Horizontal and Vertical Transmission of a Mycovirus Closely Related to the Partitivirus RhsV717 That Confers Hypovirulence in Rhizoctonia solani.

Rhizoctonia solani virus717 (RhsV717) was isolated from the Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) AG-2 strain Rhs717. This study isolated a virus designated as Rhizoctonia solani partitivirus BS-5 (RsPV-BS5) from the R. solani AG-3 strain BS-5, the causal agent of tobacco target spot disease. The virus was identified as a strain of RhsV717. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that RsPV-BS5 had virus particles with a diameter of approximately 40 nm. Importantly, it can be horizontally transmitted through hyphal anastomosis and vertically transmitted via sexual basidiospores. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that RsPV-BS5 infection significantly impedes mycelial growth and induces hypovirulence in tobacco leaves. Thus, RsPV-BS5 presents a promising avenue for biocontrolling tobacco target spot disease. Transcriptome analysis unveiled differential expression of four genes related to cell wall-degrading enzymes between two isogenic strains, 06-2-15V and 06-2-15. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanism through which RsPV-BS5 reduces host pathogenicity.

Functional connectivity changes in infants with varying degrees of unilateral hearing loss.

It has been proved that unilateral hearing loss (UHL) can cause functional connectivity alterations in adults. However, the mechanism of the human brain coping with the challenge of unilateral hearing deprivation at very early developmental phases remains poorly understood. Here, we performed a resting-state functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) study on 3- to 10-month-old infants with varying degrees of unilateral hearing loss to investigate the effect of unilateral auditory deprivation in infants. Using network-based statistics, increased functional connectivity was observed in single-sided deafness (SSD) compared with normal hearing infants, and the right middle temporal gyrus was the most involved nodes. In addition, changes in cortical function in infants were related to the degree of hearing loss, with significantly increased functional connectivity in infants with severe to profound unilateral hearing loss compared with the ones with mild to moderate. Moreover, more significant cortical functional recombination changes were found in right-SSD than in left-SSD infants. For the first time, our study provides evidence for the effects of unilateral hearing deprivation on the early cortical development of the human brain, which would also act as a reference for intervention decisions in children with unilateral hearing loss in clinical settings.

Exosomes: Mediators in microenvironment of colorectal cancer.

Tumor microenvironment, the soil where tumor thrives, plays a critical role in the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). Various cell signaling molecules in the environment promote tumor angiogenesis, immune tolerance and facilitate immune escape. Exosomes, as messengers between tumor and host cells, are considered key mediators involved in the tumor-accelerating environment. However, the exosome-mediated communication networks in the CRC microenvironment are still largely unclear. In this review, we summarized the relationship between TME and CRC based on recent literature. Then, we revealed the unique impacts and signal molecules of exosomes on account of their regulatory role in the flora, hypoxia, inflammatory and immunological microenvironment of CRC. Finally, we summarized the therapeutically effective of exosomes in CRC microenvironment and discussed their current status and prospects, aiming to provide new molecular targets and a theoretical basis for the CRC treatment.

Exosomes: mediators regulating the phenotypic transition of vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of human mortality worldwide, mainly due to atherosclerosis (AS), and the phenotypic transition of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a key event in the development of AS. Exosomes contain a variety of specific nucleic acids and proteins that mediate intercellular communication. The role of exosomes in AS has attracted attention. This review uses the VSMC phenotypic transition in AS as the entry point, introduces the effect of exosomes on AS from different perspectives, and discusses the status quo, deficiencies, and potential future directions in this field to provide new ideas for clinical research and treatment of AS. Video Abstract.

Nrf2 deficiency attenuates atherosclerosis by reducing LOX-1-mediated proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Oxidative stress and abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) influence atherosclerosis formation and development. Oxidative stress significantly influences the abnormal proliferation and migration of VSMCs, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a major antioxidant factor. However, the precise function of Nrf2 in the regulation of abnormal proliferation and migration of VSMCs and atherosclerosis is unclear. METHODS: We investigated the proliferation and migration of VSMCs in atherosclerosis in male Apoe-/- and Apoe-/-Nrf2-/- mice fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. In cultured mouse VSMCs, we studied the effect of Nrf2 on ox-LDL-stimulated proliferation and migration by using siRNA treatment to silence Nrf2. We then performed dual luciferase reporter and immunoprecipitation assays to study the interaction between Nrf2 and the promoter sequence of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1). RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that Nrf2 expression levels were increased in the aorta and VSMCs of mice in the atherosclerosis model group compared with the control group. We also provide evidence that Nrf2 deficiency attenuated atherosclerotic plaque burden, diminished proliferation, and migration of VSMCs but enhanced VSMC-specific marker gene expression in vitro and in vivo. This is related to Nrf2 binding to the promoter sequence of LOX-1. Furthermore, Nrf2 downregulation contributes to restrain both transcriptional and translational activities of LOX-1. CONCLUSIONS: Together, our data indicate that Nrf2 insufficiency is linked to attenuation of atherosclerosis, and could diminish the pathological process by blunting LOX-1-mediated proliferation and migration of VSMCs.

Perioperative Exercise Intention and Influencing Factors: A Multi-Centered Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the level and factors affecting the perioperative exercise intention in China. Design: This study was a cross-sectional survey in Southwest China. Methods: Four hundred and ninety nine participants were randomly sampled in eight medical centers from November 23, 2020 to November 27, 2020. The survey included sociodemographic information and a 24-item modified questionnaire, which aimed to evaluate the attitude toward daily exercise, perception of perioperative exercise, social support and the perioperative exercise intention. A multivariable linear regression model was used to evaluate the effect of different items on the patients' intention for perioperative exercise. Results: A total of 523 responses (95.09%) were collected and 499 (95.41%) were analyzed. The level of exercise intention of the patients during the perioperative period was: 14.83% planned to exercise every day in the hospital, 21.04% planned to exercise every other day, and 35.87% planned to exercise every week. Intensity of daily exercise (P = 0.016), positive attitude of daily exercise (P < 0.001), positive attitude of perioperative exercise (P < 0.001) and social support (P < 0.001) were positively associated with the intention for perioperative exercise. Female (P = 0.012), non-tertiary center (P = 0.011), and preoperative anxiety (P = 0.023) was negatively associated with it. Conclusions: The intention for perioperative exercise was low in Southwest China. The authors aimed to relieve preoperative anxiety, promote the education of perioperative exercise, design perioperative exercise programs, and provide more social support from medical staff and family for inpatients undergoing elective surgery.

Biomimetic fabrication of new bioceramics-introduced fibrous scaffolds: From physicochemical characteristics to in vitro biological properties.

The combination of biodegradable polymers and bioactive inorganic materials is a promising method to mimic native tissue in bone regeneration. Toward this direction, electrospun fibrous scaffolds were successfully fabricated in the silk fibroin (SF) matrix containing new bioceramics on the basis of mesoporous bioactive glass/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite (MGHA). The physicochemical properties and surface hydrophilicity of these biphasic composite could be tailored by the addition of MGHA content. The increase in surface hydrophilicity and bioactivity of the as-spun composite fibers were observed with the increasing the nanoparticle contents while decreasing their tensile strength. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation based on human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) revealed that a positive osteogenic differentiation effect on SF/MGHA7 sample as evidenced by an increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and upregulated osteoblastic gene expression compared with SF samples. These findings supported the suitability of the SF/MGHA composite system for its potential application in cell-material combination in bone tissue engineering.

[Value of 18F-FDG PET imaging in diagnosing tumor residue of intracranial glioma after surgery and radiotherapy].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: It is difficult to diagnose tumor residue by CT/MRI after treatment. The application of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) to determine the suspected tumor residue after treatment has become a hot target in the study of radiotherapy. This study was designed to discuss the clinical value of (18)-FDG PET imaging in post-operative and post-radiotherapeutic intracranial glioma. METHODS: (18)F-FDG PET imaging was performed in 23 patients with post-operative and post-radio-therapeutic intracranial glioma, and compared with CT/MRI. The final diagnosis of tumor residue was proved by pathology or clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Of 23 patients, 12 showed (18)F-FDG PET positive, and 11 showed negative,among which 3 were false negative. The accuracy of (18)F-FDG PET was 87.0% (20/23), significantly higher than 60.9% (14/23) of CT/MRI scan (P< 0.05). The diagnosis of tumor residue in 9 patients cannot be determined by CT/MRI, while 4 of these patients showed (18)F-FDG PET positive, and the other 5 showed (18)F-FDG PET negative. Eight of 23 patients diagnosed tumor residues by CT/MRI, showed (18)F-FDG PET positive,too. Six patients,diagnosed by CT/MRI as radioactive-disease sufferers, and PET indicated with low or deficient FDG metabolism, were proved to have radioactive diseases by follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: (18)F-FDG PET imaging has significant dominance in characterizing lesions,and differentiating tumor residue in post-operative and post-radiotherapeutic intracranial glioma. Combined with CT and MRI, it can provide both anatomical and functional information for treatment.

[Detection of residue of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with FDG PET].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The use of F-18-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) in detection of suspected residue of malignant tumor after treatment has become one of the most important targets of study in radiotherapy. This study was designed to evaluate FDG PET in detection of suspected residue of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after treatment, in comparison with CT imaging. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with clinically suspected residue of NPC did FDG PET Scanning, 23 of them also examine with CT imaging. The diagnosis of residue were confirmed by pathology or clinical follow-up. RESULTS: FDG PET correctly detected residue in 19/25 patients. There were 4 false positive and 2 false negative patients. The accuracy of FDG PET was 76.0% (19/25), compared to 52.2% (12/23) of CT scan. Eleven of 23 patients did not show any residue by CT scan, while, FDG PET scan showed significantly increased FDG metabolism, indicating residue in 2 of these patients. In 7 patients, both CT and FDG PET indicated residue tumor. CONCLUSION: Compared with CT imaging, FDG PET has a higher accuracy in detection of residue nasopharyngeal carcinoma after treatment.