Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations as predictive biomarkers for first-line programmed death 1 inhibitors efficacy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective study.

Esophageal cancer (EC) poses a significant global health burden, necessitating effective treatment strategies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as a promising therapeutic option for EC, but the identification of predictive biomarkers remains crucial for optimizing patient outcomes. We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records from advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with first-line programmed death 1 inhibitors. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations were evaluated using flow cytometry, while hematological tests provided data on neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts. Cox regression and logistic regression analyses were employed to explore the association between lymphocyte subpopulations, baseline characteristics, and progression-free survival (PFS). Among the 100 initially included patients, 70 met eligibility criteria. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed a significant association between high CD16+CD56+ lymphocyte proportions and longer PFS, independent of other clinical variables. Similarly, a high CD4+/CD8+ ratio was correlated with prolonged PFS. Kaplan-Meier survival curves supported these findings. Logistic regression analysis indicated no significant differences in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio and CD16+CD56+ lymphocytes concerning baseline characteristics, suggesting their potential as independent prognostic markers. Our study highlights the predictive value of peripheral blood CD16+CD56+ lymphocytes and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio for the efficacy of programmed death 1 inhibitors in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients. These findings underscore the importance of peripheral blood biomarkers in guiding personalized immunotherapy strategies and improving outcomes for EC patients.

Insights into the intestinal microbiota of Exopalaemon annandalei and Exopalaemon carinicauda in the Yangtze River estuary.

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in food webs, carbon cycling, and related elements. Exopalaemon annandalei and Exopalaemon carinicauda are two important forage species in the Yangtze River estuary with extremely similar living habits and morphological characteristics. Exploring the microorganisms in the guts of these two shrimp species can help us understand the survival status of forage species and gut microbiota in the Yangtze River estuary. Therefore, this study analyzed the similarities and differences in the intestinal flora of E. annandalei and E. carinicauda through high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. The results showed that the dominant bacteria in the intestinal flora of E. annandalei and E. carinicauda at the phylum level were Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, respectively. At the genus level, the intestinal flora had higher concentrations of Psychrobacter, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Macrococcus. In both shrimp species, the contents of Acinetobacter and Macrococcus were higher in spring than in winter. The most important potential functions of the intestinal microbiota were amino acid metabolism and purine metabolism. Additionally, the functions of metabolism and diseases in the intestinal microbiota of E. annandalei were greatly influenced by the season. Furthermore, the experimental results indicated that a lower ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes was associated with a larger body weight in shrimp. Overall, this study provides a theoretical reference for understanding the intestinal bacterial community of shrimp in estuaries and the healthy cultivation of E. annandalei and E. carinicauda.

Dan'e fukang decoction reduces hemorrhage in a rat model of mifepristone induced incomplete abortion and may correlate with cell adhesion molecule signaling interference.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dan'e fukang decoction(DFD) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula. DFD obtains 10 herbs, including Salvia yunnanensis C.H.Wright (Zidanshen) , Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe (Ezhu), Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Danggui), Cyperus rotundus L. (Xiangfuzi), Corydalis yanhusuo (Y.H.Chou & Chun C.Hsu) W.T.Wang ex Z.Y.Su & C.Y.Wu, Bupleurum marginatum Wall. ex DC. (Yanhusuo), Sparganium stoloniferum (Buch.-Ham. ex Graebn.) Buch.-Ham. ex Juz. (Sanleng), Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F.H.Chen (Sanqi), Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (Shaoyao) and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (Gancao). DFD is now clinically used for the treatment of menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea and menstrual discomfort caused by blood stasis and easing of endometriosis. Based on this, it is reasonable to presume that DFD may be effective in treating incomplete abortion and reducing postpartum bleeding, but no specific studies have been reported so far. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the efficacy of Dan'e fukang decoction (DFD) in reducing prolonged vaginal bleeding followed by mifepristone induced incomplete abortion and explore the mechanisms of action of DFD in treating incomplete abortion. METHODS: An incomplete abortion model of rat was established by single intragastrically administered 8.5 mg/kg mifepristone on the 7th day of pregnancy. From the 8th day of pregnancy, the abortive rats were administered solvent, a positive control drug, or different doses of DFD, respectively for seven consecutive days. The efficacy of DFD was assessed by measuring the vaginal bleeding volume of the rats. Four coagulation parameters and platelet counts were measured. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed to evaluate pathological changes in the uterine embryos. Serum levels of progesterone and estrogen were measured using ELISA. Network pharmacology and transcriptomics were used to predict potential targets and pathways for DFD to reduce hemorrhage. The levels of mRNA related to cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) were detected by RT-qPCR. The levels of progesterone and estrogen receptors and the proteins associated with CAMs pathway in uterine tissues were detected by Western Blot. RESULTS: DFD significantly reduced the volume of vaginal bleeding of the abortive rats and significantly downgraded the pathological scores of uterine embryos. DFD significantly increased serum levels of E2, and had no impact on serum levels of P4 and the protein expression of ER and PR in the uteri of the abortive rats. Pathways in cancer, lipid, focal adhesion and immune-related signaling were predicted to be influenced by DFD via the analysis of network pharmacology. The CAMs signaling was found the most critical pathway regulated by both mifepristone and DFD via RNA-seq assay, followed by axon guidance, basal cell carcinoma, hippo signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. Combining the two analytical methods, ICAM-1 was predicted likely the key targeted gene by DFD. Finally, DFD was validated to decrease the protein expression of ICAM-1, ITGB2, ITGB7 and RASSF5 in the uterine tissues, which correlated to suppress the CAMs signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: DFD significantly reduced hemorrhage. DFD significantly increased the serum levels of E2 and inhibited CAMs signaling pathway, which was likely to be involved in the mechanism of action of DFD facilitating residual uterine embryo expulsion in the rat model of incomplete abortion.

Yr29 combined with QYr.nwafu-4BL.3 confers durable resistance to stripe rust in wheat cultivar Jing 411.

KEY MESSAGE: The combination of a QTL on chromosome arm 4BL and Yr29 provides durable resistance with no significant yield penalty. Wheat stripe rust or yellow rust (YR), caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), causes substantial yield reductions globally, but losses can be minimized by using resistance genes. Chinese wheat cultivar Jing 411 (J411) has continued to display an acceptable level of adult-plant resistance (APR) to YR in varied field conditions since its release in the 1990s. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population comprising 187 lines developed from a cross of J411 and Kenong 9204 (KN9204) was evaluated in multiple environments to identify genomic regions carrying genes for YR resistance. A total of five quantitative trait loci (QTL) on chromosome arm 1BL, 3BS, 4BL, 6BS, and 7BL from J411 and two QTL on 3DS and 7DL from KN9204 were detected using inclusive composite interval mapping with the wheat 660 K SNP array. QYr.nwafu-1BL.5 and QYr.nwafu-4BL.3 from J411 were robust and showed similar effects in all environments. QYr.nwafu-1BL.5 was likely the pleiotropic gene of Yr29/Lr46. QYr.nwafu-4BL.3 was located within a 1.0 cM interval delimited by KASP markers AX-111609222 and AX-89755491. Based on haplotype analysis, Yr29 and QYr.nwafu-4BL.3 were identified as genetic components of quantitative resistance in a number of wheat cultivars. Moreover, RILs with Yr29 and QYr.nwafu-4BL.3 individually or when combined showed higher resistance to YR in rust nurseries compared with RILs without them, and there was no negative effect of their presence on agronomic traits under rust-free conditions. These results suggest that effective polymerization strategy is important for breeding high yielding and durable resistance cultivars.

Development and application of the GenoBaits®WheatSNP16K array to accelerate wheat genetic research and breeding.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are widely used as molecular markers for constructing genetic linkage maps in wheat. Compared with available SNP-based genotyping platforms, a genotyping by target sequencing (GBTS) system with capture-in-solution (liquid chip) technology has become the favored genotyping technology because it is less demanding and more cost-effective, flexible and user-friendly. In this study, a new GenoBaits®WheatSNP16K (GBW16K) GBTS array was designed based on data sets generated by the wheat 660K SNP array and re-sequencing platforms in our previous studies. The GBW16K array contained 14,868 target SNP regions that were evenly distributed across the wheat genome and 37,669 SNPs in those regions were identified in a diversity panel consisting of 239 wheat accessions from around the world. Principal component and neighbor-joining analysis using the calling SNPs were consistent with the pedigree information and geographical distribution or ecological environments of the accessions. For the GBW16K marker panel, the average genetic diversity among the 239 accessions was 0.270 which is sufficient for linkage map construction and preliminary mapping of targeted genes/QTLs. A genetic linkage map of a RIL population derived from a cross of CIMMYT wheat line Yaco"S" and Chinese landrace Mingxian169 constructed using the GBW16K array enabled identification of Yr27, Yr30 and QYr.nwafu-2BL.4 for adult plant resistance (APR) to stripe rust from Yaco"S" and Yr18 from Mingxian169. QYr.nwafu-2BL.4 was different from any previously reported gene/QTL. Three haplotypes and six candidate genes have been identified for QYr.nwafu-2BL.4 based on haplotype analysis, micro-collinearity, gene annotation, RNA-seq and SNP data. This array provides a new resource tool for wheat genetic analysis and breeding studies and for achieving durable control of wheat stripe rust.

Advancing treatment efficacy: combined therapy of eribulin, anlotinib, and camrelizumab in advanced or metastatic retroperitoneal liposarcoma.

Background: Retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) typically shows limited response to standard chemotherapy, presenting a challenge in treating advanced or metastatic RLPS. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the potential advantages of a combined therapeutic strategy utilizing eribulin, anlotinib, and camrelizumab. Design: Between December 2020 and March 2023, this retrospective study enrolled patients with advanced or metastatic RLPS who received treatment at Peking University Cancer Hospital Sarcoma Center. The treatment regimen involved eribulin plus anlotinib and camrelizumab administered every 3 weeks (Q3W). Methods: Efficacy was assessed following the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1, while safety was evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Results: The study included 47 patients with RLPS with a median age of 55.5 years. Patients received a median of 4.5 (range, 2-21) cycles of treatment. Notably, partial response was observed in 8 patients (18.2%), while 25 (56.8%) exhibited stable disease. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate were 18.2% and 75%, respectively. Significant differences in ORR were observed among histological subtypes (well-differentiated vs de-differentiated vs myxoid: 0 vs 17.9% vs 50%; p = 0.039). Six patients underwent surgery before disease progression, and one patient with myxoid liposarcoma (MLPS) had a pathological complete response. With a median follow-up of 21.8 (range, 2.7-30.7) months, the median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 6.9 (95% confidence interval (CI), 4.7-9.1) months, and the 6-month PFS rate was 60.5%. Based on various histological subtypes, the mPFS was 8.4 (95% CI, 4.1-12.7) months with well-differentiated liposarcoma, 5.8 (95% CI, 3.3-8.3) months with de-differentiated liposarcoma and not reached with MLPS, respectively. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) of any grade occurred in 36 (76.6%) patients, with grade 3 or higher TRAEs in 21 (44.7%) patients. The most common TRAEs were neutropenia (53.2%), proteinuria (21.3%), and anorexia (21.3%). Conclusion: The combined treatment strategy involving eribulin, anlotinib, and camrelizumab showed promising efficacy and manageable safety in patients with advanced or metastatic RLPS, particularly in those with MLPS.

Association between dust exposure and lung function levels in steelworkers: mediation analysis of inflammatory biomarkers.

PURPOSE: This investigation aimed to examine the mediating effect of inflammatory biomarkers on the relationship between dust exposure and lung function levels among steelworkers. METHODS: The study comprised 2,315 front-line workers employed at an iron and steel company in Tangshan, who underwent occupational health assessments through cluster sampling. Demographic and lifestyle data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire, while physical examinations measured parameters such as height and weight. Lung function was assessed using a portable pulmonary function tester (CHEST). Blood cell counts were uniformly analyzed using a Mindray fully automated biochemistry analyzer (BS-800). Inflammatory biomarkers, including leukocyte count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and platelet count, were assessed, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and systemic immune inflammation index were computed. Generalized linear models and Spearman rank correlation analyses were employed to explore the interplay among dust exposure, inflammatory biomarkers, and alterations in lung function. A mediation analysis model was constructed to elucidate how inflammatory biomarkers mediate the relationship between dust exposure and lung function levels. RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates, dust exposure was significantly associated with reduced lung function levels, with statistically significant differences observed between dust-exposed and non-exposed groups across various lung function indicators (P < 0.001). In the dust-exposed group, inflammatory biomarkers were elevated, showing significant correlations with FVC and FEV1 (P < 0.05). However, the correlation between FEV1/FVC and various inflammatory biomarkers was insignificant (P > 0.05). Mediation analysis revealed that white blood cells and neutrophils partially mediated the association between dust exposure and FVC, with proportions of 1.75% and 1.09%, respectively. Similarly, white blood cells, neutrophils, and the systemic immune inflammation index partially mediated the association between dust exposure and FEV1, with proportions of 1.15%, 0.82%, and 0.82%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, dust exposure poses a risk for decreased lung function levels. Inflammatory biomarkers derived from blood cells offer a valuable and easily obtainable means of identifying changes in lungfunction levels. Among these biomarkers, white blood cells, neutrophils, and the systemic immune inflammation index significantly mediate the association between dust exposure and lung function levels, although further exploration is needed to understand their underlying mechanisms.

Overexpression of PsMYB62 from Potentilla sericea confers cadmium tolerance in tobacco.

Excessive cadmium (Cd) content in soil poses serious hazard to the survival and development of various organisms. Potentilla sericea, characterized by strong resistance and high utility value, is an excellent choice for urban ecological greening. Plant MYB transcription factors can participate in respondind to a variety of abiotic stresses such as heavy metals and salinity. In this study, PsMYB62 was transformed into tobacco by leaf disc infestation to obtain PsMYB62 overexpressing tobacco lines, and its mechanism in response to Cd stress was further investigated. The results showed that with Cd treatment, PsMYB62 overexpressing tobacco exhibited significantly higher net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, intercellular CO2 concentration, chlorophyll content, as well as enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione reductase enzymes, along with increased levels of reduced glutathione, proline, and soluble protein compared to the control. Conversely, levels of O2- and H2O2, and malondialdehyde were markedly lower than those in the control(P<0.05). Moreover, the aboveground Cd content was notably higher in the control than in the transgenic lines, whereas the control was much lower than the transgenic lines in the belowground fraction, with Cd subcellular distribution ratios ranking as follows: cell wall fraction > soluble fraction > organelle fraction (P<0.05). The expression of NtHMA3, NtYSL, NtPDR4 and NtPDR5B were much lower in transgenic lines compared to the control, while NtNAS3, NtSOD, and NtGSH2 exhibited significantly higher expression. Consequently, this study provides genetic resources for molecular breeding of Cd-tolerant plants through genetic engineering and lays a theoretical foundation for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil.

Cucurbitacin B Inhibits the Proliferation of WPMY-1 Cells and HPRF Cells via the p53/MDM2 Axis.

Modern research has shown that Cucurbitacin B (Cu B) possesses various biological activities such as liver protection, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects. However, the majority of research has primarily concentrated on its hepatoprotective effects, with limited attention devoted to exploring its potential impact on the prostate. Our research indicates that Cu B effectively inhibits the proliferation of human prostate stromal cells (WPMY-1) and fibroblasts (HPRF), while triggering apoptosis in prostate cells. When treated with 100 nM Cu B, the apoptosis rates of WPMY-1 and HPRF cells reached 51.73 ± 5.38% and 26.83 ± 0.40%, respectively. In addition, the cell cycle assay showed that Cu B had a G2/M phase cycle arrest effect on WPMY-1 cells. Based on RNA-sequencing analysis, Cu B might inhibit prostate cell proliferation via the p53 signaling pathway. Subsequently, the related gene and protein expression levels were measured using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), immunocytochemistry (ICC), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Our results mirrored the regulation of tumor protein p53 (TP53), mouse double minute-2 (MDM2), cyclin D1 (CCND1), and thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) in Cu B-induced prostate cell apoptosis. Altogether, Cu B may inhibit prostate cell proliferation and correlate to the modulation of the p53/MDM2 signaling cascade.

A U-shaped relationship between chronic academic stress and the dynamics of reward processing.

Despite the potential link between stress-induced reward dysfunctions and the development of mental problems, limited human research has investigated the specific impacts of chronic stress on the dynamics of reward processing. Here we aimed to investigate the relationship between chronic academic stress and the dynamics of reward processing (i.e., reward anticipation and reward consumption) using event-related potential (ERP) technology. Ninety healthy undergraduates who were preparing for the National Postgraduate Entrance Examination (NPEE) participated in the study and completed a two-door reward task, their chronic stress levels were assessed via the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The results showed that a lower magnitude of reward elicited more negative amplitudes of cue-N2 during the anticipatory phase, and reward omission elicited more negative amplitudes of FRN compared to reward delivery especially in high reward conditions during the consummatory phase. More importantly, the PSS score exhibited a U-shaped relationship with cue-N2 amplitudes regardless of reward magnitude during the anticipatory phase; and FRN amplitudes toward reward omission in high reward condition during the consummatory phase. These findings suggest that individuals exposed to either low or high levels of chronic stress, as opposed to moderate stress levels, exhibited a heightened reward anticipation, and an augmented violation of expectations or affective response when faced with relatively more negative outcomes.

An instantaneous self-powered wireless sensing system based on a triboelectric nanogenerator and the human body.

Self-powered sensors are pivotal in sectors like space exploration, industrial monitoring, and particularly health surveillance, owing to their independence from external power sources. However, their energy utilization efficiency is hindered by complex energy conversion processes, leading to brief operational durations and significant data loss. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), capable of converting mechanical energy from friction into electricity, present a solution by enabling single-cycle sensing and transmission, thus promoting instantaneous wireless sensing. Addressing the size and transmission limitations in wearable technologies, we introduced an instantaneous self-powered wireless sensing system based on a TENG and a human body (HB-WTENG). This novel system utilizes the human body as a transmission antenna, converting TENG output into attenuated sinusoidal signals with encoded sensing information for real-time wireless communication. Demonstrated to support self-powered pressure sensing and signal transmission up to 8 m, the HB-WTENG offers a compact and deployable solution for continuous monitoring, marking a significant advancement in wearable sensor technology.

Genomic insights into the modifications of spike morphology traits during wheat breeding.

Over the past century, environmental changes have significantly impacted wheat spike morphology, crucial for adaptation and grain yield. However, the changes in wheat spike modifications during this period remain largely unknown. This study examines 16 spike morphology traits in 830 accessions released from 1900 to 2020. It finds that spike weight, grain number per spike (GN), and thousand kernel weight have significantly increased, while spike length has no significant change. The increase in fertile spikelets is due to fewer degenerated spikelets, resulting in a higher GN. Genome-wide association studies identified 49,994 significant SNPs, grouped into 293 genomic regions. The accumulation of favorable alleles in these genomic regions indicates the genetic basis for modification in spike morphology traits. Genetic network analysis of these genomic regions reveals the genetic basis for phenotypic correlations among spike morphology traits. The haplotypes of the identified genomic regions display obvious geographical differentiation in global accessions and environmental adaptation over the past 120 years. In summary, we reveal the genetic basis of adaptive evolution and the interactions of spike morphology, offering valuable resources for the genetic improvement of spike morphology to enhance environmental adaptation.

Combination of eribulin and anlotinib exerts synergistic cytotoxicity in retroperitoneal liposarcoma by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) is a rare heterogeneous tumor occurring within retroperitoneal space, and its overall survival has not improved much in the past few decades. Based on a small-sample clinical practice at our center, patients with RLPS can greatly benefit from anlotinib and eribulin combination. In this study, we investigated the combinational effect of anlotinib and eribulin on RLPS. In vitro experiments revealed that a low dose of anlotinib significantly enhances the cytotoxic effects of eribulin, leading to a remarkable suppression of RLPS cell proliferation, viability, colony formation, migration, and cell-cycle progression compared to individual drug treatments. At the organoid level, the combination treatment causes the spheroids in Matrigel to disintegrate earlier than the single-drug group. In vivo, RLPS patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models demonstrated that the combination of these two drugs can obviously exert a safe and effective anti-tumor effect. Through transcriptome analysis, we uncovered and validated that the synergistic effect mainly is induced by the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) pathway both in vitro and in vivo. Further analyses indicate that anlotinib plus eribulin treatment results in micro-vessel density and PD-L1 expression alterations, suggesting a potential impact on the tumor microenvironment. This study extensively explored the combination regimen at multiple levels and its underlying molecular mechanism in RLPS, thus providing a foundation for translational medicine research.

Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI): A More Promising Nutritional Predictor for Patients Undergoing Surgery for Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma.

Background: Extended surgery with multi-visceral resection is the standard treatment for retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS). Malnutrition tends to result in increased surgical complications and reduced survival. The aim of this study was to identify the prognostic role of nutritional status in patients with RLPS. Patients and methods: Data from 189 consecutive patients with RLPS who underwent surgical treatment at the Peking University Cancer Hospital Sarcoma Center between April 2011 and August 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The following nutritional parameters were calculated: nutritional risk index, prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and Nutrition Risk Screening 2002. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (time-ROC) curve analysis was conducted to compare the prognostic utility of nutritional indicators. The associations between nutritional indicators and major complications, local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and overall survival (OS) were investigated. Results: Based on the time-ROC curve analysis, the PNI was superior to other nutritional indices at predicting OS. The optimal cut-off value of PNI was 41.2. The PNI was significantly inversely associated with tumor size, tumor grade, and histological subtype. Patients in the low PNI group (< 41.2) had significantly shorter LRFS and OS than those in the high PNI (≥ 41.2) group, with higher major morbidity and mortality rates. The PNI was found to be a unique nutritional predictor that independently predicted LRFS and OS in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The PNI is an effective tool for nutritional assessment in patients with RLPS. A low PNI value in patients with RLPS predicts worse survival outcomes.

Surgical outcomes of major vascular resection for retroperitoneal liposarcoma from a high­volume sarcoma center: a propensity score matching analysis.

PURPOSE: Radical resection of retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) may necessitate vascular resection and reconstruction. The study was conducted to assess surgical outcomes of surgery for RLPS with major vascular involvement. METHODS: Patients with RLPS who underwent surgical resection at the Sarcoma Center of Peking University Cancer Hospital between April 2011 and December 2022 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Patients were classified into two groups: vascular resection and non-vascular resection groups. A propensity score matching analysis was performed to eliminate baseline differences between the groups. Surgical details and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Furthermore, prognostic factors for local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. RESULTS: Overall, 199 patients were identified and the median follow-up period was 48 (interquartile range [IQR] 45-69) months. Vascular resection was performed in 42 (21%) patients, 25 of whom had vascular infiltration. A total of 39 patients had vascular replacement and 3 patients underwent partial resection (side-wall resection). Vascular resection was burdened by higher rates of major morbidity (38% vs. 14%, p < 0.001) and 30-day mortality (7.1% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.005). After propensity-matched analysis, patients who underwent vascular resection had 5-year LRFS and OS rates comparable to those without vascular involvement. Major vascular resection was not an independent risk factor for LRFS or OS. CONCLUSIONS: Although accompanied by increased risks of major morbidity and mortality, the major vascular resection enabled radical resection in patients with advanced RLPS, affording comparable 5-year LRFS and OS rates compared to those who did not.

Comparison of Fusion Rate and Clinical Outcomes in Minimally Invasive and Conventional Posterior Fusion for Lumbar Degenerative Disease: A Network Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The fusion rate, clinical efficacy, and complications of minimally invasive fusion surgery and open fusion surgery in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease are still unclear. METHODS: We conducted a literature search using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and WANFANG databases. RESULTS: This study included 38 retrospective studies involving 3097 patients. Five intervention modalities were considered: unilateral biportal endoscopic-lumbar interbody fusion (UBE-LIF), percutaneous endoscopic-lumbar interbody fusion (PE-LIF), minimally invasive-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF), transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). Quality assessment indicated that each study met acceptable quality standards. PE-LIF demonstrated reduced low back pain (Odds Ratio = 0.50, Confidence Interval: 0.38-0.65) and lower complication rate (Odds Ratio = 0.46, Confidence Interval: 0.25-0.87) compared to PLIF. However, in indirect comparisons, PE-LIF showed the lowest fusion rates, with the ranking as follows: UBE-LIF (83.2%) > MIS-TLIF (59.6%) > TLIF (44.3%) > PLIF (39.8%) > PE-LIF (23.1%). With respect to low back pain relief, PE-LIF yielded the best results, with the order of relief as follows: PE-LIF (96.4%) > MIS-TLIF (64.8%) > UBE-LIF (62.6%) > TLIF (23.0%) > PLIF (3.2%). Global and local consistency tests showed satisfactory results, and heterogeneity tests indicated good stability. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to conventional open surgery, minimally invasive fusion surgery offered better scores for low back pain and Oswestry Disability Index, lower complication rates, reduced bleeding, and shorter hospital stays. However, minimally invasive fusion surgery did not show a significant advantage in terms of fusion rate and had a longer operative time.

High-density mapping of durable and broad-spectrum stripe rust resistance gene Yr30 in wheat.

KEY MESSAGE: The durable stripe rust resistance gene Yr30 was fine-mapped to a 610-kb region in which five candidate genes were identified by expression analysis and sequence polymorphisms. The emergence of genetically diverse and more aggressive races of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) in the past twenty years has resulted in global stripe rust outbreaks and the rapid breakdown of resistance genes. Yr30 is an adult plant resistance (APR) gene with broad-spectrum effectiveness and its durability. Here, we fine-mapped the YR30 locus to a 0.52-cM interval using 1629 individuals derived from residual heterozygous F5:6 plants in a Yaco"S"/Mingxian169 recombinant inbred line population. This interval corresponded to a 610-kb region in the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC) RefSeq version 2.1 on chromosome arm 3BS harboring 30 high-confidence genes. Five genes were identified as candidate genes based on functional annotation, expression analysis by RNA-seq and sequence polymorphisms between cultivars with and without Yr30 based on resequencing. Haplotype analysis of the target region identified six haplotypes (YR30_h1-YR30_h6) in a panel of 1215 wheat accessions based on the 660K feature genotyping array. Lines with YR30_h6 displayed more resistance to stripe rust than the other five haplotypes. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) with Yr30 showed a 32.94% higher grain yield than susceptible counterparts when grown in a stripe rust nursery, whereas there was no difference in grain yield under rust-free conditions. These results lay a foundation for map-based cloning Yr30.

Aerosol in global oceanic regions: Four-decade trends, spatial patterns, and policy implications.

High aerosol loadings are observed not only in megacities on continents but also in oceanic regions like the Bohai Sea. This work provides a comprehensive analysis of the spatial and temporal variations in Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) across different ocean regions worldwide over the past four decades, using remote sensing reanalysis data. The mean AOD value across all oceanic grids is approximately 0.112, with higher levels recorded in the Central Atlantic (~0.206), followed by the North Indian Ocean (~0.201), and the Western North Pacific (~0.197). A latitudinal analysis reveals that high AOD values are predominantly found in the Northern Hemisphere's oceanic regions, especially between latitudes 0° and 70° N. Except for the Gulf of California and Hudson Bay, AOD values in the other fourteen surveyed inland seas surpass the mean levels found at similar latitudes in oceanic regions. Among which, the Bohai Sea stands out as the most polluted oceanic region with AOD value of 0.35. Over the last four decades, AOD trends have revealed a significant decrease across about 89.5 % of global oceanic grids, while an increase in AOD is observed in low-latitude oceanic areas (30° S-30° N). Investigation into inland seas shows that nearly two-thirds have experienced a declining AOD trend, while sharply upward trends in AOD are primarily found in Asia. The Bohai Sea shows the largest increase in AOD, with an annual growth rate of 1.4 %. The turning-points of the AOD in each inland sea confirm the success of regional emission control policies initiated on the adjacent continents. To improve air quality in inland seas like the Bohai Sea, adjusting industrial layouts, such as relocating heavy industries from the surrounding coastal cities' proximities to areas near open seas, could significantly benefit public health.

Variation in TaSPL6-D confers salinity tolerance in bread wheat by activating TaHKT1;5-D while preserving yield-related traits.

Na+ exclusion from above-ground tissues via the Na+-selective transporter HKT1;5 is a major salt-tolerance mechanism in crops. Using the expression genome-wide association study and yeast-one-hybrid screening, we identified TaSPL6-D, a transcriptional suppressor of TaHKT1;5-D in bread wheat. SPL6 also targeted HKT1;5 in rice and Brachypodium. A 47-bp insertion in the first exon of TaSPL6-D resulted in a truncated peptide, TaSPL6-DIn, disrupting TaHKT1;5-D repression exhibited by TaSPL6-DDel. Overexpressing TaSPL6-DDel, but not TaSPL6-DIn, led to inhibited TaHKT1;5-D expression and increased salt sensitivity. Knockout of TaSPL6-DDel in two wheat genotypes enhanced salinity tolerance, which was attenuated by a further TaHKT1;5-D knockdown. Spike development was preserved in Taspl6-dd mutants but not in Taspl6-aabbdd mutants. TaSPL6-DIn was mainly present in landraces, and molecular-assisted introduction of TaSPL6-DIn from a landrace into a leading wheat cultivar successfully improved yield on saline soils. The SPL6-HKT1;5 module offers a target for the molecular breeding of salt-tolerant crops.

Characterizing carbonaceous aerosols in residential coal combustion: Insights from thermal/spectral carbon analyzer coupled with photoionization mass spectrometry analysis.

This study aims to identify unique signatures from residential coal combustion in China across various combustion conditions and coal types. Using a Thermal/Spectral Carbon Analyzer with a Photoionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (TSCA-PI-TOF-MS), we focus on the optical properties and organic mass spectra of the emissions. Bituminous coal emerged as the primary emitter of total carbon, releasing 729 µg C/mg PM2.5 under smoldering and 894 µg C/mg PM2.5 under flaming. Carbon fractions mainly comprised OC1 and OC2, except for anthracite's dominance of EC1 under smoldering. Pyrolysis carbon absorption shifted from 405, 445 and 532 nm during smoldering to near-infrared bands (635-980 nm) during flaming for both bituminous and anthracite coal. Conversely, clean coal exhibited an inverse trend, attributed to additives enhancing oxygen-containing organic compounds and long-chain hydrocarbons released in charring process. Sample of bituminous coal began charring at OC3 step, while anthracite began earlier at OC2 step, particularly pronounced under flaming. Clean coal displayed unconventional charring at OC1 step under smoldering condition, producing signature compounds like butenal, methylfuran, furanylalcohol, and naphthol. The mass spectra of bituminous coal featured characteristic peaks, including m/z 192 (methylphenanthrene), 206, 220 (alkylated phenanthrenes), and 234 (retene). Anthracite coal showed a potential tracer at m/z 223, shifting from OC1 in smoldering to OC2 in flaming. Clean coal under flaming condition exhibited elevated levels of aromatic compounds, indicating potential toxicity, with peaks at m/z 178 (phenanthrene), 228 (chrysene/benz[a]anthracene), 234 (retene), 242 (methylchrysene), and 252 (benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene). Results also showed that the broader mass spectra range in the OC3 and OC4 steps across all coal types suggests that high-temperature pyrolysis promotes diversity. These findings contribute to refined source apportionment of carbon emissions from residential coal combustion and provide the scientific basis for the formulation of air pollution prevention strategies, crucial for coal-dependent regions.