Forensic bone age assessment of hand and wrist joint MRI images in Chinese han male adolescents based on deep convolutional neural networks.

In Chinese criminal law, the ages of 12, 14, 16, and 18 years old play a significant role in the determination of criminal responsibility. In this study, we developed an epiphyseal grading system based on magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the hand and wrist for the Chinese Han population and explored the feasibility of employing deep learning techniques for bone age assessment based on MRI of the hand and wrist. This study selected 282 Chinese Han Chinese males aged 6.0-21.0 years old. In the course of our study, we proposed a novel deep learning model for extracting and enhancing MRI hand and wrist bone features to enhance the prediction of target MRI hand and wrist bone age and achieve precise classification of the target MRI and regression of bone age. The evaluation metric for the classification model including precision, specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy, while the evaluation metrics chosen for the regression model are MAE. The epiphyseal grading was used as a supervised method, which effectively solved the problem of unbalanced sample distribution, and the two experts showed strong consistency in the epiphyseal plate grading process. In the classification results, the accuracy in distinguishing between adults and minors was 91.1%, and the lowest accuracy in the three minor classifications (12, 14, and 16 years of age) was 94.6%, 91.1% and 96.4%, respectively. The MAE of the regression results was 1.24 years. In conclusion, the deep learning model proposed enabled the age assessment of hand and wrist bones based on MRI.

Effective suppression of tumor growth and hepatic metastasis of neuroblastoma by NKT-stimulatory phenyl glycolipid.

Invariant natural killer T cell (iNKT) cells produce large amounts of cytokines in response to α-Galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) stimulation. An analog containing two phenyl rings on the acyl chain, C34, was previously found to be more Th1-biased than α-GalCer and triggered greater anticancer activities against breast cancer, melanoma and lung cancer in mice. Since liver is enriched in iNKT cells, we investigated anticancer efficacy of C34 on neuroblastoma with hepatic metastasis. C34 induced Th1-biased cytokine secretions in the liver, significantly suppressed neuroblastoma growth/metastasis and prolonged mouse survival. The anti-tumor efficacy might be attributed to greater expansions of hepatic NKT, NK, CD4+ T, and CD8+ T cells as well as reduction of the number of SSCloGr1intCD11b+ subset of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the liver of tumor-bearing mice, as compared to DMSO control group. C34 also upregulated expression of CD1d and CD11c, especially in the SSCloGr1intCD11b+ subset of MDSCs, which might be killed by C34-activated NKT cells, attributing to their reduced number. In addition, C34 also induced expansion of CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and NK cells, which might eliminate neuroblastoma cells. These immune-modulating effects of C34 might act in concert in the local milieu of liver to suppress the tumor growth. Further analysis of database of neuroblastoma revealed that patients with high CD11c expression in the monocytic MDSCs in the tumor had longer survival, suggesting the potential clinical application of C34 for treatment of neuroblastoma.

In vitro evaluation of the impact of a bioceramic root canal sealer on the mechanical properties of tooth roots.

Bacground/purpose: Endodontically treated teeth are more prone to vertical root fracture with the mechanical property changes to some extent during root canal treatment. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a bioceramic sealer on the mechanical properties of tooth roots. Materials and methods: Dentin discs were dried by two different methods (ethanol drying and paper points drying) and then filled with a BC sealer named iRoot SP. SEM and EDS were used to analyze the newly formed minerals in dentin tubules. Elastic modulus and hardness of the secondary dentin in areas proximal to the primary dentin (PD-SD) and areas proximal to canal or iRoot SP (SD-C/SD-iRoot SP) were measured using nanoindentation technique. The compressive strength of roots filled with iRoot SP were tested by compressive loading test. Results: (1) Penetration and mineralization: Paper points drying was more conducive to iRoot SP adhesion, spreading and penetration into the dentin tubules than 95% ethanol drying. (2) Micromechanical properties: After filling root canal with iRoot SP, the elastic modulus and hardness of SD-iRoot SP were higher than those of PD-SD (P = 0.001 and P = 0.000). (3) Fracture resistance: The compressive strength of the roots filled with iRoot SP was not significantly different from that of the roots unprepared and unfilled (P = 0.957), but was higher than that of the roots prepared and unfilled (P = 0.009). Conclusion: Excessive drying (95% ethanol drying method) is not conducive to the penetration and mineralization of the BC sealer iRoot SP into dentin tubules. The good bioactivity of iRoot SP was responsible for increasing the elastic modulus and hardness of dentin, which strengthened the prepared roots.

Application of Medical Statistical and Machine Learning Methods in the Age Estimation of Living Individuals.

In the study of age estimation in living individuals, a lot of data needs to be analyzed by mathematical statistics, and reasonable medical statistical methods play an important role in data design and analysis. The selection of accurate and appropriate statistical methods is one of the key factors affecting the quality of research results. This paper reviews the principles and applicable principles of the commonly used medical statistical methods such as descriptive statistics, difference analysis, consistency test and multivariate statistical analysis, as well as machine learning methods such as shallow learning and deep learning in the age estimation research of living individuals, and summarizes the relevance and application prospects between medical statistical methods and machine learning methods. This paper aims to provide technical guidance for the age estimation research of living individuals to obtain more scientific and accurate results.

A Plastic-Crystal Electrolyte Layer Promotes Interfacial Stability of Ni-Rich Oxide Cathode in Li6PS5Cl-Based All-Solid-State Rechargeable Li Batteries.

Unfavorable parasitic reactions between the Ni-rich layered oxide cathode and the sulfide solid electrolyte have plagued the realization of all-solid-state rechargeable Li batteries. The accumulation of inactive by-products (P2Sx, S, POxn-and SOxn-) at the cathode-sulfide interface impedes fast Li-ion transfer, which accounts for sluggish reaction kinetics and significant loss of cathode capacity. Herein, we proposed an easily scalable approach to stabilize the cathode electrochemistry via coating the cathode particles by a uniform, Li+-conductive plastic-crystal electrolyte nanolayer on their surface. The electrolyte, which simply consists of succinonitrile and Li bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide, serves as an interfacial buffer to effectively suppress the adverse phase transition in highly delithiated cathode materials, and the loss of lattice oxygen and generation of inactive oxygenated by-products at the cathode-sulfide interface. Consequently, an all-solid-state rechargeable Li battery with the modified cathode delivers high specific capacities of 168 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C and a high capacity retention >80% after 100 cycles. Our work sheds new light on rational design of electrode-electrolyte interface for the next-generation high-energy batteries.

Correlating Reiff scores with clinical, functional, and prognostic factors: characterizing noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis severity: validation from a nationwide multicenter study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Our study aimed to confirm a simplified radiological scoring system, derived from a modified Reiff score, to evaluate its relationship with clinical symptoms and predictive outcomes in Taiwanese patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB). METHODS: This extensive multicenter retrospective study, performed in Taiwan, concentrated on patients diagnosed with NCFB verified through high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans. We not only compared the clinical features of various types of bronchiectasis (cylindrical, varicose, and cystic). Furthermore, we established relationships between the severity of clinical factors, including symptom scores, pulmonary function, pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, exacerbation and admission rates, and HRCT parameters using modified Reiff scores. RESULTS: Data from 2,753 patients were classified based on HRCT patterns (cylindrical, varicose, and cystic) and severity, assessed by modified Reiff scores (mild, moderate, and severe). With increasing HRCT severity, a significant correlation was found with decreased forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (p < 0.001), heightened clinical symptoms (p < 0.001), elevated pathogen colonization (pseudomonas aeruginosa) (p < 0.001), and an increased annual hospitalization rate (p < 0.001). In the following multivariate analysis, elderly age, pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, and hospitalizations per year emerged as the only independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: Based on our large cohort study, the simplified CT scoring system (Reiff score) can serve as a useful adjunct to clinical factors in predicting disease severity and prognosis among Taiwanese patients with NCFB.

Nonconventional Electrochemical Reactions in Rechargeable Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Rechargeable lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are promising for high-energy storage. However, conventional redox reactions involving sulfur (S) and lithium (Li) can lead to unstable intermediates. Over the past decade, many strategies have emerged to address this challenge, enabling nonconventional electrochemical reactions in Li-S batteries. In our Perspective, we provide a brief review of these strategies and highlight their potential benefits. Specifically, our group has pioneered a top-down approach, investigating Li-S reactions at molecular and subatomic levels, as demonstrated in our recent work on stable S isotopes. These insights not only enhance understanding of charge transfer and storage properties but also offer exciting opportunities for advancements in battery materials research.

The Y locus encodes a REPRESSOR OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC GENES protein that represses carotenoid biosynthesis via interaction with APRR2 in carrot.

Little is known about the factors regulating carotenoid biosynthesis in roots. In this study, we characterized DCAR_032551, the candidate gene of the Y locus responsible for the transition of root color from ancestral white to yellow during carrot (Daucus carota) domestication. We show that DCAR_032551 encodes a REPRESSOR OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC GENES (RPGE) protein, named DcRPGE1. DcRPGE1 from wild carrot (DcRPGE1W) is a repressor of carotenoid biosynthesis. Specifically, DcRPGE1W physically interacts with DcAPRR2, an ARABIDOPSIS PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR2 (APRR2)-like transcription factor. Through this interaction, DcRPGE1W suppresses DcAPRR2-mediated transcriptional activation of the key carotenogenic genes phytoene synthase 1 (DcPSY1), DcPSY2, and lycopene ε-cyclase (DcLCYE), which strongly decreases carotenoid biosynthesis. We also demonstrate that the DcRPGE1W-DcAPRR2 interaction prevents DcAPRR2 from binding to the RGATTY elements in the promoter regions of DcPSY1, DcPSY2, and DcLCYE. Additionally, we identified a mutation in the DcRPGE1 coding region of yellow and orange carrots that leads to the generation of alternatively spliced transcripts encoding truncated DcRPGE1 proteins unable to interact with DcAPRR2, thereby failing to suppress carotenoid biosynthesis. These findings provide insights into the transcriptional regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis and offer potential target genes for enhancing carotenoid accumulation in crop plants.

Pancreas-directed AAV8-hSPINK1 gene therapy safely and effectively protects against pancreatitis in mice.

OBJECTIVE: Currently, there is no cure for chronic pancreatitis (CP). Germline loss-of-function variants in SPINK1 (encoding trypsin inhibitor) are common in patients with CP and are associated with acute attacks and progression of the disease. This preclinical study was conducted to explore the potential of adeno-associated virus type 8 (AAV8)-mediated overexpression of human SPINK1 (hSPINK1) for pancreatitis therapy in mice. DESIGN: A capsid-optimised AAV8-mediated hSPINK1 expression vector (AAV8-hSPINK1) to target the pancreas was constructed. Mice were treated with AAV8-hSPINK1 by intraperitoneal injection. Pancreatic transduction efficiency and safety of AAV8-hSPINK1 were dynamically evaluated in infected mice. The effectiveness of AAV8-hSPINK1 on pancreatitis prevention and treatment was studied in three mouse models (caerulein-induced pancreatitis, pancreatic duct ligation and Spink1 c.194+2T>C mouse models). RESULTS: The constructed AAV8-hSPINK1 vector specifically and safely targeted the pancreas, had low organ tropism for the heart, lungs, spleen, liver and kidneys and had a high transduction efficiency (the optimal expression dose was 2×1011 vg/animal). The expression and efficacy of hSPINK1 peaked at 4 weeks after injection and remained at significant level for up to at least 8 weeks. In all three mouse models, a single dose of AAV8-hSPINK1 before disease onset significantly alleviated the severity of pancreatitis, reduced the progression of fibrosis, decreased the levels of apoptosis and autophagy in the pancreas and accelerated the pancreatitis recovery process. CONCLUSION: One-time injection of AAV8-hSPINK1 safely targets the pancreas with high transduction efficiency and effectively ameliorates pancreatitis phenotypes in mice. This approach is promising for the prevention and treatment of CP.

The influence of prior use of inhaled corticosteroids on COVID-19 outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The influence of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on COVID-19 outcomes remains uncertain. To address this, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, analyzing 30 studies, to investigate the impact of ICS on patients with COVID-19. Our study focused on various outcomes, including mortality risk, hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), mechanical ventilation (MV) utilization, and length of hospital stay. Additionally, we conducted a subgroup analysis to assess the effect of ICS on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Our findings suggest that the prior use of ICS did not lead to significant differences in mortality risk, ICU admission, hospitalization, or MV utilization between individuals who had used ICS previously and those who had not. However, in the subgroup analysis of patients with COPD, prior ICS use was associated with a lower risk of mortality compared to non-users (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.90-1.00). Overall, while the use of ICS did not significantly affect COVID-19 outcomes in general, it may have beneficial effects specifically for patients with COPD. Nevertheless, more research is needed to establish a definitive conclusion on the role of ICS in COVID-19 treatment. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021279429.

A Fully Amorphous, Dynamic Cross-Linked Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Operating at Subzero-Temperatures.

Solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries have shown prospects as safe, high-energy electrochemical storage technology for powering regional electrified transportation. Owing to limited ion mobility in crystalline polymer electrolytes, the battery is incapable of operating at subzero temperature. Addition of liquid plasticizer into the polymer electrolyte improves the Li-ion conductivity yet sacrifices the mechanical strength and interfacial stability with both electrodes. In this work, we showed that by introducing a spherical hyperbranched solid polymer plasticizer into a Li+ -conductive linear polymer matrix, an integrated dynamic cross-linked polymer network was built to maintain fully amorphous in a wide temperature range down to subzero. A quasi-solid polymer electrolyte with a solid mass content >90 % was prepared from the cross-linked polymer network, and demonstrated fast Li+ conduction at a low temperature, high mechanical strength, and stable interfacial chemistry. As a result, solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries employing the new electrolyte delivered high reversible capacity and long cycle life at 25 °C, 0 °C and -10 °C to serve energy storage at complex environmental conditions.

Telomere-to-telomere carrot (Daucus carota) genome assembly reveals carotenoid characteristics.

Carrot (Daucus carota) is an Apiaceae plant with multi-colored fleshy roots that provides a model system for carotenoid research. In this study, we assembled a 430.40 Mb high-quality gapless genome to the telomere-to-telomere (T2T) level of "Kurodagosun" carrot. In total, 36 268 genes were identified and 34 961 of them were functionally annotated. The proportion of repeat sequences in the genome was 55.3%, mainly long terminal repeats. Depending on the coverage of the repeats, 14 telomeres and 9 centromeric regions on the chromosomes were predicted. A phylogenetic analysis showed that carrots evolved early in the family Apiaceae. Based on the T2T genome, we reconstructed the carotenoid metabolic pathway and identified the structural genes that regulate carotenoid biosynthesis. Among the 65 genes that were screened, 9 were newly identified. Additionally, some gene sequences overlapped with transposons, suggesting replication and functional differentiation of carotenoid-related genes during carrot evolution. Given that some gene copies were barely expressed during development, they might be functionally redundant. Comparison of 24 cytochrome P450 genes associated with carotenoid biosynthesis revealed the tandem or proximal duplication resulting in expansion of CYP gene family. These results provided molecular information for carrot carotenoid accumulation and contributed to a new genetic resource.

Generating colorful carrot germplasm through metabolic engineering of betalains pigments.

Betalains are tyrosine-derived plant pigments exclusively found in the Caryophyllales order and some higher fungi and generally classified into two groups: red-violet betacyanins and yellow-orange betaxanthins. Betalains attract great scientific and economic interest because of their relatively simple biosynthesis pathway, attractive colors and health-promoting properties. Co-expressing two core genes BvCYP76AD1 and BvDODA1 with or without a glycosyltransferase gene MjcDOPA5GT allowed the engineering of carrot (an important taproot vegetable) to produce a palette of unique colors. The highest total betalains content, 943.2 µg·g-1 DW, was obtained in carrot taproot transformed with p35S:RUBY which produces all of the necessary enzymes for betalains synthesis. Root-specific production of betalains slightly relieved tyrosine consumption revealing the possible bottleneck in betalains production. Furthermore, a unique volcano-like phenotype in carrot taproot cross-section was created by vascular cambium-specific production of betalains. The betalains-fortified carrot in this study is thus anticipated to be used as functional vegetable and colorful carrot germplasm in breeding to promote health.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors and the risk of mycobacterial pulmonary infections in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for mycobacterial pulmonary infections (MPI), including tuberculosis (TB) and nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD). Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor (DPP4i), a common DM medication, has an immune-modulation effect that raises concerns about developing MPI. However, there is scarce research on the topic. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary-referral center in Taiwan from 2009 to 2016. Patients with type 2 DM who were receiving any DM medication were enrolled. TB and NTM-LD were defined by microbiological criteria. We analyzed the risk of MPI in DPP4i users using Cox proportional hazard regression with adjusted inverse probability of treatment weighting. RESULTS: A total of 9963 patients were included. Among them, 3931 were classified as DPP4i users, and 6032 patients were DPP4i nonusers. DPP4i users had no increase in incidences of MPI (604 vs. 768 per 100,000 person-years, p = 0.776), NTM-LD (174 vs. 255 per 100,000 person-years, p = 0.228), and TB (542 vs. 449 per 100,000 person-years, p = 0.663) relative to those of DPP4i nonusers. After adjustment, the adjusted hazard ratios for MPI (aHR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.79-1.45), TB (aHR: 1.15, 95% CI: 0.81-1.64) and NTM-LD (aHR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.49-1.47) were not significantly increased relative to those of nonusers. The subgroup analysis also showed that DPP4i use did not increase the risk of MPI in different DM severities and comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: According to our large cohort study, DPP4i use is safe for patients with type 2 DM and might not increase the risk of MPI.

Effect of betanin synthesis on photosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism in transgenic carrot.

BACKGROUND: Betalain is a natural pigment with important nutritional value and broad application prospects. Previously, we produced betanin biosynthesis transgenic carrots via expressing optimized genes CYP76AD1S, cDOPA5GTS and DODA1S. Betanin can accumulate throughout the whole transgenic carrots. But the effects of betanin accumulation on the metabolism of transgenic plants and whether it produces unexpected effects are still unclear. RESULTS: The accumulation of betanin in leaves can significantly improve its antioxidant capacity and induce a decrease of chlorophyll content. Transcriptome and metabolomics analysis showed that 14.0% of genes and 33.1% of metabolites were significantly different, and metabolic pathways related to photosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism were markedly altered. Combined analysis showed that phenylpropane biosynthesis pathway significantly enriched the differentially expressed genes and significantly altered metabolites. CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that the metabolic status was significantly altered between transgenic and non-transgenic carrots, especially the photosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism. The extra consumption of tyrosine and accumulation of betanin might be the leading causes.

Enzymatic activity of 38 CYP2C9 genotypes on ibuprofen.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ibuprofen, a common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is used clinically for pain relief and antipyretic treatment worldwide. However, regular or long-term use of ibuprofen may lead to a series of adverse reactions, including gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension and kidney injury. Previous studies have shown that CYP2C9 gene polymorphism plays an important role in the elimination of various drugs, which leads to the variation in drug efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 38 CYP2C9 genotypes on ibuprofen metabolism. METHODS: Thirty-eight recombinant human CYP2C9 microsomal enzymes were obtained using a frugiperda 21 insect expression system according to a previously described method. Assessment of the catalytic function of these variants was completed via a mature incubation system: 5 pmol CYP2C9*1 and 38 CYP2C9 variants recombinant human microsomes, 5 µL cytochrome B5, ibuprofen (5-1000 µM), and Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4). The ibuprofen metabolite contents were determined using HPLC analysis. HPLC analysis included a UV detector, Plus-C18 column, and mobile phase [50% acetonitrile and 50% water (containing 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid)]. The kinetic parameters of the CYP2C9 genotypes were obtained by Michaelis-Menten curve fitting. RESULTS: The intrinsic clearance (CLint) of eight variants was not significantly different from CYP2C9*1; four CYP2C9 variants (CYP2C9*38, *44, *53 and *59) showed significantly higher CLint (increase by 35%-230%) than that of the wild-type; the remaining twenty-six variants exhibited significantly reduced CLint (reduced by 30%-99%) compared to that of the wild-type. CONCLUSION: This is the first systematic evaluation of the catalytic characteristics of 38 CYP2C9 genotypes involved ibuprofen metabolism. Our results provide a corresponding supplement to studies on CYP2C9 gene polymorphisms and kinetic characteristics of different variants. We need to focus on poor metabolizers (PMs) with severely abnormal metabolic functions, because they are more susceptible to drug exposure.

Sex Estimation of Medial Aspect of the Ischiopubic Ramus in Adults Based on Deep Learning.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the reliability and accuracy of deep learning technology in automatic sex estimation using the 3D reconstructed images of the computed tomography (CT) from the Chinese Han population. METHODS: The pelvic CT images of 700 individuals (350 males and 350 females) of the Chinese Han population aged 20 to 85 years were collected and reconstructed into 3D virtual skeletal models. The feature region images of the medial aspect of the ischiopubic ramus (MIPR) were intercepted. The Inception v4 was adopted as the image recognition model, and two methods of initial learning and transfer learning were used for training. Eighty percent of the individuals' images were randomly selected as the training and validation dataset, and the remaining were used as the test dataset. The left and right sides of the MIPR images were trained separately and combinedly. Subsequently, the models' performance was evaluated by overall accuracy, female accuracy, male accuracy, etc. RESULTS: When both sides of the MIPR images were trained separately with initial learning, the overall accuracy of the right model was 95.7%, the female accuracy and male accuracy were both 95.7%; the overall accuracy of the left model was 92.1%, the female accuracy was 88.6% and the male accuracy was 95.7%. When the left and right MIPR images were combined to train with initial learning, the overall accuracy of the model was 94.6%, the female accuracy was 92.1% and the male accuracy was 97.1%. When the left and right MIPR images were combined to train with transfer learning, the model achieved an overall accuracy of 95.7%, and the female and male accuracies were both 95.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The use of deep learning model of Inception v4 and transfer learning algorithm to construct a sex estimation model for pelvic MIPR images of Chinese Han population has high accuracy and well generalizability in human remains, which can effectively estimate the sex in adults.

Lycopene ε-cyclase mediated transition of α-carotene and ß-carotene metabolic flow in carrot fleshy root.

The accumulation of carotenoids, such as xanthophylls, lycopene, and carotenes, is responsible for the color of carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) fleshy roots. The potential role of DcLCYE, encoding a lycopene ε-cyclase associated with carrot root color, was investigated using cultivars with orange and red roots. The expression of DcLCYE in red carrot varieties was significantly lower than that in orange carrots at the mature stage. Furthermore, red carrots accumulated larger amounts of lycopene and lower levels of α-carotene. Sequence comparison and prokaryotic expression analysis revealed that amino acid differences in red carrots did not affect the cyclization function of DcLCYE. Analysis of the catalytic activity of DcLCYE revealed that it mainly formed ε-carotene, while a side activity on α-carotene and γ-carotene was also observed. Comparative analysis of the promoter region sequences indicated that differences in the promoter region may affect the transcription of DcLCYE. DcLCYE was overexpressed in the red carrot 'Benhongjinshi' under the control of the CaMV35S promoter. Lycopene in transgenic carrot roots was cyclized, resulting in the accumulation of higher levels of α-carotene and xanthophylls, while the ß-carotene content was significantly decreased. The expression levels of other genes in the carotenoid pathway were simultaneously upregulated. Knockout of DcLCYE in the orange carrot 'Kurodagosun' by CRISPR/Cas9 technology resulted in a decrease in the α-carotene and xanthophyll contents. The relative expression levels of DcPSY1, DcPSY2, and DcCHXE were sharply increased in DcLCYE knockout mutants. The results of this study provide insights into the function of DcLCYE in carrots, which could serve as a basis for creating colorful carrot germplasms.