Gibberellins regulate masculinization through the SpGAI-SpSTM module in dioecious spinach.

The sex of dioecious plants is mainly determined by genetic factors, but it can also be converted by environmental cues such as exogenous phytohormones. Gibberellic acids (GAs) are well-known inducers of flowering and sexual development, yet the pathway of gibberellin-induced sex conversion in dioecious spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) remains elusive. Based on sex detection before and after GA3 application using T11A and SSR19 molecular markers, we confirmed and elevated the masculinization effect of GA on a single female plant through exogenous applications of GA3, showing complete conversion and functional stamens. Silencing of GIBBERELLIC ACID INSENSITIVE (SpGAI), a single DELLA family protein that is a central GA signaling repressor, results in similar masculinization. We also show that SpGAI can physically interact with the spinach KNOX transcription factor SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (SpSTM), which is a homolog of the flower meristem identity regulator STM in Arabidopsis. The silencing of SpSTM also masculinized female flowers in spinach. Furthermore, SpSTM could directly bind the intron of SpPI to repress SpPI expression in developing female flowers. Overall, our results suggest that GA induces a female masculinization process through the SpGAI-SpSTM-SpPI regulatory module in spinach. These insights may help to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying the sex conversion system in dioecious plants while also elucidating the physiological basis for the generation of unisexual flowers so as to establish dioecy in plants.

Integrating massive RNA-seq data to elucidate transcriptome dynamics in Drosophila melanogaster.

The volume of ribonucleic acid (RNA)-seq data has increased exponentially, providing numerous new insights into various biological processes. However, due to significant practical challenges, such as data heterogeneity, it is still difficult to ensure the quality of these data when integrated. Although some quality control methods have been developed, sample consistency is rarely considered and these methods are susceptible to artificial factors. Here, we developed MassiveQC, an unsupervised machine learning-based approach, to automatically download and filter large-scale high-throughput data. In addition to the read quality used in other tools, MassiveQC also uses the alignment and expression quality as model features. Meanwhile, it is user-friendly since the cutoff is generated from self-reporting and is applicable to multimodal data. To explore its value, we applied MassiveQC to Drosophila RNA-seq data and generated a comprehensive transcriptome atlas across 28 tissues from embryogenesis to adulthood. We systematically characterized fly gene expression dynamics and found that genes with high expression dynamics were likely to be evolutionarily young and expressed at late developmental stages, exhibiting high nonsynonymous substitution rates and low phenotypic severity, and they were involved in simple regulatory programs. We also discovered that human and Drosophila had strong positive correlations in gene expression in orthologous organs, revealing the great potential of the Drosophila system for studying human development and disease.

Intra-articular injection of tranexamic acid in patients with haemophilia arthritis: retrospective controlled study in total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: Total knee arthroplasty is the main method for the treatment of advanced haemophilic knee arthritis. Due to the particularity of hemophilia, the blood management plan is the focus of the perioperative period for haemophilia patients. This study aimed to investigate the clinical effect and safety of intra-articular injection of tranexamic acid in patients with haemophilia. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. According to whether tranexamic acid is used or not, patients are divided into tranexamic acid group (n=30) and non-tranexamic acid group (n=29). Total blood loss, intraoperative blood loss, complete blood count, total amount of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) usage, coagulation biomarkers, inflammatory biomarkers, knee range of motion, knee joint function, pain status, complication rate, and patient satisfaction were assessed and compared at a mean follow-up of 16 months. RESULTS: Injecting tranexamic acid into the knee joint cavity can effectively reduce the hidden blood loss and total blood loss (P<0.001), and reduce the patient's early postoperative inflammation biomarkers, pain status, and limb swelling. Therefore, the patient can obtain a better range of motion following total knee arthroplasty. In the long run, in terms of joint function and surgical satisfaction, there are no statistically significant differences. In addition, there are no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients in terms of the total amount of FVIII usage, length of stay, and hospitalization expenses. CONCLUSION: In patients with haemophilia, intra-articular injection of tranexamic acid during total knee arthroplasty can effectively reduce postoperative blood loss, early postoperative inflammation levels, pain and limb swelling, and enable patients to receive higher-quality rehabilitation exercises to get better joint function. Previous studies on TKA in haemophilic patients have already demonstrated the efficacy of intra-articular injections of TXA in reducing postoperative blood loss. Our study confirms this efficacy.

One-Year Outcome After Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The BASILAR registry, a nationwide prospective nonrandomized study conducted in China, enrolled consecutive patients with acute basilar artery occlusion receiving endovascular treatment or conventional-treatment from January 2014 to May 2019. This article aimed to report the results of clinical follow-up at one year among these patients. METHODS: The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale at one year, assessed as a common odds ratio using ordinal logistic regression analysis adjusted for prespecified prognostic factors. Secondary outcomes included the modified Rankin Scale-based outcome group at one year (0-1, 0-2, or 0-3) and all-cause death. RESULTS: Of the 829 patients enrolled in the original BASILAR registry, one-year data were available for 785 patients (94.7%). The distribution of outcomes on the modified Rankin Scale favored endovascular treatment over conventional-treatment (adjusted common odds ratio, 4.50 [95% CI, 2.81-7.29]; P<0.001). The cumulative one-year mortality rate was 54.6% in the endovascular treatment group versus 83.5% in the conventional-treatment group (adjusted odds ratio, 4.36 [95% CI, 2.69-7.29]; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The beneficial effect of endovascular treatment on functional outcome at one year in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion is similar to that reported at 90 days in the original study. REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn; Unique identifier: ChiCTR1800014759.

Hidden blood loss of total knee arthroplasty in hemophilia arthritis: an analysis of influencing factors.

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty is the leading way to treat hemophilia arthritis. At present, there is a lack of research on the influencing factors of blood loss in total knee arthroplasty for hemophilia arthritis. This study comprehensively explores the definite factors affecting the hidden blood loss in total knee arthroplasty for hemophilia patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-two hemophilia A patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty in our center were included. Demographics, laboratory data, surgical data, and complications were collected. The Gross equation and Sehat equation were used to calculate the estimated value of hidden blood loss. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to determine the influencing factors of hidden blood loss. RESULT: The hidden blood loss of hemophilia A patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty was 1069.51 ± 341.99 mL, and the age was positively correlated with the hidden blood loss (P < 0.001), while tranexamic acid, FVIII prophylaxis, and incremental invivo recovery were negatively correlated with the hidden blood loss (P < 0.001, P = 0.008, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients have a greater risk of blood loss, and additional preventive measures can be appropriately added. Intraoperative intra-articular injection of tranexamic acid is recommended to reduce hidden blood loss, FVIII prophylaxis is recommended for every patient. We recommend that all HA patients measure the incremental invivo recovery and develop a personalized infusion regimen of coagulation factor.

TNF-α released from retinal Müller cells aggravates retinal pigment epithelium cell apoptosis by upregulating mitophagy during diabetic retinopathy.

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell damage, including mitophagy-associated cell apoptosis, accelerates the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR), a common complication of diabetes that causes blindness. Müller cells interact with RPE cells via pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Herein, we investigated the role of the RPE cell epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway in Müller cell-derived TNF-α-induced mitophagy-associated apoptosis during DR. Our results showed that TNF-α released from Müller cells activated the EGFR/p38/NF-κB/p62 pathway to increase mitophagy and apoptosis in RPE cells under high glucose (HG) conditions. Additionally, blockade of the TNF-α/EGFR axis alleviates blood-retina barrier breakdown in diabetic mice. Our data further illustrate the effects of the Müller cell inflammatory response on RPE cell survival, implying potential molecular targets for DR treatment.

[Antagonistic effect of modified Dahuang Zhechong Granule against the apoptosis of epididymal spermatogenic cells in varicocele rats based on Nrf2/HO-1 pathways].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of modified Dahuang Zhechong Granule (DZG) on the epididymal tissue of varicocele (VC) rats and the expressions of the nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein. METHODS: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into six groups of an equal number: sham operation, VC model control, aescuven forte (AF) and low-, medium- and high-dose DZG. The VC model was established by ligation of the left renal vein with the Turner's method, followed by intragastrical administration of normal saline to the rats in the sham operation and VC model control groups, AF Tablets at 54 mg/kg to those in the AF group, and modified DZG at 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 g/ml to those in the low-, medium- and high-dose DZG groups respectively, all once daily for 8 weeks. Then, all the animals were sacrificed and their left epididymides harvested for examination of semen quality, observation of local ultrastructural changes, measurement of the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells by Annexin V-FITC, and determination of the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the epididymal tissue by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Evident pathological damage was observed in the left epididymal tissue of the VC model controls, with significantly reduced numbers of spermatogenic cells and sperm at all levels, partially destroyed cellular structure, and disappearance of some subcellular structures such as the lysosome, mitochondrion, endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus and cell membrane, which were all improved to some extent in the DZG and AF group. Sperm concentration and motility in the left epididymis were significantly higher in the medium- and high-dose DZG and AF groups than in the VC model controls (P < 0.05), even more significantly in the high-dose DZG than in the AF group (P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells was markedly higher in the VC model control than in the sham operation group (P < 0.05), but lower in the medium- and high-dose DZG and AF groups than in the VC model controls (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed positive expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins, brown, scattered and with a low luminance of the cells, in the left epididymis tissue of the VC model control rats, but with a significantly higher cell luminance in the high-dose DZG and AF groups. CONCLUSIONS: Modified Dahuang Zhechong Granule can effectively repair pathological damage to the epididymis of varicocele rats, increase the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins, antagonize the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and provide a favorable condition for sperm maturation.

Predicting the Risk of Stroke in Chinese Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis Patients Underwent Carotid Artery Stenting: Validation and Improvement of Siena Carotid Artery Stenting Risk Score.

BACKGROUND: Siena carotid artery stenting (CAS) risk score is developed based on Chinese internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis patients recruited in Italy, whether it is equally applicable in Chinese remains unknown. We aimed to investigate Siena CAS risk score value for predicting stroke risk in ICA stenosis patients underwent CAS and explore additional factors for improving accuracy of scoring system. METHODS: Totally 401 patients with ICA stenosis who underwent CAS were enrolled. The clinical data (including patient characteristics, lesion features, and procedure-related features) were collected and the Siena CAS score was calculated. Stroke incidence with 30 days was documented. RESULTS: The incidence of stroke was 4.5%, and the Siena CAS score in stroke patients was higher compared with nonstroke patients, further receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve illustrated that Siena CAS score was acceptable at predicting stroke risk with area under curve (AUC) of .743 (95%CI: .638-.848). Multivariate logistic regression model revealed that Siena CAS score and current fasting-blood glucose (FBG) greater than 7.1 mmol/l independently predicted higher stroke risk; followed ROC curve disclosed that Siena CAS score combined with current FBG greater than 7.1 mmol/l was of good value in predicting stroke risk (AUC: .770 (95%CI: .677-.863)), which was numerically increased compared with Siena CAS score alone. CONCLUSIONS: Siena CAS risk scoring system exhibits to be a useful tool to predict stroke risk, and the combination of Siena CAS score and current increased FBG might be a more accurate stratification for stroke risk in Chinese ICA stenosis patients after CAS.

[Clinical and fundamental research Yinhua Miyanling Tablets in treating urinary tract infection].

As the famous Chinese patent medicine, Yinhua Miyanling Tablets, which was derived from ancient prescription denominated Bazhengsan, has not only the effects in clearing away heat and purging pathogenic fire, removing dampness and relieving stranguria, but also have the functions of detoxifying and tonifying. A great number of scientific studies have demonstrated that Yinhua Mi-yanling Tablets played significant roles in destroying harmful microbes and resisting inflammatory and diuresis. Compared with antibiotics, traditional antibacterial Chinese patent medicine Yinhua Miyanling Tablets has the advantage in bacterial resistance in long-term use. Fundamental studies about the content of pharmaceutical ingredients and the modern pharmacology of Yinhua Miyanling Tablets were collected and summarized, which conduces to indicating the active ingredients of Yinhua Miyanling Tablets with the medicinal efficacy from the molecular level and the internal mechanism of Yinhua Miyanling Tablets in the treatment of urinary tract infection(UTI) from the scientific perspective. In the field of clinical research, literatures associated with Yinhua Miyanling Tablets for the treatment of UTI were summarized and analyzed in terms of treatment type, administration mode, dosage, frequency of medication, course, efficiency, side effects and whether combined with healthy lifestyle. These literatures confirmed the medicinal values and the application prospect of Yinhua Miyanling Tablets in treating UTI, especially acute UTI, which provides a scientific theoretical foundation and a correct direction for the clinical application of Yinhua Miyanling Tablets. In conclusion, this article contributes to the standardization of Yinhua Miyanling Tablets in the treatment of UTI, in the expectation of giving the scientific guidance for clinical practice.

[Clinical application evaluation of clinical practice guideline on traditional Chinese medicine therapy alone or combined with antibiotics for uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection].

A questionnaire survey of 1 000 clinicians having experience in treating uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections from different levels of hospitals was conducted to mainly evaluate the applicability and effectiveness of clinical application of clinical practice guideline on traditional Chinese medicine therapy alone or combined with antibiotics for uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection(hereinafter referred to as Guideline). The research was conducted with the three-level quality control strictly throughout the process, and the data was real and reliable. The survey's results showed that: most clinicians considered that the Guideline had good clinical applicability. The availability and price of the recommended medicine were moderate. Traditional Chinese medicine had obvious features and advantages in treating lower urinary tract infection for it could reduce the usage of antibiotics and shorten the course of antibiotic application. In the recommendation section, clinicians proposed increasing medication guidance, updating the Guideline timely, as well as increasing treating methods and techniques, strengthen propaganda and promotion, and improve the use of evidence-based methods. In the evaluation of effectiveness, the majority of clinicians agreed that the definition in both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine and differential diagnosis in the Guideline were accurately described and the basic principle of treatment as well as the treating method of TCM were recommended appropriately. The TCM formulas and Chinese patent medicine had good effect. Some clinicians suggested refining the syndrome differentiation of stranguria. Some clinicians considered that the formulas and herbs recommended in Guideline didn't have obvious effect and some had doubts about the manipulation of fumigation and washing in the part of other methods recommended in Guideline. Moreover, specification and procedure of manipulation of fumigation and washing using herbs and the acupuncture included in characteristic TCM therapy treating uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection remained to be developed.

[Review on advantages and evidence of treating and preventing urinary tract infection in traditional Chinese medicine].

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) belongs to the category of stranguria. This article describes the unsatisfactory situations in clinical practice such as antibiotics abuse, increasing of drug-resistant bacteria, high recurrence rate, etc. According to evidence-based medicine, literatures as evidence are collected for summarizing and analyzing and the result shows the advantages of TCM of relieving symptoms, reducing the dosage of antibiotics, less side effects, lower recurrence rate, etc. In the field of fundamental research, literatures associated with UTI are also summarized and analysed from several perspectives, such as causes, pathogenesis, syndrome differentiation, pharmacological effects of Chinese herbal medicine, working mechanism of non-drug therapy, etc and the result presents that integrated treatment of TCM in UTI has significant advangtages and its own characteristic.

[Application progress of proteomic in pharmacological study of Chinese medicinal formulae].

Chinese medicinal formulae are the important means of clinical treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. It is urgent to use modern advanced scientific and technological means to reveal the complicated mechanism of Chinese medicinal formulae because they have the function characteristics of multiple components, multiple targets and integrated regulation. The systematic and comprehensive research model of proteomic is in line with the function characteristics of Chinese medicinal formulae, and proteomic has been widely used in the study of pharmacological mechanism of Chinese medicinal formulae. The recent applications of proteomic in pharmacological study of Chinese medicinal formulae in anti-cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, anti-liver disease, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases were reviewed in this paper, and then the future development direction of proteomic in pharmacological study of Chinese medicinal formulae was put forward. This review is to provide the ideas and method for proteomic research on function mechanism of Chinese medicinal formulae.

Safety and Efficacy of Wingspan Stenting for Severe Symptomatic Atherosclerotic Stenosis of the Middle Cerebral Artery: Analysis of 278 Continuous Cases.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to investigate the safety and long-term efficacy of the Wingspan stent (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA) for treating severe atherosclerotic stenosis of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). METHODS: A total of 278 consecutive patients from our stroke database with clinical symptoms within the prior 90 days and intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis of 70% or above of the MCA were enrolled in this study between September 2012 and November 2014, and these patients were followed until the end of June 2015. The endpoint events included any stroke or death within 30 days after stenting and any subsequent ipsilateral ischemic stroke. RESULTS: Among the 278 enrolled patients, 277 patients (99.6%) successfully underwent stenting. The mean rate of stenosis decreased from 82.5 ± 7.9% to 9.0 ± 3.2% following treatment. Within 30 days after stenting, 12 patients (4.3%) experienced endpoint events, including 8 cases (2.9%) of hemorrhagic stroke and 4 cases (1.4%) of ischemic stroke; 2 perioperative deaths occurred. During 8-33 months of follow-up, 19 patients developed endpoint events. The 1- and 2-year endpoint event rates were 5.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0%-15.7%) and 7.2% (95% CI, 4.3%-10.1%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: From this study, we can conclude that the treatment of severe symptomatic atherosclerotic stenosis of the MCA using the Wingspan stent was safe and effective and that the long-term stroke recurrence rate after stenting was low.

Thirty-Day Outcome of a Multicenter Registry Study of Stenting for Symptomatic Intracranial Artery Stenosis in China.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although recent trials have suggested that stenting is worse than medical therapy for patients with severe symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis, it is not clear whether this conclusion applies to a subset of patients with hypoperfusion symptoms. To justify for a new trial in China, we performed a multicenter prospective registry study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular stenting within 30 days for patients with severe symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis caused by 70% to 99% stenosis combined with poor collaterals were enrolled. The patients were treated either with balloon-mounted stent or with balloon predilation plus self-expanding stent as determined by the operators following a guideline. The primary outcome within 30 days is stroke, transient ischemic attack, and death after stenting. The secondary outcome is successful revascularization. The baseline characteristics and outcomes of the 2 treatment groups were compared. RESULTS: From September 2013 to January 2015, among 354 consecutive patients, 300 patients (aged 58.3±9.78 years) were recruited, including 159 patients treated with balloon-mounted stent and 141 patients with balloon plus self-expanding stent. The 30-day rate of stroke, transient ischemic attack, and death was 4.3%. Successful revascularization was 97.3%. Patients treated with balloon-mounted stent were older, less likely to have middle cerebral artery lesions, more likely to have vertebral artery lesions, more likely to have Mori A lesions, less likely to have Mori C lesions, and likely to have lower degree of residual stenosis than patients treated with balloon plus self-expanding stent. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term safety and efficacy of endovascular stenting for patients with severe symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis in China is acceptable. Balloon-mounted stent may have lower degree of residual stenosis than self-expanding stent. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01968122.

Conservative treatment of congenital radial head subluxation and non-traumatic elbow locking: A case report.

Congenital radial head subluxation is relatively rare and may be overlooked due to mild symptoms. The diagnosis mainly relies on imaging and history. Observation is an option for those with insignificant symptoms, while surgical intervention, such as ulnar osteotomy or arthroscopy, is often required when dysfunction exists. A 30-year-old man was admitted with congenital radial head dislocation, which was treated with manipulative repositioning. During follow-up, the patient regained the original mobility of the elbow joint and had no recurrence of dislocation. In conclusion, in adults with congenital dislocation of the radial head, we recommend conservative treatment as a first step.

New cassane-type alkaloids and diterpenoids from the pericarps of Caesalpinia bonduc.

The phytochemical investigation of the pericarps of Caesalpinia bonduc led to the isolation and identification of five new cassane-type alkaloids: caesalminines C - G (1-5) and six new diterpenoids: caesalbonducin K - P (6-11), along with seven known compounds (12-18). Compounds 1-5 were identified as a group of rare alkaloids possessing a tetracyclic cassane-type diterpenoid skeleton with a lactam D-ring instead of a typical furan or lactone moiety. The structures of 1-11 were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR including HSQC, HMBC, COSY and NOESY, and other spectroscopic analyses. The cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated in the A431, A549 and U87MG cancer cell lines.

Prevalence, treatment efficacy, and risk factors of vascular complications in acute pancreatitis: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of vascular complications in acute pancreatitis (AP), to compare patient outcomes using various treatments, and to explore the related risk factors. METHODS: Consecutive AP patients admitted from January 2010 to July 2017 were retrospectively included. Demographics, vascular complications, laboratory indices, and imaging findings were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore potential risk factors of vascular complications. RESULTS: Of 3048 AP patients, 808 (26.5%) had vascular complications, including visceral vein thrombosis, sinistral portal hypertension, and arterial complications. And 38 (4.7%) patients received anticoagulant therapy and had a higher rate of recanalization (P < 0.001). Bleeding occurred in 95 (11.8%) patients, who received further treatment. Multivariate analysis identified male gender (odds ratio [OR] 1.650, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.101-2.472), hyperlipidemia (OR 1.714, 95% CI 1.356-2.165), disease recurrence (OR 3.727, 95% CI 2.713-5.118), smoking (OR 1.519, 95% CI 1.011-2.283), hemoglobin level (OR 0.987, 95% CI 0.981-0.993), white blood cell (WBC) count (OR 1.094, 95% CI 1.068-1.122), non-vascular local complications (OR 3.018, 95% CI 1.992-4.573), computed tomography severity index (CTSI) (OR 1.425, 95% CI 1.273-1.596), and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score (OR 1.057, 95% CI 1.025-1.090) were related to vascular complications. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular complications in AP is prevalent and their treatment is challenging. Further investigations are warranted to determine the optimal treatment strategy. Independent risk factors included male gender, hyperlipidemia, disease recurrence, smoking, WBC count, non-vascular local complications, CTSI, and APACHE II score.

Black rice diet alleviates colorectal cancer development through modulating tryptophan metabolism and activating AHR pathway.

Consumption of dietary fiber and anthocyanin has been linked to a lower incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study scrutinizes the potential antitumorigenic attributes of a black rice diet (BRD), abundantly rich in dietary fiber and anthocyanin. Our results demonstrate notable antitumorigenic effects in mice on BRD, indicated by a reduction in both the size and number of intestinal tumors and a consequent extension in life span, compared to control diet-fed counterparts. Furthermore, fecal transplants from BRD-fed mice to germ-free mice led to a decrease in colonic cell proliferation, coupled with maintained integrity of the intestinal barrier. The BRD was associated with significant shifts in gut microbiota composition, specifically an augmentation in probiotic strains Bacteroides uniformis and Lactobacillus. Noteworthy changes in gut metabolites were also documented, including the upregulation of indole-3-lactic acid and indole. These metabolites have been identified to stimulate the intestinal aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway, inhibiting CRC cell proliferation and colorectal tumorigenesis. In summary, these findings propose that a BRD may modulate the progression of intestinal tumors by fostering protective gut microbiota and metabolite profiles. The study accentuates the potential health advantages of whole-grain foods, emphasizing the potential utility of black rice in promoting health.

Hydroxycamptothecin regulates scar formation of the filtration channel under scleral flap by inhibiting the proliferation of scleral fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the inhibitory effect of a hyaluronic acid hydrogel loaded with hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) on scar formation after filtration surgery in a rabbit model. METHODS: Scleral fibroblasts were isolated and extracted from rabbits' eyes. After treatment with different concentrations of HCPT, cytotoxicity was detected using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and proliferation and extent of apoptosis were analysed using flow cytometry. Hydrogels loaded with different dosages of HCPT were prepared and placed under the scleral flap after the filtration surgery. One day, one week, and two weeks after surgery, follicular, conjunctival, corneal, and anterior chamber inflammation and iris and lens changes were observed. RESULTS: In vitro, compared with cells not treated with HCPT, cells treated with HCPT had decreased survival rate and proliferation, and the apoptosis level increased with increasing HCPT concentrations (p < 0.05). In vivo, the flattening time of filtering blebs in the three groups treated with different dosages of HCPT hydrogel was delayed. The degrees of oedema, inflammation, and bleeding were similar to those observed in the control group. The HCPT hydrogel effectively downregulated the expression of collagen 1 and 3 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 and upregulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: HCPT significantly inhibited the growth of rabbits' scleral fibroblasts and effectively inhibited scar formation after filtering surgery by accelerating the degradation of extracellular matrix deposition.

Comparative transcriptomics identifies the key in planta-expressed genes of Fusarium graminearum during infection of wheat varieties.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused mainly by the fungus Fusarium graminearum, is one of the most devastating diseases in wheat, which reduces the yield and quality of grain. Fusarium graminearum infection of wheat cells triggers dynamic changes of gene expression in both F. graminearum and wheat, leading to molecular interactions between pathogen and host. The wheat plant in turn activates immune signaling or host defense pathways against FHB. However, the mechanisms by which F. graminearum infects wheat varieties with different levels of host resistance are largely limited. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the F. graminearum transcriptome in planta during the infection of susceptible and resistant wheat varieties at three timepoints. A total of 6,106 F. graminearum genes including those functioning in cell wall degradation, synthesis of secondary metabolites, virulence, and pathogenicity were identified during the infection of different hosts, which were regulated by hosts with different genetic backgrounds. Genes enriched with metabolism of host cell wall components and defense response processes were specifically dynamic during the infection with different hosts. Our study also identified F. graminearum genes that were specifically suppressed by signals derived from the resistant plant host. These genes may represent direct targets of the plant defense against infection by this fungus. Briefly, we generated databases of in planta-expressed genes of F. graminearum during infection of two different FHB resistance level wheat varieties, highlighted their dynamic expression patterns and functions of virulence, invasion, defense response, metabolism, and effector signaling, providing valuable insight into the interactions between F. graminearum and susceptible/resistant wheat varieties.