Insights into the environmental factors shaping lateral root development.

Roots are important organs of plants. Plants rely on roots for water, nutrients, and organic salts. In the whole root system, lateral roots (LRs) account for a large proportion and are critical to the development of the plant. Many environmental factors affect LR development. Therefore, a systematic understanding of these factors can provide a theoretical basis for creating optimal growth conditions for plants. In this paper, the factors affecting LR development are systematically and comprehensively summarized, and the molecular mechanism and regulatory network of LR development are described. Changes in the external environment not only lead to hormone homeostasis in plants but also affect the composition and activity of rhizosphere microbial communities, which in turn affect plants' nitrogen and phosphorus uptake and growth dynamics. LR development is influenced by hormone levels and external environment. In particular, auxin and abscisic acid coordinate with each other to maintain normal LR development. Of course, changes in the external environment are also important for root development, and they affect the intrinsic hormone levels of plants by affecting the accumulation and transport of hormones. For example, nitrogen, phosphorus, reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, water, drought, light, and rhizosphere microorganisms affect LR development and plant tolerance in a variety of ways, including regulating hormone levels. This review summarizes the factors affecting LR development and the regulatory network and points out the direction for future research.

Identification of crucial genes related to heart failure based on GEO database.

BACKGROUND: The molecular biological mechanisms underlying heart failure (HF) remain poorly understood. Therefore, it is imperative to use innovative approaches, such as high-throughput sequencing and artificial intelligence, to investigate the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and potential treatment of HF. METHODS: First, we initially screened Two data sets (GSE3586 and GSE5406) from the GEO database containing HF and control samples from the GEO database to establish the Train group, and selected another dataset (GSE57345) to construct the Test group for verification. Next, we identified the genes with significantly different expression levels in patients with or without HF and performed functional and pathway enrichment analyses. HF-specific genes were identified, and an artificial neural network was constructed by Random Forest. The ROC curve was used to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the constructed model in the Train and Test groups. Finally, immune cell infiltration was analyzed to determine the role of the inflammatory response and the immunological microenvironment in the pathogenesis of HF. RESULTS: In the Train group, 153 significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with HF were found to be abnormal, including 81 down-regulated genes and 72 up-regulated genes. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the down-regulated genes were primarily enriched in organic anion transport, neutrophil activation, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The upregulated genes were mainly enriched in neutrophil activation and the calcium signaling. DEGs were identified using Random Forest, and finally, 16 HF-specific genes were obtained. In the ROC validation and evaluation, the area under the curve (AUC) of the Train and Test groups were 0.996 and 0.863, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our research revealed the potential functions and pathways implicated in the progression of HF, and designed an RNA diagnostic model for HF tissues using machine learning and artificial neural networks. Sensitivity, specificity, and stability were confirmed by ROC curves in the two different cohorts.

Comparison of predictive value of risk scores for gastrointestinal bleeding in antiplatelet therapy.

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is the most common serious bleeding complication of antiplatelet therapy. The bleeding risk score (BRS) of GIB may help to determine the risk of bleeding, and provides a reference for the formulation of antiplatelet therapy regimen in clinical practice, but we found that no specific risk scores are available in East Asian patients. This study analyzed patients who were administered antiplatelet therapy from May 2015 to December 2018 in two medical centers. Patient's baseline data were obtained. We assessed four BRSs (New Score, RIETE Score, Cuschieri Score, de Groot Score) and compared them using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The 4,052 patients enrolled in this study had an average age of 69.6 ± 10.8 years, and 65.9% of them were male. Among the 4,052 patients included, 171 patients experienced GIB within 6 months of follow-up. In the study population, the AUCs for the New, RIETE, Cuschieri, and de Groot scores were 0.673 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.616-0.729, P < .001), 0.742 (95% CI 0.690-0.794, P < .001), 0.598 (95% CI 0.537-0.659, P = .002), and 0.875 (95% CI 0.839-0.912, P < .001), respectively. After validation, the de Groot Score has better performance. Among the four scores, the de Groot Score might be more suitable for helping Chinese clinicians to predict the risk of GIB in patients taking antiplatelet drugs, and reduce GIB events.

[Effects of Leptin and Leptin-associated Signaling Pathways on the Occurrence and Progression of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms].

Abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA) is a chronic dilated artery disease induced by atherosclerosis,infection,trauma and other related causes.The available studies about AAA mainly focus on the inflammatory response,senility,and microenvironmental changes,while the research on the metabolic changes such as glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism remains to be conducted.As a critical regulatory factor in endocrine,glucose,and lipid metabolisms,leptin is associated with a variety of signaling pathways such as adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase,Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription,and cytokine-cytokine receptor,as demonstrated by the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis.Moreover,these signaling pathways are generally involved in regulating the occurrence of AAA.In addition,leptin affects the occurrence of a variety of diseases such as obesity,diabetes,and hyperlipidemia,which contribute to the formation of AAA.Diabetes might be a protective factor for the formation of AAA,while the relationship of hyperlipidemia and obesity with the formation of AAA remains unclear.Therefore,leptin might play an essential role in the formation of AAA.Further studies about the effect of leptin on AAA may provide the potential research direction and facilitate the discovery of therapeutic targets.

Ablation and Inhibition of the Immunoproteasome Catalytic Subunit LMP7 Attenuate Experimental Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation in Mice.

Low-molecular mass protein 7 (LMP7) is a proteolytic subunit of the immunoproteasome that is involved in regulating inflammatory responses. However, the role of LMP7 in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains unknown. In this study, ApoE knockout (KO) or LMP7/ApoE double KO (dKO) mice were infused with angiotensin II (Ang II, 1000 ng/kg per minute) for up to 28 d. We found that LMP7 expression was significantly upregulated in AAA tissues from ApoE KO mice and human patients. Moreover, Ang II infusion markedly increased the incidence and severity of AAA in ApoE KO mice, which was considerably reduced in LMP7/ApoE dKO mice. Histological alterations, including aortic wall thickening, collagen deposition, elastin fragmentation, and vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis in AAA tissue of ApoE KO mice, were also significantly attenuated in LMP7/ApoE dKO mice. Interestingly, LMP7/ApoE dKO mice showed a marked reduction of infiltration of CD3+ T cells, especially CD4+ T cells in AAA tissues compared with ApoE KO mice. Moreover, ablation of LMP7 substantially inhibited the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into Th1 and Th17 cells by reducing the activation of multiple transcriptional factors. We also investigated the effects of an LMP7-specific inhibitor PR-957 (also known as ONX 0914) on AAA formation in ApoE KO mice. PR-957 treatment could reduce the AAA incidence and severity. In conclusion, our results provide, to our knowledge, novel evidence that ablation or pharmacological inhibition of LMP7 attenuates Ang II-induced AAA formation, and LMP7 might be a novel therapeutic target for treating AAA in humans.

Comparison of clinical performance of four gastrointestinal bleeding risk scores in Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation receiving oral anticoagulants.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is the most common bleeding complication during anticoagulant therapy. A reliable bleeding risk score can help the clinician assess risk of bleeding in individual patients and select the anticoagulant regimen. This study retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with atrial fibrillation who received anticoagulant therapy from July 2015 to December 2018 at two centers-the Fujian Medical University Union Hospital and Fuzhou Second Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University. Demographic data, clinical findings, and laboratory results were collected from the hospital records. Patients were followed up for 6 months. The performance of four bleeding risk scores (New Score, RIETE Score, Cuschieri et al. Score, de Groot et al. Score) for prediction of gastrointestinal bleeding was assessed using the area under the curve. A total of 3462 patients (mean age, 66.3 ± 11.5 years; 59.6% males; 1055 direct oral anticoagulants users and 2407 warfarin users) were followed up for 6 months. While 99/3462 (2.9%) patients had gastrointestinal bleeding. The area under the curves for the New, RIETE, Cuschieri et al., de Groot et al. scores were 0.652 (95% CI 0.576-0.728), 0.862 (95% CI 0.809-0.914), 0.606 (95% CI 0.527-0.685), and 0.873 (95% CI 0.816-0.929), respectively. Among the four BRSs evaluated, the RIETE score and the de Groot et al. score appear to have the good predictive value, while the NEW score and the Cuschieri et al. score did not sufficiently predict gastrointestinal bleeding risk within the study Chinese population.

[Sleeve Shaping Technique for Two Cases of Peripheral Artery Aneurysms Involving Important Branches].

Peripheral artery aneurysms,with low incidence and complex anatomic structure,often involve important branches.This paper introduces a new surgical technique-sleeve shaping on the basis of two cases.The basic data,including characteristics,imaging,operation and follow-up data of the cases,were collected.The data were then combined with the previous literature for explaining in detail that this technique can be used as a supplementary method of reconstruction following resection or endovascular repair.

[Differences of Gut Microbiota Diversity between Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Atherosclerosis].

Objective To investigate the differences of gut microbiota between patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis.Methods From December 2018 to June 2019,20 fresh stool samples were collected respectively from the patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis treated at the Department of Vascular Surgery,Peking Union Medical College Hospital.The 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing was employed to compare the composition,abundance,and α and ß diversities of gut microbiota between the two disease groups,and further determine the significantly differential genera.Results The two groups had great similarities in the composition of gut microbiota.There was no statistical difference in α diversity.Although ß diversity did not have statistically significant difference,certain microbial taxa showed differences between the two groups.The LEfSe demonstrated that the abdominal aortic aneurysm group had higher relative abundance of Leuconostocaceae,Ruminococcaceae,Weissella,and Faecalibacterium while lower relative abundance of Firmicuteria,Selenomonadales,and Veillonellaceae.Conclusion The structure of gut microbiota has differences between patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis,and sample size should be enlarged to validate the results.

[Treatment of Concomitant Intra-abdominal Malignancy and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm].

Objective To explore the outcomes in patients who receive the endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair(EVAR)and have concomitant intra-abdominal malignancy.Methods Between January 2014 and December 2019,all the patients who underwent surgery for malignancy and/or EVAR were retrospectively reviewed.Results Twenty-eight abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA)patients with concomitant intra-abdominal malignancy were included.The patients were treated by two-stage operation and the priority was given for EVAR in 21 patients.There was no perioperative death or major complications.In the follow-up,one patient developed graft thrombosis and one had type Ⅱ endoleak.There was no AAA-associated death.Conclusions It is preferred that EVAR should come first followed by operation for malignancy.Details of treatment strategy still need further investigation.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 2 blockade by SB265610 inhibited angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in Apo E-/- mice.

Inflammation plays a critical role in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Chemokine receptor CXCR2 mediates inflammatory cell chemotaxis in several diseases. However, the role of CXCR2 in AAA and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we found that the CXCR2 expressions in AAA tissues from human and angiotensin II (Ang II)-infused apolipoprotein E knockout (Apo E-/-) mice were significantly increased. The pharmacological inhibition of CXCR2 (SB265610) markedly reduced Ang II-induced AAA formation. Furthermore, SB265610 treatment significantly reduced collagen deposition, elastin degradation, the metal matrix metalloprotease expression and accumulation of macrophage cells. In conclusion, these results showed CXCR2 plays a pathogenic role in AAA formation. Inhibition of CXCR2 pathway may represent a novel therapeutic approach to treat AAA.

A Predictive Model to Distinguish Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas from Benign Thyroid Nodules Using Ultrasonographic Features: A Single-Center, Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND We developed a model based on ultrasound (US) features of thyroid nodules and cervical lymph nodes to distinguish papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) from benign thyroid nodules. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively collected data on preoperative ultrasonographic characteristics and postoperative histological data from 1119 patients who underwent thyroidectomy in our center from January 2017 to January 2018. Variables of age, sex, and US features of thyroid nodule and lymph nodes features were analyzed. A logistic regression model was established for PTC prediction. RESULTS Logistic regression analysis confirmed that age under 45 years (OR=2.22, p=0.00), hypoechogenicity (OR=3.70, p=0.00), irregular shape (OR=2.13, p=0.004), ill-defined margin (OR=2.26, p=0.08), spiculate margin (OR=3.30, p=0.00), indefinite border (OR=2.45, p=0.00), capsular invasion (OR=7.76, p=0.006), taller-than-wide shape (OR=2.94, p=0.00), solid structure (OR=2.46, p=0.001), microcalcifications (OR=3.92, p=0.00), coexistence of microcalcifications and macrocalcifications (OR=5.84, p=0.006), and central vascularity (OR=2.10, p=0.001) were independently associated with increased risks for PTC, as well as lymph nodes metastasis features (absence of an echogenic hilum [OR=3.74, p=0.027] and increased vascularization [OR=3.55, p=0.086]). The area under the curve (AUC) for the risk score diagnosis system was 0.916. CONCLUSIONS This predictive model is a reliable, simple, and cost-effective diagnostic tool for PTC.

Effects of Taurine on Broiler Aortic Endothelial Cells Activity and Antioxidant Ability Impired by Heat Stress In Vitro.

In order to provide a theoretical basis for the amelioration of heat stress-related diseases in broilers by taurine supplementation, the effect of taurine on the viability and antioxidant ability of aortic endothelial cells in broilers under heat stress was investigated in the present study. In this experiment, 10d healthy broilers were sacrificed, then aortic tissue was used for aortic endothelial cells isolation and cultivation. Tissue patching was used to cultivate primary broiler aortic endothelial cells. The 3rd to 5th generations of cells were used and randomly divided into five groups, including the control group (C), the heat-stressed group (HS), the Tau(HS + LTau) group, the Tau(HS + MTau) group and the Tau(HS + HTau) group. Cells were cultivated for 24 h in a cell incubator (37 °C, 5%CO2). Then heat-stressed cells were placed in a 43 °C thermostatic water bath for 6 h, followed by incubation in the cell incubator under 37°Cfor 1 h. The results were as follows (1) Based on MTT colorimetry and AO/EB staining, the activity of aortic endothelial cells was decreased, but the rate of apoptosis was increased in the HS group. Compared with the HS group, the taurine groups showed significantly higher level in relative survival rates (P < 0.05), and significantly lower apoptosis rates (P < 0.05); (2) compared to control group, LDH activity and MDA content of endothelial cells in the HS group were significantly increased (P < 0.01), while the levels of T-SOD, GSH-Px and T-AOC were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). The LDH activity and MDA content of endothelial cells were significantly lower in Tau group than those of HS group (P < 0.05), while the T-SOD activity, GSH-Px activity and T-AOC of endothelial cells were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the taurine group. The results show that HS decreases antioxidant capacity, which causes severe oxidative damage to the endothelial cells; while taurine administration prevents the decline in LDH activity and MDA content, and increases the activity of several antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, GSH-Px and T-AOC, which implies that taurine can improve the broiler aortic endothelial cells activity and antioxidant ability under heat stress.

An association of spleen volume and aortic diameter in patients and in mice with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the potential mechanism of splenic enlargement in Ang II/APOE model and the associations between the spleen volume and the indices of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in human. METHODS: To investigate the changes of spleen volume on AAA formation, apolipoprotein E knockout (Apo E-/-) mice were treated with Ang II (1000 ng/kg/min) up to 28 days to generate AAA. We used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), liquid measurement, H&E and immunohistochemistry to analyze the morphological or pathological changes of spleen. To investigate the changes of spleen volume in human, a retrospective case-control study involving 30 male AAA patients and 25 male controls were performed. Spleen volume was measured on computed tomography images. Univariate analysis and multivariable sequential logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the association between spleen volume and maximal diameter (Dmax). RESULTS: In Ang II/APOE model, we found splenic enlargement in mice with AAA compared with the sham group. Histopathological investigations revealed hypertrophies of splenic follicles and increased populations of CD3+ T cells. In clinic cohort study, univariate analysis revealed higher values in large AAA (Dmax > 5.5 cm,n = 15) compared with the small (Dmax < 5.5 cm,n = 15) for spleen volume (230.6 ± 64.5 cm3 vs. 170.0 ± 32.8 cm3; P = 0.0030). Regression analysis revealed a statistically significant positive linear correlation of spleen volume and Dmax of AAA (r = 0.3611;P = 0.0423). CONCLUSIONS: Mimicking the splenic pathology observed in murine AAA model, there is a strong positive correlation between spleen volume and the Dmax in male AAA patients. As Dmax is a valuable predictor of AAA rupture, the spleen enlargement may be another indicator.

Screening potential SSR markers of the anadromous fish Coilia nasus by de novo transcriptome analysis using Illumina sequencing.

RNA-Seq technology has been widely applied to transcriptomics, genomics, molecular marker development, and functional gene studies. In the genome, microsatellites are simple sequence repeats (SSR) with a high degree of polymorphism that are used as DNA markers in many molecular genetic studies. Using traditional methods such as magnetic bead enrichment, only a few microsatellite markers have been isolated. Coilia nasus is an anadromous, small-to-moderately sized fish species that is famous as an important fishery resource. Here, we have identified a large number of microsatellites from the fish brains by using Illumina sequencing. About 20 million Illumina reads were assembled into 148,845 unigenes. A total of 13,038 SSR motifs were identified via analysis of 3,958,293,117 (3.96 Gb) nucleotides to produce a comprehensive transcript dataset for the C. nasus brain, including mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, and penta-repeat motifs. The most abundant type of repeat motif was di-nucleotide (42.97%), followed by mono-nucleotide (38.86%), tri-nucleotide (16.21%), tetra-nucleotide (1.83%), and penta-nucleotide (0.05%) repeat units, which is similar to the results obtained in studies in other species. These data provide a base of sequence information to improve molecular-assisted markers to study C. nasus genetic diversity.

Aortic bypass and orthotopic right renal autotransplantation for midaortic syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Midaortic syndrome (MAS) is a rare vascular anomaly characterized by segmental narrowing of the distal descending thoracic or abdominal aorta. Renal or visceral arteries may also be affected to varying degrees. MAS is often associated with renovascular hypertension, and requires early intervention. When medical therapy and percutaneous interventions fail to control hypertension, surgical treatment is required. We report a case of MAS that failed to respond to bilateral renal artery stenting, but treated with aortic bypass and orthotopic right renal autotransplantation with good outcome. CASE PRESENTATION: A 31-year-old woman presented with headache and poorly controlled hypertension due to severe MAS. She had severe ostial stenoses of renal and visceral arteries. Her hypertension failed to respond to medical therapy (four drugs) and bilateral renal artery stenting. The implanted stent in the right renal artery rendered revascularization of the artery difficult. A one-stage revascularization was performed, which consisted of an aortoaortic bypass (between the suprarenal and infrarenal abdominal aorta) with a prosthetic graft, an orthotopic right renal autotransplantation and an aorto-left renal arterial bypass with autogenous saphenous vein grafts. Her recovery was uneventful. At 1-year follow-up, the patient remained well. Her hypertension improved. A postoperative computed tomography angiography showed that all the grafts were patent with no abnormalities at the anastomosis. CONCLUSION: Multiple bypass surgery with reimplantation of autogenous vein graft onto the prosthetic graft is a feasible and effective procedure in renal artery revascularization for MAS. Orthotopic autotransplantation is the procedure of choice in complex renal artery reconstruction.

Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy Associated With Anti-signal Recognition Particle Antibody Complicated With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Report of Two Cases.

Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) represents a rare category of inflammatory myopathies characterized by more severe and rapid progression of symmetrical proximal muscle weakness. It is also marked by notably elevated serum muscle enzyme levels and distinct histological features, setting it apart from other types of myositis. Moreover, acute chronic lung respiratory dysfunction is a major comorbidity of great concern. We herein present two cases of IMNM associated with anti-signal recognition particle antibodies complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Lateral root primordium: Formation, influencing factors and regulation.

Roots are the primary determinants of water and nutrient uptake by plants. The structure of roots is largely determined by the repeated formation of new lateral roots (LR). A new lateral root primordium (LRP) is formed between the beginning and appearance of LR, which defines the organization and function of LR. Therefore, proper LRP morphogenesis is a crucial process for lateral root formation. The development of LRP is regulated by multiple factors, including hormone and environmental signals. Roots integrate signals and regulate growth and development. At the molecular level, many genes regulate the growth and development of root organs to ensure stable development plans, while also being influenced by various environmental factors. To gain a better understanding of the LRP formation and its influencing factors, this study summarizes previous research. The cell cycle involved in LRP formation, as well as the roles of ROS, auxin, other auxin-related plant hormones, and genetic regulation, are discussed in detail. Additionally, the effects of gravity, mechanical stress, and cell death on LRP formation are explored. Throughout the text unanswered or poorly understood questions are identified to guide future research in this area.

Excessive free fatty acid sensing in pituitary lactotrophs elicits steatotic liver disease by decreasing prolactin levels.

The pituitary is the central endocrine gland with effects on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, it is not clear whether the pituitary responds to free fatty acid (FFA) toxicity, thus dysregulating hepatic lipid metabolism. Here, we demonstrate that decreased prolactin (PRL) levels are involved in the association between FFA and MASLD based on a liver biospecimen-based cohort. Moreover, overloaded FFAs decrease serum PRL levels, thus promoting liver steatosis in mice with both dynamic diet intervention and stereotactic pituitary FFA injection. Mechanistic studies show that excessive FFA sensing in pituitary lactotrophs inhibits the synthesis and secretion of PRL in a cell-autonomous manner. Notably, inhibiting excessive lipid uptake using pituitary stereotaxic virus injection or a specific drug delivery system effectively ameliorates hepatic lipid accumulation by improving PRL levels. Targeted inhibition of pituitary FFA sensing may be a potential therapeutic target for liver steatosis.

Exploring the microRNA-mRNA regulatory network associated with solasonine in bladder cancer.

Background: Solasonine has been demonstrated to exert an inhibitory effect on bladder cancer (BC), but the potential mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the association between microRNAs (miRNAs)-mediated regulation and the anti-tumor activities of solasonine in BC. Methods: MiRNA sequencing was performed to identify the differentially expressed microRNAs (DE-miRNAs) associated with solasonine in BC cells. Functional enrichment analyses of the DE-miRNAs activated and inhibited by solasonine were then conducted. The DE-miRNAs with prognostic value for BC and those differentially expressed in the BC samples were subsequently identified as the hub DE-miRNAs. After identifying the messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that were targeted by the hub DE-miRNAs and those differentially expressed in the BC samples, a protein-protein interaction analysis was performed to identify the core downstream genes, which were then used to construct a solasonine-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network. Results: A total of 27 activated and 19 inhibited solasonine-mediated DE-miRNAs were identified that were found to be associated with several tumor-related biological functions and pathways. After integrating the results of the survival analysis and expression assessment, the following nine hub DE-miRNAs were identified: hsa-miR-127-3p, hsa-miR-450b-5p, hsa-miR-99a-5p, hsa-miR-197-3p, hsa-miR-423-3p, hsa-miR-4326, hsa-miR-625-3p, hsa-miR-625-5p, and hsa-miR-92a-3p. The DE-mRNAs targeted by the hub DE-miRNAs were predicted, and 30 core downstream genes were used to construct the solasonine-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network. miR-450b-5p was shown to be associated with the most mRNAs in this network, which suggests that it plays a crucial role in the solasonine-mediated anti-BC effect. Conclusions: A regulatory network, including solasonine, miRNAs, and mRNAs related to BC, was constructed. This network provides extensive insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms that underlie the anti-cancer efficacy of solasonine in BC.

Genetic diversity of the endangered scaly-sided merganser (Mergus squamatus) in the wintering habitat of central-southern China.

The scaly-sided merganser (Mergus squamatus), found in temperate East Asia, has been reduced to a very small population. Central and southern China are its main wintering habitat. However, populations have declined greatly since the 1980s due to habitat loss and degradation, and poaching. To meet the urgent need for up-to-date conservation information, we examined RAPD DNA markers from 156 specimens in 6 populations in Jiangxi Province. We found that genetic diversity (based on individual similarities) is in fact low; molecular variance between populations ranged from 0.137 to 0.347. Genetic similarity ranged from 0.683 to 0.866. In conclusion, the geographical pattern of genetic diversity supports the long-term refugial status of the scaly-sided merganser in central-southern China; strong conservation measures should be taken to maintain the merganser in this region.