R antagonists was more effective at blocking the inflammatory response in monocytes than treatment with either type of antagonist alone.

Phylogenetic relationships in Dipsacales have long been a major challenge. Although considerable progress has been made during the past two decades, questions remain; the uncertain systematic positions of Heptacodium, Triplostegia, and Zabelia, in particular, impede our understanding of Dipsacales evolution. Here we use 75 complete plastomic sequences to reconstruct the phylogeny of Dipsacales, of which 28 were newly generated. Two primary clades were recovered that form the phylogenetic backbone of Dipsacales. Seven of the primary clades correspond to the recognized families Adoxaceae, Caprifoliaceae s. str., Diervillaceae, Dipsacaceae, Linnaeaceae, Morinaceae, and Valerianaceae, and one corresponds to Zabelia, which was found to be the closest relative of Morinaceae in all analyses. Additionally, our results, with greatly increased confidence in most branches, show that Heptacodium and Triplostegia are members of Caprifoliaceae s. str. and Dipsacaceae, respectively. The results of our study indicate that the complete plastomic sequences provide a fully-resolved and well-supported representation of the phylogenetic relationships within Dipsacales.

The monotypic genus Eremotropa Andres (Monotropoideae, Ericaceae) is endemic to central Yunnan. It was first described by Andres in 1953, and was subsequently treated as a synonym of Monotropastrum Andres (1987); however, the phylogenetic placement of this genus has not, to date, been investigated. In this study, phylogenetic analyses were undertaken using DNA sequences from the nuclear internal transcribed spacer from all species of Monotropoideae available in GenBank. Comparative morphological studies on Eremotropa, Monotropastrum, and Monotropa L. were also carried out. The molecular phylogenetic evidence suggests that Eremotropa is sister to a clade formed by Monotropa and the remaining species of Monotropastrum, thus rendering Monotropastrum not monophyletic. Morphologically, Eremotropa differs from Monotropastrum in plant color, inflorescence type, length of the style, and size of the baccate fruit. Consequently, molecular and morphological evidence supports the resurrection of Eremotropa, which contains only one species, E. sciaphila Andres, as distinct from Monotropastrum.

Protected areas are considered as an essential strategy to halt the decline of biodiversity. Ecological representation in protected areas is crucial for assessment on the progress toward conservation targets. Although China has established a large number of protected areas since the 1950s, ecological representation of protected areas is poorly understood. Here, we performed the complementarity analysis to evaluate ecological representation of protected areas in China. We used a database of the geographical distribution for 10,396 woody plant species, 2,305 fern species, 406 amphibian species, 460 reptile species, 1,364 bird species, and 590 mammal species from 2,376 counties across China. We identified complementary sets of counties for all species or threatened species of plant and vertebrate species using a complementarity algorithm. We evaluated ecological representation of 3,627 protected areas and discerned conservation gaps by comparing the distribution of protected areas with complementary sets. The results show that the spatially representative and complementary sites for biodiversity are poorly covered, and a fairly large proportion of protected areas is not designed to efficiently represent biodiversity at the national scale. Our methodology can serve as a generic framework for assessment on ecological representation of protected areas at the national scale.

Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEFs) are proteins that activate Rho GTPases in response to extracellular stimuli and regulate various biologic processes. ARHGEF19, one of RhoGEFs, was reported to activate RhoA in the Wnt-PCP pathway controlling convergent extension in Xenopus gastrulation. The goal of our study was to identify the role and molecular mechanisms of ARHGEF19 in the tumorigenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ARHGEF19 expression was significantly elevated in NSCLC tissues, and ARHGEF19 levels were significantly associated with lymph node status, distant metastasis and TNM stage; Patients with high ARHGEF19 levels had poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Our investigations revealed that ARHGEF19 overexpression promoted the cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis of lung cancer cells, whereas knockdown of this gene inhibited these processes. Mechanistically, ARHGEF19 activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in a RhoA-independent manner: ARHGEF19 interacted with BRAF and facilitated the phosphorylation of its downstream kinase MEK1/2; both the Dbl homology (DH) and Pleckstrin homology (PH) domains of ARHGEF19 were indispensable for the phosphorylation of MEK1/2. Furthermore, downregulation of miR-29b was likely responsible for the increased expression of ARHGEF19 in lung cancer tissues and, consequently, the abnormal activation of MAPK signaling. These findings suggest that ARHGEF19 upregulation, due to the low expression of miR-29 in NSCLC tissues, may play a crucial role in NSCLC tumorigenesis by activating MAPK signaling. ARHGEF19 could serve as a negative prognostic marker as well as a therapeutic target for NSCLC patients.

Aim The purpose of this meta-analysis is to synthesize evidence-based case–control studies to evaluate the association between oral contraceptive (OC) use and the risk of cervical cancer. Methods Two reviewers independently selected potentially relevant studies through PubMed, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and the Chongqing VIP databases using the core terms cervical intraepithelial neoplasia/ cervix dysplasia/ cervi* AND oral contraceptive in the article titles, abstracts, and keywords. All data were analyzed using stata 12.0. The heterogeneity was assessed by Q-test and I2 statistic. Forest plot was used to display results graphically. Publication bias was assessed by Begg's test. Results In total, 16 case–control studies, including 15 619 participants (7433 cases and 8186 controls), met the eligibility criteria. Individuals with OC use were not found to have a risk of cervical cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90–1.38). In subgroup analyses, no significant associations were found for different durations of OC use ( 10 years: OR, 1.25; 95%CI, 0.76–2.06). Additionally, using OC was not shown to increase the risk of cervical cancer among women with human papillomavirus infections (OR, 1.09; 95%CI, 0.80–1.49). However, an increased risk of cervical cancer was found in Asian populations with OC use. Conclusion The meta-analysis of case–control studies did not show an association between OC use and risk of cervical cancer. However, other necessary prospective cohort studies should be conducted to assess the impact of OC use on cervical cancer risk in the future.

Sorbus cibagouensis sp. nov. (Rosaceae subfam. Rosaceae), a new taxon from Cibagou National Nature Reserve, Zayu County, southeastern Xizang (Tibet), China, is described and illustrated. It is related to S. monbeigii (Cardot) Balakr., but primarily differs in the number of styles (S. cibagouensis = 5; S. monbeigii = 4) and the shape of stipules and leaves (S. cibagouensis: stipules caducous, small, with entire margin, leaflets in 9-11 pairs; S. monbeigii: stipules persistent, large, serrate, leaflets in 6-8 (-10) pairs).

A taxonomic revision of four species of Isodon (I. alborubrus, I. lungshengensis, I. rubescens and I. scrophularioides) from China is presented. Isodon alborubrus, previously regarded as conspecific with I. sculponeatus, is resurrected as a distinct species. Seven synonyms are newly proposed: I. gibbosus as a synonym of I. lungshengensis, I. henryi, Rabdosia rubescens var. rubescens f. lushanensis, R. rubescens var. taihangensis, R. rubescens var. lushiensis and I. rubescens var. eglandulosus of I. rubescens var. rubescens, and R. megathyrsoides of I. scrophularioides. Information about nomenclature, description, phenology, distribution and habitat, taxonomic notes as well as specimens examined is provided for each species.

Background and aim Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disease, and the overlap with upper functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) is popular. However, the coexistent upper GI symptom profiles, upper FGID spectra, and related risk factors among IBS subjects remain unclear in mainland of China. Methods Consecutive patients from the outpatient gastroenterology clinics of three tertiary hospitals in China were enrolled in this multicenter study. All upper GI symptoms occurring at least once a week in the last 3 months were recorded. Diagnostic criteria of functional esophageal, gastroduodenal disorders and IBS were based on Rome III criteria. Risk factors were assessed using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results Of the 8906 consecutive patients, 751 patients met Rome III criteria for IBS and 735 IBS patients participated in the interview. Postprandial fullness (30.6%), belching (27.1%), and regurgitation (21.8%) were the three most prevalent upper GI symptoms in IBS. Functional dyspepsia (FD, 36.7%), belching disorders (27.1%), and functional heartburn (16.3%) were the three most frequent upper FGID in IBS patients. Female sex, divorced or widowed versus married status, defecation straining, reduced bowel movement, mixed IBS, abdominal distention, mild abdominal pain, moderate discomfort were positively associated with IBS-FD overlap. Female sex, drinking, moderate discomfort, and mild to moderate distension were independent risk factors for IBS-belching disorder overlap. Conclusions The study provides detailed overlap spectra of upper FGID with IBS. Mixed IBS is an important risk factor for IBS-FD overlap, which deserved more concern.

A taxonomic revision of four species of Ilex from China is presented. Ilex dabieshanensis is accepted as the nothospecies I. × dabieshanensis. Six new synonyms are proposed: I. huoshanensis is reduced to a synonym of I. × dabieshanensis from I. centrochinensis, I. urceolatus to I. hylonoma var. glabra, I. kunmingensis var. capitata and I. macrostigma to I. kunmingensis var. kunmingensis, and I. dasyclada and I. tetramera var. glabra to I. tetramera var. tetramera. A nomenclatural account, description, phenology, distribution and habitat, taxonomic notes and specimens cited is provided for each species.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) versus radical surgery (RS) for patients with cervical cancer. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) of NACT + RS versus RS alone for patients with cervical cancer was performed according to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. The following electronic databases were searched from their inception to April 2015: PUBMED, EMBASE and Cochrane Library. Statistical analysis was done using REVIEW MANAGER 5.3. Five RCT involving 739 patients were studied. There were significant differences between the NACT + RS and the RS-alone groups for positive lymph nodes (OR, 0.45; 95%CI: 0.29-0.70) and parametrial infiltration (OR, 0.48; 95% CI: 0.25-0.92), while treatment efficacy did not differ significantly for 5-year overall survival rate (OR, 1.17; 95% CI: 0.85-1.61), 5-year disease-free survival rate (OR, 1.09; 95% CI: 0.77-1.56) or recurrence rate (OR, 1.17; 95% CI: 0.85-1.61). The results also indicated that chemotherapy-related toxicity was well tolerated. For patients with cervical cancer, NACT could significantly reduce the number of positive lymph nodes and the level of parametrial infiltration compared with RS alone, and be well tolerated.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of the overlap between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and functional bowel disorders (FBD) in the general population in rural areas in China. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in six villages in Nanmazhuang area in Lankao County (Henan Province, China) from December 2010 to October 2011. The GERD questionnaire (GerdQ) and Rome III criteria were used for the diagnosis of GERD and FBD and to determine the prevalence of GERD–FBD overlap. Results The response rate to the questionnaires of the patients was 91.5%. In all, 2950 of 3700 residents with a mean age of 42.4 ± 16.8 years were included. Among them, 4.8% were diagnosed with GERD and 4.6% with FBD. The proportion of respondents with FBD was significantly higher in the GERD group than that in the non-GERD group (25.53% vs 3.60%, P

A catalytic [3+3] annulation of cyclopropane 1,1-diesters with in-situ-generated mercaptoacetaldehyde for the synthesis of polyfunctionalized tetrahydrothiopyran derivatives has been developed. A ring-opening/aldol cascade reaction catalysed by Sc(OTf)(3) (10 mol-%) gave a series of tetrahydrothiopyranols in good yields. Simple derivatization of the products gave some useful compounds.

This paper reviews 31 groups in ferns and lycophytes hypothesized to show eastern Asian-North American disjunctions. Fourteen lineages have been supported by recent phylogenetic evidence: Lycopodium nikoense and Lycopodium sitchense; Isoetes asiatica and the clade of the North American species complex closely allied to I. maritima; Osmundastrum cinnamomeum; Osmunda claytoniana; the Adiantum pedatum complex; the Cryptogramma acrostichoides complex; Diplaziopsidaceae; Cystopteris chinensis and the Cystopteris bulbifera clade; Asplenium rhizophyllum and Asplenium ruprechtii; diploid Phegopteris; Onoclea sensibilis; the Polypodium appalachianum clade; and the Polypodium glycyrrhiza clade. Phylogenetic and/or cytological evidence did not support the biogeographic disjunctions in six cases: (1) Isoetes asiatica and I. truncata; (2) Botrychium ternatum; (3) Thelypteris beddomei and T. nipponicaThelypteris noveboracensis and T. nevadensis; (4) Thelypteris glanduligera and Thelypteris. japonicaT. simulata; (5) Woodwardia japonica and W. virginica; and (6) Woodwardia orientalis and Woodwardia fimbriata. Both vicariance and dispersal have been suggested to be the mechanisms for the formation of the disjunct pattern; and the Beringian region has been an active pathway for the migration of ferns and lycophytes between Asia and North America. Disjunctions of ferns and lycophytes reviewed here have been dated in the Tertiary, and are similar to the ages of eastern Asian-North American disjunctions in seed plants, supporting the close biogeographic co-diversification of ferns and seed plants. Future studies are needed to estimate divergence times and reconstruct biogeographic events in a broad phylogenetic framework, and to test the morphological stasis hypothesis in disjunct ferns and lycophytes.

Light-responsive poly(carbonate)s PEG113-b-PMPCn-SP were synthesized via copper catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction between azide-modified spiropyran (SP-N3) and amphiphilic copolymer PEG113-b-PMPCn. PEG113-b-PMPC25-SP can self-assemble to biocompatible micelles with an average diameter of ∼96 nm and a critical aggregation concentration of 0.0148 mg mL−1. Under 365 nm UV light irradiation, the characteristic absorption intensity of merocyanine (MC) progressively increased and most of the micellar aggregations were disrupted within 10 min, suggesting the completion of the transformation of hydrophobic SP to hydrophilic MC. Subsequent exposuring the micelles to 620 nm visible light, spherical micelles aggregated again. The light-controlled release and re-encapsulation behaviors of coumarin 102-loaded micelles were further investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. This study provides a convenient way to construct smart poly(carbonate)s nanocarriers for controlled release and re-encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 750–760

A facile microwave-assisted synthesis of pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidines derivatives is accomplished via reactions of 4-arylmethylene-2-phenyloxazol-5(4H)-ones with pyrimidine-4,6-diol in ethylene glycol. The reaction is simple to perform and occurs under mild conditions with broad scope of applicability.

Cardiopteris is unique in the expanded Cardiopteridaceae for several distinctive features, including its gynoecial structure and ovular morphology. We studied the floral development of Cardiopteris to clarify floral morphology and document floral development. Cardiopteris has three carpel primordia, which are separate at their tips but congenitally fused at their bases. The synascidiate zone (the fused proximal part) develops into the unilocular ovary; the three discrete carpel apices diverge in development: the apex of the adaxial carpel differentiates into a style and stigma, while the apices of the two lateral-abaxial carpels elongate and develop into a fleshy appendage only after fertilization. The ovules are attached to the lateral-abaxial carpels. At anthesis, the ovules are ategmic and orthotropous without funicles (morphologically undifferentiated). Functional differentiation occurs in the three carpels of Cardiopteris: the adaxial one is the site of pollination, while the lateral-abaxial two produce ovules. The ategmic orthotropous ovule is unusual in Cardiopteridaceae and is an apomorphy of Cardiopteris.

Bacteria are sparsely distributed in the stomach due to the gastric microbicidal barrier. Several innate defenses (low pH, migrating motor complex and the entero-salivary circulation of nitrate) as well as external factors (diet, Helicobacter pylori infection, proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics and stomach diseases) have been shown to influence significantly the microbiota composition in the stomach. In recent years new culture-independent technologies have allowed the investigation of the cross talk that occurs between hosts and stomach-associated microflora, which helps us to understand the role of gastric bacterial flora in the gastrointestinal microbiological system, both in physiological and pathological conditions. Here, we reviewed the literatures related to this topic and set the stage for future developments of the field.