A neural m6A pathway regulates behavioral aggregation in migratory locusts.

RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A), as the most abundant modification of messenger RNA, can modulate insect behaviors, but its specific roles in aggregation behaviors remain unexplored. Here, we conducted a comprehensive molecular and physiological characterization of the individual components of the methyltransferase and demethylase in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria. Our results demonstrated that METTL3, METTL14 and ALKBH5 were dominantly expressed in the brain and exhibited remarkable responses to crowding or isolation. The individual knockdown of methyltransferases (i.e., METTL3 and METTL14) promoted locust movement and conspecific attraction, whereas ALKBH5 knockdown induced a behavioral shift toward the solitary phase. Furthermore, global transcriptome profiles revealed that m6A modification could regulate the orchestration of gene expression to fine tune the behavioral aggregation of locusts. In summary, our in vivo characterization of the m6A functions in migratory locusts clearly demonstrated the crucial roles of the m6A pathway in effectively modulating aggregation behaviors.

INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION 1 promotes cold-enhanced immunity by directly activating salicylic acid signaling.

Cold stress affects plant immune responses, and this process may involve the salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway. However, the underlying mechanism by which low-temperature signals coordinate with SA signaling to regulate plant immunity remains unclear. Here, we found that low temperatures enhanced the disease resistance of Arabidopsis thaliana against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. This process required INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION 1 (ICE1), the core transcription factor in cold-signal cascades. ICE1 physically interacted with NONEXPRESSER OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENES 1 (NPR1), the master regulator of the SA signaling pathway. Enrichment of ICE1 on the PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENE 1 (PR1) promoter and its ability to transcriptionally activate PR1 were enhanced by NPR1. Further analyses revealed that cold stress signals cooperate with SA signals to facilitate plant immunity against pathogen attack in an ICE1-dependent manner. Cold treatment promoted interactions of NPR1 and TGACG-BINDING FACTOR 3 (TGA3) with ICE1 and increased the ability of the ICE1-TGA3 complex to transcriptionally activate PR1. Together, our results characterize a critical role of ICE1 as an indispensable regulatory node linking low-temperature-activated and SA-regulated immunity. Understanding this crucial role of ICE1 in coordinating multiple signals associated with immunity broadens our understanding of plant-pathogen interactions.

A change in strategy for filter choice leads to improved filter retrieval rates.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether a new strategy for the choice of inferior vena cava filter placed would improve filter retrieval rates at our institution. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent retrievable filter placement for temporary embolic protection between January 2021 and January 2023 were considered for study inclusion. Risk factors for nonretrieval of short-term filters were identified in patients receiving filters between January 2021 and January 2022 (prestrategy group). For patients treated between February 2022 and January 2023 (poststrategy group), a long-term filter was recommended for those with these risk factors, and a short-term filter was recommended for those without these risk factors. RESULTS: The study population included 303 patients (prestrategy group, n = 154; poststrategy group, n = 149). Long-term immobilization (odds ratio [OR] = 38.000; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.858-210.564), active cancer (OR = 17.643; 95% CI: 5.462-56.993), and venous thromboembolism detected in the intensive care unit (OR = 28.500; 95% CI: 7.419-109.477) were identified as independent risk factors for nonretrieval of short-term filters. The total retrieval rate was significantly higher in the poststrategy group (87.2%) than in the prestrategy group (72.7%; P = 0.002); the short-term filter retrieval rate was also significantly higher in the poststrategy group (84.5%) than in the prestrategy group (68.5%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The proposed strategy for filter choice based on risk factors for short-term filter nonretrieval can accurately identify patients who need long-term filter placement while also increasing the retrieval rates for both short-term filters retrieval rates and overall retrieval rates.

Characteristics of Option and Denali Inferior Vena Cava Filters.

BACKGROUND: To assess the characteristics of Option and Denali filters and to identify associations between these characteristics in each filter type. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent Option or Denali filter placement between August 2019 and August 2022 were included in this retrospective study. RESULTS: A total of 119 patients (Option, n = 60; Denali, n = 59) were included. The retrieval rates were 45.0% for Option filters and 40.7% for Denali filters. The incidence of tilt at placement was higher for Option filters (76.7%) than for Denali filters (11.9%; P < 0.001). The tilt angle of Option filters at placement was correlated with the common iliac vein-inferior vena cava (CIV-IVC) angle. The incidence of tilt angle change after placement was higher for Option filters (74.1%) than for Denali filters (8.3%; P = 0.001). The IVC contraction rate after retrieval of Option is less than Denali (22.2% vs. 87.5%, P < 0.001). The median fluoroscopy time during Option filter retrieval was longer than during Denali filter retrieval. The fluoroscopic time was related to tilt angle during retrieval of Option filters. CONCLUSIONS: Option filters are more likely than Denali filters to tilt at placement, and the tilt angle of Option filters is more prone to change after placement. The tilt angle at placement in Option filters is related to the CIV-IVC angle. Option filters require a longer fluoroscopic time during retrieval than Denali filters, and this increased fluoroscopic time is related to the tilt angle. Denali is more likely to cause IVC constriction after placement.

Arabidopsis ABRE-binding factors modulate salinity-induced inhibition of root hair growth by interacting with and suppressing RHD6.

Soil salinity causes crop losses worldwide. Root hairs are the primary targets of salt stress, however, the signaling networks involved in the precise regulation of root hair growth and development by salinity are poorly understood. Here, we confirmed that salt stress inhibits the number and length of root hairs in Arabidopsis. We found that the master regulator of root hair development and growth, the RHD6 transcription factor, is involved in this process, as salt treatment largely compromised root hair overaccumulation in RHD6-overexpressing plants. Yeast-two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation analyses revealed that RHD6 physically interacts with ABF proteins, the master transcription factors in abscisic acid signaling, which is involved in tolerance to several stresses including salinity. Phenotypic analyses showed that ABF proteins, which function upstream of RHD6, positively modulate the salinity-induced inhibition of root hair development. Further analyses showed that ABF3 suppresses the transcriptional activation activity of RHD6, thereby regulating the expression of genes related to root hair development. Overexpression of ABF3 reduced the root hair-overgrowing phenotype of RHD6-overexpressing plants. Collectively, our results demonstrate an essential signaling module in which ABF proteins directly suppress the transcriptional activation activity of RHD6 to reduce the length and number of root hairs under salt stress conditions.

U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase PUB8 attenuates abscisic acid responses during early seedling growth.

ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3) and ABI5 are 2 crucial transcription factors in abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, and their homeostasis at the protein level plays a decisive role in seed germination and subsequent seedling growth. Here, we found that PLANT U-BOX 8 (PUB8), a U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase, physically interacts with ABI3 and ABI5 and negatively regulates ABA responses during early Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seedling growth. Loss-of-function pub8 mutants were hypersensitive to ABA-inhibited cotyledon greening, while lines overexpressing PUB8 with low levels of ABI5 protein abundance were insensitive to ABA. Genetic analyses showed that ABI3 and ABI5 were required for the ABA-sensitive phenotype of pub8, indicating that PUB8 functions upstream of ABI3 and ABI5 to regulate ABA responses. Biochemical analyses showed that PUB8 can associate with ABI3 and ABI5 for degradation through the ubiquitin-mediated 26S proteasome pathway. Correspondingly, loss-of-function of PUB8 led to enhanced ABI3 and ABI5 stability, while overexpression of PUB8 impaired accumulation of ABI3 and ABI5 in planta. Further phenotypic analysis indicated that PUB8 compromised the function of ABI5 during early seedling growth. Taken together, our results reveal the regulatory role of PUB8 in modulating the early seedling growth by controlling the homeostasis of ABI3 and ABI5.

NLRX1/FUNDC1/NIPSNAP1-2 axis regulates mitophagy and alleviates intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVES: Mitophagy is considered to be a key mechanism in the pathogenesis of intestinal ischaemic reperfusion (IR) injury. NOD-like receptor X1 (NLRX1) is located in the mitochondria and is highly expressed in the intestine, and is known to modulate ROS production, mitochondrial damage, autophagy and apoptosis. However, the function of NLRX1 in intestinal IR injury is unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: NLRX1 in rats with IR injury or in IEC-6 cells with hypoxia reoxygenation (HR) injury were measured by Western blotting, real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. The function of NLRX1-FUNDC1-NIPSNAP1/NIPSNAP2 axis in mitochondrial homeostasis and cell apoptosis were assessed in vitro. RESULTS: NLRX1 is significantly downregulated following intestinal IR injury. In vivo studies showed that rats overexpressing NLRX1 exhibited resistance against intestinal IR injury and mitochondrial dysfunction. These beneficial effects of NLRX1 overexpression were dependent on mitophagy activation. Functional studies showed that HR injury reduced NLRX1 expression, which promoted phosphorylation of FUN14 domain-containing 1 (FUNDC1). Based on immunoprecipitation studies, it was evident that phosphorylated FUNDC1 could not interact with the mitophagy signalling proteins NIPSNAP1 and NIPSNAP2 on the outer membrane of damaged mitochondria, which failed to launch the mitophagy process, resulting in the accumulation of damaged mitochondria and epithelial apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: NLRX1 regulates mitophagy via FUNDC1-NIPSNAP1/NIPSNAP2 signalling pathway. Thus, this study provides a potential target for the development of a therapeutic strategy for intestinal IR injury.

Primary Conservative Therapy for Symptomatic Isolated Mesenteric Artery Dissection with Severely Compressed True Lumen or Large Dissecting Aneurysm.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of primary conservative therapy for patients with symptomatic isolated mesenteric artery dissection (IMAD) with a severely compressed true lumen and/or a large dissecting aneurysm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 35 consecutive patients (all men; median age, 53 y) with symptomatic IMAD with a severely compressed true lumen and/or a large dissecting aneurysm but without intestinal necrosis or arterial rupture who were treated with primary conservative therapy between November 2018 and February 2020 were assessed. A severely compressed true lumen was defined as luminal stenosis > 70%. A large dissecting aneurysm was defined as dissecting aneurysm diameter ≥ 1.5 times larger than the normal mesenteric artery diameter. RESULTS: There was a strong positive relationship among abdominal pain, degree of luminal stenosis, and length of dissection (R = 0.811; P < .001). Conservative treatment was successful in all patients. Abdominal pain was eliminated within 4.7 d ± 4.8 (range, 2-31 d) in all patients, within 3.6 d ± 1.2 (range, 2-6) in the 31 patients with minor or moderate abdominal pain, and within 13.3 d ± 11.9 (range, 6-31 d) in the 4 patients with severe abdominal pain. Complete or partial remodeling of the mesenteric artery was achieved in 6 (17.1%) and 29 (82.9%) patients, respectively, during 8.6 mo ± 4.3 of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Primary conservative therapy can be used safely and effectively in patients with symptomatic IMAD with a severely compressed true lumen and/or a large dissecting aneurysm but without intestinal necrosis or arterial rupture.

Forceps-assisted Removal of Difficult-to-Retrieve Filters: Preliminary Results.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the safety and effectiveness of forceps-assisted removal of difficult-to-retrieve filters. METHODS: Patients who underwent forceps-assisted removal of difficult-to-retrieve filters (filters that could not be successfully removed with the standard loop-snare technique) between February 2008 and February 2019 were included in this study. Patients underwent forceps-assisted filter removal either immediately after failed loop-snare removal (same procedure) or at a later time (separate procedure). Data regarding success rate, X-ray exposure time, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients (14 men, 13 women; mean age 57.9 ± 12.6 years) were included in this study. The mean indwelling time of the filters was 10.9 ± 10.7 months. All filters were successfully removed. The mean X-ray exposure time was 25.9 ± 12.7 min (range 8-55) for all patients; the mean X-ray exposure times were 10.2 ± 2.3 min (range 8-14) for the 5 patients who underwent forceps-assisted filter removal in a separate procedure and 29.5 ± 11.2 min (range 15-55) for the 22 patients who underwent forceps-assisted filter removal immediately after failure of the loop-snare technique (P < 0.001). Two patients (8.3%) experienced extravasation of contrast material and needed no additional treatment. No major complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Forceps-assisted filter retrieval can be used to safely and effectively remove difficult-to-retrieve filters.

Health Utility of Pregnant Women Living with HIV/AIDS: Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) Programs in Yunnan Province: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Health utility (HU) is essential to understanding the effects of HIV infection as a chronic disease. No HU data on pregnant women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Yunnan Province are available. This study aims to construct a database on HU and explore factors associated with HU by pregnant women living with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who were enrolled in the Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs in Yunnan Province. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Yunnan Province on pregnant women living with HIV who were selected by convenience sampling. Sociodemographic, HIV-related, social support, and HU data were collected through face-to-face interviews. The European quality of life five-dimensional three-level (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire and the social support rate scale (SSRS) were applied. RESULTS: One hundred and one pregnant women (mean age of 30.4 ± 5.1 years) participated in the survey. The mean EQ-5D index score and the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) score of participants were 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-0.79) and 75.77 (95% CI 75.00-80.00), respectively. The effect of social support on HU was maintained significant difference even after adjusting for such factors as education level, household income per year, and HIV disclosure, demonstrating a significant difference within EQ-5D index scores and EQ-VAS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS who were enrolled in PMTCT programs reported the same level of HU as other patients living with HIV/AIDS. Integrating measurements of HU by using the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire could be helpful for economic evaluation of the PMTCT program. This study also suggests a potential benefit of appropriate social support.

Chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma fed by right internal thoracic artery.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the value of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) via right internal thoracic artery (RITA) for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).From January 2000 to June 2016, a retrospective study was conducted of all patients with unresectable HCC who underwent TACE via RITA across 3 medical centers. The technical success, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level changes, major complications, disease control rate, and survival were evaluated and analyzed.During the study peroid, in all, 21 patients (men 21; mean age 57.3 ±â€Š7.1 years) were included in this study. Of the 21 patients, all the tumors were located under the capsule of the liver and adjacent to the diaphragm with median tumor diameter of 8.2 cm in 20 patients, and the tumor was located at the surface of the liver due to incisional site metastasis in 1 remaining patient. Lesions fed by the RITA were demonstrated during initial TACE in 2 patients and during repeat TACE therapy in 19 patients. The technical success rate was 100%. The AFP response 1 month after treatment was complete (n = 4) and partial (n = 9) of 13 patients whose AFP was abnormal before the procedure, and the serum levels of AFP reduced significantly 1 month after treatment (1240.1 ±â€Š347.1 vs 175.2 ±â€Š71.8; P < .01). No major complications occurred. The disease control rate was 100% at 3 months after treatment. The median overall survival from the time of TACE therapy via the RITAs was 18.2 months, and 1-year survival after TACE therapy via the RITAs was 76.2%.Chemoembolization via the RITA can improve the therapeutic efficacy of TACE and reduce the presence of residual HCC.

A systematic review of yttrium-90 radioembolization for unresectable liver metastases of melanoma.

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of yttrium-90 (90Y) radioembolization in the treatment of unresectable liver metastases of melanoma. METHODS: PubMed and EMBASE were systemically searched for all English language studies related to 90Y radioembolization for unresectable liver metastases of melanoma, including clinical trials, observational studies, and abstracts from conferences, published between January 1991 and March 2016. RESULTS: A total of 12 reports (7 observational studies and 5 abstracts from conferences) involving 255 patients were included in the analysis. The primary sites of melanoma were cutaneous (n=22; 8.6%), ocular (n=197; 77.3%), rectal (n=3; 1.2%), and unknown (n=33; 12.9%). The median disease control rate at 3 months was 73.6% (range, 58.3%-88.9%). Among the 207 patients for whom tumor response at 3 months was reported, complete response was seen in 1.0% (2/207), partial response was seen in 19.3% (40/207), stable disease was seen in 46.9% (97/207), and progressive disease was seen in 32.9% (68/207). The median survival was 10 months (range, 7-13.4 months), and the median 1-year survival rate was 34.6% (range, 23%-80%). Complications of 90Y radioembolization were reported in 13 cases. The most common side effects were fatigue (median, 36.1%), abdominal pain (median, 17.8%), and nausea (median, 15.0%). CONCLUSIONS: 90Y radioembolization is a promising alternative therapy for the treatment of unresectable liver metastases of melanoma, with encouraging effects on disease control and survival. Some complications can occur, and side effects are frequent but mild.

Effectiveness of the Conservative Therapy for Symptomatic Isolated Celiac Artery Dissection.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of the conservative therapy for symptomatic isolated celiac artery dissection (ICAD). METHODS: Patients with symptomatic ICAD diagnosed on CT between February 2006 and June 2016 at three institutions were included. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 24 patients (22 men, 2 women) were included in this retrospective study. Patients most commonly presented with epigastric pain (n = 21) or back pain (n = 3). Initial CT findings included celiac arterial calcification (n = 3); compression of the true lumen (n = 24), including stenosis of the true lumen <50% (n = 14) or ≥50% (n = 10); completely thrombosed (n = 11) or partially thrombosed (n = 5) false lumen; no thrombosis of the false lumen but presence of dissecting aneurysm (n = 8); and dissection extending to the common hepatic (n = 1) or splenic (n = 6) artery. Twenty-three patients recovered after conservative treatment, and one patient who failed conservative treatment recovered after surgical therapy. Of the 23 patients who received conservative treatment, complete or partial remodeling of ICAD was achieved in 18 (78.3%) and 5 (21.7%) patients during 22.1 ± 13.3 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative treatment can be applied successfully in most patients with symptomatic ICAD. Most cases of symptomatic ICAD resolve spontaneously within 2 years.

The incidence and outcome of major complication following conventional TAE/TACE for hepatocellular carcinoma.

To investigate the incidence and outcome of major complication following conventional transarterial embolization/chemoembolization (TAE/TACE) therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).From May 2010 to May 2016, all patients with major complication following conventional TAE/TACE for HCC were included. Major complication was defined as admission to a hospital for therapy, an unplanned increase in the level of care, prolonged hospitalization, permanent adverse sequelae, or death after conventional TAE/TACE therapy by Society of Interventional Radiology.During the study period, a total of 2863 TAE/TACE procedures were performed among 1120 patients, and a total of 24 patients (21 male and 3 female) developed major complication with the incidence of 2.1% (24/1120) per patient and 0.84% (24/2863) per TAE/TACE procedure. The major complications were liver rupture (n = 6), liver abscess (n = 5), femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (n = 3), cholecystitis (n = 2), biloma (n = 2), pulmonary embolism (n = 2), and 1 each of the following: cerebral lipiodol embolism, tumor lysis syndrome, partial intestinal obstruction, gallbladder perforation. The mean interval from last TAE/TACE procedure to the diagnosis of major complication was 11.1 ±â€Š7.7 days. The treatments of the complications were conservative treatment (n = 12), conservative treatment plus percutaneous drainage (n = 3), ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (n = 3), conservative treatment plus TAE (n = 2), and conservative treatment plus surgery (n = 2). Of the 24 patients, 20 patients were recovered, and remaining 4 patients were died of major complications; therefore, the mortality rate of major complication was 16.7% (4/24).Major complication following conventional TAE/TACE therapy is uncommon; the outcomes are benign of most major complications, but some are mortality.

Aspiration thrombectomy using a large-size catheter for acute lower extremity deep vein thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of aspiration thrombectomy using a large-size catheter for acute lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT). METHODS: All patients who underwent aspiration thrombectomy using 9F or 10F catheters for acute lower extremity DVT were included and analyzed. Aspiration thrombectomy was performed in all patients. Additional intravenous thrombolysis was performed in patients with residual thrombus, and stent placement was performed in patients with iliac vein compression syndrome. RESULTS: From October 2010 to September 2013, the study enrolled 68 patients (37 women, 31 men) with a mean age of 61.7 ± 7.8 years (range, 24-86 years). All patients presented with lower extremity swelling and pain, and the duration of symptoms ranged from 1 to 14 days. The DVTs involved popliteal-iliofemoral veins in 29 patients, iliofemoral veins in 31, and iliac veins in 8. Endovascular procedures were performed in all patients with a technical success rate of 100%. Aspiration alone was effective in 47 patients, and additional thrombolysis was required in the remaining 21. An additional stent was required in 32 patients. Significant improvement in presenting symptoms was achieved in all patients after the procedures, with a clinical success rate of 100%. There were no procedure-related or thrombolysis-related complications. The Villalta scores were <5 in 60 patients and from 5 to 9 in four patients. Primary and secondary patency rates were 89.1% (57 of 64) and 96.9% (62 of 64) at 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Aspiration thrombectomy using a large-size catheter is safe and effective for acute lower extremity DVT.