Contrastively generative self-expression model for single-cell and spatial multimodal data.

Advances in single-cell multi-omics technology provide an unprecedented opportunity to fully understand cellular heterogeneity. However, integrating omics data from multiple modalities is challenging due to the individual characteristics of each measurement. Here, to solve such a problem, we propose a contrastive and generative deep self-expression model, called single-cell multimodal self-expressive integration (scMSI), which integrates the heterogeneous multimodal data into a unified manifold space. Specifically, scMSI first learns each omics-specific latent representation and self-expression relationship to consider the characteristics of different omics data by deep self-expressive generative model. Then, scMSI combines these omics-specific self-expression relations through contrastive learning. In such a way, scMSI provides a paradigm to integrate multiple omics data even with weak relation, which effectively achieves the representation learning and data integration into a unified framework. We demonstrate that scMSI provides a cohesive solution for a variety of analysis tasks, such as integration analysis, data denoising, batch correction and spatial domain detection. We have applied scMSI on various single-cell and spatial multimodal datasets to validate its high effectiveness and robustness in diverse data types and application scenarios.

Integrated mRNA- and miRNA-sequencing analyses unveil the underlying mechanism of tobacco pollutant-induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos.

Tobacco pollutants are prevalent in the environment, leading to inadvertent exposure of pregnant females. Studies of these pollutants' toxic effects on embryonic development have not fully elucidated the potential underlying mechanisms. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the developmental toxicity induced by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) at concentrations of 0.25, 1, and 2.5% using a zebrafish embryo toxicity test and integrated transcriptomic analysis of microRNA (miRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA). The findings revealed that CSE caused developmental toxicity, including increased mortality and decreased incubation rate, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, CSE induced malformations and apoptosis, specifically in the head and heart of zebrafish larvae. We used mRNA and miRNA sequencing analyses to compare changes in the expression of genes and miRNAs in zebrafish larvae. The bioinformatics analysis indicates that the mechanism underlying CSE-induced developmental toxicity was associated with compromised genetic material damage repair, deregulated apoptosis, and disturbed lipid metabolism. The enrichment analysis and RT-qPCR show that the ctsba gene plays a crucial function in embryo developmental apoptosis, and the fads2 gene mainly regulates lipid metabolic toxicity. The results of this study improve the understanding of CSE-induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos and contribute insights into the formulation of novel preventive strategies against tobacco pollutants during early embryonic development.

GRASLND regulates melanoma cell progression by targeting the miR-218-5p/STAM2 axis.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important regulatory roles in biological processes and are dysregulated in numerous tumors. The lncRNA GRASLND functions as an oncogene in many cancers, but its role in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) requires further investigation. METHODS: SiRNA transfection, wound - healing and transwell assays were performed to evaluate the effect of GRASLND on cellular function. RESULTS: The present study demonstrated that GRASLND expression is increased in SKCM tissues and cell lines. The high expression of GRASLND was correlated with poor prognosis and immunotherapy outcomes. Knockdown of GRASLND significantly inhibited cell migration and invasion. In addition, we found that miR-218-5p directly binds to its binding site on GRASLND, and GRASLND and miR-218-5p demonstrate mutual inhibition. Furthermore, the miR-218-5p inhibitor partially eliminated the knockdown of GRASLND and inhibited its expression. We also demonstrated that GRASLND acts as a miR-218-5p sponge that positively regulates STAM2 expression in SKCM cells. CONCLUSION: In summary, these data suggest that GRASLND functions by regulating miR-218-5p/STAM2 expression, suggesting an important role for the lncRNA‒miRNA-mRNA functional network and a new potential therapeutic target for SKCM.

Roles and mechanisms of aberrant alternative splicing in melanoma - implications for targeted therapy and immunotherapy resistance.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in therapeutic strategies, resistance to immunotherapy and the off-target effects of targeted therapy have significantly weakened the benefits for patients with melanoma. MAIN BODY: Alternative splicing plays a crucial role in transcriptional reprogramming during melanoma development. In particular, aberrant alternative splicing is involved in the efficacy of immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and melanoma metastasis. Abnormal expression of splicing factors and variants may serve as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for the diagnosis and prognosis of melanoma. Therefore, comprehensively integrating their roles and related mechanisms is essential. This review provides the first detailed summary of the splicing process in melanoma and the changes occurring in this pathway. CONCLUSION: The focus of this review is to provide strategies for developing novel diagnostic biomarkers and summarize their potential to alter resistance to targeted therapies and immunotherapy.

Identification of RESP18 Gene Mutations Linked to Hereditary Non-Syndromic Cleft Lip and Palate in a Southern Chinese Family.

BACKGROUND Non-syndromic cleft lip with cleft palate (NSCLP) is one of the most common congenital birth defects worldwide; it causes lifelong problems and imposes burdens on patients and their families. This study aimed to describe the genomic analysis and identification of de novo regulated endocrine-specific protein 18 (RESP18) rs2385404 and rs2385405 gene polymorphisms associated with NSCLP in a southern Chinese family and to improve prevention, treatment, and prognosis of NSCLP. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to investigate the association of NSCLP phenotype with gene mutation. We investigated a 5-persons NSCLP family to screen the genetic variation of Han nationality in southern Chinese. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to detect all candidate genetic variants, and whole-exome sequencing (WES) was implemented to further verify mutations. The Clinical Variation Data Base (ClinVar) was employed for screening gene mutations. Finally, Sanger sequencing was applied to verify gene variations. RESULTS The combined analysis of WGS, WES, and ClinVar showed that a total of 9 variation positions overlapped among the 3 study cohorts. Sanger sequencing verified Glu amino acid variation in 2 mutation sites (rs2385404, rs2385405) from the RESP18 gene, which caused abnormal RESP18 function and was associated with hereditary NSCLP. CONCLUSIONS The combined genomic results showed that 2 mutations (rs2385404 and rs2385405) of the RESP18 gene were related to NSCLP in the family. The RESP18 gene may play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of cleft lip and palate.

Blood Eosinophil Count and Its Determinants in a Chinese Population-Based Cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Blood eosinophil count has been shown markedly variable across different populations. However, its distribution in Chinese general population remains unclear. We aimed to investigate blood eosinophil count and its determinants in a Chinese general population. METHODS: In this population-based study, general citizens of Sichuan province in China were extracted from the China Pulmonary Health study. Data on demographics, personal and family history, living condition, lifestyle, spirometry, and complete blood count test were obtained and analyzed. A stepwise multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify determinants of high blood eosinophils (>75th percentile). RESULTS: A total of 3,310 participants were included, with a mean age (standard deviation) of 47.0 (15.6) years. In total population, the median blood eosinophil count was 110.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 67.2-192.9) cells/µL, lower than that in smokers (133.4 cells/µL, IQR: 79.3-228.4) and patients with asthma (140.7 cells/µL, IQR: 79.6-218.2) or post-bronchodilator airflow limitation (141.5 cells/µL, IQR: 82.6-230.1), with a right-skewed distribution. Multivariate analyses revealed that oldness (aged ≥60 years) (odds ratio [OR]: 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-2.48), smoking ≥20 pack-years (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.20-3.00), raising a dog/cat (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.17-2.52), and occupational exposure to dust, allergen, and harmful gas (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.15-2.15) were significantly associated with high blood eosinophils. CONCLUSION: This study identifies a median blood eosinophil count of 110.0 cells/µL and determinants of high blood eosinophils in a Chinese general population, including oldness (aged ≥60 years), smoking ≥20 pack-years, raising a dog/cat, and occupational exposure to dust, allergen, and harmful gas.

Influence of nanoscale sulfur on mercury accumulation and plant growth in oilseed rape seedlings (Brassica napus L.) grown on mercury-contaminated soil.

Mercury (Hg) pollution has seriously threatened the crop productivity and food security. In the present research, experiments were conducted to assess the influence of nanoscale sulfur/sulfur nanoparticles and the corresponding bulk and ionic sulfur forms on the growth and Hg accumulation of oilseed rape seedlings grown on Hg-contaminated soil, as well as the transformation of soil Hg fractions. The results showed a significant reduction in fresh biomass for seedlings grown on 80-200 mg/kg Hg-polluted soil after 30 days. At 120 mg/kg Hg treatment, 100-300 mg/kg sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) application counteracted Hg toxicity more effectively compared to the corresponding bulk sulfur particles (BSPs) and ionic sulfur (sulfate) treatments. The seedlings treated with 120 mg/kg Hg + 300 mg/kg SNPs gained 54.2 and 56.9% more shoot and root biomass, respectively, compared to those treated with Hg alone. Meanwhile, 300 mg/kg SNPs application decreased Hg accumulation by 18.9 and 76.5% in shoots and roots, respectively, relative to Hg alone treatment.SNPs treatment caused more Hg to be blocked in the soil and accumulating significantly less Hg in plants as compared to other S forms. The chemical fractions of Hg in the soil were subsequently investigated, and the solubility of Hg was significantly decreased by applying SNPs to the soil. Especially 200-300 mg/kg SNPs treatments caused the ratio of the soluble/exchangeable and the specifically absorbed fraction to be the lowest, accounting for 1.95-4.13% of the total Hg of soil. These findings suggest that adding SNPs to Hg-contaminated soils could be an effective measure for immobilizing soluble Hg and decreasing the Hg concentration in the edible parts of crops. The results of the current study hold promise for the practical application of SNPs to Hg-contaminated farmland for better yields and simultaneously increasing the food safety.

The novelty of this study is the selection of oilseed rape and nanoscale sulfur (NS) or sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) as nontoxic nanomaterial to counteract the Hg toxicity and accumulation. Oilseed rape was selected due to its wide adaptability to various environmental conditions and the high-value oil for human consumption and biofuels production. These advantages make oilseed rape a highly valuable crop for various applications. NS was selected due to its reported ability to limit the uptake of heavy metals in oilseed rape, rice, and wheat along with other crops and subsequently restrict the toxicity of heavy metals in these plants and improve food safety. In this study, we evaluated the growth, Hg accumulation, and the resulting toxicity in oilseed rape grown on Hg-contaminated soil, with or without amendments with NS. The outcomes from this study provided evidence of the significant potential of NS in preventing Hg bioaccumulation and improving crop yields in oilseed rape. This provides opportunity to use NS as an ideal non-GMO approach to limit toxic metals in crops.

Effects of sulfur nanoparticles on rhizosphere microbial community changes in oilseed rape plantation soil under mercury stress.

In the present study, experiments were conducted to assess the influence of nanoscale sulfur in the microbial community structure of metallophytes in Hg-contaminated rhizosphere soil for planting rapeseed. The results showed that the richness and diversity of the rhizobacteria community decreased significantly under Hg stress, but increased slightly after SNPs addition, with a reduction in the loss of Hg-sensitive microorganisms. Moreover, all changes in the relative abundances of the top ten phyla influenced by Hg treatment were reverted when subjected to Hg + SNPs treatment, except for Myxococcota and Bacteroidota. Similarly, the top five genera, whose relative abundance decreased the most under Hg alone compared to CK, increased by 19.05%-54.66% under Hg + SNPs treatment compared with Hg alone. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Sphingomonas, as one of the dominant genera for both CK and Hg + SNPs treatment, was actively correlated with plant growth. Rhizobacteria, like Pedobacter and Massilia, were significantly decreased under Hg + SNPs and were positively linked to Hg accumulation in plants. This study suggested that SNPs could create a healthier soil microecological environment by reversing the effect of Hg on the relative abundance of microorganisms, thereby assisting microorganisms to remediate heavy metal-contaminated soil and reduce the stress of heavy metals on plants.

In this manuscript, we first comprehensively investigated the changes in the rhizosphere microbial community structure of metallophytes in Hg-contaminated soil with SNPs addition, as well as the relationship between soil microbiology and plant resistance to Hg stress. Our results demonstrated that SNPs exhibit a significant advantage in improving rhizosphere microecology by increasing the abundance of beneficial rhizobacteria, thereby alleviating heavy metal toxicity, and promoting plant growth. This study is the first study describing the response of soil microorganisms coexposed to heavy metals and SNPs, providing valuable information for the potential use of SNPs to assist phytoremediation of toxic metal pollution and its impact on soil microbial communities.

Advances in laser therapies for the scar. / ç˜¢ç—•çš„æ¿€å ‰æ²»ç–—è¿›å±•.

Scars are classified into 5 types: Superficial scars, hypertrophic scars, atrophic scars, depressed scars, and keloid. These types are primarily characterized by abnormal production of fibroblasts and collagen, as well as the disorderly arrangement of connective tissue. Laser treatment for scars involves the coordinated activation of various signaling pathways and cytokines. However, the exact pathological mechanism for scar formation remains unclear, leading to a lack of radical treatment. Recently, laser treatment has gained popularity as a new minimally invasive approach for scar treatment. The emergence of new theories such as fractional, picosecond laser, and laser-assisted drug delivery has led to continuous advance in laser treatment. Up to now, it has been developed numerous novel treatments, including combined with drug, physical, and other treatments, which have shown superior therapeutic effects. In order to optimize laser treatment in the future, it is crucial to combine new materials with postoperative care. This will help clinicians develop more comprehensive treatment strategies. Therefore, it is important to explore treatment options that have broader applicability.

CBX3 promotes clear cell renal carcinoma through PI3K/AKT activation and aberrant immunity.

BACKGROUND: A chromobox homologue 3 (CBX3) is elevated in various cancers and significantly contributes to the promotion of malignant behavior; despite this, its exact involvement in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is yet unknown. METHODS: The Cancer Genome Atlas database served to evaluate CBX3 production and its connection to survival in patients with ccRCC. Our team evaluated the effects of knockdown of CBX3 levels in ccRCC cell populations using in vitro together with in vivo models. CBX3, proteins related to death, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were measured in ccRCC cells using western blotting and immunohistochemical assays. Through the analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and GeneOntology (GO) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), the biological processes and signal pathways related to CBX3 expression were identified. Immune-related activity reduced by CBX3 was assessed using various online tools. RESULTS: Both genomic and protein expression showed that CBX3 was upregulated in ccRCC. Further functional analyses revealed that CBX3 played a crucial role in enhancing cell growth, migration, and EMT in vitro along with in vivo. Moreover, the study results provided distinct mechanistic evidence that CBX3 exerts its pathological functions in ccRCC by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. Finally, immunoassays revealed that CBX3, a possible biomarker of ccRCC, was significantly associated with immunity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the overexpression of CBX3 promotes ccRCC advancement through PI3K/AKT activation and even immunological dysregulation, making it a potentially viable and beneficial therapeutic target.

Transcriptomic analysis approach towards an improved tolerance of Escherichia coli to gallic acid stress.

As a natural green additive, gallic acid has been widely used in food production. However, it can inhibit the physiological metabolism of Escherichia coli, which severely limits the ability and efficiency of gallic acid production. To explore the adaptation mechanism of E. coli under gallic acid stress and further explore the target of genetic modification, the effects of gallic acid stress on the fermentation characteristics of E. coli W3110 ATCC (82057) were investigated by cell biomass and cell morphometry. Moreover, transcriptome analysis was used to analyze the gene transcription level of E. coli W3110 ATCC (82057) to explore effects of gallic acid stress on important essential physiological processes. The results showed that under high concentration of gallic acid, the biomass of E. coli W3110 ATCC (82057) decreased significantly and the cells showed irregular morphology. Transcriptome analysis showed that E. coli W3110 ATCC (82057) improved its adaptive capacity through three strategies. First, genes of bamD, ompC, and ompF encoding outer membrane protein BamD, OmpC, and OmpC were decreased 5-, 31.1- and 8.1-fold, respectively, under gallic acid stress compared to the control, leading to the reduction of gallic acid absorption. Moreover, genes (mdtA, mdtB, mdtC, mdtD, mdtE, and mdtF) related to MdtABC multidrug efflux system and multidrug efflux pump MdtEF were up-regulated by1.0-53.0 folds, respectively, and genes (aaeA, aaeB, and aaeX) related to AaeAB efflux system were up-regulated by 8.0-13.3 folds, respectively, which contributed to the excretion of gallic acid. In addition, genes of acid fitness island also were up-regulated by different degrees under the stress of an acidic environment to maintain the stability of the intracellular environment. In conclusion, E. coli W3110 ATCC (82057) would enhance its tolerance to gallic acid by reducing absorption, increasing excretion, and maintaining intracellular environment stability. This study provides research ideas for the construction of engineered strains with high gallic acid yield.

More-Is-Better Strategy for Constructing Homoligand Polypyridyl Ruthenium Complexes as Photosensitizers for Infrared Two-Photon Photodynamic Therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a combination of photosensitizers (PSs), light sources, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) to damage only the desired target and keep normal tissues from being hurt. The dark cytotoxicity (chemotoxicity) of PSs, leading to whole-body damage in the absence of irradiation, is a major limiting factor in PDT. How to simultaneously increase ROS generation and decrease dark cytotoxicity is an essential challenge that must be resolved in PS research. In this study, a series of homoligand polypyridyl ruthenium complexes (HPRCs) containing three singlet oxygen (1O2)-generating ligands (L) in a single molecule ([Ru(L)3]2+) have been constructed. Compared to the heteroligand complexes [Ru(bpy)2(L)]2+ where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, the 1O2 quantum yield under infrared two-photon irradiation and the DNA photocleavage effect of the HPRCs are significantly enhanced with two more ligands L. The intraligand triplet excited states transition played an important role in the activation of oxygen. The HPRCs target the mitochondria but not the nuclei, generating 1O2 intracellularly under irradiation of visible or infrared light. Ru1 exhibits high phototoxicity and low dark cytotoxicity toward human malignant melanoma cells in vitro. Moreover, HPRCs have minimal cytotoxicity to human normal liver cells, suggesting their potential as antitumor PDT reagents with more security. This study may provide inspiration for the structural design of potent PS for PDT.

Comparative analysis of two arecoline-induced oral submucous fibrosis models.

OBJECTIVE: The limited understanding of the molecular mechanism for oral submucosal fibrosis (OSF) poses challenges to the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies. The lack of suitable animal models is a major hindrance. Therefore, this study aimed to address this issue by comparing commonly used arecoline-induced water drinking and injection mouse models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mice were subjected to two protocols: receiving 2 mg/mL arecoline in drinking water and 4 mg/mL arecoline saline solution injections every other day. Tissues were collected at regular 4-week intervals, with a final time point of 20 weeks. Stereo microscopy and histomorphological analysis were performed on live and harvested tissues, respectively. RESULTS: During arecoline treatment, collagen deposition and myofibroblast proliferation progressively increased in both models. Changes in the collagen I/III ratio indicated that both models exhibited characteristics of the early and intermediate stages of OSF after 20 weeks of arecoline induction. The water-drinking model also demonstrated multi-organ fibrosis involving the tongue, lungs, and small intestine. CONCLUSION: Both the water drinking and injection mouse models effectively induced OSF, but the water-drinking model better mirrored the observed pathogenesis in patients with OSF. These models provide valuable tools for investigating the mechanisms underlying OSF.

Developmental hazards of 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether induced endoplasmic reticulum stress on early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants are known to have adverse effects on the development of organisms. We investigated the molecular mechanisms associated with the developmental hazards of 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) in zebrafish, as well as the behavioral and morphological alterations involved, focusing on endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Our study revealed behavioral alterations in zebrafish exposed to BDE-47, including impaired motor activity, reduced exploration, and abnormal swimming patterns. In addition, we observed malformations in craniofacial regions and other developmental abnormalities that may be associated with ERS-induced cellular dysfunction. BDE-47 exposure showed apparent changes in ERS, oxidative stress, and apoptosis biomarkers at different developmental stages in zebrafish through gene expression analysis and enzyme activity assays. The study indicated that exposure to BDE-47 results in ERS, as supported by the upregulation of ERS-related genes and increased activity of ERS markers. In addition, oxidative stress-related genes showed different expression patterns, suggesting that oxidative stress is involved in the BDE-47 toxic effects. Moreover, an assessment of apoptotic biomarkers revealed an imbalance in the expression levels of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes, suggesting that BDE-47 exposure activated the apoptotic pathway. These results highlight the complex interactions between ERS, oxidative stress, apoptosis, behavioral alterations, and morphological malformations following BDE-47 exposure in zebrafish. Understanding the mechanisms of toxicity of developmental hazards is essential to elucidate the toxicological effects of environmental contaminants. The knowledge can help develop strategies to mitigate their adverse effects on the health of ecosystems and humans.

First report of leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata in Tilia miqueliana in Jiangsu Province, China.

Tilia miqueliana Maxim., a tall deciduous tree in the Malvaceae family, is native to china and is cultivated in the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Jiangxi provinces as an ornamental plant. T. miqueliana has currently received increased attention because of its value as timber, a source plant for honey, and in formal landscape architecture (Wang et al. 2022). In the last three years, symptoms of leaf spot disease were observed in T. miqueliana fields （9-year-old tree）and a breeding nursery _(1-year-old saplings) in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Field surveys showed that, the disease incidence was approximately 10% and 40% in the fields and breeding nursery, respectively. Symptoms of leaf spot disease on T. miqueliana appeared as small, circular, or near-circular/irregular black lesions on the upper surfaces of the leaves. As the disease progressed, the spots expanded into irregular shapes with the center turning yellow to black and leaves wilted from margins to centers. In severe cases, the yellow necrotic area extended to the margin, which ultimately led to leaf curling and death. To analyze the presence of the pathogenic microorganism, pieces of leaf at the junction of diseased and healthy tissue (about 3x3 mm) were taken from symptomatic plants, sterilized with 75% ethanol for 1 min and 2% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) for 2 min, and washed 3 times with ddH2O. The leaf pieces were transferred onto Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plates and incubated at 28°C for 3 days in the dark. Colonies were observed and transferred to fresh PDA plates. Sixteen fungal isolates were obtained and one (named D4-2) of them was verified using Koch's assumption. Single spores of D4-2 were cultured in PDA medium, while its initial colony morphology was fluffy white colonies, which then gradually turned dark yellow from the centre to the edge. To further analyze the form of the spores, a hypha was incubated on fresh synthetic low-nutrient agar (SNA) using cellophane and inverted cultivation was performed for 20 days in the dark. Obclavate or obpyriform conidia (10 to 30 × 2 to 18 µm, n=5) were produced in chains and were pale brown to brown in color. The morphology was consistent with that of Alternaria sp.. The molecular identification of the isolated representative fungus D4-2 was conducted via the amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) (White et al. 1990),translation elongation factor 1 alpha (TEF) (Carbone and Kohn. 1999), glyceraldehyde-3-dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (Berbee et al. 1999) and RNA polymerase II beta subunit (RPB2) using the primer pairs ITS1/ITS4, EF1-728F/EF1-986R, GPD1/GPD2, and RPB2-5F2/fRPB2-7cR (Sung et al. 2007) respectively. All these sequences were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers OP108438 (ITS), OP168372 (RPB2), OQ473880 (TEF), and OP168374 (GAPDH). Based on the GAPDH, RPB2, and TEF regions of D4-2, MEGA-11 was used to construct a neighbor-joining tree (1000 replications) with 31 other known species that had a relatively close evolutionary relationship with species from the Alternaria genus (Woudenberg et al. 2013). The phylogenetic tree indicated 100% bootstrap support between D4-2 and A. alternata. The branches showing the distribution of other species were exactly the same as that of the consensus tree based on the Bayesian 50 % majority rule that represented the Alternaria-complex (Woudenberg et al. 2013). The initial Koch's Postulates was verified using PDA slices with mycelium (pure PDA slices were used as control) that were inverted on the leaves at 25℃ for 3 days before removing slices and observing the phenotype after 7 days. Only leaves infected with D4-2 showed the same symptoms. Moreover, the spore suspension (at a concentration of 107 spores/mL) of D4-2 was applied to the leaves of T. miqueliana seedlings. After 15 days of incubation at 26 ℃ , the leaves showed the same symptoms. Subsequently, the pathogen was reisolated and cultured from these invaded leaves using the same method described above. Morphological and molecular identifications were consistent with those of D4-2. Above all, the pathogenic fungus (D4-2) isolated from T. miqueliana leaves was confirmed to be A. alternata. T. miqueliana is considered to be an endangered species due to the deep dormancy of its seeds that result in a low natural germination rate (Wu and Shen. 2021). At present, research on T. miqueliana mainly focuses on seed germination and breeding technology, and there is hardly any research on the diseases occurring in T. miqueliana. Therefore, we believe that this is the first report of leaf spot disease caused by A. alternata on T. miqueliana in China.

Oral Selinexor-Dexamethasone for Triple-Class Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Selinexor, a selective inhibitor of nuclear export compound that blocks exportin 1 (XPO1) and forces nuclear accumulation and activation of tumor suppressor proteins, inhibits nuclear factor κB, and reduces oncoprotein messenger RNA translation, is a potential novel treatment for myeloma that is refractory to current therapeutic options. METHODS: We administered oral selinexor (80 mg) plus dexamethasone (20 mg) twice weekly to patients with myeloma who had previous exposure to bortezomib, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, pomalidomide, daratumumab, and an alkylating agent and had disease refractory to at least one proteasome inhibitor, one immunomodulatory agent, and daratumumab (triple-class refractory). The primary end point was overall response, defined as a partial response or better, with response assessed by an independent review committee. Clinical benefit, defined as a minimal response or better, was a secondary end point. RESULTS: A total of 122 patients in the United States and Europe were included in the modified intention-to-treat population (primary analysis), and 123 were included in the safety population. The median age was 65 years, and the median number of previous regimens was 7; a total of 53% of the patients had high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities. A partial response or better was observed in 26% of patients (95% confidence interval, 19 to 35), including two stringent complete responses; 39% of patients had a minimal response or better. The median duration of response was 4.4 months, median progression-free survival was 3.7 months, and median overall survival was 8.6 months. Fatigue, nausea, and decreased appetite were common and were typically grade 1 or 2 (grade 3 events were noted in up to 25% of patients, and no grade 4 events were reported). Thrombocytopenia occurred in 73% of the patients (grade 3 in 25% and grade 4 in 33%). Thrombocytopenia led to bleeding events of grade 3 or higher in 6 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Selinexor-dexamethasone resulted in objective treatment responses in patients with myeloma refractory to currently available therapies. (Funded by Karyopharm Therapeutics; STORM ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02336815.).

Downregulation of the paired box gene 3 inhibits the progression of skin cutaneous melanoma by inhibiting c-MET tyrosine kinase : PAX3 downregulation inhibits melanoma progression.

BACKGROUND: The PAX3 (paired box gene 3) gene is highly expressed in several cancer types. However, its underlying mechanism of action in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) remains unknown. METHODS: In this study, we used the GEPIA database and western blotting to analyze the expression of PAX3. We performed the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of PAX3 in SKCM. Next, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed to evaluate the function of PAX3-related co-expressed genes. Additionally, the function and potential mechanism of action of PAX3 in SKCM were studied through functional experiments. Western blotting was used to detect the changes in the levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related and MET (c-MET tyrosine kinase) proteins following PAX3 knockdown. Finally, we assessed the correlation between PAX3 expression and the infiltration of CD4+/CD8+ T cells using the TISIDB database. RESULTS: We found that PAX3 was overexpressed in the SKCM tissues and that these levels were indicative of a poor prognosis of SKCM. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that PAX3-related co-expressed genes were mainly associated with the oncogenic pathways. Knocking down PAX3 significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of SK-MEL-28 cells. The PAX3 expression was related significantly to the immune infiltration level of CD4+/CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that PAX3 knockdown could reverse the EMT of tumor cells, inhibit the growth, and progression of SKCM cells. Therefore, PAX3 may have implications as a potential therapeutic target and promising prognostic biomarker for SKCM.

α-Enolase inhibits apoptosis and promotes cell invasion and proliferation of skin cutaneous melanoma.

BACKGROUND: The glycolytic enzyme, α-Enolase (ENO1), catalyzes the production of phosphoenolpyruvate from 2-phosphoglycerate, thereby enhancing glycolysis and contributing to tumor progression. In the present study, we aimed to determine the role of ENO1 in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) and the potential underlying mechanism. METHODS: The Sangerbox database was used to analyze the mRNA expression of ENO1 in SKCM. Western blotting was used to assess the levels of ENO1, c-Myc, ß-catenin, MMP-9, PGAM1, and MMP-13 in SKCM-derived cell lines or tumor tissues from patients with SKCM. The pCMV-SPORT6-ENO1 and pET-28a-ENO1siRNA plasmids were used to overexpress and knockdown ENO1 in SKCM cells, respectively. To determine the function of ENO1 in the malignant behavior of SKCM cells, we performed a wound-healing assay, cell counting kit 8 assay, and transwell chamber analyses. The production of pyruvate and lactic acid in tumor cells was evaluated using their respective kits. RESULTS: Compared with non-tumor tissues, ENO1 was found to be overexpressed in SKCM tissues. In SKCM cells, ENO1 overexpression promoted invasion, migration, and proliferation of tumor cells; increased pyruvate and lactate production; and increased ß-catenin, MMP-9, MMP-13, and c-Myc levels. The opposite effects were observed in SKCM cells silenced for ENO1. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that ENO1 is involved in SKCM progression by enhancing the invasion and proliferation of tumor cells. In addition, ENO1 might have an important function in tumor cell glycolysis. Therefore, ENO1 represents a potential therapeutic target for treatment of SKCM.

A mutation modulating DDX3Y gene expression cosegregates with the major Y-chromosomal haplogroups and with testis size in Hu sheep.

Variations in the Y-chromosome are usually correlated with male-specific traits. However, this condition has been described only sporadically, even in human genetics. The present study was conducted to clone the full-length gene sequence of ovine DEAD-box helicase 3, Y-linked (DDX3Y), and investigate the effect of the expression and variation of DDX3Y on the reproductive traits of Hu sheep. Consequently, we identified the full coding sequence and genomic sequence of ovine DDX3Y. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis showed that ovine DDX3Y was highly expressed in testis, and the expression level increased during testicular development. Furthermore, individuals with larger testis at 6 months expressed significantly more DDX3Y mRNA in the testis than individuals with smaller testis. Notably, a novel SNP (g. 12657 C>A) in the 3' untranslated region was identified in Hu sheep and Tan sheep according to the investigation of the full DDX3Y genomic sequence of 1069 individuals from nine sheep breeds. Association analysis revealed that the SNP was significantly related to testis size in Hu sheep. Meanwhile, Hu rams with the derived C allele showed significantly higher expression levels of DDX3Y in testis than those with the ancestral A allele. In addition, data mining in a previous study showed that the C allele cosegregated with the globally major Y-chromosomal haplogroups y-HA and y-HC, and the A allele is found in all rams with haplogroups y-HB1, y-HB2 and y-HD. This study suggests that the association of the Y-chromosomal haplogroups with testis size in Hu sheep can be extrapolated to the sheep population worldwide.

Selected Aspects of Invasive Solidago canadensis with an Emphasis on Its Allelopathic Abilities: A Review.

Solidago canadensis L., native to North America, is now an invasive plant worldwide. Its abundant seeds, rapid vegetative reproduction ability, and allelopathy to other plants are the main reasons for its successful invasion. It has negative impacts on the ecological environment of the invaded area and causes a reduction in local biodiversity and economic losses of agriculture and stock farming. Each part of the plant contains a variety of allelochemicals (terpenoids, phenolics, and flavonoids), including a large number of essential oil components. These allelochemicals can be released in various ways to inhibit the growth of adjacent plants and promote their invasion; they can also affect soil properties and soil microorganisms. This article summarizes the allelopathic effects of S. canadensis on other plant species and the interaction mechanism between it and the ecosystem.