PHR1 involved in the regulation of low phosphate-induced leaf senescence by modulating phosphorus homeostasis in Arabidopsis.

Phosphorus (P) is a crucial macronutrient for plant growth, development, and reproduction. The effects of low P (LP) stress on leaf senescence and the role of PHR1 in LP-induced leaf senescence are still unknown. Here, we report that PHR1 plays a crucial role in LP-induced leaf senescence, showing delayed leaf senescence in phr1 mutant and accelerated leaf senescence in 35S:PHR1 transgenic Arabidopsis under LP stress. The transcriptional profiles indicate that 763 differentially expressed SAGs (DE-SAGs) were upregulated and 134 DE-SAGs were downregulated by LP stress. Of the 405 DE-SAGs regulated by PHR1, 27 DE-SAGs were involved in P metabolism and transport. PHR1 could bind to the promoters of six DE-SAGs (RNS1, PAP17, SAG113, NPC5, PLDζ2, and Pht1;5), and modulate them in LP-induced senescing leaves. The analysis of RNA content, phospholipase activity, acid phosphatase activity, total P and phosphate content also revealed that PHR1 promotes P liberation from senescing leaves and transport to young tissues under LP stress. Our results indicated that PHR1 is one of the crucial modulators for P recycling and redistribution under LP stress, and the drastic decline of P level is at least one of the causes of early senescence in P-deficient leaves.

[Ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate: Report of 45 cases and review of the literature].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate (DAP) and get a deeper insight into the malignancy. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the clinical data on 45 cases of confirmed DAP, 26 in the high-risk group and 19 in the medium-risk group, treated from January 2013 to September 2020. We compared the time and rate of biochemical recurrence and the rate of imaging progression between the two groups of patients, and evaluated the effect of palliative transurethral bipolar plasma resection of the prostate (pTU-PKRP) on the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). RESULTS: Of the 45 cases of DAP, 4 (8.9%) were of the simple type, and 41 (91.1%) complicated by prostatic acinar carcinoma (PAA). And of the latter 41 cases, 9 (21.9%) were complicated by neuroendocrine differentiation and another 4 (9.8%) by intraductal carcinoma. The time to biochemical recurrence was longer in the medium-risk than in the high-risk group (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the rates of biochemical recurrence and imaging progression between the two groups (P > 0.05). The maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), IPSS and QOL of the patients were significantly improved at 6 months after pTU-PKRP compared with the baseline (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Radical prostatectomy can improve the prognosis of early DAP, while for advanced DAP with serious LUTS, pTU-PKRP can improve the quality of life of the patients.

Construction multifunctional nanozyme for synergistic catalytic therapy and phototherapy based on controllable performance.

Advances in nanozyme involve an efficient catalytic process, which has demonstrated great potential in tumor therapy. The key to improving catalytic therapy is to solve the limitation of the tumor microenvironment on Fenton reaction. In this work, Prussian blue nanoparticles doped with different rare earth ions (Yb3+, Gd3+, Tm3+) were screened to perform synergistic of photothermalandcatalytictumortherapy. The optimized catalytic performance can be further enhanced through photothermal effect to maximize the Fenton reaction to solve the limitation of the tumor microenvironment. Yb-PB, with the optimal photothermal and catalytic performance, was screened out. In order to avoid the scavenging effect of glutathione (GSH) on ·OH in tumor cells and the reaction with a bit H2O2 in normal cells, GSH targeted polydopamine (PDA) was wrapped on the surface of Yb-PB to obtain Yb-PB@PDA. It was found that enough hydroxyl radicals (·OH) can be generated even if at high GSH concentration and the NIR irradiation can help produce more ·OH. Cell fluorescence imaging (FOI) and in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiments showed the potential application in FOI/MRI dual-mode imaging guided therapy. In vivo anti-tumor experiments showed that Yb-PB@PDA has a satisfactory anti-cancer effect through the combined effect of catalytic/photothermal therapy. Thus, a multifunctional nanozyme for tumor therapy is constructed.

Catheter ablation for atrial tachycardias: How to interpret the unclear activation map?

BACKGROUND: Post-ablation atrial tachycardias (ATs) are characterized by low-voltage signals that challenge current mapping methods. In this study, we analyzed common mistakes during activation mapping and delineated a mapping strategy for correct interpretation of tachycardia mechanisms in patients with challenging underlying substrate. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-one patients referred for AT ablation were selected for the study. Three types of incorrect activation patterns were identified, which were referred to as unrecognized block line (pseudo-macroreentry and pseudo-fig-8 reentry), incorrect activation timing window of interest (WOI) (chaotic activation), and mis-annotation of complex signals (multiple sites of "early meets late"). Pseudo-macroreentry and chaotic activation occur in focal or localized reentry AT with the error related to the WOI selection (four cases), incorrect annotation of local activation time (six cases), or a previous line of atrial block in (seven cases). Pseudo-fig-8 reentry (five cases) and multiple sites of "early meets late" (nine cases) occur in macroreentrant AT with blocked areas and low-voltage atrial substrate. All ATs were successfully eliminated at the origin site. CONCLUSIONS: We delineated a series of ATs in the setting of a disordered pattern of activation mapping encountered in patients after previous extensive ablation or atriotomy. The algorithm proposed rapidly corrects the activation map and identifies the mechanism of the AT.

[Neuroendocrine differentiated prostate adenocarcinoma: Report of 23 cases and review of the literature].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features and prognosis of neuroendocrine differentiated prostate adenocarcinoma (NED/AdPC). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data on 23 cases of NED/AdPC treated between 2005 and 2018, among which, 18 had lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). RESULTS: All the 23 patients were diagnosed with NED/AdPC, including 2 cases of AdPC initially diagnosed and confirmed with neuroendocrine differentiation in a second pathological diagnosis after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). In addition to hormonal therapy for all the cases, 3 of the patients were treated by radical prostatectomy combined with adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy, 13 by palliative transurethral bipolar plasmakinetic resection of the prostate (pTU-PKRP), of whom 2 underwent a second pTU-PKRP and chemotherapy for castration resistance, 2 with chronic renal insufficiency by percutaneous nephrostomy because of extensive pelvic metastasis, and the other 5 by ADT alone or in combination with radiotherapy. During the follow-up of 7 to 60 months, 2 of the patients died of cancer progression and 1 of pulmonary infection, while the others survived with effective control of the tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term ADT may induce neuroendocrine differentiation in AdPC patients. For early-stage NED/AdPC, radical prostatectomy combined with adjuvant therapy is a main therapeutic option, while for advanced NED/AdPC, pTU-PKRP in combination with ADT may relieve LUTS and improve the patients' quality of life.

Catheter Ablation of Idiopathic Left Posterior Fascicular Ventricular Tachycardia: Predicting the Site of Origin via Mapping and Electrocardiography.

BACKGROUND: We report the 12-lead ECG morphology of left posterior fascicular ventricular tachycardia (LPF-VT) and the relationship between His-ventricular (HV) interval and site of origin in LPF-VT. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 41 patients who underwent successful catheter ablation of LPF-VT with HV interval >0 ms (n=8; proximal-LPF group), HV interval 0 to -15 ms (n=15; middle-LPF group), and HV interval <-15 ms (n=18; distal-LPF group). The earliest mapped presystolic potential (PP)-QRS interval was 34.1±4.2, 24.5±3.2, and 19.4±2.8 ms in proximal-, middle-, and distal-LPF groups. The earliest PP ratio (PP-QRS interval during VT/HV interval during sinus rhythm) was 0.59±0.05, 0.45±0.07, and 0.31±0.05 in the proximal-, middle-, and distal-LPF groups. There were statistically significant differences between the 3 groups in earliest PP ratio, and there was close correlation between the HV interval during LPF-VT and earliest PP ratio. The QRS duration in the proximal-LPF group (114±6 ms) was significantly narrower compared with the middle-LPF group (128±5 ms) and distal-LPF group (140±6 ms). In leads I and V6, the ratio of R/S tended to be greater in the proximal-LPF group compared with the other 2 groups. QRS duration, the ratio of R/S in leads V6, and lead I could predict a proximal or distal origin site of LPF-VT with high sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSION: The HV interval and 12-lead ECG morphology of LPF-VT may help predict the successful site of origin and prove useful in guiding an effective ablation strategy.

Bromelain-decorated hybrid nanoparticles based on lactobionic acid-conjugated chitosan for in vitro anti-tumor study.

In this work, lactobionic acid-modified chitosan (CLA) was chosen as an initial material to prepare tumor-targeted nanoparticles (CLA NPs). To improve the nanoparticles' tumor penetration ability, bromelain was then decorated on the surface of CLA NPs to give CLAB NPs. The micromorphology of CLA and CLAB NPs was observed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The stability of CLA and CLAB NPs was then investigated at different pH values (4.0-9.0) and physiological environment by dynamic light scattering. Doxorubicin as a model drug was successfully encapsulated into these two nanoparticles and drug release profiles were also investigated at pH 5.5, 6.5 and 7.4, respectively. Cellular uptake and MTT results against HepG2 and SH-SY5Y cells demonstrated that the LA-conjugated tumor-targeting NPs can be efficiently internalized into hepatoma carcinoma cells, leading to higher cytotoxicity than free doxorubicin. CLAB NPs show considerable cell cytotoxicity and are expected to improve the penetration ability and therapeutic effect in the subsequent in vivo studies.

The effect of immediate surgical bipolar plasmakinetic transurethral resection of the prostate on prostatic hyperplasia with acute urinary retention.

In the present study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of immediate surgical bipolar plasmakinetic transurethral resection of the prostate (PK-TURP) for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with acute urinary retention (AUR). We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data of BPH patients who received PK-TURP. A total of 1126 BPH patients were divided into AUR (n = 348) and non-AUR groups (n = 778). After the urethral catheters were removed, the urine white blood cell (WBC) count in the AUR group significantly increased compared with the non-AUR group (P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in international prostate symptom score, painful urination, and maximal urinary flow rate. The duration of hospitalization of the AUR group was longer than that of the non-AUR group (P < 0.001). A total of 87.1% (303/348) patients in the AUR group and 84.1% (654/778) patients in the non-AUR group completed all of the postoperative follow-up visits. The incidence of urinary tract infection in the AUR group within 3 months after surgery was significantly higher than that in the non-AUR group (P < 0.01). The incidence of temporary urinary incontinence in the AUR group did not exhibit significant difference. During 3-12 months after surgery, there were no significant differences in major complications between the two groups. Multivariate regression analyses showed that age, postvoid residual, maximal urinary flow rate, diabetes, and hypertension, but not the presence of AUR, were independent predictors of IPSS post-PK-TURP. In conclusion, immediate PK-TURP surgery on patients accompanied by AUR was safe and effective.

[Studies on chemical constituents of Syringa veutina].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Syringa veutina Kom. METHODS: The constituents were isolated and repeatedly purified on silica and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. They were dentified and structurally elucidated by spectral analysis. RESULTS: Seven compounds were obtained. They were identified as Syningin(1), Liriodendrin(2), (+) -Medioresinol di-O-beta-D-glucopyranosied (3), Rutin(4), Quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), Kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosied (6), D-mannitol (7). CONCLUSION: Compound 2 and 3 were isolated from this genus for the first time. Compound 4, 5, 6 and 7 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Study on graded therapy of hemophilic arthritis by integrative traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and safety of graded therapy featuring integrative traditional Chinese and Western medicine for the treatment of hemophilic arthritis. METHODS: Forty patients with hemophilic arthritis were hospitalized randomly, with their blood coagulation factor activity determined by one-stage method and their arthritis classified into 4 stages. The treatment was applied according to the stage of arthritis and finding of intra-articular cavity puncture. For stage I, based on the principle of RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation), 1.8 g of Xuefuda was medicated orally once per day, intravenous dripping of 250 mL of hemostasis mixture twice a day and 1.2 g of clindamycin per day were also given for hemostasis and anti-inflammation. For stage II-III, Kangyanling was additionally administered via intra-articular cavity injection twice a week, 2 mL every time, for 5-6 times in total. For stage IV, the drug for intra-articular cavity injection was replaced with 25 mg of sodium hyaluronate and the frequency of injection reduced to every two weeks, for 5-6 times in total. Coagulation factors III and IV as well as blood plasma were not given in the whole treatment course. Short-term therapeutic effects and adverse reaction in patients were evaluated, and the long-term effects were followed-up after patients left the hospital with 6-month consolidation therapy by Xuefuda. RESULTS: After a 3-week treatment, 33 patients (82.5%) were completely remitted; 5 (12.5%) were partially remitted and 2 (5.0%) un-remitted, setting the short-term effective rate at 95.0% (38 cases). The 6-month follow-up showed that except for a relapse in 2 and 4 patients of stage III and IV respectively, long-term remission displayed in all the other 34 patients, with the remission sustaining rate being 85.0%. No complication such as an infection, bleeding or aggravating pain occurred in the 215 times intra-articular puncturing conducted in the 40 patients. Normal figures were shown in liver and kidney function, electrolytes, ECG, blood glucose and routine test of blood and urine throughout the course. CONCLUSION: The graded treatment of integrative medicine for hemophilia with non-blood preparation has a favorable effect and is safe or without any adverse reaction, which opens a high efficacy and new safe path and thinking for the treatment of and deformity prevention in the hemophilic patients.