Primary Ovarian Small Cell Carcinoma of Pulmonary Type: Analysis of 6 Cases and Review of 31 Cases in the Literatures.

Objective Primary ovarian small cell carcinoma of pulmonary type (SCCOPT) is a rare ovarian tumor with a poor prognosis. The platinum-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment. However, there is little research on the clinical characteristics of SCCOPT and the potential benefits of other treatments due to its low incidence. The study aims to investigate clinicopathological characteristics and treatment of SCCOPT.Methods We summarized the clinical, imaging, laboratorical and pathological characteristics of 37 SCCOPT cases, in which 6 cases were admitted to the Gansu Provincial Hospital from the year of 2008 to 2022 and 31 cases reported in 17 English and 3 Chinese literatures.Results The median age of the studied SCCOPT cases (n=37) was 56.00 (range, 22-80) years. Almost 80% of them had a stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ tumor. All patients underwent an operation and postoperative chemotherapy. Nevertheless, all cases had a poor prognosis, with a median overall survival time of 12 months. Immunohistochemically, the SCCOPT of all patients showed positive expressions of epithelial markers, such as CD56 and sex-determining region of Y chromosome-related high-mobility-group box 2 (SOX-2), and negative expressions of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, vimentin, Leu-7, and somatostatin receptor 2. The tumor of above 80% cases expressed synaptophysin. Only a few cases expressed neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin A, and thyroid transcription factor-1. Conclusions SCCOPT had a poor prognosis. SOX-2 could be a biomarker to be used to diagnose SCCOPT.

Efficacy of keverprazan for duodenal ulcer: A phase II randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Considering the limitation of varying acid suppression of proton pump inhibitors, this study was aimed to assess the efficacy, safety, and dose-effect relationship of keverprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, in the treatment of duodenal ulcer (DU) compared with lansoprazole. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, multicenter, low-dose, high-dose, and positive-drug parallel-controlled study was conducted to verify the non-inferiority of keverprazan (20 or 30 mg) to lansoprazole of 30 mg once daily for 4 to 6 weeks and dose-effect relationship of keverprazan in the treatment of patients with active DU confirmed by endoscopy. RESULTS: Of the 180 subjects randomized, including 55 cases in the keverprazan_20 mg group, 61 cases in the keverprazan_30 mg group, and 64 cases in the lansoprazole_30 mg group, 168 subjects (93.33%) completed the study. The proportions of healed DU subjects in the keverprazan_20 mg, keverprazan_30 mg, and lansoprazole_30 mg groups were respectively 87.27%, 90.16%, and 79.69% at week 4 (P = 0.4595) and were respectively 96.36%, 98.36%, and 92.19% at week 6 (P = 0.2577). The incidence of adverse events in the keverprazan_20 mg group was lower than that in the lansoprazole_30 mg (P = 0.0285) and keverprazan_30 mg groups (P = 0.0398). CONCLUSIONS: Keverprazan was effective and non-inferior to lansoprazole in healing DU. Based on the comparable efficacy and safety data, keverprazan of 20 mg once daily is recommended for the follow-up study of acid-related disorders. (Trial registration number: ChiCTR2100043455.).

Combined effect of humic acid and vetiver grass on remediation of cadmium-polluted water.

Effective treatment of water pollution is an economic and social requirement globally. Humic acid (HA) is a popular mitigator for such waters. However, the combined effect of HA and restorative plants on cadmium (Cd) remediation is not well understood. Therefore, we experimented on Cd remediation using HA along with vetiver grass and HA-vetiver grass. We observed that vetiver grass effectively removed Cd at 15～30 mg/L. The accumulation capacity of the root was significantly higher than the shoots (P < 0.05), and Cd distribution followed the trend: cell wall > organelle > soluble substance (F1 > F2 > F3). The plant's accumulation capacity against 25 mg/L Cd was higher than for other treatments. The root accumulation capacity was much higher (702.3 mg/L) than those without added HA. However, upon adding 200 and 250 mg/L HA, the phytoremediation of Cd in the root and shoot significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Conversely, HA improved the Cd removal efficiency of the plants, notably at a lower HA concentration (150 mg/L). In addition, HA (especially at 150 mg/L) influences Cd distribution in vetiver cells (P < 0.05) and can significantly increase the proportion of Cd in the root cytoplasm. Consequently, a low HA concentration can significantly improve Cd accumulation in the vetiver, shorten the metal's bioremediation cycle, and improve the biological absorption efficiency.

Dual Role of Wnt5a in the Progression of Inflammatory Diseases.

Wnt5a is a secreted Wnt ligand that plays a critical role in cellular pathways and inflammatory diseases. The WNT5A gene encodes two protein isoforms, Wnt5a-long and Wnt5a-short, which differ based on different promoter methylation and have distinct functions. However, the mechanisms of the promoter methylation are unclear. Depending on the extent of promoter methylation, Wnt5a exerts both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory effects in inflammatory diseases, which may be involved in different Wnt5a isoforms. Therefore, the Wnt5a isoforms may be potential diagnostic markers for inflammatory diseases and the mechanisms of the WNT5A gene promoter methylation need to be further investigated.

Genome-Wide Identification of CsATGs in Tea Plant and the Involvement of CsATG8e in Nitrogen Utilization.

Nitrogen (N) is a macroelement with an indispensable role in the growth and development of plants, and tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is an evergreen perennial woody species with young shoots for harvest. During senescence or upon N stress, autophagy has been shown to be induced in leaves, involving a variety of autophagy-related genes (ATGs), which have not been characterized in tea plant yet. In this study, a genome-wide survey in tea plant genome identified a total of 80 Camellia Sinensis autophagy-related genes, CsATGs. The expression of CsATG8s in the tea plant showed an obvious increase from S1 (stage 1) to S4 (stage 4), especially for CsATG8e. The expression levels of AtATGs (Arabidopsis thaliana) and genes involved in N transport and assimilation were greatly improved in CsATG8e-overexpressed Arabidopsis. Compared with wild type, the overexpression plants showed earlier bolting, an increase in amino N content, as well as a decrease in biomass and the levels of N, phosphorus and potassium. However, the N level was found significantly higher in APER (aerial part excluding rosette) in the overexpression plants relative to wild type. All these results demonstrated a convincing function of CsATG8e in N remobilization and plant development, indicating CsATG8e as a potential gene for modifying plant nutrient utilization.

Wnt5a Plays Controversial Roles in Cancer Progression.

Wnt5a is a representative Wnt ligand that regulates multiple cellular functions through the Wnt5a non-classical pathway. Although Wnt5a has been implicated in various pathological conditions, its role in cancer is ambiguous and might involve methyl modifications, distinct mRNA isoforms, as well as different downstream pathways. Therefore, it is an essential factor in cancers' progression (invasion, migration, proliferation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition), and a potential biomarker for prognosis and treatment.

The Catsper channel and its roles in male fertility: a systematic review.

The Catsper channel is a sperm-specific, Ca2+-permeable, pH-dependent, and low voltage-dependent channel that is essential for the hyperactivity of sperm flagellum, chemotaxis towards the egg, capacitation and acrosome reaction. All of these physiological events require calcium entry into sperm cells. Remarkably, Catsper genes are exclusively expressed in the testis during spermatogenesis, and are sensitive to ion channel-induced pH change, such as NHEs, Ca2+ATPase, K+ channel, Hv1 channel and HCO3- transporters. Furthermore, the Catsper channel is regulated by some physiological stimulants, such as progesterone, cyclic nucleotides (e.g., cAMP, cGMP), zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins and bovine serum albumin (BSA). All of these factors normally stimulate Ca2+ entry into sperm through the Catsper channel. In addition, the Catsper channel may be a potential target for male infertility treatment or contraception. This review will focus on the structure, functions, regulation mechanisms and medicinal targets of the Catsper channel.

Relationship between SERPING1 rs2511989 polymorphism and age-related macular degeneration risk: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: We conducted a meta-analysis aiming to evaluate the relationship between a common polymorphism (rs2511989 G>A) in the SERPING1 gene and the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: The PubMed, CISCOM, CINAHL, Web of Science, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, and CBM databases were searched for relevant articles published before November 1, 2013, without any language restrictions. A meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 12.0 software. We calculated a crude odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) to evaluate the relationships under five genetic models. RESULTS: Seven case-control studies with a total of 7,159 patients with AMD and 5,797 healthy subjects met the inclusion criteria. The results of our meta-analysis showed that the SERPING1 rs2511989 polymorphism might be correlated with an increased risk of AMD (G allele versus A allele: OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.03-1.15, p = 0.020; GG + GA versus AA: OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.03-1.26, p = 0.014; GG versus GA+AA: OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.02-1.19, p = 0.012; GG versus AA: OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.07-1.34, p = 0.002; respectively). Results of subgroup analysis by ethnicity revealed positive correlations between the SERPING1 rs2511989 polymorphism and risk of AMD among Caucasians under five genetic models (all p<0.05), but not among Asians (all p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The current meta-analysis shows that the SERPING1 rs2511989 polymorphism may have a positive effect on the risk of AMD, especially among Caucasians.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of the giant ladybug Megalocaria dilatata.

The giant ladybug Megalocaria dilatata (Fabricius) is a potential biocontrol agent and a valuable model for coccinellid genomics and evolutionary biology. However, the lack of a reference genome for M. dilatata has impeded further explorations into its evolution and constrained its use in pest management. Here, we assembled and annotated a high-quality, chromosome-level genome of M. dilatata. The resulting assembly spans 772.3 Mb, with a scaffold N50 of 72.48 Mb and a GC content of 34.23%. The Hi-C data aided in anchoring the assembly onto 10 chromosomes ranging from 43.35 to 108.16 Mb. We identified 493.33 Mb of repeat sequences, accounting for 63.88% of the assembled genome. Our gene prediction identified 25,346 genes, with 81.89% annotated in public protein databases. The genome data will provide a valuable resource for studying the biology and evolution of Coccinellidae, aiding in pest control strategies and advancing research in the field.

Stable composition of gut microbiome in the Asian ladybeetle Coccinella septempunctata reared on natural and artificial diets.

The Asian ladybeetle, Coccinella septempunctata, is an important insect of predatory natural enemy, which has a strong control effect and application prospects for aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs, and other small-sized pests of agriculture and forestry crops. Gut microbiota composition posed impacts on development of insects. In order to clarify the effect of artificial feed feeding on the intestinal microbial species and structure of C. septempunctata, we compared the intestinal microbial flora of C. septempunctata reared on bean aphids and artificial food for 15 days. Results show that Proteobacteria was the dominant component in all groups at phylum level, Rhodobacter, Methylovigula, Burkholderia, and Bradyrhizobium were the dominant bacteria among all groups at genus level. As to the differences in bacterial community structure and diversity, there is no significant difference between Shannon index and Simpson index, the principal components analysis of the bacterial communities, and the samples were roughly distributed in different regions. After 15 days of feeding, artificial diet did not significantly reduce the microbial diversity of the gut of C. septempunctata compared to the aphid group, and there was no significant effect on the abundance of dominant flora in the gut of C. septempunctata, C. septempunctata gut has a similar core microbiota. This study clarifies the effects in intestinal microbial diversity and composition structure of the C. septempunctata with artificial diet, and provides a theoretical basis for understanding the intestinal microorganisms and optimizating the artificial diet of C. septempunctata.

A real-time PCR for the detection of infectious myonecrosis virus in penaeid shrimp.

Infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) is a recently observed shrimp virus, which threats the cultured Litopenaeus vannamei and can cause huge economic loss in shrimp farming industry. The specific aim of this study was to develop a new sensitive real-time PCR method for the specific detection of shrimp IMNV. A real-time PCR assay with a pair of primers to specifically amplify a 101bp IMNV cDNA fragment and a corresponding TaqMan probe was developed, which shown to be specific for IMNV without cross reaction with DNA samples prepared from four other shrimp viruses including white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV), monodon baculovirus (MBV), and infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic virus (IHHNV). The method could detect as low as one single copy of IMNV plasmid cDNA.

Correlation of soil microbes and soil micro-environment under long-term safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) plantation in China.

Microbial community structure and ecological functions are influenced by interactions between above and belowground biota. There is an urgent need for intensive monitoring of microbes feedback of soil micro-ecosystem for setting up a good agricultural practice. Recent researches have revealed that many soils characteristic can effect microbial community structure. In the present study factors affecting microbial community structure and soil in Carthamus tinctorius plantations in arid agricultural ecosystem of northern Xinjiang, China were identified. The result of the study revealed that soil type was the key factor in safflower yield; Unscientific field management resulted high fertility level (bacteria dominant) of soil to turn to low fertility level (fungi dominant), and Detruded Canonical Correspondence Analysis (DCCA) showed that soil water content, organic matter, available N, P and K were the dominant factors affecting distribution of microbial community. Soil water content showed a significant positive correlation with soil microbes quantity (P < 0.01), while others showed a significant quantity correlation with soil microbe quantity (P < 0.05).

Effects of nanoscale zinc oxide treatment on growth, rhizosphere microbiota, and metabolism of Aconitum carmichaelii.

Trace elements play a crucial role in the growth and bioactive substance content of medicinal plants, but their utilization efficiency in soil is often low. In this study, soil and Aconitum carmichaelii samples were collected and measured from 22 different locations, followed by an analysis of the relationship between trace elements and the yield and alkaloid content of the plants. The results indicated a significant positive correlation between zinc, trace elements in the soil, and the yield and alkaloid content of A. carmichaelii. Subsequent treatment of A. carmichaelii with both bulk zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) demonstrated that the use of ZnO NPs significantly enhanced plant growth and monoester-type alkaloid content. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms responsible for these effects, metabolomic analysis was performed, resulting in the identification of 38 differentially expressed metabolites in eight metabolic pathways between the two treatments. Additionally, significant differences were observed in the rhizosphere bacterial communities, with Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota identified as valuable biomarkers for ZnO NP treatment. Covariation analysis further revealed significant correlations between specific microbial communities and metabolite expression levels. These findings provide compelling evidence that nanoscale zinc exhibits much higher utilization efficiency compared to traditional zinc fertilizer.

The Adaptive Evolution in the Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Revealed by the Diversity of Larval Gut Bacteria.

Insect gut microbes have important roles in host feeding, digestion, immunity, development, and coevolution with pests. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797), is a major migratory agricultural pest worldwide. The effects of host plant on the pest's gut bacteria remain to be investigated to better understand their coevolution. In this study, differences in the gut bacterial communities were examined for the fifth and sixth instar larvae of S. frugiperda fed on leaves of different host plants (corn, sorghum, highland barley, and citrus). The 16S rDNA full-length amplification and sequencing method was used to determine the abundance and diversity of gut bacteria in larval intestines. The highest richness and diversity of gut bacteria were in corn-fed fifth instar larvae, whereas in sixth instar larvae, the richness and diversity were higher when larvae were fed by other crops. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were dominant phyla in gut bacterial communities of fifth and sixth instar larvae. According to the LDA Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis, the host plants had important effects on the structure of gut bacterial communities in S. frugiperda. In the PICRUSt2 analysis, most predicted functional categories were associated with metabolism. Thus, the host plant species attacked by S. frugiperda larvae can affect their gut bacterial communities, and such changes are likely important in the adaptive evolution of S. frugiperda to host plants.

[Clinical and pathological analysis of 566 patients with cryptogenic liver diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the etiology, pathology, and clinical characteristics of cryptogenic liver diseases in order to develop a pathogenic profile for clinical diagnosis and therapeutic design. METHODS: The data of the 566 patients diagnosed with abnormal liver function and who had undergone liver biopsy at our institute between January 2006 to March 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The Chi-squared (x²) test was used to assess disease correlation with sex and the rank sum test was used to assess disease correlation with continuous data since all data had asymmetric distribution. RESULTS: Among the 566 patients, abnormal liver function was attributed to alcoholic liver disease (n=175; 30.92%), drug-induced or environmentally-induced liver disease (n=101; 17.84%), hereditary and metabolic disease (n=93; 16.43%), infectious hepatitis disease (n=84; 14.84%), fatty liver disease (n=53; 9.36%), and autoimmune liver disease (n=30; 53.00%). Thirty patients had unknown etiology, despite liver biopsy analysis. Among these disease subgroups, there were distinct correlations with sex, age, and levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). The autoimmune liver disease group was correlated with sex (q=9.14, 7.435, 5.071, 9.529, and 12.5, respectively; P less than or equal to 0.01). The alcoholic liver disease group and autoimmune liver disease group were correlated with age (vs. genetic metabolic disease group: q=17.254 and 10.302; infectious hepatitis group: q=17.523 and 10.697); drug/environmentally-induced liver damage group: q=9.170 and 5.266); fatty liver group: q=7.118 and 4.661) (P less than or equal to 0.01). In addition, the alcoholic and autoimmune liver disease groups were correlated with GGT levels (vs. genetic metabolic disease group: q=8.003; infectious hepatitis group: q=4.793; drug/environmentally-induced liver damage group: q=4.404) (P less than or equal to 0.01). CONCLUSION: Liver pathology is important for the diagnosis of cryptogenic liver diseases. Patient age, sex, and biochemistry index may facilitate diagnosis and treatment in the absence of pathology.

[Neonicotinoid Insecticides Threaten Surface Waters at the National Scale in China].

This study was conducted in response to the current situation in our country in which neonicotinoid pesticides (NNIs) are used in large quantities and their concentration in surface water is gradually increasing. Based on the species sensitivity distribution (SSD), the hazard quotient (HQ) and probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) were used to compare single and mixture risks of NNIs in the surface water in China. The target and recommended values of NNIs in China's surface water quality supervision were also presented. The results showed that:① in the single acute hazard assessment, imidacloprid (IMI) was the most harmful insecticide, and in the single chronic hazard assessment, imidacloprid (IMI) and acetamiprid (ACE) were more harmful. Furthermore, insects were the most sensitive creatures. ② Hainan province was the region with the highest single acute and chronic hazard in the study area. ③ Based on the joint probability curves of five neonicotinoids, the probability in which 5% of species would be affected by long-term exposure was approximately 91.12%. Thus, the combined ecological risk of these five neonicotinoids cannot be ignored. ④ Based on the toxicity reference value from SSD and the combined results of HQ and PRA, the regulatory values of surface water quality in China were as follows:acetamiprid (ACE) 0.04 µg·L-1, clothianidin (CLO) 0.22 µg·L-1, imidacloprid (IMI) 0.01 µg·L-1, thiacloprid (THI) 0.03 µg·L-1, and thiamethoxam (THIA) 0.24 µg·L-1. In short, the concentration of NNIs in the surface water in China has threatened the safety of aquatic organisms, and its supervision must be improved.

Complete Mitochondrial Genomes and Phylogenetic Positions of Two Longicorn Beetles, Anoplophora glabripennis and Demonax pseudonotabilis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).

Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky, 1854) and Demonax pseudonotabilis Gressitt & Rondon, 1970 are two commonly found longicorn beetles from China. However, the lack of sufficient molecular data hinders the understanding of their evolution and phylogenetic relationships with other species of Cerambycidae. This study sequenced and assembled the complete mitochondrial genomes of the two species using the next-generation sequencing method. The mitogenomes of A. glabripennis and D. pseudonotabilis are 15,622 bp and 15,527 bp in length, respectively. The mitochondrial gene content and gene order of A. glabripennis and D. pseudonotabilis are highly conserved with other sequenced longicorn beetles. The calculation of nonsynonymous (Ka) and synonymous (Ks) substitution rates in PCGs indicated the existence of purifying selection in the two longicorn beetles. The phylogenetic analysis was conducted using the protein-coding gene sequences from available mitogenomes of Cerambycidae. The two species sequenced in this study are, respectively, grouped with their relatives from the same subfamily. The monophyly of Cerambycinae, Dorcasominae, Lamiinae, and Necydalinae was well-supported, whereas Lepturinae, Prioninae, and Spondylidinae were recovered as paraphyletic.

The First Mitochondrial Genomes of the Family Haplodiplatyidae (Insecta: Dermaptera) Reveal Intraspecific Variation and Extensive Gene Rearrangement.

Haplodiplatyidae is a recently established earwig family with over 40 species representing a single genus, Haplodiplatys Hincks, 1955. The morphology of Haplodiplatyidae has been studied in detail, but its molecular characters remain unclear. In this study, two mitogenomes of Haplodiplatys aotouensis Ma & Chen, 1991, were sequenced based on two samples from Fujian and Jiangxi provinces, respectively. These represent the first mitogenomes for the family Haplodiplatyidae. The next-generation sequencing method and subsequent automatic assembly obtained two mitogenomes. The two mitogenomes of H. aotouensis were generally identical but still exhibit a few sequence differences involving protein-coding genes (PCGs), ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, control regions, and intergenic spacers. The typical set of 37 mitochondrial genes was annotated, while many transfer RNA (tRNA) genes were rearranged from their ancestral locations. The calculation of nonsynonymous (Ka) and synonymous (Ks) substitution rates in PCGs indicated the fastest evolving nd4l gene in H. aotouensis. The phylogenetic analyses supported the basal position of Apachyidae but also recovered several controversial clades.

Antimicrobial activity, chemical composition and mechanism of action of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler) extracts.

Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler) is a popular food from Allium species in East and Southeast Asia. Most Allium species possess characteristic aromas and have antimicrobial activity. In this study, the antimicrobial activities of root, leaf, and scape extracts of Chinese chive at different pH levels (3.0, 5.0, 7.0, 9.0, and 10.7) were compared. The most pronounced activity was produced by the scape extract, and the greatest activity was obtained at pH 5.0. HPLC and GC-MS analysis showed that the major active ingredient was 2-amino-5-methylbenzoic acid. The mechanism of action of Chinese chive scape extracts may involve the depression or disruption of cell membrane integrity, according to our results of the leakage of electrolytes and protein, as well as scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations.

[Biochemical screening and genetic diagnosis of thalassemia in children from Kunming].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the types and frequency of gene mutations in children with thalassemia in Kunming, Yunan Province. METHODS: A biochemical screening for thalassemia was performed by testing RBC fragility, MCV and hemoglobin electrophoresis on 1338 children from Kunming, Yunnan Province. Genetic diagnosis was performed on the children with α-thalassemia by gap-PCR and on the children with ß-thalassemia by PCR-RDB. RESULTS: The positive rate of the biochemical screening for thalassemia was 11.36% (152 cases). The positive rate of genetic diagnosis was 8.59% (115 cases). Of the 115 cases, α-thalassemia was found in 43 cases, ß-thalassemia in 68 cases and α-combined-ß thalassemia in 4 cases.--SEA/αα accounted for 47%, -α4.2/αα accounted for 21%, and HbH disease accounted for 14%. Six genotypes were found in 68 cases of ß-thalassemia and the mutation frequency of ßE was the highest (32%), followed by CD41-42 (24%), CD17 (23%), IVS-II654 (10%), CD71-72 (10%), and -28 (1%). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of gene mutations for thalassemia is high in children from Kunming, Yunnan Province. Premarital and prenatal screenings and genetic diagnosis for thalassemia should be carried out in this area.