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The genus Sanicula L. possesses many medically important plants, belonging to the family Apiaceae. It is one of the most taxonomically difficult taxa, largely due to the great variability in habit, foliage, flowers and fruits. Previous studies have mainly focused on the molecular studies of this genus, and the morphological research for this genus was limited, especially in the micromorphological research. In the current study, we newly obtained leaf materials from twenty-two Sanicula members, fruit and pollen materials from twenty Sanicula members and performed comprehensively micromorphological analyses for this complicated genus. The results of the leaf epidermis showed that the upper and lower epidermis were smooth and glabrous, and the cell shape was polygonal or irregular. The patterns of anticlinal wall were shallowly undulating, deeply undulating, subflat or flat. The cuticular membrane ornamentations were diverse, and some species had epidermal appendage. All Sanicula species observed the stomata in the lower epidermis, and only five species (S. rugulosa, S. elongata, S. hacquetioides, S. tienmuensis and S. elata) observed stomata in the upper epidermis, which can easily identify them from other Sanicula members. In addition, we found that the fruits scarcely compressed, and some fruits had their distinctive shape, such as the fruit shape of S. tienmuensis was subglobose, S. subgiraldii was broadly ovate and S. pengshuiensis was ellipsoid. All Sanicula taxa fruits surfaces were covered with prickles, bristles, protuberance, or tubercles, prickles were either long or short, uncinate or straight, rarely scale-like, ribs inconspicuous or slightly prominent, but the prickles/bristles/tubercles were different in shape, sparseness and arrangement. The vittae were distinct in S. rubriflora, S. chinensis, S. caerulescens, S. pengshuiensis, S. pauciflora, S. lamelligera, S. oviformis, S. flavovirens and S. elata, and the remaining taxa were obscure. These findings indicated that the fruits can clearly distinguish these Sanicula members. Furthermore, the micromorphological characteristics of pollen showed that the equatorial view included four shapes: ellipsoid, subrectangular, equatorially constricted and super-rectangular-equatorially constricted; and the polar view possessed four shapes: triangular, triangular–circular, suborbicular and trilobate circular. The germ furrow and the outer wall ornamentation of all Sanicula taxa were quite similar, indicating that the genus was a natural unit. In summary, our study promoted the improvement of a taxonomic system for the genus and also provided additional evidence for future taxonomic study of the genus Sanicula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From June through October 2020, symptoms of a branch blight disease were observed on Physocarpus amurensis plants in Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, China. Leaves on infected branches were chlorotic, with many raised, grey spots forming on the epidermis of diseased branches. Diseased twigs formed semi‐buried, small, spherical pycnidia, which were initially light brown and later turned dark. The pathogen was isolated and its pathogenicity was verified with Koch's postulates. Based on morphological characteristics and DNA sequence data the pathogen was identified as Aplosporella longipes. This is the first report of A. longipes in China and the first report of it causing branch blight disease of P. amurensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) leaf copes well with cold winters in southeastern China. However, until now, there has been almost no research on its adaptation mechanisms to cold weather. Herein, we found that the Moso bamboo leaf has evolved several anatomical structures that may play a role in enhancing its cold tolerance. These structures include fewer fusiform cells, smaller bulliform cells, lower stomata density and many more trichomes, as well as lower relative water content than in the leaf of a cold-sensitive bamboo species, Bambusa ventricosa. Untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed that the winter leaf of Moso bamboo had 10- to 1000-fold higher stress-resistant metabolites such as glutathione, trehalose and ascorbic acid than the leaf of B. ventricosa on both warm and cold days. In contrast to the leaves that grew on a warm day, some metabolites such as glutathione and trehalose increased dramatically in the leaves of Moso bamboo that grew on a cold day. However, they unexpectedly decreased in the leaf of B. ventricosa growing at cold temperatures. Transcriptome analysis revealed a cold stress response network that includes trehalose, glutathione, flavonoid metabolism, DNA repair, reactive oxygen species degradation, stress-associated genes and abiotic stress-related plant hormones such as jasmonic acid, abscisic acid and ethylene. The potential mediator transcription factors, such as EREBP, HSF, MYB, NAC and WRYK, were also significantly upregulated in Moso bamboo leaves growing at cold temperatures. Interestingly, many newly identified genes were involved in the transcriptome of the winter leaf of the Moso bamboo. Most of these new genes have not even been annotated yet. The above results indicate that the Moso bamboo leaf has evolved special histological structures, metabolic pathways and a cold stress-tolerant transcriptome to adapt to the cold weather in its distribution areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the long‐term outcomes after surgical resection for stage I lung adenocarcinoma based on the percentage of lepidic component (LC) and invasive tumor size (IS). Methods: The clinicopathological characteristics of 1049 patients with stage I lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery between 2006 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Tumors were categorized into groups: A (LC ≥ 50%) and B (LC < 50%). Groups A0 and A1 consisted of minimally invasive adenocarcinomas (MIA) and other lepidic‐predominant invasive adenocarcinomas, respectively. Group B was categorized into B1 (IS ≤ 1 cm), B2 (1 < IS≤2 cm), and B3 (2 < IS≤3 cm) by invasive tumor size and divided into subgroups (B1[lep+]/[lep−], B2[lep+]/[lep−], and B3[lep+]/[lep−]) according to the presence[lep+] or absence[lep−] of LCs. Cumulative incidence of recurrence (CIR) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) were examined. Results: LC decreased with increasing IS. Only 24 (8.5%) tumors in group A had an IS >1 cm. 10‐year CIR and CSS were 15.2% and 86.0%. LC and IS were found to be independent predictors of CSS. Patients in group A had 1.4% 10‐year CIR and 100% 10‐year CSS. In group B, a significantly higher CIR and worse CSS were observed as IS increased (p < 0.001), but LC was not a predictor for CSS (p = 0.593). No significant differences in CIR or CSS were found in presence of LC or not when LC < 50% (B1[lep+]/[lep−], B2[lep+]/[lep−], and B3[lep+]/[lep−]: p = 0.36/0.48, p = 0.82/0.94, and p = 0.90/0.37, respectively). Conclusions: LC≥50% tumors demonstrated excellent prognosis regardless of IS. The outcomes of LC < 50% tumors were well predicted by IS, corresponding to the T‐staging system. The predictive value of LC for prognosis became insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cuticle of ecdysozoans (Panarthropoda, Scalidophora, Nematoida) is secreted by underlying epidermal cells and renewed via ecdysis. We explore here the relationship between epidermis and external cuticular ornament in stem-group scalidophorans from the early Cambrian of China (Kuanchuanpu Formation; ca 535 Ma) that had two types of microscopic polygonal cuticular networks with either straight or microfolded boundaries. Detailed comparisons with modern scalidophorans (priapulids) indicate that these networks faithfully replicate the cell boundaries of the epidermis. This suggests that the cuticle of early scalidophorans formed through the fusion between patches of extracellular material secreted by epidermal cells, as observed in various groups of present-day ecdysozoans, including arthropods. Key genetic, biochemical and mechanical processes associated with ecdysis and cuticle formation seem to have appeared very early (at least not later than 535 Ma) in the evolution of ecdysozoans. Microfolded reticulation is likely to be a mechanical response to absorbing contraction exerted by underlying muscles. The polygonal reticulation in early and extant ecdysozoans is clearly a by-product of the epidermal cell pavement and interacted with the sedimentary environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate with high sensitivity for the rapid determination of pesticide residues was developed by combining silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and a fibrous swab. The SERS substrate was prepared simply by forming a SERS-active area on the section of fibrous swab and centrifuge tube with a soak-absorb approach. Rhodamine 6 G (R6G), a common SERS probe molecule, was used for performance characterization of the prepared SERS substrate that was shown to have high sensitivity, good stability and good reproducibility. Due to its good flexibility, the prepared SERS substrate was used to wipe contaminated surfaces for residue extraction. High sensitivity for detecting trace-level pesticides was verified for thiram. The limits of detection (LODs) for thiram on apple, grape and eggplant epidermis were calculated to be as low as 0.5313, 0.5768, and 0.5495 ng·cm−2, respectively, nearly 2 orders of magnitude below the maximum residue limit (MRL) for pesticide in food issued by the National Food Safety Standard of China. In addition, there was a linear relationship between the SERS intensity and the concentration of thiram in these three samples, indicating the good potential of this substrate for quantitative SERS analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oreocharis ovatilobata Q. Fu & Y.Q. Wang (Gesneriaceae) a new species from Guizhou Province in southwest China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to O. pankaiyuae and O. mairei, but differs from these congeners in particular by possessing ovate corolla lobes with purplish red spots at the obtuse apex, glandular-pubescent bracts and pistil, and by its adaxially white-pubescent leaf blade. Morphology (SEM) of leaf epidermis and seed coat of O. ovatilobata is also different from that of O. pankaiyuae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Manglietia pubipedunculata Q. W. Zeng & X. M. Hu (Magnoliaceae) is described and illustrated from Yunnan, China. In addition to macromorphological examination, we comparatively studied on micromorphology of leaf epidermis, leaf structure, and epidermal cell on the sclerotesta. This new species is similar to M. kwangtungensis in terms of having dense pubescence, however, their pubescence are quite different. Manglietia pubipedunculata has appressed, compressed, shorter and sparser pubescence consisting of single or two cells. Moreover, it differs from M. kwangtungensis by showing shorter and thicker peduncles, longer styles, basal carpels covered with sparsely brown appressed pubescence, and more ovules per carpel. Furthermore, the new species has thinner leaves, brown and rugged surfaces on sclerotesta, and the alveolate cell pattern consisting of pentagon or hexagon cells with papilla on secondary cell wall under the observation by SEM. The phylogenetic analysis from two nuclear PHYA and LEAFY and chloroplast trnH-psbA sequences of 11 taxa reveals that M. pubipedunculata is a distinct species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of infant skin regarding its structure and stratum corneum (SC) properties during development compared to adult skin have been reported only for a few races and body sites. The aim of this study was to understand the developmental changes of skin properties in Chinese infants, focusing on SC ceramides and protein secondary structure, which are important for skin barrier function. Three body sites with distinct characteristics (cheeks, inner upper arms, and buttocks) were assessed. Sixty pairs of Chinese infants and their mothers were measured for SC hydration, transepidermal water loss, ceramide levels, sebum with an ester bond, and protein secondary structure of superficial SC. Skin hydration decreased with age at all body sites. TEWL was similar between the 2–12- and 13–24-month-old groups but was higher than the adult group at the buttocks and inner upper arms and was equal to the adult group at the cheeks. These differences coincided with differences in protein secondary structure. Ceramide and sebum levels were lower in the infant groups. We conclude that both the SC functions and the components of infant skin are still developing and are not fully adapted as in adult skin at each body site examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous plant cuticles were collected from five sections in the Lower–Middle Devonian of Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, China. Based on these cuticles and published data, we recognize five types of stomata or stoma-like pores in Devonian plants, i.e., anomocytic, rosette and complex types of stomata, pores like in Nematothallus , and pores within thick cuticle. Anomocytic and/or rosette types of stomata are more common in some horneophytopsids, rhyniopsids, renalioids, zosterophyllopsids, lycopsids and a progymnosperm. Complex type found only in the Middle Devonian likely occurred in Orestovia and Schuguria . Pores like in Nematothallus and pores within thick cuticle are documented in both the Lower and Middle Devonian and are usually observed on dispersed cuticles which have relationship with non-vascular plants. The various plant species share only five types of stomata and stoma-like pores. It is difficult to understand the exact affinities of epidermises without other macrofossil information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atrichum laoshanense Y.-J.Yi & S.He, a new species of Polytrichaceae from Laoshan mountain in Shandong Province, eastern China, is described and illustrated. The new species resembles, and is related to A. angustatum (Brid.) Bruch & Schimp., but differs in the presence of stellately papillose median leaf cells, multicellular laminal teeth with well-defined outgrowths of pedestal cells on the distal dorsal lamina, and papillose stem epidermal cells. An updated key to species of Atrichum in China is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferns are important plants both to ecosystems and humans, while the organic tissues of ferns might be hard to find due to the taphonomical condition. Thus, phytoliths in ferns might provide helpful information while other proxies were absent. In this study, we surveyed the production and morphology of phytoliths in 25 fern species belonging to 15 families. The results showed that more than half of the studied species were non-phytoliths producers, while in phytoliths producers, the production rate could reach 712,995 grains/g of dry material. We confirmed and found that I rregular anticlinal , P rismatic elongate , E longate sinuate , S pheroidal cavate granulate , S ilicified epidermis granulate , A moeboid branchiate and P rismatic cubic might be the potential diagnostic phytoliths types for ferns. • We studied the common ferns in southern China to understand phytolith production in them. • Phytolith production ranged from 0 (not observed) to 712995 grains/g in the studied 25 specimens. • 12 morphotypes of phytoliths have been observed, and 7 of them might be the potential diagnostic phytoliths types for ferns. • This study could aid colleagues in finding fern residues both in natural and anthropological sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaves are important vegetative organs of plants. However, our knowledge of fossil conifer leaves has been mostly obtained from compression or impression specimens. Compared with the abundant impression and compression leaf fossils, permineralized conifer leaf fossils with preserved cellular details are extremely rare. Therefore, leaf anatomies of fossil conifers remain poorly understood. Here, we describe permineralized leaves of a fossil conifer, Ningxiaites specialis Feng, 2012 , from the Lopingian Sunjiagou Formation of Northwest China. The leaves are linear and helically arranged on shoot axis. They are characterized by a single vascular bundle surrounded by transfusion tissue, a single-layered endodermis, a thick mesophyll, and a single-layered epidermis. Tracheids in the vascular bundle exhibit helical and scalariform thickenings. The transfusion tissue is of the Pinus -type and composed of transfusion tracheids and transfusion parenchyma. The mesophyll comprises palisade and spongy tissues. The palisade mesophyll consists of thin-walled elongate cells, and is present on the adaxial side of the leaf. The spongy mesophyll comprises subcircular to subrectangular shaped cells and is present on the abaxial side. The hypodermis is discontinuously present beneath the adaxial epidermis and possesses two to three layers of sclerenchyma cells. The epidermis consists of a single layer of rectangular parenchyma covered by a thick cuticle with abundant cylindrical papillae. Stomata are predominantly present on the adaxial leaf surface and are arranged in parallel rows. This is the first report on the leaf anatomy of a Paleozoic conifer from the North China Block and sheds new light on the evolutionary history of conifers. • Leaf anatomy of Ningxiaites specialis is described from the Lopingian of northern China. • It shows a single vascular bundle enclosed by a Pinus-type transfusion tissue. • Its endodermis is single-layered, and its mesophyll includes palisade and spongy tissues. • N. specialis represents an intermediate evolutionary status from walchians to extant conifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape surface microorganisms play a vital role in grape health and yield, wine quality, and regional wine characteristics. To investigate the succession of fungal and bacterial communities of the grape epidermis and the effects of development stages, vineyard location, and macroclimatic conditions on the diversity of epidermal microorganisms, 16S and ITS sequences of 36 samples from three different regions and four development stages were sequenced using the Illumina Novaseq platform. The Shannon index showed that the α-diversity of fungi and bacteria decreased during development. An analysis of variance showed that microbial diversity was influenced by development stage and vineyard location, and the development stage had a greater impact on the microbial diversity than the vineyard location. Grapes recruited microbes according to their developmental stages, but retain the core microbiome. Based on network analysis, this study found a significant correlation between epidermal microbial communities and macroclimatic conditions. In conclusion, the study described in detail the complex community dynamics of grape epidermal microorganisms during berry development. The result will help improve vineyard management techniques, rationally utilize the ecological functions of the vineyard, and reduce the application of chemical fungicides or pesticides to keep the vines healthy, produce high-quality grapes, and highlight the regional characteristics of the wine. • The alpha diversity of grape epidermal microorganisms showed a downward trend during the annual growth cycle. • Grape epidermis microbial community was affected by berry development stage and vineyard location. • The core microbiome of grape epidermis was distinct across developmental stages. • Grape epidermal microorganisms had high degree of connectivity with the vineyard weather. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Quercus praedelavayi Xing Y.W. et Zhou Z.K. sp. nov. is reported from the upper Miocene of the Xianfeng flora in central Yunnan, southwestern China. The fossil species is identified based on the detailed leaf morphological and cuticular examinations. The primary venation is pinnate and the major secondary venation is craspedodromous with regular spacing. Stomata are anomocytic and occur on abaxial epidermis. Trichome bases are unicellular and multicellular. The new fossil species shows the closest affinity with Quercus delavayi, an extant species distributing in southwestern China. The responses of the functional leaf traits to the climate change were studied by comparing the leaf characters of fossil species and its nearest living relative. The stomatal density of Q. praedelavayi is higher than Q. delavayi, which suggests a lower palaeoatmospheric CO2 concentration during the late Miocene. The trichome base density of Q. praedelavayi is higher than the extant Q. delavayi. Considering the palaeoclimatic reconstruction of Xianfeng flora, it rejected the hypothesis that increase in trichome density is an adaptation to the drier environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The leaves of 52 species of Lithocarpus in China were studied. The adaxial leaf epidermis was investigated by light microscopy. Epidermal cells of the adaxial surface were classified into three types on the basis of the outline of their anticlinal walls, i.e. sinuate, straight and curved. The abaxial leaf epidermis was investigated by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The following types of trichome were observed: appressed parallel tuft, stellate, fused stellate, papillae, stipitate fasciculate, solitary unicellular, appressed laterally attached unicellular, curly thin-walled unicellular, bulbous and thin-walled peltate. The fused stellate, appressed laterally attached unicellular and curly thin-walled unicellular trichomes were reported in Lithocarpus for the first time. The appressed parallel tuft trichome, which is recognized as a salient characteristic of Lithocarpus, was not found in 15 species. A cladistic analysis was performed on the basis of the leaf epidermal features. According to the leaf epidermal features and several morphological characteristics, 26 of the 52 species could be divided into seven groups. Similar groups can be found in Barnett's and Camus' systems. The trichomes of four genera in Fagaceae are listed and compared. Lithocarpus had 14 types of trichome, 11 of which were identical to types found in Quercus, more than in Castanopsis and Cyclobalanopsis. The evolutionary trends of trichomes in Fagaceae are discussed and a new point of view is raised. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 168, 216-228. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Disposal of heavy metal contaminated biomass after phytoremediation is still unfeasible. This paper presents a viable phyto-extraction approach in which metals in contaminated soils are stabilized by nursery stocks before transplantation for greening. In this respect, two pot-experiments are reported comparing seven nursery stocks species exposed to different Cd levels. The first experiment revealed that Cd was mainly stabilized in the roots of all species studied. Greater amounts of Cd were accumulated in the epidermis than cortex plus stele. Cupressus Blue Ice showed greatest tolerance to the 100 and 200mgkg−1 Cd stresses. The second experiment additionally evaluated the possible risk of Cd release after transplanting the Cd treated plants into uncontaminated soil. After 120 days of transplantation, the relatively trace amounts of Cd in the roots of Euonymus japonicus, Pittosporum tobira and C. Blue Ice had either been partially transferred into the shoots or released into the soil. The highest Cd concentration increase in bulk soil (0.428mgkg−1), however, was much lower than the environmental quality standard for soils of China (1mgkg−1). The potential effectiveness of this technique in the use of Cd-contaminated soil and further investigation needed in the field trials were also evaluated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ginseng is a precious traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Different parts of ginseng are deemed to have different medicinal values and properties. Rapid and non-destructive methods, such as diffuse reflectance near-infrared spectroscopy (DR-NIR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance (ATR-FTIR), were used to evaluate the differences of epidermis, phloem and xylem in ginseng, respectively. Samples were grounded into 200-mesh fine powder or cut into slices with about 2mm thickness for DR-NIR and ATR-FTIR spectra measurement, respectively. To explore the classifications between different parts of ginseng, the spectra of DR-NIR and ATR-FTIR were pretreated to calculate first derivative and then was analyzed with principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA results of DR-NIR spectra indicate that epidermis and xylem part of ginseng have distinct difference, and even different positions of epidermis or xylem part show regular and gradual differences. ATR-FTIR spectra directly show that three parts of ginseng are different at 2920, 2852, 1736 and 925.7cm−1 peaks, especially for epidermis of ginseng. The PCA results of ATR-FTIR spectra yield clear classifications of the three parts of ginseng. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Leaf morphological and anatomical structure and carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) change with increasing tree height. To determine how tree height affects leaf characteristics, we measured the leaf area, specific leaf mass (ratio of leaf mass to leaf area [LMA]), thickness of the total leaf, cuticle, epidermis, palisade and sponge mesophyll, stomata traits and δ13C at different heights of Parashorea chinensis with methods of light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. The correlation and stepwise regression between tree height and leaf structure traits were carried out with SPSS software. The results showed that leaf structures and δ13C differed significantly along the tree height gradient. The leaf area, thickness of sponge mesophyll and size of stomata decreased with increasing height, whereas the thickness of lamina, palisade mesophyll, epidermis, and cuticle, ratios of palisade to spongy thickness, density of stomata and vascular bundles, LMA and δ13C increased with tree height. Tree height showed a significant relationship with all leaf indices and the most significant relationship was with epidermis thickness, leaf area, cuticle thickness, δ13C. The δ13C value showed a significantly positive relationship with LMA ( R = 0.934). Our results supported the hypothesis that the leaf structures exhibited more xeromorphic characteristics with the increasing gradient of tree height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new kind of marattialean raches are reported from the coal balls in Coal Seam No.7 in the upper part of the Taiyuan Formation (early Early Permian) from Taiyuan, Shanxi, China and are assigned to the genus Stipitopteris Grand'Eury (Psaroniaceae). The present specimens are different from all six reported species of the genus, and are therefore proposed as a new species: Stipitopteris shanxiensis. The raches of the new species are generally dorsi-ventrally flattened. The main raches usually exhibit scales of different forms on their surface. Beneath the epidermis is a zone of parenchymatous cells, some of which contain tannin-like contents. Inside this is a zone of small sclerenchymatous cells. Inward are the ground tissue and vascular bundles. The vascular bundles are continuous and are in two circles: the outer circle assumes a transversely elliptical shape with the gap and pinna trace, and the inner circle assumes a shallow C-shape with inrolled ends. The ground tissue located at the inner side of the vascular bundle is composed of thicker-walled parenchymatous cells. The cells of the ground tissue are vertically elongated in longitudinal sections. Subordered raches are smaller and have simpler structures than the main raches. The parenchyma zone beneath the epidermis is thinner, usually one to two cells wide and the sclerenchyma zone is usually absent. The scales are poorly developed and there is only one C-shaped vascular bundle. The new species is comparable to the crosiers of Psaroniaceae of the Euramerican Flora in some aspects, for example, it has a dorsi-ventrally flattened rachis and scales on the surface of the rachis. However, the other features and the preservative conditions of the present specimens indicate that they are not crosiers, but fully developed or mature raches. The new species is the first well-studied anatomically-preserved rachis of Psaroniaceae from the Cathaysian Flora and bears significance not only in understanding the anatomy and taxonomy of Psaroniaceae in the Cathaysian Flora, but also in the relationship between the Euramerican Flora and the Cathaysian Flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Darier’s disease (DD) is an autosomal dominantly inherited skin disorder characterized by loss of adhesion between epidermal cells (acantholysis) and abnormal keratinization. To date, at least 140 mutations in the ATP2A2 gene have been identified as the genetic basis of DD. Here we reported three familial and two sporadic Chinese DD patients totally with four missense mutations (N767D, M494I, M494L, C318F) and one splice-site mutation (1288–6A→G) in ATP2A2 gene, and presented a literature review of DD cases reported in China since 1989. Our data add new variants to the repertoire of ATP2A2 gene in DD and confirms that most mutations in the ATP2A2 gene are private and missense type. Likewise, the literature review indicates that DD is not uncommon in China and presents more information about genotype–phenotype correlations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fructification Discinites baculiformis sp. nov. and the foliage Yuania wudensis sp. nov. are described from the lower Permian Shanxi Formation of Wuda, Inner Mongolia, North China. Discinites baculiformis sp. nov. is at least 31 cm long and 1.5-1.8 cm wide. It has more than 78 whorls of sporophylls, each with ca. 85 sporangia on the adaxial side, a total of more than 6630 sporangia. The impression of the sporophyll epidermis is preserved, and cells are visible. In situ trilete spores are detected. The new species represents the longest strobilus with the largest number of whorls of sporophyll disks so far known in the genus. Yuania wudensis sp. nov. has unbranched rachises, with alternate to subopposite elongate ellipsoidal pinnae. Epidermal cells are rectangular, long, and narrow. The two new species might represent the fructification and foliage of the same parent plant, since there is no other noeggerathialean member in the taphonomic plant community. The association is comparable with the association of Discinites and Russellites from the Permian of Texas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palmoplantar keratoderma Bothnia type (PPKB) is caused by AQP5 pathogenic variants. The mechanisms of this disease and the genotype-phenotype correlation are still not fully understood. We report two pedigrees with PPKB caused by a recurrent variant c.367A>T and a novel variant c.530T>A in the AQP5 gene, respectively. We also summarize the cases with AQP5 variants identified, and found that there seemed to be no significant genotype-phenotype correlation of this disease. Moreover, we noticed that the epidermis of the patient had strong proliferation and immature differentiation potential as well as recognizing the possible important role of TRPV4 in the pathogenesis of PPKB., (© 2022 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Although the key steps of tail regeneration in lizards are well understood, further investigations involving skinks can provide the field of regeneration research with additional information. In order to characterize the cytoarchitecture of tail regeneration in Scincella tsinlingensis, an endemic species in China, its histological events and growth trends are investigated. The rate of tail regeneration varies with the season: it proceeds faster in summer and autumn than it does in winter and spring. Tail regeneration of S. tsinlingensis is summarized as wound healing, blastema formation, cell differentiation and tail growth, which can be subdivided into seven stages. Wound healing following tail loss, begins with an obvious outgrowth undergoing re-epithelialization. Numerous proliferating mesenchymal-like cells aggregate near the distal end of the severed spinal cord to form the blastema. The expanding blastema is invaded by blood vessels, nerves and ependyma. A cartilaginous skeleton is formed around the ependymal tube and the muscle starts to differentiate. The keratinization of epidermis coincides with scale formation. Pigmentation eventually occurs in the regenerated tail. Tail regeneration in S. tsinlingensis is an epimorphic kind of regeneration that is also known as blastema-mediated. Structure and composition of the regenerated tail, including its cytoarchitecture, represent a conserved pattern of regeneration also known from other lizards., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Epidermal function is associated with diabetes and renal disease. Whether obesity can reflect the changes in epidermal function is not clear yet., Objective: We assessed here the correlation of epidermal functions with body mass index (BMI) in a large Chinese cohort., Methods and Subjects: A total of 1,405 Chinese aged 21-98 years old were enrolled in this study. Epidermal functions, including transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration, and skin surface pH, were measured on the flexor forearm and the shin. Subjects' height and body weight were also measured., Results: Age positively correlated with both TEWL and skin surface pH, while it negatively correlated with stratum corneum hydration on both the forearm and the shin of females. Similarly, age positively correlated with skin surface pH, while negatively correlating with stratum corneum hydration on both the forearm and the shin of males. In females, BMI positively correlated with skin surface pH, while it negatively correlated with stratum corneum hydration on both the forearm and the shin. However, BMI correlated neither with skin surface pH on both the forearm and the shin nor with stratum corneum hydration on the shin of males., Conclusion: These results demonstrate that correlations of BMI with age and epidermal functions vary with gender., (© 2022 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

During a 10-year period (1976-1985), eight Chinese patients form a population of 2.4 million fulfilled the criteria for dermatitis herpetiformis and linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD). These rare diseases among Asians presented during the third decade of life with homogenous linear IGA deposits along the dermoepidermal junction in four of the eight cases. Three had classic granular deposits in the papillary dermis, while on was negative. There has been a remission in tow of the patients. Dermatitis herpetiformis among the Chinese differs from experience elsewhere in that there was no associated gluten-sensitive enteropathy. The response to a very low-dose dapsone was excellent in most cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report the case of a 32-year-old Chinese woman who presented with a large cholesteatoma in her right upper neck after a history of ipsilateral chronic otitis media since childhood. Intraoperatively, a cholesteatoma was found in the mastoid cavity, and the mass in her neck was attached to the mastoid cortex by a stalk. Direct erosion of the mastoid tip may have led the cholesteatoma epidermis to enter the deep surface of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, allowing debris accumulation to form the mass, similar to the propagation of pus in a Bezold''s abscess. Neck cholesteatoma secondary to aural cholesteatoma is fairly rare. Only five reports were identified before 1989 followed by no reports in the past 20 years. The case we reported is a reminder to otolaryngologists that this unusual condition still occurs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Since air pollution is only one of many environmental stressors that can affect skin, it has been challenging to identify skin appearance or functional features profoundly affected by chronic exposure to traffic-derived air pollution., Aims: The current population study focused on taxi drivers working in urban and rural areas in order to take advantage of difference in occupational exposure., Methods: The skin conditions of 100 middle-aged male taxi drivers from urban Shanghai and 66 from rural Chongming were measured with facial tape strips were collected for biomarker analyses., Results: Trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) values before and after tape stripping were considerably higher in urban taxi drivers from Shanghai. Contrary to previous studies, there was no apparent detrimental effect on skin wrinkle or pigmentation from traffic pollution, which might be attributed to the higher than general public level of photo-exposure in this population. At the same time, pollution exposure especially the heavy traffic pollution exposure was found to associate with lower stratum corneum trypsin-like enzyme activity (SCTE), reduced catalase activity and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) in tape strips., Conclusion: The evidence suggests that traffic-derived air pollution could deteriorate skin's physical and antioxidant barrier, whereas factors like photo-exposure can be overwhelming against appearance aging. Therefore, in addition to photoprotection, skin barrier care should be considered for people with high air pollution exposure., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The cuticle of ecdysozoans (Panarthropoda, Scalidophora, Nematoida) is secreted by underlying epidermal cells and renewed via ecdysis. We explore here the relationship between epidermis and external cuticular ornament in stem-group scalidophorans from the early Cambrian of China (Kuanchuanpu Formation; ca 535 Ma) that had two types of microscopic polygonal cuticular networks with either straight or microfolded boundaries. Detailed comparisons with modern scalidophorans (priapulids) indicate that these networks faithfully replicate the cell boundaries of the epidermis. This suggests that the cuticle of early scalidophorans formed through the fusion between patches of extracellular material secreted by epidermal cells, as observed in various groups of present-day ecdysozoans, including arthropods. Key genetic, biochemical and mechanical processes associated with ecdysis and cuticle formation seem to have appeared very early (at least not later than 535 Ma) in the evolution of ecdysozoans. Microfolded reticulation is likely to be a mechanical response to absorbing contraction exerted by underlying muscles. The polygonal reticulation in early and extant ecdysozoans is clearly a by-product of the epidermal cell pavement and interacted with the sedimentary environment.

Skin physiology is dynamically changing over the first years of postnatal life; however, ethnic variations are still unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize infant skin barrier function, epidermal structure, and desquamation-related enzymatic activity as compared to that of adult skin in an East Asian population. The skin properties of 52 infants (3-24 months) and 27 adults (20-40 years) were assessed by noninvasive methods at the dorsal forearm and upper inner arm. Transepidermal water loss and skin surface conductance values were higher and more dispersed for infants compared to adults. Infant skin surface pH was slightly lower than adult on the dorsal forearm. The infant SC and viable epidermis were thinner compared to adults with differences that were site-specific. Although the chymotrypsin-like activity for infant skin was comparable to adult level, the caseinolytic specific activity was significantly higher for the infant cohort. These observations indicate a differently controlled pattern of corneocyte desquamation in infants. In conclusion, structural and functional differences exist between infant and adult skin in the East Asian population pointing to dynamic maturation of the epidermal barrier early in life.

Background: A series of cases of symmetrical acral keratoderma have been described recently in China. However, no studies about its demographic information and epidermal barrier function have been documented., Objectives: To describe the clinical manifestation, demographic information and clinicopathological features of 71 cases with symmetrical acral keratoderma., Patients and Methods: Seventy-one cases with symmetrical acral keratoderma were retrospectively reviewed. Their demographic information, clinical manifestations, histopathology and epidermal barrier function were analysed., Results: Among these patients, there were 64 males and seven females, ranging in age from 4 to 53 years with an average age at onset of 27 ± 8·9 years. Clinical manifestation was characterized by brown hyperkeratotic patches over the dorsum of the hands, palms and feet, dorsal digits and wrists, elbows, knees and ankles. The lesions became dramatically whitish with mild swelling immediately after soaking in water and resolved spontaneously in winter. In patients, a moderate increase of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) from 16·16 ± 6·15 to 9·9 ± 4·21 g m(-2)  h(-1) (P = 0·0054) and a moderate decrease of skin hydration from 65·9 ± 5·06 to 42·58 ± 10·73 (P < 0·01) in comparison with the control group were observed. Histopathological examination revealed epidermal hyperkeratosis, acanthosis and papillomatous hyperplasia as well as dermal infiltration with a few lymphocytes., Conclusions: Symmetrical acral keratoderma is characterized by symmetry, acra, keratinization and marked seasonal changes. The epidermal barrier function of the skin was negatively affected., (© 2013 British Association of Dermatologists.)