Expression characterization and cross-species complementation uncover the functional conservation of YABBY genes for leaf abaxial polarity and carpel polarity establishment in Saccharum spontaneum.

BACKGROUND: Cell polarity establishment and maintenance is indispensable for plant growth and development. In plants, the YABBY transcription factor family has a distinct role in leaf asymmetric polarity establishment and lateral organ initiation. However, for the important sugar crop Saccharum, little information on YABBY genes is available. RESULTS: In this study, a total of 20 sequences for 7 SsYABBY genes were identified in the sugarcane genome, designated as SsYABBY1-7 based on their chromosome locations, and characterized by phylogenetic analysis. We provided a high-resolution map of SsYABBYs' global expression dynamics during vegetative and reproductive organ morphogenesis and revealed that SsYABBY3/4/5 are predominately expressed at the seedling stage of stem and leaf basal zone; SsYABBY2/5/7 are highly expressed in ovules. Besides, cross-species overexpression and/or complementation verified the conserved function of SsYABBY2 in establishing leaf adaxial-abaxial polarity and ovules development. We found that the SsYABBY2 could successfully rescue the leaves curling, carpel dehiscence, and ovule abortion defects in Arabidopsis crc mutant. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our study demonstrates that SsYABBY genes retained a conserved function in establishing and preserving leaf adaxial-abaxial polarity and lateral organ development during evolution.

Genomic analysis of SBP gene family in Saccharum spontaneum reveals their association with vegetative and reproductive development.

BACKGROUND: SQUAMOSA promoter binding proteins (SBPs) genes encode a family of plant-specific transcription factors involved in various growth and development processes, including flower and fruit development, leaf initiation, phase transition, and embryonic development. The SBP gene family has been identified and characterized in many species, but no systematic analysis of the SBP gene family has been carried out in sugarcane. RESULTS: In the present study, a total of 50 sequences for 30 SBP genes were identified by the genome-wide analysis and designated SsSBP1 to SsSBP30 based on their chromosomal distribution. According to the phylogenetic tree, gene structure and motif features, the SsSBP genes were classified into eight groups (I to VIII). By synteny analysis, 27 homologous gene pairs existed in SsSBP genes, and 37 orthologous gene pairs between sugarcane and sorghum were found. Expression analysis in different tissues, including vegetative and reproductive organs, showed differential expression patterns of SsSBP genes, indicating their functional diversity in the various developmental processes. Additionally, 22 SsSBP genes were predicted as the potential targets of miR156. The differential expression pattern of miR156 exhibited a negative correlation of transcription levels between miR156 and the SsSBP gene in different tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The sugarcane genome possesses 30 SsSBP genes, and they shared similar gene structures and motif features in their subfamily. Based on the transcriptional and qRT-PCR analysis, most SsSBP genes were found to regulate the leaf initial and female reproductive development. The present study comprehensively and systematically analyzed SBP genes in sugarcane and provided a foundation for further studies on the functional characteristics of SsSBP genes during different development processes.

Genome-wide study of pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) bHLH transcription factors indicates that cryptochrome-interacting bHLH2 (AcCIB2) participates in flowering time regulation and abiotic stress response.

BACKGROUND: Transcription factors (TFs) are essential regulators of growth and development in eukaryotes. Basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLHs) is one of the most significant TFs families involved in several critical regulatory functions. Cryptochrome-interacting bHLH (CIB) and cryptochromes form an extensive regulatory network to mediate a plethora of pathways. Although bHLHs regulate critical biological processes in plants, the information about pineapple bHLHs remains unexplored. RESULTS: Here, we identified a total of 121 bHLH proteins in the pineapple genome. The identified genes were renamed based on the ascending order of their gene ID and classified into 18 subgroups by phylogenetic analysis. We found that bHLH genes are expressed in different organs and stages of pineapple development. Furthermore, by the ectopic expression of AcCIB2 in Arabidopsis and complementation of Atcib2 mutant, we verified the involvement of AcCIB2 in photomorphogenesis and abiotic stress response. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that AcCIB2 plays an essential role in flowering time regulation and abiotic stress response. The present study provides additional insights into the current knowledge of bHLH genes and suggests their potential role in various biological processes during pineapple development.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Risk Factors of Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients with Early Gastric Cancer in the Wannan Region.

BACKGROUND To date, there has been no agreement on the risk factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) for early gastric cancer (EGC). The objective of this article was to investigate the risk factors of LNM in EGC in the Wannan region of Anhui Province and then to develop a regional practice guideline to manage EGC cases in this population. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective analysis was performed from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2017, at First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College. We explored the independent risk factors of LNM by using univariate analysis and multivariate analysis. RESULTS In total, 381 patients were selected for analysis. The LNM rate of EGC was 13.65% (52 out of 381 patients). Submucosal invasion, ulcer presence, undifferentiated tumor, vascular tumor thrombus, and neural invasion were significantly associated with LNM in EGC patients. Multivariate analysis suggested that depth of invasion (odds ratio [OR], 3.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.45-8.42; P=0.005), vascular tumor thrombus (OR, 6.33; 95%CI, 2.31-17.31; P=0.001), and neural invasion (OR, 10.95; 95%CI, 3.29-36.41; P=0.001) were independent predictors of LNM in EGC patients CONCLUSIONS In the Wannan region of Anhui Province in China, depth of invasion, vascular tumor thrombus, and neural invasion were independent predictive risk factors for LNM in EGC patients. EGC patients with these risk factors for LNM are more likely to have LNM, and radical surgical procedure was more likely to be considered. With respective to EGC with submucosal invasion, the flat type pattern had a lower risk of LNM.

AcoMYB4, an Ananas comosus L. MYB Transcription Factor, Functions in Osmotic Stress through Negative Regulation of ABA Signaling.

Drought and salt stress are the main environmental cues affecting the survival, development, distribution, and yield of crops worldwide. MYB transcription factors play a crucial role in plants' biological processes, but the function of pineapple MYB genes is still obscure. In this study, one of the pineapple MYB transcription factors, AcoMYB4, was isolated and characterized. The results showed that AcoMYB4 is localized in the cell nucleus, and its expression is induced by low temperature, drought, salt stress, and hormonal stimulation, especially by abscisic acid (ABA). Overexpression of AcoMYB4 in rice and Arabidopsis enhanced plant sensitivity to osmotic stress; it led to an increase in the number stomata on leaf surfaces and lower germination rate under salt and drought stress. Furthermore, in AcoMYB4 OE lines, the membrane oxidation index, free proline, and soluble sugar contents were decreased. In contrast, electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased significantly due to membrane injury, indicating higher sensitivity to drought and salinity stresses. Besides the above, both the expression level and activities of several antioxidant enzymes were decreased, indicating lower antioxidant activity in AcoMYB4 transgenic plants. Moreover, under osmotic stress, overexpression of AcoMYB4 inhibited ABA biosynthesis through a decrease in the transcription of genes responsible for ABA synthesis (ABA1 and ABA2) and ABA signal transduction factor ABI5. These results suggest that AcoMYB4 negatively regulates osmotic stress by attenuating cellular ABA biosynthesis and signal transduction pathways.

[Application of speech induced ABR in rehabilitation intervention for hearing impaired children].

Objective:Exploring the electrophysiological changes of auditory rehabilitation in young children with hearing impairment, providing more methods for early assessment and intervention. Methods:Twenty children aged 2-4 were enrolled, with moderate hearing loss and no other abnormalities in the ears. Divide them into group 1 with normal hearing, group 2 with abnormal hearing, group 3 with abnormal hearing receiving hearing aid intervention for one year, and group 4 with abnormal hearing receiving hearing aid and language training rehabilitation for one year. The SmartEP auditory evoked potential instrument was used to detect speech induced ABR and conduct screening for 'Standards and Evaluating Hearing and Language Abilities of Children with Hearing Impairment in 80 enrolled children after rehabilitation training, and the latency、amplitude of speech induced ABR waveform and evaluation scale scores for each group after rehabilitation intervention were compared. Results:Compared with the normal group, the latency of each wave in the other three groups was prolonged. The differences in each wave between Group 2 and Group 3 were statistically significant, while the differences in D and F waves between Group 3 and Group 4 were statistically significant. Compared with the normal group, the maximum amplitude at F0 decreased in the other three groups, and the differences in maximum amplitude between Group 2 and Group 3, Group 2 and Group 4, and Group 3 and Group 4 were statistically significant. Compared with the normal group, the scores of the auditory language assessment scale in the hearing intervention group and the hearing aid plus language training group were significantly higher than those in the abnormal group in terms of recognition rate. The recognition rates of hearing impaired children with language training foundation are similar to those of the normal group of children. Conclusion:Auditory rehabilitation can alter the electrophysiological aspects of hearing and serve as a basis for early assessment and intervention in young children.

Exploration and verification a 13-gene diagnostic framework for ulcerative colitis across multiple platforms via machine learning algorithms.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with intricate pathogenesis and varied presentation. Accurate diagnostic tools are imperative to detect and manage UC. This study sought to construct a robust diagnostic model using gene expression profiles and to identify key genes that differentiate UC patients from healthy controls. Gene expression profiles from eight cohorts, encompassing a total of 335 UC patients and 129 healthy controls, were analyzed. A total of 7530 gene sets were computed using the GSEA method. Subsequent batch correction, PCA plots, and intersection analysis identified crucial pathways and genes. Machine learning, incorporating 101 algorithm combinations, was employed to develop diagnostic models. Verification was done using four external cohorts, adding depth to the sample repertoire. Evaluation of immune cell infiltration was undertaken through single-sample GSEA. All statistical analyses were conducted using R (Version: 4.2.2), with significance set at a P value below 0.05. Employing the GSEA method, 7530 gene sets were computed. From this, 19 intersecting pathways were discerned to be consistently upregulated across all cohorts, which pertained to cell adhesion, development, metabolism, immune response, and protein regulation. This corresponded to 83 unique genes. Machine learning insights culminated in the LASSO regression model, which outperformed others with an average AUC of 0.942. This model's efficacy was further ratified across four external cohorts, with AUC values ranging from 0.694 to 0.873 and significant Kappa statistics indicating its predictive accuracy. The LASSO logistic regression model highlighted 13 genes, with LCN2, ASS1, and IRAK3 emerging as pivotal. Notably, LCN2 showcased significantly heightened expression in active UC patients compared to both non-active patients and healthy controls (P < 0.05). Investigations into the correlation between these genes and immune cell infiltration in UC highlighted activated dendritic cells, with statistically significant positive correlations noted for LCN2 and IRAK3 across multiple datasets. Through comprehensive gene expression analysis and machine learning, a potent LASSO-based diagnostic model for UC was developed. Genes such as LCN2, ASS1, and IRAK3 hold potential as both diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets, offering a promising direction for future UC research and clinical application.

Genetic variation in the triosephosphate isomerase gene of the fall armyworm and its distribution across China.

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, has colonized and caused consistent damage in the Eastern hemisphere. The identification of various FAW strains is essential for developing precise prevention and control measures. The triosephosphate isomerase (Tpi) gene is recognized as an effective marker closely linked to FAW subpopulations. However, most current studies primarily focus on the comparison of variations in specific gene sites of this gene. In this study, we conducted full-length sequencing of the Tpi genes from 5 representative FAW groups. Our findings revealed that the Tpi genes varied in length from 1220 to 1420 bp, with the primary variation occurring within 4 introns. Notably, the exon lengths remained consistent, at 747 bp, with 37 observed base variations; however, no amino acid variations were detected. Through sequence alignment, we identified 8 stable variation sites that can be used to distinguish FAW strains in the Eastern hemisphere. Additionally, we performed strain identification on 1569 FAW samples collected from 19 provinces in China between 2020 and 2021. The extensive analysis indicated the absence of the rice strain in the samples. Instead, we only detected the presence of the corn strain and the Zambia strain, with the Zambia strain being distributed in a very low proportion (3.44%). Furthermore, the corn strain could be further categorized into 2 subgroups. This comprehensive study provides a valuable reference for enhancing our understanding of FAW population differentiation and for improving monitoring and early warning efforts.

Overexpression of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene could increase cellulose content in Jute (Corchorus capsularis L.).

In this study, the full-length cDNA of the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene was isolated from jute by homologous cloning (primers were designed according to the sequence of UGPase gene of other plants) and modified RACE techniques; the cloned gene was designated CcUGPase. Using bioinformatic analysis, the gene was identified as a member of the UGPase gene family. Real-time PCR analysis revealed differential spatial and temporal expression of the CcUGPase gene, with the highest expression levels at 40 and 120d. PCR and Southern hybridization results indicate that the gene was integrated into the jute genome. Overexpression of CcUGPase gene in jute revealed increased height and cellulose content compared with control lines, although the lignin content remained unchanged. The results indicate that the jute UGPase gene participates in cellulose biosynthesis. These data provide an important basis for the application of the CcUGPase gene in the improvement of jute fiber quality.

TAGLN suppresses proliferation and invasion, and induces apoptosis of colorectal carcinoma cells.

In order to find the correlation between transgelin gene (TAGLN) and colorectal carcinoma occurrence, we investigated the expression of TAGLN in colorectal carcinoma tissue samples and colorectal carcinoma LoVo cells. Meanwhile, the effects of TAGLN on the characteristics of LoVo cells were also examined. The expressions of TAGLN in colorectal carcinoma tissues, adjacent normal tissues, and LoVo cells were detected by the Western blot method. The recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-TAGLN was established and transfected into LoVo cells with the help of Lipofectamine™ 2000. At the same time, the TAGLN siRNA was transfected into LoVo cells in another group. Forty-eight hours later, the expressions of TAGLN in all groups were assayed by Western blot, and the cell viability was analyzed by MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The cell cycle and cell apoptosis were examined by flow cytometry, and the cell invasive ability was analyzed by Transwell invasion experiment. The effect of TALGN on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) was detected by Western blot. Western blot analysis showed that the expressions of TALGN in colorectal carcinoma tissues and LoVo cells were significantly decreased compared with colorectal carcinoma adjacent normal tissues (p < 0.01). In the overexpression or RNAi experiments, the plasmid pcDNA3.1-TAGLN significantly enhanced TALGN expression (p < 0.01), and TAGLN siRNA significantly decreased TAGLN expression (p < 0.01) in LoVo cells 48 h after transfection. In addition, MTT assay indicated that the cell viability of LoVo cells in the pcDNA3.1-TAGLN transfection group was significantly lower than that in the untransfected control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the overexpression of TAGLN significantly lowered the cell proliferation index (p < 0.05) and improved cell apoptosis (p < 0.01) in LoVo cells. In Transwell invasive experiments, the cell number, which had migrated through the chamber membrane, significantly decreased in the pcDNA3.1-TAGLN transfection group (p < 0.05) and significantly increased in the TAGLN knockdown group (p < 0.05) compared to the untransfected control group. At the same time, the expression of MMP9 was notably inhibited in the pcDNA3.1-TAGLN transfection group (p < 0.01). The expressions of TAGLN were inhibited in colorectal carcinoma tissues and colorectal carcinoma LoVo cells. The study also demonstrated that TAGLN could attenuate the proliferation and invasive ability of LoVo cells and enhance LoVo cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the expression of MMP9 was also inhibited by TAGLN. All these results could bring us a new perspective for biological therapy in colorectal carcinoma.

Serum CA724 has no diagnostic value for gastrointestinal tumors.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the predictive values of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 199, CA125 and CA724 in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tumors. METHODS: Among patients treated for gastrointestinal tumors at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College between December 2020 and March 2022, 572 patients were reviewed as the tumor group, and 700 healthy subjects from the physical examination center of the same hospital were reviewed as the control group. We evaluated the correlation between serum CEA, CA199, CA125, CA724 levels and pathological features in 572 patients with gastrointestinal tumors.The levels of serum CEA, CA199, CA125 and CA724 were compared between the two groups, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of these markers alone and in combination. RESULTS: Serum CEA level was correlated with tumor stage and metastasis, and CA199 was correlated with tumor stage, lymph node involvement and metastasis. CA125 and CA724 have no correlation with tumor pathological features. The levels of serum CEA, CA199 and CA125 were significantly increased in the tumor group compared with the control group, while serum CA724 levels did not significantly differ between groups (p > 0.05). In addition, in patients with gastric cancer (GC), esophageal cancer (EC), pancreatic cancer (PC), gallbladder cancer (GBC) or colorectal cancer (CRC), the serum CEA, CA199 and CA125 levels were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). However, serum CA724 levels were increased only in CRC patients (p < 0.05). ROC curve evaluation results showed that while CA199, CA125 and CA724 alone had poor diagnostic efficacy in the tumor group, CEA was better. Specifically, CEA had better diagnostic efficacy in GC, PC, GBC and CRC; additionally, CA199 and CA125 had better diagnostic efficacy in PC. However, CA724 showed no diagnostic value in the tumor group and the single gastrointestinal tumor group. For diagnosis with multiple-marker combinations, CEA + CA199 + CA125 had the best diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.776, AUC = 0.650, AUC = 0.896, AUC = 0.840, AUC = 0.793) in the GC, EC, PC, GBC and CRC groups, and the sensitivity of multiple-marker combined detection was better than that of single-marker detection. CONCLUSIONS: Serum CA724 has no diagnostic value for gastrointestinal tumors, and it cannot evaluate the pathological status of tumors. Serum CEA has excellent diagnostic efficacy in GC, PC, GBC and CRC, and its expression level is related to tumor stage and metastasis. Additionally, CA199 and CA125 have good diagnostic efficacy in PC. Among them, CA199 level was related to tumor stage, lymph node involvement and metastasis, and CA125 level was not related to pathological status. In addition, the multiple-marker combination CEA + CA199 + CA125 has the best diagnostic efficacy in GC, EC, PC, GBC and CRC.

Behçet's disease with intestinal involvement: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic systemic disease characterized by vasculitis as the basic pathological change. BD is rare, and gastrointestinal involvement occurs in 3% to 25% of affected patients. This article describes a rare case of intestinal BD along with a literature review of intestinal involvement in BD. CASE PRESENTATION: A 50-year-old Han woman from China presented with a > 6-month history of distending pain in the right upper abdomen. Because of mechanical obstruction secondary to stricture formation from an ileocecal ulcer, she underwent radical right colon resection, and postoperative pathologic examination indicated an ileocecal ulcer. The patient was readmitted to the hospital 6 months postoperatively for recurrence of the same symptoms. Colonoscopy indicated obvious narrowing of the anastomosis with an oval-shaped deep ulcer that could not be passed by the endoscope. Pathologic examination showed acute and chronic inflammation of the anastomotic mucosa and granulation tissue. In addition, gastroscopy showed a 3.0- × 4.0-cm giant ulcer at the junction of the descending bulb along with a sinus tract. Moreover, total gastrointestinal computed tomography angiography showed significant thickening of the intestinal wall near the transverse colon, forming a sinus tract at the junction of the antrum and duodenum with a length of about 1.3 cm and width of about 0.2 cm. Further inquiry regarding the patient's medical history revealed that she had developed repeated oral ulcers 3 years previously and repeated eye inflammation 5 years previously. Specimens of the right half of the colon removed 6 months previously were sent to Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University for consultation. The pathologic examination revealed vasculitis in the submucosa and subserosa, and the patient was finally diagnosed with BD. She began treatment with adalimumab, and repeat gastroenteroscopy revealed that the intestinal ulcer had significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS: An oval-shaped deep intestinal ulcer is a characteristic lesion in patients with BD and may involve the intestinal muscle layer. This case emphasizes that BD is a vasculitis affecting multiple organs and can present with a single, deep, clean-edged intestinal ulcer that penetrates the bowel wall to form a sinus tract. Therefore, careful examination and differential diagnosis should be carried out to prevent a poor prognosis. Adalimumab is effective for patients with intestinal BD.

Identification of passion fruit HSF gene family and the functional analysis of PeHSF-C1a in response to heat and osmotic stress.

Heat stress transcription factors (HSFs) are the major regulators of plant response to environmental stress, especially heat and drought stress. To gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying HSFs in the abiotic stress response of passion fruit, we conducted an in silico analysis of the HSF gene family. Through bioinformatics and phylogenetic analyses, we identified 18 PeHSF members and classified them into A, B, and C groups. Collinearity analysis results revealed that the expansion of the PeHSF gene family was due to the presence of segmental duplication. Furthermore, gene structure and protein domain analysis illustrated that PeHSFs in the same subgroup are relatively conserved. Conserved motif and function domain analysis suggested that PeHSF proteins possess typical conserved functional domains of the HSF family. A protein interaction network and 3D structure prediction were used to study the potential regulatory relationship of PeHSFs. Additionally, the subcellular localization results of PeHSF-A6a, PeHSF-B4b, and PeHSF-C1a were consistent with the predictions. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analysis revealed the expression patterns of PeHSFs in different tissues of passion fruit floral organs. Promoter analysis and the expression patterns of the PeHSFs under different treatments demonstrated their involvement in various abiotic stress processes. Notably, overexpression of PeHSF-C1a consistently enhanced tolerance to drought and heat stress in Arabidopsis. Overall, our findings provide a scientific basis for further functional studies of PeHSFs that could contribute to improvement of passion fruit breeding.

Small Auxin Up RNA (SAUR) gene family identification and functional genes exploration during the floral organ and fruit developmental stages in pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) and its response to salinity and drought stresses.

In plants, sexual reproduction relies on the proper development of floral organs that facilitate the successful development of fruits and seeds. Auxin responsive small auxin-up RNA (SAUR) genes play essential roles in floral organ formation and fruit development. However, little is known about the role of SAUR genes in pineapple floral organ formation and fruit development as well as stress responses. In this study, based on genome information and transcriptome datasets, 52 AcoSAUR genes were identified and grouped into 12 groups. The gene structure analysis revealed that most AcoSAUR genes did not have introns, although auxin-acting elements were abundant in the promoter region of AcoSAUR members. The expression analysis across the multiple flower and fruit development stages revealed differential expression of AcoSAUR genes, indicating a tissue and stage-specific function of AcoSAURs. Correlation analysis and pairwise comparisons between gene expression and tissue specificity identified stamen-, petal-, ovule-, and fruit-specific AcoSAURs involved in pineapple floral organs (AcoSAUR4/5/15/17/19) and fruit development (AcoSAUR6/11/36/50). RT-qPCR analysis revealed that AcoSAUR12/24/50 played positive roles in response to the salinity and drought treatment. This work provides an abundant genomic resource for functional analysis of AcoSAUR genes during the pineapple floral organs and fruit development stages. It also highlights the role of auxin signaling involved in pineapple reproductive organ growth.

Progress on the Mechanism of Visceral Hypersensitivity in Nonerosive Reflux Disease.

Nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) is the most common type of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Its clinical symptoms can recur, and clinical treatment is often ineffective, causing patients severe economic and psychological burden. In recent years, studies that have explored in-depth the pathogenesis of NERD have found that visceral hypersensitivity (VH) plays an important role. VH refers to the phenomenon that viscera react strongly to nociceptive stimuli or produce a negative reaction to physiological stimuli due to the decrease of one's visceral pain threshold. Studies have found that the VH mechanism in NERD primarily includes abnormal neurotransmitters, the activation of acid-sensitive receptors, and abnormal psychological factors-all of which we review in this article.

Interstitial Lung Disease as an Extraintestinal Manifestation of Crohn's Disease in the Time of COVID-19: A Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Recently, the extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease (CD) have attracted more and more attention, among which interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a rare extraintestinal manifestation. Clinical presentation is polymorphic and pathogenesis remains unclear. The purpose of this article is to elaborate on these rare extraintestinal manifestations of CD, and the importance of short-term chest computed tomography (CT) for differential diagnosis is emphasized. Case Presentation: A 27-year-old male patient, who is a student, presented with chief complaints of "loose stools for 4 months, intermittent low-grade fever for 1 month". The next day, he developed a high fever with a body temperature of 39.8°C. A chest CT scan revealed multiple patellar ground glass shadows which suggested ILD. In the time of Corona virus disease (COVID-19), novel coronavirus pneumonia was first suspected according to the patient's history and symptoms, but laboratory examinations did not confirm. Colonoscopy showed multiple ulcers between the sigmoid colon to the terminal ileum, and pathology found epithelioid granuloma in submucosa. Moreover, a total gastrointestinal CT angiography showed that segmental leaping thickening of the bowel. Based on the above results, we ultimately made a diagnosis of CD. After using systemic steroid therapy, his fever was quickly relieved, and a follow-up chest CT showed that multiple patellar ground glass shadows were almost completely absorbed. Then, infliximab was used, and a repeat colonoscopy showed that intestinal ulcers were significantly improved. Conclusion: ILD is a rare extraintestinal manifestation of CD and reveals the excellent response to systemic steroid therapy. Manifestations of pulmonary disease associated with IBD are polymorphic; therefore; clinicians should be more vigilant regarding IBD-related ILD, especially when infectious causes have been excluded in the time of COVID-19. For those with ILD related to IBD, a short-term follow-up CT would be crucial.

Genomic insights of the WRKY genes in kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) reveal that HcWRKY44 improves the plant's tolerance to the salinity stress.

The WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are among the most diverse TF families of plants. They are implicated in various processes related to plant growth and stress response. Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.), an important fiber crop, has many applications, including the phytoremediation of saline-alkaline soil. However, the roles of WRKY TFs in kenaf are rarely studied. In the present study, 46 kenaf WRKY genes were genome-widely identified and characterized by gene structure, phylogeny and expression pattern analysis. Furthermore, the HcWRKY44 gene was functionally characterized in Arabidopsis under salinity and drought stresses. HcWRKY44 is a nuclear-localized protein that is positively induced by salinity and drought, with roots showing maximum accumulation of its transcripts. Under NaCl and abscisic acid (ABA) stress conditions, plants overexpressing HcWRKY44 had higher germination rates, better root growth and increased survival than control plants; however, it did not improve the ability to withstand drought stress. Moreover, ABA signaling genes (ABI1, ABI2, and ABI5), ABA-responsive genes (ABF4, RD29B, COR15A, COR47, and RD22), stress-related genes (STZ, P5CS, and KIN1), and ionic homeostasis-related genes (SOS1, AHA1, AHA2, and HKT1) were positively induced in HcWRKY44 transgenic plants under NaCl treatment. These results suggest that HcWRKY44 improved plant's tolerance to salt stress but not osmotic stress through an ABA-mediated pathway. In summary, this study provides provided comprehensive information about HcWRKY genes and revealed that HcWRKY44 is involved in salinity tolerance and ABA signaling.

Identification and expression analysis of pineapple sugar transporters reveal their role in the development and environmental response.

In plants, sugars are required for several essential functions, including growth, storage, signaling, defense and reproduction. Sugar transporters carry out the controlled movement of sugars from source (leaves) to sink (fruits and roots) tissues and determine the overall development of the plant. Various types of sugar transporter families have been described in plants, including sucrose transporters (SUC/SUT), monosaccharide transporter (MST) and SWEET (from "Sugar Will Eventually be Exported Transporters"). However, the information about pineapple sugar transporters is minimal. This study systematically identified and classified 45 MST and 4 SUC/SUT genes in the pineapple genome. We found that the expression patterns of sugar transporter genes have a spatiotemporal expression in reproductive and vegetative tissues indicating their pivotal role in reproductive growth and development. Besides, different families of sugar transporters have a diel expression pattern in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic tissues displaying circadian rhythm associated participation of sugar transporters in the CAM pathway. Moreover, regulation of the stress-related sugar transporters during cold stress indicates their contribution to cold tolerance in pineapple. Heterologous expression (yeast complementation assays) of sugar transporters in a mutant yeast strain suggested that SUT1/2 have the ability to transport sucrose, and STP13, STP26, pGlcT-L2 and TMT4 are able to transport glucose, whereas SWEET11/13 transport both sucrose and fructose. The information provided here would help researchers further explore the underlying molecular mechanism involved in the sugar metabolism of pineapple.

Assessment of the correlation between clinical and radiological outcomes in patients suffering from mild to moderate cervical spine dysfunction symptoms: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Neck pain and cervical disc degeneration (CDD) are common findings. Valid data on correlation between clinical scores and radiological grade of CDD in patients with mild to moderate clinical disability are not available. The study has been designed to investigate the correlation between clinical and radiological outcomes in these patients. METHODS: A cohort of 150 patients who suffered from mild to moderate cervical spine dysfunction symptoms from September 2020 to May 2021 was enrolled. We evaluated functional status using Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores (JOA), the visual analog scale, and the Neck Disability Index. We assessed the CDD with magnetic resonance imaging-based grading systems. We analyzed relationships between radiological grades of CDD and clinical symptoms along with demographic data. RESULTS: One hundred thirteen patients [mean age 44.78, 78 (69%) females] were finally included. CDD occurred most at the C5-C6 level, with 56.93% of higher grade III from Miyazaki. The grades of Miyazaki (P < 0.05) and the scores of Nakashima (P < 0.05) were positively correlated with the duration of symptoms, and the severity of the CDD increased with aging (P < 0.01). Moreover, we correlated patients' JOA scores with the current scoring and grading systems, especially the grades of Miyazaki (P < 0.01) and the scores of Nakashima (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Increasing grades of CDD paralleled decreasing JOA scores in the population studied.

Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio to Albumin Ratio and White Blood Cell to Hemoglobin Ratio as Prognostic Markers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Who Underwent Curative Hepatectomy.

PURPOSE: Inflammation factors affect the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it is not clear if the preoperative neutrophil lymphocyte ratio to albumin ratio (NLRAR) and white blood cell to hemoglobin ratio (WHR) affect the prognosis of HCC post curative hepatectomy. We assessed the prognostic values of NLRAR and WHR in patients suffering from HCC who underwent curative resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 169 eligible HCC cases were reviewed. The optimal cut-off values for NLRAR and WHR were selected using the X-tile software. The overall survival (OS) rate was assessed following the Kaplan-Meier analysis method. The Log rank test and Cox proportional hazard regression model were also used to analyze the data. The prognostic values of NLRAR and WHR were calculated by analyzing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed for clinical benefits. RESULTS: The OS rate recorded for the high NLRAR group was poorer than the OS rate recorded for the low NLRAR group. Similar trends were observed for WHR. The NLRAR and WHR were the independent predictors of OS. The results were based on the multivariate Cox analyses method. Results obtained by analyzing the subgroups revealed that NLRAR and WHR could be used for the prognosis of HCC in tumor stage I-patients. The NLRAR-WHR scoring system (NWS) could be used to classify HCC patients into two cohorts with different prognoses. This scoring system was more efficient than NLRAR or WHR in predicting OS. CONCLUSION: The preoperative NLRAR and WHR are effective prognostic indicators for HCC in patients who underwent curative hepatectomy.