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Mongol-Okhotsk Orogenic Belt is the last main orogen that constructs modern tectonic framework of northeastern Asia. It has recorded the long-term evolution of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean (MOO) from its Early Paleozoic initial opening, through the Late Paleozoic-Early Mesozoic subduction, to its Mesozoic final closure, leading to the amalgamation of the Siberian Craton (SIB) and North China-Amuria Block (NCC-AMB). Opening of the MOO can be traced to the early stage of the Early Paleozoic. Northward subduction of the Mongol-Okhotsk oceanic slab beneath the southern margin of the SIB initiated in the Silurian, whereas the southward subduction beneath the northern margin of the NCC-AMB started in the Late Devonian. The bidirectional subduction of the Mongol-Okhotsk oceanic slab resulted in pulse arc magmatism, with three main peaks in the earliest Carboniferous, Late Permian, and Late Triassic-Early Jurassic. In the Late Triassic, the collision between the AMB and Western Mongolian Blocks led to the bending of the Western Mongolian Blocks, which caused the initial closure of the MOO in its western segment. Due to the clockwise rotation of the SIB and counterclockwise rotation of the NCC-AMB, the MOO showed a scissor-like closure from west to east. The final closure of the MOO occurred in the Middle-Late Jurassic, which also resulted in the formation of the Mongol Orocline. Since then, the amalgamation of blocks in northeastern Asia has finished, and the northeastern Asian continent went into the intraplate evolutional stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treating perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCC) is particularly difficult due to the fact that it is usually in an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis. Irreversible electroporation treatment (IRE) involves the local administration of a high-voltage electric current to target lesions without causing damage to surrounding structures. This study investigated the safety and efficacy of using IRE in conjunction with intraoperative biliary stent placement in cases of unresectable PHCC. Methods: This study enrolled 17 patients with unresectable Bismuth type III/IV PHCC who underwent IRE in conjunction with intraoperative biliary stent placement (laparotomic) in two medical centers in Asia between June 2015 and July 2018. Analysis focused on the perioperative clinical course, the efficacy of biliary decompression, and outcomes (survival). Results: Mean total serum bilirubin levels (mg/dL) on postoperative day (POD) 7, POD30, and POD90 were significantly lower than before IRE (respectively 3.46 vs 4.54, p=0.007; 1.21 vs 4.54, p<0.001; 1.99 vs 4.54, p<0.001). Mean serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9, U/ml) levels were significantly higher on POD3 than before the operation (518.8 vs 372.4, p=0.001) and significantly lower on POD30 and POD90 (respectively 113.7 vs 372.4, p<0.001; 63.9 vs 372.4, p<0.001). No cases of Clavien-Dindo grade III/IV adverse events or mortality occurred within 90 days post-op. The median progression-free survival was 21.5 months, and the median overall survival was 27.9 months. All individuals who survived for at least one year did so without the need to carry percutaneous biliary drainage (PTBD) tubes. Conclusions: It appears that IRE treatment in conjunction with intraoperative biliary stent placement is a safe and effective approach to treating unresectable PHCC. The decompression of biliary obstruction without the need for PTBD tubes is also expected to improve the quality of life of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanistic understanding and prediction of river algal blooms remain challenging. It is generally believed that these blooms are formed by the slowdown of water dynamics in tributaries due to the support of the main stream. However, few studies have investigated the impact of flow backward caused by the difference in water dynamics between the main stream and tributaries. Here, we focus on the eutrophication issue in the middle-lower reaches of the Han River, which is affected by the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP), the largest inter-basin water transfer project in Asia. We discover that the reversal of the Yangtze River water level could effectively alleviate the occurrence of Han River water blooms. The Yangtze River frequently back flows into the lower reaches of the Han River, with the probability of such events increasing as it nears the confluence (20 km from the Yangtze: 9.5 %, 10 km: 19.0 %, 8 km: 28.6 %). This flow backward carries nutrients that reduce the nitrogen to phosphorus ration (N:P), leading to a shift in the nutrient structure of the Han River. This change is concomitant with a significant decline in algae biomass (Chlorophyll- a = 11.19 µg·L–1 and algae density = 0.41×107 cells·L–1 under natural flow, Chlorophyll- a = 5.19 µg·L–1 and algae density = 0.18×107 cells·L–1 under flow backward), as well as a weakening of the correlation (R) between diatom density and chlorophyll-a concentration, i.e., R = 0.38 (p >0.05) under flow backward conditions versus R = 0.72 (p <0.01) under natural flow conditions. As phosphorus limitation typically suppresses algae growth, the correlation between diatom density and chlorophyll-a concentration can help to reveal the dominance of diatoms, with stronger correlations indicating greater diatom dominance. Consequently, our study provides evidence that the flow backward can alleviate river algal blooms by weakening the growth advantage of diatoms. This study could prove valuable in investigating the eutrophication mechanism within the complex hydrodynamic conditions of rivers. Flow backward caused by the water level difference between the main streams and tributary alleviated the occurrence of river algal blooms in the confluence area. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stepwise demagnetization isolates a stable magnetic component in 13 sites of basalt flows and baked sediments dated at 113.3±1.6 Ma from the Tuoyun section, western Xinjiang Province, China. Except for one flow from the base of the ∼300 m thick section, the rest have exclusively reversed polarity. The sequence correlates with chron M-0 in some geomagnetic polarity time scales, which potentially places the section just before the start of the Cretaceous Long Normal polarity superchron. Five of 11 sites of Early Cretaceous red beds that underlie the basalts possess coherent directions that pass both fold and reversals tests. Six sites of Upper Jurassic red beds have a magnetic component that was likely acquired after folding in the Tertiary. The mean paleolatitude of the Lower Cretaceous red beds is 11° lower than that of the Lower Cretaceous basalts suggesting the red beds underestimate the true field inclination. We further test this result by calculating the paleolatitudes to a common point of the available Early Cretaceous to Present paleomagnetic poles from red beds and volcanic rocks from central Asian localities north of the Tibetan Plateau. We find that paleolatitudes of volcanic rocks roughly equal the paleolatitudes calculated from the reference Eurasian apparent polar wander path (APWP) and that paleolatitudes of red beds are generally 10–20° lower than the paleolatitudes of volcanic rocks and those predicted from the reference curve. Our study suggests that central Asian red beds poorly record the Earth’s field inclination, which leads to lower than expected paleolatitudes. Good agreement in paleolatitudes from volcanic rocks and the Eurasian APWP argues against proposed canted and non-dipole field models. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract This study evaluates the impact of radiation schemes on the regional climate simulations with the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model over the CORDEX-EA (Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment-East Asia) domain during 1989–2008. The model is driven by the ERA-Interim reanalysis at a horizontal resolution of 50 km, and the two radiation schemes of CAM (Community Atmosphere Model) and RRTMG (Rapid Radiative Transfer Model for Global Climate Models) are applied. The mean and extreme temperature is generally underestimated by the model over most areas, with the greatest bias reaching 8 °C over the Tibetan Plateau, which can be explained by the underestimation of the long wave radiation. The RRTMG scheme reduces the underestimation of long wave radiation by about 30 W/m2 in most regions, and thus reduces the root mean square error of annual mean temperature over the east Asia domain by about 0.77 °C. The simulations of precipitation show little dependence on the radiation schemes, with slight superiority in the CAM-driven experiment. The model's performance of producing the interannual variation of the temperature can be partly attributed to that of the long wave radiation, and the CAM scheme works slightly better in producing the interannual feature of both temperature and precipitation. The seasonal cycles of both temperature and precipitation are reasonably produced by the model. The cold bias of temperature is found to mainly occur in the cold months through the year, which is probably associated with the greater underestimation of long wave radiation flux in the cold months. Highlights • Bias of temperature is resulted from the bias of the long wave radiations. • RRTMG scheme produces warmer temperature, reducing cold bias and increasing warm bias. • Cold bias of temperature mainly occur in cold months, associated with greater underestimation of LW radiations. • The simulations of precipitation show little dependence on the radiation schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gracilaria is a genus of red algae widely cultivated in Asia and is notable for its economic importance as food ingredients. Neoagaro oligosaccharides (NAOSs) are products of Gracilaria that have excellent water solubility, antioxidant activity and prebiotic effect. In this study, Gracilaria crude polysaccharide was treated with agarase and hydrolyzed into NAOSs with different degrees of polymerization (DP). The compositions of the hydrolyzed NAOSs were analyzed by electrospray ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry and thin layer chromatography. The antioxidant capacity and prebiotic effects of NAOSs with different DPs were investigated and the results showed that DP could affect the antioxidant capacity of NAOSs. The prebiotic effects of NAOSs with different DP were evaluated based on the influence on the growth of four intestinal bacteria. NAOSs promoted the growth of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Sterptococcus thermophilus. The protective effect of Gracilaria NAOSs in simulated gastrointestinal juice was also studied. Finally, NAOSs with best prebiotic effects were used in Procambarus feeding experiment and exhibited promotion effect on Procambarus growth. The present study showed that Gracilaria NAOSs can be utilized as antioxidant and prebiotic additive, which had a considerable potential in food and feed industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The clinical, cytogenetic and molecular features of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), a disease previously considered to be rare in Asia, were examined in consecutive series of 70 cases diagnosed by our laboratory over a 30-month period. Clonal abnormalities were observed in 80% of CLL/SLL cases using a combination of conventional cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Those involving 14q32/IGH were the most frequent (24 cases), followed by trisomy 12 and 11q abnormalities. IgVH gene usage was non-random with over-representation of VH4-34, VH3-23 and a previously unreported increase in VH3-48 gene use. Somatic hypermutation (SHM) of IgVH germline sequences was observed in 56.5% of cases with stereotyped patterns of SHM observed in VH4-34 heavy chain complimentary-determining (HCDR1) and framework region CFR2 sequences. These findings in a Chinese population suggest subtle geographical differences in IgVH gene usage while the remarkably specific pattern of SHM suggest that a relatively limited set of antigens may be involved in the development of this disease worldwide. IgVH gene mutation status was a significant predictor of initial survival in CLL/SLL. However, an influence of karyotype on prognosis was not observed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim of the study: Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (ginseng) is a well-known Chinese herb often used in Asian countries for physical strength development. Ginseng polysaccharides are its active component and have a lot of pharmaceutical activities. However, anti-fatigue activity of ginseng polysaccharides has not yet been tested. The current study was designed to evaluate the anti-fatigue activity of ginseng polysaccharides (WGP) in an animal test for fatigue and compare the activities between the neutral (WGPN) and acidic (WGPA) portion in an attempt to determine whether the medicinal uses are supported by pharmacological effects. Materials and methods: WGP, WGPN and WGPA were orally administrated to mice once daily for 15 days. Anti-fatigue activity was assessed using the forced swim test (FST) and serum biochemical parameters were determined by autoanalyzer and commercially available kits. Results: While all compounds were found to reduce immobility in the FST, the effect of WGPA was demonstrated in lower doses compared with WGP and WGPN. Moreover, the FST-induced reduction in glucose (GLU) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and increase in creatine phosphokinase (CK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, all indicators of fatigue, were inhibited by the corresponding doses of WGP, WGPN and WGPA. Conclusions: Ginseng polysaccharides have anti-fatigue activity, also reflected in the effects on the physiological markers for fatigue. The acidic polysaccharide is more potent than the neutral polysaccharide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The tribe Collabieae (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) comprises approximately 500 species. Generic delimitation within Collabieae are confusing and phylogenetic interrelationships within the Collabieae have not been well resolved. Plastid genomes and nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were used to estimate the phylogenetic relationships, ancestral ranges, and diversification rates of Collabieae. The results showed that Collabieae was subdivided into nine clades with high support. We proposed to combine Ancistrochilus and Pachystoma into Spathoglottis, merge Collabium and Chrysoglossum into Diglyphosa, and separate Pilophyllum and Hancockia as distinctive genera. The diversification of the nine clades of Collabieae might be associated with the uplift of the Himalayas during the Late Oligocene/Early Miocene. The enhanced East Asian summer monsoon in the Late Miocene may have promoted the rapid diversification of Collabieae at a sustained high diversification rate. The increased size of terrestrial pseudobulbs may be one of the drivers of Collabieae diversification. Our results suggest that the establishment and development of evergreen broadleaved forests facilitated the diversification of Collabieae., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Scrub typhus is a zoonotic disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, a gram-negative intracellular bacterium and endemic in Asia-Pacific area. Acute myocardial infarction after Oricntia tsutsugamushi infection was rarely reported, and young adult was not reported., Patient Conerns: A 33-year-old man came to the emergency complained with chest tightness and fever for 4 days., Diagonoses: After Weil-Felix agglutination test (titer 1:160) twice, scrub typhus was diagnosed., Interventions: After treating with a hormonotherapy, antibiotic and ventilator-assisted ventilation, his chest tightness was mild lessened with normal breath and body temperature. However, an emergent coronary angiography performed unnormal, then a percutaneous coronary intervention was realized with the implantation of a stent., Outcomes: After the surgeon, his chest tightness was totally released, and he was discharged., Lessons: Our case was the first report of young adult acute myocardial infarction after O tsutsugamushi infection and we tried to figure out the potential mechanism and how to deal with., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Plantago asiatica L. has been used as a vegetable and nutritious food in Asia for thousands of years. According to recent phytochemical and pharmacological research, the active compositions of the plant contribute to various health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer. This article reviews the 87 components of the plant and their structures, as well as their biological activities and molecular research progress, in detail. This review provides valuable reference material for further study, production, and application of P. asiatica , as well as its components in functional foods and therapeutic agents.

Aim: To investigate associations between the IL-17 rs2275913 G>A and rs763780 T>C polymorphisms and susceptibility to gastric cancer in Asian populations., Methods: We reviewed studies published up to 2014 on IL-17 polymorphisms with gastric cancer susceptibility systematically. Relevant articles were identified in the MEDLINE, Science Citation Index, Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and Current Contents Index databases. We used version 12.0 STATA statistical software to evaluate the statistical data. Two reviewers abstracted the data independently. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated., Results: Seven independent, case-control studies were chosen for the meta-analysis, which included 3210 gastric cancer patients and 3889 healthy controls. The overall estimation showed a positive association between the IL-17 rs2275913 G>A polymorphism and the occurrence of gastric cancer for five genetic models (all P < 0.05) and similar results were observed for the IL-17 rs763780 T>C variation with four genetic models (all P < 0.05), but not for the dominant model (P > 0.05). Subgroup analysis by country revealed that the rs2275913 G>A and rs763780 T>C polymorphisms may be the main risk factor for gastric cancer in Chinese and Japanese populations., Conclusion: The IL-17 gene may be significantly correlated with gastric cancer risk in Asian populations, especially those carrying the rs2275913 G>A and rs763780 T>C polymorphisms.

Background: The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, the most destructive pest of rice, is a typical monophagous herbivore that feeds exclusively on rice sap, which migrates over long distances. Outbreaks of it have re-occurred approximately every three years in Asia. It has also been used as a model system for ecological studies and for developing effective pest management. To better understand how a monophagous sap-sucking arthropod herbivore has adapted to its exclusive host selection and to provide insights to improve pest control, we analyzed the genomes of the brown planthopper and its two endosymbionts., Results: We describe the 1.14 gigabase planthopper draft genome and the genomes of two microbial endosymbionts that permit the planthopper to forage exclusively on rice fields. Only 40.8% of the 27,571 identified Nilaparvata protein coding genes have detectable shared homology with the proteomes of the other 14 arthropods included in this study, reflecting large-scale gene losses including in evolutionarily conserved gene families and biochemical pathways. These unique genomic features are functionally associated with the animal's exclusive plant host selection. Genes missing from the insect in conserved biochemical pathways that are essential for its survival on the nutritionally imbalanced sap diet are present in the genomes of its microbial endosymbionts, which have evolved to complement the mutualistic nutritional needs of the host., Conclusions: Our study reveals a series of complex adaptations of the brown planthopper involving a variety of biological processes, that result in its highly destructive impact on the exclusive host rice. All these findings highlight potential directions for effective pest control of the planthopper.