Gigantol ameliorates DSS-induced colitis via suppressing ß2 integrin mediated adhesion and chemotaxis of macrophage.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dendrobium, recognized as "Shihu" in traditional Chinese medicine, holds a rich history of medicinal utilization documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Ancient texts like "Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing" extol Dendrobium's virtues as a superior herbal medicine fortifying "Yin" and invigorating the five viscera. Dendrobium is extensively employed for the treatment of gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders, showcasing significant therapeutic efficacy, particularly against ulcerative colitis (UC), within the realm of Chinese ethnopharmacology. Dendrobium plays crucial pharmacological roles due to its rich content of polysaccharides, alkaloids, phenanthrenes, and bibenzyls. Gigantol, a prominent bibenzyl compound, stands out as one of the most vital active constituents within Dendrobium, the gigantol content of Dendrobium leaves can reach approximately 4.79 µg/g. Its significance lies in being recognized as a noteworthy anti-inflammatory compound derived from Dendrobium. AIM OF THE STUDY: Given the pivotal role of gigantol as a primary active substance in Dendrobium, the therapeutic potential of gigantol for gastrointestinal diseases remains enigmatic. Our present investigation aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of gigantol on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and reveal its potential mechanism in countering UC activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protective efficacy of gigantol against colitis was assessed by examining the histopathological changes and conducting biochemical analyses of colon from DSS-challenged mice. Assessments focused on gigantol's impact on improving the intestinal epithelial barrier and its anti-inflammatory effects in colonic tissues of colitis mice. Investigative techniques included the exploration of the macrophage inflammatory signaling pathway via qPCR and Western blot analyses. In vitro studies scrutinized macrophage adhesion, migration, and chemotaxis utilizing transwell and Zigmond chambers. Furthermore, F-actin and Rac1 activation assays detailed cellular cytoskeletal remodeling. The potential therapeutic target of gigantol was identified and validated through protein binding analysis, competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) assay. The binding sites between gigantol and its target were predicted via molecular docking. RESULTS: Gigantol ameliorated symptoms of DSS-induced colitis, rectified damage to the intestinal barrier, and suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in colonic tissues. Intriguingly, gigantol significantly curtailed NF-κB signaling activation in the colons of DSS-induced colitis mice. Notably, gigantol impaired the ß2 integrin-dependent adhesion and migratory capacity of RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, gigantol notably influenced the cytoskeleton remodeling of RAW264.7 cells by suppressing Vav1 phosphorylation and Rac1 activation. Mechanistically, gigantol interacted with ß2 integrin, subsequently diminishing binding affinity with intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, these findings elucidate that gigantol ameliorates DSS-induced colitis by antagonizing ß2 integrin-mediated macrophage adhesion, migration, and chemotaxis, thus it may impede macrophage recruitment and infiltration into colonic tissues. This study suggests that gigantol shows promise as a viable candidate for clinical colitis therapy.

Consolidation Osimertinib Versus Durvalumab Versus Observation After Concurrent Chemoradiation in Unresectable EGFR-Mutant NSCLC: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Durvalumab improves survival when used as consolidation therapy after chemoradiation (CRT) in patients with stage III NSCLC. The optimal consolidation therapy for patients with EGFR-mutant (EGFRmut) stage III NSCLC remains unknown. METHODS: In this multi-institutional, international retrospective analysis across 24 institutions, we evaluated outcomes in patients with stage III EGFRmut NSCLC treated with concurrent CRT followed by consolidation therapy with osimertinib, durvalumab, or observation between 2015 and 2022. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS, primary end point) and overall survival (secondary end point). Treatment-related adverse events (trAEs) during consolidation treatment were defined using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used. RESULTS: Of 136 patients with stage III EGFRmut NSCLC treated with definitive concurrent CRT, 56 received consolidation durvalumab, 33 received consolidation osimertinib, and 47 was on observation alone. Baseline characteristics were similar across the three cohorts. With a median follow-up of 46 months for the entire cohort, the median duration of treatment was not reached (NR) for osimertinib (interquartile range: NR-NR) and was 5.5 (interquartile range: 2.4-10.8) months with durvalumab. After adjusting for nodal status, stage III A/B/C, and age, patients treated with consolidation osimertinib had significantly longer 24-month rwPFS compared to those treated with durvalumab or in the observation cohorts (osimertinib: 86%, durvalumab: 30%, observation: 27%, p < 0.001 for both comparisons). There was no difference in rwPFS between the durvalumab and the observation cohorts. No significant difference in overall survival across the three cohorts was detected, likely due to the limited follow-up. Any-grade trAE occurred in 52% (2 [6.1%] grade ≥3) and 48% (10 [18%] grade ≥3) of patients treated with osimertinib and durvalumab, respectively. Of 45 patients who progressed on consolidation durvalumab, 37 (82%) subsequently received EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Of these, 14 (38%) patients developed trAEs including five patients with pneumonitis (14%; 2 [5.4%] grade ≥3) and five patients with diarrhea (14%; 1 [2.7%] grade ≥3). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that among patients with stage III unresectable NSCLC with a sensitizing EGFR mutation, consolidation osimertinib was associated with a significantly longer rwPFS compared to durvalumab or observation. No unanticipated safety signals were observed with consolidation osimertinib.

Chlordane exposure impairs the growth and behavior of Drosophila.

Chlordane, a previously extensively utilized insecticidal pesticide, has since been prohibited, however, owing to its limited degradability, it continues to persist significantly in soil and water reservoirs, subsequently accumulating within plant and animal organisms, representing a substantial threat to human health. Despite extensive research conducted over the past few decades to investigate the toxic effects of chlordane, there remains a notable dearth of studies focusing on its impact on sleep activity. Therefore, in this study, the effects of short-term and long-term exposure to chlordane on the activity and sleep of Drosophila were investigated. When exposed to chlordane at a concentration of 1 µM, Drosophila lost body weight, decreased body size and resulted in lipid metabolism disorders. In addition, chlordane exposure altered the arousal and sleep behaviors of Drosophila. Short-term exposure to chlordane resulted in an increase in night-time sleep duration, while long-term exposure to chlordane resulted in an increase in activity and a decrease in sleep, as evidenced by a decrease in the duration of each sleep session and the appearance of sleep fragmentation. Under conditions of long-term chlordane exposure, reactive oxygen species levels were significantly up-regulated in Drosophila. Our results suggest that long-term chlordane exposure triggers oxidative stress damage in Drosophila, leading to sleep disruption. This study offers novel insights into the harmful impacts of environmental pollutants on human sleep patterns and proposes that mitigating the presence of chlordane in the environment could potentially contribute to the reduction of global sleep disorder prevalence.

Pre-pandemic family resources and child self-regulation in children's internalizing problems during COVID-19: a multi-level social-ecological framework for emotional resilience.

Introduction: Children's psychological adjustment to adverse events can be determined by multiple risk and resilience factors. This study explored multi-level protective factors against children's internalizing problems and investigated the mechanism regarding how diverse environmental and child-level resources influence children's mental health in the context of COVID-19. Methods: Our participants included a nationally representative sample of 2,619 young children (48.3% girls) and their primary caregivers (95.1% mothers) in Singapore. They were a subset of the participants in the Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG LEADS). Data were collected over two waves-before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic (Wave 1) when these children aged 3 to 6, and during the second year of the pandemic (Wave 2). Primary caregivers completed measures of verbal cognitive ability, self-control, economic stress, and positive and negative parental control in Wave 1. Children's self-regulation was assessed by the Delay of Gratification task in Wave 1, and their internalizing problems were rated by their primary caregivers in both waves. Other pre-pandemic family and community characteristics were collected as covariates. Structural equation modeling was performed. Results: Pre-pandemic parental resources (i.e., verbal cognitive ability, self-control, and low economic stress) predicted children's fewer internalizing problems during the pandemic and less aggravation of internalizing problems from before to during the pandemic, through more positive parental control (i.e., limit setting) and less negative parental control (i.e., harsh discipline). Moreover, children's self-regulation during early childhood was predicted by their primary caregivers' verbal cognitive ability and self-control, as well as positive parental control. Early childhood self-regulation further alleviated the aggravation of internalizing problems over time. Among the covariates, parental education, family income, parental psychological well-being, living with both parents, having a live-in domestic helper, and neighborhood quality also longitudinally predicted fewer child internalizing problems. Discussion: Our findings underscore the importance of nurturing children's emotional resilience under adverse and uncertain circumstances by boosting protective factors in their social-ecological system, including community-, family-, parent-, and child-level resources.

Dosimetry and acute radiation enteritis comparison between prone and supine position in IMRT for gynecological cancers.

PURPOSE: To probe the differences of dosimetry and acute radiation enteritis between prone and supine position in gynecological cancer patients treated with intensity-modulate radiotherapy (IMRT). METHODS: Gynecologic tumor patients who received IMRT from January 2020 to July 2021 were analyzed. 60 patients were enrolled and divided into the supine or prone position group according to different radiotherapy positions, including 34 patients in prone position and 26 patients in supine position. The dose-volume histogram of organs at risk (OARs) and the incidence of acute radiation enteritis were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to show the clinical characteristics and dose volume metrics to the association of acute radiation enteritis. RESULTS: The percentage of volume receiving 5 Gy, 10 Gy, 15 Gy, 20 Gy, 30 Gy, 40 Gy, and 45 Gy doses for the small intestine were 79.0%, 67.4%, 59.6%, 44.3%, 17.0%, 8.9%, and 6.0%, respectively in the prone group, which were lower than those in the supine group (P < 0.05). The mean radiation dose (Dmean ) of the small intestine exposure in prone group was decreased (P < 0.001). Compared with the supine group, the prone group who suffered from acute radiation enteritis were much less. The probability of indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain in the prone position were 35.29%, 29.41%, 17.65%, 38.24%, and 5.88%, respectively. The differences in indigestion, nausea, and diarrhea between the two groups were statistically significant (P = 0.012, P = 0.029, and P = 0.041). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was shown that prone position was found to be protective against indigestion (P = 0.002), nausea (P = 0.013), vomiting (P = 0.035), and abdominal pain (P = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Prone position in IMRT for gynecological cancers could significantly reduce radiation dose to the small bowel and colon, which would decrease the occurrence and severity of acute intestinal side effects possibly.

Complete chloroplast genomes of five Cuscuta species and their evolutionary significance in the Cuscuta genus.

BACKGROUND: Cuscuta, a parasitic plant species in the Convolvulaceae family, grows in many countries and regions. However, the relationship between some species is still unclear. Therefore, more studies are needed to assess the variation of the chloroplast (cp) genome in Cuscuta species and their relationship with subgenera or sections, thus, providing important information on the evolution of Cuscuta species. RESULTS: In the present study, we identified the whole cp genomes of C. epithymum, C. europaea, C. gronovii, C. chinensis and C. japonica, and then constructed a phylogenetic tree of 23 Cuscuta species based on the complete genome sequences and protein-coding genes. The complete cp genome sequences of C. epithymum and C. europaea were 96,292 and 97,661 bp long, respectively, and lacked an inverted repeat region. Most cp genomes of Cuscuta spp. have tetragonal and circular structures except for C. epithymum, C. europaea, C. pedicellata and C. approximata. Based on the number of genes and the structure of cp genome and the patterns of gene reduction, we found that C. epithymum and C. europaea belonged to subgenus Cuscuta. Most of the cp genomes of the 23 Cuscuta species had single nucleotide repeats of A and T. The inverted repeat region boundaries among species were similar in the same subgenera. Several cp genes were lost. In addition, the numbers and types of the lost genes in the same subgenus were similar. Most of the lost genes were related to photosynthesis (ndh, rpo, psa, psb, pet, and rbcL), which could have gradually caused the plants to lose the ability to photosynthesize. CONCLUSION: Our results enrich the data on cp. genomes of genus Cuscuta. This study provides new insights into understanding the phylogenetic relationships and variations in the cp genome of Cuscuta species.

Multiple Introductions and Distinct Genetic Groups of Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) in China Revealed by Genomic Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms.

Despite numerous studies reported in the context of ecology, the introduction history of the infamous invasive plant Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) remains elusive. In the present study, we explored the sources and the number of introduction events of this species from its native areas into China. Using the genotyping-by-sequencing approach, we identified 34,035 selectively neutral single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers to infer the evolutionary trajectories of 77 S. canadensis individuals. Both the principal component analysis and the ADMIXTURE analysis revealed two genetic groups that are sympatric to each other in China and suggested the absence of genetic admixtures. The phylogenetic analysis indicated three feasible introduction routes and multiple introduction events of Canada goldenrod into China. Specifically, the one from the USA directly into China, the other from the USA into China through Japan, and the third from the USA into China through Europe. Based on the site frequency spectrum of these identified SNPs, we inferred strong bottleneck events for both genetic groups, and that the multiple introductions did not rescue the decline of genetic diversity. To conclude, multiple introduction events, genetic bottlenecks, and potential human-mediated spread characterize the introduction history of Canada goldenrod in China. The present study harnesses the power of SNP data in deciphering the evolutionary trajectory of invasive plants and paves the way for future studies concerning the invasion mechanism of Canada goldenrod.

Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of Epstein-Barr virus infection among children in Shanghai, China, 2017-2022.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiology and infectious characteristics of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection among children in Shanghai, China from 2017 to 2022. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 10,260 inpatient patients who were subjected EBV nucleic acid testing from July 2017 to December 2022. Demographic information, clinical diagnosis, laboratory findings, etc. were collected and analyzed. EBV nucleic acid testing were performed by real-time PCR. Results: A total of 2192 (21.4%) inpatient children were EBV-positive, with the average age of 7.3 ± 0.1 y. EBV detection was stable from 2017 to 2020 (26.9~30.1%), but showed essential decreases in 2021 (16.0%) and 2022 (9.0%). EBV was highest (>30%) detected from three quarters (Q) including 2018-Q4, 2019-Q4 and 2020-Q3. There were 24.5% of EBV coinfection with other pathogens, including bacteria (16.8%), other viruses (7.1%) and fungi (0.7%). EBV viral loads increased when coinfecting with bacteria ((142.2 ± 40.1) ×104/mL) or other viruses ((165.7 ± 37.4) ×104/mL). CRP significantly increased in EBV/fungi coinfection, while procalcitonin (PCT) and IL-6 showed remarkable increases in EBV/bacteria coinfection. Most (58.9%) of EBV-associated diseases belonged to immune disorders. The primary EBV-related diseases were systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, 16.1%), immunodeficiency (12.4%), infectious mononucleosis (IM, 10.7%), pneumonia (10.4%) and Henoch-schonlein purpura (HSP, 10.2%). EBV viral loads were highest ((233.7 ± 27.4) × 104/mL) in patients with IM. Conclusion: EBV was prevalent among children in China, the viral loads increased when coinfecting with bacteria or other viruses. SLE, immunodeficiency and IM were the primary EBV-related diseases.

Emerging Trends in Immunotherapy for Adult Sarcomas.

Soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) are a rare and heterogeneous group of malignant tumors that arise from the oncogenic transformation of mesenchymal tissue. There are over 100 distinct STS histological and molecular subtypes with unique clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic features with variable responses to therapy regimens. Given the quality-of-life concerns and limited efficacy with current regimens, including cytotoxic chemotherapy, there is a need for novel therapies and regimens to treat advanced STS. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated significant improvements in survival outcomes in other cancer types, there remains ambiguous data on the impact of immunotherapy in sarcoma. Biomarkers like PD-1/PD-L1 are not always predictive of outcomes. Therefore, researching emerging novel therapies, such as CAR-T and adoptive cell therapies, is critical to understanding STS biology, STS tumor immune microenvironment immunomodulatory strategies that improve immune response, and survival outcomes. We discuss the underlying biology of the STS tumor immune microenvironment, immunomodulatory strategies that augment pre-existing immune responses, and novel approaches to develop sarcoma-specific antigen-based therapies.

Functional Outcome Analysis of Stereotactic Catheter Aspiration for Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Early or Late Hematoma Evacuation?

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive stereotactic catheter aspiration becoming a promising surgical alternative for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients. Our goal is to determine the risk factors that lead to poor functional outcomes in patients undergoing this procedure. METHODS: Clinical data of 101 patients with stereotactic catheter ICH aspiration were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate and multiple logistic analyses were used to identify risk factors for poor outcomes 3 months and 1 year after discharge. Univariate analysis was used to compare the functional outcome between early (<48 h after ICH onset) and late hematoma evacuation (≥48 h after ICH onset) groups, as well as for the odd ratios assessment in terms of rebleeding. RESULTS: Independent factors for poor 3-month outcome included lobar ICH, ICH score > 2, rebleeding, and delayed hematoma evacuation. Factors for poor 1-year outcome included age > 60, GCS < 13, lobar ICH, and rebleeding. Early hematoma evacuation was linked to a lower likelihood of poor outcome both 3 months and 1 year post-discharge, but with higher risk of postoperative rebleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Lobar ICH and rebleeding independently predicted both poor short- and long-term outcomes in patients with stereotactic catheter ICH evacuation. Early hematoma evacuation with preoperative rebleeding risk evaluation may benefit patients with stereotactic catheter ICH evacuation.

Long Non-coding RNA H19 Promotes NLRP3-Mediated Pyroptosis After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats.

NLRP3 inflammasomes have been reported to be an essential mediator in the inflammatory response during early brain injury (EBI) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Recent studies have indicated that NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 can participate in the inflammatory response. However, the roles and functions of lncRNA H19 in NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis during EBI after SAH are unknown and need to be further elucidated. NLRP3 inflammasome proteins were significantly elevated in CSF of human with SAH induced EBI and presented a positive correlation with severity. In ipsilateral hemisphere cortex of rats, these NLRP3 inflammasome proteins were also increased and accompanied with upregulation of H19, and both of NLRP3 and H19 were peaked at 24 h after SAH. However, knockdown of H19 markedly decreased the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome proteins at 24 h after SAH in rats and also ameliorated EBI, showing improved neurobehavioral deficits, cerebral edema, and neuronal injury. Moreover, knocking down of H19 downregulated the expression of Gasdermin D (GSDMD) in microglia in SAH rats. Similarly, knockdown of H19 also alleviated OxyHb-induced pyroptosis and NLRP3-mediated inflammasomes activation in primary microglia. Lastly, H19 competitively sponged with rno-miR-138-5p and then upregulated NLRP3 expression in the post-SAH inflammatory response. lncRNA H19 promotes NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis by functioning as rno-miR-138-5p sponge in rats during EBI after SAH, which might provide a potential therapeutic target for post-SAH inflammation regulation.

Pathogenicity classification of SOD1 variants of uncertain significance by in vitro aggregation propensity.

Deposition of insoluble SOD1 aggregates in motor neurons is the hallmark of SOD1-associated ALS. Mutant SOD1 protein promotes structural instability that leads to misfolded SOD1 protein aggregates, which can be recapitulated in vitro. Therefore, aggregation propensity in cell lines can be a reliable indicator for the pathogenicity classification of SOD1 variants. Herein, we performed in vitro experiment to classify the pathogenicity of 34 SOD1 variants of uncertain significance (VUS) from 215 variants reported previously. The clinical features of 234 ALS patients with 31 SOD1 likely pathogenic (LP) variants were summarized. 31 VUS variants formed aggregates spontaneously, indicating LP variants. Missense variants were mainly located in the C-terminal of SOD1. Among patients with 31 SOD1 LP variants, 75% of patients had lower limb onset. The onset of familial ALS patients (45.7±14.0 years) is earlier than sporadic ALS patients (50.6±13.1 years). Our results expand the spectrum of SOD1 mutations and highlight the natural history of SOD1-positive ALS patients for further clinical trials in SOD1-related ALS.

The effects of challenge and threat states on coping flexibility: evidence from framing and exemplar priming.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Challenge and threat states have divergent effects on cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses. The present research used two experiments to investigate whether challenge and threat states influence coping flexibility differently. DESIGN: Study 1 (N = 93) used loss-framed and gain-framed task instructions to elicit situation-specific threat and challenge evaluations, respectively, with a Null condition as a control. Study 2 (N = 86) used an online single-session Cognitive Bias Modification for Interpretation (CBM-I) paradigm to present participants with exemplars related to either positive or negative resolutions of stressful situations to engender a stress-is-a-challenge or stress-is-a-threat mindset, with a mixed condition as a control. RESULTS: Loss-framed task instruction generated situation-specific threat evaluation, debilitated effective attention, and reduced positive affect, without altering coping flexibility measured in other scenarios. CBM-I engendered a stress-is-a-challenge mindset and maintained positive affect and coping flexibility, whereas the negative and mixed groups decreased coping flexibility. A stress-is-a-challenge mindset was positively associated with coping flexibility prior to and after exemplar priming. CONCLUSIONS: Findings enrich the literature on stress coping and shed light on future practice by illustrating the different effects of framing and CBM-I on challenge/threat situation-specific evaluation and stress mindset, and the positive relation of stress-is-a-challenge mindset to coping flexibility.

Comprehensive maturity of nuclear pore complexes regulates zygotic genome activation.

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are channels for nucleocytoplasmic transport of proteins and RNAs. However, it remains unclear whether composition, structure, and permeability of NPCs dynamically change during the cleavage period of vertebrate embryos and affect embryonic development. Here, we report that the comprehensive NPC maturity (CNM) controls the onset of zygotic genome activation (ZGA) during zebrafish early embryogenesis. We show that more nucleoporin proteins are recruited to and assembled into NPCs with development, resulting in progressive increase of NPCs in size and complexity. Maternal transcription factors (TFs) transport into nuclei more efficiently with increasing CNM. Deficiency or dysfunction of Nup133 or Ahctf1/Elys impairs NPC assembly, maternal TFs nuclear transport, and ZGA onset, while nup133 overexpression promotes these processes. Therefore, CNM may act as a molecular timer for ZGA by controlling nuclear transport of maternal TFs that reach nuclear concentration thresholds at a given time to initiate ZGA.

Social Support and Loneliness among Chinese Rural-to-Urban Migrant Children: A Moderated Mediation Analysis of the Roles of Social Competence and Stress Mindset.

Social support has been an important social-contextual protective factor against loneliness. However, how individual-level protective factors, such as social competence and a positive stress mindset, may jointly influence the relationship between social support and loneliness is less known. This study examined to what extent the link between social support and loneliness would be mediated by social competence and moderated by stress mindset among migrant children. In total, 198 rural-to-urban migrant children aged 10-14 years (56.1% girls) in Beijing, China, completed a set of self-reported questionnaires. A moderated mediation analysis was performed. We found that perceived social support was associated with a lower level of loneliness, and this association was significant only for migrant children holding a positive stress mindset (indicated by a high ratio of the stress-is-a-challenge mindset to the stress-is-a-threat mindset). Notably, across children with different stress mindsets, perceived social support was indirectly related to a lower level of loneliness through greater social competence. Our findings suggest that social competence and a stress-is-a-challenge mindset are important individual-level protective factors for migrant children to overcome loneliness. Social competence can carry the effect of social support, and a stress-is-a-challenge mindset can optimize the effect of environmental resources on mental health.

Early Application of Next-Generation Sequencing Identifies Pancreatic Mass as Metastasis From an EGFR-Mutated Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic metastasis of primary lung adenocarcinoma is a rare occurrence, accounting for <0.3% of all pancreatic malignancies. Given that the prognosis and treatment options for primary pancreatic cancer differ greatly from pancreatic metastases from a primary site, an accurate diagnosis is critical. This report presents a unique case of a 65-year-old man who was admitted with significant unintentional weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pain, and jaundice, and found to have a pancreatic mass initially thought to be primary pancreatic adenocarcinoma and subsequently diagnosed as an EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma with metastases to the pancreas via early application of next-generation sequencing (NGS). The use of NGS early in the patient's clinical course not only changed the treatment strategy but also drastically altered the prognosis. Although metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma has a poor prognosis and survival rate, treatment of EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors is associated with high response rates. Importantly, our case demonstrates that timely application of NGS very early in the disease course is paramount to the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of solid malignancies.

Genome-wide identification and analysis of bZIP gene family reveal their roles during development and drought stress in Wheel Wingnut (Cyclocarya paliurus).

BACKGROUND: The bZIP gene family has important roles in various biological processes, including development and stress responses. However, little information about this gene family is available for Wheel Wingnut (Cyclocarya paliurus).  RESULTS: In this study, we identified 58 bZIP genes in the C. paliurus genome and analyzed phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal locations, gene structure, collinearity, and gene expression profiles. The 58 bZIP genes could be divided into 11 groups and were unevenly distributed among 16 C. paliurus chromosomes. An analysis of cis-regulatory elements indicated that bZIP promoters were associated with phytohormones and stress responses. The expression patterns of bZIP genes in leaves differed among developmental stages. In addition, several bZIP members were differentially expressed under drought stress. These expression patterns were verified by RT-qPCR. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide insights into the evolutionary history of the bZIP gene family in C. paliurus and the function of these genes during leaf development and in the response to drought stress. In addition to basic genomic information, our results provide a theoretical basis for further studies aimed at improving growth and stress resistance in C. paliurus, an important medicinal plant.

Plant Virome Analysis by the Deep Sequencing of Small RNAs of Fritillaria thunbergii var. chekiangensis and the Rapid Identification of Viruses.

Thunberg fritillary (Fritillaria thunbergii), a perennial used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is a members of the family Liliaceae. The degeneration of germplasm is a severe problem in the production of Fritillaria thunbergii var. chekiangensis. However, no information about viral infections of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis has been reported. In this study, we sequenced the small RNAs of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis from leaves and bulbs, and viruses were identified using a phylogenetic analysis and BLAST search for sequence. In addition, multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to rapidly detect viruses in this variety. Our study first reported that five viruses infected F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis. Among them, fritillary virus Y (FVY), lily mottle virus (LMoV), Thunberg fritillary mosaic virus (TFMV), and hop yellow virus (HYV) had been reported in F. thunbergii, while apple stem grooving virus was first reported in the genus Fritillaria. A multiplex RT-PCR method was developed to rapidly test the four viruses FVY, LMoV, TFMV, and HYV in F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis. Our results provide a better understanding of the infection of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis by viruses and a basic reference for the better design of suitable control measures.

The mechanism of abscisic acid regulation of wild Fragaria species in response to cold stress.

BACKGROUND: Abiotic stresses have increasingly serious effects on the growth and yield of crops. Cold stress, in particular, is an increasing problem. In this study, Fragaria daltoniana and F. vesca were determined to be cold-resistant and cold-sensitive species, respectively. Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics methods were used to analyze the regulatory mechanism of abscisic acid (ABA) in F. daltoniana and F. vesca in their response to low temperature stress. RESULTS: F. daltoniana and F. vesca increased their ABA content under low temperature stress by upregulating the expression of the ABA biosynthetic pathway gene NCED and downregulating the expression of the ABA degradative gene CYP707A. Both types of regulation increased the accumulation of glucose and fructose, resulting in a reduction of damage under low temperature stress. Twelve transcription factors were found to be involved in the ABA regulatory pathway. The strong cold tolerance of F. daltoniana could be owing to its higher levels of ABA that accumulated compared with those in F. vesca under low temperature stress. In addition, the gene ABF2, which is related to the transduction of glucose signaling, was significantly upregulated in the leaves of F. daltoniana, while it was downregulated in the leaves of F. vesca under low temperature stress. This could contribute to the higher levels of glucose signal transduction in F. daltoniana. Thus, this could explain the higher peroxidase activity and lower damage to cell membranes in the leaves of F. daltoniana compared with F. vesca under low temperature stress, which endows the former with stronger cold tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: Under low temperature stress, the differences in the accumulation of ABA and the expression trends of ABF2 and ABF4 in different species of wild strawberries may be the primary reason for their differences in cold tolerance. Our results provide an important empirical reference and technical support for breeding resistant cultivated strawberry plants.

The second polar body contributes to the fate asymmetry in the mouse embryo.

The polar bodies (PBs) are extruded microcells during oocyte meiosis and generally regarded as inessentials for embryonic development. Therefore, PBs have been widely used as important materials for pre-implantation genetic diagnosis in human. Here we report that the second PB (PB2) in the mouse zygote may play roles in cell-fate specification and post-implantation development. A subset of mRNAs encoding pluripotency-related factors are enriched in PB2. Nascent proteins may be synthesized in PB2 after fertilization and transport from PB2 to the zygote before the two-cell stage. The PB2-attached blastomere (pbB) at the two-cell stage, compared to the other blastomere (npbB), likely contributes more descendants to the inner cell mass (ICM) lineage in the blastocyst. Removal of PB2 from the zygote or transient blockage of material exchange between PB2 and the zygote by nocodazole treatment appears to cause a loss of the ICM fate bias of pbB. PB2 removal or nocodazole treatment also results in abnormal post-implantation development. Injection of PB2 lysate into pbB of PB2-removed two-cell-stage embryos may reset the cell-fate preference and rescue post-implantation development. Our data collectively suggest that PB2 would demarcate the earliest cell-fate asymmetry of the mouse zygote and be required for post-implantation development.