Computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging to detect myocardial ischemia in patients with anxiety and obstructive coronary heart disease post-exposure to mental stressors.

This study aims to measure myocardial blood flow (MBF) using dynamic CT- myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) combined with mental stressors in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD) and in patients with anxiety and no obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCAD). A total of 30 patients with OCAD with 30 patients with ANOCAD were included in this analysis. Using the 17-segment model, the rest and stress phase MBF of major coronary arteries in participants were recorded respectively. Compared with ANOCAD patients, OCAD patients were more likely to have localized reduction of MBF (p < 0.05). For patients with ANOCAD, both global MBF and MBF of the main coronary arteries in the stress phase were lower than those in the rest phase (all p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in MBF among the main coronary arteries in the rest or stress phase (p = 0.25, p = 0.15). For patients with OCAD, the MBF of the target area was lower than that of the non-target area in both the rest and stress phase, and the MBF of the target area in the stress phase was lower than that in the rest phase (all p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in MBF between the rest or stress phase in the non-target area (p = 0.73). Under mental stress, the decrease in MBF in ANOCAD patients was diffuse, while the decrease in MBF in OCAD patients was localized. Dynamic CT-MPI combined with mental stressors can be used to detect MBF changes in anxiety patients.

Dynamic myocardial perfusion computed tomography with mental stress test to detect changes in myocardial microcirculation in patients with anxiety and no obstructive coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: Mental stress can induce myocardial ischemia in patients with anxiety and other psychological disorders. Computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) has the potential to quantitatively diagnose myocardial ischemia. The aim of this study was to measure changes in myocardial microcirculation perfusion (MMP) in patients with anxiety who have angina symptoms/ischemia but no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) using dynamic CT-MPI in combination with a mental stress test. METHODS: Patients with INOCA were divided into five subgroups (none, minimal, mild, moderate, and severe) according to the generalized anxiety disorder scale. Patients underwent dynamic CT-MPI with mental stress testing using a series of the standardized color word/arithmetic stressors. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) during resting and stress phases of CT-MPI was recorded. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients with 986 segments were included for final analysis. Compared to patients with none, minimal, mild, and moderate anxiety, those with severe anxiety had the largest rate of MBF decrease and the largest MBF decrease value. At the same time, those with no anxiety had the largest rate of MBF increase, the largest MBF increase value (all p < 0.05). As anxiety intensified, the rate of MBF increased and the MBF value increased (r = -0.24, r = -0.27, p < 0.05). Concomitantly, the rate of MBF decreased and the MBF value decreased (r = 0.63, r = 0.43, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic CT-MPI with a mental stress test can be used to evaluate MMP in patients with anxiety and INOCA. Mental stress resulted in significant differences in changes in the rate and value of MBF among patients with different anxiety degrees. KEY POINTS: • Dynamic CT-MPI with mental stress test worked well to quantitatively evaluate myocardial microcirculation perfusion in patients with anxiety and INOCA. • The rates of MBF decrease and MBF decrease value were positively correlated with anxiety degree of anxiety patients with INOCA. • MBF change derived from CT-MPI with mental stress test had a good performance to predicting anxiety degree of patients with anxiety and INOCA.

Dissecting Plant Gene Functions Using CRISPR Toolsets for Crop Improvement.

The CRISPR-based gene editing technology has become more and more powerful in genome manipulation for agricultural breeding, with numerous improved toolsets springing up. In recent years, many CRISPR toolsets for gene editing, such as base editors (BEs), CRISPR interference (CRISPRi), CRISPR activation (CRISPRa), and plant epigenetic editors (PEEs), have been developed to clarify gene function and full-level gene regulation. Here, we comprehensively summarize the application and capacity of the different CRISPR toolsets in the study of plant gene expression regulation, highlighting their potential application in gene regulatory networks' analysis. The general problems in CRISPR application and the optimal solutions in the existing schemes for high-throughput gene function analysis are also discussed. The CRISPR toolsets targeting gene manipulation discussed here provide new solutions for further genetic improvement and molecular breeding of crops.

Frailty Assessment for Outcome Prediction of Patients With Prostate Cancer Receiving Radical Prostatectomy: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies.

A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the association between frailty and postoperative complications in patients with prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science was conducted for relevant cohort studies. A random-effect model was chosen to combine the results. Five cohort studies including 171,929 patients were included. Results showed that patients with frailty had higher risk of severe postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo IV complications, risk ratio [RR]: 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.67 to 2.10, p < .001; I2 = 18%) and all-cause mortality (RR: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.86 to 4.50, p < 0.001; I2 = 18%). Subgroup analyses showed consistent results in patients receiving open and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, and also in studies with univariate and multivariate analyses. In conclusion, preoperative frailty may be a predictor of severe postoperative complications and all-cause mortality of patients with prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy.

Pre-harvest sprouting in cereals: genetic and biochemical mechanisms.

With the growth of the global population and the increasing frequency of natural disasters, crop yields must be steadily increased to enhance human adaptability to risks. Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS), a term mainly used to describe the phenomenon in which grains germinate on the mother plant directly before harvest, is a serious global problem for agricultural production. After domestication, the dormancy level of cultivated crops was generally lower than that of their wild ancestors. Although the shortened dormancy period likely improved the industrial performance of cereals such as wheat, barley, rice, and maize, the excessive germination rate has caused frequent PHS in areas with higher rainfall, resulting in great economic losses. Here, we systematically review the causes of PHS and its consequences, the major indicators and methods for PHS assessment, and emphasize the biological significance of PHS in crop production. Wheat quantitative trait loci functioning in the control of PHS are also comprehensively summarized in a meta-analysis. Finally, we use Arabidopsis as a model plant to develop more complete PHS regulatory networks for wheat. The integration of this information is conducive to the development of custom-made cultivated lines suitable for different demands and regions, and is of great significance for improving crop yields and economic benefits.

Exploration of CT manifestations of different clinical types of novel coronavirus pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: To explore computed tomography (CT) characteristics of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia and explore variations among the different clinical types. METHODS: Clinical and CT imaging data of 43 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in our hospital and the cooperative hospital between January 15-30, 2020 were collected (27 male and 16 female). Patients were classified as common type (26 cases, 60%), severe type (14 cases, 33%) or critical type (three cases, 7%) according to the new coronavirus pneumonia treatment scheme (sixth edition). Patient clinical data and CT images were analyzed and evaluated. RESULTS: Fever was the main symptom in common type COVID-19 cases (23/26, 88.46%). Both severe and critical type COVID-19 patients had fever and cough symptoms, and dyspnea was observed in all three critical COVID-19 patients. CT manifestations in the common type COVID-19 cohort were bilateral involvement (20/26, 71%), multiple lesions (14/26, 54%), ground-glass density shadow (17/26, 65%), and some cases were accompanied by local consolidation (9/26, 35%), which is consistent with early stage COVID-19 CT performance. CT manifestations in the severe and critical types involved both lungs. Severe COVID-19 cases predominantly consisted of multiple mixed-density lesions (10/14, 71%), and a few patients showed diffuse lung glass density shadows in both lungs (4/14, 29%), which is consistent with the progression stage COVID-19 CT performance. Critical COVID-19 cases exhibited mixed-density lesions, and two cases displayed "white lung", which is the CT manifestation at the severe COVID-19 stage. Only one critical COVID-19 patient had pleural effusion. CONCLUSIONS: The CT manifestations of COVID-19 are specific and there are variations between different clinical types. Thus, CT is an important clinical tool for early diagnosis and assessment of the severity of COVID-19.

Utility of chest CT in diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.

PURPOSE: We aimed to explore the imaging findings of computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its clinical value for further evaluation of suspected cases. METHODS: Files of 155 patients visiting the fever clinics at our hospital and affiliated hospitals from January 20th to February 9th, 2020 were searched. Among them, 140 cases (including 82 males and 58 females) were included as suspected COVID-19 cases based on clinical and epidemiological history; the CT image features of 70 cases with suggestive findings on CT, confirmed by positive nucleic acid test were analyzed and evaluated. The sensitivity and specificity of CT in diagnosing COVID-19 were evaluated in patients with epidemiological history. RESULTS: Of the 70 patients, 84.3% showed bilateral lung involvement on CT; 27 cases (38.6%) showed ground-glass opacity (GGO), which was mostly distributed in the subpleural area (55.7%), and this sign was mainly observed in early COVID-19 patients. In addition, 41 cases (58.6%) manifested GGO combined with focal consolidation opacity, 2 (2.8%) had flake-like consolidation opacity, with involvements of the periphery of lung field and the central zone (44.3%), and this sign was mostly observed in severe or critical patients. Concomitant signs such as pleural effusion and mediastinal lymph node enlargement were rare. Among patients with epidemiological history, the sensitivity of CT in diagnosing COVID-19 was 89.7% (70/78), and the specificity was 88.7% (55/62). CONCLUSION: CT shows high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing COVID-19. CT is an important examination method in evaluation of suspected cases and assessment of disease severity.