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Abstract Background Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) appears to be a promising technique for the removal of sessile serrated polyps (SSPs) ≥ 10 mm. To assess the effectiveness and safety of EMR for removing SSPs ≥ 10 mm, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods We conducted a thorough search of Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases for relevant studies reporting on EMR of SSPs ≥ 10 mm, up until December 2023. Our primary endpoints of interest were rates of technical success, residual SSPs, and adverse events (AE). Results Our search identified 426 articles, of which 14 studies with 2262 SSPs were included for analysis. The rates of technical success, AEs, and residual SSPs were 100%, 2.0%, and 3.1%, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that the technical success rates were the same for polyps 10–19 and 20 mm, and en-bloc and piecemeal resection. Residual SSPs rates were similar in en-bloc and piecemeal resection, but much lower in cold EMR (1.0% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.034). AEs rates were reduced in cold EMR compared to hot EMR (0% vs. 2.9%, P = 0.168), in polyps 10–19 mm compared to 20 mm (0% vs. 4.1%, P = 0.255), and in piecemeal resection compared to en-bloc (0% vs. 0.7%, P = 0.169). Conclusions EMR is an effective and safe technique for removing SSPs ≥ 10 mm. The therapeutic effect of cold EMR is superior to that of hot EMR, with a lower incidence of adverse effects. PROSPERO registration number CRD42023388959.

Dual generalized commutative quaternions have broad application prospects in many fields. Additionally, the matrix equation AXB=C has important applications in mathematics and engineering, especially in control systems, economics, computer science, and other disciplines. However, research on the matrix equation AXB=C over the dual generalized commutative quaternions remains relatively insufficient. In this paper, we derive the necessary and sufficient conditions for the solvability of the dual generalized commutative quaternion matrix equation AXB=C. Furthermore, we provide the general solution expression for this matrix equation, when it is solvable. Finally, a numerical algorithm and an example are provided to confirm the reliability of the main conclusions.

Abstract This study modeled the habitat distribution of Pterocarpus santalinus, a valuable rosewood species, across China under current and future climate scenarios (SSPs126, SSPs245, and SSPs585) using MaxEnt. Our findings reveal that the current suitable habitat, spanning approximately 409,600 km2, is primarily located in the central and southern parts of Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and Yunnan, as well as in the Hainan provinces, along with the coastal regions of Taiwan, and the Sichuan–Chongqing border. The habitat's distribution is significantly influenced by climatic factors such as temperature seasonality (bio4), mean temperature of the wettest quarter (bio8), annual mean temperature (bio1), and annual precipitation (bio12), while terrain and soil factors play a lesser role. Under future climate scenarios, the suitable habitat for P. santalinus is projected to expand, with a northeastward shift in its distribution center. This research not only sheds light on the geoecological characteristics and geographical distribution of P. santalinus in China but also offers a scientific basis for planning its cultivation areas and enhancing cultivation efficiency under changing climate conditions.

Abstract Rice yellow stunt virus (RYSV) P3 protein functions as a movement protein during viral infection of a plant host; its function in insect hosts remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the subcellular localization of P3 using leafhopper (Nephotettix cincticeps) cell cultures. Our results showed that P3 translocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in RYSV-infected leafhopper cells, where it interacted with the viral N protein as a constituent of viroplasms. Interfering with the P3 gene expression significantly suppressed viral infection in N. cincticeps. Finally, we demonstrate that the nuclear translocation of P3 in leafhopper cells depended on its interaction with RYSV N protein, which enters the nucleus via an interaction with importin α3. These findings unveil a previously unknown role for P3 in RYSV infection of the insect vector and provide valuable insights into the infection dynamics of plant rhabdoviruses.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive and complex pulmonary vascular disease with poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to provide a new understanding of the lung pathology of disease and a noninvasive method in monitoring the establishment of animal models for basic and clinical studies of PH, indeed to explore clinical application value of lung ultrasound for patients with PH. Totally 32 male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, MCT (monocrotaline) group, PDTC (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate) group, and NS (normal saline) group. Rats in the MCT group, PDTC group, and NS group received single intraperitoneal injection of MCT, while the control group received the same dose of NS. Then, PDTC group and NS group received PDTC and NS daily for treatment at the end of the model. Each group received lung ultrasound examination and measurement of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP). Then, the rats were sacrificed to take the lung specimens to being observed. The ultrasound and pathological results were analyzed with a semiquantitative score. With the pulmonary artery pressure increases, the MCT group had a higher pulmonary ultrasound score and pathological score compared with the control group (p 0.8, p 0.8, p

AIM:To explore the influence factors of the treatment zone diameter(TZD)and its correlation with axial length growth(ALG)after Paragon CRT orthokeratology.METHODS: Retrospective clinical study. The data of 226 myopic patients(226 eyes)wearing Paragon CRT orthokeratology from April 2020 to September 2022 were collect. The correlated factors of TZD after wearing lens for 1mo, and the relationship between the overlapping treatment zone/ pupil area ratio and the ALG after wearing lens for 1a were analyzed.RESULTS: After wearing lens for 1mo, the TZD was negatively correlated with central corneal thickness(CCT)and positively correlated with the flat corneal eccentricity. After wearing lens for 1a, the ALG of the small TZD group(0.25±0.18mm)was significantly smaller than that of the large TZD group(0.34±0.24mm, P=0.002), and the ALG of the small area ratio group(0.24±0.19mm)was significantly smaller than that of the large area ratio group(0.35±0.23mm,P

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide. Although the treatment strategies have been improved in recent years, the long-term prognosis of HCC is far from satisfactory mainly due to high postoperative recurrence and metastasis rate. Vascular tumor thrombus, including microvascular invasion (MVI) and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT), affects the outcome of hepatectomy and liver transplantation. If vascular invasion could be found preoperatively, especially the risk of MVI, more reasonable surgical selection will be chosen to reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence and metastasis. However, there is a lack of reliable prediction methods, and the formation mechanism of MVI/PVTT is still unclear. At present, there is no study to explore the possibility of tumor thrombus formation from a single circulating tumor cell (CTC) of HCC, nor any related study to describe the possible leading role and molecular mechanism of HCC CTCs as an important component of MVI/PVTT. In this study, we review the current understanding of MVI and possible mechanisms, discuss the function of CTCs in the formation of MVI and interaction with immune cells in the circulation. In conclusion, we discuss implications for potential therapeutic targets and the prospect of clinical treatment of HCC.

Abstract The pregnane X receptor (PXR) is an important regulator of hepatocellular carcinoma cellular resistance to antitumor drugs. Activation of PXR was modulated by the co-regulators. The target protein for the Xenopus plus end-directed kinesin-like protein (Xklp2) known as TPX2 that was previously considered as a tubulin regulator, also functions as the regulator of some transcription factors and pro-oncogenes in human malignances. However, the actions of TPX2 on PXR and HCC cells are still unclear. In the present study, our results demonstrate that the high expression of endogenous mRNA level of TPX2 not only correlated with the poor prognosis of advanced HCC patients who received sorafenib treatment but also with expression of PXR’s downstream genes, cyp3a4 and/or mdr-1. Results from luciferase and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) showed that TPX2 leads to enhancement of the transcription factor activation of PXR. Protein–protein interactions between PXR and TPX2 were identified using co-immunoprecipitation. Mechanically, overexpression of TPX2 led to enhancement of PXR recruitment to its downstream gene cyp3a4’s promoter region (the PXRE region) or enhancer region (the XREM region). Treatment of HCC cells with paclitaxel, a microtubule promoter, led to enhancement of the effects of TPX2, whereas vincristine, a microtubule depolymerizing agent caused a decrease in TPX2-associated effects. TPX2 was found to cause acceleration of the metabolism or clearance of sorafenib, a typical tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) in HCC cells and in turn led to the resistance to sorafenib by HCC cells. By establishing novel actions of TXP2 on PXR in HCC cells, the results indicate that TPX2 could be considered a promising therapeutic target to enhance HCC cells sensitivity to antitumor drugs.

AIM: To investigate the occurrence and influencing factors of capsular contraction syndrome(CCS)after cataract phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation.METHODS: A Retrospective study was conducted on the selected 1 987 patients(1 987 eyes)undergoing cataract phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation in the hospital between September 2018 and December 2021. According to the postoperative occurrence of CCS, they were divided into CCS group and non-CCS group. The clinical data in the two groups were compared. The influencing factors of CCS were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression analysis. And the predictive model was constructed.RESULTS: There were 38 eyes with postoperative CCS among the 1 987 cataract patients(1 987 eyes), with an incidence of 1.91%. The proportions of cases with age ≥65 years, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, uveitis and hydrophilic intraocular lens in CCS group were significantly higher than those in the non-CCS group(all P

AIM: To evaluate the effect of rigid gas permeable contact lens (RGP-CL) on corneal morphological parameters and vision-related quality of life in keratoconus (KC) patients. METHODS: Totally 57 eyes of 30 KC patients who were followed-up for more than two years, including 17 RGP wearers (32 eyes) and 13 non-wearers (25 eyes) were retrospectively analyzed. Initial medical history and corneal topography were collected at baseline. Corneal topography, corneal aberration, optical coherence tomography, and vision-related quality of life questionnaires were performed at the last follow-up. RESULTS: According to corneal topography, increase of the flattest keratometric values was higher in RGP wearers than in non-wearers (P=0.038). The morphological parameters, including symmetry index of front corneal curvature (P=0.004) and Baiocchi-Calossi-Versaci index front (P=0.047), were lower in RGP wearers than in non-wearers. Vertical coma was smaller in RGP wearers than non-wearers in 3.0, 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0 mm pupil diameters, respectively (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Long-term use of RGP does not worsen KC but may cause corneal epithelial remodeling to increase symmetry of corneal anterior surface, reduce corneal vertical coma and improve visual quality. However, RGP wearing causes a slight decrease in vision-related quality of life. The occurrence of ocular surface symptoms is mainly associated with environmental triggering factors.

AIM: To construct and validate a diagnostic model for early detection of keratoconus based on parameters in Sirius.METHODS: The study comprised of 46 early keratoconus eyes(including 20 right eyes and 26 left eyes in 34 patients)and 46 age- and gender-matched normal eyes(including the right eyes of 46 patients)in the prediction group. The predictive index was constructed using LASSO and Logistic regression analyses based on the topographic, pachymetric and aberrometry variables of Sirius. There were 23 early keratoconus eyes categorized as suspected keratoconus cases by Sirius(including 12 right eyes and 11 left eyes in 23 patients)and 23 age- and gender-matched normal eyes(including the right eyes of 23 patients)included in the application cohort. External validation of predictors was performed for the application cohort.RESULTS: Sirius Keratoconus Index(SKI)was calculated based on the minimum corneal thickness and symmetry index back of Sirius. Highest AUC values were obtained in the prediction group(AUC=0.932)after Logistic regression analysis. The cut-off value of SKI was set at 0.44. Then, the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve, calibration plot and nomogram of the diagnostic formula were analyzed for the prediction cohort in detail. Finally, the accuracy of the SKI was evaluated in the application cohort; the sensitivity was 91% and the specificity was 96%.CONCLUSION: SKI based on minimum corneal thickness and symmetry index back of Sirius is a simple and effective method for early detection of keratoconus in the preoperative screening for refractive surgery.

Abstract Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) can effectively protect the alloy substrate of hot components in aeroengines or land-based gas turbines by the thermal insulation and corrosion/erosion resistance of the ceramic top coat. However, the continuous pursuit of a higher operating temperature leads to degradation, delamination, and premature failure of the top coat. Both new ceramic materials and new coating structures must be developed to meet the demand for future advanced TBC systems. In this paper, the latest progress of some new ceramic materials is first reviewed. Then, a comprehensive spalling mechanism of the ceramic top coat is summarized to understand the dependence of lifetime on various factors such as oxidation scale growth, ceramic sintering, erosion, and calcium-magnesium-aluminium-silicate (CMAS) molten salt corrosion. Finally, new structural design methods for high-performance TBCs are discussed from the perspectives of lamellar, columnar, and nanostructure inclusions. The latest developments of ceramic top coat will be presented in terms of material selection, structural design, and failure mechanism, and the comprehensive guidance will be provided for the development of next-generation advanced TBCs with higher temperature resistance, better thermal insulation, and longer lifetime.

AIM: To explore the value of corneal epithelial thickness parameters in the diagnosis of early keratoconus by Fourier domain optical coherence tomography(FD-OCT).METHODS: Retrospective control study. Patients with early keratoconus who were admitted to the Department of Ophthalmology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2015 to October 2020 and patients who received laser refractive surgery for myopia during the same period were included in this study. Using FD-OCT to measure the cornea in circle centralized by the pupil and with diameter of 9mm in the early-keratoconus group and the control group. This was to obtain the thickness parameter of corneal epithelium with diameter of 7mm, the respective averaged thickness value of corneal epithelium and the respective averaged thickness value of the full corneal layer on each of the 25 divisions. The parameter value differences between the early-keratoconus group and the control group were compared, and the diagnosis value of parameters that hold difference was analyzed. RESULTS: The Min-e value in early-keratoconus group was significantly lower than that of the control group. On contrary, the value of Std.Dev, Max-Min-e, and Max-e were significantly higher in early-keratoconus group than that in latter one(all P

Diagnosis of early keratoconus(KC)contributes to identifying potential patients before typical clinical symptoms. It also contributes to timely intervention of the progress of disease and improvement of long-term prognosis. Hence, it is crucial to prevent iatrogenic corneal ectasia and reduce the burden of keratoplasty. There are diverse kinds of early KC diagnosis techniques, including corneal topography, corneal aberrations, epithelial and corneal thickness measurement, corneal confocal microscopy, corneal biomechanics, and genetic examination. Since it is often difficult to ensure sufficient sensitivity and specificity with single technique, multiple techniques are beneficial to evaluate the cornea comprehensively, which may become the development tendency of early KC diagnosis in the future.

Permanent magnetization of electric windlass and mooring winch (EWMW) has become a research trend in the development of new generation deck machinery. The paper investigates the development of a low-speed and high-efficiency permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) and its drive system based on the load characteristics and special requirements of an EWMW. Firstly, the design specifications and key points of the motor drive system are analyzed. Secondly, a design method of parameter matching is proposed to design a 110 kW 75 r/min PMSM based on finite element method, field circuit coupling, and co-simulation. Finally, a prototype is developed and applied to a 45 T EWMW. The test results show that the PMSM can attain an efficiency of 94.3% at the rated operation, good traction characteristics with high torque at low speed, and 3 times wide flux-weakening region at constant power. Therefore, the matching design method is effective in the design of PMSM and drive system for EWMW.

Poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis. Here the authors show that GDF1, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, is highly expressed in high-grade poorly differentiated HCC and is associated with tumor plasticity, and that GDF1-induced reexpression of cancer testis antigens could render tumors sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibition.

Summary: Here, we present a detailed protocol for the identification of potential oncofetal targets for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients through a hepatocyte differentiation model and a sorafenib refractory cell-line-derived xenograft model. We describe the procedures of tumor sphere formation, organoid generation, and subcutaneous tumor formation for functional studies. We then detail the procedures of immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence for examination of changes in lineage-specific markers. Finally, we describe the development of antibody-based therapeutics targeting tumor lineage plasticity in HCC.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Kong et al. (2021).1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

BackgroundOcular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) is one of the complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which impairs the quality of life and may indicate poor prognosis. In this retrospective study, the aim was to investigate the characteristics of ocular surface after HSCT, and analyze the risk factors related to the severity of ocular surface lesions.Methods248 post-HSCT patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Subjects were divided into no lesion group, mild lesion group and severe lesion group, according to the severity of ocular surface lesions. The correlations between grades of ocular surface lesions and gender, age, primary disease, donor source, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type, kinship, donor-recipient relationship, blood type, source of stem cell and systemic GVHD were analyzed.ResultsThe median scores of corneal epitheliopathy, lid margin lesions and meibomian gland loss were 3, 6 and 2 points, respectively. The grade of corneal epitheliopathy was related to donor source (P

Corneal perforation is a rare and serious complication of ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) patients. This study was to retrospectively report seven corneal perforation patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Demographic, hematologic, and ophthalmological data of patients were clarified in detail. Nine eyes of seven corneal perforation patients were clarified (Cases 3 and 6 were bilateral and the others are unilateral). All the cases had other affected GVHD organs, especially skin involvement. The duration between HSCT and corneal perforation was usually long with 21 (17–145) months as median interval, whereas the duration between oGVHD diagnosis and corneal perforation was relatively shorter with 4 (2–81) months as median interval. Most patients presented to ophthalmology department with poor visual acuity, BUT and Schirmer’s test. Eyelid marginal hyperemia and irregularity were observed in most corneal perforation eyes. Keratoplasty or conjunctival flap covering (CFC) surgeries was performed after corneal perforation. After a long-term follow-up for most patients (median 21 months, range: 2–86 months), only two eyes of two patients (22.22%) had a final BCVA of 20/100 or better. Patients involved in both cutaneous GVHD and blepharitis indicate the aggressive development of oGVHD. Early diagnosis, long-term follow-up, and effective multi-disciplinary treatments for oGVHD patients are essential. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressor remain essential, whereas the use of topical corticosteroids should be carefully considered in corneal ulceration patients. In addition, appropriate surgeries should be performed to control oGVHD development in time.

BackgroundOrthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a life-saving option for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the expanded OLT criteria remain controversial.ObjectiveThe study aimed to explore whether expanded OLT criteria can be applied to Chinese cirrhotic patients with HCC.MethodsThis retrospective study analyzed risk factors for HCC recurrence and death and compared patients’ tumor characteristics and outcomes in groups of Milan, “Up-to-seven,” and Hangzhou criteria, and groups between met and unmet the combinative criteria of “Up-to-seven” and AFP of < 1000 ng/mL.ResultsAmong 153 patients who underwent OLT for HCC from January 2015 to February 2019 in 4 years of follow-up, 20 (13.1%) patients had HCC recurrence, and 11 (7.2%) had HCC-related death. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that preoperative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) of > 1000 ng/mL (hazard ratio [HR]: 10.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.45–41.13, P = 0.001) was an independent risk factor for HCC recurrence and HCC-related death (HR: 6.63, 95%CI: 1.31–33.52, P = 0.022). Patients who did not meet Milan criteria but satisfied the “Up-to-seven” criteria had no differences in overall survival (OS) (P = 0.69) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.35) than patients who met the Milan criteria. The combination of “Up-to-seven” criteria and AFP of < 1000 ng/mL differed significantly (HR: 18.9; 95% CI: 4.0–89.2; P < 0.001). Patients with HCC who met the “Up-to-seven” criteria and AFP of < 1000 ng/mL (n = 121) had excellent survival with 4-year OS of 91.6% (P < 0.001) and DFS of 90.8% (P < 0.001), which is significantly better compared to the other group (n = 32) (OS of 67.5% and DFS of 46.5%) and patients who met the Milan criteria (n = 108, OS of 89.8%, DFS of 89.6%), allowing 28.9% (13/45) of patients who did not meet the Milan criteria to benefit from OLT.ConclusionChinese cirrhotic patients with HCC who met the combinative criteria of “Up-to-seven” and AFP of < 1000 ng/mL had better survival than those who met the Milan criteria, and these combinative criteria benefited more patients and may become a better option for OLT.

Abstract Background Myrtales is a species rich branch of Rosidae, with many species having important economic, medicinal, and ornamental value. At present, although there are reports on the chloroplast structure of Myrtales, a comprehensive analysis of the chloroplast structure of Myrtales is lacking. Phylogenetic and divergence time estimates of Myrtales are mostly constructed by using chloroplast gene fragments, and the support for relationships is low. A more reliable method to reconstruct the species divergence time and phylogenetic relationships is by using whole chloroplast genomes. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the structural characteristics of Myrtales chloroplasts, compared variation hotspots, and reconstructed the species differentiation time of Myrtales with four fossils and one secondary calibration point. Results A total of 92 chloroplast sequences of Myrtales, representing six families, 16 subfamilies and 78 genera, were obtained including nine newly sequenced chloroplasts by whole genome sequencing. Structural analyses showed that the chloroplasts range in size between 152,214–171,315 bp and exhibit a typical four part structure. The IR region is between 23,901–36,747 bp, with the large single copy region spanning 83,691–91,249 bp and the small single copy region spanning 11,150–19,703 bp. In total, 123–133 genes are present in the chloroplasts including 77–81 protein coding genes, four rRNA genes and 30–31 tRNA genes. The GC content was 36.9–38.9%, with the average GC content being 37%. The GC content in the LSC, SSC and IR regions was 34.7–37.3%, 30.6–36.8% and 39.7–43.5%, respectively. By analyzing nucleotide polymorphism of the chloroplast, we propose 21 hypervariable regions as potential DNA barcode regions for Myrtales. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Myrtales and its corresponding families are monophyletic, with Combretaceae and the clade of Onagraceae + Lythraceae (BS = 100%, PP = 1) being sister groups. The results of molecular dating showed that the crown of Myrtales was most likely to be 104.90 Ma (95% HPD = 87.88–114.18 Ma), and differentiated from the Geraniales around 111.59 Ma (95% HPD = 95.50–118.62 Ma). Conclusions The chloroplast genome structure of Myrtales is similar to other angiosperms and has a typical four part structure. Due to the expansion and contraction of the IR region, the chloroplast genome sizes in this group are slightly different. The variation of noncoding regions of the chloroplast genome is larger than those of coding regions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Combretaceae and Onagraceae + Lythraceae were well supported as sister groups. Molecular dating indicates that the Myrtales crown most likely originated during the Albian age of the Lower Cretaceous. These chloroplast genomes contribute to the study of genetic diversity and species evolution of Myrtales, while providing useful information for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of Myrtales.

AIM: To explore the significance of corneal epithelial thickness analysis in diagnosing early keratoconus. METHODS: There were 26 clinical keratoconus, 21 forme fruste keratoconus, 40 high corneal astigmatism (ΔK) and 40 low ΔK eyes involved in the study. Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography was used to measure the corneal epithelial thickness of four groups. The morphological features of topographic map and the thickness of corneal epithelial thinnest point were analyzed. The distribution curve of corneal epithelial thickness at 45°, 90°, and 135° axial directions that are through the pupil center was also analyzed. One-way ANOVA was performed to compare the data. RESULTS: The topographic map of forme fruste keratoconus corneal epithelial thickness was uniformity shape; crater shape existed only in clinical keratoconus group; and central island shape mainly existed in high ΔK group. The thinnest point of corneal epithelial thickness of forme fruste keratoconus group was significantly lower than that of low ΔK group (P=0.022). The thickness of corneal epithelium in the forme fruste keratoconus at 90° was thinner than that in the low astigmatism group at -1, and -2 mm points (P-1 mm=0.015, P-2 mm=0.036). CONCLUSION: The analysis of the thinnest point in forme fruste keratoconus corneal epithelium appears earlier than corneal epithelial remodeling. The topographic map of corneal epithelium in high ΔK eyes appears in central island shape, and can be used for the differential diagnosis of early keratoconus.

Melanization in the hemolymph of arthropods is a conserved defense strategy against infection by invading pathogens. Numerous plant viruses are persistently transmitted by insect vectors, and must overcome hemolymph melanization. Here, we determine that the plant rhabdovirus rice stripe mosaic virus (RSMV) has evolved to evade the antiviral melanization response in the hemolymph in leafhopepr vectors. After virions enter vector hemolymph cells, viral nucleoprotein N is initially synthesized and directly interacts with prophenoloxidase (PPO), a core component of the melanization pathway and this process strongly activates the expression of PPO. Furthermore, such interaction could effectively inhibit the proteolytic cleavage of the zymogen PPO to active phenoloxidase (PO), finally suppressing hemolymph melanization. The knockdown of PPO expression or treatment with the PO inhibitor also suppresses hemolymph melanization and causes viral excessive accumulation, finally causing a high insect mortality rate. Consistent with this function, microinjection of N into leafhopper vectors attenuates melanization and promotes viral infection. These findings demonstrate that RSMV N serves as the effector to attenuate hemolymph melanization and facilitate viral persistent propagation in its insect vector. Our findings provide the insights in the understanding of ongoing arms race of insect immunity defense and viral counter-defense.

With the rapid development of the automobile industry, the development and application of lightweight automobile steel are increasingly extensive. The second- and third-generation automobile steels with a tensile strength of over 1000 MPa are usually of duplex structure. Through solid solution strengthening, precipitation, deformation, fine grain strengthening, and other strengthening methods, a large number of defects are formed in the matrix, which makes the steel more sensitive to hydrogen in the service process and prone to hydrogen embrittlement under very small hydrogen dissolution conditions. The high-Mn content steels Fe−Mn−C and Fe−Mn−Al−C steels have high stacking fault energy, which not only influences their strength and toughness but also significantly affects their service performance. Based on the composition of twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steel of the Fe−Mn−C system, adding a small amount of Al element to form Fe−Mn−(Al)−C steel can not only reduce the steel density and improve the steel strength and toughness but also change the steel microstructure to a certain extent; the effect on the microstructure reduces the steel susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. However, when the Al content is high, low-density steel with a more complex structure is formed, and the precipitates are more, which leads to a more significant sensitivity to hydrogen embrittlement. In this paper, the permeation, dissolution, and diffusion behavior of H in Fe−Mn−(Al)−C high-strength-and-toughness-steel; the interaction between H and the matrix structure, the precipitated phase, and lattice defects; the model of H in steel; the hydrogen embrittlement mechanism; and the methods of hydrogen embrittlement evaluation were summarized based on the structure, second phase, and crystal defects of Fe−Mn−(Al)−C high-strength-and-toughness steel. The related research work and the latest developments of the hydrogen embrittlement of Fe−Mn−(Al)−C high-strength-and-toughness steel were reviewed. The development direction of the hydrogen embrittlement microstructure mechanism of high-strength-and-toughness steel was revealed by combining first-principle calculations, molecular dynamics simulation, and physical experiments such as hydrogen atom microprinting technology and three-dimensional atomic probe analysis.

Objective To assess the feasibility, safety and short⁃term outcomes of angioplasty and stenting for patients with symptomatic non⁃acute middle cerebral artery occlusion (SNAMCAO). Methods Eight SNAMCAO patients who failed in medical treatment and underwent endovascular recanalization, were collected from January to December 2019. The success rate, perioperative complications, prognosis and stent restenosis were summarized. Results In 8 cases, 7 cases succeeded and one case failed. Four cases occurred perioperative complications, including symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (2 cases), transient ischemic attact (1 case) and stent thrombosis (1 case). Seven to 13d after operation the modifical Rankin Scale(mRS)0-2 score were seen in 6 cases, 3 in one case and 4 in one case. Four months after operation one case occurred restenosis in the stent. Conclusions For patients with SNAMCAO, if medical treatment is not effective, endovascular recanalization can be considered, but the recanalization technique is complicated and the incidence of complications is still high. Therefore, the safety and necessity of endovascular recanalization need to be strictly evaluated. DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2020.06.008

Abstract Background Several epidemiological studies have investigated the association between whole grains intake and digestive tract cancer risk; however, the results are still controversial. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the association. Methods Studies published before March 2020 were searched in database and other sources. The risk ratio (RR) with the 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled using fix or random-effects models. Results This meta-analysis included 34 articles reporting 35 studies, 18 studies of colorectal cancer, 11 studies of gastric cancer and 6 studies of esophagus cancer, involving 2,663,278 participants and 28,921 cases. Comparing the highest-intake participants with the lowest-intake participants for whole grains, we found that the intake of whole grains were inversely related to colorectal cancer (RR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.84–0.93, P

Inconsistent evidence has been reported on the role of female hormonal factors in the development of lung cancer. This population-based case–control study evaluated the main effect of menstrual/reproductive factors on the risk of lung cancer, and the effect modification by smoking status. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression models were applied adjusted for age, income, education, county of residence, body mass index, smoking status, pack-years of smoking, and family history of lung cancer. Among 680 lung cancer cases and 1,808 controls, later menopause (at >54 vs.

AIM:To study the effects of long-term wearing monocular orthokeratology on ocular surface.METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in patients with unilateral myopia(The contralateral eye of each patient was emmetropic.)who used orthokeratology lens for more than half a year. The patients were recruited from January 2013 to December 2015, in ophthalmological clinic, 101 Hospital of PLA, Wuxi. The tear break-up time(BUT), basal tear secretion, central corneal thickness, corneal endothelial cell density, conjunctival congestion and corneal epithelium fluorescein staining were observed before wearing orthokeratology and at different time points during wearing orthokeratology.RESULTS: Fifty-three young patients(53 eyes)with long-term wearing a monocular orthokeratology lens were observed, whose ages were 10.43±1.70 years old and their spherical equivalents(SEs)were -3.37±1.50D. For the myopic eyes, after 1-week treatment of monocular orthokeratology, the BUT was shortened, but there was no significant difference compared with those after 1-month, 3-month, 6-month treatment of monocular orthokeratology(P>0.05). For the emmetropic eyes, there was no significant difference in changing the BUT at above different time points(P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the value of basal tear secretion at those time points between two different kinds of eyes(The myopic eyes with orthokeratology and the emmetropic eyes without orthokeratology)(P>0.05). Compared with before wearing orthokeratology lens, there was no significant difference in both corneal center thickness and corneal endothelial cell density at those time points after wearing orthokeratology lens(P>0.05). After wearing orthokeratology lens, the corneal epithelial stain was mostly Ⅰ dyed. After 1wk, 1, 3 and 6mo respectively, the Ⅰ dyed amounts were 10 eyes(19%), 6 eyes(11%), 8 eyes(15%), 6 eyes(11%),the Ⅱ dyed amounts were 1 eye(2%), 0, 0, 1 eye(2%). The conjunctival congestion(score 1)showed up on 10 patients after wearing the orthokeratology lens. After all the 10 cases stopping wearing orthokeratology lens, but taking some antibiotics and corneal repair agents, the corneal epithelium stain disappeared and the conjunctival congestion faded away. For the emmetropic eyes, no obvious conjunctival congestion was observed during the observation period, and the corneal epithelial stain was 0.CONCLUSION: Continuous wearing orthokeratology can cause the decrease of the stability of tear film. And it also affects the conjunctiva and corneal epithelium by degrees. But it has no significant effect on tear secretion, corneal thickness and corneal endothelial cells. There will be no apparent ocular surface damage on non-wearing eyes.

Bridelia tomentosa is a deciduous shrub in the family of Phyllanthaceae. It grows in the evergreen primary or secondary thickets or forests in the sea level from 1000 to 1500 m. It distributed in.south China (e.g., Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan etc) and other south Asian countries (e.g. Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia etc). Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of B. tomentosa. The complete plastome is of 149,958 bp in length with a typical structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two inverted repeat (IRs) regions of 26,354 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 81,355 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 15,895 bp. The plastome contains 129 genes, consisting of 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes. The overall G/C content in the plastome of B. tomentosa is 36.0%. The complete plastome sequence of B. tomentosa will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for phylogenetic studies in Phyllanthaceae.

Myopia, a deteriorated and still unsolved eye problem in China, shows the character of early onset, rapid progress and increased proportion of high myopia. Because of the serious complication caused by high myopia, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataract and macular disorders, it can even lead to the irreversible loss of vision. The prevention and effective control of myopia turn to be an urgent social problem. In this review, causes and the progress of treatment in myopia are described.

Abstract Background Laparoscopic surgery typically requires deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB), but whether deep or moderate NMB is superior for thoracoscopic surgery remains controversial. Methods Patients scheduled for thoracoscopic lobectomy under intravenous anesthesia were randomly assigned to receive moderate [train of four (TOF) 1–2] or deep NMB [TOF 0, post-tetanic count (PTC) 1–5]. Depth of anesthesia was controlled at a Narcotrend rating of 30 ± 5 in both groups. The primary outcome was the need to use an additional muscle relaxant (cisatracurium) during surgery. Secondary outcomes included surgeon satisfaction, recovery time of each stage after drug withdrawal [time from withdrawal until TOF recovery to 20% (antagonists administration), 25, 75, 90, 100%], blood gas data, VAS pain grade after extubation, the time it takes for patients to begin walking after surgery, postoperative complications and hospitalization time. Results were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Results Thirty patients were enrolled per arm, and all but one patient in each arm was included in the final analysis. Among patients undergoing moderate NMB, surgeons applied additional cisatracurium in 8 patients because of body movement and 5 because of coughing (13/29, 44.8%). Additional cisatracurium was not applied to any of the patients undergoing deep NMB (p

Abstract Background In China, the rice pathogen Rice yellow stunt virus (RYSV), a member of the genus Nucleorhabdovirus in the family Rhabdoviridae, was a severe threat to rice production during the1960s and1970s. Fundamental aspects of the biology of this virus such as protein localization and formation of the RYSV viroplasm during infection of insect vector cells are largely unexplored. The specific role(s) of the structural proteins nucleoprotein (N) and phosphoprotein (P) in the assembly of the viroplasm during RYSV infection in insect vector is also unclear. Methods In present study, we used continuous leafhopper cell culture, immunocytochemical techniques, and transmission electron microscopy to investigate the subcellular distributions of N and P during RYSV infection. Both GST pull-down assay and yeast two-hybrid assay were used to assess the in vitro interaction of N and P. The dsRNA interference assay was performed to study the functional roles of N and P in the assembly of RYSV viroplasm. Results Here we demonstrated that N and P colocalized in the nucleus of RYSV-infected Nephotettix cincticeps cell and formed viroplasm-like structures (VpLSs). The transiently expressed N and P are sufficient to form VpLSs in the Sf9 cells. In addition, the interactions of N/P, N/N and P/P were confirmed in vitro. More interestingly, the accumulation of RYSV was significantly reduced when the transcription of N gene or P gene was knocked down by dsRNA treatment. Conclusions In summary, our results suggest that N and P are the main viral factors responsible for the formation of viroplasm in RYSV-infected insect cells. Early during RYSV infection in the insect vector, N and P interacted with each other in the nucleus to form viroplasm-like structures, which are essential for the infection of RYSV.

Balakata baccata belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae and is distributed in Yunnan province, China, and other southeast Asian countries, e.g., Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, etc. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of B. baccata. The complete plastome is 163,988 bp in length and contains a typical quadripartite structure and gene content found in angiosperms, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,274 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 90,946 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,494 bp. The plastome contains 129 genes, consisting of 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The overall G/C content in the plastome of B. baccata is 35.6%. Phylogenetic results show that B. baccata is the earliest diverging lineage of Euphorbioideae. Euphorbia helioscopia + E. esula, E. tirucalli + E. milii and B. baccata have a closer phylogenetic relationship than other taxa within Euphorbiaceae. The complete plastome sequence of B. baccata will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for phylogenetic studies in Euphorbiaceae.

Mallotus japonicus is a shrub species in the family of Euphorbiaceae. The study of plastome would be helpful for its phylogenetic study and species identification. The total length of complete plastome for Mallotus japonicus is of 164,912 bp, with typical part-four structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,829 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 90,319 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,935 bp. The plastome contains 125 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 31 unique tRNA gene, four unique rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and 23S rRNA), and five pseudogenes. The overall G/C content in the plastome of Mallotus japonicus is 40.2%. The phylogenetic analysis indicates that M. japonicus is closer to M. peltatus than other species in this study. The complete plastome sequence is conducive to the exploitation and utilization of Euphorbiaceae resources and the phylogenetic study in future.

Xylosma longifolia is a tree species within Salicaceae and is distributed in Guizhou, Yunnan, Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan provinces of China as well as in Vietnam, Laos, and India. There are no studies utilizing the complete plastome of Xylosma longifolia in the current literature. Therefore, this report provides a reference for the plastid gene sequence of Xylosma longifolia, and it contributes to the phylogenetic placement and species identification. In this report, we described the complete plastome sequence of Xylosma longifolia. The complete plastome length of Xylosma longifolia is 156,938 bp and has the typical quadripartite structure and gene content of angiosperms, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,514 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85,221 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 16,689 bp. The plastome contains 130 genes, including 86 protein coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and 23S rRNA). The GC content of the plastome is 36.8%. The complete plastome sequence will be a valuable resource for studies involving the phylogenetic inference of Salicaceae.

Vernicia montana Lour. is a deciduous tree species belonging to the family of Euphorbiaceae, distributed in southeast Asia. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of Vernicia montana Lour. The complete plastome is of 164,506 bp in length with a typical structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two inverted repeat (IRs) regions of 27,965 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 91,427 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,149 bp. The plastome contains 130 genes, consisting of 81 protein-coding genes (six of which are repetitive in IR), 38 tRNA genes (seven of which are repetitive in IR), seven rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 23S rRNA and 16S rRNA) (three of which are repetitive in the IR), and four pseudogenes. The overall G/C content in the plastome of Vernicia montana Lour. is 35.8%. The complete plastome sequence of montana Lour. will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for phylogenetic studies in Euphorbiaceae.

Macaranga tanarius (L.) Muell. Arg. is a tree species within Euphorbiaceae, which can be used for building timber and its extract can be used to treat diabetes. In this report, we describe the complete plastome sequence of Macaranga tanarius. The complete plastome of Macaranga tanarius (L.) Muell. Arg. is of 165,362 bp in length, and it is with typical plastome structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two reverse repeat regions (IRs) of 27,503 bp, large single copy region (LSC) of 91,443 bp, and small single copy (SSC) region of 18,913 bp. The plastome contains 131 genes, including 85 protein coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes (i.e., 5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and 23S rRNA). The total G/C content of Macaranga tanarius (L.) Muell. Arg.plastome is 35.6%. The complete plastome sequence is conducive to the development and utilization of Euphorbiaceae resources and the phylogenetic study.

Mallotus peltatus is a tropical plant of the Euphorbiaceae family, which could be used as a beverage and medicine in Hainan, China. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of M. peltatus. The complete plastome is 163,304 bp in length and contains a typical structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,112 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 89,886 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,840 bp. The plastome contains 131 genes, consisting of 78 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA gene, four unique rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 23S rRNA and 16S rRNA), and eight pseudogenes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of M. peltatus is 64.02%. The complete plastome sequence of M. peltatus will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for phylogenetic studies in Euphorbiaceae.

Study region: The middle and lower reaches of the Jinsha River Basin (MLJRB). Study focus: The main objective is to evaluate the impact of climate change and anthropogenic activities to the water and sediment resources of the studied region in 1960—2015. The variation of runoff and suspended sediment load is first analyzed with regard to their trends and abrupt change. Different factors attributable to the variation are then quantitatively separated. New hydrological insights for the region: The annual runoff and sediment load across the MLJRB both decreased abruptly and coincidently in the recent two decades, with the transitional years detected to be 2006 and 2002, respectively. Comparing the post-transition period to the pre-transition period, runoff decreased 14.7% and sediment load decreased 63%. Climate change is the major contribution for the decrease in runoff, which explains 56.3% of the reduction, and impoundment of large reservoirs and water consumption contributed 18.6% and 2.7% respectively. The other 22.5% was ascribed to water-soil conservation and other factors. In contrast to water resources, human activities were dominant in sediment reduction, including 44.9% caused by large reservoirs, 1% from increased water consumption and 35% by conservation measures and other potential factors. Remarkably, almost 90% of the sediment load can be trapped as the direct consequence of the construction and operation of two huge dams, Xiluodu and Xiangjiaba, since 2013. Keywords: Climate change, Anthropogenic activities, Runoff, Suspended sediment load, Quantitative analysis

Persistently transmitted plant viruses encounter multiple membrane and tissue barriers in the process of completing their infection routes within their insect vectors. Some of these viruses have been reported to overcome the elaborate barriers of the central nervous system (CNS) to travel through the nervous tissues, but the specific mechanisms of this process remain unknown. Here, we report the axonal transport mechanism of rice yellow stunt virus (RYSV), a nucleorhabdovirus, in the CNS of the green rice leafhopper (Nephotettix cincticeps). The infection route of RYSV in the internal organs of its insect vector after ingestion of the virus was investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy. RYSV was first detected in the epithelial cells of midgut regions, from where it proceeded to the nervous system, and finally into the salivary glands. We then utilized immunofluorescence and electron microscopy to investigate the distribution of RYSV particles within the leafhopper CNS, demonstrating that non-enveloped viral particles distributed along the microtubule-based neurofilaments in the axon cytoplasm following the direct interaction of leafhopper α-tubulin with the RYSV M protein. Tubulin inhibitors inhibited the dissemination of RYSV to the CNS, then into the salivary glands in leafhoppers. We therefore describe a mechanism of plant virus transport through CNS axons as an alternative means of rapid viral dissemination in an insect vector.

Continuously cultured cell lines derived from planthopper and leafhopper have greatly facilitated the investigation of rice viruses transmitted by these insects. However, the lack of a suitable transient expression vector has limited their utility. Here, by cloning and analyzing the promoter sequence of the gene encoding cytoplasmic actin from the leafhopper Nephotettix cincticeps, we successfully developed the first efficient transient expression vector for cultured leafhopper cells, which can also be used to express exogenous proteins in other insect culture cell lines, including those derived from Recilia dorsalis leafhopper and Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9). Furthermore, insertion of the Hr5 viral enhancer element and knockdown of the endogenous Dicer2 gene notably improved the vector’s expression efficiency in leafhopper cells. Using the optimized vector, we have for the first time traced the cellular localization of the proteins encoded by rice yellow stunt virus (RYSV) in cells of its insect vector and demonstrated that P6 protein is a component of the viroplasm.

Paraquat (PQ) exposure is known as a risk factor for developing neurodegenerative diseases. Astrocytes are implicated and affected in neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries, so it is suspected that PQ may impose detrimental effects on astrocytes function. Here, we present a study of the effects of PQ on synaptic function of astrocytes. Human astrocytes (HA1800) were separately treated with PQ at 200, 400, and 800 µmol/L for 12, 24, and 48 hours, respectively. The concentrations of membrane cholesterol, intracellular glutamate, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were assessed by measuring changes with Kits after PQ treatment. Expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) were detected using Western blot method. The results indicated that astrocytes were highly susceptible to PQ showing astrogliosis characterized by enhanced GFAP expression ( P < .05). The decreased cholesterol level and ApoE expression were observed in PQ-treated astrocytes and so were the decreased levels of glutamates and ATP in PQ-treated astrocytes. These results suggested that PQ exerted the detrimental effects on synaptic function of astrocytes, which may be involved in the progressive process of neurodegenerative disorders.

Plants pre-infected with a mild variant of a virus frequently become protected against more severe variants of the same virus through the cross protection phenomenon first discovered in 1929. Despite its widespread use in managing important plant virus diseases, the mechanism of cross protection remains poorly understood. Recent investigations in our labs, by analyzing the whole-plant dynamics of a turnip crinkle virus (TCV) population, coupled with cell biological interrogation of individual TCV variants, revealed possible novel mechanisms for cross protection and the closely related process of superinfection exclusion (SIE). Our new mechanistic model postulates that, for RNA viruses like TCV, SIE manifests a viral function that denies progeny viruses the chance of re-replicating their genomes in the cells of their “parents,” and it collaterally targets highly homologous superinfecting viruses that are indistinguishable from progeny viruses. We further propose that SIE may be evolutionarily selected to maintain an optimal error frequency in progeny genomes. Although primarily based on observations made with TCV, this new model could be broadly applicable to other viruses as it provides a molecular basis for maintaining virus genome fidelity in the face of the error-prone nature of virus replication process.

Magnolia omeiensis is an evergreen tree with 25 meters heights. It is distributed in tropical 1200–1300 m. Mount Emei. And it has been ranked as a CR (Critically Endangered) species in China. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of M. omeiensis in an effort to provide genomic resources useful for promoting its systematics research. The plastome of M. omeiensis is found to possess a total length 160,021 bp with the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperms, contains two Inverted Repeats (IRs) of 26,336 bp, a Large Single-Copy (LSC) region of 88,061 bp and a Small Single-Copy (SSC) region of 19,288 bp. The plastome contains 114 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA genes and 4 unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of M. omeiensis is 60.70%. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that M. omeiensis is close to Magnolia yunnanensis within Magnoliaceae in this study. The complete plastome sequence of M. omeiensis will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for the phylogenetic studies of Magnoliaceae.

iThe plastome of Manilkara zapota is found to be 158,386 bp long with the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperms, contains two inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,099 bp each, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,745 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,443 bp. The plastome contains 114 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA genes, and 4 unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of M. zapota is 63.00%. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that M. zapota is close to Sideroxylon wightianum within Sapotaceae in this study.

Syzygium forrestii Merr. et Perry is an evergreen broad-leaved tree, 8–15 metres tall. It is mainly distributed in the Southwest of China (Nu river valley to Xishuangbanna area), growing from 800 to 2400 metres above sea level. It grows in the evergreen broad-leaved forest and the hillside shrubbery. It is an endemic plant species in China. At present, it has not been artificially introduced and cultivated. However, its complete plastome information and systematic position is still unknown. Here we report and characterize the complete plastid genome sequence of S. forrestii in an effort to provide genomic resources useful for promoting its conservation and systematic research. The complete plastome is 159,996 bp in length and contains the typical structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,414 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 88,560 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,608 bp. The plastome contains 115 genes, consisting of 81 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA gene and 4 unique rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 23S rRNA and 16S rRNA). The overall A/T content in the plastome of S. forrestii is 63.10%. The complete plastome sequence of S. forrestii will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for the phylogenetic studies of Myrtaceae.

Hedyotis ovata is a plant of the family Rubiaceae. So far, there is no study on the genome of H. ovata. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastid genome sequence of H. ovata in an effort to provide genomic resources useful for promoting its conservation. The complete plastome is 154,560 bp in length and contains the typical structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,058 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,579 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,865 bp. The plastome contains 114 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA genes, and 4 unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of H. ovata is 61.90%. The complete plastome sequence of H. ovata will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for the phylogenetic studies for Rubiaceae.

Artocarpus heterophyllus is an evergreen tree with 10–20 m height. It is distributed in tropical low-altitude areas, and is a tropical fruit with great economic value. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of A. heterophyllus in an effort to provide genomic resources useful for promoting its systematics research. The plastome of A. heterophyllus is found to possess a total length 160,389 bp with the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperms, contains two Inverted Repeats (IRs) of 25,708 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 89,077 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 19,896 bp. The plastome contains 112 genes, consisting of 78 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA genes, and 4 unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of A. heterophyllus is 63.90%. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that A. heterophyllus is close to Morus cathayana within Moraceae in this study. The complete plastome sequence of A. heterophyllus will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for the phylogenetic studies of Moraceae.

AIM: To expose rat retinal Müller cells to 530 nm monochromatic light and investigate the influence of varying light illumination times on basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression.METHODS: Three groups of rat retinal Müller cells cultured in vitro under a 530 nm monochromatic light were divided into 6, 12 and 24h experimental groups , while cells incubated under dark conditions served as the control group. The bFGF and TGF-β1 mRNA expression, protein levels and fluorescence intensity of the Müller cells were analyzed.RESULTS:ThebFGF mRNA expression and protein levels were significantly upregulated in Müller cells in all three experimental groups compared with the control group (PPPCONCLUSION:The expressions ofbFGF and TGF-β1 changed in a time-dependent manner in Müller cells exposed to 530 nm monochromatic light with 250 lx illumination intensity. Müller cells might play a role in the development of myopia by increasing bFGF expression or decreasing TGF-β1 expression. Changes in cytokine expression in retinal Müller cells may affect monochromatic light-induced myopia.

Background: In qualitative diagnosis of bile duct stenosis, single diagnostic measure is difficult to make a correct diagnosis, to combine several diagnostic techniques may be helpful to make an accurate diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS), endoscopic brush cytology and K-ras, P53 gene mutation in the early diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture. Methods: From February 2012 to February 2013, 84 patients with suspected malignant biliary stricture were performed IDUS firstly, then endoscopic brush cytology and finally K-ras, P53 gene mutation detection, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of all above ways were evaluated and compared. Results: Of 84 patients, 52 cases were ultimately diagnosed malignant biliary stenosis; of which, 9 cases had no recurrence or metastasis to other organs after radical operation during the follow-up period. IDUS combined with brush cytology and K-ras + P53 gene mutation detection had obvious advantage in the sensitivity, accuracy and negative predictive value than any other joint detection and single detection (the advantage was more significant compared with IDUS + brush cytology or any single detection P < 0.01). There were obvious statistical significance in the sensitivity and accuracy between IDUS + brush cytology + P53 or IDUS + brush cytology + K-ras and IDUS + brush cytology or IDUS (P < 0.05). There was no statistical significance in the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy between IDUS + brush cytology + P53 and IDUS + brush cytology + K-ras (P > 0.05). Conclusions: IDUS combined with brush cytology and K-ras, P53 gene mutation detection is better than the separate detection and contribute to the early diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture. Its more widespread use is recommended.