RNA-seq analysis provides insight into reprogramming of culm development in Zizania latifolia induced by Ustilago esculenta.

KEY MESSAGE: We report a transcriptome assembly and expression profiles from RNA-Seq data and identify genes responsible for culm gall formation in Zizania latifolia induced by Ustilago esculenta. The smut fungus Ustilago esculenta can induce culm gall in Zizania latifolia, which is used as a vegetable in Asian countries. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of culm gall formation is still unclear. To characterize the processes underlying this host-fungus association, we performed transcriptomic and expression profiling analyses of culms from Z. latifolia infected by the fungus U. esculenta. Transcriptomic analysis detected U. esculenta induced differential expression of 19,033 and 17,669 genes in Jiaobai (JB) and Huijiao (HJ) type of gall, respectively. Additionally, to detect the potential gall inducing genes, expression profiles of infected culms collected at -7, 1 and 10 DAS of culm gall development were  analyzed. Compared to control, we detected 8089 genes (4389 up-regulated, 3700 down-regulated) and 5251 genes (3121 up-regulated, 2130 down-regulated) were differentially expressed in JB and HJ, respectively. And we identified 376 host and 187 fungal candidate genes that showed stage-specific expression pattern, which are  possibly responsible for gall formation at the initial and later phases, respectively. Our results indicated that cytokinins play more prominent roles in regulating gall formation than do auxins. Together, our work provides general implications for the understanding of gene regulatory networks for culm gall development in Z. latifolia, and potential targets for genetic manipulation to improve the future yield   of  this crop.

Single-incision laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair in the treatment of adult female patients with inguinal hernia.

BACKGROUND: Women have a 3% lifetime chance of developing an inguinal hernia, which is not as common in men. Due to its cosmetic benefits, single-incision laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (SIL-TAPP) inguinal hernia repair is becoming increasingly popular in the management of inguinal hernia in women. However, there are no studies comparing the safety and applicability of SIL-TAPP repair with conventional laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (CL-TAPP) inguinal hernia repair for the treatment of inguinal hernia in women. AIM: To compare the outcomes of SIL-TAPP and CL-TAPP repair in adult female patients with inguinal hernia and to estimate the safety and applicability of SIL-TAPP repair in adult female inguinal hernia patients. METHODS: We retrospectively compared the clinical information and follow-up data of female inguinal hernia patients who underwent SIL-TAPP inguinal hernia repair and those who underwent CL-TAPP inguinal hernia repair at the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from February 2018 to December 2020 and assessed the long-term and short-term outcomes of both cohorts. RESULTS: This study included 123 patients, with 71 undergoing SIL-TAPP repair and 52 undergoing CL-TAPP repair. The two cohorts of patients and inguinal hernia characteristics were similar, with no statistically meaningful difference. The rate of intraoperative inferior epigastric vessel injury was lower in patients in the SIL-TAPP cohort (0, 0%) than in patients in the CL-TAPP cohort (4, 7.7%) and was significantly different (P < 0.05). In addition, the median [interquartile range (IQR)] total hospitalization costs were significantly lower in patients in the SIL-TAPP cohort [$3287 (3218-3325)] than in patients in the CL-TAPP cohort [$3511 (3491-3599)]. Postoperatively, the occurrence rate of trocar site hernia was lower in the SIL-TAPP cohort (0, 0%) than in the CL-TAPP cohort (4, 7.7%), and the median (IQR) cosmetic score was significantly higher in the SIL-TAPP cohort [10 (10-10)] than in the CL-TAPP cohort [9 (9-10)]. CONCLUSION: SIL-TAPP repair did not increase the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications in female inguinal hernia patients. Moreover, female inguinal hernia patients who underwent SIL-TAPP repair had a lower probability of trocar site hernia and inferior epigastric vessel injury than female inguinal hernia patients who underwent CL-TAPP repair. In addition, female inguinal hernia patients who underwent SIL-TAPP repair reported a more aesthetically pleasing postoperative abdominal incision. Therefore, SIL-TAPP repair is a better option for the treatment of inguinal hernias in women.

Estimating the instant case fatality rate of COVID-19 in China.

OBJECTIVE: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China has been basically controlled. However, the global epidemic of COVID-19 is worsening. We established a method to estimate the instant case fatality rate (CFR) and cure rate of COVID-19 in China. METHODS: A total of 82 735 confirmed cases released officially by the Chinese authorities from December 8, 2019 to April 18, 2020 were collected. The estimated diagnosis dates of deaths and cured cases were calculated based on the median cure time or median death time of individual cases. Following this, the instant CFR was calculated according to the number of deaths and cured cases on the same estimated diagnosis date. RESULTS: In China, the instant CFR of COVID-19 was 3.8-14.6% from January 1 to January 17; it then declined gradually and stabilized at 5.7% in April. The average CFR in China was 6.1±2.9%, while the CFR was 1.0±0.4% in China except Hubei Province. The cure rate of COVID-19 was 93.9±2.9% in China, and stabilized at 94.3%, while it was 99.0±0.4% in China except Hubei Province. CONCLUSIONS: The instant CFR of COVID-19 in China overall was much higher than that in China except Hubei Province. The CFR of COVID-19 in China was underestimated.

Effects of alveolar ridge preservation on delayed implant osseointegration.

To evaluate the effects of alveolar ridge preservation with Bio-Oss bone substitute (Geistlich Pharma) on delayed implant osseointegration. The 3rd and 4th left and right mandibular premolars were extracted from four adult healthy male and female dogs. For the experimental group, we randomly selected two extraction sockets in each dog to be filled with Bio-Oss bone substitute (Geistlich Pharma). The two remaining extraction sockets remained untreated and served as the control group. Three months after Bio-Oss placement, dental implants were inserted into the alveolar bone of the experimental group and the control group. The osteogenic activity of the bone around the implants was assessed by evaluating the histological morphology and by estimating histomorphometric parameters at 3 and 6 months after delayed implantation. At 3 months, Goldner's trichrome staining analysis showed that the bone-implant contact rate and mineralised bone area around the implant were significantly higher in the experimental group (75.98% ± 8.97% and 69.52% ± 9.63%, respectively) than in the control group (56.13% ± 8.18% and 52.82% ± 7.25%, respectively; P < 0.05). However, at 6 months, the two groups showed no significant difference. Fluorescence microscopy analysis revealed that the average mineralisation apposition rate of the bone tissue around the dental implant in the experimental group at 3 and 6 months was 6.80 ± 0.43 µm and 8.38 ± 0.84 µm, respectively, which was significantly higher than the rate in the control group (P < 0.05). These data indicated that alveolar ridge preservation by using Bio-Oss placement can promote osseointegration of delayed implantation. This may be a promising option for clinical use.