Dose advantage of abdominal deep inspiratory breath-hold (aDIBH) in postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy for left breast cancer.

PURPOSE: We explored the dosimetric efficacy of the abdominal deep inspiration breath hold (aDIBH) technique using an audio-guided device in patients with left breast cancer undergoing postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy compared to free breathing (FB). METHODS: A total of 35 patients with early stage left breast cancer underwent two computed tomography simulation scans each with aDIBH and FB after breast-conserving surgery. Treatment planning was optimized using the Pinnacle3 9.10 planning system. The heart, left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA), and left lung was defined as organs at risk (OARs). The dosimetric differences in the planning target volume (PTV) and OARs were compared between aDIBH and FB. RESULTS: Compared with FB, the heart moved farther caudally and away from the chest wall, and the volume of heart became smaller under aDIBH due to expansion of the lungs. The D mean of the heart, LADCA and left lung of aDIBH were respectively reduced by 332.79 ± 264.61 cGy (P < 0.001), 1290.37 ± 612.09 cGy (P < 0.047) and 69.94 ± 117.73 cGy (P < 0.001). The V20 and V30 of the OARs were also significantly reduced with statistical differences (P < 0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the dosimetric parameters of the PTV between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the aDIBH technique for postoperative radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery of the left breast cancer could reduce irradiation of the heart dose, LADCA dose and left lung dose, without compromising target coverage.

Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene by mixed fungi composed of Alternaria sp. and Trametes sp. isolated from landfill sites.

With the development of industry and modern manufacturing, nondegradable low-density polyethylene (LDPE) has been widely used, posing a rising environmental hazard to natural ecosystems and public health. In this study, we isolated a series of LDPE-degrading fungi from landfill sites and carried out LDPE degradation experiments by combining highly efficient degrading fungi in pairs. The results showed that the mixed microorganisms composed of Alternaria sp. CPEF-1 and Trametes sp. PE2F-4 (H-3 group) had a greater degradation effect on heat-treated LDPE (T-LDPE). After 30 days of inoculation with combination strain H-3, the weight loss rate of the T-LDPE film was approximately 154% higher than that of the untreated LDPE (U-LDPE) film, and the weight loss rate reached 0.66 ± 0.06%. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to further investigate the biodegradation impacts of T-LDPE, including the changes on the surface and depolymerization of the LDPE films during the fungal degradation process. Our findings revealed that the combined fungal treatment is more effective at degrading T-LDPE than the single strain treatment, and it is expected that properly altering the composition of the microbial community can help lessen the detrimental impact of plastics on the environment.

Identification of Psychological Symptom Clusters and Their Influencing Factors in Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology in China: a Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: There are multiple psychological symptoms in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology, which seriously affect health-related quality of life and even cause patients to stop treatment. Aim: This study aimed to identify psychological symptom clusters and their influencing factors in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to November 2023 at the reproductive centers of Nanjing Women and Children's Healthcare Hospital. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics and Symptom Checklist-90 were collected. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify psychological symptom clusters. Univariate logistic regression analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to explore influencing factors. Results: A total of 213 patients were recruited. The study found that the included participants scored higher on all SCL scales than the general Chinese females. The three most common were trouble remembering things (81.7%), feeling easily annoyed or irritated (81.2%), and feeling low in energy or slowed down (70.9%). Six symptom clusters were identified: paranoid ideation, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, interpersonal sensitivity, somatization, and sleep disorders. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that duration of infertility treatment (>12 months) was identified as a risk factor for sleep disorder cluster (OR=2.833, 95% CI:1.355~5.922), adverse pregnancy history was identified as a risk factor for paranoid ideation cluster (OR=2.961,95% CI:1.406~6.253), depression cluster (OR=2.404,95% CI:1.240~4.660), and obsessive-compulsive cluster (OR=1.810, 95% CI:1.016~3.233), financial burden during treatment was identified as risk factors for all symptom clusters[(OR=5.869, 95% CI:1.717~20.057),(OR=6.490,95% CI:2.210~19.063),(OR=3.034,95% CI:1.560~5.898),(OR=7.078,95% CI:2.420~20.698),(OR=4.532,95% CI:1.845~10.397),(OR=2.151,95% CI:1.129~4.098)]. Conclusion: Women undergoing ART experience various psychological symptoms that are interrelated and exist in the form of symptom clusters. More attention should be paid to the psychological status of patients with longer duration of infertility treatment, adverse pregnancy history, and financial burden during treatment. This study guides the development of targeted and effective psychological interventions to facilitate symptom management in women undergoing ART.

The Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Health-Related Fitness in College Students.

In an era characterized by rapid economic growth and evolving lifestyles, college students encounter numerous challenges, encompassing academic pressures and professional competition. The respiratory muscle endurance capability is important for college students during prolonged aerobic exercise. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore an effective intervention to enhance the endurance level of college students. This study explores the transformative potential of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) to improve the physical functions of college students. This research comprised a group of 20 participants who underwent IMT integrated into their daily physical education classes or regular training sessions over an 8-week period, with 18 participants forming the control group. The IMT group adhered to the manufacturer's instructions for utilizing the PowerBreathe device. The findings indicated a significant positive effect on inspiratory muscle strength (p < 0.001), showing improvements in pulmonary function, exercise tolerance, cardiac function, and overall athletic performance. These results revealed the substantial benefits of IMT in enhancing physical fitness and promoting health maintenance among college students.

Efficacy comparison of fruquintinib, regorafenib monotherapy or plus programmed death-1 inhibitors for microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Regorafenib (R) and fruquintinib (F) are the standard third-line regimens for colorectal cancer (CRC) according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, but both have limited efficacy. Several phase 2 trials have indicated that R or F combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors can reverse immunosuppression and achieve promising efficacy for microsatellite stable or proficient mismatch repair (MSS/pMMR) CRC. Due to the lack of studies comparing the efficacy between F, R, F plus programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, and R plus PD-1 inhibitors (RP), it is still unclear whether the combination therapy is more effective than monotherapy. AIM: To provide critical evidence for selecting the appropriate drugs for MSS/pMMR metastatic CRC (mCRC) patients in clinical practice. METHODS: A total of 2639 CRC patients were enrolled from January 2018 to September 2022 in our hospital, and 313 MSS/pMMR mCRC patients were finally included. RESULTS: A total of 313 eligible patients were divided into F (n = 70), R (n = 67), F plus PD-1 inhibitor (FP) (n = 95) and RP (n = 81) groups. The key clinical characteristics were well balanced among the groups. The median progression-free survival (PFS) of the F, R, FP, and RP groups was 3.5 months, 3.6 months, 4.9 months, and 3.0 months, respectively. The median overall survival (OS) was 14.6 months, 15.7 months, 16.7 months, and 14.1 months. The FP regimen had an improved disease control rate (DCR) (P = 0.044) and 6-month PFS (P = 0.014) and exhibited a better trend in PFS (P = 0.057) compared with F, and it was also significantly better in PFS than RP (P = 0.030). RP did not confer a significant survival benefit; instead, the R group had a trend toward greater benefit with OS (P = 0.080) compared with RP. No significant differences were observed between the R and F groups in PFS or OS (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: FP is superior to F in achieving 6-month PFS and DCR, while RP is not better than R. FP has an improved PFS and 6-month PFS compared with RP, but F and R had similar clinical efficacy. Therefore, FP may be a highly promising strategy in the treatment of MSS/pMMR mCRC.

The impact of evidence-based nursing leadership in healthcare settings: a mixed methods systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The central component in impactful healthcare decisions is evidence. Understanding how nurse leaders use evidence in their own managerial decision making is still limited. This mixed methods systematic review aimed to examine how evidence is used to solve leadership problems and to describe the measured and perceived effects of evidence-based leadership on nurse leaders and their performance, organizational, and clinical outcomes. METHODS: We included articles using any type of research design. We referred nurses, nurse managers or other nursing staff working in a healthcare context when they attempt to influence the behavior of individuals or a group in an organization using an evidence-based approach. Seven databases were searched until 11 November 2021. JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Quasi-experimental studies, JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Series, Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool were used to evaluate the Risk of bias in quasi-experimental studies, case series, mixed methods studies, respectively. The JBI approach to mixed methods systematic reviews was followed, and a parallel-results convergent approach to synthesis and integration was adopted. RESULTS: Thirty-one publications were eligible for the analysis: case series (n = 27), mixed methods studies (n = 3) and quasi-experimental studies (n = 1). All studies were included regardless of methodological quality. Leadership problems were related to the implementation of knowledge into practice, the quality of nursing care and the resource availability. Organizational data was used in 27 studies to understand leadership problems, scientific evidence from literature was sought in 26 studies, and stakeholders' views were explored in 24 studies. Perceived and measured effects of evidence-based leadership focused on nurses' performance, organizational outcomes, and clinical outcomes. Economic data were not available. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first systematic review to examine how evidence is used to solve leadership problems and to describe its measured and perceived effects from different sites. Although a variety of perceptions and effects were identified on nurses' performance as well as on organizational and clinical outcomes, available knowledge concerning evidence-based leadership is currently insufficient. Therefore, more high-quality research and clinical trial designs are still needed. TRAIL REGISTRATION: The study was registered (PROSPERO CRD42021259624).

Eveningness is associated with more severe depressive symptoms independently of sleep quality and fatigue level only in first-episode but not recurrent depression in major depressive disorder.

People with an evening chronotype have an increased risk of experiencing a major depressive disorder (MDD). It is unclear if this effect is predominantly related to the initial development of MDD or also present in recurrent episodes. The current study aimed to investigate if the association between chronotype and depressive severity in MDD patients is comparable in MDD patients with first and recurrent episodes. 386 MDD patients, 70.7% females and aged between 16 and 64, participated in the study. The Morningness - Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI20), and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS-SR16) were administered to participants to determine chronotype, sleep quality, fatigue level, and depressive severity, respectively. Multivariate regression models were utilized to analyze how chronotype influences depressive severity. The study showed that chronotype, sleep quality, and fatigue level were all associated with depressive severity. Eveningness significantly predicted an increase in depressive severity independently of sleep quality and fatigue level only in patients with the first episode (-0.068, p = 0.010), but not in patients with recurrent episodes (0.013, p = 0.594). Circadian-focused treatment should be considered in first-episode depression only.

Regulating interface interaction in alumina/graphene composites with nano alumina coating transition layers.

The structure and properties of graphene/alumina composites are affected by the interface interaction. To demonstrate the influence of interface interaction on the structure of composite materials, a composite without graphene/matrix alumina interface was designed and prepared. We introduced a nano transition layer into the composite by pre-fabricating nano alumina coating on the surface of graphene, thus regulating the influence of interface interaction on the structure of the composite. According to the analysis of laser micro Raman spectroscopy, the structure of graphene was not seriously damaged during the modification process, and graphene was subjected to tensile or compressive stress along the 2D plane. The fracture behavior of the modified graphene/alumina composites is similar to that of pure alumina, but significantly different from that of pure graphene/alumina composites. The elastic modulus and hardness of composite material G/A/A are higher, while its microstructure has better density and uniformity. In situ HRSEM observation showed that there was a transition layer of alumina in the modified graphene/alumina composite. The transition layer blocks or buffers the interfacial stress interaction, therefore, the composite material exhibits a fracture behavior similar to that of pure alumina at this time. This work demonstrates that interface interactions have a significant impact on the structure and fracture behavior of graphene/alumina composites.

RANKL/RANK signaling recruits Tregs via the CCL20-CCR6 pathway and promotes stemness and metastasis in colorectal cancer.

TNF receptor superfamily member 11a (TNFRSF11a, RANK) and its ligand TNF superfamily member 11 (TNFRSF11, RANKL) are overexpressed in many malignancies. However, the clinical importance of RANKL/RANK in colorectal cancer (CRC) is mainly unknown. We examined CRC samples and found that RANKL/RANK was elevated in CRC tissues compared with nearby normal tissues. A higher RANKL/RANK expression was associated with a worse survival rate. Furthermore, RANKL was mostly produced by regulatory T cells (Tregs), which were able to promote CRC advancement. Overexpression of RANK or addition of RANKL significantly increased the stemness and migration of CRC cells. Furthermore, RANKL/RANK signaling stimulated C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) production by CRC cells, leading to Treg recruitment and boosting tumor stemness and malignant progression. This recruitment process was accomplished by CCL20-CCR6 interaction, demonstrating a connection between CRC cells and immune cells. These findings suggest an important role of RANKL/RANK in CRC progression, offering a potential target for CRC prevention and therapy.

Transcriptome-wide analysis of a superior xylan degrading isolate Penicillium oxalicum 5-18 revealed active lignocellulosic degrading genes.

Lignocellulose biomass raw materials have a high value in energy conversion. Recently, there has been growing interest in using microorganisms to secret a series of enzymes for converting low-cost biomass into high-value products such as biofuels. We previously isolated a strain of Penicillium oxalicun 5-18 with promising lignocellulose-degrading capability. However, the mechanisms of lignocellulosic degradation of this fungus on various substrates are still unclear. In this study, we performed transcriptome-wide profiling and comparative analysis of strain 5-18 cultivated in liquid media with glucose (Glu), xylan (Xyl) or wheat bran (WB) as sole carbon source. In comparison to Glu culture, the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by WB and Xyl was 4134 and 1484, respectively, with 1176 and 868 genes upregulated. Identified DEGs were enriched in many of the same pathways in both comparison groups (WB vs. Glu and Xly vs. Glu). Specially, 118 and 82 CAZyme coding genes were highly upregulated in WB and Xyl cultures, respectively. Some specific pathways including (Hemi)cellulose metabolic processes were enriched in both comparison groups. The high upregulation of these genes also confirmed the ability of strain 5-18 to degrade lignocellulose. Co-expression and co-upregulated of genes encoding CE and AA CAZy families, as well as other (hemi)cellulase revealed a complex degradation strategy in this strain. Our findings provide new insights into critical genes, key pathways and enzyme arsenal involved in the biomass degradation of P. oxalicum 5-18.

Pregnane X receptor activation induces liver enlargement and regeneration and simultaneously promotes the metabolic activity of CYP3A1/2 and CYP2C6/11 in rats.

Human pregnane X receptor (PXR) is critical for regulating the expression of key drug-metabolizing enzymes such as CYP3A and CYP2C. Our recent study revealed that treatment with rodent-specific PXR agonist pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile (PCN) significantly induced hepatomegaly and promoted liver regeneration after two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PHx) in mice. However, it remains unclear whether PXR activation induces hepatomegaly and liver regeneration and simultaneously promotes metabolic function of the liver. Here, we investigated the metabolism activity of CYP1A2, CYP3A1/2 and CYP2C6/11 during PXR activation-induced liver enlargement and regeneration in rats after cocktail dosing of CYP probe drugs. For PCN-induced hepatomegaly, a notable increase in the metabolic activity of CYP3A1/2 and CYP2C6/11, as evidenced by the plasma exposure of probe substrates and the AUC ratios of the characteristic metabolites to its corresponding probe substrates. The metabolic activity of CYP1A2, CYP3A1/2 and CYP2C6/11 decreased significantly after PHx. However, PCN treatment obviously enhanced the metabolic activity of CYP2C6/11 and CYP3A1/2 in PHx rats. Furthermore, the protein expression levels of CYP3A1/2 and CYP2C6/11 in liver were up-regulated. Taken together, this study demonstrates that PXR activation not only induces hepatomegaly and liver regeneration in rats, but also promotes the protein expression and metabolic activity of the PXR downstream metabolizing enzymes such as CYP3A1/2 and CYP2C6/11 in the body.

Trioctylphosphine oxide-based hydrophobic magnetic deep eutectic solvent as a novel extractant for the enrichment of primary aromatic amines from juice and environmental water.

In this study, a novel technique utilizing vortex-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with magnetic deep eutectic solvents (MDESs) was established and coupled with HPLC-UV to analyze six primary aromatic amines (PAAs). A novel hydrophobic MDES prepared from trioctylphosphine oxide, octanol, and CoCl2 was used as the extractant, which could be dispersed uniformly during extraction, then floated onto the sample surface and re-aggregated into a single drop spontaneously after the extraction. The variables influencing the efficiency of the extraction process were investigated. When performing under the optimal extraction conditions, this method exhibited excellent linearity, low limits of detection (0.2-0.9 ng mL-1), and high precision (RSD ≤ 8.3 %). The enrichment factors ranged from 56 to 182. Satisfactory recoveries in the range of 91.6-109.2 % with RSDs < 7.1 % were obtained from three apple juices and three environmental water samples. The greenness and practicality of the developed method were assessed by AGREE, AGREEprep, and blue applicability grade index metric tools. Overall, the established procedure demonstrated its simplicity, speediness, environmental friendliness, and effectiveness in analyzing PAAs from aqueous matrices.

Screening and separation of natural anticancer active ingredients related to phospholipase C.

Based on the specific binding of drug molecules to cell membrane receptors, a screening and separation method for active compounds of natural products was established by combining phospholipase C (PLC) sensitized hollow fiber microscreening by a solvent seal with high-performance liquid chromatography technology. In the process, the factors affecting the screening were optimized. Under the optimal screening conditions, we screened honokiol (HK), magnolol (MG), negative control drug carbamazepine, and positive control drug amentoflavone, the repeatability of the method was tested. The PLC activity was determined before and after the screening. Experimental results showed that the sensitization factors of PLC of HK and MG were 61.0 and 48.5, respectively, and amentoflavone was 15.0, carbamazepine could not bind to PLC. Moreover, the molecular docking results were consistent with this measurement, indicating that HK and MG could be combined with PLC, and they were potential interacting components with PLC. This method used organic solvent to seal the PLC greatly ensuring the activity, so this method had the advantage of integrating separation, and purification with screening, it not only exhibited good reproducibility and high sensitivity but was also suitable for screening the active components in natural products by various targets in vitro.

[Pathogenesis of ferroptosis on chronic kidney disease and traditional Chinese medicine intervention: a review].

Chronic kidney disease(CKD) is an insidious disease that has become a significant global public health issue due to its high incidence rate, low awareness, low diagnostic rate, poor prognosis, and high medical costs. Recent studies have shown that CKD development is associated with varying degrees of ferroptosis features. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) can regulate iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant systems to inhibit ferroptosis and delay the progression of CKD. Consequently, the intervention mechanism of ferroptosis has become one of the focuses of CKD research. TCM has thousands of years of traditional experience and wisdom. It focuses on the overall regulation of human body functions and can stimulate the body's disease resistance and recovery capabilities, which has certain advantages in treating CKD. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive articles on the application of TCM in intervening ferroptosis to treat CKD and the pathogenesis of ferroptosis in CKD. Therefore, this article summarizes the latest research progress both domestically and internationally, briefly introduces the main mechanisms of ferroptosis, and systematically reviews the relationship between ferroptosis and CKD. The article integrates TCM theories related to ferroptosis in CKD, including "deficiency" "stasis" "phlegm turbidity" and "toxins" and summarizes the research status of active ingredients and herbal formulas in intervening ferroptosis to treat CKD. By considering ferroptosis from a new perspective, this article aims to provide new targets and directions for the application of TCM in treating CKD.

Pichia kurtzmaniana f.a. sp. nov., with the transfer of eight Candida species to Pichia.

Three yeast strains belonging to the ascomycetous yeast genus Pichia were isolated from two soil samples from Yunnan and Guizhou provinces and a marine water sample from Liaoning province, PR China. Phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit(LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region indicate that these three strains, together with 12 additional strains isolated from various substrates collected in different regions or countries of the world, represent a novel species of the genus Pichia, for which the name Pichia kurtzmaniana sp. nov. (holotype: strain CGMCC 2.7213) is proposed. The novel species differs from its close relatives Candida californica by eight (1.5 %) and 26 (11.1 %) mismatches in the D1/D2 domains and the ITS region, respectively; and from Pichia chibodasensis by 11 (2.1 %) and 20 (8.7 %) mismatches in the D1/D2 domains and the ITS region, respectively. In addition, eight Candida species which belong to the Pichia clade are transferred to the genus Pichia, resulting in the proposal of the following new combinations: Pichia cabralensis comb. nov., Pichia californica comb. nov., Pichia ethanolica comb. nov., Pichia inconspicua comb. nov., Pichia phayaonensis comb. nov., Pichia pseudolambica comb. nov., Pichia rugopelliculosa comb. nov., and Pichia thaimueangensis comb. nov.

Efficacy and safety of anlotinib plus anti-PD-1 agents in patients with refractory advanced biliary tract cancers.

BACKGROUND: Anlotinib has demonstrated promising anti-tumor efficacy in various solid tumors. Additionally, there is evidence suggesting that immune therapy can enhance the systemic responses of anlotinib. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of combining anlotinib with PD-1 inhibitors compared to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy as a second-line treatment option for advanced biliary tract cancers (BTCs). METHODS: A total of 242 patients with BTCs were screened at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from October 2015 to October 2022. Among them, 78 patients who received either anlotinib plus PD-1 inhibitors (AP) or fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy (FB) as second-line treatment were included in the study. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), safety, and predictive tumor biomarkers. RESULTS: Among the 78 patients with BTCs, 39 patients received AP, while 39 patients were administered FB. The ORR in the AP group was 20.5%, compared to 5.1% in the FB group. The DCR was 87.2% in the AP group and 66.7% in the FB group. The AP group demonstrated significantly better ORR and DCR compared to the FB group (p = 0.042, p = 0.032). The median PFS and OS in the AP group were 7.9 months (95% CI: 4.35-11.45) and 13.9 months (95% CI: 5.39-22.41), respectively. In the FB group, the median PFS and OS were 4.1 months (95% CI: 3.17-5.03) and 13.2 months (95% CI: 8.72-17.68), respectively. The AP group exhibited significantly better median PFS than the FB group (p = 0.027). In the subgroup analysis, patients without liver metastasis had a much longer PFS in the AP group compared to the FB group (14.3 vs. 5.5 months, p = 0.016). Similarly, patients with CEA ≤ 5 µg/L also demonstrated a longer PFS in the AP group compared to the FB group (8.7 vs. 3.9 months, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of anlotinib and PD-1 inhibitors demonstrated a promising clinical effect compared to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy in the second-line treatment of refractory advanced BTCs. Liver metastases and CEA levels may serve as predictive factors for identifying patients who may benefit from AP therapy.

Characterization of potassium-solubilizing fungi, Mortierella spp., isolated from a poplar plantation rhizosphere soil.

Potassium-solubilizing microorganisms are capable of secreting acidic chemicals that dissolve and release potassium from soil minerals, thus facilitating potassium uptake by plants. In this study, three potassium-dissolving filamentous fungi were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a poplar plantation in Jiangsu Province, China. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, 18 S, and 28 S showed that these three isolates were most similar to Mortierella. These strains also possessed spherical or ellipsoidal spores, produced sporangia at the hyphal tip, and formed petal-like colonies on PDA media resembling those of Mortierella species. These findings, along with further phenotypic observations, suggest that these isolates were Mortierella species. In addition, the potassium-dissolution experiment showed that strain 2K4 had a relatively high potassium-solubilizing capacity among these isolated fungi. By investigating the influences of different nutrient conditions (carbon source, nitrogen source, and inorganic salt) and initial pH values on the potassium-dissolving ability, the optimal potassium-solubilization conditions of the isolate were determined. When potassium feldspar powder was used as an insoluble potassium source, isolate 2K4 exhibited a significantly better polysaccharide aggregation ability on the formed mycelium-potassium feldspar complex. The composition and content of organic acids secreted by strain 2K4 were further detected, and the potassium-dissolution mechanism of the Mortierella species and its growth promotion effect were discussed, using maize as an example.

Sample preparation for fatty acid analysis in biological samples with mass spectrometry-based strategies.

Fatty acids (FAs) have attracted many interests for their pivotal roles in many biological processes. Imbalance of FAs is related to a variety of diseases, which makes the measurement of them important in biological samples. Over the past two decades, mass spectrometry (MS) has become an indispensable technique for the analysis of FAs owing to its high sensitivity and precision. Due to complex matrix effect of biological samples and inherent poor ionization efficiency of FAs in MS, sample preparation including extraction and chemical derivatization prior to analysis are often employed. Here, we describe an updated overview of FA extraction techniques, as well as representative derivatization methods utilized in different MS platforms including gas chromatography-MS, liquid chromatography-MS, and mass spectrometry imaging based on different chain lengths of FAs. Derivatization strategies for the identification of double bond location in unsaturated FAs are also summarized and highlighted. The advantages, disadvantages, and prospects of these methods are compared and discussed. This review provides the development and valuable information for sample pretreatment approaches and qualitative and quantitative analysis of interested FAs using different MS-based platforms in complex biological matrices. Finally, the challenges of FA analysis are summarized and the future perspectives are prospected.

[Genetic analysis of a case with Al Kaissi syndrome and a literature review].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of a child with delayed growth and development and carry out a literature review. METHODS: A child suspected for Al Kaissi syndrome at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University on March 6, 2021 was selected as the study subject. Following extraction of genomic DNA, the child was subjected to copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) and whole exome sequencing (WES), and candidate variants were verified by PCR-agarose gel electrophoresis and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Prenatal diagnosis was conducted on chorionic villi sample upon subsequent pregnancy. RESULTS: The child, a 6-year-and-4-month-old boy, has dysmorphic features including low-set protruding ears and triangular face, delayed language and intellectual development, and ventricular septal defect. CNV-seq result has found no obvious abnormality, whilst WES revealed homozygous deletion of exons 1 and 2 of the CDK10 gene, which was confirmed by PCR-agarose gel electrophoresis and qPCR. Both of his parents were heterozygous carriers. Prenatal diagnosis using chorionic villi samples suggested that the fetus also carried the heterozygous deletion. CONCLUSION: The clinical features of Al Kaissi syndrome in this child can probably be attributed to the homozygous deletion of exons 1 and 2 of the CDK10 gene.

Saturnispora sinensis sp. nov., a new ascomycetous yeast species from soil and rotten wood.

A yeast strain (CGMCC 2.6937T) belonging to the ascomycetous yeast genus Saturnispora was recently isolated from soil collected in Xinghuacun, Shanxi Province, PR China. The strain produces one or two ellipsoid or spherical ascospores in asci formed by the conjugation between a cell and its bud. Phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit rRNA gene suggest that this strain is conspecific with strains NYNU 14639 isolated from rotten wood collected in Funiu Mountain, Henan province and ES13S05 from soil collected in Nantou County, Taiwan. The CGMCC 2.6937T group is most closely related to Saturnispora dispora and Saturnispora zaruensis. However, strain CGMCC 2.6937T differs from S. dispora by 17 (3.2 %, 13 substitutions and four gaps) and 77 (18.8 %, 52 substitutions and 25 gaps) mismatches, and from S. zaruensis by 15 (2.9 %, 12 substitutions and three gaps) and 64 (15.6 %, 44 substitutions and 20 gaps) mismatches, in the D1/D2 domain and ITS region, respectively. The results suggest that the CGMCC 2.6937T group represents an undescribed species in the genus Saturnispora, for which the name Saturnispora sinensis sp. nov. is proposed. The holotype strain is CGMCC 2.6937T.