Inference and reconstruction of the heimdallarchaeial ancestry of eukaryotes.

In the ongoing debates about eukaryogenesis-the series of evolutionary events leading to the emergence of the eukaryotic cell from prokaryotic ancestors-members of the Asgard archaea play a key part as the closest archaeal relatives of eukaryotes1. However, the nature and phylogenetic identity of the last common ancestor of Asgard archaea and eukaryotes remain unresolved2-4. Here we analyse distinct phylogenetic marker datasets of an expanded genomic sampling of Asgard archaea and evaluate competing evolutionary scenarios using state-of-the-art phylogenomic approaches. We find that eukaryotes are placed, with high confidence, as a well-nested clade within Asgard archaea and as a sister lineage to Hodarchaeales, a newly proposed order within Heimdallarchaeia. Using sophisticated gene tree and species tree reconciliation approaches, we show that analogous to the evolution of eukaryotic genomes, genome evolution in Asgard archaea involved significantly more gene duplication and fewer gene loss events compared with other archaea. Finally, we infer that the last common ancestor of Asgard archaea was probably a thermophilic chemolithotroph and that the lineage from which eukaryotes evolved adapted to mesophilic conditions and acquired the genetic potential to support a heterotrophic lifestyle. Our work provides key insights into the prokaryote-to-eukaryote transition and a platform for better understanding the emergence of cellular complexity in eukaryotic cells.

Exploring the origins and evolution of oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis in deeply branched Cyanobacteriota.

Cyanobacteriota, the sole prokaryotes capable of oxygenic photosynthesis (OxyP), occupy a unique and pivotal role in Earth's history. While the notion that OxyP may have originated from Cyanobacteriota is widely accepted, its early evolution remains elusive. Here, by using both metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, we explore 36 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from hot spring ecosystems, belonging to two deep-branching cyanobacterial orders: Thermostichales and Gloeomargaritales. Functional investigation reveals that Thermostichales encode the crucial thylakoid membrane biogenesis protein, Vipp1. Based on the phylogenetic results, we infer that the evolution of the thylakoid membrane predates the divergence of Thermostichales from other cyanobacterial groups and that Thermostichales may be the most ancient lineage known to date to have inherited this feature from their common ancestor. Apart from OxyP, both lineages are potentially capable of sulfide-driven anoxygenic photosynthesis (AnoxyP) by linking sulfide oxidation to the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Unexpectedly, this AnoxyP capacity appears to be an acquired feature, as the key gene sqr was horizontally transferred from later-evolved cyanobacterial lineages. The presence of two D1 protein variants in Thermostichales suggests the functional flexibility of photosystems, ensuring their survival in fluctuating redox environments. Furthermore, all MAGs feature streamlined phycobilisomes with a preference for capturing longer-wavelength light, implying a unique evolutionary trajectory. Collectively, these results reveal the photosynthetic flexibility in these early-diverging cyanobacterial lineages, shedding new light on the early evolution of Cyanobacteriota and their photosynthetic processes.

Identification of molecular signatures in acute myocardial infarction based on integrative analysis of proteomics and transcriptomics.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most serious cardiovascular diseases, characterized by a rapid and irreversible decline in myocardial function. Early detection of patients with MI and prolonging the optimal therapeutic window of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are particularly important. This study aimed to identify the diagnostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for acute myocardial infarction. METHOD: We generated the AMI mouse models by ligating the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. Six time points-Sham, AMI 10-min, 1-h, 6-h, 24-h, and 72-h-were chosen to examine the molecular changes that occur during the AMI process. RNA-seq and DIA-MS were performed on the infarcted left ventricular tissues of AMI mice at each time point. Co-expression pattern genes were screened from myocardial infarction samples at different time points by time-series analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were used to examine these genes. Using the Interactive Gene/Protein Retrieval Tool (STRING) database, the protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed and the hub genes were identified. In order to evaluate the diagnostic value of hub genes, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed. An independent data set, GSE163772, confirmed the diagnostic value of hub genes further. RESULT: We obtained the expression profiles at different time points after the occurrence of heart failure through high-throughput sequencing, and found 167 genes with similar expression patterns through time series analysis. The immune response and immune-related pathways had the greatest enrichment of these genes. Among them, Itgb2 Syk, Tlr4, Tlr2, Itgax, and Lcp2 may play key roles as hub genes. Combined with the results of proteomic analysis, it was found that the expression of Coro1a in both omics increased with time. The results of external validation showed that TLR2, ITGAX, and LCP2 had good predictive ability for AMI diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Itgb2, Syk, Tlr4, Tlr2, Itgax, Lcp2 and Coro1a are considered to be the seven key genes significantly associated with AMI. Our results may provide potential targets for the prevention of adverse ventricular remodeling and the treatment of AMI.

Fucoxanthin Induces Ferroptosis in Cancer Cells via Downregulation of the Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 Pathway.

This study investigated the mechanism by which fucoxanthin acts as a novel ferroptosis inducer to inhibit tongue cancer. The MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effects of fucoxanthin on SCC-25 human tongue squamous carcinoma cells. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total iron were measured. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to assess glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Keap1, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1), p53, and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) expression. Molecular docking was performed to validate interactions. Compared with the control group, the activity of fucoxanthin-treated SCC-25 cells significantly decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The levels of MMP, GSH, and SOD significantly decreased in fucoxanthin-treated SCC-25 cells; the levels of ROS, MDA, and total iron significantly increased. mRNA and protein expression levels of Keap1, GPX4, Nrf2, and HO-1 in fucoxanthin-treated cells were significantly decreased, whereas levels of TFR1 and p53 were significantly increased, in a concentration-dependent manner. Molecular docking analysis revealed that binding free energies of fucoxanthin with p53, SLC7A11, GPX4, Nrf2, Keap1, HO-1, and TFR1 were below -5 kcal/mol, primarily based on active site hydrogen bonding. Our findings suggest that fucoxanthin can induce ferroptosis in SCC-25 cells, highlighting its potential as a treatment for tongue cancer.

Hemiepiphytic figs kill their host trees: acquiring phosphorus is a driving factor.

Hemiepiphytic figs killing their host trees is an ecological process unique to the tropics. Yet the benefits and adaptive strategies of their special life history remain poorly understood. We compared leaf phosphorus (P) content data of figs and palms worldwide, and functional traits and substrate P content of hemiepiphytic figs (Ficus tinctoria), their host palm and nonhemiepiphytic conspecifics at different growth stages in a common garden. We found that leaf P content of hemiepiphytic figs and their host palms significantly decreased when they were competing for soil resources, but that of hemiepiphytic figs recovered after host death. P availability in the canopy humus and soil decreased significantly with the growth of hemiepiphytic figs. Functional trait trade-offs of hemiepiphytic figs enabled them to adapt to the P shortage while competing with their hosts. From the common garden to a global scale, the P competition caused by high P demand of figs may be a general phenomenon. Our results suggest that P competition is an important factor causing host death, except for mechanically damaging and shading hosts. Killing hosts benefits hemiepiphytic figs by reducing interspecific P competition and better acquiring P resources in the P-deficient tropics, thereby linking the life history strategy of hemiepiphytic figs to the widespread P shortage in tropical soils.

Novel Hybrid Peptide Cathelicidin 2 (1-13)-Thymopentin (TP5) and Its Derived Peptides with Effective Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, and Anti-Adhesion Activities.

The increasing numbers of infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens highlight the urgent need for new alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides have the potential to be promising alternatives to antibiotics because of their effective bactericidal activity and highly selective toxicity. The present study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anti-adhesion activities of different CTP peptides (CTP: the original hybrid peptide cathelicidin 2 (1-13)-thymopentin (TP5); CTP-NH2: C-terminal amidated derivative of cathelicidin 2 (1-13)-TP5; CTPQ: glutamine added at the C-terminus of cathelicidin 2 (1-13)-TP5) by determining the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs), minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), propidium iodide uptake, and analysis by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy). The results showed that CTPs had broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against different gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, with MICs against the tested strains varying from 2 to 64 µg/mL. CTPs at the MBC (2 × MIC 64 µg/mL) showed strong bactericidal effects on a standard methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain ATCC 43300 after co-incubation for 6 h through disruption of the bacterial membrane. In addition, CTPs at 2 × MIC also displayed effective inhibition activity of several S. aureus strains with a 40-90% decrease in biofilm formation by killing the bacteria embedded in the biofilms. CTPs had low cytotoxicity on the intestinal porcine epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) and could significantly decrease the rate of adhesion of S. aureus ATCC 43300 on IPEC-J2 cells. The current study proved that CTPs have effective antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anti-adhesion activities. Overall, this study contributes to our understanding of the possible antibacterial and antibiofilm mechanisms of CTPs, which might be an effective anti-MDR drug candidate.

When facilitation meets clonal integration in forest canopies.

Few studies have explored how - within the same system - clonality and positive plant-plant interactions might interact to regulate plant community composition. Canopy-dwelling epiphytes in species-rich forests provide an ideal system for studying this because many epiphytic vascular plants undertake clonal growth and because vascular epiphytes colonize canopy habitats after the formation of nonvascular epiphyte (i.e. bryophyte and lichen) mats. We investigated how clonal integration of seven dominant vascular epiphytes influenced inter-specific interactions between vascular epiphytes and nonvascular epiphytes in a subtropical montane moist forest in southwest China. Both clonal integration and environmental buffering from nonvascular epiphytes increased survival and growth of vascular epiphytes. The benefits of clonal integration for vascular epiphytes were higher when nonvascular epiphytes were removed. Similarly, facilitation from nonvascular epiphytes played a more important role when clonal integration of vascular epiphytes was eliminated. Overall, clonal integration had greater benefits than inter-specific facilitation. This study provides novel evidence for interactive effects of clonality and facilitation between vascular and nonvascular species, and has implications for our understanding of a wide range of ecosystems where both high levels of clonality and facilitation are expected to occur.

Anti-inflammatory Efficacy of Combined Natural Alkaloid Berberine and S1PR Modulator Fingolimod at Low Doses in Ulcerative Colitis Preclinical Models.

The natural alkaloid berberine is being studied as a drug candidate for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Fingolimod is an immunomodulator approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Whether fingolimod use can be extended to UC and how it interacts with berberine remain unclear. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory efficacies of berberine, fingolimod, and a combination of half-doses of them was examined in mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. In mice with subchronic colitis, 14-day oral administration of fingolimod had greater efficacy than berberine in ameliorating the disease clinical severity and colon shortening. However, in mice with chronic colitis, 30-day oral administration of berberine was more effective than fingolimod except on splenic swelling. Notably, the combination of half-doses of each drug was equally effective as the superior single drugs for two models and resulted in reduced splenic swelling in the chronic colitis model. The inhibition of cytokine expression and STAT3 activation, as well as binding to the sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor by both drugs, contributed to the combination efficacy. Our findings suggest that fingolimod in combination with berberine at reduced doses represents a novel therapy for UC that attains satisfactory efficacy with reduced potentials for adverse effects.

A novel sunshine duration-based photothermal time model interprets the photosensitivity of flower maturity of pecan cultivars.

Although it is well-known and established that light plays important roles in plant development, up to now, there is no substantial improvements in how to deal with the light factor of spring phenology under natural condition. By monitoring the local meteorologic data and mature dates of two types (male and female) of flower from four pecan cultivars during 9 years, it was found that the complementary pattern of growing degree day and sunshine duration helped to maintain a threshold of driving force related to the maturity of pecan flower during 9 years. A novel photothermal time model based on the linear combination of growing degree day and sunshine duration was then proposed and validated to interpret the variance of mature dates of pecan cultivars. Comparative analysis showed that the new model had made extremely significant improvements to the traditional thermal time model. In addition, this model introduced the conversion coefficient K, which quantified the effect of light on the flowering drive, and revealed the differences of base temperature among cultivars. This was the first time that sunshine duration instead of photoperiod was adopted to develop into a verified model on spring phenological event of tree species. It will help to model the spring phenologies of other tree species more reasonably.

Three cases of antibody-LGI1 limbic encephalitis and review of literature.

PURPOSE: Antibody-LGI1 limbic encephalitis (LGI1-Ab LE) is an anti-neuronal surface antigen-related autoimmune encephalitis. we report three cases of LGI1-Ab LE, describe the characteristics of clinical manifestation, course of evolution, imaging manifestation and treatment outcomes. METHODS: Data from patients diagnosed with LGI1-Ab LE in the Second Hospital, Hebei Medical University, from June 2016 to July 2017, were retrospectively collected and analyzed. We followed up the patients for 90 days. RESULTS: Two of the three patients were females, the average age of onset is 53 years old. Epilepsy is the most common clinical manifestations, and one of patients developed faciobrachial dystonic seizures (FBDS), which was recently described as a characteristic feature of LGI1-Ab LE. All patients had cognitive impairment in different degrees and abnormal signal of hippocampus in cranial MRI. All serum LGI1 antibodies were positive, whereas one LGI1 antibodies of CSF were negative. All patients accepted first-line immune therapy and had a good outcome. CONCLUSION: LGI1-Ab LE, which is an autoimmune disease, is rare clinically and mostly nonparaneoplastic. We suggest that LGI1-Ab LE be considered in any patient with acute or subacute onset, cognitive dysfunction , various types of seizures, accompanied by mental disorders and hyponatremia, MR showed the involvement of the limbic system. It is necessary to have LE-related antibodies tested. Early immunotherapy can significantly improve the patient's overall prognosis. At the same time, we should also pay attention to the possibility of potential tumors.

[Gene editing technology and its research progress in China].

Gene editing is a technology for precision modification of genome sequences or expressing transcripts. Early versions of such techniques include homing endonuclease, zinc finger endonuclease and transcription-like activator effectors. The CRISPR/Cas9 system has recently emerged as a powerful and versatile gene editing tool for a broad spectrum of applications. In this review, we discuss the recent development and applications of gene editing technology, and particularly focus on the progress in China, with the emphasis on mechanistic studies, development of new and extended technologies, the applications in animals, plants and the therapeutics.

Siccirubricoccus deserti gen. nov., sp. nov., a proteobacterium isolated from a desert sample.

Strain SYSU D8009T was isolated from a desert sample collected from Saudi Arabia. The taxonomic position of the isolate was investigated by a polyphasic approach. The novel isolate was Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic and non-spore-forming. It was able to grow at 4-45 °C and pH 4.0-8.0, and exhibited NaCl tolerance of up to 1.5 % (w/v). Strain SYSU D8009T shared the closest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with members of the family Acetobacteraceae, with a value of less than 96.0 %. In the phylogenetic dendrograms, the strain clustered with the genera Paracraurococcus, Craurococcus and Crenalkalicoccus within the family Acetobacteraceae but with a distinct lineage, thereby demonstrating that the strain should be classified within the family Acetobacteraceae. The respiratory ubiquinone was found to be Q-10. The polar lipids of the strain comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and four unidentified aminolipids. The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SYSU D8009T was determined to be 71.6 mol%. Based on the results of the phylogenetic analyses and differences in the physiological and biochemical characteristics, strain SYSU D8009T merits representation of a novel species of a new genus within the family Acetobacteraceae, for which the name Siccirubricoccus deserti gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Siccirubricoccus deserti sp. nov. is SYSU D8009T (=CGMCC 1.15936T=KCTC 62088T).

Nonomuraea cavernae sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from a karst cave sample.

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated SYSU K10005T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a karst cave in Xingyi county, Guizhou province, south-west China. The taxonomic position of the strain was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Cells of the strain were aerobic and Gram-stain-positive. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain SYSU K10005T was most closely related to the type strains of the genus Nonomuraea, and shared highest sequence similarity of 98.4 % with Nonomuraea candida HMC10T. DNA-DNA hybridization values between the two strains were less than 70 %. The whole-cell hydrolysates of strain SYSU K10005T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid (diagnostic diamino acid), and arabinose, madurose and rhamnose (whole-cell sugars). The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-9(H4), while the major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, 10-methyl C17 : 0, C17 : 1ω8c and C17 : 0. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxyl-phosphatidylethanolamine, lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides, an unidentified lipid, two unidentified ninhydrin-positive phosphoglycolipids and two unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SYSU K10005T was 64.2 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, strain SYSU K10005T can be characterized to represent a novel species of the genus Nonomuraea, for which the name Nonomuraea cavernae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SYSU K10005T (=KCTC 39805T=CGMCC 4.7368T).

Species colonisation, not competitive exclusion, drives community overdispersion over long-term succession.

Ecological communities often transition from phylogenetic and functional clustering to overdispersion over succession as judged by space-for-time substitution studies. Such a pattern has been generally attributed to the increase in competitive exclusion of closely related species with similar traits through time, although colonisation and extinction have rarely been examined. Using 44 years of uninterrupted old-field succession in New Jersey, USA, we confirmed that phylogenetic and functional clustering decreased as succession unfolded, but the transition was largely driven by colonisation. Early colonists were closely related and functionally similar to residents, while later colonists became less similar to the species present. Extirpated species were generally more distantly related to residents than by chance, or exhibited random phylogenetic/functional patterns, and their relatedness to residents was not associated with time. These results provide direct evidence that the colonisation of distant relatives, rather than extinction of close relatives, drives phylogenetic and functional overdispersion over succession.

The effects of phylogenetic relatedness on invasion success and impact: deconstructing Darwin's naturalisation conundrum.

Darwin's naturalisation conundrum describes the paradox that the relatedness of exotic species to native residents could either promote or hinder their success through opposing mechanisms: niche pre-adaptation or competitive interactions. Previous studies focusing on single snapshots of invasion patterns have provided support to both sides of the conundrum. Here, by examining invasion dynamics of 480 plots over 40 years, we show that exotic species more closely related to native species were more likely to enter, establish and dominate the resident communities, and that native residents more closely related to these successful exotics were more likely to go locally extinct. Therefore, non-random displacement of natives during invasion could weaken or even reverse the negative effects of exotic-native phylogenetic distances on invasion success. The scenario that exotics more closely related to native residents are more successful, but tend to eliminate their closely related natives, may help to reconcile the 150-year-old conundrum.

Higher clonal integration in the facultative epiphytic fern Selliguea griffithiana growing in the forest canopy compared with the forest understorey.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The advantage of clonal integration (resource sharing between connected ramets of clonal plants) varies and a higher degree of integration is expected in more stressful and/or more heterogeneous habitats. Clonal facultative epiphytes occur in both forest canopies (epiphytic habitats) and forest understories (terrestrial habitats). Because environmental conditions, especially water and nutrients, are more stressful and heterogeneous in the canopy than in the understorey, this study hypothesizes that clonal integration is more important for facultative epiphytes in epiphytic habitats than in terrestrial habitats. METHODS: In a field experiment, an examination was made of the effects of rhizome connection (connected vs. disconnected, i.e. with vs. without clonal integration) on survival and growth of single ramets, both young and old, of the facultative epiphytic rhizomatous fern Selliguea griffithiana (Polypodiaceae) in both epiphytic and terrestrial habitats. In another field experiment, the effects of rhizome connection on performance of ramets were tested in small (10 × 10 cm(2)) and large (20 × 20 cm(2)) plots in both epiphytic and terrestrial habitats. KEY RESULTS: Rhizome disconnection significantly decreased survival and growth of S. griffithiana in both experiments. The effects of rhizome disconnection on survival of single ramets and on ramet number and growth in plots were greater in epiphytic habitats than in terrestrial habitats. CONCLUSIONS: Clonal integration contributes greatly to performance of facultative epiphytic ferns, and the effects were more important in forest canopies than in forest understories. The results therefore support the hypothesis that natural selection favours genotypes with a higher degree of integration in more stressful and heterogeneous environments.

Water relations and gas exchange of fan bryophytes and their adaptations to microhabitats in an Asian subtropical montane cloud forest.

Fan life forms are bryophytes with shoots rising from vertical substratum that branch repeatedly in the horizontal plane to form flattened photosynthetic surfaces, which are well suited for intercepting water from moving air. However, detailed water relations, gas exchange characteristics of fan bryophytes and their adaptations to particular microhabitats remain poorly understood. In this study, we measured and analyzed microclimatic data, as well as water release curves, pressure-volume relationships and photosynthetic water and light response curves for three common fan bryophytes in an Asian subtropical montane cloud forest (SMCF). Results demonstrate high relative humidity but low light levels and temperatures in the understory, and a strong effect of fog on water availability for bryophytes in the SMCF. The facts that fan bryophytes in dry air lose most of their free water within 1 h, and a strong dependence of net photosynthesis rates on water content, imply that the transition from a hydrated, photosynthetically active state to a dry, inactive state is rapid. In addition, fan bryophytes developed relatively high cell wall elasticity and the osmoregulatory capacity to tolerate desiccation. These fan bryophytes had low light saturation and compensation point of photosynthesis, indicating shade tolerance. It is likely that fan bryophytes can flourish on tree trunks in the SMCF because of substantial annual precipitation, average relative humidity, and frequent and persistent fog, which can provide continual water sources for them to intercept. Nevertheless, the low water retention capacity and strong dependence of net photosynthesis on water content of fan bryophytes indicate a high risk of unbalanced carbon budget if the frequency and severity of drought increase in the future as predicted.

Single administration of intra-articular bupivacaine in arthroscopic knee surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Single administration of intra-articular (IA) bupivacaine for pain relief after arthroscopic knee surgery is effective, but its active duration and dose-response relationship is unclear. We conducted this meta-analysis to summarize all published randomized controlled trials (RCTs), thus providing the most recent information on the safety and efficacy of single-administration IA bupivacaine for pain relief after arthroscopic knee surgery, and to determine whether a dose-response relationship exists. METHODS: A systematic electronic literature search (through April 2014) was conducted to identify those RCTs that addressed the safety and efficacy of a single administration of IA bupivacaine for pain management after arthroscopic knee surgery. Subgroup analysis was conducted to determine changes in visual analog scale (VAS) scores at seven postoperative time points. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were carried out to assess the effects of various treatment factors on efficacy and to evaluate the dose-response relationship of bupivacaine. Weighted mean differences or relative risks were calculated and pooled using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Twenty-eight trials involving 1,560 patients who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery met the inclusion criteria. The trials were subject to medium risk of bias. VAS scores at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h postoperatively were significantly lower, the number of patients requiring supplementary analgesia was smaller, and the time to first request for analgesia was longer in the IA bupivacaine group than in the placebo group. The analgesic effect of single-administration IA bupivacaine may be associated with the effect of concomitant administration of epinephrine and concentration of bupivacaine, and no dose-response relationship was identified. No significant difference in side effects was detected between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence shows that the use of single-administration IA bupivacaine is effective for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, with satisfactory short-term safety. Low-dose administration of IA bupivacaine 0.5% combined with epinephrine adjuvant in clinical practice should be performed. Additional high-quality RCTs with longer follow-up periods are required to examine the safety of single-administration IA bupivacaine.

Correlating microbial diversity patterns with geochemistry in an extreme and heterogeneous environment of mine tailings.

Recent molecular surveys have advanced our understanding of the forces shaping the large-scale ecological distribution of microbes in Earth's extreme habitats, such as hot springs and acid mine drainage. However, few investigations have attempted dense spatial analyses of specific sites to resolve the local diversity of these extraordinary organisms and how communities are shaped by the harsh environmental conditions found there. We have applied a 16S rRNA gene-targeted 454 pyrosequencing approach to explore the phylogenetic differentiation among 90 microbial communities from a massive copper tailing impoundment generating acidic drainage and coupled these variations in community composition with geochemical parameters to reveal ecological interactions in this extreme environment. Our data showed that the overall microbial diversity estimates and relative abundances of most of the dominant lineages were significantly correlated with pH, with the simplest assemblages occurring under extremely acidic conditions and more diverse assemblages associated with neutral pHs. The consistent shifts in community composition along the pH gradient indicated that different taxa were involved in the different acidification stages of the mine tailings. Moreover, the effect of pH in shaping phylogenetic structure within specific lineages was also clearly evident, although the phylogenetic differentiations within the Alphaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, and Firmicutes were attributed to variations in ferric and ferrous iron concentrations. Application of the microbial assemblage prediction model further supported pH as the major factor driving community structure and demonstrated that several of the major lineages are readily predictable. Together, these results suggest that pH is primarily responsible for structuring whole communities in the extreme and heterogeneous mine tailings, although the diverse microbial taxa may respond differently to various environmental conditions.