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Objective: Analyze the cancer screening status of the cancer screening program in urban areas in Shaanxi province in 2019-2020. Methods: The early diagnosis and early treatment project for urban cancers carried out high-risk population screening for 5 types of high-incidence malignant tumors (breast cancer, lung cancer, upper gastrointestinal cancer, liver cancer, and colorectal cancer) in urban areas. Three prefecture-level cities in Shaanxi province with a population of over 1 million (Xi'an, Baoji, and Shangluo) were selected, and 4 communities with a relatively good working foundation were selected in each city. The general population aged 45-74 years was surveyed on the principles of informed consent and voluntariness, and high-risk groups identified through the questionnaire were further subjected to free endoscopy, ultrasound, CT, and other clinical screenings. The high-risk rates, screening compliance rates, and positive detection rates of the above 5 types of malignant tumors were analyzed. Results: A total of 19 632 people completed the survey effectively, with the proportion of male participants (40.0%) lower than that of females (60.0%). A total of 10 102 high-risk groups were identified, with an initial screening high-risk rate of 51.5%, and the high-risk rates for the 5 types of cancers were 24.1% for breast cancer, 28.6% for lung cancer, 9.1% for upper gastrointestinal cancer, 4.0% for liver cancer, and 20.0% for colorectal cancer. Among the 14 960 person-time initially assessed as high-risk, 5 129 person-time received clinical screening, with a screening compliance rate of 34.3%. The number of people receiving clinical screening and the screening compliance rates for the 5 types of cancers were 1 192 (41.9%) for breast cancer, 2 081 (37.1%) for lung cancer, 574 (32.0%) for upper gastrointestinal cancer, 404 (51.3%) for liver cancer, and 878 (22.3%) for colorectal cancer, with positive detection numbers and rates of 179 (15.0%) for breast, 289 (13.9%) for lung, 9 (1.6%) for upper gastrointestinal, 14 (3.5%) for suspected liver, and 67 (7.6%) for colorectal, respectively. Conclusion: The cancer screening status of the cancer screening program in urban areas in Shaanxi province is beneficial for the detection of precancerous lesions and early cancer patients, and improving the early diagnosis and treatment rate of patients, but the public participation rate is not high, and the project management model and technical plan need to be further improved.

Glyceollins, a family of phytoalexins elicited in legume species, play crucial roles in environmental stress response (e.g., defending against pathogens) and human health. However, little is known about the genetic basis of glyceollin elicitation. In the present study, we employed a metabolite-based genome-wide association (mGWA) approach to identify candidate genes involved in glyceollin elicitation in genetically diverse and understudied wild soybeans subjected to soybean cyst nematode. In total, eight SNPs on chromosomes 3, 9, 13, 15, and 20 showed significant associations with glyceollin elicitation. Six genes fell into two gene clusters that encode glycosyltransferases in the phenylpropanoid pathway and were physically close to one of the significant SNPs (ss715603454) on chromosome 9. Additionally, transcription factors (TFs) genes such as MYB and WRKY were also found as promising candidate genes within close linkage to significant SNPs on chromosome 9. Notably, four significant SNPs on chromosome 9 show epistasis and a strong signal for selection. The findings describe the genetic foundation of glyceollin biosynthesis in wild soybeans; the identified genes are predicted to play a significant role in glyceollin elicitation regulation in wild soybeans. Additionally, how the epistatic interactions and selection influence glyceollin variation in natural populations deserves further investigation to elucidate the molecular mechanism of glyceollin biosynthesis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Yasmin, Zhang, Leamy, Wang, Winnike, Reid, Brouwer and Song.)

Monopolar radiofrequency (RF) non-invasively tightens and rejuvenates the skin by stimulating collagen fiber production. Since the introduction of the monopolar RF device in the early 2000's, RF devices have advanced and they can rejuvenate of periorbital and forehead wrinkles, as well as skin laxity of the lower face and neck. We compared the differences in the treatment effects based on the tip size. This randomized split-face study comprised 31 participants aged 29 to 75 years old (three males and 28 females) who underwent one session of monopolar RF; one side of the face was treated with a 3cm 2 tip and the other with a 4cm 2 tip. Facial wrinkle scores were measured on the upper face and the lower face before and after treatment for up to three months. Significant improvement was observed in the periorbital area ( p <0.001), forehead ( p =0.72), and glabellar ( p =0.63) treated with a smaller tip. However, nasolabial folds ( p =0.8) and marionette lines ( p =0.13) showed better improvement when treated with a larger tip., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURES.: The authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this article., (Copyright © 2024. Matrix Medical Communications. All rights reserved.)

Soybeans, one of the most valuable crops worldwide, are annually decimated by the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines , resulting in massive losses in soybean yields and economic revenue. Conventional agricultural pesticides are generally effective in the short term; however, they pose growing threats to human and environmental health; therefore, alternative SCN management strategies are urgently needed. Preliminary findings show that phenolic acids are significantly induced during SCN infection and exhibit effective nematocidal activities in vitro. However, it is unclear whether these effects occur in planta or elicit any negative effects on plant growth traits. Here, we employed a phytochemical-based seed coating application on soybean seeds using phenolic acid derivatives (4HBD; 2,3DHBA) at variable concentrations and examined SCN inhibition against two SCN types. Moreover, we also examined plant growth traits under non-infected or SCN infected conditions. Notably, 2,3DHBA significantly inhibited SCN abundance in Race 2-infected plants with increasingly higher chemical doses. Interestingly, neither compound negatively affected soybean growth traits in control or SCN-infected plants. Our findings suggest that a phytochemical-based approach could offer an effective, more environmentally friendly solution to facilitate current SCN management strategies and fast-track the development of biopesticides to sustainably manage devastating pests such as SCN.

The effect of Pilates on dysmenorrhea has been little studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Pilates on menstrual pain and symptoms, premenstrual syndrome, and risk factors of dysmenorrhea. Thirty young women with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned into a Pilates group (PG; n = 15) and a waitlist control group (CG; n = 15). The Pilates was performed twice a week for 12 weeks. Menstrual pain and symptoms were measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Cox menstrual symptom scale (CMSS), respectively. Premenstrual syndrome was assessed using the premenstrual symptoms screening tool (PSST). Additionally, back flexibility, hip muscle strength, sleep duration and quality, perceived stress, state-trait anxiety, and depression were evaluated. The VAS, CMSS severity and frequency, and PSST symptoms and functional impairments decreased in the PG compared to the CG ( p < 0.001 or p < 0.01) with large effect sizes. Back flexibility and the strength of hip flexors, hip extensors, and hip abductors significantly increased in the PG compared to the CG (all p < 0.01) with large effect sizes. Sleep quality ( p < 0.01) and stress ( p < 0.05) improved in the PG. Sleep duration, anxiety, and depression did not change in either group. In conclusion, the 12-week Pilates intervention ameliorates dysmenorrhea, partly mediated by improved physical function and sleep quality.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a zoonotic flavivirus, is principally transmitted by hematophagous mosquitoes, continually between susceptible animals and incidentally from those animals to humans. For almost a century since its discovery, JEV was geographically confined to the Asia-Pacific region with recurrent sizable outbreaks involving wildlife, livestock, and people. However, over the past decade, it has been detected for the first time in Europe (Italy) and Africa (Angola) but has yet to cause any recognizable outbreaks in humans. JEV infection leads to a broad spectrum of clinical outcomes, ranging from asymptomatic conditions to self-limiting febrile illnesses to life-threatening neurological complications, particularly Japanese encephalitis (JE). No clinically proven antiviral drugs are available to treat the development and progression of JE. There are, however, several live and killed vaccines that have been commercialized to prevent the infection and transmission of JEV, yet this virus remains the main cause of acute encephalitis syndrome with high morbidity and mortality among children in the endemic regions. Therefore, significant research efforts have been directed toward understanding the neuropathogenesis of JE to facilitate the development of effective treatments for the disease. Thus far, multiple laboratory animal models have been established for the study of JEV infection. In this review, we focus on mice, the most extensively used animal model for JEV research, and summarize the major findings on mouse susceptibility, infection route, and viral pathogenesis reported in the past and present, and discuss some unanswered key questions for future studies.

Background: Malignant glioma is among the most lethal and frequently occurring brain tumors, and the average survival period is 15 months. Existing chemotherapy has low tolerance and low blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability; therefore, the required drug dose cannot be accurately delivered to the tumor site, resulting in an insufficient drug effect., Methods: Herein, we demonstrate a precision photodynamic tumor therapy using a photosensitizer (ZnPcS) capable of binding to albumin in situ, which can increase the permeability of the BBB and accurately target glioma. Albumin-binding ZnPcS was designed to pass through the BBB and bind to secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), which is abundant in the glioma plasma membrane., Results: When the upper part of a mouse brain was irradiated using a laser (0.2 W cm - 2 ) after transplantation of glioma and injection of ZnPcS, tumor growth was inhibited by approximately 83.6%, and the 50% survival rate of the treatment group increased by 14 days compared to the control group. In glioma with knockout SPARC, the amount of ZnPcS entering the glioma was reduced by 63.1%, indicating that it can target glioma through the SPARC pathway., Conclusion: This study showed that the use of albumin-binding photosensitizers is promising for the treatment of malignant gliomas., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Aim: To estimate and compare the incidence and characteristics of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) in the Wenzhou area in 2015 to 2019., Methods: All newly developed RRD cases among residents of the Wenzhou area, from January 2015 to December 2019, were retrospectively retrieved from hospital records. Annual population data were extracted from the Wenzhou Statistical Yearbook., Results: There were 3629 eligible cases. The average incidence of RRD was 7.79 cases per 100 000 population (95% confidence interval, 7.24-8.34), and the incidences were 7.99 and 7.56 for males and females, respectively. The annual incidence increased gradually from 7.26 cases per 100 000 in 2015 to 10.00 cases per 100 000 in 2019, with an overall increase of 37.74%. The highest rate of increase occurred in the age group from 60 to 69 years. Of 2750 eyes with axial length (AL) data, 1675 (60.91%) had an AL greater than 24 mm., Conclusion: A trend to increasing RRD incidence is observed in the Wenzhou area over the past 5-year period., (International Journal of Ophthalmology Press.)

Background: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogs are being used by an increasing number of reproductive-age women. However, there is concern regarding the teratogenic potential of GABA analogs., Methods: We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the relationship between GABA analog exposure and risk of adverse neonatal outcomes., Results: Eight cohort studies were included in the meta-analysis. Exposure to a GABA analog during pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of congenital malformation (odds ratio [OR] 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96-1.46, P = 0.106) or a small for gestational age (SGA) infant (OR 1.99, 95% CI 0.78-5.1, P = 0.152) compared to no exposure. However, exposure to a GABA analog was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth (PB) (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.04-2.35, P = 0.033), spontaneous abortion (SA) (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.14-2.38, P = 0.008), or termination of pregnancy (TOP) (OR 3.02, 95% CI 2-4.56, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Exposure to GABA analogs during pregnancy does not appear to be associated with congenital malformation, although there was some evidence of a higher risk of several other negative neonatal outcomes. Given the few studies included, larger prospective studies controlling for important confounders are needed to verify our findings., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: Arytenoid adduction (AA) and injection laryngoplasty (IL) are major surgical options for the treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). AA is a laryngeal framework surgery and IL is a soft-tissue augmentation procedure. Therefore, the effect of each intervention will not be substitutive but complementary to the other., Methods: Patients who received AA and IL were enrolled (N = 43). Mean age was 60.1 ± 12.7 years. Objective and subjective voice parameters including maximum phonation time (MPT), jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio (NHR), grade of dysphonia (G), and voice handicap index (VHI)-30 were collected preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. AA and IL were sequentially performed with time interval; 28 (65.1%) patients received IL first followed by AA (IL+AA group) and 15 (34.9%) had AA followed by IL (AA+IL group). Time interval between first and second procedures was 9.9 ± 14.6 months., Results: MPT, jitter, shimmer, NHR, G and VHI-30 significantly improved by both first and second procedures (P < 0.001). When we evaluated IL+AA group and AA+IL group separately, the final outcomes of MPT, jitter, G, and VHI-30 between the two groups were not significantly different. When the overall effects of IL and AA were compared, MPT significantly improved with AA than with IL (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: In patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis, sequential AA and IL (or IL and AA) provided additional improvement of subjective and objective voice parameters. Final outcomes of the two combined procedures resulted in similar degree of voice improvement regardless of the order of procedure., (Copyright © 2020 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Type I interferons (IFNs) initiate immune responses to viral infections. Their effects are mediated by the type I IFN receptor, IFNAR, comprised of two subunits: IFNAR1 and IFNAR2. One or both chains of the sheep IFNAR were disrupted in fetal fibroblast lines using CRISPR/Cas9 and 12 lambs were produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for IFN-stimulated gene expression showed that IFNAR deficient sheep fail to respond to IFN-alpha. Furthermore, fibroblast cells from an IFNAR2 -/- fetus supported significantly higher levels of Zika virus (ZIKV) replication than wild-type fetal fibroblast cells. Although many lambs have died from SCNT related problems or infections, one fertile IFNAR2 -/- ram lived to over 4 years of age, remained healthy, and produced more than 80 offspring. Interestingly, ZIKV infection studies failed to demonstrate a high level of susceptibility. Presumably, these sheep compensated for a lack of type I IFN signaling using the type II, IFN-gamma and type III, IFN-lambda pathways. These sheep constitute a unique model for studying the pathogenesis of viral infection. Historical data supports the concept that ruminants utilize a novel type I IFN, IFN-tau, for pregnancy recognition. Consequently, IFNAR deficient ewes are likely to be infertile, making IFNAR knockout sheep a valuable model for studying pregnancy recognition. A breeding herd of 32 IFNAR2 +/- ewes, which are fertile, has been developed for production of IFNAR2 -/- sheep for both infection and reproduction studies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Davies, Fan, Morgado, Liu, Regouski, Meng, Thomas, Yun, Song, Frank, Perisse, Van Wettere, Lee and Polejaeva.)

Seed protein, oil content and yield are highly correlated agronomically important traits that essentially account for the economic value of soybean. The underlying molecular mechanisms and selection of these correlated seed traits during soybean domestication are, however, less known. Here, we demonstrate that a CCT gene, POWR1, underlies a large-effect protein/oil QTL. A causative TE insertion truncates its CCT domain and substantially increases seed oil content, weight, and yield while decreasing protein content. POWR1 pleiotropically controls these traits likely through regulating seed nutrient transport and lipid metabolism genes. POWR1 is also a domestication gene. We hypothesize that the TE insertion allele is exclusively fixed in cultivated soybean due to selection for larger seeds during domestication, which significantly contributes to shaping soybean with increased yield/seed weight/oil but reduced protein content. This study provides insights into soybean domestication and is significant in improving seed quality and yield in soybean and other crop species., (© 2022. This is a U.S. government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the role of estrogen in the differential diagnosis of depression and schizophrenia and its relationship with the curative effects, adverse events., Methods: From 2017 to 2019, patients with depression or schizophrenia treated with modern electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) were studied retrospectively. Their serum estrogen levels, Hamilton Depression Scale, and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores were collected. Differences in the estrogen levels between patients with depression and schizophrenia before and after treatment and the correlation of the estrogen level with curative effect and adverse events was evaluated. In total, 67 patients with depression and 61 with schizophrenia were included., Results: There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics, except the estrogen level (p < 0.001). Serum estrogen levels increased in both groups after MECT (117 vs. 141 pmol/L, p < 0.001; 42 vs. 46 pmol/L, respectively; p < 0.001), and higher estrogen levels were positively correlated with better outcomes (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Post-MECT estrogen levels were not associated with the incidence rate of adverse events of MECT. Estrogen plays a promising role in distinguishing depression and schizophrenia and evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of MECT.

Saponins, prominent secondary plant metabolites, are recognized for their roles in plant defense and medicinal benefits. Soyasaponins, commonly derived from legumes, are a class of triterpenoid saponins that demonstrate significant potential for plant and human health applications. Previous research and reviews largely emphasize human health effects of soyasaponins. However, the biological effects of soyasaponins and their implications for plants in the context of human health have not been well-discussed. This review provides comprehensive discussions on the biological roles of soyasaponins in plant defense and rhizosphere microbial interactions; biosynthetic regulation and compound production; immunological effects and potential for therapeutics; and soyasaponin acquisition attributed to processing effects, bioavailability, and biotransformation processes based on recent soyasaponin research. Given the multifaceted biological effects elicited by soyasaponins, further research warrants an integrated approach to understand molecular mechanisms of regulations in their production as well as their applications in plant and human health.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a multifactorial disease with a high co-occurrence with asthma. In this multicohort study, we tested whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with childhood asthma and rhinovirus (RV)-associated disease are related to an increased susceptibility to adult CRS in a multicohort retrospective case-control study., Methods: Participants at two tertiary academic rhinology centers, University of Arizona (UofA) and University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) were recruited. Cases were defined as those with physician diagnosed CRS (UofA, n = 149; UPenn, n = 250), and healthy controls were those without CRS (UofA, n = 66; UPenn, n = 275). Genomic DNA was screened for the GSDMB rs7216389 SNP and CDHR3 rs6967330 SNP. Gene dosage, or the number of combined risk alleles in a single subject was calculated. Meta-analysis of the association between GSDMB or CDHR3 genotypes and CRS was performed and additive gene dosage effect for each population calculated using p for trend., Results: A meta-analysis revealed a combined increased risk for CRS in subjects with the GSDMB rs7216389 SNP (odds ratio [OR] 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.76; p = 0.004). Both the UofA (OR 1.73; 95% CI, 1.23-2.43; p = 0.002) and UPenn (OR 1.27; 95% CI, 1.02-1.58; p = 0.035) populations showed a significant positive association between the number of combined risk alleles of GSDMB rs7216389 SNP and CDHR3 rs6967330 SNP and risk for CRS., Conclusion: Carriers of the GSDMB rs7216389 SNP and CDHR3 rs6967330 SNP are at increased susceptibility for CRS. These data suggest that therapeutic approaches to target aberrant responses to RV infection may play a role in the treatment of unified airway disease., (© 2021 ARS-AAOA, LLC.)

Polyphenols, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, are a group of specialized metabolites in plants that largely aid in plant defense by deterring biotic stressors and alleviating abiotic stress. Polyphenols offer a wide range of medical applications, acting as preventative and active treatments for diseases such as cancers and diabetes. Recently, researchers have proposed that polyphenols may contribute to certain applications aimed at tackling challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the beneficial impacts of phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, could potentially help prepare society for future pandemics. Thus far, most reviews have focused on polyphenols in cancer prevention and treatment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion on the critical roles that polyphenols play in both plant chemical defense and human health based on the most recent studies while highlighting prospective avenues for future research, as well as the implications for phytochemical-based applications in both agricultural and medical fields.

Objectives: Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) is one of the major complications following total laryngectomy (TL). Previous studies about PCF risk factors showed inconsistent results, and artificial intelligence (AI) has not been used. We identified the clinical risk factors for PCF using multiple AI models., Materials & Methods: Patients who received TL in the authors' institution during the last 20 years were enrolled (N = 313) in this study. They consisted of no PCF (n = 247) and PCF groups (n = 66). We compared 29 clinical variables between the two groups and performed logistic regression and AI analysis including random forest, gradient boosting, and neural network to predict PCF after TL., Results: The best prediction performance for AI was achieved when age, smoking, body mass index, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, hemoglobin level, operation time, transfusion, nodal staging, surgical margin, extent of neck dissection, type of flap reconstruction, hematoma after TL, and concurrent chemoradiation were included in the analysis. Among logistic regression and AI models, the neural network showed the highest area under the curve (0.667 ± 0.332)., Conclusion: Diverse clinical factors were identified as PCF risk factors using AI models and the neural network demonstrated highest predictive power. This first study about prediction of PCF using AI could be used to select high risk patients for PCF when performing TL., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Seeds are the economic basis of oilseed crops, especially soybeans, the most widely cultivated oilseed crop worldwide. Seed development is accompanied by a multitude of diverse cellular processes, and revealing the underlying regulatory activities is critical for seed improvement., Results: In this study, we profiled the transcriptomes of developing seeds at 20, 25, 30, and 40 days after flowering (DAF), as these stages represent critical time points of seed development from early to full development. We identified a set of highly abundant genes and highlighted the importance of these genes in supporting nutrient accumulation and transcriptional regulation for seed development. We identified 8925 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that exhibited temporal expression patterns over the course and expression specificities in distinct tissues, including seeds and nonseed tissues (roots, stems, and leaves). Genes specific to nonseed tissues might have tissue-associated roles, with relatively low transcript abundance in developing seeds, suggesting their spatially supportive roles in seed development. Coexpression network analysis identified several underexplored genes in soybeans that bridge tissue-specific gene modules., Conclusions: Our study provides a global view of gene activities and biological processes critical for seed formation in soybeans and prioritizes a set of genes for further study. The results of this study help to elucidate the mechanism controlling seed development and storage reserves.

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycine Ichinohe) is the most damaging soybean pest worldwide and management of SCN remains challenging. The current SCN resistant soybean cultivars, mainly developed from the cultivated soybean gene pool, are losing resistance due to SCN race shifts. The domestication process and modern breeding practices of soybean cultivars often involve strong selection for desired agronomic traits, and thus, decreased genetic variation in modern cultivars, which consequently resulted in limited sources of SCN resistance. Wild soybean (Glycine soja) is the wild ancestor of cultivated soybean (Glycine max) and it's gene pool is indisputably more diverse than G. max. Our aim is to identify novel resistant genetic resources from wild soybean for the development of new SCN resistant cultivars. In this study, resistance response to HG type 2.5.7 (race 5) of SCN was investigated in a newly identified SCN resistant ecotype, NRS100. To understand the resistance mechanism in this ecotype, we compared RNA seq-based transcriptomes of NRS100 with two SCN-susceptible accessions of G. soja and G. max, as well as an extensively studied SCN resistant cultivar, Peking, under both control and nematode J2-treated conditions. The proposed mechanisms of resistance in NRS100 includes the suppression of the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway in order to allow for salicylic acid (SA) signaling-activated resistance response and polyamine synthesis to promote structural integrity of root cell walls. Our study identifies a set of novel candidate genes and associated pathways involved in SCN resistance and the finding provides insight into the mechanism of SCN resistance in wild soybean, advancing the understanding of resistance and the use of wild soybean-sourced resistance for soybean improvement.

Abstract: Surgery is the only curative treatment for cholangiocarcinoma, but even after surgery, survival rates are unsatisfactory. Recently, several reports have suggested microvascular invasion (MiVi) is associated with poor postoperative prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We considered that MiVi might be associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with surgically resectable cholangiocarcinoma.The records of 91 patients who underwent resection with curative intent for cholangiocarcinoma at Inha University Hospital from 2007 to 2017 were comprehensively reviewed for clinicopathological characteristics, DFS, and overall survival (OS) relations between these factors and the presence of MiVi.Forty-nine of the 91 study subjects had MiVi and 42 did not. Median overall survivals were 492 days in the MiVi group and 1008 days in the noMiVi group and median DFSs were 367 days and 760 days, respectively. Cumulative survival ratio and recurrence incidence rates were significantly different in the 2 groups (P = .012). Multivariable analysis showed the presence of MiVi was an independent risk factor of OS (hazard ratio [HR] 3.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40-7.97; P = .007).Cholangiocarcinoma is known to have a poor prognosis. When microvascular invasion remains after surgery it is associated with poor clinical outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Organic amendment return could enhance soil fertility, improve soil structure, and increase crop yield. However, how construction of soil layers can affect soil fertility and crop yield are not fully understood. We examined the effects of constructions of fertile and cultivated soil layer on soil fertility and maize yield in the upland black soil region in Northeast China, to provide theoretical guidance in increasing soil fertility and sustainable development of agriculture. Based on the combination of field plot experiments and demonstration regions, nine study sites with different ecological characteristics were selected from Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces from northeast China, covering dark brown, black, meadow, chernozem, albic, brown and cinnamon soils. There were three treatments in each study site, including maize straw return within 0-35 cm soil layer (CF Ⅰ ), the combination of maize straw and organic manure return within 0-35 cm soil layer (CF Ⅱ ) and conventional agricultural practice without organic amendmentas control (CK). The rate of straw return in CF Ⅰ and CF Ⅱ treatments were 10000 kg·hm -2 , and full straw for demonstration regions. The rate of organic manure in CF Ⅱ treatment was 30000 kg·hm -2 . Considerable difference in soil fertility were recorded among the nine study sites with the trend of tillage layer > sub-tillage layer, especially for dark brown soil and albic soil. Soil fertility of tillage layer and sub-tillage layer was relatively low both for brown soil and cinnamon soil. The heavy clay and plow pan were pivotal limiting factors of soil fertility for the black soil and the meadow soil. Compared with CK, the concentrations of soil organic matter (SOM), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorous (AP), and available potassium (AK) in tillage layers was increased on average by 1.85 g·kg -1 , 20.16 mg·kg -1 , 1.56 mg·kg -1 and 17.2 mg·kg -1 in the CF Ⅰ and CF Ⅱ treatments in five study sites with more than two years of treatments. The contents of SOM, AN, AP and AK in sub-tillage layer increased by 2.09 g·kg -1 , 12.06 mg·kg -1 , 2.18 mg·kg -1 and 3.84 mg·kg -1 , compared with tillage layer. CF Ⅰ treatment significantly enhanced the contents of SOM and AP in both tested soil layers, while CF Ⅱ treatment significantly enhanced all fertility indices in both tested soil layers. This indicated that the increase of organic amendment return is an effective way to improve soil fertility. Maize yield fluctuated under the combined effect of climatic conditions and soil types. The significant differences in maize yield under CK, CF Ⅰ and CF Ⅱ treatments were observed with a trend of CF Ⅱ > CF Ⅰ > CK. This result indicated that the construction of fertile and cultivated soil layer could significantly increase maize yield independent of soil types. The construction of fertile and cultivated soil layer based on maize straw return or maize straw and organic manure combined return within 0-35 cm soil layer, could simultaneously increase soil fertility in both tillage and sub-tillage layer, as well as maize yield. We suggested that the selection of approaches of the constructions of fertile and cultivated soil layer should consider soil types and the sources of organic amendments. It should also give priority to soil layers rich in organic manure source to construct fertile and cultivated soil layers.

Although many studies have been conducted on leukemia, only a few have analyzed the metabolomic profiles of various leukemic cells. In this study, the metabolomes of THP-1, U937, KG-1 (acute myelogenous leukemia, AML), K562 (chronic myelogenous leukemia, CML), and cord blood-derived CD34-positive hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and specific metabolic alterations were found using multivariate statistical analysis. Compared to HSCs, leukemia cell metabolomes were found to have significant alterations, among which three were related to amino acids, three to sugars, and five to fatty acids. Compared to CML, four metabolomes were observed specifically in AML. Given that overall more metabolites are present in leukemia cells than in HSCs, we observed that the activation of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) metabolism facilitated the incidence of leukemia and the proliferation of leukemic cells. Analysis of metabolome profiles specifically present in HSCs and leukemia cells greatly increases our basic understanding of cellular metabolic characteristics, which is valuable fundamental knowledge for developing novel anticancer drugs targeting leukemia metabolism.

Climate change poses critical challenges for population persistence in natural communities, agriculture and environmental sustainability, and food security. In this review, we discuss recent progress in climatic adaptation in plants. We evaluate whether climate change exerts novel selection and disrupts local adaptation, whether gene flow can facilitate adaptive responses to climate change, and if adaptive phenotypic plasticity could sustain populations in the short term. Furthermore, we discuss how climate change influences species interactions. Through a more in-depth understanding of these eco-evolutionary dynamics, we will increase our capacity to predict the adaptive potential of plants under climate change. In addition, we review studies that dissect the genetic basis of plant adaptation to climate change. Finally, we highlight key research gaps, ranging from validating gene function, to elucidating molecular mechanisms, expanding research systems from model species to other natural species, testing the fitness consequences of alleles in natural environments, and designing multifactorial studies that more closely reflect the complex and interactive effects of multiple climate change factors. By leveraging interdisciplinary tools (e.g., cutting-edge omics toolkits, novel ecological strategies, newly-developed genome editing technology), researchers can more accurately predict the probability that species can persist through this rapid and intense period of environmental change, as well as cultivate crops to withstand climate change, and conserve biodiversity in natural systems., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Various types of stress stimuli have been shown to threaten the normal development of embryos during embryogenesis. Prolonged heat exposure is the most common stressor that poses a threat to embryo development. Despite the extensive investigation of heat stress control mechanisms in the cytosol, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) heat stress response remains unclear. In this study, we used human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to examine the effect of heat stress on early embryonic development, specifically alterations in the ER stress response. In a hyperthermic (42 °C) culture, ER stress response genes involved in hESC differentiation were induced within 1 h of exposure, which resulted in disturbed and delayed differentiation. In addition, hyperthermia increased the expression levels of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) genes, which are associated with the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) signaling pathway. Furthermore, we demonstrated that tauroursodeoxycholic acid, a chemical chaperone, mitigated the delayed differentiation under hyperthermia. Our study identified novel gene markers in response to hyperthermia-induced ER stress on hESCs, thereby providing further insight into the mechanisms that regulate human embryogenesis.

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne transplacentally transmissible flavivirus, is an enveloped virus with an ~10.8 kb plus-strand RNA genome that can cause neurological disease. To facilitate the identification of potential antivirals, we developed two reporter-expressing ZIKVs, each capable of expressing an enhanced green fluorescent protein or an improved luminescent NanoLuc luciferase. First, a full-length functional ZIKV cDNA clone was engineered as a bacterial artificial chromosome, with each reporter gene under the cap-independent translational control of a cardiovirus-derived internal ribosome entry site inserted downstream of the single open reading frame of the viral genome. Two reporter-expressing ZIKVs were then generated by transfection of ZIKV-susceptible BHK-21 cells with infectious RNAs derived by in vitro run-off transcription from the respective cDNAs. As compared to the parental virus, the two reporter-expressing ZIKVs grew to lower titers with slower growth kinetics and formed smaller foci; however, they displayed a genome-wide viral protein expression profile identical to that of the parental virus, except for two previously unrecognized larger forms of the C and NS1 proteins. We then used the NanoLuc-expressing ZIKV to assess the in vitro antiviral activity of three inhibitors (T-705, NITD-008, and ribavirin). Altogether, our reporter-expressing ZIKVs represent an excellent molecular tool for the discovery of novel antivirals.

A worldwide food shortage has been projected as a result of the current increase in global population and climate change. In order to provide sufficient food to feed more people, we must develop crops that can produce higher yields. Plant early vigor traits, early growth rate (EGR), early plant height (EPH), inter-node length, and node count are important traits that are related to crop yield. Glycine soja , the wild counterpart to cultivated soybean, Glycine max , harbors much higher genetic diversity and can grow in diverse environments. It can also cross easily with cultivated soybean. Thus, it holds a great potential in developing soybean cultivars with beneficial agronomic traits. In this study, we used 225 wild soybean accessions originally from diverse environments across its geographic distribution in East Asia. We quantified the natural variation of several early vigor traits, investigated the relationships among them, and dissected the genetic basis of these traits by applying a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) with genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. Our results showed positive correlation between all early vigor traits studied. A total of 12 SNPs significantly associated with EPH were identified with 4 shared with EGR. We also identified two candidate genes, Glyma.07G055800.1 and Glyma.07G055900.1 , playing important roles in influencing trait variation in both EGR and EPH in G. soja .

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), have a well-orchestrated program for differentiation and self-renewal. However, the structural features of unique proteostatic-maintaining mechanisms in hPSCs and their features, distinct from those of differentiated cells, in response to cellular stress remain unclear. We evaluated and compared the morphological features and stress response of hPSCs and fibroblasts. Compared to fibroblasts, electron microscopy showed simpler/fewer structures with fewer networks in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of hPSCs, as well as lower expression of ER-related genes according to meta-analysis. As hPSCs contain low levels of binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP), an ER chaperone, thapsigargin treatment sharply increased the gene expression of the unfolded protein response. Thus, hPSCs with decreased chaperone function reacted sensitively to ER stress and entered apoptosis faster than fibroblasts. Such ER stress-induced apoptotic processes were abolished by tauroursodeoxycholic acid, an ER-stress reliever. Hence, our results revealed that as PSCs have an underdeveloped structure and express fewer BiP chaperone proteins than somatic cells, they are more susceptible to ER stress-induced apoptosis in response to stress., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Aim of the Study: To report pregnancy, delivery and perinatal outcomes in women with epilepsy seen in university clinics in Poland. Clinical rationale for the study. Women with epilepsy are reported to be at increased risk of adverse pregnancy and foetal outcomes., Materials and Methods: The following data was collected in 171 pregnant women seen in two university epilepsy clinics: epilepsy characteristics and treatment, seizure frequency, pregnancy outcomes, perinatal outcomes, and feeding method., Results: The mean age of patients at the time of delivery was 28.8 years, and most women were nulliparous. Almost 80% of patients were on monotherapy and the majority were prescribed antiepileptic drugs with low teratogenic potential. 53.8% of patients were seizure-free during pregnancy. Half of the cohort delivered by caesarean section and the majority delivered in term. Nearly all newborns scored > 7 Apgar points. Major congenital malformation was diagnosed in only one foetus. Any adverse pregnancy/neonatal outcome was found in 13% of patients. Two thirds of women reported breastfeeding at any time., Conclusions and Clinical Implications: Almost 90% of women continued antiepileptic therapy during pregnancy. 46% of patients had epileptic seizures during pregnancy. Any adverse pregnancy/neonatal outcome was found in 13% of women with epilepsy. The majority of patients delivered healthy babies. Further studies are needed to find risk factors for adverse pregnancy/neonatal outcomes in women with epilepsy in Poland.

The legume family (Fabaceae) is the third-largest flowering family with over 18 000 species worldwide that are rich in proteins, oils, and nutrients. However, the production potential of legume-derived food cannot meet increasing global demand. Wild legumes represent a large group of wild species adaptive to diverse habitats and harbor rich genetic diversity for the improvement of the agronomic, nutritional, and medicinal values of the domesticated legumes. Accumulating evidence suggests that the genetic variation retained in these under-exploited leguminous wild relatives can be used to improve crop yield, nutrient contents, and resistance/tolerance to environmental stresses via the integration of omics, genetics, and genome-editing technologies., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The optimal maxillary antrostomy size to surgically treat sinusitis is not well known. In this study, we examined clinical metrics of disease severity and symptom scores, measured secreted inflammatory markers, and characterized the sinus microbiome to determine if there were significant differences in outcome between different maxillary ostial sizes., Methods: Prospective randomized, single-blinded clinical trial enrolling 12 individuals diagnosed with recurrent acute or chronic rhinosinusitis. Each patient was blinded and randomized to receive minimal maxillary ostial dilation via balloon sinuplasty on 1 side vs a mega-antrostomy on the contralateral side. Data collected included symptom scores (20-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test [SNOT-20]), endoscopy, and radiologic Lund-Mackay scores. During surgery and at their postoperative visit swabs were obtained from each maxillary sinus, and 16S DNA and inflammatory cytokine levels analyzed. The use of each patient as their own control allowed us to minimize confounding variables., Results: There was statistically significant improvement in SNOT-20 symptom scores postoperatively in all patients. There were no significant differences between maxillary ostial size in postoperative endoscopy scores, cytokine profile, or bacterial burden. There were statistically significant differences in relative postoperative abundance of Staphylococcus, Lactococcus, and Cyanobacteria between the mega-antrostomy and mini-antrostomy., Conclusions: The method used in surgical maxillary antrostomies had no effect on endoscopy scores or cytokine profiles. Microbiome analysis determined significant differences between the different antrostomy sizes in postoperative Staphylococcus, Lactococcus, and Cyanobacteria abundance. The clinical significance of these changes in the sinus microbiome are not known but may be a result of increased access to postoperative sinonasal irrigations., (© 2018 ARS-AAOA, LLC.)

Coronary artery disease involving heavily calcified lesions has been associated with worse short- and long-term outcomes including increased mortality. This paper aims to evaluate long-term survival benefit when CABG + transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) are performed on the hearts of patients with disseminated coronary atherosclerosis (DCA). This novel retrospective study was conducted between 1997 and 2002 and followed 86 patients with ischemic heart disease and severe DCA who underwent TMLR using a Holmium:YAG laser and/or CABG. There were 46 patients who had CABG plus TMLR on at least one heart wall ("combined therapy group") and 40 patients who had CABG or TMLR separately on at least one heart wall ("single therapy group"). For the whole group, actuarial survival at 10 years was 78.3% in the combined group compared to 72.5% in the single therapy group (p = 0.535). Ten-year survival in the combined vs. single therapy group for the anterior heart walls was 100 vs. 72.2% (p = 0.027). For the lateral and posterior heart walls were 73.7 vs. 73.3% (p = 0.97) and 84.2 vs. 72% (p = 0.27), respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed benefit only for the anterior heart wall (F Cox test, p = 0.103). Single therapy procedures on all heart walls (odds ratio 1.736, p = 0.264) or on the anterior heart wall only (odds ratio 3.286, p = 0.279) were found to be predictors of 10-year late mortality. Combined therapy (TMLR + CABG) provides benefit for perioperative mortality and long-term survival only when provided on the anterior heart wall. For patients with disseminated coronary atherosclerosis, cardiac mortality was found to be increased when followed up 6 years later, regardless of the therapy applied.

Zika virus (ZIKV) causes no-to-mild symptoms or severe neurological disorders. To investigate the importance of viral and host genetic variations in determining ZIKV infection outcomes, we created three full-length infectious cDNA clones as bacterial artificial chromosomes for each of three spatiotemporally distinct and genetically divergent ZIKVs: MR-766 (Uganda, 1947), P6-740 (Malaysia, 1966), and PRVABC-59 (Puerto Rico, 2015). Using the three molecularly cloned ZIKVs, together with 13 ZIKV region-specific polyclonal antibodies covering nearly the entire viral protein-coding region, we made three conceptual advances: (i) We created a comprehensive genome-wide portrait of ZIKV gene products and their related species, with several previously undescribed gene products identified in the case of all three molecularly cloned ZIKVs. (ii) We found that ZIKV has a broad cell tropism in vitro, being capable of establishing productive infection in 16 of 17 animal cell lines from 12 different species, although its growth kinetics varied depending on both the specific virus strain and host cell line. More importantly, we identified one ZIKV-non-susceptible bovine cell line that has a block in viral entry but fully supports the subsequent post-entry steps. (iii) We showed that in mice, the three molecularly cloned ZIKVs differ in their neuropathogenicity, depending on the particular combination of viral and host genetic backgrounds, as well as in the presence or absence of type I/II interferon signaling. Overall, our findings demonstrate the impact of viral and host genetic variations on the replication kinetics and neuropathogenicity of ZIKV and provide multiple avenues for developing and testing medical countermeasures against ZIKV.

There is a considerable demand for crop improvement, especially considering the increasing growth of world population, continuing climatic fluctuations, and rapidly evolving plant pests and pathogens. Crop wild relatives hold great potential in providing beneficial alleles for crop improvement. Wild soybean, Glycine soja (Siebold & Zucc.), the wild ancestor to the domesticated soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.), harbors a high level of genetic variation. Research on G. soja has been largely devoted to understanding the domestication history of the soybean, while little effort has been made to explore its genetic diversity for crop improvement. High genomic diversity and expanded traits make G. soja populations an excellent source for soybean improvement. This review summarizes recent successful research examples of applying wild soybeans in dissecting the genetic basis of various traits, with a focus on abiotic/biotic stress tolerance and resistance. We also discuss the limitations of using G. soja . Perspective future research is proposed, including the application of advanced biotechnology and emerging genomic data to further utilize the wild soybean to counterbalance the rising demand for superior crops. We proposed there is an urgent need for international collaboration on germplasm collection, resource sharing, and conservation. We hope to use the wild soybean as an example to promote the exploration and use of wild resources for crop improvement in order to meet future food requirements.

Context: Survival for patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) has remained relatively stagnant despite advances in treatment. Few studies have examined why advanced-stage disease is diagnosed in 40% of patients with OCSCC nationally., Objective: To characterize the diagnostic pathway of OCSCC in an integrated health care system., Design: Retrospective study of patients with OCSCC (2007-2010)., Main Outcome Measures: Referral patterns and demographic, clinical, and tumor characteristics associated with time to diagnosis (diagnostic interval)., Results: Of 247 patients, 167 (68%) had early-stage (I/II) disease, 86 (35%) were referred by dentists, and 70 (28%) had a history of premalignancy. The median time (interquartile range) from symptom onset to care sought from a primary care physician (patient interval), from primary care physician to otolaryngologist, and from otolaryngologist to diagnosis was 8.6 (4.0-25.8), 1.0 (0.6-3.1), 0.0 (0.0-3.0) weeks, respectively. These intervals did not differ by demographic characteristics, clinical factors, or tumor stage. Prolonged diagnostic intervals were observed among patients with premalignant lesions., Conclusion: The patient interval was the largest component of the total diagnostic interval. The subsequent professional workup proceeded relatively efficiently. Prolonged diagnostic interval in patients with premalignant lesions may reflect the natural history of malignant transformation rather than a delay in diagnosis. However, nearly one-fourth of these cases were diagnosed at an advanced stage; closer surveillance may represent an opportunity for diagnosis at an earlier stage. Surveillance for premalignant lesions and facilitating referrals from dentists may expedite the diagnosis and treatment of OCSCC. Further investigation is warranted.

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is one of the most destructive pathogens of soybean plants worldwide. Host-plant resistance is an environmentally friendly method to mitigate SCN damage. To date, the resistant soybean cultivars harbor limited genetic variation, and some are losing resistance. Thus, a better understanding of the genetic mechanisms of the SCN resistance, as well as developing diverse resistant soybean cultivars, is urgently needed. In this study, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using 1032 wild soybean (Glycine soja) accessions with over 42,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to understand the genetic architecture of G. soja resistance to SCN race 1. Ten SNPs were significantly associated with the response to race 1. Three SNPs on chromosome 18 were localized within the previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs), and two of which were localized within a strong linkage disequilibrium block encompassing a nucleotide-binding (NB)-ARC disease resistance gene (Glyma.18G102600). Genes encoding methyltransferases, the calcium-dependent signaling protein, the leucine-rich repeat kinase family protein, and the NB-ARC disease resistance protein, were identified as promising candidate genes. The identified SNPs and candidate genes can not only shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying SCN resistance, but also can facilitate soybean improvement employing wild genetic resources.

Objective To evaluate the voice outcomes of adults diagnosed with vocal fold nodules (VFNs) as children and to assess the impact of speech therapy on long-term voice outcomes. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Large health care system. Subjects and Methods Subjects diagnosed with VFNs as children between the years 1996 and 2008 were identified within a medical record database of a large health care system. Included subjects were 3 to 12 years old at the time of diagnosis, had a documented laryngeal examination within 90 days of diagnosis, and were ≥18 years as of December 31, 2014. Qualified subjects were contacted by telephone and administered the Vocal Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) and a 15-item questionnaire inquiring for confounding factors. Results A total of 155 subjects were included, with a mean age of 21.4 years (range, 18-29). The male:female ratio was 2.3:1. Mean VHI-10 score for the entire cohort was 5.4. Mean VHI-10 scores did not differ between those who received speech therapy (6.1) and those who did not (4.5; P = .08). Both groups were similar with respect to confounding risk factors that can contribute to dysphonia, although the no-therapy group had a disproportionately higher number of subjects who consumed >10 alcoholic drinks per week ( P = .01). Conclusion The majority of adults with VFNs as children will achieve a close-to-normal voice quality when they reach adulthood. In our cohort, speech therapy did not appear to have an impact on the long-term voice outcomes.

Crop wild relatives harbor exotic and novel genetic resources, which hold great potential for crop improvement. Ipomoea imperati is a wild diploid relative of sweet potato with the capability of high salinity tolerance. We compared the transcriptomes of I. imperati under salt stress vs. control to identify candidate genes and pathways involved in salt response. De novo assembly produced 67,911 transcripts with a high depth of coverage. A total of 39,902 putative genes were assigned annotations, and 936 and 220 genes involved in salt response in roots and leaves, respectively. Functional analysis indicated a whole system response during salt stress in I. imperati, which included four metabolic processes: sensory initiation, transcriptional reprogramming, cellular protein component change, and cellular homeostasis regulation. We identified a number of candidate genes involved in the ABA signaling pathway, as well as transcription factors, transporters, antioxidant enzymes, and enzymes associated with metabolism of synthesis and catalysis. Furthermore, two membrane transporter genes, including vacuole cation/proton exchanger and inositol transporter, were considered to play important roles in salt tolerance. This study provided valuable information not only for understanding the genetic basis of ecological adaptation but also for future application in sweet potato and other crop improvements.

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the most damaging pest of soybean worldwide. The molecular mechanism of SCN resistance remains largely unknown. We conducted a global RNA-seq comparison between a resistant genotype (S54) and a susceptible genotype (S67) of Glycine soja, the wild progenitor of soybean, to understand its regulatory network in SCN defense. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in S54 (2,290) was much larger than that in S67 (555). A number of defense-related genes/pathways were significantly induced only in S54, while photosynthesis and several metabolic pathways were affected in both genotypes with SCN infection. These defense-associated DEGs were involved in pathogen recognition, calcium/calmodulin-mediated defense signaling, jasmonic acid (JA)/ethylene (ET) and sialic acid (SA)-involved signaling, the MAPK signaling cascade, and WRKY-involved transcriptional regulation. Our results revealed a comprehensive regulatory network involved in SCN resistance and provided insights into the complex molecular mechanisms of SCN resistance in wild soybean.

Soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is an important crop rich in vegetable protein and oil, and is a staple food for human and animals worldwide. However, soybean plants have been challenged by soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines ), one of the most damaging pests found in soybean fields. Applying SCN-resistant cultivars is the most efficient and environmentally friendly strategy to manage SCN. Currently, soybean breeding and further improvement in soybean agriculture are hindered by severely limited genetic diversity in cultivated soybeans. G . soja is a soybean wild progenitor with much higher levels of genetic diversity compared to cultivated soybeans. In this study, transcriptomes of the resistant and susceptible genotypes of the wild soybean, Glycine soja Sieb & Zucc, were sequenced to examine the genetic basis of SCN resistance. Seedling roots were treated with infective second-stage juveniles (J2s) of the soybean cyst nematode (HG type 2.5.7) for 3, 5, 8 days and pooled for library construction and RNA sequencing. The transcriptome sequencing generated approximately 245 million (M) high quality (Q > 30) raw sequence reads (125 bp in length) for twelve libraries. The raw sequence reads were deposited in NCBI sequence read archive (SRA) database, with the accession numbers SRR5227314-25. Further analysis of this data would be helpful to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of soybean-SCN interaction and facilitate the development of diverse SCN resistance cultivars.

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne positive-stranded RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae (genus Flavivirus), is now causing an unprecedented large-scale outbreak in the Americas. Historically, ZIKV spread eastward from equatorial Africa and Asia to the Pacific Islands during the late 2000s to early 2010s, invaded the Caribbean and Central and South America in 2015, and reached North America in 2016. Although ZIKV infection generally causes no symptoms or only a mild self-limiting illness, it has recently been linked to a rising number of severe neurological diseases, including microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Because of the continuous geographic expansion of both the virus and its mosquito vectors, ZIKV poses a serious threat to public health around the globe. However, there are no vaccines or antiviral therapies available against this pathogen. This review summarizes a fast-growing body of literature on the history, epidemiology, transmission, and clinical presentation of ZIKV and highlights the urgent need for the development of efficient control strategies for this emerging pathogen., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A set of nested association mapping (NAM) families was developed by crossing 40 diverse soybean [ (L.) Merr.] genotypes to the common cultivar. The 41 parents were deeply sequenced for SNP discovery. Based on the polymorphism of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and other selection criteria, a set of SNPs was selected to be included in the SoyNAM6K BeadChip for genotyping the parents and 5600 RILs from the 40 families. Analysis of the SNP profiles of the RILs showed a low average recombination rate. We constructed genetic linkage maps for each family and a composite linkage map based on recombinant inbred lines (RILs) across the families and identified and annotated 525,772 high confidence SNPs that were used to impute the SNP alleles in the RILs. The segregation distortion in most families significantly favored the alleles from the female parent, and there was no significant difference of residual heterozygosity in the euchromatic vs. heterochromatic regions. The genotypic datasets for the RILs and parents are publicly available and are anticipated to be useful to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling important traits in soybean., (Copyright © 2017 Crop Science Society of America.)

The pattern and rate of genome evolution have profound consequences in organismal evolution. Whole-genome duplication (WGD), or polyploidy, has been recognized as an important evolutionary mechanism of plant diversification. However, in non-model plants the molecular signals of genome duplications have remained largely unexplored. High-throughput transcriptome data from next-generation sequencing have set the stage for novel investigations of genome evolution using new bioinformatic and methodological tools in a phylogenetic framework. Here we compare ten de novo-assembled transcriptomes representing the major lineages of the angiosperm genus Cornus (dogwood) and relevant outgroups using a customized pipeline for analyses. Using three distinct approaches, molecular dating of orthologous genes, analyses of the distribution of synonymous substitutions between paralogous genes, and examination of substitution rates through time, we detected a shared WGD event in the late Cretaceous across all taxa sampled. The inferred doubling event coincides temporally with the paleoclimatic changes associated with the initial divergence of the genus into three major lineages. Analyses also showed an acceleration of rates of molecular evolution after WGD. The highest rates of molecular evolution were observed in the transcriptome of the herbaceous lineage, C. canadensis, a species commonly found at higher latitudes, including the Arctic. Our study demonstrates the value of transcriptome data for understanding genome evolution in closely related species. The results suggest dramatic increase in sea surface temperature in the late Cretaceous may have contributed to the evolution and diversification of flowering plants.