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Background: There is an increasing prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infection after liver transplantation (LT). Improved understanding of the risk factors and outcomes of CRE infections can help us to develop effective preventive strategies and even guide early treatment of high-risk LT patients. Methods: This was a retrospective study involving all Chinese adult patients who underwent LT between December 2017 and September 2019 in our center. We analyzed the possible risk factors and outcomes associated with CRE infections in the first 30 days post-LT. Results: A total of 387 patients underwent LT. Among them, 26 patients (6.7%) developed CRE infections within 30 days after transplantation. Patients with CRE infections had significantly lower 30-day and 180-day survival rates (80.8% vs 96.4%, p< 0.001; 51.5% vs 92.4%, p< 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified that intraoperative blood loss equal to or more than 1500 mL (odds ratio [OR], 3.666; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.407– 9.550; p=0.008), CRE rectal carriage within 30 days post-LT (OR, 5.516; 95% CI, 2.113– 14.399; p=0.000), biliary complications (OR, 3.779; 95% CI, 1.033– 13.831; p=0.045) and renal replacement therapy for more than 3 days (OR, 3.762; 95% CI, 1.196– 11.833; p=0.023) were independent risk factors for CRE infections within 30 days post-LT. Conclusion: CRE infections within 30 days post-LT were associated with worse outcomes. Intraoperative blood loss equal to or more than 1500 mL, CRE rectal carriage within 30 days post-LT, biliary complications and renal replacement therapy for more than 3 days were independent risk factors of CRE infections after LT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strawberry cultivation is constantly increasing all over the world thanks to the varietal innovations obtained by numerous breeding and biotechnology projects and to the studies performed to discover new knowledge on plant’s physiology to develop innovative cultivation systems. Genetic resources remain crucial for breeding activities that can now be integrated with new genomic and molecular knowledge and technologies. Several research groups are dominating the development and control of these technologies, but there are also many emerging companies capable of developing innovations that can have important local and even global impacts. These activities are supported by important public research projects, also of international importance, but the link with the companies that must have access to the results to improve their innovation capacity remains important. The ultimate aim is to continue to expand the cultivation of the strawberry with the development of new cultivars with high adaptability to different environments and growing systems (field, greenhouse above ground) with less environmental impact and increased safety and quality for the consumer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragaria orientalis Lozinsk. is valuable germplasm material for cross breeding in Fragaria. In this study, we assembled the complete mitochondrial genome of F. orientalis using a combination of Illumina data and Nanopore data. The mitochondrial genome was 275,143 bp in length, including 29 protein-coding genes, 20 tRNA genes, and three rRNA genes, with a total GC content 45.23%. Seven protein-coding genes contained introns, and three were trans-spliced. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that F. orientalis is making a sister clade to the Amygdaloideae species. The complete mitochondrial genome of F. orientalis reported in this study will improve our understanding of Fragaria evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: To study the influence of post-cure treatment on the monomer conversion of 3 light-cured composite resins. METHODS: Three kinds of light-cured composite resin: CHARISMA®, DenFil™ Flow and nano-hydroxyapatite composite resin were double-side cured for 40 s. The materials without any secondary treatment were used as control group (group A). Group B were lighted in Translux® CU light cure case for 5 min. Group C were subjected to post-cure heat treatment for 7.5 min at 140X1 and Group D were post heated in 132°C and pressured 0.2 MPa for 6.5 min. Degree of conversion (DC) of all the samples was measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The data was analyzed using SPSS 13.0 software package. RESULTS: The monomer conversion of light-cured composite resins improved at different degree after post-cure treatment, and group C was the most favorable group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, group B and C had significant differences (P<0.05) except when the DenFil™ Flow and CHARISMA® were lighted for 5 minutes (P>0.05). Among the experimental groups, there was no significant difference between each group of DenFil™ Flow groups, CHARISMA ® illumination and hot -pressing groups, and n -HA composite resin illumination compared with 140°C groups. CONCLUSIONS: Post-cure treatment can increase the monomer conversion of light-cured composite resin so as to improve material performance, particularly for the heat treatment for 7.5 min at 140°C. Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2013HM044) and Medical and Science Development Project of Shandong Province (2013WS0308). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced sensitivity of prostate cancer (PC) cells to radiation therapy poses a significant challenge in the clinic. Activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R), and crosstalk between these two signaling pathways have been implicated in the development of radiation resistance in PC. This study assessed the effects of targeting both receptors on the regulation of radio-sensitivity in PC cells. Specific inhibitors of EGFR and IGF1R, Erlotinib and AG1024, as well as siRNA targeting EGFR and IGF1R, were used to radio-sensitize PC cells. Our results showed that co-inhibiting both receptors significantly dampened cellular growth and DNA damage repair, and increased radio-sensitivity in PC cells. These effects were carried out through synergistic inhibition of homologous recombination-directed DNA repair (HRR), but not via inhibition of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Furthermore, the compromised HRR capacity was caused by reduced phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) and its subsequent interaction with Rad51. The synergistic effect of the EGFR and IGF1R inhibitors was also confirmed in nude mouse xenograft assay. This is the first study testing co-inhibiting EGFR and IGF1R signaling in the context of radio-sensitivity in PC and it may provide a promising adjuvant therapeutic approach to improve the outcome of PC patients to radiation treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil ecology plays an important role in the growth and health of plants. Research suggests that long-term monocropping may lead to soil ecological disorders. In this study, we aimed to understand the reasons for the decrease in plant productivity stemming from long-term monoculture cropping. Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the cause of continuous cropping (CC) obstacles in soils under 12 years of continuous strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) production. The data suggested that CC led to three phases of changes in abiotic and biotic soil factors. In phase I (CC for 2–6 years), significant changes were observed only in soil physicochemical properties, such as the pH, total nitrogen (TN), ammonium nitrogen (NH 4 +-N), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK) and soil organic matter (SOM), which obviously changed from the second year to the sixth year. In phase II (CC for 6–8 years), two biotic factors, key fungi such as Fusarium , Humicola and Arthrobotrys and soil nematodes, i.e., populations and communities of nematodes, started to change significantly in terms of their abundance. In phase III (CC for >8 years), the accumulation of phenolic acids, i.e., p-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HBA), ferulic acid (FA), p-coumaric acid (p-CA) and cinnamic acid (CA), significantly inhibited crop growth, and the abundance of key bacteria, including Bacillus , Sphingomonas and Sphingopyxis , started to change significantly from the eighth CC year. The results in this study provide useful information for solving CC obstacles in strawberry production. Unlabelled Image • Continuous cropping led to changes in abiotic and biotic factors in the soil. • This is the first attempt to comprehensively interpret continuous cropping obstacles. • The continuous cropping soil changes could be divided into three main phases: Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III. • This research provides useful information to solve strawberry continuous cropping problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]