Identification and Analysis of PEPC Gene Family Reveals Functional Diversification in Orchidaceae and the Regulation of Bacterial-Type PEPC.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) gene family plays a crucial role in both plant growth and response to abiotic stress. Approximately half of the Orchidaceae species are estimated to perform CAM pathway, and the availability of sequenced orchid genomes makes them ideal subjects for investigating the PEPC gene family in CAM plants. In this study, a total of 33 PEPC genes were identified across 15 orchids. Specifically, one PEPC gene was found in Cymbidium goeringii and Platanthera guangdongensis; two in Apostasia shenzhenica, Dendrobium chrysotoxum, D. huoshanense, Gastrodia elata, G. menghaiensis, Phalaenopsis aphrodite, Ph. equestris, and Pl. zijinensis; three in C. ensifolium, C. sinense, D. catenatum, D. nobile, and Vanilla planifolia. These PEPC genes were categorized into four subgroups, namely PEPC-i, PEPC-ii, and PEPC-iii (PTPC), and PEPC-iv (BTPC), supported by the comprehensive analyses of their physicochemical properties, motif, and gene structures. Remarkably, PEPC-iv contained a heretofore unreported orchid PEPC gene, identified as VpPEPC4. Differences in the number of PEPC homolog genes among these species were attributed to segmental duplication, whole-genome duplication (WGD), or gene loss events. Cis-elements identified in promoter regions were predominantly associated with light responsiveness, and circadian-related elements were observed in each PEPC-i and PEPC-ii gene. The expression levels of recruited BTPC, VpPEPC4, exhibited a lower expression level than other VpPEPCs in the tested tissues. The expression analyses and RT-qPCR results revealed diverse expression patterns in orchid PEPC genes. Duplicated genes exhibited distinct expression patterns, suggesting functional divergence. This study offered a comprehensive analysis to unveil the evolution and function of PEPC genes in Orchidaceae.

Birth-related retinal hemorrhages in healthy full-term newborns and their relationship to maternal, obstetric, and neonatal risk factors.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to explore underlying maternal, obstetric, and neonatal risk factors of retinal hemorrhages (RH) in healthy full-term newborns. METHODS: A total of 1199 full-term infants, with gestational age more than 37 weeks and Apgar score of 7 or above, were included in this study. Infants with severe systemic diseases or any other eye diseases were excluded. Eye examinations with RetCamIII within 1 week of birth were performed in all infants. Maternal, obstetric, and neonatal parameters were analyzed and compared between newborns with RH and those without RH. RESULTS: RH was seen in 294 of the 1199 infants (24.5 %) in this study. Among factors examined in the study, spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) (odds ratio [OR] =3.811 [95 % CI2.649-5.483], P < 0.001) and cephalhematoma (OR = 1.823 [95 % CI1.009-3.296], P = 0.047) correlated positively with RH occurrence in newborns, while a history of cesarean delivery correlated negatively with RH occurrence (OR = 0.296 [95 % CI0.139-0.630], P = 0.002). There was no statistical correlation found between RH and the other risk factors examined in this study. These factors included gender, gestational age, birth weight, maternal age, volume, and turbidity of amniotic fluid, duration of the first or second stage of labor, anemia, hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP), fetal distress, intracranial hemorrhage, and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. CONCLUSIONS: RH is common in full-term newborns. A lower prevalence of newborn RH was found in infants delivered by mothers with a history of cesarean delivery. In contrast, SVD and cephalhematoma were found to be potential risk factors for the development of newborn RH in full-term infants. Infants with these risk factors may, therefore, require greater attention in regard to RH development.

Choroidal analysis of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy by spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to measure the changes in the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and choroidal maximal vessel diameter (MVD) of the affected and unaffected fellow eyes in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and compare them to healthy controls. METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational clinical study, SFCT and MVD were measured in both eyes of 53 patients with unilateral PCV. PCV eyes were subgrouped into group A and unaffected fellow eyes into group B. All patients were diagnosed with PCV by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Sixty age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in the control group (group C). RESULTS: No statistical difference was observed among groups in age and gender. Overall, SFCT was correlated with MVD in all subjects (P < 0.001; correlation coefficient: 0.759). P values were < 0.001 with a correlation coefficient of 0.686, 0.801, and 0.808 in groups A, B, and C, respectively. No statistical significance was noted in SFCT among groups A (266.45 ± 99.51 µm),B(269.57 ± 105.10 µm), and C (243.83 ± 99.68 µm) (P = 0.335). However, the. MVD in group, A was (202.55 ±72.45 µm), significantly larger than that in group C (166.45 ± 56.18 µm, P = 0.008), while the MVD in group B (194.75 ± 85.27 µm) was equally significantly greater than that in group C (166.45 ± 56.18 µm) (P = 0.038). CONCLUSION: For both PCV patients and healthy subjects, SFCT was positively correlated with MVD. No statistical significance was noted in SFCT between PCV eyes and unaffected fellow/normal eyes. However, MVD was significantly larger in the PCV affected eyes than in unaffected fellow or normal control eyes, suggesting that MVD could be considered as a sensitive indicator to evaluate choroidal perfusion in PCV patients.

[The therapeutic effects of photodynamic therapy on choroidal neovascularization of pathologic myopia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effects and safety of photodynamic therapy on choroidal neovascularization (CNV) of pathologic myopia. METHODS: Retrospective noncomparative clinical data of 27 cases with CNV complicated from pathologic myopia (32 eyes) and treated with PDT, the parameters including the study were fundus characteristics, fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA), optic coherence tomography (OCT), and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before and after PDT. RESULTS: The mean age of 27 patients was 40.5. Five cases in the series were bilateral CNV. 29 eyes were subfoveal CNV and 3 eyes were juxtafoveal CNV. The degree of myopic was from -6D to -12D. At the final follow up, the improvement (increase >or= 2 lines) of BCVA was seen in 4 eyes (12.5%), vision acuity was stabilized (+/- 1 line) in 27 eyes (84.4%) and decreased (>or= 2 lines) in 1 eyes (3.1%). Metamorphopsia disappeared in 29 eyes (90.6%). FFA showed lacquer cracks in 12 eyes. CNV was completely closed in 17 eyes (53.1%), incompletely closed in 6 eyes (18.8% and partial closed in 9 eyes (28.1%) as demonstrated by FFA. The mean number of PDT treatment was 1.3 per eye in 27 cases. No serious local or systemic complications were encountered. CONCLUSIONS: PDT is a safe and effective treatment for patients with CNV of pathologic myopia, it can reduce the risk of moderate and severe vision loss and alleviate the symptoms. PDT may improve the functional visual status of patients with pathologic myopia.