Effect of pH on growth and Cd accumulation in different rice varieties under hydroponics.

Currently, applying lime to cadmium (Cd)-contaminated paddy fields to increase pH and reduce Cd availability is an effective method to control excessive Cd levels in rice grain. However, under hydroponic conditions, the impact of increased pH on Cd accumulation in different rice varieties remains unclear. This study employed three rice varieties (Yuzhenxiang, Shaoxiang 100, Xiangwanxian 12) with different Cd accumulation characteristics under different pH and long-term treatment with 1 µM CdCl2, to study the effect of pH on growth and Cd accumulation in different rice varieties. The result showed that as pH shifted from 5 to 8, the SPAD values, shoot dry weight, and plant height of the three rice varieties significantly decreased. The main root length, root volume, and root dry weight of Yuzhenxiang, and Shaoxiang100 significantly decreased. Conversely, the root architecture indicators of Xiangwanxian 12 did not change significantly. As for element accumulation, increasing the pH significantly increased the content of Mn in both the shoots and roots of all three varieties. Yuzhenxiang significantly reduced Cd content in both the shoots and roots of rice, while Shaoxiang100 significantly increased Cd content in both parts. Xiangwanxian 12 showed a significant increase in Cd content in the shoots but a decrease in the roots. In terms of subcellular distribution, Yuzhenxiang significantly reduced Cd concentrations in the cell wall and organelles of root cells, resulting in lower Cd concentrations in the root tissue. Conversely, Shaoxiang100 significantly increased Cd concentrations in the cell wall, organelles, and soluble fractions of root cells, leading to higher Cd concentrations in the root tissue. Xiangwanxian 12 also exhibited a decrease in Cd concentrations in the cell wall, organelles, and soluble fraction of root cells, resulting in lower Cd concentrations in the root tissue. Additionally, the expression of the OsNRAMP5 and OsHMA3 gene was significantly increased in Shaoxiang 100, while no significantly change in Yuzhenxiang and Xiangwanxian 12. These results provide important guidance on the impact of pH on Cd accumulation during the vegetative growth stage of different rice varieties.

Interpregnancy interval, air pollution, and the risk of low birth weight: a retrospective study in China.

BACKGROUND: Both interpregnancy intervals (IPI) and environmental factors might contribute to low birth weight (LBW). However, the extent to which air pollution influences the effect of IPIs on LBW remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether IPI and air pollution jointly affect LBW. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was designed in this study. The data of birth records was collected from the Jiangsu Maternal Child Information System, covering January 2020 to June 2021 in Nantong city, China. IPI was defined as the duration between the delivery date for last live birth and date of LMP for the subsequent birth. The maternal exposure to ambient air pollutants during pregnancy-including particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), PM10, ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO)-was estimated using a hybrid kriging-LUR-RF model. A novel air pollution score was proposed, assessing combined exposure to five pollutants (excluding CO) by summing their concentrations, weighted by LBW regression coefficients. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of IPI, air pollution and their interactions on LBW. Relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion of interaction (AP) and synergy index (S) were utilized to assess the additive interaction. RESULTS: Among 10, 512 singleton live births, the LBW rate was 3.7%. The IPI-LBW risk curve exhibited an L-shaped pattern. The odds ratios (ORs) for LBW for each interquartile range increase in PM2.5, PM10, O3 and the air pollution score were 1.16 (95% CI: 1.01-1.32), 1.30 (1.06-1.59), 1.22 (1.06-1.41), and 1.32 (1.10-1.60) during the entire pregnancy, respectively. An additive interaction between IPI and PM2.5 was noted during the first trimester. Compared to records with normal IPI and low PM2.5 exposure, those with short IPI and high PM2.5 exposure had the highest risk of LBW (relative risk = 3.53, 95% CI: 1.85-6.49, first trimester). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates a synergistic effect of interpregnancy interval and air pollution on LBW, indicating that rational birth spacing and air pollution control can jointly improve LBW outcomes.

Glucose inhibits the inflammatory response in goose fatty liver by increasing the ubiquitination level of PKA.

Protein kinase A (PKA) plays an important role in cellular life activities. Recently, PKA was found to bind to the inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB (IκB), a key protein in the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) pathway, to form a complex involved in the regulation of inflammatory response. However, the role of PKA in the anti-inflammatory of goose fatty liver is still unclear. A total of 14 healthy 70-d-old male Lander geese were randomly divided into a control group and an overfeeding group. Inflammation level was analyzed by histopathological method in the liver. The mRNA and protein abundance of PKA and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), as well as the ubiquitination level of PKA, were detected. Moreover, goose primary hepatocytes were cotreated with glucose, harringtonine, and carbobenzoxy-l-leucyl-l-leucyl-l-leucinal (MG132). Finally, the co-immunoprecipitated samples of PKA from the control and overfeeding group were used for protein mass spectrometry. The results showed that no difference in PKA mRNA expression was observed (P > 0.05), while the PKA protein level in the overfed group was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) when compared with the control group. The ubiquitination level of PKA was higher than that of the control group in fatty liver. The mRNA expression of PKA was elevated but protein abundance was reduced in goose primary hepatocytes with 200 mmol/L glucose treatment (P < 0.05). The PKA protein abundance was dramatically reduced in hepatocytes treated with harringtonine (P < 0.01) when compared with the glucose-supplemented group. Nevertheless, MG132 tended to alleviate the inhibitory effect of harringtonine on PKA protein abundance (P = 0.081). There was no significant difference in TNFα protein level among glucose-treated groups and control (P > 0.05). Protein mass spectrometry analysis showed that 29 and 76 interacting proteins of PKA were screened in goose normal and fatty liver, respectively. Validation showed that PKA interacted with the E3 ubiquitination ligases ring finger protein 135 (RNF135) and potassium channel modulatory factor 1 (KCMF1). In summary, glucose may inhibit the inflammatory response in goose fatty liver by increasing the ubiquitination level of PKA. Additionally, RNF135 and KCMF1 may be involved in the regulation of PKA ubiquitination level as E3 ubiquitination ligases.

No obvious pathological symptoms such as inflammation were observed in fatty goose liver, suggesting that there is a unique mechanism to inhibit the development of inflammation during the goose fatty liver formation. Previous studies have shown that high glucose activated the ubiquitin­proteasome. Protein kinase A (PKA) can interact with a key protein in the nuclear factor-kappaB pathway to activate the pathway and trigger inflammatory response. To further understand how inflammation is suppressed during goose fatty liver formation. The present study showed that inflammation and PKA protein level were reduced in goose fatty liver. Meanwhile, PKA can be modified by ubiquitination in goose liver and hepatocytes. The result of the study implied that glucose deposited during goose fatty liver formation may reduce the PKA protein content by increasing the PKA ubiquitination level, thereby inhibiting the inflammatory response. Our study not only contributes to elucidate the new mechanism for suppressed inflammation in goose fatty liver but also provides a reference for the study of fatty liver in other animals.

Conserved features and diversity attributes of chimeric RNAs across accessions in four plants.

As a non-collinear expression form of genetic information, chimeric RNAs increase the complexity of transcriptome in diverse organisms. Although chimeric RNAs have been identified in plants, few common features have been revealed. Here, we systemically explored the landscape of chimeric RNAs across multi-accession and multi-tissue using pan-genome and transcriptome data of four plants: rice, maize, soybean, and Arabidopsis. Among the four species, conserved characteristics of breakpoints and parental genes were discovered. In each species, chimeric RNAs displayed a high level of diversity among accessions, and the clustering of accessions using chimeric events was generally concordant with clustering based on genomic variants, implying a general relationship between genetic variations and chimeric RNAs. Through mass spectrometry, we confirmed a fusion protein OsNDC1-OsGID1L2 and observed its subcellular localization, which differed from the original proteins. Phenotypic cues in transgenic rice suggest the potential functions of OsNDC1-OsGID1L2. Moreover, an intriguing chimeric event Os01g0216500-Os01g0216900, generated by a large deletion in basmati rice, also exists in another accession without the deletion, demonstrating its convergence in evolution. Our results illuminate the characteristics and hint at the evolutionary implications of plant chimeric RNAs, which serve as a supplement to genetic variations, thus expanding our understanding of genetic diversity.

Genomic investigation of 18,421 lines reveals the genetic architecture of rice.

Understanding how numerous quantitative trait loci (QTL) shape phenotypic variation is an important question in genetics. To address this, we established a permanent population of 18,421 (18K) rice lines with reduced population structure. We generated reference-level genome assemblies of the founders and genotyped all 18K-rice lines through whole-genome sequencing. Through high-resolution mapping, 96 high-quality candidate genes contributing to variation in 16 traits were identified, including OsMADS22 and OsFTL1 verified as causal genes for panicle number and heading date, respectively. We identified epistatic QTL pairs and constructed a genetic interaction network with 19 genes serving as hubs. Overall, 170 masking epistasis pairs were characterized, serving as an important factor contributing to genetic background effects across diverse varieties. The work provides a basis to guide grain yield and quality improvements in rice.

Effect of saline perfusion before catheter removal in patients with BPH treated with GreenLight laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of saline perfusion before catheter removal in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treated with GreenLight laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients (n=200) with BPH treated with PVP were divided into perfusion (n=100) and control (n=100) groups. For the perfusion group, saline (200 mL or the maximum capacity tolerated) was irrigated into the bladder after standardized external urethral disinfection, and the catheter was removed. Catheter removal was routinely performed in the control group. Perioperative adverse events and clinical outcomes were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Patients in the perfusion group had a shorter waiting time [3 (0-4) vs. 15 (8.75-26) min; P<0.001] and a better satisfaction grade [24 (21.75-26) vs. 23 (20-25); P=0.016] for first urination than those in the control group. The perfusion group exhibited lower anxiety levels regarding first urination than the control group [1 (1-2) vs. 1.5 (1-2), respectively; P=0.012]. Urinalysis revealed that the perfusion group had significantly lower white blood cell (WBC) count than the control group on the day [25.5 (8-37.75) vs. 43.5 (24.0-64.75); P<0.001] and 2 weeks [20.5 (11-27) vs. 31.0 (20-42); P<0.001] after catheter removal. No significant differences in treatment-related adverse events were observed [perfusion (n=15), control (n=20)]. CONCLUSION: Saline perfusion before catheter removal in patients with BPH treated with PVP could shorten the waiting time for first urination, improve patient anxiety and satisfaction and reduce postoperative urinary WBC levels.

TaSPL6B, a member of the Squamosa promoter binding protein-like family, regulates shoot branching and florescence in Arabidopsis thaliana.

BACKGROUND: Squamosa promoter-binding protein-like (SPL) proteins are essential to plant growth and development as plant-specific transcription factors. However, the functions of SPL proteins in wheat need to be further explored. RESULTS: We cloned and characterized TaSPL6B of wheat in this study. Analysis of physicochemical properties revealed that it contained 961 amino acids and had a molecular weight of 105 kDa. Full-length TaSPL6B transcription activity was not validated in yeast and subcellular localization analysis revealed that TaSPL6B was distributed in the nucleus. Ectopic expression of TaSPL6B in Arabidopsis led to increasing number of branches and early flowering. TaSPL6B was highly transcribed in internodes of transgenic Arabidopsis. The expression of AtSMXL6/AtSMXL7/AtSMXL8 (homologous genes of TaD53) was markedly increased, whereas the expression of AtSPL2 (homologous genes of TaSPL3) and AtBRC1 (homologous genes of TaTB1) was markedly reduced in the internodes of transgenic Arabidopsis. Besides, TaSPL6B, TaSPL3 and TaD53 interacted with one another, as demonstrated by yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. Therefore, we speculated that TaSPL6B brought together TaD53 and TaSPL3 and enhanced the inhibition effect of TaD53 on TaSPL3 through integrating light and strigolactone signaling pathways, followed by suppression of TaTB1, a key repressor of tillering. CONCLUSIONS: As a whole, our findings contribute to a better understanding of how SPL genes work in wheat and will be useful for further research into how TaSPL6B affects yield-related traits in wheat.

Investigating the impact of the quantity of wet and dry cycles on the mechanical characteristics and fracture variations of sandstones.

The sandstone is in a state of dry-wet cycle under the repeated action of rainfall, and its mechanical properties are deteriorated to varying degrees, which causes cracks in the sandstone. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the mechanical properties and fracture propagation of sandstone under the action of dry-wet cycles. Currently, there are limited studies using numerical simulation methods to study the fracture extension of rocks under various dry and wet cycling conditions.Therefore, in this paper, the effects of different amounts of dry and wet cycling on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior of sandstone are investigated through uniaxial compression tests and numerical simulations of fracture extension. The findings indicate that the deformation stage of sandstone remains unchanged by the dry-wet cycle. The uniaxial compressive potency and coefficient of restitution gradually diminish as the quantity of cycles rises, while the Poisson's ratio exhibits the opposite trend, and the impact on the mechanical performance of sandstone wanes with cycle increments, and the correlation coefficient surpasses 0.93, signifying a substantial influence of the dry-wet cycle on sandstone's mechanical performances. The discrepancy between the numerical simulation and experimental results is minimal, with a maximum error of only 3.1%, demonstrating the congruence of the simulation and experimental outcomes.The mesoscopic examination of the simulations indicates that the quantity of fractures in the sandstone specimens rises with the escalation of dry-wet cycles, and the steps of analysis linked to crack inception and fracture propagation are accelerated, and the analysis steps from fracture initiation to penetration are also reduced.

Association between anxiety, depression, and symptom burden in patients with advanced colorectal cancer: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) have multiple concurrent physical and psychological symptoms. This study aimed to explore the relationship between anxiety, depression, and symptom burden in advanced CRC. METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 cancer centers from geographically and economically diverse sites in China. A total of 454 patients with advanced CRC completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. Multiple regression analysis was applied to explore the relationship between anxiety, depression and symptom burden. RESULTS: About one-third of the patients showed symptoms of anxiety or depression. Patients with anxiety or depression reported significantly higher symptom burden than those without (p < 0.001). Patients with anxiety or depression reported a higher proportion of moderate-to-severe (MS) symptom number than those without (p < 0.001). About 52% of the patients with anxiety or depression reported at least three MS symptoms. The prevalence of MS symptoms was ranging from 7.3% (shortness of breath) to 22% (disturbed sleep), and in patients with anxiety or depression was 2-10 times higher than in those without (p < 0.001). Disease stage (ß = -2.55, p = 0.003), anxiety (ß = 15.33, p < 0.001), and depression (ß = 13.63, p < 0.001) were associated with higher symptom burden. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety and depression in patients with advanced cancer correlated with higher symptom burden. Findings may lead oncology professionals to pay more attention to unrecognized and untreated psychological symptoms in symptom management for advanced cancer patients.

Development of a prediction model for suicidal ideation in patients with advanced cancer: A multicenter, real-world, pan-cancer study in China.

BACKGROUND: Patients diagnosed with advanced stage cancer face an elevated risk of suicide. We aimed to develop a suicidal ideation (SI) risk prediction model in patients with advanced cancer for early warning of their SI and facilitate suicide prevention in this population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We consecutively enrolled patients with multiple types of advanced cancers from 10 cancer institutes in China from August 2019 to December 2020. Demographic characteristics, clinicopathological data, and clinical treatment history were extracted from medical records. Symptom burden, psychological status, and SI were assessed using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), respectively. A multivariable logistic regression model was employed to establish the model structure. RESULTS: In total, 2814 participants were included in the final analysis. Nine predictors including age, sex, number of household members, history of previous chemotherapy, history of previous surgery, MDASI score, HADS-A score, HADS-D score, and life satisfaction were retained in the final SI prediction model. The model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85 (95% confidential interval: 0.82-0.87), with AUCs ranging from 0.75 to 0.95 across 10 hospitals and higher than 0.83 for all cancer types. CONCLUSION: This study built an easy-to-use, good-performance predictive model for SI. Implementation of this model could facilitate the incorporation of psychosocial support for suicide prevention into the standard care of patients with advanced cancer.

Suicidal ideation in Chinese patients with advanced breast cancer: a multi-center mediation model study.

PURPOSE: The pathways underpinning suicide ideation (SI) and certain physical and psychological factors in patients with advanced breast cancer remain unclear. This study develops and validates a mediation model that delineates the associations between several multidimensional variables and SI in Chinese patients with advanced breast cancer. METHODS: Patients with advanced breast cancer (n = 509) were recruited as study participants from 10 regional cancer centers across China from August 2019 to December 2020. Participants were required to complete five questionnaires using an electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) system: 9 item- Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), 5-level EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L), and MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI). Risk factors for SI were identified using multivariable logistic regression, and inputted into serial multiple mediation models to elucidate the pathways linking the risk factors to SI. RESULTS: SI prevalence was 22.8% (116/509). After adjusting for covariates, depression (odds ratio [OR] = 1.384), emotional distress (OR = 1.107), upset (OR = 0.842), and forgetfulness (OR = 1.236) were identified as significant independent risk factors (all p < 0.05). The ORs indicate that depression and distress have the strongest associations with SI. Health status has a significant indirect effect (OR=-0.044, p = 0.005) and a strong total effect (OR=-0.485, p < 0.001) on SI, mediated by insomnia severity and emotional distress. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high SI prevalence among Chinese patients with advanced breast cancer. Our analysis revealed predictive pathways from poor health to heightened SI, mediated by emotional distress and insomnia. Regular management of distress and insomnia can decrease suicide risk in this vulnerable population.

Physical symptoms and anxiety and depression in older patients with advanced cancer in China: a network analysis.

BACKGROUND: Little is understood about the association between psychosomatic symptoms and advanced cancer among older Chinese patients. METHODS: This secondary analysis was part of a multicenter cross-sectional study based on an electronic patient-reported outcome platform. Patients with advanced cancer were included between August 2019 and December 2020 in China. Participants (over 60 years) completed the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to measure symptom burden. Network analysis was also conducted to investigate the network structure, centrality indices (strength, closeness, and betweenness) and network stability. RESULTS: A total of 1022 patients with a mean age of 66 (60-88) years were included; 727 (71.1%) were males, and 295 (28.9%) were females. A total of 64.9% of older patients with advanced cancer had one or more symptoms, and up to 80% had anxiety and depression. The generated network indicated that the physical symptoms, anxiety and depression symptom communities were well connected with each other. Based on an evaluation of the centrality indices, 'distress/feeling upset' (MDASI 5) appears to be a structurally important node in all three networks, and 'I lost interest in my own appearance' (HADS-D4) had the lowest centrality indices. The network stability was relatively high (> 0.7). CONCLUSION: The symptom burden remains high in older patients with advanced cancer in China. Psychosomatic symptoms are highly interactive and often present as comorbidities. This network can be used to provide targeted interventions to optimize symptom management in older patients with advanced cancer in China. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900024957), registered on 06/12/2020.

Geraniin restricts inflammasome activation and macrophage pyroptosis by preventing the interaction between ASC and NLRP3 to exert anti-inflammatory effects.

Geraniin, a chemical component of the traditional Chinese medicine geranii herba, possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. However, its anti-inflammatory role in managing NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis remains to be elucidated. To investigate the anti-inflammation mechanism of geraniin, LPS-primed macrophages were incubated with classical activators of NLRP3 inflammasome (such as ATP, Nigericin, or MSU crystals), and MSU crystals were injected into the ankle joints of mice to establish an acute gouty arthritis model. The propidium iodide (PI) staining results showed that geraniin could restrain cell death in the ATP- or nigericin-stimulated bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Geraniin decreased the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and interleukin (IL)-1ß from cytoplasm to cell supernatant. Geraniin also inhibited the expression of caspase-1 p20, IL-1ß in cell supernatant and N-terminal of gasdermin D (GSDMD-NT) while blocking the oligomerization of ASC to form speck. The inhibitory effects of geraniin on caspase-1 p20, IL-1ß, GSDMD-NT, and ASC speck were not observed in NLRP3 knockout (NLRP3-/-) BMDMs. Hence, the resistance of geraniin to inflammasome and pyroptosis was contingent upon NLRP3 presence. Geraniin reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and maintained mitochondrial membrane potential while preventing interaction between ASC and NLRP3 protein. Additionally, geraniin diminished MSU crystal-induced mouse ankle joint swelling and IL-1ß expression. Geraniin blocked the recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages to the synovium of joints. Our results demonstrate that geraniin prevents the assembly of ASC and NLRP3 through its antioxidant effect, thereby inhibiting inflammasome activation, pyroptosis, and IL-1ß release to provide potential insights for gouty arthritis targeted therapy.

The application and influence of "Small Private Online Course" based on flipped classroom teaching model in the course of fundamental operations in surgery in China.

To investigate the effect of "Small Private Online Course" (SPOC) based on flipped classroom teaching model on the students in the course of fundamental operations in surgery. A prospective study. 8-year program students (juniors) majored in clinical medicine in Navy medical university. The mastery of theoretical knowledge and operational skill of the students, the comparison of final test examination score between traditional teaching method and "SPOC + flipped classroom" model and the feedback completed by students. Our study found that SPOC + flipped classroom could significantly increase the efficacy of the class and enhance the ability of the students compared with the traditional method. The new teaching model could have a positive influence for medical students on their basic knowledge and operational skill.

Risk factors and the value of microbiological examinations of COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis in critically ill patients in intensive care unit: the appropriate microbiological examinations are crucial for the timely diagnosis of CAPA.

Introduction: During the Omicron pandemic in China, a significant proportion of patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) necessitated admission to intensive care unit (ICU) and experienced a high mortality. To explore the clinical risk factors and the application/indication of microbiological examinations of CAPA in ICU for timely diagnosis are very important. Methods: This prospective study included patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICU between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. The clinical data of influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (IAPA) patients from the past five consecutive influenza seasons (November 1, 2017, to March 31, 2022) were collected for comparison. The types of specimens and methods used for microbiological examinations were also recorded to explore the efficacy in early diagnosis. Results: Among 123 COVID-19 patients, 36 (29.3%) were diagnosed with probable CAPA. CAPA patients were more immunosuppressed, in more serious condition, required more advanced respiratory support and had more other organ comorbidities. Solid organ transplantation, APACHEII score ≥20 points, 5 points ≤SOFA score <10 points were independent risk factors for CAPA. Qualified lower respiratory tract specimens were obtained from all patients, and 84/123 (68.3%) patients underwent bronchoscopy to obtain bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) specimens. All patients' lower respiratory tract specimens underwent fungal smear and culture; 79/123 (64.2%) and 69/123 (56.1%) patients underwent BALF galactomannan (GM) and serum GM detection, respectively; metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of the BALF was performed in 62/123 (50.4%) patients. BALF GM had the highest diagnostic sensitivity (84.9%), the area under the curve of the mNGS were the highest (0.812). Conclusion: The incidence of CAPA was extremely high in patients admitted to the ICU. CAPA diagnosis mainly depends on microbiological evidence owing to non-specific clinical manifestations, routine laboratory examinations, and CT findings. The bronchoscopy should be performed and the BALF should be obtained as soon as possible. BALF GM are the most suitable microbiological examinations for the diagnosis of CAPA. Due to the timely and accuracy result of mNGS, it could assist in early diagnosis and might be an option in critically ill CAPA patients.

Reliability and validity of simplified Chinese version of Spinal Cord Injury Pain Instrument in patients with spinal cord injury in mainland China.

PURPOSE: To cross-culturally adapt the Spinal Cord Injury Pain Instrument (SCIPI) into a simplified Chinese version (SC-SCIPI) and verify reliability and validity in screening for neuropathic pain in SCI patients. METHODS: A preliminary validation study was conducted to screen for neuropathic pain after SCI using SCIPI. A total of 130 patients with SCI treated at Shanghai Changhai Hospital were enrolled. Results for internal consistency, reliability and construct validity were compared with those of the Douleur Neuropathique (DN4), Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire (LANSS), Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire (NPQ), ID Pain scale and VAS pain scale. RESULTS: The SCIPI was successfully translated into Chinese and expert consensus was reached on final adapted version of SC-SCIPI. For test-retest, SC-SCIPI total score was 2.35 ± 1.75 in first round and 2.35 ± 1.76 in second round. Cronbach α coefficient of SC-SCIPI was 0.909, indicating good internal consistency. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) showed that SC-SCIPI correlated well with LANSS, DN4, NPQ and ID pain; and correlated fairly well with VAS, indicating good construct validity. CONCLUSION: SC-SCIPI demonstrates excellent internal consistency, reliability and good construct validity in Chinese patients with neuropathic pain, suggesting that SC-SCIPI is applicable in clinical practice to screen patients for neuropathic pain. IMPLICATION FOR REHABILITATIONThe Spinal Cord Injury pain Instrument has been cross-culturally adapted into a simplified Chinese version (SC-SCIPI).The SC-SCIPI showed excellent test-retest reliability and good construct validity.The 4-item SC-SCIPI is quite convenient to complete and it might be a useful instrument for routine application in patients with SCI for rehabilitation.

Preparation of robust, water-resistant, antibacterial, and antioxidant chitosan-based films by incorporation of cinnamaldehyde-tannin acid-zinc acetate nanoparticles.

Chitosan (CS) films have poor mechanical property, low water-resistance and limited antimicrobial activity, which hinder their application in food preservation industry. Cinnamaldehyde-tannic acid-zinc acetate nanoparticles (CTZA NPs) assembled from edible medicinal plant extracts were successfully incorporated into CS films to solve these issues. The tensile strength and water contact angle of the composite films increased about 5.25-fold and 17.55°. The addition of CTZA NPs reduced the water sensitivity of CS films, which could undergo appreciable stretching in water without breaking. Furthermore, CTZA NPs significantly enhanced the UV adsorption, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties of the films, while reduced their water vapor permeability. Moreover, it was possible to print inks onto the films because the presence of the hydrophobic CTZA NPs facilitated the deposition of carbon powder onto their surfaces. The films with great antibacterial and antioxidant activities can be applied for food packaging application.

Phytophthora sojae effector PsAvh113 associates with the soybean transcription factor GmDPB to inhibit catalase-mediated immunity.

Phytophthora species are the most destructive plant pathogens worldwide and the main threat to agricultural and natural ecosystems; however, their pathogenic mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we show that Avh113 effector is required for the virulence of Phytophthora sojae and is important for development of Phytophthora root and stem rot (PRSR) in soybean (Glycine max). Ectopic expression of PsAvh113 enhanced viral and Phytophthora infection in Nicotiana benthamiana. PsAvh113 directly associated with the soybean transcription factor GmDPB, inducing its degradation by the 26S proteasome. The internal repeat 2 (IR2) motif of PsAvh113 was important for its virulence and interaction with GmDPB, while silencing and overexpression of GmDPB in soybean hairy roots altered the resistance to P. sojae. Upon binding to GmDPB, PsAvh113 decreased the transcription of the downstream gene GmCAT1, which acts as a positive regulator of plant immunity. Furthermore, we revealed that PsAvh113 suppressed the GmCAT1-induced cell death by associating with GmDPB, thereby enhancing plant susceptibility to Phytophthora. Together, our findings reveal a vital role of PsAvh113 in inducing PRSR in soybean and offer a novel insight into the interplay between defence and counter-defence during the P. sojae infection of soybean.

The Impact of Customized Short Message Service on High-Risk Behaviors Among MSM in China, a Randomized Controlled Trial Study.

An individual based randomized controlled trial (RCT) was designed to evaluate the impact of a customized short message service (SMS) intervention on HIV-related high-risk behaviors among Men who have sex with men (MSM). In total, 631 HIV-negative MSM were enrolled at baseline and divided into intervention and control groups randomly. Nine months later, the intervention group who received additional customized SMS intervention reported significantly lower rates of multiple partners, unclear partner infection status and condomless anal intercourse compared to the control group who received the routine intervention only. Six months post stopping the SMS intervention, the rates of unclear partner infection status and condomless anal intercourse still remained lower report in the intervention group. Our study shown that the customized SMS interventions can significantly reduce the HIV-related high-risk behaviors among MSM and with sustained effects over a period of time.