Clinical Observation and Cause Analysis of Perioperative Superior Cluneal Neuralgia in Vertebral Augmentation.

BACKGROUND: In our clinical practice, we observed that some osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture patients undergoing vertebral augmentation exhibited pain in the iliac crest region. This pain aligned with the diagnostic criteria for superior cluneal neuralgia (SCN) and affected treatment satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to clinically observe patients undergoing vertebral augmentation in a hospital setting and analyze the etiology and risk factors associated with SCN. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Inpatient population of a single center. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 630 patients who underwent vertebral augmentation in our hospital from March 2022 to March 2023. Fifty-two patients enrolled in the study experienced pain that met the diagnostic criteria for superior cluneal neuralgia during the perioperative period of the vertebral augmentation procedures. Those patients were divided into 2 subgroups according to the conditions involved in the occurrence of SCN: Group A (26 patients) had either no preoperative SCN but developed it postoperatively, or had preoperative SCN that worsened or did not alleviate postoperatively. Group B (26 patients) had preoperative SCN that was relieved postoperatively. Additionally, 52 consecutive patients in March 2022 to March 2023. who did not experience SCN during the perioperative period were selected as the control group (Group C). Variables such as surgical segment, age, height, weight, body mass index, duration of hospitalization, chronic low back pain (CLBP), duration of pain, anesthesia, surgical approach, fracture pattern, preoperative visual analog scale (pre-op VAS) score, intraoperative VAS score, one-day VAS score, one-month VAS score, lumbar sacral angle, and sacral tilt angle were statistically described and analyzed. RESULTS: In our hospital, the incidence of SCN during the perioperative period of vertebral augmentation procedures is 8.25% (52/630). Among all the segments of patients who developed SCN during the perioperative period, the L1 segment had the highest proportion, which was 29.03% and 35.14% in Groups A and B, respectively. Group B and Group C showed significant differences in duration of hospitalization (P = 0.012), pre-op VAS scores (P = 0.026), and CLBP (P < 0.001). Group A had significantly higher VAS scores preoperatively (P = 0.026) and intraoperatively (P = 0.004) and in CLBP (P = 0.001) than did Group C. LIMITATIONS: This is a retrospective study. Single-center noncontrolled studies may introduce selection bias. The small sample size in each group might have also led to bias. CONCLUSION: Perioperative SCN associated with vertebral augmentation is significantly correlated with preoperative VAS scores and CLBP. In addition, intraoperative VAS scores might be a factor contributing to the nonalleviation or exacerbation of postoperative SCN.

Thymic carcinoid with multiple bone metastases: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Thymic carcinoid (TC) is a rare entity among anterior mediastinal malignancies. TCs are neuroendocrine carcinomas that constitute approximately 2%-5% of all thymic epithelial tumors. CASE SUMMARY: The study reported a rare TC with multiple bone metastases. A 77-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of lower back pain and weight loss of 5 kg. Magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed damage to the lumbar spine, sacrocaudal vertebrae and iliac crest, suggesting bone metastasis; computed tomography (CT) scan of the thorax showed a calcified anterior mediastinal mass; positron emission tomography-CT demonstrated multiple abnormal bone signals; and laboratory work-up showed no endocrine abnormalities. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy revealed predominantly single small, round to oval cells with scant cytoplasm and some loose clusters, suggesting endocrine manifestations. The pathological diagnosis was atypical carcinoid, which tend to originate from the thymus and was classified as intermediate-highly invasive. The patient underwent anlotinib-targeted therapy. Anlotinib (12 mg) was administered daily for 2 wk, after which the patient was allowed to rest for 21 d. Follow-up CT after one year demonstrated that the tumor had shrunk by approximately 29% after therapy. Treatment has a long stable disease benefit of more than 2.5 years. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that anlotinib is a promising treatment regimen for patients with TC and multiple bone metastases.

Northwestern Pacific Oceanic circulation shaped by ENSO.

The intricate currents of the Northwest Pacific Ocean, with strong manifestations along the westside rim, connect tropical and subtropical gyres and significantly influence East Asian and global climates. The El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) originates in the tropical Pacific Ocean and disrupts this ocean circulation system. However, the spatiotemporal dependence of the impact of ENSO events has yet to be elucidated because of the complexities of both ENSO events and circulation systems, as well as the increased availability of observational data. We thus combined altimeter and drifter observations to demonstrate the distinct tropical and subtropical influences of the circulation system on ENSO diversity. During El Niño years, the North Equatorial Current, North Equatorial Countercurrent, Mindanao Current, Indonesian Throughflow, and the subtropical Kuroshio Current and its Extension region exhibit strengthening, while the tropical Kuroshio Current weakens. The tropical impact is characterized by sea level changes in the warm pool, whereas the subtropical influence is driven by variations in the wind stress curl. The tropical and subtropical influences are amplified during the Centra Pacific El Niño years compared to the Eastern Pacific El Niño years. As the globe warms, these impacts are anticipated to intensify. Thus, strengthening observation systems and refining climate models are essential for understanding and projecting the enhancing influences of ENSO on the Northwest Pacific Oceanic circulation.

Pd-Catalyzed Three-Component Coupling of Cyclopropenones via Sequential C-C Bond Activation and Allylation.

A novel Pd-catalyzed three-component domino reaction for the stereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized allyl cinnamates has been developed. In this protocol, a sequential process of C-C bond activation and intermolecular allylic substitution was well-organized. The key for this transformation is the in situ generated hydrolysis product of cyclopropenone, which triggered a new reaction with vinylethylene carbonates. The reaction mechanism was investigated, demonstrating the high stereoselectivity and excellent atomic economy in this process.

Computer-assisted three-dimensional individualized extreme liver resection for hepatoblastoma in proximity to the major liver vasculature.

BACKGROUND: The management of hepatoblastoma (HB) becomes challenging when the tumor remains in close proximity to the major liver vasculature (PMV) even after a full course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). In such cases, extreme liver resection can be considered a potential option. AIM: To explore whether computer-assisted three-dimensional individualized extreme liver resection is safe and feasible for children with HB who still have PMV after a full course of NAC. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from children with HB who underwent surgical resection at our center from June 2013 to June 2023. We then analyzed the detailed clinical and three-dimensional characteristics of children with HB who still had PMV after a full course of NAC. RESULTS: Sixty-seven children diagnosed with HB underwent surgical resection. The age at diagnosis was 21.4 ± 18.8 months, and 40 boys and 27 girls were included. Fifty-nine (88.1%) patients had a single tumor, 39 (58.2%) of which was located in the right lobe of the liver. A total of 47 patients (70.1%) had PRE-TEXT III or IV. Thirty-nine patients (58.2%) underwent delayed resection. After a full course of NAC, 16 patients still had close PMV (within 1 cm in two patients, touching in 11 patients, compressing in four patients, and showing tumor thrombus in three patients). There were 6 patients of tumors in the middle lobe of the liver, and four of those patients exhibited liver anatomy variations. These 16 children underwent extreme liver resection after comprehensive preoperative evaluation. Intraoperative procedures were performed according to the preoperative plan, and the operations were successfully performed. Currently, the 3-year event-free survival of 67 children with HB is 88%. Among the 16 children who underwent extreme liver resection, three experienced recurrence, and one died due to multiple metastases. CONCLUSION: Extreme liver resection for HB that is still in close PMV after a full course of NAC is both safe and feasible. This approach not only reduces the necessity for liver transplantation but also results in a favorable prognosis. Individualized three-dimensional surgical planning is beneficial for accurate and complete resection of HB, particularly for assessing vascular involvement, remnant liver volume and anatomical variations.

Supercritical Fluid-extracted Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. Essential Oil Nanoemulsion: Preparation, Characterization, and Its Sleep-promoting Effect.

To overcome the defects of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl. essential oil (CAEO), such as high volatility and poor stability, supercritical fluid-extracted CAEO nanoemulsion (SFE-CAEO-NE) was prepared by the microemulsification method. Emulsifiers comprising Tween 80, polyoxyethylenated castor oil (EL-40), and 1,2-hexanediol, and an oil phase containing SFE-CAEO were used for microemulsification. We examined the physicochemical properties of SFE-CAEO-NE and steam distillation-extracted CAEO nanoemulsion (SDE-CAEO-NE), which were prepared using different concentrations of the emulsifiers. The mean particle size and zeta potential were 21.52 nm and -9.82 mV, respectively, for SFE-CAEO-NE, and 30.58 nm and -6.28 mV, respectively, for SDE-CAEO-NE, at an emulsifier concentration of 15% (w/w). SFE-CAEO-NE displayed better physicochemical properties compared with SDE-CAEO-NE. Moreover, its physicochemical properties were generally stable at different temperatures (-20-60℃), pH (3-8), and ionic strengths (0-400 mM). No obvious variations in particle size, zeta potential, and Ke were observed after storing this nanoemulsion for 30 days at 4℃, 25℃, and 40℃, suggesting that it had good stability. The sleep-promoting effect of SFE-CAEO-NE was evaluated using a mouse model of insomnia. The results of behavioral tests indicated that SFE-CAEO-NE ameliorated insomnia-like behavior. Moreover, SFE-CAEO- NE administration increased the serum concentrations of neurotransmitters such as 5-hydroxytryptamine and γ-aminobutyric acid, and decreased that of noradrenaline in mice. It also exerted a reparative effect on the function of damaged neurons. Overall, SFE-CAEO-NE displayed a good sleep-promoting effect.

Physician and Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Responses to Cancer Questions From Social Media.

Importance: Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots pose the opportunity to draft template responses to patient questions. However, the ability of chatbots to generate responses based on domain-specific knowledge of cancer remains to be tested. Objective: To evaluate the competency of AI chatbots (GPT-3.5 [chatbot 1], GPT-4 [chatbot 2], and Claude AI [chatbot 3]) to generate high-quality, empathetic, and readable responses to patient questions about cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants: This equivalence study compared the AI chatbot responses and responses by 6 verified oncologists to 200 patient questions about cancer from a public online forum. Data were collected on May 31, 2023. Exposures: Random sample of 200 patient questions related to cancer from a public online forum (Reddit r/AskDocs) spanning from January 1, 2018, to May 31, 2023, was posed to 3 AI chatbots. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were pilot ratings of the quality, empathy, and readability on a Likert scale from 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good). Two teams of attending oncology specialists evaluated each response based on pilot measures of quality, empathy, and readability in triplicate. The secondary outcome was readability assessed using Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. Results: Responses to 200 questions generated by chatbot 3, the best-performing AI chatbot, were rated consistently higher in overall measures of quality (mean, 3.56 [95% CI, 3.48-3.63] vs 3.00 [95% CI, 2.91-3.09]; P < .001), empathy (mean, 3.62 [95% CI, 3.53-3.70] vs 2.43 [95% CI, 2.32-2.53]; P < .001), and readability (mean, 3.79 [95% CI, 3.72-3.87] vs 3.07 [95% CI, 3.00-3.15]; P < .001) compared with physician responses. The mean Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level of physician responses (mean, 10.11 [95% CI, 9.21-11.03]) was not significantly different from chatbot 3 responses (mean, 10.31 [95% CI, 9.89-10.72]; P > .99) but was lower than those from chatbot 1 (mean, 12.33 [95% CI, 11.84-12.83]; P < .001) and chatbot 2 (mean, 11.32 [95% CI, 11.05-11.79]; P = .01). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this study suggest that chatbots can generate quality, empathetic, and readable responses to patient questions comparable to physician responses sourced from an online forum. Further research is required to assess the scope, process integration, and patient and physician outcomes of chatbot-facilitated interactions.

Effect of a 3D-printed reconstruction automated matching system for selecting the size of a left double-lumen tube: a study protocol for a prospective randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Lung isolation is primarily accomplished using a double-lumen tube (DLT) or bronchial blocker. A precise and accurate size of the DLT is a prerequisite for ensuring its accurate placement. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technology can be used to accurately reproduce tracheobronchial structures to improve the accuracy of DLT size selection. Therefore, we have developed automatic comparison software for 3D reconstruction based on CT data (3DRACS). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficiency of using 3DRACS to select the DLT size for endobronchial intubation in comparison with using the 'blind' DLT intubation method to determine the DLT size, which is based on height and sex. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a prospective, single-centre, double-blind randomised controlled trial. In total, 200 patients scheduled for lung resection using a left DLT will be randomly allocated to the 3D group or the control group at a 1:1 ratio. A 3DRACS will be used for the 3D group to determine the size of the DLT, while in the case of the control group, the size of the DLT will be determined according to patient height and sex. The primary outcome is the success rate of placement of the left DLT without fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FOB). The secondary outcomes include the following: successful intubation time, degree of pulmonary atrophy, grade of airway injury, oxygenation during one-lung ventilation, postoperative sore throat and hoarseness, and number of times FOB is used. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from our local ethics committee (approval number: SCCHEC-02-2022-155). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants before randomisation, providing them with clear instructions about the purpose of the study. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT06258954.

Stable Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with Efficiency over 23.0% via Dual-Layer SnO2 on Perovskite.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have shown great potential for reducing costs and improving power conversion efficiency (PCE). One effective method to achieve the latter is to use an all-inorganic charge transport layer (ICTL). However, traditional methods for crystallizing inorganic layers often result in the formation of a powder instead of a continuous film. To address this issue, we designed a dual-layer inorganic electron transport layer (IETL). This dual-layer structure consists of a layer of SnO2 nanocrystals (SnO2 NCs) deposited via a solution process and a dense SnO2 layer deposited through atomic layer deposition (ALD SnO2) to fill the cracks and gaps between the SnO2 NCs. PSCs having these dual-layer SnO2 ETLs achieved a high efficiency of 23.0%. This efficiency surpasses the recorded performance of ICTLs deposited on the perovskite. Furthermore, the PCE is comparable to that achieved with a C60 ETL. Moreover, the high-density structure of the ALD SnO2 layer inhibits the vertical migration of ions, resulting in improved thermal stability. After continuous heating at 85 °C in 10% humidity for 1000 h, the PCE of the dual-layer SnO2 structure decreased by 18%, whereas that of the C60/BCP structure decreased by 36%. The integration of dual-layer SnO2 into PSCs represents a significant advancement in achieving high-performance, commercially viable inverted monolithic PSCs or tandem solar cells.

BRAF Mutations in Patients with Myeloid Neoplasms: A Cancer Center Multigene Next-Generation Sequencing Analysis Experience.

BRAF mutations are rare in myeloid neoplasms and are reported to be associated with poor treatment outcomes. The purpose of our study is to characterize BRAF mutations in myeloid neoplasms using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel based on the experiences of a single cancer center. We conducted a retrospective review of patients with myeloid neoplasms who underwent the HopeSeq studies between January 2018 and September 2023. A total of 14 patients with myeloid neoplasms carrying BRAF mutations were included in our cohort. The clinical, pathological, and molecular features of these patients were investigated. Our study indicates that BRAF mutations are rare in myeloid neoplasms, constituting only 0.53% (14/2632) of all myeloid neoplasm cases, with the most common BRAF mutation being BRAF V600E (4/14; 28.6%). Interestingly, we observed that six out of seven patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) exhibited AML with monocytic differentiation, and all the patients with AML exhibited an extremely poor prognosis compared to those without BRAF mutations. TET2 (5/14; 35.7%), ASXL1 (4/14; 28.6%), and JAK2 (4/14; 28.6%) were the three most frequently co-mutated genes in these patients. Moreover, we noted concurrent KMT2A gene rearrangement with BRAF mutations in three patients with AML (3/7; 42.9%). Our study suggests that although BRAF mutations are rare in myeloid neoplasms, they play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of specific AML subtypes. Furthermore, RAS pathway alterations, including BRAF mutations, are associated with KMT2A gene rearrangement in AML. However, these findings warrant further validation in larger studies.

Ent-eudesmane sesquiterpenoids with anti-neuroinflammatory activity from the marine-derived fungus Eutypella sp. F0219.

In this study, twenty-three ent-eudesmane sesquiterpenoids (1-23) including fifteen previously undescribed ones, named eutypelides A-O (1-15) were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Eutypella sp. F0219. Their planar structures and relative configurations were established by HR-ESIMS and extensive 1D and 2D NMR investigations. The absolute configurations of the previously undescribed compounds were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, modified Mosher's method, and ECD calculations. Structurally, eutypelide A (1) is a rare 1,10-seco-ent-eudesmane, whereas 2-15 are typically ent-eudesmanes with 6/6/-fused bicyclic carbon nucleus. The anti-neuroinflammatory activity of all isolated compounds (1-23) was accessed based on their ability to NO production in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia cells. Compound 16 emerged as the most potent inhibitor. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that compound 16 modulated the inflammatory response by decreasing the protein levels of iNOS and increasing ARG 1 levels, thereby altering the iNOS/ARG 1 ratio and inhibiting macrophage polarization. qRT-PCR analysis showed that compound 16 reversed the LPS-induced upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß, at both the transcriptional and translational levels. These effects were linked to the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, a key regulator of inflammation. Our findings suggest that compound 16 may be a potential structure basis for developing neuroinflammation-related disease therapeutic agents.

Whole genome sequencing based analysis of inflammation biomarkers in the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) consortium.

Inflammation biomarkers can provide valuable insight into the role of inflammatory processes in many diseases and conditions. Sequencing based analyses of such biomarkers can also serve as an exemplar of the genetic architecture of quantitative traits. To evaluate the biological insight, which can be provided by a multi-ancestry, whole-genome based association study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of 21 inflammation biomarkers from up to 38 465 individuals with whole-genome sequencing from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program (with varying sample size by trait, where the minimum sample size was n = 737 for MMP-1). We identified 22 distinct single-variant associations across 6 traits-E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, interleukin-6, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity and mass, and P-selectin-that remained significant after conditioning on previously identified associations for these inflammatory biomarkers. We further expanded upon known biomarker associations by pairing the single-variant analysis with a rare variant set-based analysis that further identified 19 significant rare variant set-based associations with 5 traits. These signals were distinct from both significant single variant association signals within TOPMed and genetic signals observed in prior studies, demonstrating the complementary value of performing both single and rare variant analyses when analyzing quantitative traits. We also confirm several previously reported signals from semi-quantitative proteomics platforms. Many of these signals demonstrate the extensive allelic heterogeneity and ancestry-differentiated variant-trait associations common for inflammation biomarkers, a characteristic we hypothesize will be increasingly observed with well-powered, large-scale analyses of complex traits.

Comparative effects of pectin and hydrolyzed pectin coating as pre-frying treatments on acrylamide formation in potato chips.

This study aimed to compare the effects of pectin and hydrolyzed pectin coating as pre-frying treatments on acrylamide content and quality characteristics of fried potato chips. The hydrolyzed pectin with molecular weight (Mw) of 8.81 ± 0.49 kDa was obtained through partial degradation of pectin (Mw: 747.57 ± 6.73 kDa) using pectinase. Results showed that both pectin and hydrolyzed pectin coating significantly inhibited acrylamide formation and inhibition rates exceeded 90 %. Hydrolyzed pectin had stronger inhibitory activity against acrylamide formation than pectin, especially when the concentration of hydrolyzed pectin was >2 %, its inhibitory rate exceeded 95 %. Compared to pectin coating, hydrolyzed pectin coating endow fried potato chips with smaller browning, higher crispness, less moisture but higher oil content. Overall, hydrolyzed pectin had better application prospects than pectin in inhibiting acrylamide formation of fried potato chips.

A novel protein FNDC3B-267aa encoded by circ0003692 inhibits gastric cancer metastasis via promoting proteasomal degradation of c-Myc.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) ranks fifth in global cancer incidence and third in mortality rate among all cancer types. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been extensively demonstrated to regulate multiple malignant biological behaviors in GC. Emerging evidence suggests that several circRNAs derived from FNDC3B play pivotal roles in cancer. However, the role of circFNDC3B in GC remains elusive. METHODS: We initially screened circFNDC3B with translation potential via bioinformatics algorithm prediction. Subsequently, Sanger sequencing, qRT-PCR, RNase R, RNA-FISH and nuclear-cytoplasmic fractionation assays were explored to assess the identification and localization of circ0003692, a circRNA derived from FNDC3B. qRT-PCR and ISH were performed to quantify expression of circ0003692 in human GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues. The protein-encoding ability of circ0003692 was investigated through dual-luciferase reporter assay and LC/MS. The biological behavior of circ0003692 in GC was confirmed via in vivo and in vitro experiments. Additionally, Co-IP and rescue experiments were performed to elucidate the interaction between the encoded protein and c-Myc. RESULTS: We found that circ0003692 was significantly downregulated in GC tissues. Circ0003692 had the potential to encode a novel protein FNDC3B-267aa, which was downregulated in GC cells. We verified that FNDC3B-267aa, rather than circ0003692, inhibited GC migration in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, FNDC3B-267aa directly interacted with c-Myc and promoted proteasomal degradation of c-Myc, resulting in the downregulation of c-Myc-Snail/Slug axis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the novel protein FNDC3B-267aa encoded by circ0003692 suppressed GC metastasis through binding to c-Myc and enhancing proteasome-mediated degradation of c-Myc. The study offers the potential applications of circ0003692 or FNDC3B-267aa as therapeutic targets for GC.

Discovery of Fusarium pseudograminearum Causing Crown Rot of Winter Wheat in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.

Fusarium pseudograminearum is an important plant pathogen that invades many crops (Zhang et al. 2018). Since it was first discovered in Australia in 1951, F. pseudograminearum has been reported in many countries and regions and caused huge economic losses (Burgess et al. 2001). In 2012, crown rot of wheat caused by F. pseudograminearum was discovered for the first time in Henan Province, China (Li et al. 2012). Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important food crops in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), with 1.07 million hectares cultivated in 2020. In June 2023, a survey of crown rot disease was carried out in winter wheat cv. Xindong 20 in Hotan area, XUAR, China (80.148907°E, 37.051474°N). About 5% of wheat plants showed symptoms of crown rot such as browning of the stem base and white head. The disease was observed in 85% of wheat fields. In order to identify the pathogens, 36 pieces of diseased stem basal tissue, 0.5 cm in length, were collected and sterilized with 75% alcohol for 30s and 5% NaOCl solution for 2 min, then rinsed three times with sterile water and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium at 25°C. A total of 27 isolates with consistent morphological characteristics were obtained using single-spore technique (Leslie and Summerell. 2006), and the isolation rate was 75%. The isolates grew rapidly on PDA, produced large numbers of fluffy white hyphae, and pink pigment accumulated in the medium. The isolates were grown on 2% mung bean flour medium and identified by morphological and molecular methods. Macroconidia were abundant, relatively slender, curved to almost straight, commonly two to seven septate, and averaged 22 to 72 × 1.8 to 4.9 µm. Microconidia were not observed. The morphological characters are consistent with Fusarium (Aoki and O'Donnell. 1999). Two isolates (LP-1 and LP-3) were selected for molecular identification. Primers EF1/EF2 (5'-ATGGGTAAGGARGACAAGAC-3'/5'-GGARGTACCAGTSATCATG-3') were used to amplify a portion of the EF-1α gene (O'Donnell et al. 1998). The two 696 bp PCR products were sequenced and submitted to GenBank. The EF-1α gene sequences (GenBank Accession No: PP062794 and PP062795) shared 99.9% identity (695/696) with published F.pseudograminearum sequences (e.g., OP105187, OP105184, OP105179, OP105173). The identification was further confirmed by F. pseudograminearum species-specific PCR primers Fp1-1/Fp1-2 (Aoki and O'Donnell. 1999). The expected PCR products of 518 bp were produced only in F. pseudograminearum. Pathogenicity tests of LP-1 and LP-3 isolates were performed on 7-day-old seedlings of winter wheat cv. Xindong 20 using the drip inoculation method with a 10-µl of a 106 macroconidia ml-1 suspension near the stem base (Xu et al. 2017). The experiment was repeated five times in a 20 to 25°C greenhouse. Control seedlings were treated with sterile water. After 4 weeks, wheat seedling death and crown browning occurred in the inoculated plants with over 90% incidence. No symptoms were observed in the control plants. The pathogen was reisolated from the inoculated plants by the method described above and identified by morphological and PCR amplification using F. pseudograminearum species-specific primers Fp1-1/Fp1-2. No F. pseudograminearum was isolated from the control plants, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. pseudograminearum causing crown rot of winter wheat in XUAR of China. Since F. pseudograminearum can cause great damage to wheat, one of the most important food crops in China, necessary measures should be taken to prevent the spread of F. pseudograminearum to other regions.

Ocean internal tides suppress tropical cyclones in the South China Sea.

Tropical Cyclones (TCs) are devastating natural disasters. Analyzing four decades of global TC data, here we find that among all global TC-active basins, the South China Sea (SCS) stands out as particularly difficult ocean for TCs to intensify, despite favorable atmosphere and ocean conditions. Over the SCS, TC intensification rate and its probability for a rapid intensification (intensification by ≥ 15.4 m s-1 day-1) are only 1/2 and 1/3, respectively, of those for the rest of the world ocean. Originating from complex interplays between astronomic tides and the SCS topography, gigantic ocean internal tides interact with TC-generated oceanic near-inertial waves and induce a strong ocean cooling effect, suppressing the TC intensification. Inclusion of this interaction between internal tides and TC in operational weather prediction systems is expected to improve forecast of TC intensity in the SCS and in other regions where strong internal tides are present.

Dynamic Mechanism of Cerebral Venous Disruption: Longitudinal Evidence From a Community-Based Cohort.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the temporal and spatial patterns of structural brain injury related to deep medullary veins (DMVs) damage. METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a longitudinal analysis of the population-based Shunyi cohort study. Baseline DMVs numbers were identified on susceptibility-weighted imaging. We assessed vertex-wise cortex maps and diffusion maps at both baseline and follow-up using FSL software and the longitudinal FreeSurfer analysis suite. We performed statistical analysis of global measurements and voxel/vertex-wise analysis to explore the relationship between DMVs number and brain structural measurements. A total of 977 participants were included in the baseline, of whom 544 completed the follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (age 54.97±7.83 years, 32% men, mean interval 5.56±0.47 years). A lower number of DMVs was associated with a faster disruption of white matter microstructural integrity, presented by increased mean diffusivity and radial diffusion (ß=0.0001 and SE=0.0001 for both, P=0.04 and 0.03, respectively), in extensive deep white matter (threshold-free cluster enhancement P<0.05, adjusted for age and sex). Of particular interest, we found a bidirectional trend association between DMVs number and change in brain volumes. Specifically, participants with mild DMVs disruption showed greater cortical enlargement, whereas those with severe disruption exhibited more significant brain atrophy, primarily involving clusters in the frontal and parietal lobes (multiple comparison corrected P<0.05, adjusted for age, sex, and total intracranial volume). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings posed the dynamic pattern of brain parenchymal lesions related to DMVs injury, shedding light on the interactions and chronological roles of various pathological mechanisms.

Values of macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer and 10-2 visual field measurements in detecting and evaluating glaucoma.

AIM: To assess the performance of macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness (mGCIPLT) and 10-2 visual field (VF) parameters in detecting early glaucoma and evaluating the severity of advanced glaucoma. METHODS: Totally 127 eyes from 89 participants (36 eyes of 19 healthy participants, 45 eyes of 31 early glaucoma patients and 46 eyes of 39 advanced glaucoma patients) were included. The relationships between the optical coherence tomography (OCT)-derived parameters and VF sensitivity were determined. Patients with early glaucoma were divided into eyes with or without central 10° of the VF damages (CVFDs), and the diagnostic performances of OCT-derived parameters were assessed. RESULTS: In early glaucoma, the mGCIPLT was significantly correlated with 10-2 VF pattern standard deviation (PSD; with average mGCIPLT: ß=-0.046, 95%CI, -0.067 to -0.024, P<0.001). In advanced glaucoma, the mGCIPLT was related to the 24-2 VF mean deviation (MD; with average mGCIPLT: ß=0.397, 95%CI, 0.199 to 0.595, P<0.001), 10-2 VF MD (with average mGCIPLT: ß=0.762, 95%CI, 0.485 to 1.038, P<0.001) and 24-2 VF PSD (with average mGCIPLT: ß=0.244, 95%CI, 0.124 to 0.364, P<0.001). Except for the minimum and superotemporal mGCIPLT, the decrease of mGCIPLT in early glaucomatous eyes with CVFDs was more severe than that of early glaucomatous eyes without CVFDs. The area under the curve (AUC) of the average mGCIPLT (AUC=0.949, 95%CI, 0.868 to 0.982) was greater than that of the average circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (cpRNFLT; AUC=0.827, 95%CI, 0.674 to 0.918) and rim area (AUC=0.799, 95%CI, 0.610 to 0.907) in early glaucomatous eyes with CVFDs versus normal eyes. CONCLUSION: The 10-2 VF and mGCIPLT parameters are complementary to 24-2 VF, cpRNFLT and ONH parameters, especially in detecting early glaucoma with CVFDs and evaluating the severity of advanced glaucoma in group level.

Prognostic and Immunotherapeutic Predictive Value of CAD Gene in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Integrated Bioinformatics and Experimental Analysis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common type of cancer that ranks first in cancer-associated death worldwide. Carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamylase, and dihydroorotase (CAD) are the key components of the pyrimidine pathway, which promotes cancer development. However, the function of CAD in HCC needs to be clarified. In this study, the clinical and transcriptome data of 424 TCGA-derived HCC cases were analyzed. The results demonstrated that high CAD expression was associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. The effect of CAD on HCC was then investigated comprehensively using GO annotation analysis, KEGG enrichment analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and CIBERSORT algorithm. The results showed that CAD expression was correlated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and immune cell infiltration. In addition, low CAD levels in HCC patients predicted increased sensitivity to anti-CTLA4 and PD1, while HCC patients with high CAD expression exhibited high sensitivity to chemotherapeutic and molecular-targeted agents, including gemcitabine, paclitaxel, and sorafenib. Finally, the results from clinical sample suggested that CAD expression increased remarkably in HCC compared with non-cancerous tissues. Loss of function experiments demonstrated that CAD knockdown could significantly inhibit HCC cell growth and migration both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, the results indicated that CAD is a potential oncogene during HCC metastasis and progression. Therefore, CAD is recommended as a candidate marker and target for HCC prediction and treatment.