Identification of qGL4.1 and qGL4.2, two closely linked QTL controlling grain length in rice.

Grain size is an important appearance quality trait in rice, which also affects grain yield. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between indica variety 9311 and japonica variety Cypress was constructed. And 181 out of 600 RILs were sequenced, and a high-density genetic map containing 2842 bin markers was constructed, with a total map length of 1500.6 cM. A total of 10 quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to grain length (GL), grain width (GW), grain length-to-width ratio (LWR), and 1000-grain weight (TGW) were detected under two environments. The genetic effect of qGL4, a minor QTL for GL and TGW, was validated using three heterogeneous inbred family (HIF) segregation populations. It was further dissected into two closed linked QTL, qGL4.1 and qGL4.2. By progeny testing, qGL4.1 and qGL4.2 were successfully delimited to intervals of 1304-kb and 423-kb, respectively. Our results lay the foundation for the map-based cloning of qGL4.1 and qGL4.2 and provide new gene resources for the improvement of grain yield and quality in rice. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-024-01447-y.

Middle Meningeal Arterial Embolization Combined With Drilling in the Treatment of Acute Epidural Hematoma.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the technical feasibility and safety of middle meningeal arterial (MMA) embolization combined with drilling drainage in the treatment of acute epidural hematoma (AEDH) by comparing it with traditional craniotomy in the treatment. METHODS: One hundred seventeen patients with AEDH treated for MMA embolization combined with drilling and drainage or craniotomy hematoma removal from January 2017 to September 2020 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into a craniotomy group (n=85) and a minimally invasive group (n=32). Hematoma removal was performed in the craniotomy group, and MMA embolization combined with drilling and drainage was performed in the minimally invasive group. The general clinical data, imaging data, surgery, and follow-up of the 2 groups were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the craniotomy group, the residual hematoma volume in the minimally invasive group was higher than in the craniotomy group. The average postoperative drainage duration in the minimally invasive group was longer than in the craniotomy group. Compared with the craniotomy group, the minimally invasive group was associated with shorter operative time, less intraoperative bleeding, and lower rates of postoperative rebleeding. In addition, the incidence of postoperative complications and length of hospitalization in the minimally invasive group were significantly shortened. CONCLUSION: Middle meningeal arterial embolization combined with drilling and drainage in the treatment of AEDH caused by MMA active bleeding is safe, effective, and more minimally invasive, and can be promoted and applied.

PFT-α protects the blood-brain barrier through the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway after acute ischemic stroke.

The dysfunction of blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a pivotal role in brain injury and subsequent neurological deficits of ischemic stroke. The current study aimed to examine the potential correlation between p53 inhibition and the neuroprotective effect of on the BBB. Rat middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion model (MCAO/R) and oxygen-glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation model (OGD/R) were employed to simulate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI/R) injury occurrence in vivo and in vitro. mNSS and TTC staining were applied to evaluate neurological deficits and brain infarct volumes. Evans blue (EB) staining was carried out to examine the permeability of BBB. RT-qPCR and Western blot to examine the mRNA and protein levels. Cell viabilities were detected by CCK-8. Flow cytometry and ELISA assay were employed to examine apoptosis and neuroinflammation levels. TEER value and sodium fluorescein were carried out to explore the permeability of HBMEC cells. PFT-α inhibited P53 and promoted the expression of ß-catenin and cyclin D1, which were reversed by DKK1. PFT-α inhibited neurological deficits, brain infarct volume, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and BBB integrity than the MCAO/R rats; however, this inhibition was reversed by DKK1. PFT-α promoted OGD/R-induced cell viability in NSCs, and suppressed inflammation and apoptosis, but DKK1 weakened the effect of PFT-α. PFT-α increased OGD/R-induced TEER values in cerebrovascular endothelial cells, inhibited sodium fluorescein permeability, and increased the mRNA levels of tight junction protein, but they were all attenuated by DKK1. PFT-α protects the BBB after acute ischemic stroke via the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, which in turn improves neurological function.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of Wx and BADH2 genes created glutinous and aromatic two-line hybrid rice.

Amylose content (AC) is one of the physicochemical indexes of rice quality, which is largely determined by the Waxy (Wx) gene. Fragrance in rice is favored because it adds good flavor and a faint scent. Loss of function of the BADH2 (FGR) gene promotes the biosynthesis of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP), which is the main compound responsible for aroma in rice. Here, we used a CRISPR/Cas9 system to simultaneously knock out Wx and FGR genes in 1892S and M858, which are the parents of an indica two-line hybrid rice, Huiliangyou 858 (HLY858). Four T-DNA-free homozygous mutants (1892Swxfgr-1, 1892Swxfgr-2, M858wxfgr-1, and M858wxfgr-2) were obtained. The 1892Swxfgr and M858wxfgr were crossed to generate double mutant hybrid lines HLY858wxfgr-1 and HLY858wxfgr-2. Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) data indicated that true AC of the wx mutant starches ranged from 0.22 to 1.63%, much lower than those of the wild types (12.93 to 13.76%). However, the gelatinization temperature (GT) of the wx mutants in backgrounds of 1892S, M858, and HLY858 were still high, and showed no significant differences with the wild type controls. The aroma compounds 2AP content in grains of HLY858wxfgr-1 and HLY858wxfgr-2 were 153.0 µg/kg and 151.0 µg/kg, respectively. In contrast, 2AP was not detected in grains of HLY858. There were no significant differences in major agronomic traits between the mutants and HLY858. This study provides guidelines for cultivation of ideal glutinous and aromatic hybrid rice by gene editing.

Laser navigation combined with XperCT technology-assisted puncture of basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage.

Basal ganglia hemorrhage, which is characterized by excessive incapacity charge and high mortality rates, is surgically treated by minimally invasive hematoma puncture and drainage. We aimed at determining the efficacy of laser-guided minimally invasive hematoma puncture and drainage for treatment of basal ganglia hemorrhage. A total of 61 patients with hypertensive basal ganglia hemorrhage were recruited at the Binzhou Medical University Hospital, between October 2019 and January 2021, and their clinical information retrospectively analyzed. Based on the surgical approach used, patients were assigned into either laser navigation or small bone window groups depending on the surgical approach. Then, we compared the operation times, intraoperative blood loss, clinic stay, Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) rating at 30 days, Barthel index (BI) rating at 6 months, postoperative pneumonia incidences, and intracranial contamination complications between groups. Intraoperative blood loss, operation time, and sanatorium were significantly low in laser navigation group, relative to the small bone window group. At the same time, there were no significant differences between the groups with regard to postoperative hematoma volume, lung contamination, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, and intracranial contamination, as well as the 6-month BI and 30-day GOS rating. There were no deaths in either group. Compared with the traditional small bone window surgery, laser-guided puncture and drainage is a low-cost, accurate, and safe method for the treatment of basal ganglia hemorrhage, which is suitable for promotion in developing countries and economically underdeveloped areas.

Transfrontal External Ventricular Drainage Combined with OMMAYA Sac Implantation under Laser Navigation were Performed: A Technical Note.

BACKGROUND: Hydrocephalus caused by spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is an independent risk factor with adverse effects on the progression of the disease. Until now, the choice of intraventricular catheter placement and intraventricular fibrinolysis (IVF) has been mainly based on the personal experience of the neurosurgeon. OBJECTIVE: We will introduce the clinical effect of the new external ventricular drainage (EVD), an independent innovation of our medical center, on ICH patients, hoping to inspire more neurosurgeons to apply our method. METHODS: In this open retrospective study, We analyzed the clinical data, radiological manifestations, and prognostic scores of 10 patients with the spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage who received transfrontal lateral ventricle puncture and drainage under laser navigation in our hospital. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients with an average age of 58.10±9.97 years were enrolled for emergency surgery. All operations were completed according to the consensus specifications. It took 11.25±3.81 days for the intracranial pressure to return to normal. On admission, patients had a median GCS of 10. The median preoperative GCS was 8. The median GCS at discharge score was 15. At discharge, the median NIHSS score was 4. After 6 months of follow-up, patients had a median NIHSS score of 4. At discharge, the median ADL score of patients was 85. After 6 months of follow-up, the median ADL score of the patients was 95. CONCLUSION: In treating patients with ICH, the emergency treatment of transfrontal external ventricular drainage combined with OMMAYA sac implantation under laser navigation is a surgical method worthy of further study.

Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization Combined With Endoscopic Treatment for Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical feasibility of middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization combined with endoscopic treatment for new or recurrent chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). METHODS: Twenty patients with CSDH treated in the Binzhou Medical University Hospital from June 2020 to October 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical information, prognosis, imaging results, and surgical results of the patients were collected and analyzed. The authors first performed MMA embolization, and then endoscopic treatment of CSDH was performed after successful embolization of MMA. Results: All 20 patients with CSDH were successfully treated with MMA embolization combined with endoscope-assisted evacuation. The symptoms of all patients were relieved, no surgical complications occurred, and no rebleeding and recurrence were found in follow-up computed tomography. CONCLUSION: Middle meningeal artery embolization combined with endoscopic treatment of CSDH has a good clinical effect, and it may prevent postoperative recurrence.

Neuroblastoma Suppressor of Tumorigenicity 1 Mediates Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Related to Congenital Heart Disease.

Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) plays a critical role in the flow-induced vascular remodeling process, such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) related to congenital heart disease (CHD). NBL1 (neuroblastoma suppressor of tumorigenicity 1) is a secreted glycoprotein that has been implicated in CHD-PAH by aggravating the phenotypic transformation of smooth muscle cells. However, the underlying mechanisms regarding the interplay between NBL1 and endothelial cells in CHD-PAH remain to be fully elucidated. Thus, we aimed to identify the potential effect of NBL1 on EndMT using a novel flow-associated PAH model with Nbl1 knockout rats. The phenotype of EndMT was detected using RNA sequencing and further examined using western blotting and immunostaining of pulmonary arteries. Our observations demonstrated that the novel strategy of Nbl1 knockout effectively attenuated flow-associated PAH through downregulation of EndMT to some extent. Mechanistic experiments were established on human pulmonary artery endothelial cells to confirm that EndMT was induced by NBL1 in vitro. After 7 days' stimulation with NBL1, concentrations of EndMT-related biomarkers and downstream transcription factors were quantified using RNA sequencing, western blotting, and immunocytochemistry. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments supported the imbalance of increased TGF-ß (transforming growth factor-ß) and dysregulation of BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) signaling by NBL1. Blocking the canonical TGF-ß pathway efficiently preserved endothelial function upon NBL1 stimulation. These data suggested that NBL1 aggravated flow-associated PAH by inducing EndMT via the TGF-ß and BMP signaling pathway. Thus, antagonizing NBL1 and rebalancing TGF-ß and BMP signaling may be a suitable therapeutic target for CHD-PAH.

Systematic analysis of critical genes and pathways identified a signature of neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) damages sensory systems, producing chronic neuropathic pain that is resistant to medical treatment. The specific mechanisms underlying SCI-induced neuropathic pain (SCI-NP) remain unclear, and protein biomarkers have not yet been integrated into diagnostic screening. To better understand the host molecular pathways involved in SCI-NP, we used the bioinformatics method, the PubMed database and bioinformatics methods to identify target genes and their associated pathways. We reviewed 2504 articles on the regulation of SCI-NP and used the text mining of PubMed database abstracts to determine associations among 12 pathways and networks. Based on this method, we identified two central genes in SCI-NP: interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to build the SCI-NP models. The threshold for paw withdrawal was significantly reduced in the SCI group, and TLR4 was activated in microglia after SCI. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA) analysis of TNF-α and IL-6 levels was significantly higher in the SCI group than in the sham group. Western blot showed that expressions of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB inflammatory pathway protein increased dramatically in the SCI group. Using the TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242, the pain threshold and expressions of inflammatory factors and proteins of the proteins of the inflammatory signal pathway were reversed, TLR4 in microglia was suppressed, suggesting that SCI-NP was related to neuroinflammation mediated by the TLR4 signalling pathway. In conclusion, we found that TNF-α and IL-6 were the neuroinflammation-related genes involved in SCI-NP that can be alleviated by inhibiting the inflammatory pathway upstream of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB inflammatory pathway.

OsHXK3 encodes a hexokinase-like protein that positively regulates grain size in rice.

KEY MESSAGE: We report the map-based cloning and functional characterization of SNG1, which encodes OsHXK3, a hexokinase-like protein that plays a pivotal role in controlling grain size in rice. Grain size is an important agronomic trait determining grain yield and appearance quality in rice. Here, we report the discovery of rice mutant short and narrow grain1 (sng1) with reduced grain length, width and weight. Map-based cloning revealed that the mutant phenotype was caused by loss of function of gene OsHXK3 that encodes a hexokinase-like (HKL) protein. OsHXK3 was associated with the mitochondria and was ubiquitously distributed in various organs, predominately in younger organs. Analysis of glucose (Glc) phosphorylation activities in young panicles and protoplasts showed that OsHXK3 was a non-catalytic hexokinase (HXK). Overexpression of OsHXK3 could not complement the Arabidopsis glucose insensitive2-1 (gin2-1) mutant, indicating that OsHXK3 lacked Glc signaling activity. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that OsHXK3 affects grain size by promoting spikelet husk cell expansion. Knockout of other nine OsHXK genes except OsHXK3 individually did not change grain size, indicating that functions of OsHXKs have differentiated in rice. OsHXK3 influences gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis and homeostasis. Compared with wild type, OsGA3ox2 was significantly up-regulated and OsGA2ox1 was significantly down-regulated in young panicle of sng1, and concentrations of biologically active GAs were significantly decreased in young panicles of the mutants. The yield per plant of OsHXK3 overexpression lines (OE-4 and OE-35) was increased by 10.91% and 7.62%, respectively, compared to that of wild type. Our results provide evidence that an HXK lacking catalytic and sensory functions plays an important role in grain size and has the potential to increase yield in rice.

Risk factors for the development of chronic subdural hematoma in patients with subdural hygroma.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with subdural hygroma (SDG) are at increased risk of developing chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). However, the factors that increase the risk of conversion are not fully understood. This study was to assess the risk factors of SDG conversion to CSDH. METHODS: We reviewed the literature and retrospectively studied a series of cases in which CSDH was preceded by SDG to understand the natural history. We reviewed 45 cases of SDG from our hospital between 2015 and 2018. The cases were divided into two groups according to whether SDG converted into CSDH. Data were collected clinical presentation, imaging findings et al. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with SDG conversion. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that the SDG thickness (p = .009), SDG location (p = .026), and bilateral SDG (p = .042) were significantly associated with CSDH development. Multivariate analysis revealed that SDG thickness (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.111-2.324; p = .012) and bilateral SDG (odds ratio, 27.6; 95% confidence interval 2.889-263.548; p = .004) were independent risk factors for SDG development. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that SDG thickness was a significant variable for predicting SDG development. A thickness >11.37 mm was an appropriate cutoff value, and the possibility of SDG conversion had a sensitivity 50.0% and specificity of 87.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral SDG and SDG thickness were independent risk factors for SDG progression into CSDH. An SDG thickness >11.37 mm had a high risk of SDG conversion.

Fully Endoscope-Controlled Clipping Ruptured Intrameatal Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysm: Report of 2 Cases.

ABSTRACT: Aneurysms of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) are a rare entity. Purely intrameatal aneurysms are even rarer. The author reported 2 ruptured intrameatal aneurysms that were treated by fully endoscope-controlled clipping. Retrosigmoid craniotomy was performed and the aneurysm was clipped definitely intraoperative without postoperative deficits except hearing loss and slight facial nerve paresis. Follow-up angiography demonstrated exclusion of the aneurysm, confirming preservation of the distal aneurysms of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery. Endoscopic enhancement of the visual field provided by the endoscope may be a safe and effective application to increase the quality of treatment for intrameatal aneurysm, especially for deep aneurysm.

Preliminary Application of Three-Dimensional Printing Technique in Preoperative Localization of Meningioma in Primary Hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the preliminary application of three-dimensional (3D) printing technique in preoperative localization of meningiomas in primary hospitals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The enrolled subjects were 13 patients in the Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Shandong Province between December 2018 and June 2020, including CT or MRI data from eight cases of brain meningiomas and five cases of cerebrospinal meningiomas. The Mimics 17.0 software package was applied to reconstruct the 3D images and print out the 3D guide. The authors placed the 3D printed guide on the surgical area for preoperative tumor location. RESULTS: The 3D printed guides for all patients were successfully designed and printed out. Simpson grade I resection was performed on all tumors. No significant hematoma, brain edema, or neurological symptoms were observed in the postoperative patients, and the surgical results were good. CONCLUSIONS: The authors can use 3D printing technology for precise preoperative localization of meningiomas. Grassroots hospitals can also use this technique because of its economic, accurate, and personalized characteristics.

Application of a 3D-Printed Navigation Mold in Puncture Drainage for Brainstem Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Brainstem hemorrhage is an acute and severe neurosurgical disease. Cerebral hemorrhage is surgically treated via hematoma puncture drainage because of its minimally invasive nature. However, the placement of puncture must be extremely accurate due to the special anatomical location of the brainstem and its physiological functions. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the application of a three-dimensional (3D)-printed navigation mold achieved good outcomes in the surgical treatment of brainstem hemorrhage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study included seven patients (three men and four women aged 40-56 y) who underwent 3D print-assisted hematoma puncture drainage between June 2016 and March 2018 at Binzhou Medical University Hospital. The amount of brainstem hemorrhage was 15-47 mL. We analyzed the basic surgical conditions, deviation distance, and postoperative clinical improvement. RESULTS: In all cases, the operation was completed successfully; no patient died or contracted an infection intraoperatively. The end of the puncture tube was located in the hematoma cavity in all cases. The deviation distance ranged from 2.5 to 7.2, and this distance gradually reduced with improvements in the technique. The hematoma drainage achieved satisfactory postoperative outcomes, with improvements in symptoms such as respiratory failure and hyperthermia. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a 3D-printed navigation mold for puncture drainage of brainstem hemorrhage realized the purpose of individualized and precision medicine, which is important in maintaining the vital signs of patients with severe brainstem hemorrhage.

Recurrent Bilateral Chronic Subdural Hematoma After Interventional Embolization Combined With Drilling and Drainage Treatment.

The main treatment for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is surgical drilling and drainage. Meanwhile, the most accepted treatment strategy for bilateral CSDHs (bCSDHs) is unilateral evacuation only on the larger or symptomatic side because the contralateral hematoma is generally either small or asymptomatic. However, the probability of recurrence is high. To effectively reduce this recurrence rate, embolization has been proposed. Because middle meningeal artery embolization may effectively block the blood supply of the CSDH, its combination with drilling and drainage could be an effective treatment strategy for addressing unilateral CSDH (uCSDH). In addition, the recurrence mechanism of bCSDH may be not completely same as that of the uCSDH. Hence, the authors need find a more effective treatment for it.

Surgical Techniques and Prevention of Complications in the Treatment of Basal Ganglia Hemorrhage Through the Distal Transsylvian Approach.

OBJECTIVE: Basal ganglia hemorrhage can damage the internal capsule and lead to high rates of disability and mortality. The distal transsylvian approach is a validated approach in the treatment of basal ganglia hemorrhage. However, this approach is difficult and prone to complications. The present study was performed to investigate the surgical techniques and prevention of complications of basal ganglia hemorrhage through the distal transsylvian approach. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2015 to January 2018, the authors treated 40 cases of basal ganglia hemorrhage using the distal transsylvian approach. The surgical video recordings and the patients' clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The authors discussed the surgical techniques and prevention of complications through the distal transsylvian approach. RESULTS: Thirty-eight cases of basal ganglia hemorrhage were successfully treated through the distal transsylvian approach. The other 2 cases were converted to the transcortical transtemporal approach. In the early cases, complications occurred in 3 stages: sylvian fissure dissection, insula lobectomy, and hematoma removal. In the subsequent cases, the authors implemented appropriate surgical techniques to prevent complications. CONCLUSION: Basal ganglia hemorrhage can be treated through the distal transsylvian approach, but not in all patients. The distal transsylvian approach is highly technical and more problematic than the transcortical transtemporal approach. Mastering certain operative skills can reduce the surgical complications.

Ketohexokinase is involved in fructose utilization and promotes tumor progression in glioma.

Many studies have pinpointed that fructose could be utilized as a carbon source in some cancers, and we also defined that glioma cells could utilize fructose to maintain themselves survival and proliferation depending on GLUT5 expression recently. However, ketohexokinase (KHK), as a key enzyme involved in fructose catabolism, drew less attention in cancers, especially in glioma. In the present study, we first analyzed the expression levels of KHK in glioma tissues and the correlations of KHK expression with clinicopathological variables of patients with glioma. Meanwhile, we detected the effect of silencing KHK on the biological functions of glioma cells in fructose medium. From the results, we found that KHK was expressed at significantly higher level in glioma tissues than in non-tumor brain, and KHK expression was significantly correlated with tumor malignancy and poor survival of glioma patients (p < 0.01). Functionally, knockdown of KHK could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and migration of glioma cells in fructose medium. Furthermore, we investigated the KHK expression level after long-time treatment with fructose, and detected the change of cell biological behaviour, then we found that the expression level of KHK was significantly increased and these cells showed more malignant properties. Taken together, our results suggest that high fructose diet and KHK overexpression are correlated with glioma malignant progression and patients' poor survival, and we believe this hypothesis would open the door for novel therapeutic agents and mentalities for glioma.

Successful treatment of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii meningitis with ampicillin sulbactam in primary hospital.

Introduction: Acinetobacter baumannii nosocomial infections, especially those due to multi-drug resistant strains, are increasingly detected. We want to find the effective treatment measures about multi-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections through this research.Methodology: The clinical features and the outcomes of twelve cases of nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii meningitis treated with ampicillin sulbactam and intrathecal use of amikacin are reported in primary hospital. All the patients had fever, neck stiffness or meningeal signs, and a low consciousness level, and in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), pleocytosis, a low glucose level, and an elevated protein level were noted. For all CSF isolates were resistant to at least two antibiotics used in empirical therapy (third and fourth generation cephalosporins, carbapenems or piperacillin/tazobactam). Four cases sputum culture prompted the growth of Acinetobacter baumannii. Two CSF isolates were intermediate resistant to ampicillin sulbactam, only sensitive to amikacin. The two patients were treated with ampicillin sulbactam and intrathecal use of amikacin.Results: The dosages and the duration of treatment with ampicillin sulbactam were 2 g/1 g every 6 hours and 9-21days. Eleven patients were cured and one patient died of meningitis (8.3%). This patient died of severe respiratory Acinetobacter baumannii infection and severe sepsis. One patient had mild nausea and discomfort, given metoclopramide therapy. There were no serious side effects with the ampicillin sulbactam treatment.Conclusions: In conclusion, ampicillin sulbactam may be effective as therapy for meningitis caused by Acinetobacter baumannii resistant to imipenem and other ß-lactam drugs. Meanwhile, continuous lumbar external drainage and intermittent intrathecal use of amikacin were necessary methods.

Young Seedling Stripe1 encodes a chloroplast nucleoid-associated protein required for chloroplast development in rice seedlings.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Young Seedling Stripe1 (YSS1) was characterized as an important regulator of plastid-encoded plastid RNA polymerase (PEP) activity essential for chloroplast development at rice seedling stage. Chloroplast development is coordinately regulated by plastid- and nuclear-encoding genes. Although a few regulators have been reported to be involved in chloroplast development, new factors remain to be identified, given the complexity of this process. Here, we report the characterization of a temperature-sensitive young seedling stripe1 (yss1) rice mutant, which develops striated leaves at the seedling stage, particularly in leaf 3, but produces wild-type leaves in leaf 5 and onwards. The chlorotic leaves have decreased chlorophyll (Chls) accumulation and impaired chloroplast structure. Positional cloning combined with sequencing demonstrated that aberrant splicing of the 8th intron in YSS1 gene, due to a single nucleotide deletion around splicing donor site, leads to decreased expression of YSS1 and accumulation of an 8th intron-retained yss1 transcript. Furthermore, complementation test revealed that downregulation of YSS1 but not accumulation of yss1 transcript confers yss1 mutant phenotype. YSS1 encodes a chloroplast nucleoid-localized protein belonging to the DUF3727 superfamily. Expression analysis showed that YSS1 gene is more expressed in newly expanded leaves, and distinctly up-regulated as temperatures increase and by light stimulus. PEP- and nuclear-encoded phage-type RNA polymerase (NEP)-dependent genes are separately down-regulated and up-regulated in yss1 mutant, indicating that PEP activity may be impaired. Furthermore, levels of chloroplast proteins are mostly reduced in yss1 seedlings. Together, our findings identify YSS1 as a novel regulator of PEP activity essential for chloroplast development at rice seedling stage.

Crystalline, thermal and swelling properties of starches from single-segment substitution lines with different Wx alleles in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

BACKGROUND: In rice, five common Wx alleles, wx, Wxt , Wxg1 , Wxg2 and Wxg3 , have been identified according to their apparent amylose content (AAC) phenotypes. Previous studies revealed that this Wx allelic variation may also affect other starch properties. However, so far, to what extent the five Wx alleles influence the crystalline structure, thermal and swelling properties of rice starch is still unclear. For this purpose, a set of single-segment substitution lines (SSSLs) harboring five different Wx alleles, varying widely in AAC, was used for comparative studies. RESULTS: The crystalline structure, thermal properties and swelling behavior of starches from the SSSLs varied widely depending on Wx genotype. Effects of different Wx alleles on relative crystallinity followed the order wx > Wxt > Wxg1 = Wxg2 > Wxg3 . The glutinous and Wxt genotype starches showed higher gelatinization temperatures and enthalpy compared with other Wx genotypes. The order for swelling power was wx > Wxt > Wxg1 > Wxg2 > Wxg3 , while the order for degree of solubility was Wxg3 > Wxg1 > Wxg2 > Wxt = wx. Correlation analysis indicated that AAC was significantly and negatively correlated with relative crystallinity (r = -0.996, P < 0.01) and swelling power (r = -0.982, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The present results provide new knowledge about the influence of different Wx alleles on the structural and physicochemical properties of rice starch. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.