Mechanistic Insight into the Internalization, Distribution, and Autophagy Process of Manganese Nanoparticles in Capsicum annuum L.: Evidence from Orthogonal Microscopic Analysis.

Orthogonal techniques were used to track manganese nanoparticles (MnNPs) in Capsicum annuum L. leaf tissue and cell compartments and subsequently to explain the mechanism of uptake, translocation, and cellular interaction. C. annuum L was cultivated and foliarly exposed to MnNPs (100 mg/L, 50 mL/per leaf) before analysis by using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) as well as dark-field hyperspectral and two-photon microscopy. We visualized the internalization of MnNP aggregates from the leaf surface and observed particle accumulation in the leaf cuticle and epidermis as well as spongy mesophyll and guard cells. These techniques enabled a description of how MnNPs cross different plant tissues as well as selectively accumulate and translocate in specific cells. We also imaged abundant fluorescent vesicles and vacuoles containing MnNPs, indicating likely induction of autophagy processes in C. annuum L., which is the bio-response upon storing or transforming the particles. These findings highlight the importance of utilizing orthogonal techniques to characterize nanoscale material fate and distribution with complex biological matrices and demonstrate that such an approach offers a significant mechanistic understanding that can inform both risk assessment and efforts aimed at applying nanotechnology to agriculture.

Visceral-to-Subcutaneous Fat Ratio Is a Potential Predictor of Postoperative Complications in Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. Surgery is the primary treatment for CRC. Recent studies have shown that visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio (VSR) may be a potential indicator of risk. The aim of the present study was to determine whether VSR is a suitable predictor of the impact of postoperative complications in CRC. MATERIAL AND METHODS Clinical data from 129 patients were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for CRC. Preoperative imaging was used to quantify VSR. The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative complications. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association between obesity indexes and postoperative complications. RESULTS There were 129 patients who underwent primary resections of colorectal cancer. At 30 days after surgery, postoperative complications had occurred in 33 (25.6%) patients. VSR was significantly associated with postoperative complications in multivariate analysis (P=0.032, OR 6.103, 95% CI 1.173-31.748). In ROC analysis, VSR was a potential predictor of complications (AUC 0.650). A cutoff value of VSR ≥0.707 was associated with 60% sensitivity and 29% specificity for postoperative complications. Patients with VSR ≥0.707 had 41.7% risk of morbidity, whereas those with <0.707 had 16.0% risk (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that VSR is superior to VFA for prediction of the risk of complications following CRC laparoscopic surgery. We have also identified the optimal cutoff values for the use of VSR for this purpose. Measurement of VSR and identifying patients with increased risk of postoperative complications facilitate making perioperative decisions.

A new method to amplify colorimetric signals of paper-based nanobiosensors for simple and sensitive pancreatic cancer biomarker detection.

A low-cost, sensitive, and disposable paper-based immunosensor for instrument-free colorimetric detection of pancreatic cancer biomarker PEAK1 was reported for the first time by capitalizing the catalytic properties of gold nanoparticles in colour dye degradation. This simple signal amplification method enhances the detection sensitivity by about 10 fold.

Dual species transcript profiling during the interaction between banana (Musa acuminata) and the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense.

BACKGROUND: Banana wilt disease, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4), is one of the most devastating diseases in banana (Musa spp.). Foc is a soil borne pathogen that causes rot of the roots or wilt of leaves by colonizing the xylem vessels. The dual RNA sequencing is used to simultaneously assess the transcriptomes of pathogen and host. This method greatly helps to understand the responses of pathogen and host to each other and discover the potential pathogenic mechanism. RESULTS: Plantlets of two economically important banana cultivars, Foc TR4 less susceptible cultivar NK and susceptible cultivar BX, were used to research the Foc-banana interaction mechanism. Notably, the infected NK had more significantly up-regulated genes on the respiration machinery including TCA cycle, glyoxylate, glycerol, and glycolysis compared to BX at 27 h post inoculation (hpi). In addition, genes involved in plant-pathogen interaction, starch, sucrose, linolenic acid and sphingolipid metabolisms were uniquely more greatly induced in BX than those in NK during the whole infection. Genes related to the biosynthesis and metabolism of SA and JA were greatly induced in the infected NK; while auxin and abscisic acid metabolisms related genes were strongly stimulated in the infected BX at 27 hpi. Furthermore, most of fungal genes were more highly expressed in the roots of BX than in those of NK. The fungal genes related to pathogenicity, pectin and chitin metabolism, reactive oxygen scavenging played the important roles during the infection of Foc. CCP1 (cytochrome c peroxidase 1) was verified to involve in cellulose utilization, oxidative stress response and pathogenicity of fungus. CONCLUSION: The transcriptome indicated that NK had much faster defense response against Foc TR4 than BX and the expression levels of fungal genes were higher in BX than those in NK. The metabolisms of carbon, nitrogen, and signal transduction molecular were differentially involved in pathogen infection in BX and NK. Additionally, the putative virulence associated fungal genes involved in colonization, nutrition acquirement and transport provided more insights into the infection process of Foc TR4 in banana roots.

Feces nitrogen release induced by different large herbivores in a dry grassland.

Large herbivores have pronounced effects on nutrient cycling in grasslands. These organisms are known to alter the quality and quantity of plant production as well as the amounts and quality of plant litter and animal wastes. The generalization that the relative quality of detritus inputs is enhanced by herbivores is well known, but how this process is affected by diet selection processing and feces production of different large herbivores remains largely unstudied. Here, we measured how these differences for cattle and sheep on a dry grassland might influence nitrogen (N) mineralization from feces. We found that cattle of larger body size tended to select the low quality grass Stipa grandis as their major food source. In contrast, the subdominant grass Leymus chinensis, with relatively high N content, was a majority in the diet of smaller sheep, when palatable forbs were insufficient in the field. This diverse diet quality resulted in a C:N ratio of cattle feces that was higher than that of sheep feces. Relatively higher labile C availability in the cattle feces, namely relatively higher cellulose/hemicellulose contents, promoted microbial growth and in turn accelerated cattle feces decomposition. A surprise finding was that the feces from cattle mineralized about twice as much N as feces from sheep, despite the latter having slightly higher N content. From a grassland productivity perspective, increasing the proportion of large body-sized species in grazing herbivore assemblages perhaps is beneficial to forage productivity and nutrient recycling by the rapid degradation of feces.

Synthesis and characterization of a photocleavable collagen-like peptide.

A 34-amino acid long collagen-like peptide rich in proline, hydroxyproline, and glycine, and with four photoreactive N-acyl-7-nitroindoline units incorporated into the peptide backbone was synthesized by on-resin fragment condensation. Its circular dichroism supports a stable triple helix structure. The built-in photochemical function enables the decomposition of the peptide into small peptide fragments by illumination with UV light of 350 nm in aqueous solution. Illumination of a thin film of the peptide, or a thin film of a photoreactive amino acid model compound containing a 5-bromo-7-nitroindoline moiety, with femtosecond laser light at 710 nm allows for the creation of well-resolved micropatterns. The cytocompatibility of the peptide was demonstrated using human mesenchymal stem cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Our data show that the full-length peptide is cytocompatible as it can support cell growth and maintain cell viability. In contrast, the small peptide fragments created by photolysis are somewhat cytotoxic and therefore less cytocompatible. These data suggest that biomimetic collagen-like photoreactive peptides could potentially be used for growing cells in 2D micropatterns based on patterns generated by photolysis prior to cell growth.

Metabolomic, Biochemical, and Gene Expression Analyses Reveal the Underlying Responses of Resistant and Susceptible Banana Species during Early Infection with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense.

Banana (Musa spp.) is an important staple and economic fruit crop, especially in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. The wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, especially F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense strain TR4, is disastrous for banana production. Banana plants infected by F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense TR4 gradually die from leaf blight or vascular rot. There is no efficient method to control this disease, and the underlying response of banana plants to F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense remains unknown. In this study, the responses of an economically important banana cultivar, the F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense-susceptible 'BX', and a wild banana relative, the F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense-resistant Musa yunnanensis ('YN'), to F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense infection were investigated using metabolomic, biochemical, and molecular biological methods. Numerous metabolomic compounds, including defense-responsive signaling molecules, phytohormones, phenolics, and antioxidants, were identified through metabolomic analysis. Changes in salicylic acid (SA), methyl-jasmonic acid, abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinin, 3-indoleacetic acid, gibberellic acid, and total phenolic levels were detected using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The expression levels of genes involved in the biosynthesis of some defense-responsive compounds were studied through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results revealed that the resistant YN had a larger change in SA content and a lower ABA level throughout the early infection period, compared with the levels in BX. The susceptible BX had a lower phenolic content. The resistant YN also expressed pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, especially PR1, PR4, PR5-1, and PDF2.2, at higher levels than the susceptible BX. These dynamic metabolic and gene-expression profiles from susceptible and resistant banana during the early stage of F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense infection increase our understanding of the complex interaction response between this crop and its pathogen.

Direct Root Penetration and Rhizome Vascular Colonization by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense are the Key Steps in the Successful Infection of Brazil Cavendish.

Fusarium wilt of banana, which is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, is one of the most serious diseases of banana. F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 1 (Foc1) and race 4 (Foc4) are the most prevalent pathogens of banana cultivars in the world. To understand the differences in the infection processes between Foc1 and Foc4, green fluorescent protein-tagged strains of F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (FocTR4) and Foc1 were used to inoculate 'Brazil Cavendish' banana. At 2 days postinoculation (dpi), it was observed that the spores and hyphae of both Foc1 and Foc4 attached to the root hairs and root epidermis. At 3 dpi, the hyphae of both Foc1 and Foc4 were found in the vascular tissues of roots. However, Foc4 was observed in the parenchymal cells of banana root, whereas Foc1 was not found in parenchymal cells at 7 dpi. Furthermore, few Foc1 hyphae were observed in a few xylems whereas many more Foc4 hyphae were present in many xylems and phloems. Foc4 was observed in the vascular tissues of banana rhizomes, whereas no Foc1 was found in rhizomes 2 months after inoculation. The attachment process in F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense infection was further studied with scanning electron microscopy. Foc4 was observed to penetrate into banana roots from the intercellular space of the epidermis and wounds, whereas Foc1 mainly penetrated from the wounds but not from the intercellular space of the epidermis. Therefore, direct root penetration and rhizome vascular colonization by F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense are the key steps in the successful infection of Brazil Cavendish.

Analysis of different strategies adapted by two cassava cultivars in response to drought stress: ensuring survival or continuing growth.

Cassava is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, however, the underlying mechanism for its ability to survive and produce under drought remains obscure. In this study, two cassava cultivars, SC124 and Arg7, were treated by gradually reducing the soil water content. Their responses to the drought stress were examined through their morphological and physiological traits and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based proteomic analysis. SC124 plants adapted a 'survival' mode under mild drought stress as evidenced by early stomatal closure and a reduction in the levels of various photosynthetic proteins and photosynthetic capacity, resulting in early growth quiescence. In contrast, Arg7 plants underwent senescence of older leaves but continued to grow, although at a reduced rate, under mild drought. SC124 plants were more capable of surviving prolonged severe drought than Arg7. The iTRAQ analysis identified over 5000 cassava proteins. Among the drought-responsive proteins identified in the study were an aquaporin, myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthases, and a number of proteins involved in the antioxidant systems and secondary metabolism. Many proteins that might play a role in signalling or gene regulation were also identified as drought-responsive proteins, which included several protein kinases, two 14-3-3 proteins, several RNA-binding proteins and transcription factors, and two histone deacetylases. Our study also supports the notion that linamarin might play a role in nitrogen reallocation in cassava under drought.

Analysis of banana transcriptome and global gene expression profiles in banana roots in response to infection by race 1 and tropical race 4 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense.

BACKGROUND: Cavendish, the most widely grown banana cultivar, is relatively resistant to Race 1 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc1) which caused widespread Panama disease during the first half of the 20th century but is susceptible to Tropical Race 4 of Foc (Foc TR4) which is threatening world banana production. The genome of the diploid species Musa acuminata which is the ancestor of a majority of triploid banana cultivars has recently been sequenced. Availability of banana transcriptomes will be highly useful for improving banana genome annotation and for biological research. The knowledge of global gene expression patterns influenced by infection of different Foc races will help to understand the host responses to the infection. RESULTS: RNA samples from different organs of the Cavendish cultivar were pooled for deep sequencing using the Illumina technology. Analysis of the banana transcriptome led to identification of over 842 genes that were not annotated by the Musa genome project. A large number of simple nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and short insertions and deletion (indels) were identified from the transcriptome data. GFP-expressing Foc1 and Foc TR4 were used to monitor the infection process. Both Foc1 and Foc TR4 were found to be able to invade banana roots and spread to root vascular tissues in the first two days following inoculation. Digital gene expression (DGE) profiling analysis reveal that the infection by Foc1 and Foc TR4 caused very similar changes in the global gene expression profiles in the banana roots during the first two days of infection. The Foc infection led to induction of many well-known defense-related genes. Two genes encoding the ethylene biosynthetic enzyme ACC oxidase and several ethylene-responsive transcription factors (ERF) were among the strongly induced genes by both Foc1 and Foc TR4. CONCLUSIONS: Both Foc1 and Foc TR4 are able to spread into the vascular system of banana roots during the early infection process and their infection led to similar gene expression profiles in banana roots. The transcriptome profiling analysis indicates that the ethylene synthetic and signalling pathways were activated in response to the Foc infection.

Inflammation modulates murine venous thrombosis resolution in vivo: assessment by multimodal fluorescence molecular imaging.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of thrombus inflammation in vivo could provide new insights into deep vein thrombosis (DVT) resolution. Here, we develop and evaluate 2 integrated fluorescence molecular-structural imaging strategies to quantify DVT-related inflammation and architecture and to assess the effect of thrombus inflammation on subsequent DVT resolution in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: Murine DVT were created with topical 5% FeCl(3) application to thigh or jugular veins (n=35). On day 3, mice received macrophage and matrix metalloproteinase activity fluorescence imaging agents. On day 4, integrated assessment of DVT inflammation and architecture was performed using confocal fluorescence intravital microscopy. Day 4 analyses showed robust relationships among in vivo thrombus macrophages, matrix metalloproteinase activity, and fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran deposition (r>0.70; P<0.01). In a serial 2-time point study, mice with DVT underwent intravital microscopy at day 4 and day 6. Analyses revealed that the intensity of thrombus inflammation at day 4 predicted the magnitude of DVT resolution at day 6 (P<0.05). In a second approach, noninvasive fluorescence molecular tomography-computed tomography was used and detected macrophages within jugular DVT (P<0.05 versus sham controls). CONCLUSIONS: Integrated fluorescence molecular-structural imaging demonstrates that the DVT-induced inflammatory response can be readily assessed in vivo and can inform the magnitude of thrombus resolution.

The efficacy of probiotics on the prevention of pouchitis for patients after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: To date, a few studies indicated that probiotics are beneficial to pouchitis, but no meta-analyses summarized the outcomes of probiotics in pouchitis in detail. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis discusses probiotics in the prevention of pouchitis for patients after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and the relationship between probiotics preventive effect and the duration of therapy and history. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception until February 2022. Risk ratio (RR), mean difference (MD) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) were analyzed by Review Manager 5.3. The subgroup analysis was also performed to explore the agent for influencing outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 8 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The incidence of pouchitis in probiotics was significantly lower than that in the control (RR = 0.19, 95%CI [0.12, 0.32], P⁢ï⁢»â¢ 0.00001), and the PDAI (pouchitis disease activity index) in probiotics was also significantly lower (MD =-5.65, 95%CI [-9.48, -1.83]). After the subgroup analysis, we found that probiotics work better in the short-term (RR = 0.12, 95%CI [0.04, 0.40], P= 0.0004), but may not achieve the desired effect in the long-term (RR = 1.20, 95%CI [0.40, 3.60], P= 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: Probiotics are beneficial in the prevention of pouchitis after IPAA, especially in the short-term.

Effects of tetrasodium pyrophosphate coupled with soy protein isolate on the emulsion gel properties of oxidative myofibrillar protein.

The effects of protein oxidation on the emulsion gel properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) in the presence of tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP) and soybean protein isolate (SPI) were investigated from the perspective of interfacial protein interactions. The results showed that the emulsifying activity and emulsion stability of MP increased by 35.2 %-181.6 % with elevated H2O2 concentrations (1-20 mM), while the gel strength and water holding capacity of MP emulsions first increased to a maximum at 5 mM H2O2 and then decreased. TSPP and SPI further reinforced the effects caused by oxidation. The emulsifying properties of MP and its emulsion gel properties were closely related to surface hydrophobicity/hydrogen bonds/hydrophobic interactions and disulfide bonds among interfacial proteins, respectively. However, these correlations became difficult to define when TSPP and SPI were introduced. The study provides a theoretical basis for the strategy development to reduce protein oxidation damage on meat product quality.

Pickering emulsion stabilized by modified pea protein-chitosan composite particles as a new fat substitute improves the quality of pork sausages.

Pickering emulsion is a potential substitute for animal fat due to high stability and solid-like properties. Therefore, the effect of replacing 25%-100% pork backfat with Pickering emulsion (75% corn oil volume fraction) stabilized by modified pea protein-chitosan composite particles on the quality of sausages was studied. All meat pastes exhibited a strong gel-like rheological character (G' > G"). The incorporation of Pickering emulsion in sausages enhanced the textural properties (hardness, springiness, chewiness, cohesiveness and resilience) and the uniformity and compactness of micromorphology, as well as suppressed the cooking loss and TBARS content. In particular, the sausages with a backfat substitution ratio of 100%, showing a similar overall sensory acceptability to the backfat sausage, revealed the best rheological properties, texture properties and micromorphology and the lowest cooking loss and fat oxidation (P < 0.05). The results showed that Pickering emulsion stabilized by modified pea protein-chitosan composite particles is a potential fat substitute for meat products with the desirable characteristics.

Comparative transcriptome provides insights into gene regulation network associated with the resistance to Fusarium wilt in grafted wax gourd Benincasa hispida.

Introduction: Wilt is a soil-borne disease caused by Fusarium that has become a serious threat to wax gourd production. Disease-resistant graft wax gourds are an effective treatment for Fusarium wilt. However, there are few reports on the defense mechanism of graft wax gourd against wilt diseases. Methods: In the present study, disease and growth indices were compared between grafted and original wax gourds after infection with Fusarium. High level of disease resistance was observed in the grafted wax gourd, with a lower disease index and low impacts on growth after infection. RNA-seq was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the adjacent treatment time points in the grafted and original wax gourds, respectively. Then a comparative temporal analysis was performed and a total of 1,190 genes were identified to show different gene expression patterns between the two wax gourd groups during Fusarium infection. Result and discussion: Here, high level of disease resistance was observed in the grafted wax gourd, with a lower disease index and low impacts on growth after infection. The DEG number was higher in grafted group than original group, and the enriched functional categories and pathways of DEGs were largely inconsistent between the two groups. These genes were enriched in multiple pathways, of which the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway enhanced the early defense response, and cutin, suberin, and wax biosynthesis signaling pathways enhanced surface resistance in grafted wax gourd in comparison to original group. Our study provides insights into the gene regulatory mechanisms underlying the resistance of grafted wax gourds to Fusarium wilt infection, which will facilitate the breeding and production of wilt-resistant rootstocks.

Fecal calprotectin as an indicator in risk stratification of pouchitis following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Pouchitis is the most common complication following restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC). Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a noninvasive indicator of the intestinal inflammatory status. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical value of the FC concentration for the diagnosis and risk assessment of pouchitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study involved patients who underwent IPAA for UC at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from January 2015 to January 2019. The patients were categorized into pouchitis and non-pouchitis groups based on their Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI) score. Laboratory indicators, including the FC concentration, were collected from both groups. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients with UC after IPAA were included in the study and divided into the non-pouchitis group (n = 40) and pouchitis group (n = 26). The correlation coefficient between the FC concentration and the PDAI score was 0.651 (p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the FC cut-off value for predicting pouchitis was 579.60 µg/g (area under the curve, 0.938). The patients were then divided into three subgroups according to their PDAI score (0-2, 3-6, and ≥7), and significant differences in the FC concentration were found among the three subgroups. The best FC cut-off value for predicting a high risk of pouchitis (PDAI score of 3-6) was 143.25 µg/g (area under the curve, 0.876). CONCLUSIONS: FC is a useful biomarker in patients with pouchitis. Patients are advised to regularly undergo FC measurement to monitor for pouchitis. An FC concentration in the range of 143.25-579.60 µg/g is predictive of a high risk for pouchitis, and further examination and preventive treatment are necessary in such patients.KEY MESSAGESFecal calprotectin can be used to quantify pouch inflammation.Fecal calprotectin can be used to predict a high risk of pouchitis.

2-Furoic acid associated with the infection of nematodes by Dactylellina haptotyla and its biocontrol potential on plant root-knot nematodes.

Dactylellina haptotyla is a typical nematode-trapping fungus that has garnered the attention of many scholars for its highly effective lethal potential for nematodes. Secondary metabolites play an important role in D. haptotyla-nematode interactions, but which metabolites perform which function remains unclear. We report the metabolic functions based on high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly of wild D. haptotyla YMF1.03409. The results indicate that a large variety of secondary metabolites and their biosynthetic genes were significantly upregulated during the nematode-trapping stage. In parallel, we identified that 2-furoic acid was specifically produced during nematode trapping by D. haptotyla YMF1.03409 and isolated it from fermentation production. 2-Furoic acid demonstrated strong nematicidal activity with an LD50 value of 55.05 µg/mL against Meloidogyne incognita at 48 h. Furthermore, the pot experiment showed that the number of galls of tomato root was significantly reduced in the experimental group treated with 2-furoic acid. The considerable increase in the 2-furoic acid content during the infection process and its virulent nematicidal activity revealed an essential synergistic effect during the process of nematode-trapping fungal infection. IMPORTANCE Dactylellina haptotyla have significant application potential in nematode biocontrol. In this study, we determined the chromosome-level genome sequence of D. haptotyla YMF1.03409 by long-read sequencing technology. Comparative genomic analysis identified a series of pathogenesis-related genes and revealed significant gene family contraction events during the evolution of D. haptotyla YMF1.03409. Combining transcriptomic and metabolomic data as well as in vitro activity test results, a compound with important application potential in nematode biocontrol, 2-furoic acid, was identified. Our result expanded the genetic resource of D. haptotyla and identified a previously unreported nematicidal small molecule, which provides new options for the development of plant biocontrol agents.

Synthesis and Photoreactivity of 7-Nitroindoline-S-thiocarbamates.

The photolytic properties of N-acyl-7-nitroindolines make these compounds attractive as photocleavable protecting groups and "caged" compounds for the light-induced release ("uncaging") of biologically active compounds and as acylating reagents under neutral conditions. However, the synthesis of N-acyl-7-nitroindolines usually requires multiple steps, and the direct acylation of 7-nitroindolines can be quite challenging. 7-Nitroindolines with other types of N-carbonyl-containing groups may also be photoreactive and could potentially be better accessible. Here we demonstrate the short and efficient synthesis of 5-bromo-7-nitroindoline-S-thiocarbamates, a new class of photoreactive compounds, and the study of some of their photochemical and photophysical properties. Using 5-bromo-7-nitroindoline-S-ethylthiocarbamate as a model compound, we show that it can undergo one-photon and two-photon photolysis at 350 and 710 nm, respectively. Our experimental data and quantum chemistry calculations support a photolysis pathway that differs from photolysis pathways previously reported for N-acyl-7-nitroindolines. The photolysis with 350 nm light results in 5-bromo-7-nitrosoindoline, which is in equilibrium with its dimeric form(s), as supported by experiment and theory. This study expands the scope of photoreactive 7-nitroindoline derivatives and informs the development of novel photocleavable compounds.

High-contrast mapping of basal cell carcinomas.

Because of low optical contrast in the visible spectral range, accurate detection of basal cell carcinomas (BCC) remains a challenging problem. In this letter, we experimentally demonstrate that reflectance confocal imaging in the vicinity of 1300 nm can be used for the detection of BCC without exogenous contrast agents. We present high-contrast reflectance confocal images of thick fresh skin tissues with clearly delineated cancer and discuss possible reasons for causing decreased scattering of BCC. Comparison with histopathology confirms that tumors scatter less and exhibit lower pixel values in the images, as compared to benign skin structures. The results demonstrate the feasibility of real-time noninvasive detection of BCC using intrinsic differences in scattering between tumors and normal skin.

Case Report: An Unusual Case of Pulmonary Metastatic Adenocarcinoma From Low-Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasms.

Background: Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMNs) are indolent tumors with low-grade cytology. Although peritoneal dissemination is common due to tumor rupture and mucinous deposits on the visceral peritoneal surface, distant involvement, such as lung, is rarely seen due to lack of invasiveness. Case Presentation: A 70-year-old woman presented to the hospital due to continuously elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels for 10 months without any symptoms. PET/CT revealed two lesions located in the left lung and appendix. The postoperative pathology results revealed pulmonary mucinous adenocarcinoma and LAMN. Then we performed next-generation sequencing (NGS) to clarify the relationship between the two tumors. The sequencing result showed that both tumors harbored the common tumor mutations, KRAS (p.G12D), GNAS (p.R201H), and BRAF (p.R735Q), which indicated that the pulmonary tumor was a metastasis of LAMN. Conclusion: This case is unusual in that the primary LAMN and the pulmonary metastasis are present at the time of diagnosis. This study reported the first pulmonary metastasis from LAMN verified by NGS.