Cr(VI) behaves differently than Cr(III) in the uptake, translocation and detoxification in rice roots.

Excessive accumulation of chromium (Cr) causes severe damage to both physiological and biochemical processes and consequently growth repression in plants. Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]-elicited alterations in plants have been widely elucidated at either physiological or molecular level, whereas little is known about trivalent chromium [Cr(III)]. Here, we found that both Cr(III) and Cr(VI) significantly inhibited root growth in rice plants. However, rice plants under Cr(VI) showed significantly less inhibition in root growth than those under Cr(III) at low levels, which might be attributed to the different hormetic effects of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) on rice plants. It was unexpected that Cr(III) could be actively taken up by rice roots similarly to Cr(VI); whereas they exhibited different kinetic uptake patterns. Furthermore, root-to-shoot Cr translocation under Cr(VI) was much lower than that under Cr(III). These results indicate that the uptake, translocation, and toxicity of Cr(III) differed greatly from those of Cr(VI). Transcriptome profiling of rice roots revealed that a series of gene families involved in detoxification, including ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, multidrug and toxic compound extrusion proteins (MATEs), and Tau class glutathione S-transferases (GSTUs), were significantly associated with Cr accumulation and detoxification in rice roots. In addition, much more members of these gene families were upregulated by Cr(VI) compared to Cr(III), suggesting their vital roles in Cr uptake, translocation, and detoxification, especially under Cr(VI) stress. Further comparison of gstu9 and gstu10/50 mutants with their wild type confirmed that GSTUs play complex roles in the intracellular Cr transport and redox homeostasis during Cr(III) or Cr(VI) stress. Taken together, our findings provides new insights into the differential behaviors of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in rice roots, as well as new candidate genes such as OsABCs and OsGSTUs, to further elucidate the mechanisms of the uptake, translocation, and detoxification of Cr(III) and Cr(VI).

Molecular evolution and interaction of 14-3-3 proteins with H+-ATPases in plant abiotic stresses.

Environmental stresses severely affect plant growth and crop productivity. Regulated by 14-3-3 proteins (14-3-3s), H+-ATPases (AHAs) are important proton pumps that can induce diverse secondary transport via channels and co-transporters for the abiotic stress response of plants. Many studies demonstrated the roles of 14-3-3s and AHAs in coordinating the processes of plant growth, phytohormone signaling, and stress responses. However, the molecular evolution of 14-3-3s and AHAs has not been summarized in parallel with evolutionary insights across multiple plant species. Here, we comprehensively review the roles of 14-3-3s and AHAs in cell signaling to enhance plant responses to diverse environmental stresses. We analyzed the molecular evolution of key proteins and functional domains that are associated with 14-3-3s and AHAs in plant growth and hormone signaling. The results revealed evolution, duplication, contraction, and expansion of 14-3-3s and AHAs in green plants. We also discussed the stress-specific expression of those 14-3-3and AHA genes in a eudicotyledon (Arabidopsis thaliana), a monocotyledon (Hordeum vulgare), and a moss (Physcomitrium patens) under abiotic stresses. We propose that 14-3-3s and AHAs respond to abiotic stresses through many important targets and signaling components of phytohormones, which could be promising to improve plant tolerance to single or multiple environmental stresses.

Long-Term Disease Control of Locally Invasive Epithelial-Myoepithelial Carcinoma of Parapharyngeal Salivary Glands With Definitive Radiotherapy.

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a rare clinical entity that affects glandular tissues, most commonly salivary glands. EMC of parapharyngeal space is exceedingly rare. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment with or without chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both. Due to the rarity of the disease, select cases where surgery is not possible present a management conundrum. We present a case of locally advanced, stage IVa EMC of parapharyngeal space that was treated with upfront definitive radiotherapy. Radiotherapy treatment alone led to long-term disease control in both clinical and radiological follow-ups. The patient was followed for more than eight years posttreatment with no disease recurrence, enjoying the normal activities of life with no late toxicities including xerostomia. This case report highlights the role of radiotherapy in the management of such patients, and more studies are required in this context for surgical candidates with positive disease margins.

A Case Report on Rare Case of Pancreatic Metastasis from Primary Lung Adenocarcinoma: Treated Through a Non-surgical Approach.

Introduction: Most frequent sites of metastasis from lung cancer are the liver, brain and adrenal. Pancreas is an infrequent site of solitary metastasis from the lung primary with limited treatment options. There is insufficient data on the prognosis and optimal management of such cases. Case Description: We report a case of 44-year-old gentleman diagnosed with locally advanced lung adenocarcinoma Stage T4N3 who was treated radically with chemoradiation therapy, followed by a relapse of solitary pancreatic metastasis, which was treated with targeted therapy, erlotinib, due to the presence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. Practical Implications: This case reports an excellent radiological and symptomatic response in a patient who received erlotinib for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The use of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors has led to better prognosis and longer progression-free survival for patients with advanced NSCLC. However, the long-term survival of patients with metastatic NSCLC is limited.

Impact of COVID-19 on China's business and economic conditions: the importance of quantile asymmetries.

China has remained a growth engine for the global economy for the last several years. In this study, we assess the impact of COVID-19 on China's business and economic conditions; employing the quantile-on-quantile (QQ) regression and the quantile causality approaches. These econometrics batteries suit our research postulation, as they are capable to delineate underlying asymmetries across the whole distribution, based on which we can infer whether the response of China's business and economic conditions towards COVID-19 is heterogenous or homogenous. Utilizing the novel business and economic conditions measures, we observed that COVID-19 had initially disrupted both business and economic conditions in China. However, they showcased recovery over time. Our in-depth analysis allowed us to infer that the effect of COVID-19 on China's business and economic conditions is heterogeneous across different quantiles, and there is reliable evidence of asymmetry. The outcomes of quantile causality in mean and variance corroborate our primary estimations. These findings educate policymakers, companies, and other stakeholders to understand the nuances of China's business and economic conditions vis-a-vis COVID-19 in the short-run and as time elapsed.

Radiotherapy and Limb-Sparing Surgery in the Management of Localized Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Tertiary Care Center Experience From Pakistan.

PURPOSE: When combined with radiotherapy, limb salvage surgery is an alternative to amputation. This study sought to determine the limb-sparing treatment outcomes in patients diagnosed with soft tissue extremity sarcomas treated at our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All adult patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma treated with the radical limb salvage strategy at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Canter, Lahore, Pakistan, between January 2017 and December 2019 were retrospectively assessed. RESULTS: A total of 122 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 42 years (range 19-82), and 64 (52.5%) were males. The majority of patients, 65 (53.3%), were diagnosed with stage III and grade III disease according to American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM classification (Eighth edition). The most common surgical modality was wide local excision that was performed in 106 (86.9%) patients. Adjuvant radiation treatment was given in 111 (91%) patients, whereas 11 (9%) patients received neoadjuvant radiation treatment. The mean dose was 58 Gy (range: 46-66 Gy). Eighty-two (67.2%) of the patients were disease-free on post-treatment radiologic scans with disease recurrence observed in 40 (32.8%) patients. The median disease-free survival was 8 months (95% CI, 5.45 to 10.55). Local recurrence and distant metastases developed in 16 (13%) and 24 (20%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: About two thirds of patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma were successfully treated with limb salvage strategy, surgery, and radiation therapy. However, high rate of relapse warrants further novel strategies in this patient population.

Molecular Evolution of Plant 14-3-3 Proteins and Function of Hv14-3-3A in Stomatal Regulation and Drought Tolerance.

Drought significantly affects stomatal regulation, leading to the reduced growth and productivity of plants. Plant 14-3-3 proteins were reported to participate in drought response by regulating the activities of a wide array of target proteins. However, the molecular evolution, expression pattern and physiological functions of 14-3-3s under drought stress remain unclear. In this study, a comparative genomic analysis and the tissue-specific expression of 14-3-3s revealed the highly conserved and early evolution of 14-3-3s in green plants and duplication and expansion of the 14-3-3s family members in angiosperms. Using barley (Hordeum vulgare) for the functional characterization of 14-3-3 proteins, the transcripts of five members out of six Hv14-3-3s were highly induced by drought in the drought-tolerant line, XZ141. Suppression of the expression of Hv14-3-3A through barley stripe mosaic virus-virus induced gene silencing resulted in significantly increased drought sensitivity and stomatal density as well as significantly reduced net CO2 assimilation (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) in barley. Moreover, we showed the functional interactions between Hv14-3-3s and key proteins in drought and stomatal responses in plants-such as Open Stomata 1 (HvOST1), Slow Anion Channel 1 (HvSLAC1), three Heat Shock Proteins (HvHSP90-1/2/5) and Dehydration-Responsive Element-Binding 3 (HvDREB3). Taken together, we propose that 14-3-3s are highly evolutionarily conserved proteins and that Hv14-3-3s represent a group of the core regulatory components for the rapid stomatal response to drought in barley. This study will provide important evolutionary and molecular evidence for future applications of 14-3-3 proteins in breeding drought-tolerant crops in a changing global climate.

Impact of COVID-19 and economic policy uncertainty on China's stock market returns: evidence from quantile-on-quantile and causality-in-quantiles approaches.

COVID-19 unexpectedly ensnared the entire world and wreaked havoc on global economic and financial systems. The stock market is sensitive to black swan events, and the COVID-19 disaster was no exception. Against this backdrop, this study explores the impact of COVID-19 and economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on Chinese stock markets' returns for the period spanning January 23, 2020 to August 04, 2021. The outcomes of the novel quantile-on-quantile regression analysis revealed that both COVID-19 and EPU had a significant negative impact on both Shanghai and Shenzhen stock market returns, while COVID-19 aggravated the level of economic uncertainty in both financial markets. The quantile causality approach of Troster et al. (2018) validates our main estimations. We conclude that COVID-19 and a high level of EPU enervated the returns of China's leading stock markets. Our study provides key insights to policymakers and market participants to determine the behavior of China's stock market returns vis-à-vis COVID-19 during the peak of the pandemic and beyond. Specifically, our findings apprise portfolio investors to augment their portfolio diversification fronts.

Molecular Regulation and Evolution of Redox Homeostasis in Photosynthetic Machinery.

The recent advances in plant biology have significantly improved our understanding of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as signaling molecules in the redox regulation of complex cellular processes. In plants, free radicals and non-radicals are prevalent intra- and inter-cellular ROS, catalyzing complex metabolic processes such as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis homeostasis is maintained by thiol-based systems and antioxidative enzymes, which belong to some of the evolutionarily conserved protein families. The molecular and biological functions of redox regulation in photosynthesis are usually to balance the electron transport chain, photosystem II, photosystem I, mesophyll and bundle sheath signaling, and photo-protection regulating plant growth and productivity. Here, we review the recent progress of ROS signaling in photosynthesis. We present a comprehensive comparative bioinformatic analysis of redox regulation in evolutionary distinct photosynthetic cells. Gene expression, phylogenies, sequence alignments, and 3D protein structures in representative algal and plant species revealed conserved key features including functional domains catalyzing oxidation and reduction reactions. We then discuss the antioxidant-related ROS signaling and important pathways for achieving homeostasis of photosynthesis. Finally, we highlight the importance of plant responses to stress cues and genetic manipulation of disturbed redox status for balanced and enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and plant productivity.

Conditional effect of governance quality on the finance-environment nexus in a multivariate EKC framework: evidence from the method of moments-quantile regression with fixed-effects models.

This paper investigates the mitigating effect of governance quality on the finance-environment nexus in a multivariate EKC framework in 123 selected countries during the 1990-2017 period. We mainly employ the method of moments-quantile regression (MM-QR) with the fixed-effects model, among others. First, the MM-QR estimator reveals that financial development reduces environmental quality more significantly in countries with initially higher levels (the 75th and 90th quantiles) of CO2 emissions than in other countries (the 25th and 10th quantiles). Second, the attenuating effect of governance quality on the finance-environment nexus is more remarkable in nations with low initial levels (the 25th and 10th quantiles) of CO2 emissions. Third, we find that the marginal positive effect of financial development on CO2 emissions is smaller under a good regulatory framework than under corruption control and the rule of law, especially in the top emitters (the 75th and 90th quantiles). Fourth, unlike oil, which has a considerable negative impact on the environmental quality of the major emitters, renewable energy usage reduces CO2 emissions in countries in all quantiles, primarily in the lowest quantiles. Fifth, the findings also show that urbanization dramatically worsens environmental quality in all economies, particularly those in the lowest quantiles. Finally, we confirm that the EKC hypothesis holds in all countries across different quantiles. The study's final section discusses policy implications for sustainable development in all countries.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma complicated by right atrial thrombus.

Metastasis of renal cell carcinoma to the heart is a rare event. Herein we present a case of renal cell carcinoma presenting with progressive fatigue, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Imaging studies revealed complex renal mass with extension to right atrium and histopathology confirmed the metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Harnessing Current Knowledge of DNA N6-Methyladenosine From Model Plants for Non-model Crops.

Epigenetic modifications alter the gene activity and function by causing change in the chromosomal architecture through DNA methylation/demethylation, or histone modifications without causing any change in DNA sequence. In plants, DNA cytosine methylation (5mC) is vital for various pathways such as, gene regulation, transposon suppression, DNA repair, replication, transcription, and recombination. Thanks to recent advances in high throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies for epigenomic "Big Data" generation, accumulated studies have revealed the occurrence of another novel DNA methylation mark, N6-methyladenosine (6mA), which is highly present on gene bodies mainly activates gene expression in model plants such as eudicot Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and monocot rice (Oryza sativa). However, in non-model crops, the occurrence and importance of 6mA remains largely less known, with only limited reports in few species, such as Rosaceae (wild strawberry), and soybean (Glycine max). Given the aforementioned vital roles of 6mA in plants, hereinafter, we summarize the latest advances of DNA 6mA modification, and investigate the historical, known and vital functions of 6mA in plants. We also consider advanced artificial-intelligence biotechnologies that improve extraction and prediction of 6mA concepts. In this Review, we discuss the potential challenges that may hinder exploitation of 6mA, and give future goals of 6mA from model plants to non-model crops.

Rice and Arabidopsis homologs of yeast CHROMOSOME TRANSMISSION FIDELITY PROTEIN 4 commonly interact with Polycomb complexes but exert divergent regulatory functions.

Both genetic and epigenetic information must be transferred from mother to daughter cells during cell division. The mechanisms through which information about chromatin states and epigenetic marks like histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) are transferred have been characterized in animals; these processes are less well understood in plants. Here, based on characterization of a dwarf rice (Oryza sativa) mutant (dwarf-related wd40 protein 1, drw1) deficient for yeast CTF4 (CHROMOSOME TRANSMISSION FIDELITY PROTEIN 4), we discovered that CTF4 orthologs in plants use common cellular machinery yet accomplish divergent functional outcomes. Specifically, drw1 exhibited no flowering-related phenotypes (as in the putatively orthologous Arabidopsis thaliana eol1 mutant), but displayed cell cycle arrest and DNA damage responses. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that DRW1 sustains normal cell cycle progression by modulating the expression of cell cycle inhibitors KIP-RELATED PROTEIN 1 (KRP1) and KRP5, and show that these effects are mediated by DRW1 binding their promoters and increasing H3K27me3 levels. Thus, although CTF4 orthologs ENHANCER OF LHP1 1 (EOL1) in Arabidopsis and DRW1 in rice are both expressed uniquely in dividing cells, commonly interact with several Polycomb complex subunits, and promote H3K27me3 deposition, we now know that their regulatory functions diverged substantially during plant evolution. Moreover, our work experimentally illustrates specific targets of CTF4/EOL1/DRW1, their protein-proteininteraction partners, and their chromatin/epigenetic effects in plants.

Metalloid hazards: From plant molecular evolution to mitigation strategies.

Metalloids such as boron and silicon are key elements for plant growth and crop productivity. However, toxic metalloids such as arsenic are increasing in the environment due to inputs from natural sources and human activities. These hazardous metalloids can cause serious health risks to humans and animals if they enter the food chain. Plants have developed highly regulated mechanisms to alleviate the toxicity of metalloids during their 500 million years of evolution. A better understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the transport and detoxification of toxic metalloids in plants will shed light on developing mitigation strategies. Key transporters and regulatory proteins responsive to toxic metalloids have been identified through evolutionary and molecular analyses. Moreover, knowledge of the regulatory proteins and their pathways can be used in the breeding of crops with lower accumulation of metalloids. These findings can also assist phytoremediation by the exploration of plants such as fern species that hyperaccumulate metalloids from soils and water, and can be used to engineer plants with elevated uptake and storage capacity of toxic metalloids. In summary, there are solutions to remediate contamination due to toxic metalloids by combining the research advances and industrial technologies with agricultural and environmental practices.

Apomixis and strategies to induce apomixis to preserve hybrid vigor for multiple generations.

Hybrid seeds of several important crops with supreme qualities including yield, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance have been cultivated for decades. Thus far, a major challenge with hybrid seeds is that they do not have the ability to produce plants with the same qualities over subsequent generations. Apomixis, an asexual mode of reproduction by avoiding meiosis, exists naturally in flowering plants, and ultimately leads to seed production. Apomixis has the potential to preserve hybrid vigor for multiple generations in economically important plant genotypes. The evolution and genetics of asexual seed production are unclear, and much more effort will be required to determine the genetic architecture of this phenomenon. To fix hybrid vigor, synthetic apomixis has been suggested. The development of MiMe (mitosis instead of meiosis) genotypes has been utilized for clonal gamete production. However, the identification and parental origin of genes responsible for synthetic apomixis are little known and need further clarification. Genome modifications utilizing genome editing technologies (GETs), such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (cas), a reverse genetics tool, have paved the way toward the utilization of emerging technologies in plant molecular biology. Over the last decade, several genes in important crops have been successfully edited. The vast availability of GETs has made functional genomics studies easy to conduct in crops important for food security. Disruption in the expression of genes specific to egg cell MATRILINEAL (MTL) through the CRISPR/Cas genome editing system promotes the induction of haploid seed, whereas triple knockout of the Baby Boom (BBM) genes BBM1, BBM2, and BBM3 cause embryo arrest and abortion, which can be fully rescued by male-transmitted BBM1. The establishment of synthetic apomixis by engineering the MiMe genotype by genome editing of BBM1 expression or disruption of MTL leads to clonal seed production and heritability for multiple generations. In the present review, we discuss current developments related to the use of CRISPR/Cas technology in plants and the possibility of promoting apomixis in crops to preserve hybrid vigor. In addition, genetics, evolution, epigenetic modifications, and strategies for MiMe genotype development are discussed in detail.

PRMT6 physically associates with nuclear factor Y to regulate photoperiodic flowering in Arabidopsis.

The timing of floral transition is critical for reproductive success in flowering plants. In long-day (LD) plant Arabidopsis, the floral regulator gene FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) is a major component of the mobile florigen. FT expression is rhythmically activated by CONSTANS (CO), and specifically accumulated at dusk of LDs. However, the underlying mechanism of adequate regulation of FT transcription in response to day-length cues to warrant flowering time still remains to be investigated. Here, we identify a homolog of human protein arginine methyltransferases 6 (HsPRMT6) in Arabidopsis, and confirm AtPRMT6 physically interacts with three positive regulators of flowering Nuclear Factors YC3 (NF-YC3), NF-YC9, and NF-YB3. Further investigations find that AtPRMT6 and its encoding protein accumulate at dusk of LDs. PRMT6-mediated H3R2me2a modification enhances the promotion of NF-YCs on FT transcription in response to inductive LD signals. Moreover, AtPRMT6 and its homologues proteins AtPRMT4a and AtPRMT4b coordinately inhibit the expression of FLOWERING LOCUS C, a suppressor of FT. Taken together, our study reveals the role of arginine methylation in photoperiodic pathway and how the PRMT6-mediating H3R2me2a system interacts with NF-CO module to dynamically control FT expression and facilitate flowering time. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-021-00065-y.

Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis in the Elderly Smoker.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), formally referred to histiocytosis X, is a histiocytic disorder with unknown etiology. The pathogenesis is believed to originate from myeloid dendritic cells and is now considered an inflammatory myeloid neoplasm within the revised 2016 Histiocyte Society classification. Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) is a rare and isolated form of LCH with a strong affiliation with smoking in adults of 20-40 years of age. Characteristic CT chest and histologic findings are instrumental in the early recognition and management of a disease. We herein report a case of a Caucasian smoker female with a significant history of interstitial lung disease (ILD) presented with recurrent and progressive worsening dyspnea. History of ILD and recurring respiratory symptoms raised suspicion of PLCH. CT chest and pathological findings confirmed the diagnosis, and discontinuation of smoking resulted in favorable clinical outcomes.

COVID-19 Pneumonia: An Emerging Cause of Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone.

Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is the leading cause of hyponatremia. We, herein, report a case of a patient with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) who developed sudden exertional dyspnea and hypoxia and was found to be hyponatremic. A diagnosis of SIADH was made due to COVID-19 pneumonia. The patient was managed conservatively with a significant improvement during the course of hospitalization and on follow-up.

Succinylcholine-Induced Masseter Muscle Rigidity Successfully Managed With Propofol and Laryngeal Mask Airway: A Case Report and Brief Review.

Masseter muscle rigidity following administration of succinylcholine for induction of general anesthesia is considered an early warning sign for the possibility of an episode of dreaded complication i.e., malignant hyperthermia. This report describes a case of masseter muscle rigidity encountered at the start of an emergency surgical procedure. After succinylcholine administration, laryngoscopy and intubation were not possible due to the masseter muscle spasms. This led to the use of laryngeal mask airway and propofol for the successful conclusion of the procedure with no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Later, the patient was discharged with instructions to avoid the contributing triggers in the future and recommendations of caffeine-muscle biopsy.

Penile Mondor's Disease: Rare Association With Excessive Masturbation.

Penile Mondor's disease is a rare condition characterized by thrombophlebitis of superficial penile dorsal veins. We report a case of a 26-year-old male who developed a lump on the dorsal surface of the penis following intensive masturbation after prolonged sexual abstinence. Physical examination revealed a firm, cord-like swelling with beaded texture with no localized regional lymphadenopathy. The patient was successfully managed with non-steroidal inflammatory drugs and was symptom-free on a follow-up.