Evolution of sea-surfing plant propagule as revealed by the genomes of Heritiera mangroves.

Coastal forests, such as mangroves, protect much of the tropical and subtropical coasts. Long-distance dispersal via sea-surfing propagules is essential for coastal plants, but the genomic and molecular basis of sea-surfing plant propagule evolution remains unclear. Heritiera fomes and Heritiera littoralis are two coastal plants with typical buoyant fruits. We de novo sequenced and assembled their high-quality genomes. Our phylogenomic analysis indicates H. littoralis and H. fomes originated (at ~6.08 Mya) just before the start of Quaternary sea-level fluctuations. Whole-genome duplication occurred earlier, permitting gene copy gains in the two species. Many of the expanded gene families are involved in lignin and flavonoid biosynthesis, likely contributing to buoyant fruit emergence. It is repeatedly revealed that one duplicated copy to be under positive selection while the other is not. By examining H. littoralis fruits at three different developmental stages, we found that gene expression levels remain stable from young to intermediate. However, ~1000 genes are up-regulated and ~ 3000 genes are down-regulated as moving to mature. Particularly in fruit epicarps, the upregulation of WRKY12 and E2Fc likely constrains the production of p-Coumaroyl-CoA, the key internal substrate for lignin biosynthesis. Hence, to increase fruit impermeability, methylated lignin biosynthesis is shut down by down-regulating the genes CCoAOMT, F5H, COMT, and CSE, while unmethylated lignins are preferentially produced by upregulating CAD and CCR. Similarly, cutin polymers and cuticular waxes accumulate with high levels before maturation in epicarps. Overall, our genome assemblies and analyses uncovered the genomic evolution and temporal transcriptional regulation of sea-surfing propagule.

Adaptation in Unstable Environments and Global Gene Losses: Small but Stable Gene Networks by the May-Wigner Theory.

Although gene loss is common in evolution, it remains unclear whether it is an adaptive process. In a survey of seven major mangrove clades that are woody plants in the intertidal zones of daily environmental perturbations, we noticed that they generally evolved reduced gene numbers. We then focused on the largest clade of Rhizophoreae and observed the continual gene set reduction in each of the eight species. A great majority of gene losses are concentrated on environmental interaction processes, presumably to cope with the constant fluctuations in the tidal environments. Genes of the general processes for woody plants are largely retained. In particular, fewer gene losses are found in physiological traits such as viviparous seeds, high salinity, and high tannin content. Given the broad and continual genome reductions, we propose the May-Wigner theory (MWT) of system stability as a possible mechanism. In MWT, the most effective solution for buffering continual perturbations is to reduce the size of the system (or to weaken the total genic interactions). Mangroves are unique as immovable inhabitants of the compound environments in the land-sea interface, where environmental gradients (such as salinity) fluctuate constantly, often drastically. Extending MWT to gene regulatory network (GRN), computer simulations and transcriptome analyses support the stabilizing effects of smaller gene sets in mangroves vis-à-vis inland plants. In summary, we show the adaptive significance of gene losses in mangrove plants, including the specific role of promoting phenotype innovation and a general role in stabilizing GRN in unstable environments as predicted by MWT.

The evolution history of an allotetraploid mangrove tree analysed with a new tool Allo4D.

Mangrove species are broadly classified as true mangroves and mangrove associates. The latter are amphibious plants that can survive in the intertidal zone and reproduce naturally in terrestrial environments. Their widespread distribution and extensive adaptability make them ideal research materials for exploring adaptive evolution. In this study, we de novo assembled two genomes of mangrove associates (the allotetraploid Barringtonia racemosa (2n = 4x = 52) and diploid Barringtonia asiatica (2n = 2x = 26)) to investigate the role of allopolyploidy in the evolutionary history of mangrove species. We developed a new allotetraploid-dividing tool Allo4D to distinguish between allotetraploid scaffold-scale subgenomes and verified its accuracy and reliability using real and simulated data. According to the two subgenomes of allotetraploid B. racemosa divided using Allo4D, the allopolyploidization event was estimated to have occurred approximately one million years ago (Mya). We found that B. racemosa, B. asiatica, and Diospyros lotus shared a whole genome duplication (WGD) event during the K-Pg (Cretaceous-Paleozoic) period. K-Pg WGD and recent allopolyploidization events contributed to the speciation of B. racemosa and its adaptation to coastal habitats. We found that genes in the glucosinolates (GSLs) pathway, an essential pathway in response to various biotic and abiotic stresses, expanded rapidly in B. racemosa during polyploidization. In summary, this study provides a typical example of the adaptation of allopolyploid plants to extreme environmental conditions. The newly developed tool, Allo4D, can effectively divide allotetraploid subgenomes and explore the evolutionary history of polyploid plants, especially for species whose ancestors are unknown or extinct.

Primary lymphoma of the female genital tract masquerading as gynecological malignancy.

BACKGROUND: Primary lymphoma of the female genital tract (PLFGT) is a rare malignant tumor in the female reproductive system, with a low incidence and few clinical reports. The aim of this study is to report our institutional experience with this rare malignancy and emphasize the need for increasing the awareness about PLFGT presenting with gynecologic symptoms. METHODS: The medical records of patients diagnosed with PLFGT from March 2014 to November 2022 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College were reviewed. Histological classification and staging were based on the World Health Organization and Ann Arbor systems, respectively. RESULTS: There were 13 patients with diagnosis of PLFGT and the median length of follow-up was 31 months (0-102 months). The main clinical symptoms included postmenopausal vaginal bleeding, pelvic mass and abdominal pain. Serum LDH increased in 10 patients and serum CA125 elevated in 2 patients. The tumor of ovarian or uterine presented as solid masses in CT or MRI, and ascites was rare. The histological subtypes were diffuse large B-cell (n = 12) and follicular (n = 1) lymphoma. Tumors were located in ovary (n = 8), uterus (n = 3), and cervix (n = 2). According to the Ann Arbor staging system, 6 cases were classified as stage II and 7 cases were classified as stage IV, respectively. A total of 10 patients underwent surgery. Combination chemotherapy was used in 10 patients. Eight patients had tumor-free survival, 1 patient had recurrent disease, 3 patients died and 1 patient lost to follow-up. The median survival time was 32 months (1-102 months). CONCLUSION: PLFGT usually presents as gynecological symptoms and solid masses in pelvis. Surgery or biopsy was the way to obtain the pathologic diagnosis, and combination chemotherapy is the efficient method for PLFGT. Making an accurate preoperative diagnosis is of paramount importance to avoid radical gynecologic surgery.

Genomic analysis of Nypa fruticans elucidates its intertidal adaptations and early palm evolution.

Nypa fruticans (Wurmb), a mangrove palm species with origins dating back to the Late Cretaceous period, is a unique species for investigating long-term adaptation strategies to intertidal environments and the early evolution of palms. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome sequence and assembly for N. fruticans. We integrated the genomes of N. fruticans and other palm family members for a comparative genomic analysis, which confirmed that the common ancestor of all palms experienced a whole-genome duplication event around 89 million years ago, shaping the distinctive characteristics observed in this clade. We also inferred a low mutation rate for the N. fruticans genome, which underwent strong purifying selection and evolved slowly, thus contributing to its stability over a long evolutionary period. Moreover, ancient duplicates were preferentially retained, with critical genes having experienced positive selection, enhancing waterlogging tolerance in N. fruticans. Furthermore, we discovered that the pseudogenization of Early Methionine-labelled 1 (EM1) and EM6 in N. fruticans underly its crypto-vivipary characteristics, reflecting its intertidal adaptation. Our study provides valuable genomic insights into the evolutionary history, genome stability, and adaptive evolution of the mangrove palm. Our results also shed light on the long-term adaptation of this species and contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics in the palm family.

Adaptation to a new environment with pre-adaptive genomic features - Evidence from woody plants colonizing the land-sea interface.

Adaptation to new environments is a key evolutionary process which presumably involves complex genomic changes. Mangroves, a collection of approximately 80 woody plants that have independently invaded intertidal zones >20 times, are ideal for studying this process. We assembled near-chromosome-scale genomes of three Xylocarpus species as well as an outgroup species using single-molecule real-time sequencing. Phylogenomic analysis reveals two separate lineages, one with the mangrove Xylocarpus granatum and the other comprising a mangrove Xylocarpus moluccensis and a terrestrial Xylocarpus rumphii. In conjunction with previous studies, we identified several genomic features associated with mangroves: (i) signals of positive selection in genes related to salt tolerance and root development; (ii) genome-wide elevated ratios of non-synonymous to synonymous substitution relative to terrestrial relatives; and (iii) active elimination of long terminal repeats. These features are found in the terrestrial X. rumphii in addition to the two mangroves. These genomic features, not being strictly mangrove-specific, are hence considered pre-adaptive. We infer that the coastal but non-intertidal habitat of X. rumphii may have predisposed the common ancestor to invasion of true mangrove habitats. Other features including the preferential retention of duplicated genes and intolerance to pseudogenization are not found in X. rumphii and are likely true adaptive features in mangroves. In conclusion, by studying adaptive shift and partial shifts among closely related species, we set up a framework to study genomic features that are acquired at different stages of the pre-adaptation and adaptation to new environments.

Evolution of woody plants to the land-sea interface - The atypical genomic features of mangroves with atypical phenotypic adaptation.

How plants adapt and diverge in extreme environments is a key question of plant evolution and ecology. Mangrove invasion of intertidal environments is facilitated by adaptive phenotypes such as aerial roots, salt-secreting leaf, and viviparity, and genomic mechanisms including whole genome duplication and transposable element number reduction. However, a number of mangroves lack these typical phenotypes. The question we ask is whether these phenotypically atypical mangroves also have distinct genomic features? The sibling mangrove species Lumnitzera littorea and Lumnitzera racemosa provide a model to study this question. We sequenced and assembled their genomes to chromosome level, together with a closely related species Combretum micranthum. While most mangroves have small genomes, the genomes of both Lumnitzera species are large (1443 and 1317 Mb) and carry a high proportion of repeat sequences (~75%). Moreover, Lumnitzera species have not undergone post-gamma whole-genome duplications. Their genome size increased mainly due to the expansion of repeat sequences in their ancestors. However, Lumnitzera genomes have reduced transposable elements by constraining the proliferation of new LTR-RTs. Meanwhile, the two species have more gene families contracted than expanded, and some gene families with reversed size change may underlie their differentiation in root morphology and local distribution. We identified 86 chromosomal inversions, five of which are measured between 6.5 and 12.8 megabases. A number of genes located in these inversions function in pigment biosynthesis, a process likely involved in flower colour differentiation between the Lumnitzera species. We conclude that the mangroves with atypical phenotypes also have atypical genomic evolution.

Where whole-genome duplication is most beneficial: Adaptation of mangroves to a wide salinity range between land and sea.

Whole-genome duplication (WGD) is believed to increase the chance of adaptation to a new environment. This conjecture may apply particularly well to new environments that are not only different but also more variable than ancestral habitats. One such prominent environment is the interface between land and sea, which has been invaded by woody plants, collectively referred as mangroves, multiple times. Here, we use two distantly related mangrove species (Avicennia marina and Rhizophora apiculata) to explore the effects of WGD on the adaptive process. We found that a high proportion of duplicated genes retained after WGD have acquired derived differential expression in response to salt gradient treatment. The WGD duplicates differentially expressed in at least one copy usually (>90%) diverge from their paralogues' expression profiles. Furthermore, both species evolved in parallel to have one paralogue expressed at a high level in both fresh water and hypersaline conditions but at a lower level at medium salinity. The pattern contrasts with the conventional view of monotone increase/decrease as salinity increases. Differentially expressed copies have thus probably acquired a new role in salinity tolerance. Our results indicate that the WGD duplicates may have evolved to function collaboratively in coping with different salinity levels, rather than specializing in the intermediate salinity optimal for mangrove plants. In conclusion, WGD and the retained duplicates appear to be an effective solution for adaptation to new and unstable environments.

Chromosomal-Scale Genome Assemblies of Two Coastal Plant Species, Scaevola taccada and S. hainanensis-Insight into Adaptation Outside of the Common Range.

While most of the species in Goodeniaceae family, excluding the Scaevola genus, are endemic to Australasia, S. taccada and S. hainanensis have expanded their distribution range to the tropical coastlines of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. S. taccada appears to be highly adapted to coastal sandy lands and cliffs, and it has become invasive in places. S. hainanensis is found mainly in salt marshes near mangrove forests, and is at risk of extinction. These two species provide a good system to investigate adaptive evolution outside the common distribution range of this taxonomic group. Here, we report their chromosomal-scale genome assemblies with the objective of probing their genomic mechanisms related to divergent adaptation after leaving Australasia. The scaffolds were assembled into eight chromosome-scale pseudomolecules, which covered 90.12% and 89.46% of the whole genome assembly for S. taccada and S. hainanensis, respectively. Interestingly, unlike many mangroves, neither species has undergone whole-genome duplication. We show that private genes, specifically copy-number expanded genes are essential for stress response, photosynthesis, and carbon fixation. The gene families that are expanded in S. hainanensis and contracted in S. taccada might have facilitated adaptation to high salinity in S. hainanensis. Moreover, the genes under positive selection in S. hainanensis have contributed to its response to stress and its tolerance of flooding and anoxic environments. In contrast, compared with S. hainanensis, the more drastic copy number expansion of FAR1 genes in S. taccada might have facilitated its adaptation to the stronger light radiation present in sandy coastal lands. In conclusion, our study of the chromosomal-scale genomes of S. taccada and S. hainanensis provides novel insights into their genomic evolution after leaving Australasia.

Population subdivision promoted by a sea-level-change-driven bottleneck: A glimpse from the evolutionary history of the mangrove plant Aegiceras corniculatum.

Historic climate changes drive geographical populations of coastal plants to contract and recover dynamically, even die out completely. Species suffering from such bottlenecks usually lose intraspecific genetic diversity, but how do these events influence population subdivision patterns of coastal plants? Here, we investigated this question in the typical coastal plant: mangrove species Aegiceras corniculatum. Inhabiting the intertidal zone of the tropical and subtropical coast of the Indo-West Pacific oceans, its populations are deemed to be greatly shaped by historic sea-level fluctuations. Using dual methods of Sanger and Illumina sequencing, we found that the 18 sampled populations were structured into two groups, namely, the "Indo-Malayan" group, comprising three subgroups (the northern South China Sea, Gulf of Bengal, and Bali), and the "Pan-Australasia" group, comprising the subgroups of the southern South China Sea and Australasia. Based on the approximate Bayesian computations and Stairway Plot, we inferred that the southern South China Sea subgroup, which penetrates the interior of the "Indo-Malayan" group, originated from the Australasia subgroup, accompanied by a severe bottleneck event, with a spot of gene flow from both the Australasia and "Indo-Malayan" groups. Geographical barriers such as the Sundaland underlie the genetic break between Indian and Pacific Oceans, but the discontinuity between southern and northern South China Sea was originated from genetic drift in the bottleneck event. Hence, we revealed a case evidencing that the bottleneck event promoted population subdivision. This conclusion may be applicable in other taxa beyond coastal plants.

True hermaphroditism with sex cord tumor with annular tubules (SCTAT): a rare case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: True hermaphroditism is a rare condition. It is defined as the presence of both testicular and ovarian tissues in the same individual. Sex cord tumour with annular tubules (SCTAT) is a rare stromal tumour of the sex cord that occurs mostly in the ovaries. CASE PRESENTATION: A 16-year-old girl presented to the gynaecology department with primary amenorrhea. Gynaecological examination revealed an enlarged clitoris that looked like a small penis. The chromosome karyotype was chimaera. The postoperative pathology confirmed true hermaphroditism with SCTAT. The patient underwent hormonal replacement after an operation and had no evidence of recurrence for 6 months. CONCLUSION: Cases of true hermaphroditism with SCTAT are extremely rare conditions. Surgery and hormonal replacement are important for improving the prognosis of such patients.

Death of new microRNA genes in Drosophila via gradual loss of fitness advantages.

The prevalence of de novo coding genes is controversial due to length and coding constraints. Noncoding genes, especially small ones, are freer to evolve de novo by comparison. The best examples are microRNAs (miRNAs), a large class of regulatory molecules ∼22 nt in length. Here, we study six de novo miRNAs in Drosophila, which, like most new genes, are testis-specific. We ask how and why de novo genes die because gene death must be sufficiently frequent to balance the many new births. By knocking out each miRNA gene, we analyzed their contributions to the nine components of male fitness (sperm production, length, and competitiveness, among others). To our surprise, the knockout mutants often perform better than the wild type in some components, and slightly worse in others. When two of the younger miRNAs are assayed in long-term laboratory populations, their total fitness contributions are found to be essentially zero. These results collectively suggest that adaptive de novo genes die regularly, not due to the loss of functionality, but due to the canceling out of positive and negative fitness effects, which may be characterized as "quasi-neutrality." Since de novo genes often emerge adaptively and become lost later, they reveal ongoing period-specific adaptations, reminiscent of the "Red-Queen" metaphor for long-term evolution.

Establishing community-wide DNA barcode references for conserving mangrove forests in China.

BACKGROUND: Mangrove ecosystems have been the focus of global attention for their crucial role in sheltering coastal communities and retarding global climate change by sequestering 'blue carbon'. China is relatively rich in mangrove diversity, with one-third of the ca. 70 true mangrove species and a number of mangrove associate species occurring naturally along the country's coasts. Mangrove ecosystems, however, are widely threatened by intensifying human disturbances and rising sea levels. DNA barcoding technology may help protect mangrove ecosystems by providing rapid species identification. RESULTS: To investigate this potential, 898 plant specimens were collected from 33 major mangrove sites in China. Based on the morphologic diagnosis, the specimens were assigned to 72 species, including all 28 true mangrove species and all 12 mangrove associate species recorded in China. Three chloroplast DNA markers rbcL, trnH-psbA, matK, and one nuclear marker ITS2 were chosen to investigate the utility of using barcoding to identify these species. According to the criteria of barcoding gaps in genetic distance, sequence similarity, and phylogenetic monophyly, we propose that a single marker, ITS2, is sufficient to barcode the species of mangroves and their associates in China. Furthermore, rbcL or trnH-psbA can also be used to gather supplement confirming data. In using these barcodes, we revealed a very low level of genetic variation among geographic locations in the mangrove species, which is an alert to their vulnerability to climate and anthropogenic disturbances. CONCLUSION: We suggest using ITS2 to barcode mangrove species and terrestrial coastal plants in South China. The DNA barcode sequences we obtained would be valuable in monitoring biodiversity and the restoration of ecosystems, which are essential for mangrove conservation.

Genomic insights into molecular adaptation to intertidal environments in the mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum.

Mangroves have colonised extreme intertidal environments characterised by high salinity, hypoxia and other abiotic stresses. Aegiceras corniculatum, a pioneer mangrove species that has evolved two specialised adaptive traits (salt secretion and crypto-vivipary) is an attractive ecological model to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation to intertidal environments. We assembled de novo a high-quality reference genome of A. corniculatum and performed comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation to intertidal environments. We provide evidence that A. corniculatum experienced a whole-genome duplication (WGD) event c. 35 Ma. We infer that maintenance of cellular environmental homeostasis is an important adaptive process in A. corniculatum. The 14-3-3 and H+ -ATPase protein-coding genes, essential for the salt homeostasis, were preferentially retained after the recent WGD event. Using comparative transcriptomics, we show that genes upregulated under high-salt conditions are involved in salt transport and ROS scavenging. We also found that all homologues of DELAY OF GERMINATION1 (DOG1) had lost their heme-binding ability in A. corniculatum, and that this may contribute to crypto-vivipary. Our study provides insight into the genomic correlates of phenotypic adaptation to intertidal environments. This could contribute not only within the genomics community, but also to the field of plant evolution.

Transcriptome profiling provides insights into molecular mechanism in Peanut semi-dwarf mutant.

BACKGROUND: Plant height, mainly decided by main stem height, is the major agronomic trait and closely correlated to crop yield. A number of studies had been conducted on model plants and crops to understand the molecular and genetic basis of plant height. However, little is known on the molecular mechanisms of peanut main stem height. RESULTS: In this study, a semi-dwarf peanut mutant was identified from 60Co γ-ray induced mutant population and designated as semi-dwarf mutant 2 (sdm2). The height of sdm2 was only 59.3% of its wild line Fenghua 1 (FH1) at the mature stage. The sdm2 has less internode number and short internode length to compare with FH1. Gene expression profiles of stem and leaf from both sdm2 and FH1 were analyzed using high throughput RNA sequencing. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in hormone biosynthesis and signaling pathways, cell wall synthetic and metabolic pathways. BR, GA and IAA biosynthesis and signal transduction pathways were significantly enriched. The expression of several genes in BR biosynthesis and signaling were found to be significantly down-regulated in sdm2 as compared to FH1. Many transcription factors encoding genes were identified as DEGs. CONCLUSIONS: A large number of genes were found differentially expressed between sdm2 and FH1. These results provide useful information for uncovering the molecular mechanism regulating peanut stem height. It could facilitate identification of causal genes for breeding peanut varieties with semi-dwarf phenotype.

Redundant and incoherent regulations of multiple phenotypes suggest microRNAs' role in stability control.

Each microRNA (miRNA) represses a web of target genes and, through them, controls multiple phenotypes. The difficulties inherent in such controls cast doubt on how effective miRNAs are in driving phenotypic changes. A "simple regulation" model posits "one target-one phenotype" control under which most targeting is nonfunctional. In an alternative "coordinate regulation" model, multiple targets are assumed to control the same phenotypes coherently, and most targeting is functional. Both models have some empirical support but pose different conceptual challenges. Here, we concurrently analyze multiple targets and phenotypes associated with the miRNA-310 family (miR310s) of Drosophila Phenotypic rescue in the mir310s knockout background is achieved by promoter-directed RNA interference that restores wild-type expression. For one phenotype (eggshell morphology), we observed redundant regulation, hence rejecting "simple regulation" in favor of the "coordinate regulation" model. For other phenotypes (egg-hatching and male fertility), however, one gene shows full rescue, but three other rescues aggravate the phenotype. Overall, phenotypic controls by miR310s do not support either model. Like a thermostat that controls both heating and cooling elements to regulate temperature, redundancy and incoherence in regulation generally suggest some capacity in stability control. Our results therefore support the published view that miRNAs play a role in the canalization of transcriptome and, hence, phenotypes.

Molecular adaptation to salinity fluctuation in tropical intertidal environments of a mangrove tree Sonneratia alba.

BACKGROUND: Mangroves have adapted to intertidal zones - the interface between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Various studies have shown adaptive evolution in mangroves at physiological, ecological, and genomic levels. However, these studies paid little attention to gene regulation of salt adaptation by transcriptome profiles. RESULTS: We sequenced the transcriptomes of Sonneratia alba under low (fresh water), medium (half the seawater salinity), and high salt (seawater salinity) conditions and investigated the underlying transcriptional regulation of salt adaptation. In leaf tissue, 64% potential salinity-related genes were not differentially expressed when salinity increased from freshwater to medium levels, but became up- or down-regulated when salt concentrations further increased to levels found in sea water, indicating that these genes are well adapted to the medium saline condition. We inferred that both maintenance and regulation of cellular environmental homeostasis are important adaptive processes in S. alba. i) The sulfur metabolism as well as flavone and flavonol biosynthesis KEGG pathways were significantly enriched among up-regulated genes in leaves. They are both involved in scavenging ROS or synthesis and accumulation of osmosis-related metabolites in plants. ii) There was a significantly increased percentage of transcription factor-encoding genes among up-regulated transcripts. High expressions of salt tolerance-related TF families were found under high salt conditions. iii) Some genes up-regulated in response to salt treatment showed signs of adaptive evolution at the amino acid level and might contribute to adaptation to fluctuating intertidal environments. CONCLUSIONS: This study first elucidates the mechanism of high-salt adaptation in mangroves at the whole-transcriptome level by salt gradient experimental treatments. It reveals that several candidate genes (including salt-related genes, TF-encoding genes, and PSGs) and major pathways are involved in adaptation to high-salt environments. Our study also provides a valuable resource for future investigation of adaptive evolution in extreme environments.

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in the Treatment of Abdominal Wall Endometriosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation therapy for abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE). DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: Gynecologic department of a teaching hospital in China. PATIENTS: Thirty patients with AWE were treated from May 2013 to December 2015. INTERVENTIONS: Thirteen patients were treated with HIFU ablation and 17 patients with surgical resection. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Color Doppler ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging were used to observe the lesions before and after treatment. In addition, recovery time, complications, and adverse reactions of the 2 groups were compared. Menstrual pain was relieved after treatment in all 30 patients. After treatment, the lesions in patients who underwent HIFU ablation decreased gradually, and there was no recurrence. Symptoms recurred in 1 patient in the surgery group 12 months after surgery. The post-treatment hospital length of stay of the HIFU ablation group (1.00 ± 0 days) was significantly shorter than that of the surgical group (5.23 ± 1.24 days; p <.001). The incidence of fever (0% vs 11.8%; p = .049) and complications of the urinary system (7.7% vs 17.6%; p = .043) in the HIFU ablation group were significantly lower than that of the surgical group. CONCLUSIONS: HIFU ablation therapy is a promising treatment for AWE, and further study is warranted.

Effect of Electroacupuncture Treatment at Dazhui (GV14) and Mingmen (GV4) Modulates the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Rats after Spinal Cord Injury.

Electroacupuncture (EA) is widely recognized as clinical treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). The purpose of this study is to elucidate whether and how the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway plays any role in EA treating SCI. Rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: Control Group, Sham-operation Group, Model Group, and EA Group, then further randomly divided into the following subgroups: 1-day (n = 12), 1-day rapamycin (n = 6), 14-day (n = 18), and 28-day (n = 18). A rat model of SCI was established by a modified Allen's weight-drop method. In the EA Group, rats were stimulated on Dazhui (GV14) and Mingmen (GV4) for 20 min by sterilized stainless steel needles. In the EA Group, the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale showed obvious improved locomotor function, and hematoxylin-eosin staining and magnetic resonance imaging showed that the histological morphology change of injured spinal cord tissue was obviously alleviated. Also, blocking spinal mTOR by injection of rapamycin showed that mTOR existed in the injured spinal cord, and EA could significantly activate mTOR in SCI rats. And immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway showed that levels of PI3K, AKT, mTOR, and p70S6K in the injured spinal cord tissue were greatly increased in the EA Group, while the levels of PTEN and caspase 3 were decreased. The present study suggests that EA could affect cell growth, apoptosis, and autophagy through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Genome-Wide Convergence during Evolution of Mangroves from Woody Plants.

When living organisms independently invade a new environment, the evolution of similar phenotypic traits is often observed. An interesting but contentious issue is whether the underlying molecular biology also converges in the new habitat. Independent invasions of tropical intertidal zones by woody plants, collectively referred to as mangrove trees, represent some dramatic examples. The high salinity, hypoxia, and other stressors in the new habitat might have affected both genomic features and protein structures. Here, we developed a new method for detecting convergence at conservative Sites (CCS) and applied it to the genomic sequences of mangroves. In simulations, the CCS method drastically reduces random convergence at rapidly evolving sites as well as falsely inferred convergence caused by the misinferences of the ancestral character. In mangrove genomes, we estimated ∼400 genes that have experienced convergence over the background level of convergence in the nonmangrove relatives. The convergent genes are enriched in pathways related to stress response and embryo development, which could be important for mangroves' adaptation to the new habitat.