A comprehensive framework for the delimitation of species within the Bemisia tabaci cryptic complex, a global pest-species group.

Identifying cryptic species poses a substantial challenge to both biologists and naturalists due to morphological similarities. Bemisia tabaci is a cryptic species complex containing more than 44 putative species; several of which are currently among the world's most destructive crop pests. Interpreting and delimiting the evolution of this species complex has proved problematic. To develop a comprehensive framework for species delimitation and identification, we evaluated the performance of distinct data sources both individually and in combination among numerous samples of the B. tabaci species complex acquired worldwide. Distinct datasets include full mitogenomes, single-copy nuclear genes, restriction site-associated DNA sequencing, geographic range, host speciation, and reproductive compatibility datasets. Phylogenetically, our well-supported topologies generated from three dense molecular markers highlighted the evolutionary divergence of species of the B. tabaci complex and suggested that the nuclear markers serve as a more accurate representation of B. tabaci species diversity. Reproductive compatibility datasets facilitated the identification of at least 17 different cryptic species within our samples. Native geographic range information provides a complementary assessment of species recognition, while the host range datasets provide low rate of delimiting resolution. We further summarized different data performances in species classification when compared with reproductive compatibility, indicating that combination of mtCOI divergence, nuclear markers, geographic range provide a complementary assessment of species recognition. Finally, we represent a model for understanding and untangling the cryptic species complexes based on the evidence from this study and previously published articles.

First report of the complete mitochondrial genome of Carpomya pardalina (Bigot) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and phylogenetic relationships with other Tephritidae.

Carpomya pardalina is known for its potential invasiveness, which poses a significant and alarming threat to Cucurbitaceae crops. It is considered a highly perilous pest species that requires immediate attention for quarantine and prevention. Due to the challenges in distinguishing pests of the Tephritidae family based on morphological characteristics, it is imperative to elucidate the mitochondrial genomic information of C. pardalina. In this study, the mitochondrial genome sequence of C. pardalina was determined and analyzed using next-generation sequencing. The results revealed that the mitogenome sequence had a total length of 16,257 bp, representing a typical circular molecule. It consisted of 13 PCGs, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a non-coding region. The structure and organization of the mitochondrial genome of C. pardalina were found to be typical and similar to the published homologous sequences of other fruit flies in the Tephritidae family. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that C. pardalina belongs to the Carpomya genus, which is consistent with traditional morphological taxonomy. Additionally, Carpomya and Rhagoletis were identified as sister groups. This study presents the first report of the complete mitochondrial genome of C. pardalina, which can serve as a valuable resource for future investigations in species diagnosis, evolutionary biology, prevention and control measures.

High Trunk Truncation as a Potential Sustainable Management Option for Asian Longhorned Beetle on Salix babylonica.

The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) causes substantial economic and ecological losses, thus, an environmentally friendly management strategy is needed. Here, we propose high trunk truncation (HTT), the removal of the above 200 cm portion of trees, as a sustainable management strategy to control ALB. To examine the hypothesis, an initial step involved the assessment of various biological characteristics of ALB. Subsequently, a controlled field experiment was carried out utilizing HTT. Finally, HTT was applied in two additional ALB infestation regions. The results of the study of the biological characteristics of ALB showed that 76.31-78.88% of frass holes and 85.08-87.93% of emergence holes were located on branches above 200 cm. Adults preferred to feed on branches 2-3 cm in diameter, ALB eggs were predominantly laid on 5 cm branches, and both were primarily located above 200 cm. These results revealed a correlation between the number of ALBs and the tree crown height. The controlled field experiment showed that the number of ALBs was significantly decreased when the HTT strategy was implemented: approximately 90% of frass holes and 95% of adults were eradicated by HTT compared with the control. Different field surveys involving HTT have shown similar results. These findings provide valuable insights into a sustainable and efficient management strategy for reducing the number of ALBs.

Proteomic sequencing analysis in a rat model of atrial fibrosis caused by chronic intermittent hypoxia.

Background: Atrial fibrosis caused by long-term atrial fibrillation influences the outcomes of clinical treatment. An improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying atrial fibrillation may reveal new therapeutic targets. This study was conducted to analyze the changes in protein levels in the atrial tissue of a rat model of atrial fibrillation based on proteome sequencing. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were used to develop a model of atrial fibrillation induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). Histopathological changes were detected using hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's staining, and immunohistochemistry and western blotting for the levels of fibrosis biomarkers. Atrial fibrosis tissue samples were also evaluated by proteome sequencing. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between the CIH and control groups were evaluated in functional assay. The expression levels of several key proteins were validated using western blotting. Results: CIH resulted in atrial fibrosis and induced atrial fibrillation. We identified 145 DEPs between the CIH and control groups. These included Myh7, Myl2, Myl3, and Atpla3, which are involved in signaling pathways related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, glycerolipid metabolism, and cardiac muscle contraction. Western blotting revealed the upregulation of Myh7, Myl2, and Myl3 and the downregulation of Atpla3 in the CIH group compared with the control group. These results were consistent with the sequencing results. Conclusions: Myh7, Myl2, Myl3, and Atpla3 may play key roles in the progression of atrial fibrillation through their involvement in cardiovascular-disease-related signaling pathways.

Cfa-circ002203 was upregulated in rapidly paced atria of dogs and involved in the mechanisms of atrial fibrosis.

Background and aims: The role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease is gradually being elucidated; however, their roles in atrial fibrillation (AF)-related fibrosis are largely unknown. This study aimed to characterize the different circRNA profiles in the rapid-pacing atria of dogs and explore the mechanisms involved in atrial fibrosis. Methods: A rapid right atrial-pacing model was established using electrical stimulation from a pacemaker. After 14 days, atrial tissue was collected for circRNA sequencing analysis. In vitro fibrosis was established by stimulating canine atrial fibroblasts with angiotensin II (Ang II). The fibroblasts were transfected with siRNA and overexpressing plasmids to explore the effects of cfa-circ002203 on fibroblast proliferation, migration, differentiation, and the expression of fibrosis-related proteins. Results: In total, 146 differentially expressed circRNAs were screened, of which 106 were upregulated and 40 were downregulated. qRT-PCR analysis showed that cfa-circ002203 was upregulated in both in vivo and in vitro fibroblast fibrosis models. The upregulation of cfa-circ002203 enhanced proliferation and migration while weakening the apoptosis of fibroblasts. Western blotting showed that cfa-circ002203 overexpression increased the protein expression levels of fibrosis-related indicators (Col I, Col III, MMP2, MMP9, and α-SMA) and decreased the protein expression levels of pro-apoptotic factors (Bax and Caspase 3) in Ang II-induced fibroblast fibrosis. Conclusion: Cfa-circ002203 might serve as an active promoter of the proliferation, migration, and fibrosis of atrial fibroblasts and is involved in AF-induced fibroblast fibrosis.

Regulating the Innocuity of Urea Electro-Oxidation via Cation-mediated Adsorption.

Urea electrolysis is an emerging technology that bridges efficient wastewater treatment and hydrogen production with lower electricity costs. However, conventional Ni-based catalysts could easily overoxidize urea into the secondary contaminant NOx - , and enhancing the innocuity of urea electrolysis remains a grand challenge to be achieved. Herein, we tailored the electrode-electrolyte interface of an unconventional cation effect on the anodic oxidation of urea to regulate its activity and selectivity. Smaller cations of Li+ were discovered to increase the Faradaic efficiency (FE) of the innocuous N2 product from the standard value of ~15 % to 45 %, while decreasing the FEs of the over-oxidized NOx - product from ~80 % to 46 %, pointing to a more sustainable process. The kinetic and computational analysis revealed the dominant residence of cations on the outer Helmholtz layer, which forms the interactions with the surface adsorbates. The Li+ hydration shells and rigid hydrogen bonding network interact strongly with the adsorbed urea to decrease its adsorption energy and subjection to C-N cleavage, thereby directing it toward the N2 pathway. This work emphasizes the tuning of the interactions within the electrode-electrolyte interface for enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of electrocatalytic processes.

Comparative evolutionary analyses of eight whitefly Bemisia tabaci sensu lato genomes: cryptic species, agricultural pests and plant-virus vectors.

BACKGROUND: The group of > 40 cryptic whitefly species called Bemisia tabaci sensu lato are amongst the world's worst agricultural pests and plant-virus vectors. Outbreaks of B. tabaci s.l. and the associated plant-virus diseases continue to contribute to global food insecurity and social instability, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Published B. tabaci s.l. genomes have limited use for studying African cassava B. tabaci SSA1 species, due to the high genetic divergences between them. Genomic annotations presented here were performed using the 'Ensembl gene annotation system', to ensure that comparative analyses and conclusions reflect biological differences, as opposed to arising from different methodologies underpinning transcript model identification. RESULTS: We present here six new B. tabaci s.l. genomes from Africa and Asia, and two re-annotated previously published genomes, to provide evolutionary insights into these globally distributed pests. Genome sizes ranged between 616-658 Mb and exhibited some of the highest coverage of transposable elements reported within Arthropoda. Many fewer total protein coding genes (PCG) were recovered compared to the previously published B. tabaci s.l. genomes and structural annotations generated via the uniform methodology strongly supported a repertoire of between 12.8-13.2 × 103 PCG. An integrative systematics approach incorporating phylogenomic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial markers supported a monophyletic Aleyrodidae and the basal positioning of B. tabaci Uganda-1 to the sub-Saharan group of species. Reciprocal cross-mating data and the co-cladogenesis pattern of the primary obligate endosymbiont 'Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum' from 11 Bemisia genomes further supported the phylogenetic reconstruction to show that African cassava B. tabaci populations consist of just three biological species. We include comparative analyses of gene families related to detoxification, sugar metabolism, vector competency and evaluate the presence and function of horizontally transferred genes, essential for understanding the evolution and unique biology of constituent B. tabaci. s.l species. CONCLUSIONS: These genomic resources have provided new and critical insights into the genetics underlying B. tabaci s.l. biology. They also provide a rich foundation for post-genomic research, including the selection of candidate gene-targets for innovative whitefly and virus-control strategies.

Identifying potential insecticide resistance markers through genomic-level comparison of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) lines.

The invasive whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) MED is one of the most economically damaging plant pests. The extensive use of insecticide over decades has led to that the invasive B. tabaci MED has developed resistance to a wide range of insecticide classes, but little is known about the genetic background associated with resistance. To this end, we conducted a comparative genome-wide analysis of single-base nucleotide polymorphisms between MED whitefly lines collected from fields that were recently infested and an insecticide-susceptible MED whitefly line collected in 1976. First, low-coverage genome sequencings were conducted on DNA isolated from individual whiteflies. The sequencing results were evaluated using an available B. tabaci MED genome as a reference. Significant genetic differences were discovered between MED whitefly lines collected from fields that were recently infested and an insecticide-susceptible MED whitefly line based on the principal component analyses. Top GO categories and KEGG pathways that might be involved in insecticide resistance development were identified, and several of them have not been previously associated with resistance. Additionally, we identified several genetic loci with novel variations including Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s), UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), esterase, carboxyl-esterases (COE), ABC transporters, fatty acyl-CoA reductase, voltage-gated sodium channels, GABA receptor, and cuticle proteins (CPs) that were previously reported to have close associations with pesticide resistance in well-studied insect groups that provide an essential resource for the design of insecticide resistance-linked loci arrays insecticide. Our results was obtained solely on resequencing genome data sets, more pesticide bio-assays combined with omics datasets should be further used to verify the markers identified here.

Distinct gut bacterial composition in Anoplophora glabripennis reared on two host plants.

Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) is an invasive wood borer pest that has caused considerable damage to forests. Gut bacteria are of great importance in the biology and ecology of herbivores, especially in growth and adaptation; however, change in the gut bacterial community of this pest feeding on different hosts is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the gut bacterial communities of A. glabripennis larvae fed on different preferred hosts, Salix matsudana and Ulmus pumila, using 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology. A total of 15 phyla, 25 classes, 65 orders, 114 families, 188 genera, and 170 species were annotated in the gut of A. glabripennis larvae fed on S. matsudana or U. pumila using a 97% similarity cutoff level. The dominant phyla were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and the core dominant genera were Enterococcus, Gibbsiella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella. There was significantly higher alpha diversity in the U. pumila group than in the S. matsudana group, and principal co-ordinate analysis showed significant differences in gut bacterial communities between the two groups. The genera with significant abundance differences between the two groups were Gibbsiella, Enterobacter, Leuconostoc, Rhodobacter, TM7a, norank, Rhodobacter, and Aurantisolimonas, indicating that the abundance of larval gut bacteria was affected by feeding on different hosts. Further network diagrams showed that the complexity of the network structure and the modularity were higher in the U. pumila group than in the S. matsudana group, suggesting more diverse gut bacteria in the U. pumila group. The dominant role of most gut microbiota was related to fermentation and chemoheterotrophy, and specific OTUs positively correlated with different functions were reported. Our study provides an essential resource for the gut bacteria functional study of A. glabripennis associated with host diet.

Integrated whole transcriptome analysis for the crucial regulators and functional pathways related to cardiac fibrosis in rats.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac fibrosis has gradually gained significance in the field of cardiovascular disease; however, its specific pathogenesis remains unclear. This study aims to establish the regulatory networks based on whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing analyses and reveal the underlying mechanisms of cardiac fibrosis. METHODS: An experimental model of myocardial fibrosis was induced using the chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) method. Expression profiles of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA) were acquired from right atrial tissue samples of rats. Differentially expressed RNAs (DERs) were identified, and functional enrichment analysis was performed. Moreover, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network that are related to cardiac fibrosis were constructed, and the relevant regulatory factors and functional pathways were identified. Finally, the crucial regulators were validated using qRT-PCR. RESULTS: DERs, including 268 lncRNAs, 20 miRNAs, and 436 mRNAs, were screened. Further, 18 relevant biological processes, such as "chromosome segregation, " and 6 KEGG signaling pathways, such as "cell cycle, " were significantly enriched. The regulatory relationship of miRNA-mRNA-KEGG pathways showed eight overlapping disease pathways, including "pathways in cancer." In addition, crucial regulatory factors, such as Arnt2, WNT2B, GNG7, LOC100909750, Cyp1a1, E2F1, BIRC5, and LPAR4, were identified and verified to be closely related to cardiac fibrosis. CONCLUSION: This study identified the crucial regulators and related functional pathways in cardiac fibrosis by integrating the whole transcriptome analysis in rats, which might provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis.

Association of Maternal Glucose Concentrations During Pregnancy With Cardiovascular Alterations in Early Childhood: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Maternal hyperglycemia has been associated with cardiovascular disease risks in offspring. Previous studies were mostly conducted to test this association in pregnancies with (pre)gestational diabetes mellitus. However, the association may not be limited to populations with diabetes only. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the association between gestational glucose concentrations in women without (pre)gestational diabetes mellitus and childhood cardiovascular alterations at the age of 4 y. METHODS: Our study was based on the Shanghai Birth Cohort. Briefly, among 1016 nondiabetic mothers (age: 30.8 ± 3.42 y; BMI: 21.3 ± 2.94) and their offsprings (age: 4.41 ± 0.22 y; BMI: 15.0 ± 1.56; 53.0% males), results of maternal 1-h oral OGTT between 24 and 28 gestational weeks were obtained. Childhood blood pressure (BP) measurement, echocardiography, and vascular ultrasound were performed at 4 y old. Linear regression and binary logistic regression were conducted to test the association between maternal glucose and childhood cardiovascular outcomes. RESULTS: Compared with children from mothers with glucose concentrations in the lowest quartile, children from mothers in the highest quartile had higher BP (systolic: 97.0 ± 7.41 compared with 98.9 ± 7.82 mmHg, P = 0.006; diastolic: 56.8 ± 5.83 compared with 57.9 ± 6.03 mmHg, P = 0.051) and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (92.5 ± 9.15 compared with 90.8 ± 9.16 %, P = 0.046). Also, higher maternal OGTT 1-h glucose concentrations across the full range were associated with higher childhood BP (systolic: ß: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.93; diastolic: ß: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.66). Logistic regression showed, compared with children from mothers in the lowest quartile, children from mothers in the highest quartile had a 58% (OR=1.58; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.47) higher odds of elevated systolic BP (≥90th percentile). CONCLUSIONS: In a population without (pre)gestational diabetes mellitus, higher maternal OGTT 1-h glucose were associated with childhood cardiovascular structure and function alterations. Further studies are needed to assess whether interventions to reduce gestational glucose will mitigate subsequent cardiometabolic risks in offspring.

Predicting Hepatotoxicity Associated with Low-Dose Methotrexate Using Machine Learning.

An accurate prediction of the hepatotoxicity associated with low-dose methotrexate can provide evidence for a reasonable treatment choice. This study aimed to develop a machine learning-based prediction model to predict hepatotoxicity associated with low-dose methotrexate and explore the associated risk factors. Eligible patients with immune system disorders, who received low-dose methotrexate at West China Hospital between 1 January 2018, and 31 December 2019, were enrolled. A retrospective review of the included patients was conducted. Risk factors were selected from multiple patient characteristics, including demographics, admissions, and treatments. Eight algorithms, including eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), AdaBoost, CatBoost, Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Tree-based Pipeline Optimization Tool (TPOT), Random Forest (RF), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN), were used to establish the prediction model. A total of 782 patients were included, and hepatotoxicity was detected in 35.68% (279/782) of the patients. The Random Forest model with the best predictive capacity was chosen to establish the prediction model (receiver operating characteristic curve 0.97, accuracy 64.33%, precision 50.00%, recall 32.14%, and F1 39.13%). Among the 15 risk factors, the highest score was a body mass index of 0.237, followed by age (0.198), the number of drugs (0.151), and the number of comorbidities (0.144). These factors demonstrated their importance in predicting hepatotoxicity associated with low-dose methotrexate. Using machine learning, this novel study established a predictive model for low-dose methotrexate-related hepatotoxicity. The model can improve medication safety in patients taking methotrexate in clinical practice.

Dynamic changes of gut bacterial communities present in larvae of Anoplophora glabripennies collected at different developmental stages.

The Asian long-horned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennies (Motschulsky), is a destructive wood-boring pest that is capable of killing healthy trees. Gut bacteria in the larvae of the wood-boring pest is essential for the fitness of hosts. However, little is known about the structure of the intestinal microbiome of A. glabripennies during larval development. Here, we used Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the larval intestinal bacterial communities of A. glabripennies at the stages of newly hatched larvae, 1st instar larvae and 4th instar larvae. Significant differences were found in larval gut microbial community structure at different larvae developmental stages. Different dominant genus was detected during larval development. Acinetobacter were dominant in the newly hatched larvae, Enterobacter and Raoultella in the 1st instar larvae, and Enterococcus and Gibbsiella in the 4th instar larvae. The microbial richness in the newly hatched larvae was higher than those in the 1st and 4th instar larvae. Many important functions of the intestinal microbiome were predicted, for example, fermentation and chemoheterotrophy functions that may play an important role in insect growth and development was detected in the bacteria at all tested stages. However, some specific functions are found to be associated with different development stages. Our study provides a theoretical basis for investigating the function of the intestinal symbiosis bacteria of A. glabripennies.

Spatio-temporal changes in endosymbiont diversity and composition in the African cassava whitefly, Bemisia tabaci SSA1.

Sap-sucking insects, including whiteflies, are amongst the most devastating and widely distributed organisms on the planet. They are often highly invasive and endosymbiont communities within these insects help them adapt to new or changing environments. Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius; Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) whitefly species are vectors of more than 500 known plant-viruses and harbour highly diverse endosymbionts communities. To date, however, whitefly-endosymbiont interactions, community structure and their spatio-temporal changes are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the spatio-temporal changes in the composition and diversity of bacterial endosymbionts in the agricultural crop pest whitefly species, Bemisia tabaci sub-Saharan Africa 1-subgroup 1 and 2 (SSA1-SG1 and SSA1-SG2). 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analysis was carried out to characterise endosymbiont compositionsin field-collected SSA1 (SSA1-SG1 and SSA1-SG2) populations infesting cassava in Uganda in 1997 and 2017. We detected Portiera, Arsenophonus, Wolbachia, Hamiltonella and Hemipteriphilus, with Arsenophonus and Wolbachia infections being predominant. Hemipteriphilus and Hamiltonella frequencies were very low and were detected in seven and two samples, respectively. Bacterial diversity based on three independent parameters including Simpson index, number of haplotypes and Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix was significantly higher in 1997 than in 2017. This period also coincided with the advent of super-abundant cassava-whitefly populations on cassava crops in Uganda. We discuss how endosymbionts may influence the biology and behaviour of whiteflies leading to population explosions.

The effect of iron oxide types on the photochemical transformation of organic phosphorus in water.

Iron oxides play an important role in the transport and transformation of organic phosphorus in aquatic environments. However, the effect of different types of iron oxide on the environmental fate of organic phosphorus has remained unclear. In this study, the photodegradation of the organic phosphorus compound adenosine triphosphate (ATP) via the activity of crystalline (goethite) and amorphous (ferrihydrite) iron oxides was investigated. It was found that ATP was photodegraded by goethite, resulting in the release of dissolved inorganic phosphate under simulated sunlight irradiation. The concentration of ATP on goethite decreased by 75% after 6 h of simulated sunlight irradiation, while the concentration of ATP on ferrihydrite decreased by only 22%. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy revealed that the intensity of the peaks for the P-O and PO stretching vibrations in the goethite-ATP complex decreased significantly more after simulated sunlight irradiation than did those for the ferrihydrite treatment. Combined with the higher TOC/TOC0 values for the goethite treatment, the results indicate that a more vigorous photochemical reaction took place in the presence of goethite than with ferrihydrite. Reactive oxygen species analysis also showed that hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals were generated when goethite was exposed to simulated sunlight irradiation, while ferrihydrite did not exhibit this ability. Overall, this study highlights that the type of iron oxide is an important factor in the transformation of organic phosphorus in aquatic environments.

Associations of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus with alterations in cardiovascular system in early childhood.

AIMS: The association of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with childhood cardiovascular alterations is not well established. This study aims to test the hypothesis that prenatal exposure to GDM is associated with vascular and cardiac alterations in early childhood. METHODS: In a population-based prospective cohort among 1094 mothers and their offspring, GDM was diagnosed according to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria. Childhood blood pressure (BP) measurement, echocardiography and vascular ultrasound were performed using standardised methods at 4 years old. The associations between maternal GDM and childhood cardiovascular outcomes were modelled using linear regression and binary logistic regression. Mediation analysis was conducted to test the potential mediators. RESULTS: Maternal GDM was associated with higher systolic BP (SBP; ß, 1.20; [0.11, 2.28]), lower left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD; ß, -0.36; [-0.71, -0.01]), lower end-diastolic volume (EDV; ß, -1.42; [-2.71, -0.13]) and increased risk of high blood pressure (HBP, OR = 1.522; 95% CI, 1.023 to 2.264) in offspring at the age of 4 years. After stratification by sex, the association remained strong only in male offspring (SBP: ß, 1.94; [0.37, 3.51]; LVEDD: ß, -0.60; [-1.09, -0.12]; EDV: ß, -2.09; [-3.86, -0.31]; HBP: OR = 1.797; 95% CI, 1.063 to 3.037) and was independent of maternal and child characteristics. However, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was not associated with maternal GDM. Mediation analysis showed that the effects on childhood cardiovascular alterations were attributable mostly to the direct effects of maternal GDM. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence that maternal GDM is associated with offspring cardiovascular adaptations at preschool age. Further studies are needed to replicate our results and the long-term effect of these adaptations on later cardiovascular risks needs further investigation.

Similar gut bacteria composition in Apriona germari on two preferred host plants.

Apriona germari is one of the most serious wood-boring pests that cause damage to economic and landscaping trees and has adapted to a wide range of plants as diet. Gut bacteria play an important role in biology and ecology of herbivores, especially in growth and adaptation. To investigate how plant hosts shape A. germari gut microbiota, A. germari larvae were collected from Populus tomentosa and Malus pumilal, and gut microbiomes were sequenced based on 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology. A total of 853,424 high-quality reads were obtained and clustered into 196 operational taxonomic units under a 97% similarity cutoff, which were annotated into 8 phyla, 10 classes, 21 orders, 34 families, 59 genera, and 39 species. Gibbsiella was the most dominant genus of intestinal bacteria, followed by Enterobacter and Acinetobacter. No significant difference was observed in larvae gut bacterial richness and diversity of A. germari collected from two hosts, though alpha diversity showed that the richness of gut bacteria in A. germari larvae collected on P. tomentosa was slightly higher than that in A. germari on M. pumilal, and beta diversity showed little difference between two host plants. The functional abundance analysis of the detected bacteria revealed fermentation, chemoheterotrophy, symbionts, and nitrate relative functions that highly possibly support wood-boring beetles to feed on woody tissues. Our study provided a theoretical basis for investigating the function of intestinal symbiosis bacteria of A. germari.

Dual activity of Serratia marcescens Pt-3 in phosphate-solubilizing and production of antifungal volatiles.

BACKGROUND: Soil fertility decline and pathogen infection are severe issues for crop production all over the world. Microbes as inherent factors in soil were effective in alleviating fertility decrease, promoting plant growth and controlling plant pathogens et al. Thus, screening microbes with fertility improving and pathogen controlling properties is of great importance to humans. RESULTS: Bacteria Pt-3 isolated from tea rhizosphere showed multiple functions in solubilizing insoluble phosphate, promoting plant growth, producing abundant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and inhibiting the growth of important fungal pathogens in vitro. According to the 16S rRNA phylogenetic and biochemical analysis, Pt-3 was identified to be Serratia marcescens. The solubilizing zone of Pt-3 in the medium of lecithin and Ca3(PO4)2 was 2.1 cm and 1.8 cm respectively. In liquid medium and soil, the concentration of soluble phosphorus reached 343.9 mg.L- 1, and 3.98 mg.kg- 1, and significantly promoted the growth of maize seedling, respectively. Moreover, Pt-3 produced abundant volatiles and greatly inhibited the growth of seven important phytopathogens. The inhibition rate ranged from 75.51 to 100% respectively. Solid phase micro-extraction coupled with gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry proved that the antifungal volatile was dimethyl disulfide. Dimethyl disulfide can inhibit the germination of Aspergillus flavus, and severely destroy the cell structures under scanning electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: S. marcescens Pt-3 with multiple functions will provide novel agent for the production of bioactive fertilizer with P-solubilizing and fungal pathogens control activity.

Initial fluid resuscitation (30 mL/kg) in patients with septic shock: More or less?

OBJECTIVES: The 2018 Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) recommends rapid administration of 30 mL/kg crystalloid fluids for hypotension or lactate ≥4 mmol/L in patients with septic shock; however, there is limited evidence to support this recommendation. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between initial fluid resuscitation doses and prognosis in patients with septic shock. METHODS: This was a multicenter prospective observational study of adult patients with septic shock who were admitted to four intensive care units (ICUs) in a total of three Jiangsu Province teaching hospitals over a 3-year span from May 8, 2018, to June 15, 2021. Each enrolled patients with septic shock was categorized into the low-volume (below 20 mL/kg fluid), medium-volume (20-30 mL/kg fluid) or high-volume (above 30 mL/kg fluid) fluid group according to the initial infusion dose given for fluid resuscitation. Various demographic attributes and other variables were collected from medical records. Logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier curve analysis were used to determine the relationship between initial fluid resuscitation doses and patient outcomes. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 302 patients who presented to the ICU were diagnosed with septic shock. The 28-day mortality was highest in the high-volume group (48.3%) and lowest in the medium-volume group (26.3%, P < 0.05). Patients who completed 30 mL/kg initial fluid resuscitation in the first 1-2 h had the lowest 28-day mortality rate (22.8%, P < 0.05). Logistic regression showed that a medium initial fluid volume dose was an independent protective factor, with the odds ratio (OR) indicating significantly decreased mortality (OR, 0.507; 95% confidence interval, 0.310-0.828; P = 0.007; P < 0.05). A Kaplan-Meier curve stratified by initial fluid resuscitation dose was constructed for the probability of 28-day mortality. The medium-volume fluid group showed a significantly lower 28-day mortality rate than the high-volume group or the low-volume group (log-rank test, P = 0.0016). CONCLUSION: In septic shock patients, an initial fluid resuscitation rate of 20-30 mL/kg within the first hour may be associated with reduced 28-day mortality; however, this result needs to be confirmed by further high-quality randomized controlled clinical trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-OOC-17013223. Registered 2 November 2017, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=22674.

Obstetric and Gynecologic Outcomes after the Transvaginal Repair of Cesarean Scar Defect in a Series of 183 Women.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To analyze retrospectively the effect of hysteroscopy combined with transvaginal repair on the cesarean section diverticulum (CSD) and explore the clinical significance of this procedure. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital and a gynecology hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 183 patients with scar diverticulum after cesarean section were recruited from the Southern Medical University Affiliated Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Foshan and Shenzhen In Vitro Fertilization Gynecological Hospital. INTERVENTIONS: In this study, we reported a surgical method for repairing uterine scar through uterine therapy and explored its clinical efficacy and pregnancy outcome. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The time of operation, volume of bleeding, and duration of hospitalization were recorded. The size of the scar diverticulum and the remaining myometrium were examined by B-mode ultrasonography before and after the operation. The length of the menstrual cycle and pelvic pain were recorded during follow-up to check the recovery of patients after surgery. The pregnancy of patients with pregnancy needs was recorded to check the pregnancy outcome. All 183 patients successfully completed the repair of the transvaginal uterus scar diverticulum with the help of a hysteroscopy examination. The mean (± standard deviation) operation time was 58.61 ± 18.56 minutes. The mean blood loss was 36.97 ± 22.32 mL. The mean hospital stay was 6.08 ± 1.89 days. In 57.14% of patients, the CSD completely disappeared, whereas the volume of CSD shrank by at least 50% in 88.95% of patients. The mean menstrual period of patients after surgery was 7.72 ± 2.68 days, which was significantly shorter than that recorded preoperatively (13.45 ± 3.69 days) (t = 19.62, p = .00). The pelvic pain disappeared in 81.08% of the patients. The mean postoperative thickness of the remaining muscular layer was 5.30 ± 1.27-mm, which was significantly higher than the preoperative value of 2.25 ± 0.92-mm (t = 28.21, p = .00). The mean postoperative thickness of the remaining muscular layer of patients with improved menstrual cycle was 5.40 ± 1.27-mm, which was significantly higher than the thickness of 4.88 ± 1.11-mm in patients without improved menstrual cycle (t = 2.31, p = .025). A total of 124 patients attempted to become pregnant, 83 of whom were successful. The pregnancy rate was as high as 66.95%, which included 2 scar pregnancies, 4 ectopic pregnancies, and 87 intrauterine pregnancies. No uterine rupture occurred. CONCLUSION: The transvaginal repair of the uterine diverticulum improved the symptoms and probability of a successful pregnancy effectively. This process is a surgical procedure to increase the thickness of the residual uterine muscle wall effectively.