Relationship between lymphocytes and idiopathic macular hole.

BACKGROUND: An idiopathic macular hole (IMH) is a full-thickness anatomic defect extending from the internal limiting membrane to the photoreceptor layer of the macula without any known cause. Recently, clinical laboratory markers of systemic inflammatory status derived from complete blood counts have been evaluated in ocular diseases. This study aimed to explore whether they could predict the development and progression of IMHs. METHODS: A retrospective review of 36 patients with IMH and 36 sex-and-age-matched patients with cataracts was conducted. We collected complete blood counts of all participating individuals and calculated systemic immunoinflammatory indicators. The maximum base diameter of the IMH (BD), minimum diameter of the IMH (MIN), height of the IMH (H), area of the intraretinal cyst (IRC), and curve lengths of the detached photoreceptor arms were measured on optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. We used these values to calculate the macular hole index (MHI), tractional hole index (THI), diameter hole index (DHI), hole form factor (HFF), and macular hole closure index (MHCI). We performed a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of 30 patients with IMH who were followed up 1 month after surgery. RESULTS: Lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in the IMH group. No other significant differences were observed between the IMH and control groups. Lymphocyte counts in the IMH group were significantly negatively correlated with MIN and BD and were significantly positively correlated with MHI, THI, and MHCI. However, lymphocyte counts were not significantly correlated with H, IRC, DHI, and HFF. In the ROC analysis, BD, MIN, MHI, THI, and MHCI were significant predictors of anatomical outcomes. According to the cut-off points of the ROC analysis, lymphocyte counts were compared between the above-cut-off and below-cut-off groups. Lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in the MIN ≤ 499.61 µm, MHI ≥ 0.47, THI ≥ 1.2, and MHCI ≥ 0.81 groups. There were no significant differences between the above-cut-off and below-cut-off BD groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although inflammation may not be an initiating factor, it may be involved in IMH formation. Lymphocytes may play a relatively important role in tissue repair during the developmental and postoperative recovery phases of IMH.

First Report of Panax notoginseng Leaf spot Disease Caused by Boeremia exigua in China.

Panax notoginseng a perennial herb native to China, is widely grown in the Yunnan Province. (Yang et al. 2022). From July to August 2022, a new leaf spot disease was observed on fully expanded leaves of P. notoginseng from a planting base in the Xundian, Yunnan Province, China. Approximately 250 ha. of P. notoginseng is the cultivated area, and the incidence of leaf spot disease was around 10-15%. Round spots appeared on the infected leaves and as the disease progressed these leaves fell off the plant. A total 21 symptomatic leaves were randomly collected from the planting base to isolate the pathogens and further study in the laboratory. The surface of infected leaves were sanitized with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for 2 min. and 75% alcohol for 1 min., and then rinsed thrice with sterile water. Once drying, the samples were placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA), plates and incubated at 25 °C for 5 days. The fungus was isolated from the symptomatic tissue, but only three isolates were preserved for further identification. Pure cultures of the representative strain Zhaochanglin 118 were obtained using the singlespore method, and the colonies obtained were dark-green to dark-black in appearance. The pycnidia were dark brown, solitary, or congregated with an inconspicuous neck. The conidia were colorless, ellipsoidal, and measured between 4.5 to 7 × 2 to 3 µm (n = 30). These morphological characteristics were similar to those described for Boeremia exigua (Valenzuela-Lopezi et al. 2018). The genomic DNA of the isolate was extracted using the DN14 cetyltrimethylammonium bromide rapid plant genome extraction kit. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS), RNA polymerase second largest subunit (RPB2) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) genes were amplified via polymerase chain reaction using the primers ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), Af/Cf (Matheny et al. 2002), and EF1-983F/EF1-2218R (Chen et al. 2015), respectively. All sequences were deposited in GenBank (OQ996531 for ITS; OR291158 for RPB2 and OR291159 for TEF1). A BLASTN homology search using the ITS nucleotide sequence indicated that this has 99.6% identity with the sequence MH859059, named B. exigua from CBS culture collection (517/519 bp); the RPB2 sequence has 97.5% identity with sequence GU371780, named B. exigua from CBS culture collection (704/722 bp); and the TEF1 sequence has 98.4% identity with sequence GU349080, named B. exigua from CBS culture collection (871/885 bp). To test Koch's postulates, a pathogenicity test was carried out on the leaves of six fully expanded P. notoginseng plants in the Xundian planting base. Conidial suspensions were prepared for one isolates at a concentration of 106 spores per milliliter. Three leaflets on different plants were applied with 20µl spore suspension and the other three leaflets were drop of 20 µl sterile distilled water. The whole experiment was repeated three times. The P. notoginseng plants were incubated under sterile conditions at 25°C for 7 days. Inoculated leaves showed the characteristic brown round spots, while control leaves were asymptomatic so, Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re-isolating the pathogen from symptomatic tissue, which was subsequently confirmed as B. exigua through morphological and molecular analyses. Koch's postulates were fulfilled. To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. exigua causing leaf spot disease in P. notoginseng in China, which lays a foundation for further study and developing disease control methods.

First Report of Brown Rot Caused by Porogramme epimiltina on Gastrodia elata in China.

Gastrodia elata Blume is a valuable medicinal plant in China with great significance in medicine (Li et al. 2023). From 2022 to 2023, G. elata tuber rot occurred in about 50 households in the main cultivation areas of G. elata (27°39' N, 104°16' E) in Yiliang County, Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, southwest China. The planting area of G. elata was 776 ha, and the incidence rate was 10%. Symptoms present as light brown lesions on the surface of the tuber, sunken, soft and foul-smelling. Infected G. elata tubers were randomly collected from each household, packed into transparent plastic bags, and strains were isolated in the laboratory as follows. The tubers of 15 infected G. elata tubers were surface-sterilized with 0.5% NaOCl for 2 min, rinsed five times with sterile water, and dried. Symptomatic tissues from the margin between necrotic and healthy tissues were cut into 5 × 5 mm pieces, placed onto potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 28 ºC in the dark for 3 days. Hyphal tips of fungi growing from the samples were transferred onto new PDA plates and incubated until they produced conidia. Two fungal strains (Charliezhao 425 and 433) with the same morphological characteristics were obtained from the samples. Colonies were whitish and grew rapidly, irregularly turning pale orange at the edge or center of the mycelium pad on a two-week-old petri dish, and finally dark red，spore oval to spherical, 2.7 to 5.3 × 2.3 to 3.5 µm (n=50). The morphological characteristics of the isolates resembled Porogramme epimiltina (Mao et al. 2023; Kubayashi et al. 2001). Genomic DNA of two representative isolates (Charliezhao 425 and 433) was extracted using the DN14 cetyltrimethylammonium bromide rapid plant genome extraction kit (Aidlab Biotechnologies Co., Ltd, Beijing). The ITS and TEF1 genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction using the primers ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and EF1-983F/EF1-2218R (Rehner et al, 2005), respectively. All sequences were deposited in GenBank (accession no. OR905803, OR905804 for ITS, OR939812, OR939813 for TEF1). A BLASTN homology search with the ITS nucleotide sequences showed that they had 98.99 to 99.15% identity with P. epimiltina isolate OP997539 (588/594 bp) and isolate OP997539 (584/589 bp), respectively; and the TEF1 sequences had 95.41 to 95.59% % identity to isolates OP556566 (540/565 bp) and isolate OP556566 (542/567 bp), respectively. To complete Koch's hypothesis, the surfaces of 5 mature and healthy G. elata tubers were disinfected with 1% NaClO solution for 1 minute, rinsed with sterile water 5 times, and dried at 25 ℃ for 30 minutes. Conidial suspensions (106 spores/ml) were collected from two isolates (Charliezhao 425 and 433) and sprayed on G. elata tuber, and the control treated with distilled water. All G. elata tubers were incubated at 25℃ with 80% relative humidity. The experiment had three replicates. After 7 days of culture, there were obvious rotten and smelly on the inoculated tubers. No symptoms were observed in the control groups. The pathogen was re-isolated from all inoculated birch tubers and confirmed as P. epimiltina by morphological and molecular analysis, which fulfilled Koch's hypothesis. Gastrodia elata is a valuable and extensively used herbal Traditional Chinese Medicine with a wide range of clinical applications. As far as we know, this is the first report of P. epimiltina causing brown rot of G. elata in China.

Identification of immune associated potential molecular targets in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common microvascular complications of diabetes and causes of blindness in developed countries. Our study was designed to identify immune-related genes involved in the progression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS: The "GSE102485" dataset of neovascular membrane samples (NVMs) from type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus patients was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Functional enrichment analyses, protein-protein interaction network (PPI) construction, and module analysis of immune pathways in NVMs and controls were conducted via Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and Metascape. RESULTS: The significantly upregulated hallmark gene sets in DR2 and DR1 groups were involved in five immune pathways. Only CCR4, CXCR6, C3AR1, LPAR1, C5AR1, and P2RY14 were not previously reported in the context of PDR molecular pathophysiology. Except for P2RY14, all of the above were upregulated in retinal samples from experimental diabetes mouse models and human retina microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) treated with high glucose (HG) by quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). CONCLUSION: The genes identified herein provide insight into immune-related differential gene expression during DR progression.

First Report of Mucor Rot Caused by Mucor circinelloides on Gastrodia elata in China.

Gastrodia elata Blume is used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine and is widely planted throughout China (Zhu et al. 2019). From September to October 2022, G. elata tuberous rot occurred in 47 households in Yiliang County, Zhaotong City (27°39' N, 104°16' E), Yunnan Province, China, within a major G. elata production area covering 776 ha, with an incidence rate of 10 to 15%. Symptoms manifested as black and brown lesions on the tuber surface, which were concave, soft, foul-smelling, and surrounded by grayish-brown tissue . Three infected G. elata were randomly collected from each household, placed in transparent plastic bags, and pathogen isolation was conducted in a laboratory. Infected G. elata tubers were surface-sterilized with 0.5% NaOCl for 2 min, rinsed five times with sterile water, and dried. Symptomatic tissues from the margin between necrotic and healthy tissues were cut into 5 × 5 mm pieces, placed onto potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 28 ºC in the dark for 3 days. Hyphal tips of fungi growing from the samples were transferred onto new PDA plates and incubated until they produced conidia. Five fungal isolates (Charliezhao 417, 418, 419, 420, and 421) with the same morphological characteristics were obtained from the samples. Colonies tended to be yellow or light grey, and produced sporangiospores that were sub-globose, ellipsoid, or irregular, measuring 4.0 to 9.7 × 2.5 to 4.6 µm (n = 50). The morphological characteristics of the isolates resembled Mucor circinelloides (Wagner et al. 2020). Genomic DNA of two representative isolates (Charliezhao 417 and 418) was extracted using the DN14 cetyltrimethylammonium bromide rapid plant genome extraction kit (Aidlab Biotechnologies Co., Ltd, Beijing). The ITS and RPB1 genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction using the primers ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and Af/Cf (Matheny et al. 2002), respectively. All sequences were deposited in GenBank (accession no. OQ612709, OR028949 for ITS, OQ621439, OR033135 for RPB1). A BLASTN homology search with the ITS nucleotide sequences showed that they had 99.5 to 99.2% identity with M. circinelloides isolate KR056083 (603/606 bp) and isolate KJ588204 (617/622 bp), respectively; and the RPB1 sequences had 99.89% to 99.75% identity to isolates KJ588206 (874/875 bp) and isolate KJ588206 (803/805 bp), respectively. To complete Koch's postulates, five mature, healthy G. elata tubers were surface disinfected with 1% NaClO solution for 1 min, rinsed with sterile water, and dried at 25℃ for 30 min. A conidial suspension (106 spores/ml) collected from two isolates (Charliezhao 417 and 418) was sprayed onto G. elata tubers, and the control treated with distilled water. All G. elata tubers were incubated at 25 ºC with 80% relative humidity. The experiment had five replicates. After 7 days of incubation, there were obvious brown spots on inoculated tubers; no symptoms were observed on the controls. The pathogen was re-isolated from all inoculated G. elata tubers and confirmed as M. circinelloides by morphological and molecular analyses, completing Koch's postulates. This is the first report of M. circinelloides causing G. elata mucor rot in China. The tubers of G. elate are often employed in the treatment of headaches, convulsions and neurodegenerative disorders (Manavalan et al. 2012). Thus, the declining yield of G. elate due to persistent obstacles related to continuous cropping and diseases poses a potential threat to the development of the G. elate industry.

First Report of Panax notoginseng Wilt Disease Caused by Fusarium graminearum in China.

Panax notoginseng is one of the important economic crops under the forest, which is widely planted in Yunnan Province, China. In August of 2022, a survey in Xundian county (25º26' N, 12 103°7' E), was accomplished to verify the occurrence of wilt disease in P. notoginseng and understand its aetiology. The site is an underforest of organic P. notoginseng, covering an area of over 40 ha. Disease symptoms included severe stunting, leaf chlorosis, red or yellow stalks, and rotting roots. The entire plant gradually wilted and died with disease progression (Fig. 1). To identify the causal agent, we collected more than 30 wilted P. notoginseng plants and got the plant tissues from the symptomatic leaves, stalks, and roots. The tissues surface sterilised with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for 2 min, followed by 75% alcohol for 1 min, and rinsed in sterilised water three times. Upon drying, samples were placed onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) incubated in the dark at 25°C (Bilgi et al. 2011). Isolates were then transferred to carnation leaf agar (CLA) to induce sporulation. Colonies on PDA were yellow, orange to red, with abundant fluffy aerial mycelia with a dark red pigment on the undersides; Colonies on CLA were orange to yellow (Fig. 2). Fusiform macroconidia and bottle-shaped conidiogenous cells were visible under a microscope. Microconidia were not observed. Macroconidia were measured as 18.5-40.5 µm × 3-4.7 µm (n = 60) (Fig. 3), and possessed 2 to 6 septa. These are similar to previously reported morphological characteristics of Fusarium graminearum (Shikur et al. 2018; Martinez et al. 2019). Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide rapid plant genome extraction kit-DN14 was used to obtain genomic DNA from two representative isolate, the ITS, TEF1 and RPB2 gene were amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction using primers ITS5/ITS4 (White et al, 1990), EF1-983F/EF1-2218R (Rehner et al, 2005), bRPB2-6F/bRPB2-7.1R (Matheny et al, 2002), respectively. BLAST homology search for nucleotide sequences revealed > 99% similarity to F. graminearum ITS (550bp; MG274308, KU847854), TEF1 (1000bp; MH572248, MH572252) and RPB2 (1000bp; KT855203, KT855206) sequences. All sequences from this study were deposited in GenBank (OP617343 and OP617344 for ITS; OP930951 and OP930952 for TEF1; OP930953 and OP930954 for RPB2). In the phylogenetic tree, the isolates (SWFU 0000116, SWFU 0000117) clustered with the representative strains of F. graminearum. The morphology and multi-gene phylogenetic analysis indicated that the new isolate is F. graminearum. Koch's postulates were used to confirm that the symptoms in wilted P. notoginseng were attributable to F. graminearum. First, healthy leaves were gently wounded with a needle and sprayed with spore suspension (1.0 × 106 spores mL-1) in a hand sprayer (Martinez et al, 2019). All P. notoginseng plants were then replanted in pots with a diameter of 20 cm (1 plants/pot) filled with mixture of sterilised soil, and incubated at 25-27°C. The blank control comprised sterile cotton soaked in sterile water and inactivated mycelia sprayed on the leaves. After 7d of incubation, all inoculated leaves and stalks developed necrosis and developed pale red mycelia, while control plants remained symptomless (Fig. 4-5). The pathogen was successfully isolated from these inoculated plants and identified as F. graminearum. Koch's postulates were implemented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report from China with evidence of F. graminearum infecting P. notoginseng.

Molecular phylogeny and morphology reveal a new wood-rotting fungal species, Sistotrema yunnanense sp. nov. from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

Wood-rotting fungi are important components of woody plant ecosystems and play an active role in the decomposition and turnover of nutrients from wood, and are among the major groups of Basidiomycota. In this study, a new species of wood-rotting fungus, Sistotrema yunnanense, was proposed based on morphological characteristics and molecular evidence. It is characterized by resupinate basidiomata, a monomitic hyphal system having generative hyphae with clamp connections, suburniform to urniform basidia, and short-cylindrical to oblong ellipsoid basidiospores (4.5-6.5 × 3-4 µm). Phylogenetic analyses performed using the large subunit nuc rDNA indicated that S. yunnanense was nested within the genus Sistotrema s.l. of the family Hydnaceae, within the order Cantharellales.

Sinisan ameliorates colonic injury induced by water immersion restraint stress by enhancing intestinal barrier function and the gut microbiota structure.

CONTEXT: Sinisan (SNS) has been used to treat psychosomatic diseases of the digestive system. But little is known about how SNS affects water immersion restraint stress (WIRS). OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of SNS on colonic tissue injury in the WIRS model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight Kunming (KM) mice were randomized into 6 groups (n = 8): The control and WIRS groups receiving deionized water; the SNS low-dose (SL, 3.12 g/kg/d), SNS middle-dose (SM, 6.24 g/kg/d), SNS high-dose (SH, 12.48 g/kg/d), and diazepam (DZ, 5 mg/kg/d) groups; each with two daily administrations for 5 consecutive days. The 5 treatment groups were subjected to WIRS for 24 h on day 6. The effects of SNS on colon tissue injury caused by WIRS were assessed by changes in colon histology, inflammatory cytokines, brain-gut peptides, and tight junction (TJ) proteins levels. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to detect the regulation of the gut microbiota. RESULTS: SNS pretreatment significantly reduced TNF-α (0.75- to 0.81-fold), IL-6 (0.77-fold), and IFN-γ (0.69-fold) levels; and increased TJ proteins levels, such as ZO-1 (4.06- to 5.27-fold), claudin-1 (3.33- to 5.14-fold), and occludin (6.46- to 11.82-fold). However, there was no significant difference between the levels of substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the control and WIRS groups. SNS regulated the composition of gut microbiota in WIRS mice. CONCLUSION: The positive effects of SNS on WIRS could provide a theoretical basis to treat stress-related gastrointestinal disorders.

Prevalence and risk factors for bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis patients from South China: modeled by three methods.

BACKGROUND: To explore the prevalence of bone loss among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy controls (HC) and further explored the risk factors for osteopenia and osteoporosis of RA patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in four hospitals in different districts in South China to reveal the prevalence of bone loss in patients. Case records, laboratory tests, and bone mineral density (BMD) results of patients were collected. Traditional multivariable logistic regression analysis and two machine learning methods, including least absolute shrinkage selection operator (LASSO) and random forest (RF) were for exploring the risk factors for osteopenia or osteoporosis in RA patients. RESULTS: Four hundred five patients with RA and 198 HC were included. RA patients had lower BMD in almost BMD measurement sites than healthy controls; the decline of lumbar spine BMD was earlier than HC. RA patients were more likely to comorbid with osteopenia and osteoporosis (p for trend < 0.001) in the lumbar spine than HC. Higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level and using tumor necrosis factor inhibitor in the last year were protective factors; aging, lower body mass index, and increased serum uric acid might be risk factors for bone loss. CONCLUSIONS: RA patients were more prone and earlier to have bone loss than HC. More attention should be paid to measuring BMD in RA patients aging with lower BMI or hyperuricemia. Besides, serum vitamin D and all three measurement sites are recommended to check routinely. TNFi usage in the last year might benefit bone mass.

Fungal diversity notes 1387-1511: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa.

This article is the 13th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series, wherein 125 taxa from four phyla, ten classes, 31 orders, 69 families, 92 genera and three genera incertae sedis are treated, demonstrating worldwide and geographic distribution. Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include three new genera, 69 new species, one new combination, one reference specimen and 51 new records on new hosts and new geographical distributions. Three new genera, Cylindrotorula (Torulaceae), Scolecoleotia (Leotiales genus incertae sedis) and Xenovaginatispora (Lindomycetaceae) are introduced based on distinct phylogenetic lineages and unique morphologies. Newly described species are Aspergillus lannaensis, Cercophora dulciaquae, Cladophialophora aquatica, Coprinellus punjabensis, Cortinarius alutarius, C. mammillatus, C. quercoflocculosus, Coryneum fagi, Cruentomycena uttarakhandina, Cryptocoryneum rosae, Cyathus uniperidiolus, Cylindrotorula indica, Diaporthe chamaeropicola, Didymella azollae, Diplodia alanphillipsii, Dothiora coronicola, Efibula rodriguezarmasiae, Erysiphe salicicola, Fusarium queenslandicum, Geastrum gorgonicum, G. hansagiense, Helicosporium sexualis, Helminthosporium chiangraiensis, Hongkongmyces kokensis, Hydrophilomyces hydraenae, Hygrocybe boertmannii, Hyphoderma australosetigerum, Hyphodontia yunnanensis, Khaleijomyces umikazeana, Laboulbenia divisa, Laboulbenia triarthronis, Laccaria populina, Lactarius pallidozonarius, Lepidosphaeria strobelii, Longipedicellata megafusiformis, Lophiotrema lincangensis, Marasmius benghalensis, M. jinfoshanensis, M. subtropicus, Mariannaea camelliae, Melanographium smilaxii, Microbotryum polycnemoides, Mimeomyces digitatus, Minutisphaera thailandensis, Mortierella solitaria, Mucor harpali, Nigrograna jinghongensis, Odontia huanrenensis, O. parvispina, Paraconiothyrium ajrekarii, Parafuscosporella niloticus, Phaeocytostroma yomensis, Phaeoisaria synnematicus, Phanerochaete hainanensis, Pleopunctum thailandicum, Pleurotheciella dimorphospora, Pseudochaetosphaeronema chiangraiense, Pseudodactylaria albicolonia, Rhexoacrodictys nigrospora, Russula paravioleipes, Scolecoleotia eriocamporesi, Seriascoma honghense, Synandromyces makranczyi, Thyridaria aureobrunnea, Torula lancangjiangensis, Tubeufia longihelicospora, Wicklowia fusiformispora, Xenovaginatispora phichaiensis and Xylaria apiospora. One new combination, Pseudobactrodesmium stilboideus is proposed. A reference specimen of Comoclathris permunda is designated. New host or distribution records are provided for Acrocalymma fici, Aliquandostipite khaoyaiensis, Camarosporidiella laburni, Canalisporium caribense, Chaetoscutula juniperi, Chlorophyllum demangei, C. globosum, C. hortense, Cladophialophora abundans, Dendryphion hydei, Diaporthe foeniculina, D. pseudophoenicicola, D. pyracanthae, Dictyosporium pandanicola, Dyfrolomyces distoseptatus, Ernakulamia tanakae, Eutypa flavovirens, E. lata, Favolus septatus, Fusarium atrovinosum, F. clavum, Helicosporium luteosporum, Hermatomyces nabanheensis, Hermatomyces sphaericoides, Longipedicellata aquatica, Lophiostoma caudata, L. clematidis-vitalbae, Lophiotrema hydei, L. neoarundinaria, Marasmiellus palmivorus, Megacapitula villosa, Micropsalliota globocystis, M. gracilis, Montagnula thailandica, Neohelicosporium irregulare, N. parisporum, Paradictyoarthrinium diffractum, Phaeoisaria aquatica, Poaceascoma taiwanense, Saproamanita manicata, Spegazzinia camelliae, Submersispora variabilis, Thyronectria caudata, T. mackenziei, Tubeufia chiangmaiensis, T. roseohelicospora, Vaginatispora nypae, Wicklowia submersa, Xanthagaricus necopinatus and Xylaria haemorrhoidalis. The data presented herein are based on morphological examination of fresh specimens, coupled with analysis of phylogenetic sequence data to better integrate taxa into appropriate taxonomic ranks and infer their evolutionary relationships.

Endophytic fungi from the branches of Camellia taliensis (W. W. Smith) Melchior, a widely distributed wild tea plant.

Camellia taliensis (W. W. Smith) Melchior is a wild tea plant endemic from the west and southwest of Yunnan province of China to the north of Myanmar and is used commonly to produce tea by the local people of its growing areas. Its chemical constituents are closely related to those of C. sinensis var. assamica, a widely cultivated tea plant. In this study, the α diversity and phylogeny of endophytic fungi in the branches of C. taliensis were explored for the first time. A total of 160 fungal strains were obtained and grouped into 42 species from 29 genera, which were identified based on rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis. Diversity analysis showed that the endophytic fungal community of the branches of C. taliensis had high species richness S (42), Margalef index D' (8.0785), Shannon-Wiener index H' (2.8494), Simpson diversity index DS (0.8891), PIE index (0.8947) and evenness Pielou index J (0.7623) but a low dominant index λ (0.1109). By contrast, that in the branches of C. taliensis had abundant species and high species evenness. Diaporthe tectonigena, Acrocalymma sp. and Colletotrichum magnisporum were the dominant endophytic fungi. The phylogenetic tree was established by maximum parsimony analysis, and the 11 orders observed for endophytic fungi belonging to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were grouped into 4 classes.

Effect of modified taohongsiwu decoction on patients with chemotherapy-induced hand-foot syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of the Traditional Chinese Medicine, modified Taohongsiwu decoction, versus pyridoxine on patients with hand-foot syndrome (HFS) from capecitabine, sorafenib, and gefitinib chemotherapy for gastric, lung, breast, colon, or rectal cancer. Also, to compare quality of life of patients in each group. METHODS: Patients were assigned randomly to group A or B. Group A was given modified Taohongsiwu decoction to soak hands and feet for 30 min, once daily. Group B was given 100 mg pyridoxine orally, twice daily. After a 2-week treatment, the therapeutic effect was assessed by observing three major symptoms, including pain, ulceration, and muscular atrophy. This was assessed with the HFS-14 questionnaire. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the two groups in pain relief, and improvement of daily life, walking, and interpersonal communication (P < 0.01). No significant differences in driving ability or interpersonal relationships were found. After 2 weeks, the effective rate was 88.3% in group A, which was significantly higher than the 50% in group B (P = 0.00). CONCLUSION: Modified Taohongsiwu decoction is effective in the treatment of patients with HFS. It improves patients' quality of life according to the HFS-14.

Species diversity and taxonomy of Vararia (Russulales, Basidiomycota) with descriptions of six species from Southwestern China.

Vararia is a species-rich genus in the family Peniophoraceae and has been shown to be polyphyletic. In this study, sequences of ITS and LSU rRNA markers of the studied samples were generated and phylogenetic analyses were performed with the maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. Seventeen lineages including six new species from China, i.e., V.fissurata, V.lincangensis, V.punctata, V.isabellina, V.sinensis, and V.yaoshanensis were recognized, in which V.fissurata is characterized by the brittle basidiomata with pruinose and cracking hymenophore having white to olivaceous buff hymenial surface, the clamped generative hyphae, presence of the two types gloeocystidia; V.lincangensis is characterized by the simple-septa generative hyphae, and thick-walled skeletal hyphae, and ellipsoid basidiospores; V.punctata is delimited by its thin to slightly thick-walled generative hyphae, and thick-walled skeletal hyphae, present thick-walled, clavate to cylindrical gloeocystidia; V.isabellina is characterized by having the cream to isabelline to slightly brown hymenial surface, thin to slightly thick-walled generative hyphae, and sub-fusiform to navicular basidiospores; V.sinensis is distinguishable by its white to slightly pink hymenial surface, thick-walled skeletal hyphae, and sub-fusiform to navicular basidiospores; V.yaoshanensis is characterized by cream to pinkish buff to cinnamon-buff hymenial surface, slightly thick-walled generative hyphae, the presence of two types gloeocystidia, and slightly thick-walled, ellipsoid basidiospores. Phylogram based on the ITS+nLSU rDNA gene regions included nine genera within the family Peniophoraceae as Amylostereum, Asterostroma, Baltazaria, Dichostereum, Michenera, Peniophora, Scytinostroma and Vararia, in which the six new wood-inhabiting fungi species were grouped into genus Vararia. The phylogenetic tree inferred from the combined ITS and LSU tree sequences highlighted that V.fissurata was found to be the sister to V.ellipsospora with strong supports. Additionally, V.lincangensis was clustered with V.fragilis. Furthermore, V.punctata was retrieved as a sister to V.ambigua. Moreover, V.sinensis was grouped with five taxa as V.breviphysa, V.pirispora, V.fusispora, V.abortiphysa and V.insolita. The new species V.isabellina formed a monophyletic lineage, in which it was then grouped closely with V.daweishanensis, and V.gracilispora. In addition, V.yaoshanensis was found to be the sister to V.gallica with strong supports. The present results increased the knowledge of Vararia species diversity and taxonomy of corticioid fungi in China. An identification key to 17 species of Vararia in China is provided.

Morphological and molecular identification for four new wood-inhabiting species of Trechispora (Basidiomycota) from China.

Four new wood-inhabiting fungi, Trechisporaalbofarinosa, T.bisterigmata, T.pileata and T.wenshanensisspp. nov., are proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Trechisporaalbofarinosa is characterized by the farinose basidiomata with flocculence hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and ellipsoid, warted basidiospores. Trechisporabisterigmata is characterized by the membranous basidiomata with odontioid hymenial surface, rhizomorphic sterile margin, barrelled basidia and subglobose to broad ellipsoid, smooth basidiospores. Trechisporapileata is characterized by the laterally contracted base, solitary or imbricate basidiomata, fan shaped pileus, radially striate-covered surface with appressed scales, odontioid hymenophore surface, and subglobose to broad ellipsoid, thin-walled, smooth basidiospores. Trechisporawenshanensis is characterized by a cottony basidiomata with a smooth hymenial surface, and ellipsoid, thin-walled, warted basidiospores. Sequences of ITS and LSU marker of the studied samples were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with the maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogenetic tree inferred from the ITS+nLSU sequences highlighted that four new species were grouped into the genus Trechispora.

Qntrolling the LncRNA HULC-Tregs-PD-1 axis inhibits immune escape in the tumor microenvironment.

Background: Immune escape remains a major challenge in the treatment of malignant tumors. Here, we studied the mechanisms underlying immune escape in the tumor microenvironment and identified a potential therapeutic target. Methods: Pathological specimens from patients with liver cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, and liver metastasis of colon cancer were subjected to immunohistochemistry analysis to detect the expression of programmed death-1 (PD-1) in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Additionally, the expression of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), such as highly upregulated in liver cancer (HULC) was evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and the relationship between HULC, Treg cells, and PD-1 was determined. The animals were divided into H22 hepatic carcinoma and S180 sarcoma groups. Each group was divided into Foxp3-/-C57BL/6J and C57BL/6J mice. Thereafter, mice were inoculated with 0.1 ml S180 sarcoma cells or 0.1 ml H22 hepatoma cells, at a concentration of 1 × 107/ml. The number of splenic CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells was detected by flow cytometry, and serum interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) levels were detected using a Luminex liquid suspension chip. Expression of PD-1, fork head box P3 (Foxp3), and HULC in the TME, were analyzed and the therapeutic effect of inhibiting the lncRNA HULC-Treg-PD-1 axis in malignant tumors was determined. Results: High expression of lncRNA HULC promotes the proliferation of Treg cells and increases PD-1 expression in the tumor microenvironment. The HULC-Treg-PD-1 axis plays an immunosuppressive role and promotes the proliferation of malignant tumors. Knocking out the Foxp3 gene can affect the HULC-Treg-PD-1 axis and reduce PD-1, IL-10, and TGF-ß1 expression to control the growth of malignant tumors. Conclusion: The lncRNA HULC-Treg-PD-1 axis promotes the growth of malignant tumors. This axis could be modulated to reduce PD-1, IL-10, and TGF-ß1 expression and the subsequent immune escape. The inhibition of immune escape in the tumor microenvironment can be achieved by controlling the LncRNA HULC-Treg-PD-1 axis.

Four New Fungal Species in Forest Ecological System from Southwestern China.

Four new wood-inhabiting fungi were found in Southwestern China within the genera Phanerochaete, Phlebiopsis, Asterostroma, and Vararia of the families Phanerochaetaceae and Peniophoraceae, belonging to the orders Polyporales and Russulales individually. Combined with their morphological characteristics and molecular biological evidence, the present study describes them as new fungal taxa. Asterostroma yunnanense is characterized by the resupinate, membranaceous to pellicular basidiomata with a cream to salmon-buff hymenial surface, hyphal system dimitic bearing simple-septa, thin- to thick-walled, yellowish brown asterosetae with acute tips, and thin-walled, echinulate, amyloid, globose basidiospores. Phanerochaete tongbiguanensis is characterized by the resupinate basidiomata with a white to cream hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septa generative hyphae, the presence of subclavate cystidia covered with a lot of crystals, and oblong ellipsoid basidiospores (6-9 × 3-4.5 µm). Phlebiopsis fissurata is characterized by the membranaceous, tuberculate basidiomata with a buff to slightly brown hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septa, conical cystidia, and broadly ellipsoid. Vararia yingjiangensis is characterized by a corky basidiomata with a pinkish buff to cinnamon-buff hymenial surface, cracking, yellowish dichohyphae with slightly curved tips, subulate gloeocystidia, and thick-walled, ellipsoid basidiospores (6.5-11.5 × 5-7 µm). The phylogenetic analyses of ITS + nLSU revealed that the two new species were nested into the genera Phanerochaete and Phlebiopsis within the family Phanerochaetaceae (Polyporales), in which Phanerochaete tongbiguanensis was sister to P. daliensis; Phlebiopsis fissurata was grouped with P. lamprocystidiata. Two new species were clustered into the genera Asterostroma and Vararia within the family Peniophoraceae (Russulales), in which Asterostroma yunnanense was sister to A. cervicolor; Vararia yingjiangensis formed a single branch.

Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in left ventricular systolic function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) can be considered a criterion for early left ventricular (LV) systolic impairment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to further explore the association with each other. METHODS: We included 38 patients with SLE and assessed the degree of disease activity according to the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) 2000 scoring criteria, together with 38 healthy controls who were matched by sex and age. Routine LV systolic function evaluation parameters were obtained by echocardiography as well as 2DSTE measurement of LV strain parameters to obtain global longitudinal strain (GLS) values, respectively. RESULTS: (I) On routine LV function parameters such as ejection fractions (EF) and left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameter (LVIDd), the SLE group and the control group did not reflect differences. In contrast, on the LV strain parameter obtained from 2DSTE measurements, the GLS values in all cardiac planes were lower in the SLE group than in the control group and showed statistically significant differences. (II) Correlation analysis showed that there was a correlation between SLEDAI and GLS, especially a meaningful correlation with GLS Avg and GLS A4C, with correlation coefficients of 0.35 and 0.47, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The use of 2DSTE can detect early impaired LV systolic function in SLE patients, and GLS is progressively gaining attention as an indicator of subclinical myocardial injury and LV function in SLE patients. The correlation that exists between GLS and SLEDAI might contribute to a better assessment of cardiac involvement in SLE patients. Key Points • Cardiac involvement has become one of the major factors in the poor prognosis of SLE patients, which directly affects the mortality of SLE patients. Traditional echocardiography is difficult to detect early left ventricular function impairment, thus affecting clinicians' judgment and diagnosis. • 2DSTE can recognize subclinical myocardial injury in SLE patients at an early stage, and its derived strain parameters may be used as an indicator to evaluate myocardial involvement and reflect disease activity in SLE patients.

Phylogenetic and Taxonomic Analyses of Five New Wood-Inhabiting Fungi of Botryobasidium, Coltricia and Coltriciella (Basidiomycota) from China.

In this present study, five new wood-inhabiting fungal taxa, Botryobasidium gossypirubiginosum, Botryobasidium incanum, Botryobasidium yunnanense, Coltricia zixishanensis, and Coltriciella yunnanensis are proposed. Botryobasidium gossypirubiginosum is distinguished by its slightly rubiginous hymenial surface, monomitic hyphal system, which branches at right angles, and subglobose, smooth basidiospores (14-17.5 × 13-15.5 µm); B. incanum is characterized by its white to incanus basidiomata having a hypochnoid hymenial surface, and ellipsoid, smooth basidiospores (6.5-8.5 × 3.5-5 µm); B. yunnanense is characterized by its buff to slightly yellowish hymenial surface, monomitic hyphal system, and broadly ellipsoid to globose, smooth, thick-walled basidiospores (11.5-14.5 × 9.5-10.5 µm); Coltricia zixishanensis differs in its rust brown pileal surface, and ellipsoid, thick-walled basidiospores (5-6.5 × 4-4.5 µm). Coltriciella yunnanensis is distinguished by its tiny pilei, short stipe, and navicular, verrucose basidiospores (10.5-12.5 × 6-7 µm). Sequences of ITS and nLSU genes were used for phylogenetic analyses using the maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogenetic results inferred from ITS sequences revealed that B. gossypirubiginosum was closely related to B. robustius; the species B. incanum was grouped with B. vagum; B. yunnanense was related to B. indicum. The species C. zixishanensis was grouped with C. confluens and C. perennis. ITS sequences revealed that C. zixishanensis was grouped into the genus Coltriciella, in which it was grouped with Co. globosa and Co. pseudodependens.

Correlation between neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus and immunological markers: a real-world retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate disparities in clinical profiles and autoantibody patterns between patients with and without neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) in a cohort and to identify risk factors associated with NPSLE in the Chinese population. METHODS: SLE patients were retrospectively reviewed from two tertiary hospitals. The relationships between NPSLE and immunological biomarkers were explored. RESULTS: Among the 945 SLE patients, 75 (7.94%) were diagnosed with NPSLE. The most prevalent NP manifestations involved cognitive disorder (30.67%), headache (26.67%), seizure disorder (26.67%), and psychosis (26.67%).We observed significant associations between psychosis and anti-ß2GPI antibodies (F = 6.092, p = 0.015), polyneuropathy and anti-Scl70 antibodies (F = 20.161, p < 0.001), demyelinating syndrome and anti-cardiolipin antibodies (F = 6.637, p = 0.011), myasthenia gravis and anti-RNP (F = 5.864, p = 0.017), and anti-Smith antibodies (F = 5.096, p = 0.026). Multivariate logistics analysis showed that anti-prothrombin (aPT) IgM antibodies (OR = 10.985, CI 1.279-94.343, p = 0.029), age (OR = 1.169, CI 1.032-1.325, p = 0.014), and serum creatinine (SCr) (OR = 1.014, CI 1.003-1.025, p = 0.009) were independent risk factors of NPSLE, while anti-Sjogren syndrome antigen B (SSB) antibodies (OR 0.023, CI 0.002-0.622, p = 0.023) and high complement C3 (OR = 0.001, CI 0-0.045, p < 0.001) indicated reduced risk of NPSLE. CONCLUSION: Various neuropsychiatric manifestations in SLE were found to be correlated with specific autoantibodies. Independent risk factors for NPSLE included aPT IgM antibodies, age, and elevated serum creatinine, while the absence of anti-SSB antibodies and low complement C3 levels were associated with increased risk. KEY POINTS: •Significant associations were found between specific autoantibodies and neuropsychiatric symptoms, shedding light on potential biomarkers for predicting and understanding NPSLE. •The study identifies independent risk factors for NPSLE in the Chinese population, including the presence of anti-prothrombin IgM antibodies, older age, elevated serum creatinine, and lower complement C3 levels.