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Abstract [Objective] The purpose of this study is to examine the role of the DXR gene, encoding 1-deoxy- D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase, in monoterpenoids synthesis in lilac (Syringa oblata), and to provide genetic resources and theoretical basis for the molecular breeding of floral fragrance of lilac. [Methods] Firstly, the SoDXR gene was cloned. Then, bioinformatics and subcellular localization analysis were performed, and qRT-PCR was used to analyze the gene expression patterns in different floral development stages and tissues. Finally, transient overexpression of SoDXR in the petals of snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) was detected. [Results] ORF of SoDXR was 1 425 bp, encoding 474 amino acids. SoDXR protein contained the conserved domain of DXP_reductoisom, which had a similarity of up to 95% with Osmanthus fragrans and Olea europaea. Subcellular localization analysis showed that the protein was mainly located in the plastids, consistent with the software prediction. With flowering, the expression level of SoDXR was increased and then decreased, with the highest expression in the initial opening stage. SoDXR was differentially expressed in various tissues with the highest in petals and the lowest in stems. Transient overexpression revealed that the expression of SoDXR was higher than the control. Moreover, the main floral volatile components in snapdragon petals, myrcene and ocimene, were increased by 15.03 and 4.83 times, respectively. [Conclusion] The SoDXR gene positively regulates monoterpenoids synthesis in lilac, and may play an important role in the synthesis of secondary metabolites of floral fragrance.

PurposeBlack people give birth joyously despite disproportionate rates of adverse perinatal outcomes. Given that group prenatal care shows promise in mitigating these inequities, we sought to solicit the opinions of Black peripartum women on how group prenatal care could be tailored to fit their specific needs. In this study, we describe attitudes about a proposed Black group prenatal care in a single focus group of 11 Black women who receive maternal health services from Black Infant Health (BIH, a state and federal funded state-wide program for Black pregnant people with the goal to improve infant and maternal health). These data were used to design a race-conscious group prenatal care curriculum specifically for Black women at UCSF.DescriptionThis study was an analysis of focus group data generated as part of a larger project focused on community involvement in Black maternal health. English speaking pregnant or recently postpartum women age 18 or older who receive services from BIH were recruited to participated in the focus group analyzed in this study. All facilitators of the focus group were Black women in order to facilitate candid conversation about racism in prenatal care.AssessmentThe need for mental health care was common thread underlying all conversations about prenatal health improvements desired by our focus groups. Participants expressed the centrality of mental health access during our discussion of other themes (e.g.: ease of access, inclusion of partners, special classes for teen moms) by discussing them in terms of their relationship to mental health. Our participants' clear expression of the centrality of mental health care to their prenatal health guided our decision to focus on mental health as a necessary pillar of any group prenatal care intervention designed to mitigate perinatal healthcare disparities in this paper. Three themes related to mental health integration into group prenatal care emerged from thematic analysis of the transcripts. Participants expressed insufficient access and advocacy, and provider distrust.ConclusionEvidence exists supporting group prenatal care as a tool for mitigation of perinatal health disparities among Black women. There is also a large body of data describing the disproportionate burden of mental health needs among Black women. The rich data we present here from Black women on their desire for the integration of these two needs fits well into the parallel conversation occurring in the literature. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating desires of Black women regarding group prenatal care designed specifically for them. They expressed a strong desire for more access to mental health care providers who are racially conscious and aware of white supremacy, and nuanced opinions on the role of racial concordance in health equity.

Background and purpose: Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in our country. The diagnosis and treatment process of gastric cancer lacks of sensitive and specific biomarker. This study aimed to explore the expression of plasma methylated Septin9 gene (mSEPT9) and its clinical significance in patients with gastric cancer. Methods: From April 2020 to November 2020, 221 patients with gastric cancer and 34 patients with no evidence of disease who visited Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University were enrolled. The status of mSEPT9 was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fluorescence probe method, and relative mSEPT9 value was determined by the ΔΔCt method. Detailed clinical data including pathological characteristics (patients characteristics and pathology characteristics) and serum biomarkers [carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA)12-5, CA19-9 and CA72-4] were collected and analyzed. Paired t test, χ2 test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed for statistical analysis. Results: The positive rate, sensitivity and specificity of plasma mSEPT9 were 35%, 35% and 100%, respectively in untreated patients with gastric cancer. The positive rate of mSEPT9 was higher in patients with blood vessel invasion, serosa invasion and lymphatic metastasis, which was 46.87% vs 12.50%, 45.16% vs 14.29%, 75.00% vs 40.00%, respectively (P

Background: Sichuan Province was severely affected by the HIV, and there was a scarcity of data regarding the survival time and influencing factors for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) in Sichuan Province who have received Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a survival analysis for PLWH receiving ART. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on PLWH who had received ART≥ 6 months in Sichuan Province from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2022. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate median survival time and plot survival curves, while a Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to analyze factors affecting survival time. Bilateral tests were performed, with P≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The cumulative survival rates at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years for the 223,386 subjects were 94.54%, 89.07%, 84.82%, and 76.44%, respectively. Multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model indicated lower mortality risks for females (HR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.54– 0.65), homosexual transmission (HR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.33– 0.55), and baseline BMI≥ 24 (HR=0.81, 95% CI: 0.72– 0.90). Higher mortality risks were associated with age≥ 50 years at diagnosis (HR=3.21, 95% CI: 2.94– 3.50), being unmarried or divorced (HR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.11– 1.37), living separately (HR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.22– 1.43), baseline BMI < 18.5 (HR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.13– 1.41), presence of single-drug resistance (HR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.15– 1.36), baseline WHO stage IV (HR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.09– 1.47), and a diagnosis-to-treatment interval > 12 months (HR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.15– 1.41). Compared to those with CD4(+) T cell count of 200– 350cells/μL, 350– 500cells/μL, and > 500cells/μL at baseline, individuals with < 200cells/μL had higher mortality risks (HR=0.73, 95% CI: 0.67– 0.79; HR=0.57, 95% CI: 0.51– 0.64; and HR=0.58, 95% CI: 0.51– 0.66, respectively). Conclusion: The survival rate for PLWH receiving ART in Sichuan Province was relatively high. Male gender, age over 50 at diagnosis, being unmarried, divorced, or living separately, presence of single-drug resistance, low baseline BMI, baseline CD4+ T cell < 200cells/μL, baseline WHO stage IV, and a diagnosis-to-treatment interval > 12 months were risk factors for the survival of PLWH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Colorectal cancer is one of the common gastrointestinal tumors. The incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in China are high. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has a certain value in the whole course of the medical management of patients with colorectal cancer as a non-invasive detection marker. The status of related gene mutations in plasma ctDNA of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) were detected and analyzed to assist in making personalized treatment plan for patients. Methods: This study included 30 patients with mCRC who were treated in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from June 2016 to January 2017, using next generation sequencing (NGS) and nucleic acid mass spectrometry to detect ctDNA mutations, and compared the performance of these two platforms. The above two platforms were used to detect common mutations in gene KRAS, NRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA from ctDNA extracted from plasma of mCRC patients. Meanwhile, the results obtained from two platforms were compared with the results combining the history, biopsy and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) results to evaluate the detection coincidence rate, specificity and sensitivity of these two platforms. Results: The coincidence rate of nucleic acid mass spectrometry was 76.67%, the sensitivity was 86.67%, and the specificity was 66.67%. The coincidence rate of NGS was 86.67%, the sensitivity was 83.33%, and the specificity was 91.67%. Conclusion: Both platforms can be used to detect common mutations in ctDNA, but the negative predictive value of NGS is better than that of MALDI-TOF. Meanwhile, the mutation abundance of mutation sites is related to whether the patient’s primary tumor is resected and whether the patient has been treated.

Objectives There are three major subtypes of breast cancer, ER+, HER2+ and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), namely ER−, PR−, HER2−. TNBC is the most aggressive breast cancer with poor prognosis and no target drug up to now. Actinomycin D (ActD) is a bioactive metabolite of marine bacteria that has been reported to have antitumor activity. The aim of study is to investigate whether ActD has a synergetic effect on TNBC with Doxorubicin (Dox), the major chemotherapeutic drug for TNBC, and explore the underlying mechanism. Methods TNBC cell lines HCC1937, MDA-MB-436 and nude mice were used in the study. Drug synergy determination, LDH assay, MMP assay, Hoechst 33342 staining, Flow cytometry, Flexible docking and CESTA assay were carried out. The expression of proteins associated with apoptosis was checked by Western blot and siRNA experiments were performed to investigate the role of P53 and PUMA induced by drugs. Results There was much higher apoptosis rate of cells in the ActD + Dox group than that in ActD group or Dox group. Expression of MDM2 and BCL-2 was reduced while expression of P53, PUMA and BAX were increased in the groups treated with ActD + Dox or Dox compared to the control group. Furthermore, P53 siRNA or PUMA siRNA tremendously abrogated the cell apoptosis in the groups treated by ActD, Dox and ActD + Dox. Flexible docking and CESTA showed that ActD can bind MDM2. Conclusions ActD had a synergetic effect on TNBC with Dox via P53-dependent apoptosis and it may be a new choice for treatment of TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]