iTRAQ-Based Protein Profiling and Biochemical Analysis of Two Contrasting Rice Genotypes Revealed Their Differential Responses to Salt Stress.

Salt stress is one of the key abiotic stresses causing huge productivity losses in rice. In addition, the differential sensitivity to salinity of different rice genotypes during different growth stages is a major issue in mitigating salt stress in rice. Further, information on quantitative proteomics in rice addressing such an issue is scarce. In the present study, an isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based comparative protein quantification was carried out to investigate the salinity-responsive proteins and related biochemical features of two contrasting rice genotypes-Nipponbare (NPBA, japonica) and Liangyoupeijiu (LYP9, indica), at the maximum tillering stage. The rice genotypes were exposed to four levels of salinity: 0 (control; CK), 1.5 (low salt stress; LS), 4.5 (moderate salt stress; MS), and 7.5 g of NaCl/kg dry soil (high salt stress, HS). The iTRAQ protein profiling under different salinity conditions identified a total of 5340 proteins with 1% FDR in both rice genotypes. In LYP9, comparisons of LS, MS, and HS compared with CK revealed the up-regulation of 28, 368, and 491 proteins, respectively. On the other hand, in NPBA, 239 and 337 proteins were differentially upregulated in LS and MS compared with CK, respectively. Functional characterization by KEGG and COG, along with the GO enrichment results, suggests that the differentially expressed proteins are mainly involved in regulation of salt stress responses, oxidation-reduction responses, photosynthesis, and carbohydrate metabolism. Biochemical analysis of the rice genotypes revealed that the Na⁺ and Cl- uptake from soil to the leaves via the roots was increased with increasing salt stress levels in both rice genotypes. Further, increasing the salinity levels resulted in increased cell membrane injury in both rice cultivars, however more severely in NPBA. Moreover, the rice root activity was found to be higher in LYP9 roots compared with NPBA under salt stress conditions, suggesting the positive role of rice root activity in mitigating salinity. Overall, the results from the study add further insights into the differential proteome dynamics in two contrasting rice genotypes with respect to salt tolerance, and imply the candidature of LYP9 to be a greater salt tolerant genotype over NPBA.

Reliability of temporal bone high-resolution CT in patients with facial paralysis in temporal bone fracture.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the reliability of temporal bone high-resolution CT (HRCT) in patients with traumatic facial paralysis. METHODS: HRCT with cross-sectional scanning and multi-planar reformation (MPR) was performed on 26 cases with traumatic facial paralysis, and the preoperative imaging manifestations were compared with surgical findings. RESULTS: Preoperative HRCT revealed fallopian canal damage at the posterior genu in 1 case, geniculate ganglion in 22 cases, labyrinthine segment in 4 cases, tympanic segment in 13 cases and mastoid segment in 0 case, while surgical findings confirmed fallopian canal damage at the posterior genu in 7 cases, geniculate ganglion in 23 cases, labyrinthine segment in 4 cases, tympanic segment in 17 cases and mastoid segment in 7 cases. The accuracy of temporal bone HRCT in revealing damage at those segments of fallopian canal was 14.3%, 95.7%, 100%, 76.5, and 0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Temporal bone HRCT can generally estimate the extent of damage and provide important information for traumatic facial paralysis before surgery. However, it is unreliable in revealing the damage of fallopian canal at the posterior genu and mastoid segment.

Surgical timing for facial paralysis after temporal bone trauma.

OBJECTIVES: To explore surgical timing of facial paralysis after temporal bone trauma. METHODS: The clinical data of the patients with facial paralysis after temporal bone trauma who underwent subtotal facial nerve decompression were retrospectively collected, and 80 cases followed-up for one year were enrolled in the study. They were divided into different subgroups according to the age, onset, and interval between facial paralysis and surgery, and the outcomes of facial nerve between different subgroups were compared. RESULTS: The number of patients who achieved good recovery of HB Grade I or II was 52 of 80 (65.0%). 43 of 66 cases (65.2%) in the younger group had good recovery of facial nerve in contrast to 9 of 14 cases (64.3%) in the elderly group, without significant difference (p>0.05). 9 of 13 cases (69.2%) in the delayed onset group had good recovery, while 43 of 67 cases (64.2%) in the immediate onset group had good recovery, without significant difference (p>0.05). The good recovery rate of the <1month group was statistically higher compared to the 3-6months group or the >6months group (P<0.05), while the good recovery rate of the <1month group was not statistically higher than that of the 1-2months group or the 2-3months group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the good recovery rate of facial paralysis after temporal bone trauma was uncorrelated with age and onset. It was better to perform surgical decompression within 3months after facial paralysis.

Surgical outcomes of facial nerve hemangiomas in temporal bones.

OBJECTIVE: To report surgical outcomes of 15 cases who had facial nerve hemangiomas. METHODS: All cases underwent complete removal of hemangiomas, and preservation of nerve integrity was attempted. The postoperative outcomes of facial nerve was assessed. RESULTS: Nerve integrity was successfully preserved in 10 cases, all of which maintained or recovered to Grade I or Grade II, and facial nerve was sacrificed in 5 cases, who recovered to Grade III or Grade IV. CONCLUSIONS: When possible, facial nerve preservation should be attempted, which was critical to yield better outcomes of facial nerve.

Facial nerve hemangiomas at geniculate ganglion: preservation of nerve integrity is correlated with duration of facial palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To study preservation of nerve integrity in 16 cases with facial nerve hemangiomas at geniculate ganglion (GG). METHODS: 16 cases with facial nerve hemangiomas at GG, who presented with facial palsy, were included in the study. Preservation of nerve integrity was attempted by the same surgeon during surgical removal, and those who failed to preserve nerve integrity underwent nerve grafting. The patients were divided into longer duration group (>12months) and shorter duration group (≤12months) according to duration of facial palsy, and preservation of nerve integrity in the couple of groups was compared. RESULTS: Nerve integrity was preserved in 2 of 10 cases (20%) among longer duration group, while it was preserved in 5 of 6 cases (83.3%) among shorter duration group (p<0.05). All the cases with nerve integrity preserved recovered to grade III or better, among which 3 cases recovered to grade I or grade II, while only 3 of 9 cases (33.3%) with nerve grafting recovered to grade III at the best. CONCLUSIONS: Preservation of nerve integrity was correlated with duration of facial palsy in cases with hemangiomas at GG. Patients with nerve integrity preserved showed better outcomes of facial nerve.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of intratemporal facial nerve neurofibromas.

UNLABELLED: This study aimed to present clinical features and outcomes of 10 patients with intratemporal facial nerve neurofibromas. METHODS: The ten patients underwent complete tumor removal, and nerve grafting was performed on 3 cases whose nerve integrity was sacrificed. They were followed up after surgery. RESULTS: All patients firstly complained of facial palsy, and progressive sensorineural hearing loss was also present in one case. Insidious onset of facial palsy was found in 6 of 10 cases (60.0%). There was multi-segment involvement in 5 of 10 cases (50.0%). During the follow-up of 4.2±1.5 ys (range, 2-6 ys), 1 of 6 cases who successfully maintained nerve integrity recovered to Grade III, and the others remained or recovered to Grade V or even Grade VI. In contrast, all of the 3 cases with nerve grafting recovered from Grade VI to Grade III or Grade IV. No tumor recurrence was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Facial nerve neurofibromas mainly presented with insidious facial palsy, and tended to affect multiple segments of facial nerve. It seemed that complete tumor removal and nerve grafting had better outcomes of facial nerve compared to complete tumor removal with nerve integrity preserved.

Stripping surgery in intratemporal facial nerve schwannomas with poor facial nerve function.

UNLABELLED: To report stripping surgery in intratemporal facial nerve schwannomas (FNS) with poor facial nerve function. METHODS: We attempted stripping surgery to completely remove intratemporal FNS with nerve intact in 17 patients, and succeeded in 12 cases. Clinical features of the tumors and the surgical approach were discussed. RESULTS: Multi-segment involvement was present in 10 cases (58.8%). The tumors were completely removed in all cases, and facial nerve integrity was preserved in 12 patients (70.6%). Six of 12 cases (50.0%) with nerve intact obtained acceptable facial nerve recovery, two of which recovered to Grade II, compared to 2 of 5 cases (40%) with nerve grafting. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-segment involvement was more common in FNS. Stripping surgery could remove tumor completely with nerve intact in majority patients, and it seemed to obtain better outcomes of facial nerve.

Near-total removal of facial nerve schwannomas: long-term outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to present long-term outcomes of near-total removal of facial nerve schwannomas (FNS) with good facial nerve function (HB Grade III or better). METHODS: We successfully performed near-total removal of FNS (tumor removal of 95% or greater) on 13 cases, and the remaining 6 cases who failed underwent total tumor removal and nerve grafting. Patients were divided into near-total removal group and total removal group according to surgical approach, and they were followed up for 7.38 ± 1.98 years (range, 5 to 11 years) and 6.66 ± 1.63 years (range, 5 to 9 years), respectively. RESULTS: 12 of 13 cases (92.3%) in the near-total removal group successfully maintained at least Grade III except one who recurred and underwent complete tumor removal and nerve grafting, and 10 cases (76.9%) achieved Grade I or Grade II. 5 of 6 cases (83.3%) in the total removal group obtained Grade III, but none recovered to Grade I or II. Tumor growth was noted in only one case (7.7%) among the near-total removal group during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term outcomes of near-total removal of FNS were favorable, which may be a good choice for the old patients with good facial nerve function.

Realization of high-order topological phase transition in 2D metal-organic frameworks.

In two-dimensional (2D) scale, controllable topological phase transition between a conventional topological quantum state and a higher-order one has been a challenge currently. Herein, based on first-principles, we report 2D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are ideal choice for realizing such topological phase transition. Taking MOF candidate Pd3(C6S6)2as an example, a semimetallic band structure is present at the equilibrium state. Under moderate compressive strain, it features a nontrivial energy gap and corner states, which is evidenced as a second-order topological insulator (SOTI). In addition, the band order for its low-energy bands switches at moderate tensile strain, during which topological phase transition from SOTI and topological semimetal to double Weyl semimetal (DWSM) happens, accompanied by the change in real Chern number formνR=1toνR=0. At the critical point for the phase transition, the system can be characterized as a 2D pseudospin-1 fermion. Beside Pd3(C6S6)2, we further identify the ferromagnetic monolayer Fe3(C6S6)2can also take the DWSM-to-SOTI phase transition, where the topological fermions and corresponding edge/corner states could be fully spin-polarized. This work has for the first time realized topological transition between conventional topological quantum state and a higher-order one in both nonmagnetic and magnetic MOFs.

Two-dimensional half-metallicity and fully spin-polarized topological fermions in monolayer EuOBr.

Two-dimensional (2D) half-metal and topological states have been the current research focus in condensed matter physics. Herein, we report a novel 2D material named EuOBr monolayer, which can simultaneously show 2D half-metal and topological fermions. This material shows a metallic state in the spin-up channel but a large insulating gap of 4.38 eV in the spin-down channel. In the conducting spin channel, the EuOBr monolayer shows the coexistence of Weyl points and nodal-lines near the Fermi level. These nodal-lines are classified by type-I, hybrid, closed, and open nodal-lines. The symmetry analysis suggests these nodal-lines are protected by the mirror symmetry, which cannot be broken even spin-orbit coupling is included because the ground magnetization direction in the material is out-of-plane [001]. The topological fermions in the EuOBr monolayer are fully spin-polarized, which can be meaningful for future applications in topological spintronic nano-devices.

Deep learning to detect macular atrophy in wet age-related macular degeneration using optical coherence tomography.

Here, we have developed a deep learning method to fully automatically detect and quantify six main clinically relevant atrophic features associated with macular atrophy (MA) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The development of MA in patients with AMD results in irreversible blindness, and there is currently no effective method of early diagnosis of this condition, despite the recent development of unique treatments. Using OCT dataset of a total of 2211 B-scans from 45 volumetric scans of 8 patients, a convolutional neural network using one-against-all strategy was trained to present all six atrophic features followed by a validation to evaluate the performance of the models. The model predictive performance has achieved a mean dice similarity coefficient score of 0.706 ± 0.039, a mean Precision score of 0.834 ± 0.048, and a mean Sensitivity score of 0.615 ± 0.051. These results show the unique potential of using artificially intelligence-aided methods for early detection and identification of the progression of MA in wet AMD, which can further support and assist clinical decisions.

Effects of nitric oxide on nitrogen metabolism and the salt resistance of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings with different salt tolerances.

Salt stress inhibits rice productivity seriously. Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous signaling molecule in plants that can improve the resistance of rice to abiotic stresses. Previous studies also showed that nitrogen metabolism is essential for rice stress-tolerance. However, the physiological and molecular mechanisms by how NO affects the nitrogen metabolisms of rice seedlings remain unclear. A hydroponic experiment with two rice varieties, Jinyuan85 (salt tolerant) and Liaojing763 (salt sensitive), was carried out to explore whether NO could alleviate the negative effects of salt stress on nitrogen metabolism and increase salt resistance of rice seedlings. The results showed that (1) the application of NO alleviated the inhibitory effects of salt stress on plant height and biomass accumulation, and increased the nitrogen content of rice leaf. (2) the accumulation of the sucrose and proline was markedly increased in salt stress after application of NO, and peroxidase activities was increased by 107% and 67.7% for Jinyuan85 and Liaojing763, respectively. (3) NO significantly increased the activities of glutamate dehydrogenase, sucrose synthase and sucrose phosphate synthase in both rice varieties under salt stress. (4) Additionally, NO regulated the expression levels of AMT, NIA and SUT genes, but these regulation effects are different with rice varieties and treatments. The results suggested that NO mainly increased the glutamate dehydrogenase and peroxidase activities and sucrose accumulation to enhance the nitrogen metabolism and antioxidative capacity, and alleviated the negative effects of salt stress on rice performance.

Outcomes of pediatric delayed facial palsy after head trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical outcomes of delayed facial palsy after head trauma in the pediatric population. METHODS: A total of 45 pediatric cases with delayed facial palsy after head trauma were conservatively or surgically treated in our hospital between January 2009 and January 2015, and they were followed up for one year after the corresponding treatment. The clinical data were collected and the outcomes of facial nerve were analyzed. RESULTS: During the one-year follow-up, 33 cases (82.5%) completely recovered, and 5 cases (12.5%) recovered to Grade II among the 40 cases accepting conservative treatment. For the 5 surgically treated cases, 4 cases (80.0%) recovered to Grade I or Grade II, and one case recovered to Grade III. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of pediatric delayed facial palsy after head trauma were generally satisfactory.

Clinical features and outcomes of delayed facial palsy after head trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinical features and outcomes of delayed facial palsy after head trauma. METHODS: The cases who had delayed facial palsy after head trauma treated from March 2008 to March 2013 at our hospital were enrolled in the study, and their clinical features and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-five of 1620 cases developed delayed facial palsy after head trauma. Facial palsy occurred within day 3-7 in 23 cases, during day 8-14 in 8 cases, and 2 weeks later in 4 cases. Thirty-three cases were treated by prednisolone alone, and two cases who showed ≥90% degeneration of nerve fibers underwent surgical exploration and decompression. Among the 33 cases who received conservative treatment, 27 cases (81.8%) recovered completely, 3 cases (9.1%) recovered to Grade II, and only 3 cases (9.1%) recovered to Grade III or IV. The two surgically treated patients recovered to Grade II and III, respectively. CONCLUSION: The incidence of delayed facial palsy was 2.2% after head trauma. Delayed facial palsy mainly occurred within 2 weeks after head trauma. And over 90% patients achieved good recovery (HB Grade I or II) of facial nerve after conservative treatment.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of delayed facial palsy after tympanoplasty.

CONCLUSION: Delayed facial palsy after tympanoplasty had no predisposition for gender or side. It seemed that prednisolone alone without antiviral drugs was enough for the treatment of delayed facial palsy after tympanoplasty. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of delayed facial palsy after tympanoplasty. METHODS: The cases with delayed facial palsy after tympanoplasty treated from January 2005 to January 2014 at our hospital were included in the study, and their clinical characteristics and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of delayed facial palsy after tympanoplasty was 1.1% (16/1420 cases). Facial palsy occurred between 5 and 14 days (average 7.4 ± 1.8 days) after surgery. The incidence of delayed facial palsy was not different between males and females (p > 0.05). Also there was no significant difference between left and right side (p > 0.05). All patients were treated by prednisolone alone, and their facial nerve recovered to HB grade I after 3 weeks to 2 months without any sequelae.

Management of facial palsy after temporal bone fracture via the transmastoid approach.

CONCLUSION: The outcomes of extended subtotal facial nerve decompression via the transmastoid approach were good for facial palsy after temporal bone fracture (TBF). Surgical decompression should be carried out as soon as possible within 8 weeks after trauma. OBJECTIVE: To present outcomes of facial palsy after TBF via the transmastoid approach and to describe our experience of management of facial palsy in TBF. METHODS: A consecutive clinical series was reviewed retrospectively. Eighteen cases that underwent extended subtotal facial nerve decompression (decompression from the stylomastoid foramen to the labyrinthine segment) due to facial palsy after TBF involving the perigeniculate ganglion region were analyzed. The patients were operated between 2 and 14 weeks after trauma. RESULTS: In all, 83.3% of the 18 cases recovered to normal or near-normal level (House-Brackmann (HB) grade I or II). Among the 12 cases operated within 8 weeks after trauma, 11 cases (91.7%) recovered to normal or near-normal level. In contrast, four of the six patients (66.7%) who were operated between 9 and 14 weeks after trauma recovered to HB grade I or II.

Accuracy of high-resolution computed tomography in revealing fallopian canal fracture of patients with traumatic facial paralysis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate accuracy of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of temporal bone in revealing fallopian canal fracture among the patients with traumatic facial paralysis. METHODS: HRCT of temporal bone with cross-sectional scanning and multi-planar reformation (MPR) was performed on 31 patients with traumatic facial paralysis, and fracture sites of fallopian canal revealed by HRCT were retrospectively analyzed and compared with surgical findings. RESULTS: HRCT of temporal bone showed fracture of fallopian canal at geniculate ganglion in 25 cases, at tympanic segment in 15 cases, at labyrinthine segment in 5 cases, at pyramid segment in 2 cases, and at mastoid segment in one case, while surgical findings revealed that fracture involved geniculate ganglion in 27 cases, labyrinthine segment in 5, tympanic segment in 19, pyramid segment in 12, and mastoid segment in 9; the sensitivity of HRCT of temporal bone to detect fracture at such sites was 88.9%, 100%, 52.6%, 16.7% and 11.1%, respectively, and the specificity was 96.0%, 100%, 66.7%, 100% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: HRCT of temporal bone was able to accurately reveal fracture of fallopian canal at geniculate ganglion and labyrinthine segment in the vast majority cases, but severely underestimated fracture at pyramid segment and mastoid segment of fallopian canal.