Analysis of Photosynthetic Characteristics and Screening High Light-Efficiency Germplasm in Sugarcane.

Sugarcane is a globally significant crop for sugar and energy production, and developing high light-efficiency sugarcane varieties is crucial for enhancing yield and quality. However, limited research is available on the screening of sugarcane germplasm with high photosynthetic efficiency, especially with different leaf positions. The present study, conducted in Guangxi, China, aimed to analyze the photosynthetic characteristics of 258 sugarcane varieties at different leaf positions over three consecutive years in field experiments. The results showed significant differences in photosynthetic characteristics among genotypes, years, and leaf positions. Heritability estimates for various photosynthetic parameters ranged from 0.76 to 0.88. Principal component analysis revealed that the first three principal components accounted for over 99% of the cumulative variance. The first component represented photosynthetic efficiency and light utilization, the second focused on electron transfer and reaction center status, and the third was associated with chlorophyll content. Cluster and discriminant analysis classified sugarcane genotypes into three categories: high photosynthetic efficiency (HPE) with 86 genotypes, medium photosynthetic efficiency (MPE) with 60 genotypes, and low photosynthetic efficiency (LPE) with 112 genotypes. Multi-year trials confirmed that HPE sugarcane genotypes had higher single-stem weight and sucrose content. This study provides valuable insights into the photosynthetic physiological characteristics of different sugarcane varieties, which can contribute to further research regarding high yields and sugar breeding.

Association between coexisting intracranial artery and extracranial carotid artery atherosclerotic diseases and ipsilateral cerebral infarction: a Chinese Atherosclerosis Risk Evaluation (CARE-II) study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the association between coexisting intracranial and extracranial carotid artery atherosclerotic diseases and ipsilateral acute cerebral infarct (ACI) in symptomatic patients by using magnetic resonance (MR) vessel wall imaging. METHODS: Symptomatic patients were recruited from a cross-sectional, multicentre study of Chinese Atherosclerosis Risk Evaluation (CARE-II). All patients underwent MR imaging for extracranial carotid arterial wall, intracranial artery and brain. Coexisting intracranial stenosis ≥50% and extracranial carotid artery mean wall thickness (MWT) ≥1 mm and plaque compositions at the same side were evaluated and the ipsilateral ACI was identified. The association between coexisting atherosclerotic diseases and ACI was evaluated using logistic regression. RESULTS: 351 patients were recruited. Patients with ipsilateral ACI had significantly greater prevalence of coexisting intracranial stenosis ≥50% and carotid MWT ≥1 mm (20.5% vs 4.9%, p<0.001), calcification (15.1% vs 4.4%, p=0.001) and lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) (19.2% vs 7.8%, p=0.002) compared with those without. Coexisting intracranial artery stenosis ≥50% and carotid MWT ≥1 mm (OR 5.043, 95% CI 2.378 to 10.694; p<0.001), calcification (OR 3.864, 95% CI 1.723 to 8.664; p=0.001) and LRNC (OR 2.803, 95% CI 1.455 to 5.401; p=0.002) were significantly associated with ipsilateral ACI. After adjusting for confounding factors, the aforementioned associations remained statistically significant (intracranial stenosis ≥50% coexisting with carotid MWT ≥1 mm: OR 4.313, 95% CI 1.937 to 9.601, p<0.001; calcification: OR 3.606, 95% CI 1.513 to 8.593, p=0.004; LRNC: OR 2.358, 95% CI 1.166 to 4.769, p=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Coexistence of intracranial artery severe stenosis and extracranial carotid artery large burden and intraplaque components of calcification and LRNC are independently associated with ipsilateral ACI. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/. Unique identifier: NCT02017756.

Risk factors associated with pulmonary hemorrhage and hemoptysis following percutaneous CT-guided transthoracic lung core needle biopsy: a retrospective study of 1,090 cases.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hemorrhage and hemoptysis are the second-most common and potentially life-threatening complications after pneumothorax following percutaneous computed tomography-guided transthoracic lung biopsy (PCTLB). Preventing hemorrhagic complications after PCTLB requires an accurate estimation of risk factors. This study investigated the risk factors associated with pulmonary hemorrhage and hemoptysis following PCTLB, and whether the ratio of main pulmonary artery diameter (mPAD) to ascending aorta diameter (mPAD/AAD ratio) is a risk factor. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 1,090 cases of PCTLB obtained from 1,050 patients using a core needle. The risk factors for overall pulmonary hemorrhage, higher-grade pulmonary hemorrhage, and hemoptysis were evaluated by multivariate analysis of patient characteristics, computed tomography (CT) imaging data including pulmonary artery diameter (mPAD) to ascending aorta diameter (mPAD/AAD) ratio, technical variables related to the biopsy, and pathologic findings. RESULTS: Pulmonary hemorrhage occurred in 31.38% (342/1,090) of PCTLB cases, including lower-grade (24.4%, 266/1,090) and higher-grade hemorrhage (6.97%, 76/1,090). The incidence of hemoptysis was 3.03% (33/1,090). Multivariate analysis revealed significant associations between overall pulmonary hemorrhage and lesion location in the lower lobe, subsolid and smaller lesions, greater lesion depth, and lung metastases. For higher-grade pulmonary hemorrhage, an mPAD/AAD ratio >1, smaller lesions, greater lesion depth, emphysema, and lung metastases were risk factors. Risk factors for hemoptysis were history of hypertension and lower- and higher-grade pulmonary hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary artery enlargement detected by CT (mPAD/AAD ratio >1) is independently associated with higher-grade pulmonary hemorrhage following PCTLB.

Differentiating the histologic grades of gliomas preoperatively using amide proton transfer-weighted (APTW) and intravoxel incoherent motion MRI.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the diagnostic performance of amide proton transfer-weighted (APTW) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the preoperative grading of gliomas. Fifty-one patients with suspected gliomas were recruited and underwent a preoperative MRI examination that included APTW and IVIM sequences. All cases were confirmed by postsurgical histopathology. APTW signal intensity, true diffusion coefficient (D), perfusion fraction (f) and pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*) were applied to assess the solid tumor component and contralateral normal-appearing white matter. The relative APTW signal intensity (rAPTW) was also used. Independent-sample and paired-sample t-tests were used to compare differences in MRI parameters between low-grade glioma (LGG) and high-grade glioma (HGG) groups. The diagnostic performance was assessed with the receiver operating characteristic curve. Twenty-six patients were pathologically diagnosed with LGG and 25 were diagnosed with HGG. APTW, rAPTW and f values were significantly higher (all p < 0.001), whereas D values were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the HGG group than in the LGG group. There was no significant difference between D* values for the two groups. rAPTW had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.957, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 84.6%, followed by APTW, f, D and D*. The combined use of APTW and IVIM showed the best diagnostic performance, with an AUC of 0.986. In conclusion, APTW and IVIM, as two promising supplementary sequences for routine MRI, could be valuable in differentiating LGGs from HGGs.

Applying protein-based amide proton transfer MR imaging to distinguish solitary brain metastases from glioblastoma.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the utility of amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) MR imaging in distinguishing solitary brain metastases (SBMs) from glioblastomas (GBMs). METHODS: Forty-five patients with SBMs and 43 patients with GBMs underwent conventional and APT-weighted sequences before clinical intervention. The APTw parameters and relative APTw (rAPTw) parameters in the tumour core and the peritumoral brain zone (PBZ) were obtained and compared between SBMs and GBMs. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the best parameter for distinguishing between the two groups. RESULTS: The APTwmax, APTwmin, APTwmean, rAPTwmax, rAPTwmin or rAPTwmean values in the tumour core were not significantly different between the SBM and GBM groups (P = 0.141, 0.361, 0.221, 0.305, 0.578 and 0.448, respectively). However, the APTwmax, APTwmin, APTwmean, rAPTwmax, rAPTwmin or rAPTwmean values in the PBZ were significantly lower in the SBM group than in the GBM group (P < 0.001). The APTwmin values had the highest area under the ROC curve 0.905 and accuracy 85.2% in discriminating between the two neoplasms. CONCLUSION: As a noninvasive imaging method, APT-weighted MR imaging can be used to distinguish SBMs from GBMs. KEY POINTS: • APTw values in the tumour core were not different between SBMs and GBMs. • APTw values in peritumoral brain zone were lower in SBMs than in GBMs. • The APTw min was the best parameter to distinguish SBMs from GBMs.