Single nucleotide polymorphisms in SEPALLATA 2 underlie fruit length variation in cucurbits.

Complete disruption of critical genes is generally accompanied by severe growth and developmental defects, which dramatically hinder its utilization in crop breeding. Identifying subtle changes, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in critical genes that specifically modulate a favorable trait is a prerequisite to fulfill breeding potential. Here, we found two SNPs in the E-class floral organ identity gene cucumber (Cucumis sativus) SEPALLATA2 (CsSEP2) that specifically regulate fruit length. Haplotype (HAP) 1 (8G2667A) and HAP2 (8G2667T) exist in natural populations, whereas HAP3 (8A2667T) is induced by ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis. Phenotypic characterization of four near-isogenic lines and a mutant line showed that HAP2 fruits are significantly longer than those of HAP1, and those of HAP3 are 37.8% longer than HAP2 fruit. The increasing fruit length in HAP1-3 was caused by a decreasing inhibitory effect on CRABS CLAW (CsCRC) transcription (a reported positive regulator of fruit length), resultinged in enhanced cell expansion. Moreover, a 7638G/A-SNP in melon (Cucumis melo) CmSEP2 modulates fruit length in a natural melon population via the conserved SEP2-CRC module. Our findings provide a strategy for utilizing essential regulators with pleiotropic effects during crop breeding.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of mRNA and miRNA during the Development of Longissimus Dorsi Muscle of Gannan Yak and Tianzhu White Yak.

The Gannan yak, a superior livestock breed found on the Tibetan Plateau, exhibits significantly enhanced body size, weight, and growth performance in comparison to the Tianzhu white yak. MiRNAs play a pivotal role in regulating muscle growth by negatively modulating target genes. In this study, we found the average diameter, area, and length of myofibers in Gannan yaks were significantly higher than those of Tianzhu white yaks. Further, we focused on analyzing the longissimus dorsi muscle from both Gannan yaks and Tianzhu white yaks through transcriptome sequencing to identify differentially expressed (DE)miRNAs that influence skeletal muscle development. A total of 254 DE miRNAs were identified, of which 126 miRNAs were up-regulated and 128 miRNAs were down-regulated. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the target genes of these DE miRNAs were significantly enriched in signaling pathways associated with muscle growth and development. By constructing a DE miRNA- DE mRNA interaction network, we screened 18 key miRNAs, and notably, four of the candidates (novel-m0143-3p, novel-m0024-3p, novel-m0128-5p, and novel-m0026-3p) targeted six genes associated with muscle growth and development (DDIT4, ADAMTS1, CRY2, AKIRIN2, SIX1, and FOXO1). These findings may provide theoretical references for further studies on the role of miRNAs in muscle growth and development in Gannan yaks.

Variants in NLRP2 and ZFP36L2, non-core components of the human subcortical maternal complex, cause female infertility with embryonic development arrest.

The subcortical maternal complex (SCMC), which is vital in oocyte maturation and embryogenesis, consists of core proteins (NLRP5, TLE6, OOEP), non-core proteins (PADI6, KHDC3L, NLRP2, NLRP7) and other unknown proteins that are encoded by maternal effect genes. Some variants of SCMC genes have been linked to female infertility characterized by embryonic development arrest. However, so far, the candidate non-core SCMC components associated with embryonic development need further exploration and the pathogenic variants that have been identified are still limited. In this study, we discovered two novel variants [p.(Ala131Val) and p.(Met326Val)] of NLRP2 in patients with primary infertility displaying embryonic development arrest from large families. In vitro studies using 293 T cells and mouse oocytes respectively showed that these variants significantly decreased protein expression and caused the phenotype of embryonic development arrest. Additionally, we combined the 'DevOmics' database with the whole exome sequence data of our cohort and screened out a new candidate non-core SCMC gene ZFP36L2. Its variants [p.(Ala241Pro) and p.(Pro291dup)] were found to be responsible for embryonic development arrest. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments in 293 T cells, used to demonstrate the interaction between proteins, verified that ZFP36L2 is one of the human SCMC components, and microinjection of ZFP36L2 cRNA variants into mouse oocytes affected embryonic development. Furthermore, the ZFP36L2 variants were associated with disrupted stability of its target mRNAs, which resulted in aberrant H3K4me3 and H3K9me3 levels. These disruptions decreased oocyte quality and further developmental potential. Overall, this is the first report of ZFP36L2 as a non-core component of the human SCMC and we found four novel pathogenic variants in the NLRP2 and ZFP36L2 genes in four of 161 patients that caused human embryonic development arrest. These findings contribute to the genetic diagnosis of female infertility and provide new insights into the physiological function of SCMC in female reproduction.

Visible Light-Induced Radical Cascade Difluoromethylation/Cyclization of Unactivated Alkenes: Access to CF2H-Substituted Polycyclic Imidazoles.

An efficient and mild protocol for the visible light-induced radical cascade difluoromethylation/cyclization of imidazoles with unactivated alkenes using easily accessible and bench-stable difluoromethyltriphenylphosphonium bromide as the precursor of the -CF2H group has been developed to afford CF2H-substituted polycyclic imidazoles in moderate to good yields. This strategy, along with the construction of Csp3-CF2H/C-C bonds, is distinguished by mild conditions, no requirement of additives, simple operation, and wide substrate scope. In addition, the mechanistic experiments have indicated that the difluoromethyl radical pathway is essential for the methodology.

Natural course of ulcerative colitis in China: Differences from the West?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Whether the natural course of ulcerative colitis (UC) in mainland China is similar or different from that in Western countries is unknown, and data on it is limited. We aimed to provide a comprehensive description of the natural course of UC in China and compare it with Western UC patients. METHODS: Based on a prospective Chinese nationwide registry of consecutive patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, the medical treatments and natural history of UC were described in detail, including disease extension, surgery, and neoplasia. The Cox regression model was used to identify factors associated with poor outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 1081 UC patients were included with a median follow-up duration of 5.3 years. The overall cumulative exposure was 99.1% to 5-aminosalicylic acids, 52.1% to corticosteroids, 25.6% to immunomodulators, and 15.4% to biologics. Disease extent at diagnosis was proctitis in 26.9%, left-sided colitis in 34.8%, and extensive colitis in 38.3%. Of 667 patients with proctitis and left-sided colitis, 380 (57.0%) experienced disease extent progression. A total of 58 (5.4%) UC patients underwent colectomy, demonstrating cumulative proportions of surgery at 1, 5, and 10 years after diagnosis of 0.6%, 3.4%, and 8.2%, respectively. In addition, 23 (2.1%) UC patients were diagnosed with neoplasia, demonstrating cumulative proportions of neoplasia at 1, 5, and 10 years after diagnosis of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 3.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese UC patients had similar cumulative proportions of exposure to IBD-specific treatments but a lower surgical rate than patients in Western countries, indicating a different natural course, and close monitoring needs for UC in China. However, these results must be confirmed in population-based studies because the hospital-based cohort in our study might lead to selection bias.

Association of food folate with asthma in US children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease. Currently, contradictory findings exist regarding the association between food folate and asthma. Therefore, we hypothesize a positive correlation between food folate and asthma. PURPOSE: To investigate the possible relationship between food folate intake and the development of asthma in children and adolescents in the United States. METHODS: Data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2009 to 2018 were analyzed cross-sectionally by covariate adjustment using multivariate logistic regression, restricted triple spline curves, threshold effects, and stratified analyses. RESULTS: There were 8,821 participants, of whom 1,697 (19.2%) self-reported having received a diagnosis of asthma from a physician or other health professional. After accounting for potential confounders, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for asthma in the second (T2, 111-178 µg/day) and third (T3, >178 µg/day) groups were 1.15 (1-1.33) and 1.23 (1.04-1.46), respectively, compared with the group with the lowest food folate intake (T1, <111 µg/day). In addition, the association between food folate intake and asthma showed an inverse L-shaped curve (non-linear relationship, p = 0.003), and stratified analysis further validated the robustness of the results. The OR of asthma in subjects with food folate intake less than 263.9 µg/day was 1.002 (1.001-1.004). CONCLUSION: In children and adolescents in the United States, there is a non-linear association (inverted "L" shape) between food folate intake and asthma, with an inflection point at 263.9 micrograms per day.

G-Protein Coupled Receptor 1 Is Involved in Tetrachlorobisphenol A-Induced Inflammatory Response in Jurkat Cells.

Estrogens can affect the immune inflammatory response through estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), but the specific role of estrogen member receptor G-protein coupled receptor 1 (GPER1) in this process remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effects of tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA), which has estrogen activity, on immune inflammatory-related indicators of Jurkat cells, as well as investigated the role of GPER1 in these effects. The results showed that TCBPA at lower concentrations significantly promoted the viability of Jurkat cells, whereas higher concentrations decreased cell viability. TCBPA at concentrations ranging from 1 to 25 µM increased the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Additionally, treatment with 10 µM TCBPA increased the protein expression of ERα and GPER1, elevated the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (p-Akt), and upregulated the mRNA levels of GPER1, Akt, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) genes. Treatment with 10 µM TCBPA also upregulated the protein or gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukins (IL1ß, IL2, IL6, IL8, IL12α) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in Jurkat cells. Furthermore, pretreatment with a GPER1 inhibitor G15 significantly reduced the mRNA levels of Akt induced by 10 µM TCBPA. Moreover, the upregulation of mRNA expression of RelA (p65), TNFα, IL6, IL8, and IL12α induced by 10 µM TCBPA was also significantly attenuated after G15 pretreatment. These findings suggest that TCBPA upregulates the expression of genes related to inflammatory responses by activating the GPER1-mediated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This study provides new insights into the mechanism of TCBPA-induced inflammatory response.

Deep learning-based 3D quantitative total tumor burden predicts early recurrence of BCLC A and B HCC after resection.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the potential of deep learning (DL)-assisted automated three-dimensional quantitative tumor burden at MRI to predict postoperative early recurrence (ER) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective study enrolling patients who underwent resection for BCLC A and B HCC and preoperative contrast-enhanced MRI. Quantitative total tumor volume (cm3) and total tumor burden (TTB, %) were obtained using a DL automated segmentation tool. Radiologists' visual assessment was used to ensure the quality control of automated segmentation. The prognostic value of clinicopathological variables and tumor burden-related parameters for ER was determined by Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 592 patients were included, with 525 and 67 patients assigned to BCLC A and B, respectively (2-year ER rate: 30.0% vs. 45.3%; hazard ratio (HR) = 1.8; p = 0.007). TTB was the most important predictor of ER (HR = 2.2; p < 0.001). Using 6.84% as the threshold of TTB, two ER risk strata were obtained in overall (p < 0.001), BCLC A (p < 0.001), and BCLC B (p = 0.027) patients, respectively. The BCLC B low-TTB patients had a similar risk for ER to BCLC A patients and thus were reassigned to a BCLC An stage; whilst the BCLC B high-TTB patients remained in a BCLC Bn stage. The 2-year ER rate was 30.5% for BCLC An patients vs. 58.1% for BCLC Bn patients (HR = 2.8; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TTB determined by DL-based automated segmentation at MRI was a predictive biomarker for postoperative ER and facilitated refined subcategorization of patients within BCLC stages A and B. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Total tumor burden derived by deep learning-based automated segmentation at MRI may serve as an imaging biomarker for predicting early recurrence, thereby improving subclassification of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer A and B hepatocellular carcinoma patients after hepatectomy. KEY POINTS: Total tumor burden (TTB) is important for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging, but is heterogenous. TTB derived by deep learning-based automated segmentation was predictive of postoperative early recurrence. Incorporating TTB into the BCLC algorithm resulted in successful subcategorization of BCLC A and B patients.

The association between the composite dietary antioxidant index and asthma in US children aged 3-18 years: a cross-sectional study from NHANES.

The association between composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) and asthma remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the association of CDAI with asthma in children aged 3-18 years in the United States. Cross-sectional analyses were carried out on 18,118 children aged 3-18 years old. Data was obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2003 and 2020. The Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) was measured by assessing the consumption of six dietary antioxidants (vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, selenium and carotenoids). The association between CDAI and asthma was explored using multivariate weighted logistic regression, subgroup analyses, and sensitivity analyses. Among the 18,118 participants, 2045 (11.3%) reported a diagnosis of asthma by a healthcare provider. In both the crude and adjusted models, the odds ratios (ORs) for asthma with CDAI were not significant. Specifically, in the fully adjusted model, the OR for T2 was 0.98 (95% CI 0.83, 1.17) and the OR for T3 was 1.00 (95% CI 0.76, 1.31). Subgroup analyses by sex, age and BMI category also showed no significant associations. Sensitivity analyses, including weighted logistic multivariate analyses adjusting for family history of asthma, confirmed the absence of a significant association between CDAI and asthma. Our study showed no significant association between CDAI and asthma in children and adolescents.

TL1A Promotes Fibrogenesis in Colonic Fibroblasts via the TGF-ß1/Smad3 Signaling Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Intestinal fibrosis is a refractory complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Tumor necrosis factor ligand-related molecule-1A (TL1A) is important for IBD-related intestinal fibrosis in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced experimental colitis model. This study aimed to explore the effects of TL1A on human colonic fibroblasts. METHODS: A trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced experimental colitis model of LCK-CD2-TL1A-GFP transgenic (Tg) or wild-type (WT) mice was established to determine the effect and mechanism of TL1A on intestinal fibrosis. The human colonic fibroblast CCD-18Co cell line was treated concurrently with TL1A and human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) supernatant. The proliferation and activation of CCD-18Co cells were detected by BrdU assays, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. Collagen metabolism was tested by Western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: The level of collagen metabolism in the TNBS+ethyl alcohol (EtOH)/Tg group was greater than that in the TNBS+EtOH/WT group. Transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and p-Smad3 in the TNBS+EtOH/Tg group were upregulated as compared with those in the TNBS+EtOH/WT group. The proliferation of CCD-18Co cells was promoted by the addition of human PBMC supernatant supplemented with 20 ng/mL TL1A, and the addition of human PBMC supernatant and TL1A increased CCD-18Co proliferation by 24.4% at 24 h. TL1A promoted cell activation and increased the levels of COL1A2, COL3A1, and TIMP-1 in CCD-18Co cells. Treatment of CCD-18Co cells with TL1A increased the expression of TGF-ß1 and p-Smad3. CONCLUSION: TL1A promotes TGF-ß1-mediated intestinal fibroblast activation, proliferation, and collagen deposition and is likely related to an increase in the TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

A molecular subtyping associated with the cGAS-STING pathway provides novel perspectives on the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by an abnormal immune response, and the pathogenesis lacks clear understanding. The cGAS-STING pathway is an innate immune signaling pathway that plays a significant role in various pathophysiological processes. However, the role of the cGAS-STING pathway in UC remains largely unclear. In this study, we obtained transcriptome sequencing data from multiple publicly available databases. cGAS-STING related genes were obtained through literature search, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using R package limma. Hub genes were identified through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and module construction. The ConsensuClusterPlus package was utilized to identify molecular subtypes based on hub genes. The therapeutic response, immune microenvironment, and biological pathways of subtypes were further investigated. A total of 18 DEGs were found in UC patients. We further identified IFI16, MB21D1 (CGAS), TMEM173 (STING) and TBK1 as the hub genes. These genes are highly expressed in UC. IFI16 exhibited the highest diagnostic value and predictive value for response to anti-TNF therapy. The expression level of IFI16 was higher in non-responders to anti-TNF therapy. Furthermore, a cluster analysis based on genes related to the cGAS-STING pathway revealed that patients with higher gene expression exhibited elevated immune burden and inflammation levels. This study is a pioneering analysis of cGAS-STING pathway-related genes in UC. These findings provide new insights for the diagnosis of UC and the prediction of therapeutic response.

Heterotrimeric Gα-subunit regulates flower and fruit development in CLAVATA signaling pathway in cucumber.

Flowers and fruits are the reproductive organs in plants and play essential roles in natural beauty and the human diet. CLAVATA (CLV) signaling has been well characterized as regulating floral organ development by modulating shoot apical meristem (SAM) size; however, the signaling molecules downstream of the CLV pathway remain largely unknown in crops. Here, we found that functional disruption of CsCLV3 peptide and its receptor CsCLV1 both resulted in flowers with extra organs and stumpy fruits in cucumber. A heterotrimeric G protein α-subunit (CsGPA1) was shown to interact with CsCLV1. Csgpa1 mutant plants derived from gene editing displayed significantly increased floral organ numbers and shorter and wider fruits, a phenotype resembling that of Csclv mutants in cucumber. Moreover, the SAM size was enlarged and the longitudinal cell size of fruit was decreased in Csgpa1 mutants. The expression of the classical stem cell regulator WUSCHEL (WUS) was elevated in the SAM, while the expression of the fruit length stimulator CRABS CLAW (CRC) was reduced in the fruit of Csgpa1 mutants. Therefore, the Gα-subunit CsGPA1 protein interacts with CsCLV1 to inhibit floral organ numbers but promote fruit elongation, via repressing CsWUS expression and activating CsCRC transcription in cucumber. Our findings identified a new player in the CLV signaling pathway during flower and fruit development in dicots, increasing the number of target genes for precise manipulation of fruit shape during crop breeding.

Integrative ATAC-seq and RNA-seq Analysis of the Longissimus Dorsi Muscle of Gannan Yak and Jeryak.

Jeryak is the F1 generation of the cross between Gannan yak and Jersey cattle, which has the advantages of fast growth and high adaptability. The growth and development of skeletal muscle is closely linked to meat production and the quality of meat. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms of muscle growth differences between Gannan yak and Jeryak analyzed from the perspective of chromatin opening have not been reported. In this study, ATAC-seq was used to analyze the difference of chromatin openness in longissimus muscle of Gannan yak and Jeryak. It was found that chromatin accessibility was more enriched in Jeryak compared to Gannan yak, especially in the range of the transcription start site (TSS) ± 2 kb. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis indicate that differential peak-associated genes are involved in the negative regulation of muscle adaptation and the Hippo signaling pathway. Integration analysis of ATAC-seq and RNA-seq revealed overlapping genes were significantly enriched during skeletal muscle cell differentiation and muscle organ morphogenesis. At the same time, we screened FOXO1, ZBED6, CRY2 and CFL2 for possible involvement in skeletal muscle development, constructed a genes and transcription factors network map, and found that some transcription factors (TFs), including YY1, KLF4, KLF5 and Bach1, were involved in skeletal muscle development. Overall, we have gained a comprehensive understanding of the key factors that impact skeletal muscle development in various breeds of cattle, providing new insights for future analysis of the molecular regulatory mechanisms involved in muscle growth and development.

Proteome Analysis Related to Unsaturated Fatty Acid Synthesis by Interfering with Bovine Adipocyte ACSL1 Gene.

Unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) in beef play a vital role in promoting human health. Long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthase 1 (ACSL1) is a crucial gene for UFA synthesis in bovine adipocytes. To investigate the protein expression profile during UFA synthesis, we performed a proteomic analysis of bovine adipocytes by RNA interference and non-interference with ACSL1 using label-free techniques. A total of 3558 proteins were identified in both the NC and si-treated groups, of which 1428 were differentially expressed proteins (DEPs; fold change ≥ 1.2 or ≤ 0.83 and p-value < 0.05). The enrichment analysis of the DEPs revealed signaling pathways related to UFA synthesis or metabolism, including cAMP, oxytocin, fatty acid degradation, glycerol metabolism, insulin, and the regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes (p-value < 0.05). Furthermore, based on the enrichment analysis of the DEPs, we screened 50 DEPs that potentially influence the synthesis of UFAs and constructed an interaction network. Moreover, by integrating our previously published transcriptome data, this study established a regulatory network involving differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (DELs), highlighting 21 DEPs and 13 DELs as key genes involved in UFA synthesis. These findings present potential candidate genes for further investigation into the molecular mechanisms underlying UFA synthesis in bovines, thereby offering insights to enhance the quality of beef and contribute to consumer health in future studies.

Magnetic hypercrosslinked polymer microspheres for the detection, spatial distribution, source identification and potential risks assessment of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in city river of plateau lake, Southwest China.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have long been globally distributed, and almost worldwide people are exposed to varying degrees of PAHs. Aqueous medium is an important transmission route of PAHs, but the detection of PAHs in aqueous environment has been a challenge. Herein, a magnetic hypercrosslinked polymer microsphere (Fe3O4@SiO2-PS@HCP) was developed for the effective detection of PAHs. Under the effect of multiple factors (hydrophilicity, intermolecular force and molecular volume), Fe3O4@SiO2-PS@HCP shows excellent performance on the enrichment of five PAHs in aqueous environment. Fe3O4@SiO2-PS@HCP was used to capture PAHs in city river of plateau lake. In-depth data analysis showed that factory activities and traffic emissions are the main pollution sources of PAHs. Ecological, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks are almost within the safe range. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of PAHs in children are higher than adults, which needs to be taken seriously. This method breaks the dilemma that it is difficult to enrich weakly hydrophilic pollutants in aqueous media, and complements important pathways for tracing sources of pollutants and assessing associated risks. It brings methodological enlightenment into the development of environmental pollution and human health risk assessment methodology.

MRI radiomics based on deep learning automated segmentation to predict early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the utility of deep learning (DL) automated segmentation-based MRI radiomic features and clinical-radiological characteristics in predicting early recurrence after curative resection of single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study included consecutive patients with surgically proven HCC who underwent contrast-enhanced MRI before curative hepatectomy from December 2009 to December 2021. Using 3D U-net-based DL algorithms, automated segmentation of the liver and HCC was performed on six MRI sequences. Radiomic features were extracted from the tumor, tumor border extensions (5 mm, 10 mm, and 20 mm), and the liver. A hybrid model incorporating the optimal radiomic signature and preoperative clinical-radiological characteristics was constructed via Cox regression analyses for early recurrence. Model discrimination was characterized with C-index and time-dependent area under the receiver operating curve (tdAUC) and compared with the widely-adopted BCLC and CNLC staging systems. RESULTS: Four hundred and thirty-four patients (median age, 52.0 years; 376 men) were included. Among all radiomic signatures, HCC with 5 mm tumor border extension and liver showed the optimal predictive performance (training set C-index, 0.696). By incorporating this radiomic signature, rim arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE), and incomplete tumor "capsule," a hybrid model demonstrated a validation set C-index of 0.706 and superior 2-year tdAUC (0.743) than both the BCLC (0.550; p < 0.001) and CNLC (0.635; p = 0.032) systems. This model stratified patients into two prognostically distinct risk strata (both datasets p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A preoperative imaging model incorporating the DL automated segmentation-based radiomic signature with rim APHE and incomplete tumor "capsule" accurately predicted early postsurgical recurrence of a single HCC. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The DL automated segmentation-based MRI radiomic model with rim APHE and incomplete tumor "capsule" hold the potential to facilitate individualized risk estimation of postsurgical early recurrence in a single HCC. KEY POINTS: A hybrid model integrating MRI radiomic signature was constructed for early recurrence prediction of HCC. The hybrid model demonstrated superior 2-year AUC than the BCLC and CNLC systems. The model categorized the low-risk HCC group carried longer RFS.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Psoriasis Among Patients and Their Family Members.

Purpose: KAP studies serve to enhance health consciousness and furnish foundational data for appraising, strategizing, and enacting disease management and prejudice eradication initiatives. There remains a dearth of published studies elucidating the dimensions of knowledge, attitudes, and practices among psoriasis patients in China. To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards psoriasis among patients and their family members in Northern China. Methods: This web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among psoriasis patients and their family members through a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Among patients (n=260), their mean KAP scores were 9.76±5.69 (range: 0-19), 35.64±11.48 (range: 14-70), and 56.73±10.98 (range: 16-80), respectively. Among family members (n=237), their mean KAP scores were 11.93±5.34 (range: 0-19), 35.80±4.34 (range: 8-40), and 37.04±4.38 (range: 8-40), respectively. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis for patients indicated significant and negative path relations between knowledge and attitudes (ß=-2.271, P<0.001), and between knowledge and practice (ß=-0.398, P<0.001). Extended SEM analysis, which divides knowledge into K1, K2, and K3 parts, showed negative path relations between K3 and attitude (ß=-1.300, P=0.002), between attitude and practice (ß=-0.634, P<0.001). Moreover, SEM for family members showed positive path relations between knowledge and attitude (ß=1.536, P<0.001), between attitude and practice (ß=0.682, P<0.001). Conclusion: Patients in Northern China demonstrated insufficient knowledge, negative attitude, and proactive practice, while their family members had insufficient knowledge, positive attitude, and proactive practice toward psoriasis. It is recommended to implement educational interventions addressing knowledge gaps among patients and families.

CsRAXs negatively regulate leaf size and fruiting ability through auxin glycosylation in cucumber.

Leaves are the main photosynthesis organ that directly determines crop yield and biomass. Dissecting the regulatory mechanism of leaf development is crucial for food security and ecosystem turn-over. Here, we identified the novel function of R2R3-MYB transcription factors CsRAXs in regulating cucumber leaf size and fruiting ability. Csrax5 single mutant exhibited enlarged leaf size and stem diameter, and Csrax1/2/5 triple mutant displayed further enlargement phenotype. Overexpression of CsRAX1 or CsRAX5 gave rise to smaller leaf and thinner stem. The fruiting ability of Csrax1/2/5 plants was significantly enhanced, while that of CsRAX5 overexpression lines was greatly weakened. Similarly, cell number and free auxin level were elevated in mutant plants while decreased in overexpression lines. Biochemical data indicated that CsRAX1/5 directly promoted the expression of auxin glucosyltransferase gene CsUGT74E2. Therefore, our data suggested that CsRAXs function as repressors for leaf size development by promoting auxin glycosylation to decrease free auxin level and cell division in cucumber. Our findings provide new gene targets for cucumber breeding with increased leaf size and crop yield.

The AGAMOUS-LIKE 16-GENERAL REGULATORY FACTOR 1 module regulates axillary bud outgrowth via catabolism of abscisic acid in cucumber.

Lateral branches are important components of shoot architecture and directly affect crop yield and production cost. Although sporadic studies have implicated abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis in axillary bud outgrowth, the function of ABA catabolism and its upstream regulators in shoot branching remain elusive. Here, we showed that the MADS-box transcription factor AGAMOUS-LIKE 16 (CsAGL16) is a positive regulator of axillary bud outgrowth in cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Functional disruption of CsAGL16 led to reduced bud outgrowth, whereas overexpression of CsAGL16 resulted in enhanced branching. CsAGL16 directly binds to the promoter of the ABA 8'-hydroxylase gene CsCYP707A4 and promotes its expression. Loss of CsCYP707A4 function inhibited axillary bud outgrowth and increased ABA levels. Elevated expression of CsCYP707A4 or treatment with an ABA biosynthesis inhibitor largely rescued the Csagl16 mutant phenotype. Moreover, cucumber General Regulatory Factor 1 (CsGRF1) interacts with CsAGL16 and antagonizes CsAGL16-mediated CsCYP707A4 activation. Disruption of CsGRF1 resulted in elongated branches and decreased ABA levels in the axillary buds. The Csagl16 Csgrf1 double mutant exhibited a branching phenotype resembling that of the Csagl16 single mutant. Therefore, our data suggest that the CsAGL16-CsGRF1 module regulates axillary bud outgrowth via CsCYP707A4-mediated ABA catabolism in cucumber. Our findings provide a strategy to manipulate ABA levels in axillary buds during crop breeding to produce desirable branching phenotypes.

Deep learning-based arterial subtraction images improve the detection of LR-TR algorithm for viable HCC on extracellular agents-enhanced MRI.

PURPOSE: To determine the role of deep learning-based arterial subtraction images in viability assessment on extracellular agents-enhanced MRI using LR-TR algorithm. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with HCC who underwent locoregional therapy were retrospectively collected. We constructed a deep learning-based subtraction model and automatically generated arterial subtraction images. Two radiologists evaluated LR-TR category on ordinary images and then evaluated again on ordinary images plus arterial subtraction images after a 2-month washout period. The reference standard for viability was tumor stain on the digital subtraction hepatic angiography within 1 month after MRI. RESULTS: 286 observations of 105 patients were ultimately enrolled. 157 observations were viable and 129 observations were nonviable according to the reference standard. The sensitivity and accuracy of LR-TR algorithm for detecting viable HCC significantly increased with the application of arterial subtraction images (87.9% vs. 67.5%, p < 0.001; 86.4% vs. 75.9%, p < 0.001). And the specificity slightly decreased without significant difference when the arterial subtraction images were added (84.5% vs. 86.0%, p = 0.687). The AUC of LR-TR algorithm significantly increased with the addition of arterial subtraction images (0.862 vs. 0.768, p < 0.001). The arterial subtraction images also improved inter-reader agreement (0.857 vs. 0.727). CONCLUSION: Extended application of deep learning-based arterial subtraction images on extracellular agents-enhanced MRI can increase the sensitivity of LR-TR algorithm for detecting viable HCC without significant change in specificity.