Postoperative trigeminal neuropathy outcomes following surgery for tumors involving the trigeminal nerve.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the evolution and outcomes of postoperative trigeminal neuropathy following surgery of tumor involving the trigeminal nerve. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted between October 2018 and February 2019 involving 25 patients with tumors confirmed to involve the trigeminal nerve during surgery by senior author. Pre- and postoperative trigeminal nerve function status and clinical data were recorded. RESULTS: This study included 18 cases of meningioma and seven of trigeminal schwannoma. Among the meningioma cases, 55.6% of the patients reported facial sensory dysfunction before surgery, 33.3% presented ocular discomfort, and 5.6% had masticatory muscle atrophy. Postoperatively, all patients experienced facial paresthesia, 94.4% complained of eye dryness, and one (5.56%) exhibited keratitis. Additionally, one patient (5.56%) showed new-onset masticatory weakness. During follow-up, 50.0% of patients reported improvement in facial paresthesia, and one (5.56%) experienced deterioration. Eye dryness resolved in 35.3% of patients, and keratitis remission was observed in one patient. However, one patient (5.56%) developed neurotrophic keratitis. Overall, 55.6% of patients displayed mild masticatory weakness without muscle atrophy. In the cases of schwannoma, 28.6% of patients had facial paresthesia before surgery, 42.9% showed ocular discomfort, and one (14.3%) complained of masticatory dysfunction. Postoperatively, 85.7% of patients reported facial paresthesia and eye dryness, with one patient (16.7%) experiencing keratitis. During follow-up, 66.7% of patients demonstrated improvement in facial paresthesia, 28.6% showed eye dryness remission, and one patient (16.7%) recovered from keratitis. However, one patient (16.7%) developed new-onset neurotrophic keratitis. One patient (16.7%) experienced relief of masticatory dysfunction, but 42.9% reported mild deterioration. Another patient (14.3%) had facial anesthesia that had not improved. CONCLUSION: Postoperative trigeminal neuropathy is a common complication with a high incidence rate and poor recovery outcomes after surgery for tumors involving the trigeminal nerve. When trigeminal nerve damage is unavoidable, it is essential to provide a multidisciplinary and careful follow-up, along with active management strategy, to mitigate the more severe effects of postoperative trigeminal neuropathy.

A simple fluorescent strategy for liver capillary labeling with carbon quantum dot-lectin nanoprobe.

Taking the hepatic sinusoid (HS) as the main delivery area of liver nutrients and metabolic waste, recognizing its structure is important for a deep understanding of liver function. In this paper, based on lycopersicon esculentum lectin (LEL), with targeting ability for endothelial cells, and carbon quantum dots (CQDs), with high biosafety, an LEL-coupled CQD immunofluorescence probe (CQD@LEL) that can label microvessels is designed and used for the fluorescence labeling and imaging of HS in liver tissue sections. The CQD size is approximately 2 nm. Blue fluorescence is emitted under excitation; its optimal excitation wavelength is 400 nm while the emission is at about 450 nm. Gel electrophoresis and capillary electrophoresis confirm that glutaraldehyde can couple LEL to CQD, and the obtained CQD@LEL retains the fluorescence property and has good stability. Optimization experiments show that its labeling effect is positively correlated with time and probe concentration for dyeing the blood vessels of mouse liver slices. In order to improve the effect further, a probe concentration of 0.17 mg mL-1 and incubation time of 3 h were chosen to label the liver tissue sections. The results show that the liver microvessels are formed by interstitial structures among the hepatic cords, and the HS presents a granular or patchy appearance. H&E and ultrathin section TEM show that the microvascular wall of the liver is composed of discontinuous endothelial cells, and there are Kupffer cells and other cells in the tubes, proving that our probe can clearly label the structure and morphology of liver microvessels. This work is of great significance for the visualization of HS.

Identification and validation of a 21-mRNA prognostic signature in diffuse lower-grade gliomas.

PURPOSE: Diffuse low-grade and intermediate-grade gliomas, also known as lower-grade gliomas (LGGs), are a class of central nervous system tumors. Overall survival varies greatly between patients, highlighting the importance of evaluating exact outcomes to facilitate individualized clinical management. We aimed to identify an mRNA-based prognostic signature to predict the survival of patients with LGGs. METHODS: A total of 874 LGGs from two public datasets were included. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression was used to select the most prognostic mRNAs and build a risk score. A nomogram incorporating the risk score and clinical factors was established for individualized survival prediction. The performance of the nomogram was assessed in the training set (329 patients), internal validation set (140 patients), and external validation set (405 patients). RESULTS: 21 most prognostic mRNAs remained following the LASSO Cox regression. The 21-mRNA signature successfully stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups (P < 0.001 for all datasets in Kaplan-Meier analysis). Subsequent gene set enrichment analysis identified 19 essential biological processes in high-risk LGGs. Furthermore, a nomogram incorporating the risk score, age, grade, and 1p/19q status was developed with favorable calibration and high predictive accuracy in the training set and validation sets (C-index: 0.877, 0.878, and 0.812, respectively). CONCLUSION: The 21-mRNA signature has reliable prognostic value for LGGs and might facilitate the effective stratification and individualized management of patients.

Ion Current Rectification in High-Salt Environment from Mesoporous TiO2 Microplug in Situ Grown at the Tip of a Micropipette Induced by Space-Confined Evaporation.

In this work, in situ growth of a titanium dioxide microplug (TDMP) having mesoporous channels at the tip of a glass micropipette induced by space-confined evaporation is reported. Moreover, clear ion current rectification (ICR) of a single-material nanopore in a saturated potassium chloride solution is observed for the first time. TDMP presents an asymmetrical channel structure with the top and bottom apertures of 12.3 ± 6.1 and 42.6 ± 19.7 nm, respectively. TDMP exhibits outstanding ICR capability as the ions get transported through it due to the applied potential. The values for the rectification coefficient (r = log2|I+1 V/I-1 V|) in a saturated KCl solution under acidic (pH of 3.0) and alkaline (pH of 10.0) environments are 1.32 and -0.84, respectively. The intensity and direction of ICR can be adjusted by pH or through the modification of citric acid. Meanwhile, the length and ion transport behavior of TDMP under different growth conditions (time and diameter) were also investigated. TDMP with asymmetric mesoporous channels, maintaining ICR in a saturated salt solution, is expected to expand the application of nanopores in high-salt environments. Furthermore, growth of mesoporous material in the micropipette facilitates the miniaturization of the nanopore device, which further promotes its application potential.

EIN3-LIKE1, MYB1, and ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR3 Act in a Regulatory Loop That Synergistically Modulates Ethylene Biosynthesis and Anthocyanin Accumulation.

Ethylene regulates climacteric fruit ripening, and EIN3-LIKE1 (EIL1) plays an important role in this process. In apple (Malus domestica), fruit coloration is accompanied by ethylene release during fruit ripening, but the molecular mechanism that underlies these two physiological processes is unknown. In this study, we found that ethylene treatment markedly induced fruit coloration as well as the expression of MdMYB1, a positive regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis and fruit coloration. In addition, we found that MdEIL1 directly bound to the promoter of MdMYB1 and transcriptionally activated its expression, which resulted in anthocyanin biosynthesis and fruit coloration. Furthermore, MdMYB1 interacted with the promoter of ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR3, a key regulator of ethylene biosynthesis, thereby providing a positive feedback for ethylene biosynthesis regulation. Overall, our findings provide insight into a mechanism involving the synergistic interaction of the ethylene signal with the MdMYB1 transcription factor to regulate ethylene biosynthesis and fruit coloration in apple.

A strong promoter of a non-cry gene directs expression of the cry1Ac gene in Bacillus thuringiensis.

Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria show insecticidal activities that rely upon the production of insecticidal crystal proteins, which are encoded by cry or cyt genes and can target a variety of insect pests. It has been shown that cry1Ac is the only cry gene in B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD73 (B. thuringiensis HD73) and its expression is controlled by both σE and σK. Here, we report a novel σE-dependent strong promoter of a non-cry gene (HD73_5014), which can direct strong cry1Ac gene expression in B. thuringiensis HD73. We constructed an E. coli-B. thuringiensis shuttle vector (pHT315-P 5014 -1Ac) for cry1Ac gene expression, using the HD73_5014 gene promoter. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blot analysis showed that expression of the cry1Ac gene directed by the HD73_5014 gene promoter was at the same level as that directed by the previously known strongest cry promoter, P cry8E . However, this strain did not form typical bipyramidal crystals in mother cells, as observed by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscope. The strain with Cry1Ac protein expression under the control of the HD73_5014 gene promoter (P 5014 -cry1Ac) showed insecticidal activity against Plutella xylostella similar to that under the control of the orf1cry8E gene promoter (P cry8E -cry1Ac). Collectively, these results suggest that the HD73_5014 gene promoter, as a non-cry gene promoter, would be an efficient transcriptional element for cry gene expression. These data also show the possibility for improving Cry production by searching for transcriptional elements in not only cry genes, but also non-cry genes.

Complete genome sequence and comparative genome analysis of a new special Yersinia enterocolitica.

Yersinia enterocolitica is the most diverse species among the Yersinia genera and shows more polymorphism, especially for the non-pathogenic strains. Individual non-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica strains are wrongly identified because of atypical phenotypes. In this study, we isolated an unusual Y. enterocolitica strain LC20 from Rattus norvegicus. The strain did not utilize urea and could not be classified as the biotype. API 20E identified Escherichia coli; however, it grew well at 25 °C, but E. coli grew well at 37 °C. We analyzed the genome of LC20 and found the whole chromosome of LC20 was collinear with Y. enterocolitica 8081, and the urease gene did not exist on the genome which is consistent with the result of API 20E. Also, the 16 S and 23 SrRNA gene of LC20 lay on a branch of Y. enterocolitica. Furthermore, the core-based and pan-based phylogenetic trees showed that LC20 was classified into the Y. enterocolitica cluster. Two plasmids (80 and 50 k) from LC20 shared low genetic homology with pYV from the Yersinia genus, one was an ancestral Yersinia plasmid and the other was novel encoding a number of transposases. Some pathogenic and non-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica-specific genes coexisted in LC20. Thus, although it could not be classified into any Y. enterocolitica biotype due to its special biochemical metabolism, we concluded the LC20 was a Y. enterocolitica strain because its genome was similar to other Y. enterocolitica and it might be a strain with many mutations and combinations emerging in the processes of its evolution.

Integrated omics study delineates the dynamics of lipid droplets in Rhodococcus opacus PD630.

Rhodococcus opacus strain PD630 (R. opacus PD630), is an oleaginous bacterium, and also is one of few prokaryotic organisms that contain lipid droplets (LDs). LD is an important organelle for lipid storage but also intercellular communication regarding energy metabolism, and yet is a poorly understood cellular organelle. To understand the dynamics of LD using a simple model organism, we conducted a series of comprehensive omics studies of R. opacus PD630 including complete genome, transcriptome and proteome analysis. The genome of R. opacus PD630 encodes 8947 genes that are significantly enriched in the lipid transport, synthesis and metabolic, indicating a super ability of carbon source biosynthesis and catabolism. The comparative transcriptome analysis from three culture conditions revealed the landscape of gene-altered expressions responsible for lipid accumulation. The LD proteomes further identified the proteins that mediate lipid synthesis, storage and other biological functions. Integrating these three omics uncovered 177 proteins that may be involved in lipid metabolism and LD dynamics. A LD structure-like protein LPD06283 was further verified to affect the LD morphology. Our omics studies provide not only a first integrated omics study of prokaryotic LD organelle, but also a systematic platform for facilitating further prokaryotic LD research and biofuel development.

[Protective Effect of Wuzi Yanzong Prescription on Apoptosis in Germ Cells of Mice Induced by Cyclophosphamide].

Objective: To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Wuzi Yanzong prescription on apoptosis in germ cell of adult male mice induced by cyclophosphamide( CTX). Methods: Male Balb / C mice were randomly divided into normal control group,model group,the low-,medium- and high- dose of Wuzi Yanzong prescription groups( 100 mg / kg,200 mg / kg and 400 mg / kg),with 10 mice in each group. The mice were injected intraperitoneally with CTX( 200 mg / kg) from 4th day,and gave drug once a week,and executed for 4 weeks. Three doses of Wuzi Yanzong prescription were intragastrically administered every day. For normal control group,the same procedure was performed with intraperitoneal normal saline. Twelve hours after giving CTX at last time, all mice were weighed and sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The testis was immediately dissected and weighed, and then calculated the testis index. The pathological changes of testis were observed by HE staining,the apoptosis of germ cells were detected by TUNEL, the expression of apoptosis-related protein Caspase-3,BAX,BCL-2 in testis were examined by Western blot. Results: Compared with normal control group, the body weight, testis weight,testis index,and the expression of BCL-2 protein levels in testis of model control group were significantly decreased, the expression of BAX,Caspase-3 protein levels and apoptosis in testis of model control group were significantly increased. Wuzi Yanzong prescription significantly increased the body weight,testis weight,testis index,the expression of BCL-2 protein, while decreased the levels of BAX and Caspase-3 protein expression, and then led to the reduction in apoptosis of testis. Conclusion: Wuzi Yanzong prescription can effectively protect the apoptosis of germ cell induced by CTX, and its mechanism may be associated with downregulating protein expression of BAX and Caspase-3,and increasing the protein expression of BCL-2.

Norcantharidin induces growth inhibition and apoptosis of glioma cells by blocking the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway.

BACKGROUND: Malignant gliomas represent the most common primary brain tumors. The prognosis of patients with malignant gliomas is poor in spite of current intensive therapy and novel therapeutic modalities are needed. Here we report that norcantharidin is effective in growth inhibition of glioma cell lines in vitro. METHODS: Glioma cell lines (U87 and C6) were treated with norcantharidin. The effects of norcantharidin on the proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cells were measured by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-thiazolyl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry. Western blotting was employed to determine the signaling pathway changes. RESULTS: The results showed that norcantharidin effectively inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in glioma cells, which was concurrent with inhibition of the expression of phospho-MEK and phospho-ERK. Furthermore, the expression anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 significantly reduced, but no changes in Bcl-xL and Bax. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that norcantharidin is effective for growth inhibition of glioma cell lines and suggest that norcantharidin may be a new therapeutic option for patients with glioma.

Reconstructive endovascular treatment of vertical stenosis associated with adjacent aneurysm at the same arterial anatomic segment.

One case had a symptomatic vertebral artery stenosis coupled with a coincidental unruptured cerebral aneurysm at the same arterial anatomic segment. And another case had an asymptomatic vertebral artery stenosis coupled with a ruptured cerebral aneurysm at the same arterial anatomic segment. They underwent intracranial stenting. Both lesions were treated successfully and neither complications nor strokes occurred after the procedures. Covered stent placement in an intracranial stenosis with an adjacent ruptured or unruptured aneurysm may be a feasible method.

Endovascular treatment of chronic, recurrent headache secondary to chronic cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

Headache is a clinical diagnosis linked to a number of medical and surgical disorders. A common etiology has not yet been established. It would seem that these cases can be related to some degree of cerebral venous outflow obstruction. We report 2 cases of chronic superior sagittal sinus thrombosis causing isolated intracranial hypertension. The patients were treated with intrasinus thrombolytic therapy.

Apple E3 ligase MdPUB23 mediates ubiquitin-dependent degradation of MdABI5 to delay ABA-triggered leaf senescence.

ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE5 (ABI5) is a core regulatory factor that mediates the ABA signaling response and leaf senescence. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the synergistic regulation of leaf senescence by ABI5 with interacting partners and the homeostasis of ABI5 in the ABA signaling response remain to be further investigated. In this study, we found that the accelerated effect of MdABI5 on leaf senescence is partly dependent on MdbHLH93, an activator of leaf senescence in apple. MdABI5 directly interacted with MdbHLH93 and improved the transcriptional activation of the senescence-associated gene MdSAG18 by MdbHLH93. MdPUB23, a U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase, physically interacted with MdABI5 and delayed ABA-triggered leaf senescence. Genetic and biochemical analyses suggest that MdPUB23 inhibited MdABI5-promoted leaf premature senescence by targeting MdABI5 for ubiquitin-dependent degradation. In conclusion, our results verify that MdABI5 accelerates leaf senescence through the MdABI5-MdbHLH93-MdSAG18 regulatory module, and MdPUB23 is responsible for the dynamic regulation of ABA-triggered leaf senescence by modulating the homeostasis of MdABI5.

Study of andrographolide bioactivity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa based on computational methodology and biochemical analysis.

Andrographolide is one of the main biologically active molecules isolated from Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata), which is a traditional Chinese herb used extensively throughout Eastern Asia, India, and China. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, often known as P. aeruginosa, is a common clinical opportunistic pathogen with remarkable adaptability to harsh settings and resistance to antibiotics. P. aeruginosa possesses a wide array of virulence traits, one of which is biofilm formation, which contributes to its pathogenicity. One of the main modulators of the P. aeruginosa-controlled intramembrane proteolysis pathway is AlgW, a membrane-bound periplasmic serine protease. In this work, we have used a set of density functional theory (DFT) calculations to understand the variety of chemical parameters in detail between andrographolide and levofloxacin, which show strong bactericidal activity against P. aeruginosa. Additionally, the stability and interaction of andrographolide and levofloxacin with the protein AlgW have been investigated by molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations . Moreover, the growth and inhibition of biofilm production by P. aeruginosa experiments were also investigated, providing insight that andrographolide could be a potential natural product to inhibit P. aeruginosa.

Ultrasmall Bi/Cu Coordination Polymer Combined with Glucose Oxidase for Tumor Enhanced Chemodynamic Therapy by Starvation and Photothermal Treatment.

Multi-modal combination therapy for tumor is expected to have superior therapeutic effect compared with monotherapy. In this study, a super-small bismuth/copper-gallic acid coordination polymer nanoparticle (BCN) protected by polyvinylpyrrolidone is designed, which is co-encapsulated with glucose oxidase (GOX) by phospholipid to obtain nanoprobe BCGN@L. It shows that BCN has an average size of 1.8 ± 0.7 nm, and photothermal conversion of BCGN@L is 31.35% for photothermal imaging and photothermal therapy (PTT). During the treatment process of 4T1 tumor-bearing nude mice, GOX catalyzes glucose in the tumor to generate gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ), which reacts with copper ions (Cu2+ ) to produce toxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH) for chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and new fresh oxygen (O2 ) to supply to GOX for further catalysis, preventing tumor hypoxia. These reactions increase glucose depletion for starvation therapy , decrease heat shock protein expression, and enhance tumor sensitivity to low-temperature PTT. The in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate that the combination of CDT with other treatments produces excellent tumor growth inhibition. Blood biochemistry and histology analysis suggests that the nanoprobe has negligible toxicity. All the positive results reveal that the nanoprobe can be a promising approach for incorporation into multi-modal anticancer therapy.

Emergent angioplasty and stent placement recanalization without thrombolysis in acute middle cerebral artery occlusions.

A significant proportion of patients with infarcts from large-vessel lesions have shown a poor response to systemic thrombolysis. Stents have been used to recanalize occluded or severely stenosed intracranial arteries in patients with acute stroke. This study evaluated the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of intracranial artery recanalization for acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion using emergent angioplasty and stent placement without thrombolysis. All patients from a retrospectively collected database who met the inclusion criteria and were treated with an intracranial stent for acute MCA occlusion were included. Treatment comprised angioplasty and stenting without interventional thrombolytic therapy. Recanalization was assessed by angiography immediately after stent placement based on the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score. Complications related to the procedure and outcomes were assessed. Neurologic status was evaluated before and after treatment. Eleven patients were treated with emergent angioplasty and stent placement. Partial or complete recanalization (TIMI 2 and 3) was achieved in 11 patients (100%) assessed by digital subtraction angiography immediately after MCA stenting. One patient died due to reocclusion of MCA 2 days after the procedure. Among the survivors, 7 patients (70%) had a good outcome (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2) and 3 patients (30%) had a moderate outcome (modified Rankin Scale score, 3). Follow-up computed tomography angiography or magnetic resonance angiography revealed mild restenosis in 2 of the 10 patients. This preliminary experience demonstrates the technical feasibility and high rate of recanalization with emergent angioplasty and stenting without thrombolysis in patients with acute MCA occlusion.

Nomogram for predicting an individual prospective hemorrhage risk in untreated brainstem cavernous malformations.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the authors aimed to create a nomogram for precisely predicting the 5-year prospective hemorrhage risk in brainstem cavernous malformations (BSCMs). METHODS: Patients with confirmed BSCMs in a single-center prospective observational series from January 2012 to December 2016 were included in the present study for nomogram building and validation. The concordance index (C-index), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis were used to evaluate the predictive accuracy, discriminative ability, and clinical usefulness of the nomogram. Then, a nomogram-based risk stratification model for untreated BSCMs was developed. RESULTS: In total, 600 patients were included in the study; 417 patients who had been enrolled before July 2015 were divided into the training and validation cohorts, and 183 subsequently enrolled patients were used as the external validation cohort. By applying a backward stepwise procedure in the multivariable Cox model, variables, including prior hemorrhage (HR 1.69), hemorrhage on admission (HR 3.33), lesion size > 1.5 cm (HR 1.84), lesion depth (HR 2.35), crossing the axial midpoint (HR 1.94), and developmental venous anomaly (HR 2.62), were incorporated to develop a nomogram. The Harrell C-index values for a 5-year prospective hemorrhage were 0.752 (95% CI 0.687-0.816), 0.801 (95% CI 0.665-0.936), and 0.758 (95% CI 0.674-0.842) in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts, respectively. The nomogram performed well in terms of consistency between prediction and actual observation according to the calibration curve. The patients could be classified into three distinct (low, medium, and high) risk groups using the final score of this nomogram. CONCLUSIONS: Independent predictors of the 5-year hemorrhage risk in untreated BSCMs were selected to create the first nomogram for predicting individual prospective hemorrhage. The nomogram was able to stratify patients into different risk groups and assist in clinical decision-making.

[Clinico-pathological characteristics of infective endocarditis associated with congenital heart disease: an analysis of 74 cases in single center].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the changing profile of infective endocarditis (IE) in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) from 1998 to 2009 in our hospital. METHODS: Clinical characteristics of IE patients with CHD underwent surgical treatment during 1998 - 2009 in our hospital were evaluated. The coincidence rate between clinical and pathological diagnosis were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 74 IE cases associated with CHD during the 12 years, accounting for 33.6% of all patients with IE receiving surgery during this time period. Mean age was higher for patients treated in 2006 - 2009 than patients treated in 2002 - 2005 [(38.7 ± 14.6) years vs. (28.4 ± 12.8) years, P = 0.003].Bicuspid aortic valve (accounting for 52.2%) was the most frequent congenital heart disease and the age of these patients was younger than patients with other congenital heart diseases. IE in CHD affected the left heart structures in 83.8% (62/74) of all cases, 47 in aortic valve (75.8%). Blood cultures were performed in 29.7% of the patients (22/74) and the positive rate was 59.1% (13/22). Streptococci viridans were the most common causative organisms. Echocardiography was performed in all patients and 66.3% echocardiographic records were positive, IE was diagnosed in 53 patients (71.7%) before operation. The operative mortality was 2.7%. CONCLUSION: Congenital heart disease, especially bicuspid aortic valve, is the most common underlying disease for IE. Combined analysis of clinical, echocardiographic and blood culture results are essential for increasing the diagnosis rate of IE.

Long non-coding RNA MEG3 regulates autophagy after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Severe cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury has been shown to induce high-level autophagy and neuronal death. Therefore, it is extremely important to search for a target that inhibits autophagy activation. Long non-coding RNA MEG3 participates in autophagy. However, it remains unclear whether it can be targeted to regulate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Our results revealed that in oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-treated HT22 cells, MEG3 expression was obviously upregulated, and autophagy was increased, while knockdown of MEG3 expression greatly reduced autophagy. Furthermore, MEG3 bound miR-181c-5p and inhibited its expression, while miR-181c-5p bound to autophagy-related gene ATG7 and inhibited its expression. Further experiments revealed that mir-181c-5p overexpression reversed the effect of MEG3 on autophagy and ATG7 expression in HT22 cells subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation. In vivo experiments revealed that MEG3 knockdown suppressed autophagy, infarct volume and behavioral deficits in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion mice. These findings suggest that MEG3 knockdown inhibited autophagy and alleviated cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury through the miR-181c-5p/ATG7 signaling pathway. Therefore, MEG3 can be considered as an intervention target for the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China (approval No. XF20190538) on January 4, 2019.

MdMYB10 affects nitrogen uptake and reallocation by regulating the nitrate transporter MdNRT2.4-1 in the red flesh apple.

Nitrate is the major nitrogen sources for higher plants. In addition to serving not only as a nutrient, it is also a signaling molecule that regulates plant growth and development. Although membrane-bound nitrate transporter/peptide transporters (NRT/PTR) have been extensively studied and shown to regulate nitrate uptake and movement, little is known about how these factors are regulated by the external nitrogen environment. Red flesh apple, the coloration of which is determined by the transcription factor MdMYB10, had higher nitrate uptake efficiency than non-red flesh apple. Nitrate assimilation and utilization were increased in red flesh apple cultivar, and comparative transcriptome analysis showed that the expression of genes encoding the NRT2s was increased in red flesh apple. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that MdMYB10 directly bound to the MdNRT2.4-1 promoter to transcriptionally activate its expression, resulting in enhanced nitrate uptake. MdMYB10 also controlled nitrate reallocation from old leaves to new leaves through MdNRT2.4-1. Overall, our findings provide novel insights into the mechanism by which MdMYB10 controls nitrate uptake and reallocation in apple, which facilitates adaptation to low nitrogen environment.