Androgen receptor blockade promotes response to BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy.

Treatment with therapy targeting BRAF and MEK (BRAF/MEK) has revolutionized care in melanoma and other cancers; however, therapeutic resistance is common and innovative treatment strategies are needed1,2. Here we studied a group of patients with melanoma who were treated with neoadjuvant BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy ( NCT02231775 , n = 51) and observed significantly higher rates of major pathological response (MPR; ≤10% viable tumour at resection) and improved recurrence-free survival (RFS) in female versus male patients (MPR, 66% versus 14%, P = 0.001; RFS, 64% versus 32% at 2 years, P = 0.021). The findings were validated in several additional cohorts2-4 of patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma who were treated with BRAF- and/or MEK-targeted therapy (n = 664 patients in total), demonstrating improved progression-free survival and overall survival in female versus male patients in several of these studies. Studies in preclinical models demonstrated significantly impaired anti-tumour activity in male versus female mice after BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy (P = 0.006), with significantly higher expression of the androgen receptor in tumours of male and female BRAF/MEK-treated mice versus the control (P = 0.0006 and P = 0.0025). Pharmacological inhibition of androgen receptor signalling improved responses to BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy in male and female mice (P = 0.018 and P = 0.003), whereas induction of androgen receptor signalling (through testosterone administration) was associated with a significantly impaired response to BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy in male and female patients (P = 0.021 and P < 0.0001). Together, these results have important implications for therapy.

Density-dependent species interactions modulate alpine treeline shifts.

Species interactions such as facilitation and competition play a crucial role in driving species range shifts. However, density dependence as a key feature of these processes has received little attention in both empirical and modelling studies. Herein, we used a novel, individual-based treeline model informed by rich in situ observations to quantify the contribution of density-dependent species interactions to alpine treeline dynamics, an iconic biome boundary recognized as an indicator of global warming. We found that competition and facilitation dominate in dense versus sparse vegetation scenarios respectively. The optimal balance between these two effects was identified at an intermediate vegetation thickness where the treeline elevation was the highest. Furthermore, treeline shift rates decreased sharply with vegetation thickness and the associated transition from positive to negative species interactions. We thus postulate that vegetation density must be considered when modelling species range dynamics to avoid inadequate predictions of its responses to climate warming.

Zinc finger transcription factor MtZPT2-2 negatively regulates salt tolerance in Medicago truncatula.

Zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) are transcription factors involved in multiple cellular functions. We identified a C2H2 type ZFP (MtZPT2-2) in Medicago truncatula and demonstrated that it localizes to the nucleus and inhibits the transcription of 2 genes encoding high-affinity potassium transporters (MtHKT1;1 and MtHKT1;2). MtZPT2-2 transcripts were detected in stem, leaf, flower, seeds and roots, with the highest level in the xylem and phloem of roots and stems. MtZPT2-2 transcription in leaves was reduced after salt stress. Compared with the wild-type (WT), transgenic lines overexpressing MtZPT2-2 had decreased salt tolerance, while MtZPT2-2-knockout mutants showed increased salt tolerance. MtHKT1;1 and MtHKT1;2 transcripts and Na+ accumulation in shoots and roots, as well as in the xylem of all genotypes of plants, were increased after salt treatment, with higher levels of MtHKT1;1 and MtHKT1;2 transcripts and Na+ accumulation in MtZPT2-2-knockout mutants and lower levels in MtZPT2-2-overexpressing lines compared with the WT. K+ levels showed no significant difference among plant genotypes under salt stress. Moreover, MtZPT2-2 was demonstrated to bind with the promoter of MtHKT1;1 and MtHKT1;2 to inhibit their expression. Antioxidant enzyme activities and the gene transcript levels were accordingly upregulated in response to salt, with higher levels in MtZPT2-2-knockout mutants and lower levels in MtZPT2-2-overexpressing lines compared with WT. The results suggest that MtZPT2-2 regulates salt tolerance negatively through downregulating MtHKT1;1 and MtHKT1;2 expression directly to reduce Na+ unloading from the xylem and regulates antioxidant defense indirectly.

Jasmonate biosynthesis enzyme allene oxide cyclase 2 mediates cold tolerance and pathogen resistance.

Allene oxide cyclase (AOC) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of jasmonic acid (JA), which is involved in plant growth and development as well as adaptation to environmental stresses. We identified the cold- and pathogen-responsive AOC2 gene from Medicago sativa subsp. falcata (MfAOC2) and its homolog MtAOC2 from Medicago truncatula. Heterologous expression of MfAOC2 in M. truncatula enhanced cold tolerance and resistance to the fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani, with greater accumulation of JA and higher transcript levels of JA downstream genes than in wild-type plants. In contrast, mutation of MtAOC2 reduced cold tolerance and pathogen resistance, with less accumulation of JA and lower transcript levels of JA downstream genes in the aoc2 mutant than in wild-type plants. The aoc2 phenotype and low levels of cold-responsive C-repeat-binding factor (CBF) transcripts could be rescued by expressing MfAOC2 in aoc2 plants or exogenous application of methyl jasmonate. Compared with wild-type plants, higher levels of CBF transcripts were observed in lines expressing MfAOC2 but lower levels of CBF transcripts were observed in the aoc2 mutant under cold conditions; superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate-peroxidase activities as well as proline concentrations were higher in MfAOC2-expressing lines but lower in the aoc2 mutant. These results suggest that expression of MfAOC2 or MtAOC2 promotes biosynthesis of JA, which positively regulates expression of CBF genes and antioxidant defense under cold conditions and expression of JA downstream genes after pathogen infection, leading to greater cold tolerance and pathogen resistance.

Tree-ring based summer temperature variability since 1790 CE in the Hindu Kush region of northern Pakistan.

The Hindu Kush high-altitude regions of Pakistan are currently experiencing severe consequences as a result of global warming. In this sense, increasing soil erosion and the quick melting of glaciers are two particularly evident effects. In such a scenario, understanding long-term temperature changes is crucial for making accurate forecasts about how the Hindu Kush region may experience regional temperature changes in the future. In this study, the climate tree-ring width (TRW) analysis designated a positive and significant correlation (r = 0.622, p < 0.001) between the TRW chronology and the June to September (summer) mean maximum temperature (MMT). Using the tree-ring width of Pinus wallichiana A. B. Jackson, we reconstructed summer temperatures in the Hindu Kush region from 1790 CE. Statistical analysis showed that the reconstruction model has explained 38.7% of the climate variance during the instrumental period of 1967 to 2018 CE. Five extremely warm summer periods (≥ 4 years; before the instrumental period 1967-2018 CE) of 1804-1830, 1839-1862, 1876-1879, 1905-1910, 1923-1935 CE, and six cold summer periods of 1790-1803, 1832-1838, 1863-1875, 1880-1904, 1911-1922, and 1936-1945 CE have been observed during the past 229 years. Individually, the year 1856 CE experienced severe warmth (31.85 °C), whereas 1794 CE was relatively cooler (29.60 °C). The spectral multi-taper method (MTM) shows significant (p < 0.05) cycles, which take place about every 9.3, 5.7, 4.2, and 3.6 years. In particular, the 9.3-year cycle, which closely aligns with the 11-year solar activity cycle, suggests a potential correlation between solar activity and local temperature fluctuations. Moreover, our reconstruction demonstrates a significant degree of consistency when compared to actual climate data and regional temperature reconstruction series, reporting a strong logic of trust in the reliability and accuracy of our findings. This evidence reaffirms that our reconstruction shows significant and dependable regional temperature signals, notably being representative for the Hindu Kush region.

A calmodulin-like protein (CML10) interacts with cytosolic enzymes GSTU8 and FBA6 to regulate cold tolerance.

Calmodulin-like proteins (CMLs) are calcium (Ca2+) sensors involved in plant growth and development as well as adaptation to environmental stresses; however, their roles in plant responses to cold are not well understood. To reveal the role of MsCML10 from alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in regulating cold tolerance, we examined transgenic alfalfa and Medicago truncatula overexpressing MsCML10, MsCML10-RNAi alfalfa, and a M. truncatula cml10-1 mutant and identified MsCML10-interacting proteins. MsCML10 and MtCML10 transcripts were induced by cold treatment. Upregulation or downregulation of MsCML10 resulted in increased or decreased cold tolerance, respectively, while cml10-1 showed decreased cold tolerance that was complemented by expressing MsCML10, suggesting that MsCML10 regulates cold tolerance. MsCML10 interacted with glutathione S-transferase (MsGSTU8) and fructose 1,6-biphosphate aldolase (MsFBA6), and the interaction depended on the presence of Ca2+. The altered activities of Glutathione S-transferase and FBA and levels of ROS and sugars were associated with MsCML10 transcript levels. We propose that MsCML10 decodes the cold-induced Ca2+ signal and regulates cold tolerance through activating MsGSTU8 and MsFBA6, leading to improved maintenance of ROS homeostasis and increased accumulation of sugars for osmoregulation, respectively.

In Situ Construction of Near-Infrared Response Hybrid Up-Conversion Photocatalyst for Degrading Organic Dyes and Antibiotics.

Unique nonlinear optical properties for converting low-energy incident light into high-energy radiation enable up-conversion materials to be employed in photocatalytic systems. An efficient near-infrared (NIR) response photocatalyst was successfully fabricated through a facile two-step method to load BiOBr on the Nd3+, Er3+@NaYF4 (NE@NYF) up-conversion material. The NE@NYF can transform NIR into visible and UV light and promote charge-energy transfer in the semiconductor. Consequently, the as-obtained photocatalysts exhibit excellent photodegradation performance for rhodamine B dye (RhB) and tetracycline (TC) organic pollutants. About 98.9% of the RhB was decomposed within 60 min with the 20% NE@NYF-B sample, outperforming the pristine BiOBr (61.9%). In addition, the 20% NE@NYF-B composite could decompose approximately 72.7% of the organic carbon during a 10 h reaction, which was almost two-fold more than that of BiOBr. Meanwhile, a possible charge transfer mechanism is proposed based on the recombination of electron-hole pairs and reactive oxygen species. This work provides a rational hybrid structure photocatalyst for improving photocatalytic performance in the broadband spectrum and provides a new strategy for NIR light utilization.

A novel Medicago truncatula calmodulin-like protein (MtCML42) regulates cold tolerance and flowering time.

Calmodulin-like proteins (CMLs) are one of the Ca2+ sensors in plants, but the functions of most CMLs remain unknown. The regulation of cold tolerance and flowering time by MtCML42 in Medicago truncatula and the underlying mechanisms were investigated using MtCML42-overexpressing plants and cml42 Medicago mutants with a Tnt1 retrotransposon insertion. Compared with the wild type (WT), MtCML42-overexpressing lines had increased cold tolerance, whereas cml42 mutants showed decreased cold tolerance. The impaired cold tolerance in cml42 could b complemented by MtCML42 expression. The transcript levels of MtCBF1, MtCBF4, MtCOR413, MtCAS15, MtLTI6A, MtGolS1 and MtGolS2 and the concentrations of raffinose and sucrose were increased in response to cold treatment, whereas higher levels were observed in MtCML42-overexpressing lines and lower levels were observed in cml42 mutants. In addition, early flowering with upregulated MtFTa1 and downregulated MtABI5 transcripts was observed in MtCML42-overexpressing lines, whereas delayed flowering with downregulated MtFTa1 and upregulated MtABI5 was observed in cml42. MtABI5 expression could complement the flowering phenotype in the Arabidopsis mutant abi5. Our results suggest that MtCML42 positively regulates MtCBF1 and MtCBF4 expression, which in turn upregulates the expression of some COR genes, MtGolS1 and MtGolS2, which leads to raffinose accumulation and increased cold tolerance. MtCML42 regulates flowering time through sequentially downregulating MtABI5 and upregulating MtFTa1 expression.

Characterization of Five Meloidogyne incognita Effectors Associated with PsoRPM3.

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are devastating parasites that invade thousands of plants. In this study, five RKN effectors, which might interact with Prunussogdiana resistance protein PsoRPM3, were screened and identified. In situ hybridisation results showed that MiCal, MiGST_N_4, MiEFh and MiACPS are expressed in the subventral oesophageal glands (SvG), and MiTSPc hybridization signals are found in the dorsal esophageal gland (DG) of Meloidogyne incognita in the pre-J2. RT-qPCR data indicated that the expression of MiCal, MiGST_N_4, MiEFh, and MiACPS genes are highly expressed in M. incognita of pra-J2 and J3/J4 stages. The expression of MiTSPc increased significantly in the female stage of M. incognita. Moreover, all effectors found in this study localize in the cytoplasm and nucleus when transiently expressed in plant cells. In addition, MiGST_N_4, MiEFh, MiACPS and MiTSPc can elicit the ROS burst and strong hypersensitive response (HR), as well as significant ion leakage. Our data suggest that MiGST_N_4, MiEFh, MiACPS and MiTSPc effectors may be involved in triggering the immune response of the host plant.

[Characterization of the novel HLA-A*24:191 allele and analysis of its MHC molecular modeling structure].

OBJECTIVE: To characterize a novel HLA allele, A*24:191, its DNA sequence, MHC modeling structure, and the possible influence of the amino-acid residue variations on the molecule. METHODS: The HLA sequence was determined by Luminex PCR-SSO and PCR-SBT. Its MHC molecular structure and the possible effects of the amino-acid residue variations were modeled and analyzed with Phyre2, RCSB PDB and HistoCheck software. RESULTS: The PCR-SBT revealed the novel A*24:191 differs from A*24:02 in exon 2 at position 256, 265, 270 with G>C, G>C, A>T. The MHC molecular structure prediction showed that, compared with A*24:02, the 62nd residue of A*24:191 changed from the acidic E to a neutral Q, both with the side chain extending outside the α helix pointing forward the groove, (Risler's score, R=2), the 65th changed from the smaller neutral G extending inside the helix to a basic R with a long-chain extending upward outside the helix (R=52), and the 66th changed from the basic K to a neutral N both with a long side chain extending inside the groove (R=31). The above residues are located on the α helix of the α 1 domain which constituting the side wall of the peptide-binding groove. The DSS Score=3.85. From the surface image of the molecule, it can be clearly seen that the variations of the properties, sizes and configurations of the residues caused significant changes in the shape of the surface structure of the α helix. CONCLUSION: It suggested that the residue variations are likely to change the peptide binding properties as well as the TCR and antibody binding characteristics of the molecule.

Overexpression of PsoRPM3, an NBS-LRR gene isolated from myrobalan plum, confers resistance to Meloidogyne incognita in tobacco.

KEY MESSAGES: We reported an NBS-LRR gene, PsoRPM3, is highly expressed following RKN infection, initiating an HR response that promotes plant resistance. Meloidogyne spp. are root-knot nematodes (RKNs) that cause substantial economic losses worldwide. Screening for resistant tree resources and identifying plant resistance genes is currently the most effective way to prevent RKN infestations. Here, we cloned a novel TIR-NB-LRR-type resistance gene, PsoRPM3, from Xinjiang wild myrobalan plum (Prunus sogdiana Vassilcz.) and demonstrated that its protein product localized to the nucleus. In response to Meloidogyne incognita infection, PsoRPM3 gene expression levels were significantly higher in resistant myrobalan plum plants compared to susceptible plants. We investigated this difference, discovering that the - 309 to - 19 bp region of the susceptible PsoRPM3 promoter was highly methylated. Indeed, heterologous expression of PsoRPM3 significantly enhanced the resistance of susceptible tobacco plants to M. incognita. Moreover, transient expression of PsoRPM3 induced a hypersensitive response in tobacco, whereas RNAi-mediated silencing of PsoRPM3 in transgenic tobacco reduced this hypersensitive response. Several hypersensitive response marker genes were considerably up-regulated in resistant myrobalan plum plants when compared with susceptible counterparts inoculated with M. incognita. PsoPR1a (a SA marker gene), PsoPR2 (a JA marker gene), and PsoACS6 (an ET signaling marker gene) were all more highly expressed in resistant than in susceptible plants. Together, these results support a model in which PsoRPM3 is highly expressed following RKN infection, initiating an HR response that promotes plant resistance through activated salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene signaling pathways.

DNA demethylase ROS1 negatively regulates the imprinting of DOGL4 and seed dormancy in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Genomic imprinting is a form of epigenetic regulation resulting in differential gene expression that reflects the parent of origin. In plants, imprinted gene expression predominantly occurs in the seed endosperm. Maternal-specific DNA demethylation by the DNA demethylase DME frequently underlies genomic imprinting in endosperm. Whether other more ubiquitously expressed DNA demethylases regulate imprinting is unknown. Here, we found that the DNA demethylase ROS1 regulates the imprinting of DOGL4DOGL4 is expressed from the maternal allele in endosperm and displays preferential methylation and suppression of the paternal allele. We found that ROS1 negatively regulates imprinting by demethylating the paternal allele, preventing its hypermethylation and complete silencing. Furthermore, we found that DOGL4 negatively affects seed dormancy and response to the phytohormone abscisic acid and that ROS1 controls these processes by regulating DOGL4 Our results reveal roles for ROS1 in mitigating imprinted gene expression and regulating seed dormancy.

Effect of aquatic exercise on cardiovascular fitness in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims    To systematically review and meta-analyze the impact of aquatic exercise (AE) on cardiovascular health in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Material and methods    Relevant literature about AE in patients with T2DM up to May 25, 2021, were collected from the PubMed, the Cochrane, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Ovid databases. The main outcomes were 6­min walking distance (6MWD) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Secondary outcomes were resting heart rate (RHR) and resting systolic (RSBP) and diastolic blood pressures (RDBP).Results    12 articles including 320 participants were identified. Among them, three trials compared AE to land-based exercise (LE), six compared AE to non-intervention control (Ctrl), and three were pre- / post-AE design without a control group. Meta-analysis showed that compared with baseline, VO2max increased (WMD=0.71, 95 %CI 0.47 to 0.94), while RHR, RSBP and RDBP declined (WMD=-5.88, 95 %CI -6.88 to -4.88; WMD=-5.76, 95 %CI -7.75 to -3.78; WMD= -2.48, 95 %CI -3.83 to -1.13, respectively) post-AE. 6WMD and VO2max increased (WMD=127.00, 95 %CI 49.26 to 204.74; WMD=2.02, 95 %CI 1.66 to 2.38, respectively) and RHR declined (WMD=-4.20, 95 %CI -6.36 to -2.03, AE vs Ctrl) when AE was compared to Ctrl. There were no significant differences in the above indicators between AE and LE.Conclusions    AE, like LE, increases VO2max, and reduces RHR, RSBP, and RDBP. These responses may improve cardiovascular health in patients with T2DM. However, more data are needed to confirm the effect of AE on 6MWD in T2DM patients.

Curative effect of long-term intervention using a new device in patients with chronic low back pain.

[Purpose] This study aimed to observe the changes in the thickness of the transverse abdominis muscle after long-term training with a new device using ultrasound imaging and to determine the impact of these changes on chronic low back pain (CLBP). [Participants and Methods] This study included 60 participants with CLBP, who were divided into groups that adopted different positions during the training regimen: new device intervention group (NDG), sitting training group (STG), and supine training group (SPTG). Patients in the NDG used the new device during training. We measured the thickness of the transverse abdominis muscle and determined the pain level using the visual analog scale (VAS). [Results] After 8 weeks of training, the thickness of the transverse abdominis muscle changed in all the three groups, with the change being significantly greater in the NDG than in the other groups. Additionally, the VAS results indicated that the pain relief was highest when the new device was used. [Conclusion] The thickness of the transverse abdominis muscle increased the most in patients who were trained with the new interventional device, and the CLBP was significantly relieved in them.

Analysis of the relationship between the transversus abdominis and lower back pain using an ultrasound.

[Purpose] This study aimed to observe the thickness of the transverse abdominis muscle in different contraction states using ultrasound, and to investigate the diagnostic capability of transverse abdominal muscle thickness for nonspecific lower back pain. [Participants and Methods] This study included 108 healthy adults (30-50 years old), consisting of 33 participants with low back pain (13 males, 20 females; defined as those who had experienced low back pain for more than six months) and 75 participants without low back pain (22 males, 53 females). The body mass index, body trunk muscle mass, and transverse abdominal muscle thickness, measured at a static state, during the end of inspiration, end of expiration, transverse abdominis contraction, and simultaneous pelvic floor and transverse abdominis muscle contraction, were measured. [Results] Chronic low back pain was correlated with the transverse abdominis muscle thickness during simultaneous transverse abdominis and pelvic floor muscle contraction. [Conclusion] The thickness of the transverse abdominis muscle during simultaneous transverse abdominis and pelvic floor muscle contraction was a viable diagnostic index for evaluating the degree of chronic lower back pain.

Ethanol Metabolism Dynamics in Clostridium ljungdahlii Grown on Carbon Monoxide.

Bioethanol production from syngas using acetogenic bacteria has attracted considerable attention in recent years. However, low ethanol yield is the biggest challenge that prevents the commercialization of syngas fermentation into biofuels using microbial catalysts. The present study demonstrated that ethanol metabolism plays an important role in recycling NADH/NAD+ during autotrophic growth. Deletion of bifunctional aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase (adhE) genes leads to significant growth deficiencies in gas fermentation. Using specific fermentation technology in which the gas pressure and pH were constantly controlled at 0.1 MPa and 6.0, respectively, we revealed that ethanol was formed during the exponential phase, closely accompanied by biomass production. Then, ethanol was oxidized to acetate via the aldehyde ferredoxin oxidoreductase pathway in Clostridium ljungdahlii A metabolic experiment using 13C-labeled ethanol and acetate, redox balance analysis, and comparative transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that ethanol production and reuse shared the metabolic pathway but occurred at different growth phases.IMPORTANCE Ethanol production from carbon monoxide (CO) as a carbon and energy source by Clostridium ljungdahlii and "Clostridium autoethanogenum" is currently being commercialized. During gas fermentation, ethanol synthesis is NADH-dependent. However, ethanol oxidation and its regulatory mechanism remain incompletely understood. Energy metabolism analysis demonstrated that reduced ferredoxin is the sole source of NADH formation by the Rnf-ATPase system, which provides ATP for cell growth during CO fermentation. Therefore, ethanol production is tightly linked to biomass production (ATP production). Clarification of the mechanism of ethanol oxidation and biosynthesis can provide an important reference for generating high-ethanol-yield strains of C. ljungdahlii in the future.

Biochar reduces nutrient loss and improves microbial biomass of composted cattle manure and maize straw.

In this study, nutrient loss, the direct and indirect relationship between period, compost types, temperature, total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO3 - -N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4 + -N), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) were investigated during composting of cattle manure-maize straw mixture. This study findings revealed that biochar addition lowered NH4 + -N but did not increase NO3 - -N concentrations unlike no biochar piles during composting. The first-order kinetic models showed that biochar accelerated organic matter (OM) degradation and improved nitrogen mineralization, consequently reducing TN losses by 13.6% and OM losses by 12.66%. Transformation ratio of MBC/MBN, coupled with other chemical components of the entire microbial community, suggested a shift in the microbial succession and diversity during composting from the dominant bacteria and actinomycetes to fungi. The structural equation model and path coefficient revealed temperature to be the main factor mediating the evolution of MBC and MBN in composting. The physicochemical variables, phytotoxicity, and final product quality revealed that biochar incorporation to the composting feedstock is an ideal material for mitigating problems of TN and OM losses in composting and ultimately enhancing the fertility potential of the final compost product.

Differences in distribution of functional microorganism at DNA and cDNA levels in cow manure composting.

Denitrification and nitrification processes are the two prominent pathways of nitrogen (N) transformation in composting matrix. This study explored the dynamics of denitrifying and nitrifying bacteria at different composting stages of cow manure and corn straw using functional gene sequencing at DNA and cDNA levels. Corresponding agreement among OTUs, NMDS, mental test and network analyses revealed that functional bacteria community compositions and responses to physicochemical factors were different at DNA and cDNA levels. Specifically, some OTUs were detected at the DNA level but were not observed at cDNA level, differences were also found in the distribution patterns of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria communities at both levels. Furthermore, co-occurrence network analysis indicated that Pseudomonas, Paracoccus and Nitrosomonas were identified as the keystone OTUs at the DNA level, while Paracoccus, Agrobacterium and Nitrosospira were keystone OTUs at the cDNA level. Mantel test revealed that TN, C/N and moisture content significantly influenced both the denitrifying bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) communities at the DNA level. NO3--N, NH4+-N, TN, C/N, and moisture content only registered significant correlation with the nosZ-type denitrifiers and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) communities at the cDNA level. Structural equation model (SEM) showed that TN, NH4+-N, and pH were direct and significantly influenced the gene abundance of denitrifying bacteria. Howbeit, TN, NH4+-N, and NO3--N had significant direct effects on amoA gene abundance.

Arthroscopy-Assisted Reduction in the Management of Isolated Medial Malleolar Fracture.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of arthroscopic reduction percutaneous fixation (ARPF) in the treatment of isolated medial malleolar fracture and compare the results with those of conventional open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 77 patients with isolated medial malleolar fracture between November 2011 and February 2016. The patients were assigned to the ARPF (n = 34) and ORIF (n = 43) groups. The Olerud-Molander ankle score (OMAS), ankle range of motion (ROM), visual analog scale, and radiographic evaluation were determined at the scheduled follow-up. RESULTS: In the ARPF group, 11 of 34 patients (32.4%) had chondral lesions. Tears of the deltoid ligament and anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament were noted in 3 (8.8%) and 15 (44.1%) patients, respectively. The mean follow-up was 5 years. The mean OMAS was higher in the ARPF group than in the ORIF group. The differences were statistically significant at 6 months (mean ± standard deviation, 80.2 ± 4.0 for ARPF vs 77.2 ± 4.1 for ORIF, P = .005) and 1 year (92.9 ± 4.9 vs 88.1 ± 4.6, P < .001), but not at the latest follow-up (P = .081). Ankle ROM was markedly improved in the ARPF group, unlike in the ORIF group at 6 months (dorsiflexion, P = .025; plantarflexion, P < .001) and 1 year (dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, P < .001). The improvement remained at the latest follow-up in plantarflexion (P = .001) but not in dorsiflexion (P = .354). CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopy-assisted reduction is a feasible alternative modality with superior short-term outcomes for treating isolated medial malleolar fracture, but its superiority may be attenuated in the intermediate term. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, comparative study.