[Clinical, genetic, and pathological analysis in 165 children with disorders of sex development]. / 165ä¾‹å„¿ç«¥æ€§å‘è‚²å¼‚å¸¸ç–¾ç— çš„ä¸´åºŠã€é—ä¼ å­¦ä¸Žç— ç†å­¦åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical phenotypes, genetic characteristics, and pathological features of children with disorders of sex development (DSD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on epidemiological, clinical phenotype, chromosomal karyotype, gonadal pathology, and genotype data of 165 hospitalized children with DSD at Children's Hospital of Hebei Province and Tangshan Maternal and Child Health Hospital from August 2008 to December 2022. RESULTS: Among the 165 children with DSD, common presenting symptoms were short stature (62/165, 37.6%), clitoromegaly (33/165, 20.0%), cryptorchidism (28/165, 17.0%), hypospadias (24/165, 14.5%), and skin pigmentation abnormalities/exteriorized pigmented labia majora (19/165, 11.5%). Chromosomal karyotype analysis was performed on 127 cases, revealing 36 cases (28.3%) of 46,XX DSD, 34 cases (26.8%) of 46,XY DSD, and 57 cases (44.9%) of sex chromosome abnormalities. Among the sex chromosome abnormal karyotypes, the 45,X karyotype (11/57, 19%) and 45,X/other karyotype mosaicism (36/57, 63%) were more common. Sixteen children underwent histopathological biopsy of gonadal tissues, resulting in retrieval of 25 gonadal tissues. The gonadal tissue biopsies revealed 3 cases of testes, 3 cases of dysplastic testes, 6 cases of ovaries, 11 cases of ovotestes, and 1 case each of streak gonad and agenesis of gonads. Genetic testing identified pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in 23 cases (23/36, 64%), including 12 cases of 21-hydroxylase deficiency congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by CYP21A2 pathogenic variants. CONCLUSIONS: Short stature, clitoromegaly, cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and skin pigmentation abnormalities are common phenotypes in children with DSD. 45,X/other karyotype mosaicism and CYP21A2 compound heterozygous variants are major etiological factors in children with DSD. The most commonly observed gonadal histopathology in children with DSD includes ovotestes, ovaries, and testes/dysgenetic testes.

Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Seasonal Human Coronaviruses in Children Hospitalized in Hebei Province, China Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence and clinical characteristics of seasonal human coronavirus (HCoV) infections among children hospitalized in Hebei, China. Methods: We examined nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) specimens for seasonal HCoVs from January 2018 to December 2021, at the Children's Hospital of Hebei Province. We used a GeXP-based multiplex reverse transcription PCR assay for the detection of 11 common respiratory viruses (including seasonal HCoVs), chlamydia, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The demographic and clinical characteristics of children who tested positive for seasonal HCoVs were recorded and analyzed. Results: A total of 377 (1.96%) of the 19,248 specimens from 2018 to 2019 and 263 (1.96%) of the 13,426 specimens from 2020 to 2021 exhibited seasonal HCoVs. Compared to 2018 and 2019, the positive rate of seasonal HCoVs was lower from January to July of 2020 and increased beginning in August 2020, peaking in the autumn and winter. In 2020-2021, nasal blockage and swollen adenoids were detected more frequently in children who tested positive for seasonal HCoVs. During 2018-2019, however, the duration of fever was significantly longer, and cough and dyspnea were more prominent among children who had fallen ill. In addition, seasonal HCoV-positive patients in 2018-2019 were more likely to experience complications, had a higher risk of severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), and had a tendency to require a longer hospital stay than patients in 2020-2021. Conclusion: According to our findings, there were significant changes in the epidemiology of seasonal HCoVs in Hebei, China during the COVID-19 pandemic, and children infected with seasonal HCoVs usually experienced milder clinical symptoms during the pandemic than before it.

The toxic mechanism of tetracycline on root tips in hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum).

Tetracycline (TC) is a commonly used antibiotic that affects various physiological processes in plants. However, its negative effects on plants remain poorly understood at the molecular level. To ascertain the TC toxicity in the roots, transcriptomic, cytological, and physiological analyses were performed to explore the molecular mechanisms of TC influencing the growth of hulless barley root. At a low concentration (1 mg/L), TC promoted root growth by upregulating the genes related to the flavonoid pathway. At high concentrations (10, 100, and 200 mg/L), TC downregulated genes related to homologous recombination in the root meristem zone and inhibited the mitosis index by 16.4%. Disruption of the DNA repair process can lead to chromosomal aberrations, resulting in a 6.8% C-mitosis rate in the most severe cases. Finally, root growth was inhibited by TC, as evidenced by a reduction in root viability, an increase in reactive oxygen species content, and an inhibition of root length. Cross-comparison of physiological and cytological characterizations and transcriptomic information revealed changes in genetic processes under TC stress. Overall, we present an early genetic strategy to study the significant influence of TC stress on roots.

Competitive adsorption of lead and cadmium onto nanoplastics with different charges: Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy study.

The competitive adsorption ability and mechanisms of lead (Pb2+) and cadmium (Cd2+) by nanoplastics (NPs) with positive charges (PS-NH2) and negative charges (PS-SO3H) were investigated by using batch adsorption experiments coupled with the two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) method. The adsorption isotherm results showed that PS-SO3H exhibited a higher adsorption capacity for Pb2+ or Cd2+ compared to PS-NH2. The adsorption affinity of NPs for Pb2+ was higher than that of Cd2+. The competitive adsorption results showed that Pb2+ had a more pronounced negative effect on the adsorption of Cd2+. The adsorption capacities of NPs were affected by the surface charge and solution pH. Electrostatic force was the main factor influencing PS-SO3H to capture Pb2+ and Cd2+, while chelation was the main mechanism between PS-NH2 and metals. The functional groups of NPs played significant roles in the sorption of Pb2+ or Cd2+ according to the FTIR spectra and 2D-COS analysis. This study provided new insights into the impact of NPs on the transport of other pollutants.

Intraspecific Comparative Analysis Reveals Genomic Variation of Didymella arachidicola and Pathogenicity Factors Potentially Related to Lesion Phenotype.

Didymella arachidicola is one of the most important fungal pathogens, causing foliar disease and leading to severe yield losses of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) in China. Two main lesion phenotypes of peanut web blotch have been identified as reticulation type (R type) and blotch type (B type). As no satisfactory reference genome is available, the genomic variations and pathogenicity factors of D. arachidicola remain to be revealed. In the present study, we collected 41 D. arachidicola isolates from 26 geographic locations across China (33 for R type and 8 for B type). The chromosome-scale genome of the most virulent isolate (YY187) was assembled as a reference using PacBio and Hi-C technologies. In addition, we re-sequenced 40 isolates from different sampling sites. Genome-wide alignments showed high similarity among the genomic sequences from the 40 isolates, with an average mapping rate of 97.38%. An average of 3242 SNPs and 315 InDels were identified in the genomic variation analysis, which revealed an intraspecific polymorphism in D. arachidicola. The comparative analysis of the most and least virulent isolates generated an integrated gene set containing 512 differential genes. Moreover, 225 genes individually or simultaneously harbored hits in CAZy-base, PHI-base, DFVF, etc. Compared with the R type reference, the differential gene sets from all B type isolates identified 13 shared genes potentially related to lesion phenotype. Our results reveal the intraspecific genomic variation of D. arachidicola isolates and pathogenicity factors potentially related to different lesion phenotypes. This work sets a genomic foundation for understanding the mechanisms behind genomic diversity driving different pathogenic phenotypes of D. arachidicola.

Integrative effects of microbial inoculation and amendments on improved crop safety in industrial soils co-contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants.

Soils co-contaminated by organic and inorganic pollutants usually pose major ecological risks to soil ecosystems including plants. Thus, effective strategies are needed to alleviate the phytotoxicity caused by such co-contamination. In this study, microbial agents (a mixture of Bacillus subtilis, Sphingobacterium multivorum, and a commercial microbial product named OBT) and soil amendments (ß-cyclodextrin, rice husk, biochar, calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer, and organic fertilizer) were evaluated to determine their applicability in alleviating toxicity to crops (maize and soybean) posed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) and potentially toxic metals co-contaminated soils. The results showed that peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activity levels in maize or soybean grown in severely or mildly contaminated soils were significantly enhanced by the integrative effects of amendments and microbial agents, compared with those in single plant treatments. The removal rates of Zn, Pb, and Cd in severely contaminated soils were 49 %, 47 %, and 51 % and 46 %, 45 %, and 48 %, for soybean and maize, respectively. The total contents of Cd, Pb, Zn, and PAHs in soil decreased by day 90. Soil organic matter content, levels of nutrient elements, and enzyme activity (catalase, urease, and dehydrogenase) increased after the amendments and application of microbial agents. Moreover, the amendments and microbial agents also increased the diversity and distribution of bacterial species in the soil. These results suggest that the amendments and microbial agents were beneficial for pollutant purification, improving the soil environment and enhancing both plant resistance to pollutants and immune systems of plants.

How do different arsenic species affect the joint toxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid and arsenic to earthworm Eisenia fetida: A multi-biomarker approach.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and arsenic are widely distributed pollutants and can coexist in the environment. However, no study has been reported about the effects of different arsenic species on the joint toxicity of arsenic and PFOA to soil invertebrates. In this study, four arsenic species were selected, including arsenite (As(III)), arsenate (As(V)), monomethylarsonate (MMA), and dimethylarsinate (DMA). Earthworms Eisenia fetida were exposed to soils spiked with sublethal concentrations of PFOA, different arsenic species, and their binary mixtures for 56 days. The bioaccumulation and biotransformation of pollutants, as well as eight biomarkers in organisms, were assayed. The results indicated that the coexistence of PFOA and different arsenic species in soils could enhance the bioavailability of arsenic species while reducing the bioavailability of PFOA, and inhibit the arsenic biotransformation process in earthworms. Responses of most biomarkers in joint treatments of PFOA and As(III)/As(V) showed more significant variations compared with those in single treatments, indicating higher toxicity to the earthworms. The Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) index was used to integrate the multi-biomarker responses, and the results also exhibited enhanced toxic effects in combined treatments of inorganic arsenic and PFOA. In comparison, both the biomarker variations and IBR values were lower in joint treatments of PFOA and MMA/DMA. Then the toxic interactions in the binary mixture systems were characterized by using a combined method of IBR and Effect Addition Index. The results revealed that the toxic interactions of the PFOA/arsenic mixture in earthworms depended on the different species of arsenic. The combined exposure of PFOA with inorganic arsenic led to a synergistic interaction, while that with organic arsenic resulted in an antagonistic response. Overall, this study provides new insights into the assessment of the joint toxicity of perfluoroalkyl substances and arsenic in soil ecosystems.

Ecological toxicity of Cd, Pb, Zn, Hg and regulation mechanism in Solanum nigrum L.

This study aimed to investigate the combined ecotoxicological effects of Cd, Pb, Zn, Hg and regulation mechanisms in Solanum nigrum L. In this work, the co-exposure of these four heavy metals hindered the transformation of Cd, Zn, and Hg (except Pb) from available to non-available chemical forms. Individual Cd, Pb, Zn and Hg induced the oxidative damages to S. nigrum L., while their combination further enhanced this ecological toxicity. By internal regulation, the ecological toxicity of metals to S. nigrum L. could be alleviated to a certain extent. Specifically, S. nigrum L. was a hyperaccumulator of Cd with BCF ＞1. Moreover, since BCFroot of Pb, Zn and Hg were all greater than BCFshoot, S. nigrum L. could accumulate Pb, Hg and Zn mainly in plant roots, which was beneficial for the detoxification of plants. Meanwhile, the immobilization by cell wall (the proportions of Cd, Pb, Zn and Hg in the cell wall were 54.46-84.92%, 38.33-49.25%, 48.38-56.19% and 45.97-63.47% in low metal concentration treatments) and the sequestration in vacuole (the proportions of Cd, Pb, Zn, and Hg in the soluble fractions are 50.99-59.00%, 41.05-45.46%, 37.54-61.04% and 33.47-61.35% in high metal concentration treatments) also act as important detoxification pathways. The external regulation was mainly the changes of soil microbial communities influenced by plants. Specifically, the richness and diversity of bacteria in rhizosphere soil were increased, and roots of S. nigrum L. recruited some potentially beneficial microbials. This study provided a theoretical basis and guidance for S. nigrum L. as a phytoremediation plant under combined heavy metal pollution.

Evolution of Research on Global Soil Water Content in the Past 30 Years Based on ITGinsight Bibliometric Analysis.

Research on soil water content (SWC) has involved a wide range of disciplines and attracted constant attention. Current literature reviews primarily focus on a specific type of research on SWC and few systematic studies have been performed to fully evaluate the development and changes in hotspots of SWC research. In this study, a bibliometric analysis and visualization are used to understand the development of SWC research in countries of Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North America. The research data came from the Web of Science database and the time span was 1987-2021. Since 1987, the numbers of international SWC research papers have increased rapidly. The United States and China have the closest exchanges and most publications in the field of SWC. Keyword network maps indicated that early research on SWC was mostly in small-scale farmlands and woodlands, with diverse research hotspots including those focused on SWC stress, soil physical modeling, soil hydrothermal processes, and SWC measurement. Due to climate change, remote sensing technology development, and policies, research on SWC gradually focused on watershed, regional, and global scales, with research hotspots including those focused on evapotranspiration, land-air energy exchange, and remote sensing satellite inversion of SWC products. In addition, in recent years, the research of SWC and SMAP has attracted considerable attention worldwide. The United States has more influence in the SWC sector than China. Although the number of articles that have been published by European countries was small, the influence of those papers should not be underestimated.

A Comparative Study of Severe and Critical Influenza B in Children in the 2021-2022 Winter Season.

Introduction: Influenza B viruses are less common than influenza A viruses in most seasons and cause relatively milder forms of infection that are less studied. We witnessed a dominance of influenza B in Shijiazhuang, China, in the 2021-2022 winter season. In this study, we comparatively investigated the severe and critical influenza B in pediatric patients. Methods: Children who were hospitalized from December 2021 to January 2022 and diagnosed with influenza B were included in this study. Those who tested positive for COVID-19 were excluded. Demographic data, clinical features, underlying medical conditions, laboratory testing results, and treatment outcomes were retrieved and analyzed retrospectively. Disease severity was classified as severe or critical according to Chinese expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of influenza in children. Results: A significantly greater proportion of patients with critical influenza had extra-pulmonary complications and bacterial coinfections. Children with critical influenza B had substantially higher levels of procalcitonin and lactate dehydrogenase, a markedly higher neutrophil percentage and a significantly lower CD4+ lymphocyte percentage. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that, to effectively manage critical influenza B, therapeutic regimens should consist of organ-specific supportive care, antibiotic application if bacterial coinfection is present, and anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting treatments.

Nitrogen addition and warming rapidly alter microbial community compositions in the mangrove sediment.

The mangrove ecosystem is an important CO2 sink with an extraordinarily high primary productivity. However, it is vulnerable to the impact of climate warming and eutrophication. While there has been extensive research on plant growth and greenhouse gas emission in mangrove ecosystems, microbial communities, the primary biogeochemical cycling drivers, are much less understood. Here, we examined whether short-term experimental treatments: (1) eutrophication with a supplement of 185 g N m-2·year-1 (N), (2) 3°C warming (W), and (3) the dual treatment of N and W (NW) were sufficient to alter microbial communities in the sediment. After 4 months of experiments, most environmental factors remained unchanged. However, N had significant, strong effects on bacterial, fungal, and functional community compositions, while the effects of W on microbial communities were weaker. N increased bacterial richness, phylogenetic diversity, and evenness, owing to stronger stochastic processes induced by eutrophication. There were no interactive effects of N and W on bacterial, fungal, and functional community compositions, suggesting that joint effects of N and W were additive. Concomitant with higher N2O efflux induced by N, the relative abundances of most bacterial nitrogen cycling genes were increased or remained changed by N. In contrast, N decreased or did not change those of most bacterial carbon degradation genes, while W increased or did not change the relative abundances of most of bacterial and fungal carbon degradation genes, implying higher carbon degradation potentials. As the most abundant inorganic nitrogenous species in mangrove sediment, ammonium was a key factor in shaping microbial functional communities. Collectively, our findings showed that microbial community compositions in the mangrove sediment were highly sensitive to short-term N and W treatments, giving rise to ecological consequences such as higher N2O efflux.

Co-Removal Effect and Mechanism of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) by Biochar-Supported Sulfide-Modified Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron in a Binary System.

This study aimed to explore the co-removal effect and mechanism of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) with an optimized synthetic material. The toxicity and accumulation characteristics of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) encountered in wastewater treatment areas present significant challenges. In this work, a rational assembly of sulfide-modified nanoscale zero-valent iron (SnZVI) was introduced into a biochar (BC), and a Cr(VI)-Cd(II) binary system adsorbent with high efficiency was synthesized. When the preparation temperature of the BC was 600 °C, the molar ratio of S/Fe was 0.3, the mass ratio of BC/SnZVI was 1, and the best adsorption capacities of BC-SnZVI for Cr(VI) and Cd(II) in the binary system were 58.87 mg/g and 32.55 mg/g, respectively. In addition, the adsorption mechanism of BC-SnZVI on the Cr(VI)-Cd(II) binary system was revealed in depth by co-removal experiments, indicating that the coexistence of Cd(II) could promote the removal of Cr(VI) by 9.20%, while the coexistence of Cr(VI) could inhibit the removal of Cd(II) by 43.47%. This work provides a new pathway for the adsorption of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) in binary systems, suggesting that BC-SnZVI shows great potential for the co-removal of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) in wastewater.

Genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of autism spectrum disorder.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify differentially methylated genes and related signaling pathways in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: First, the DNA methylation profile in the brain samples (GSE131706 and GSE80017) and peripheral blood samples (GSE109905) was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO) dataset, followed by identification of differentially methylated genes and functional analysis. Second, the GSE109905 data set was used to further validate the methylation state and test the ability to diagnose disease of identified differentially methylated genes. Third, expression measurement of selected differentially methylated genes was performed in whole blood from an independent sample. Finally, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of core differentially methylated genes was constructed. RESULTS: Totally, 74 differentially methylated genes were identified in ASD, including 38 hypermethylated genes and 36 hypomethylated genes. 15 differentially methylated genes were further identified after validation in the GSE109905 data set. Among these, major histocompatibility complex (HLA)-DQA1 was involved in the molecular function of myosin heavy chain class II receptor activity; HLA-DRB5 was involved in the signaling pathways of cell adhesion molecules, Epstein-Barr virus infection and antigen processing and presentation. In the PPI analysis, the interaction pairs of HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DRB5, FMN2 and ACTR3, and CALCOCO2 and BAZ2B were identified. Interestingly, FMN2, BAZ2B, HLA-DRB5, CALCOCO2 and DUSP22 had a potential diagnostic value for patients with ASD. The expression result of four differentially methylated genes (HLA-DRB5, NTM, IL16 and COL5A3) in the independent sample was consistent with the integrated analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Identified differentially methylated genes and enriched signaling pathway could be associated with ASD.

Clinical Study of Human Coronavirus NL63, OC43, 229E, HKU1 Infentions in Hospitalized Children from 2015 to 2020.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics of hospitalized children infected with HCoV-NL63, OC43, 229E, HKU1 and provide the basis for disease diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical manifestations, imaging data, and treatment measures of hospitalized children with positive HCoV-NL63, OC43, 229E, HKU1 from 2015 to 2020. Results: A total of 1062 children aged 33 days to 12 years were analyzed, including 879 (82.77%) between 33 days to three years. Lower respiratory tract infections were the most common in 698 children positive for HCoVs (65.72%). The incidences of runny nose, cough, pharyngeal hyperemia, and fine crackles in the mild case group (n = 894, 84.18%) were significantly higher than in the severe case group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). The incidences of gasp, stridor, and convulsions, the proportion of underlying diseases, such as congenital heart disease, laryngomalacia, and general developmental disorders, anemia, and abnormal liver function, and mixed infections in the severe group (n = 168, 15.82%) were significantly higher than in the mild group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Imaging manifestations differed. Pleural effusion and atelectasis occurred in the severe cases. After treatment, patients fully recovered or improved and were discharged from the hospital. There were no deaths. Conclusion: HCoV-NL63, OC43, 229E, HKU1 infection is most common in children under three years old, and the infection site is mainly the lower respiratory tract. The main clinical manifestations include fever, cough, and runny nose. Inspiratory three concave signs, respiratory failure, and heart failure occurred in the severe cases, with pleural effusion and atelectasis possibly occurring at the same time. Severe cases should be identified early so that they may be given comprehensive treatment in time to improve the prognosis.

CTRP3 is a coronary artery calcification biomarker and protects against vascular calcification by inhibiting ß-catenin nuclear translocation to prevent vascular smooth muscle cell osteogenic differentiation.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular events and has been shown to be correlated with serum adiponectin levels. However, it remains unknown whether C1 tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 (CTRP3) (homologous to adiponectin) is associated with CAC, and whether CTRP3 affects the osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Here, we analyzed the association between CTRP3 expression and CAC. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted involving 119 patients with coronary heart disease to identify the predictive value of CTRP3 for CAC. Additionally, mouse aortic smooth muscle cells transfected for ß-catenin overexpression were subjected to treatment with CTRP3 and the ß-catenin inhibitor JW74. The calcium content in smooth muscle cells was determined. Western blotting was performed to measure the expression levels of different osteoblastogenic proteins in vascular smooth muscle cells obtained from different treatment groups. RESULTS: The serum CTRP3 levels were significantly lower in patients with CAC than in those without CAC, and even lower in patients with both CAC and diabetes mellitus. CTRP3 played roles as a protective factor and potential predictor in CAC. CTRP3 inhibited the osteogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells induced under high glucose and lipid conditions by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of ß-catenin. CONCLUSIONS: CTRP3 may serve as a valuable screening biomarker and a novel therapeutic target in CAC, particularly in diabetes patients.

Amendments and bioaugmentation enhanced phytoremediation and micro-ecology for PAHs and heavy metals co-contaminated soils.

Co-existence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and multi-metals challenges the decontamination of large-scale contaminated sites. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the remediation potential of intensified phytoremediation in coping with complex co-contaminated soils. Results showed that the removal of PAHs and heavy metals is time-dependent, pollution-relevant, and plant-specific. Removal of sixteen PAHs by Medicago sativa L. (37.3%) was significantly higher than that of Solanum nigrum L. (20.7%) after 30 days. S. nigrum L. removed higher amounts of Cd than Zn and Pb, while M. sativa L. uptake more Zn. Nevertheless, amendments and microbial agents significantly increased the phytoremediation efficiency of pollutants and shortened the gap between plants. Cd removal and PAHs dissipation reached up to 80% and 90% after 90 days for both plants. Heavy metal stability in soil was promoted after the intensified phytoremediation. Plant lipid peroxidation was alleviated, regulated by changed antioxidant defense systems (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase). Soil enzyme activities including dehydrogenase, urease, and catalase increased up to 5-fold. Soil bacterial diversity and structure were changed, being largely composed of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Patescibacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. These findings provide a green and sustainable approach to decontaminating complex-polluted environments with comprehensive improvement of soil health.

Study on the correlation between postoperative mental flexibility, negative emotions, and quality of life in patients with thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the global incidence of thyroid cancer has increased year by year. The purpose of this study is to investigate the post-surgical psychological flexibility and negative feelings of patients with thyroid cancer and their association with quality of life. METHODS: A total of 82 patients with thyroid cancer were selected. The study utilized the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire 2nd edition (AAQ-II), the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ), and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire-the Presence of Meaning (MLQ-P). By quantifying psychological flexibility, we assessed the patient's experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion, and sense of life meaning. The Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were employed to evaluate depression and anxiety, respectively. Quality of life was evaluated with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). RESULTS: The mean AAQ-II, CFQ, MLQ-P, SAS, and SDS scores were 20.1±9.2, 27.5±10.7, 23.0±5.7, 47.7±13.3, and 43.3±12.8, respectively. In total, 24.4% and 45.1% of patients had depression and anxiety to some extent, respectively. The AAQ-II and CFQ scores were positively correlated with the SDS and SAS scores, and negatively correlated with the FACT-G score. The MLQ-P score was inversely correlated with the SDS and SAS scores, and was positively correlated with the FACT-G score. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the AAQ-II, CFQ, and MLQ-P were independent risk factors for quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Depression and anxiety are ubiquitous in patients with thyroid cancer following surgery. The psychological flexibility of patients is significantly negatively correlated with depression and anxiety and can dramatically influence quality of life.

Relationships between above- and below-ground carbon stocks in mangrove forests facilitate better estimation of total mangrove blue carbon.

BACKGROUND: Although great efforts have been made to quantify mangrove carbon stocks, accurate estimations of below-ground carbon stocks remain unreliable. In this study, we examined the distribution patterns of mangrove carbon stocks in China and other countries using our own field survey data and datasets from published literature. Based on these data, we investigated the possible relationships between above-ground carbon stock (AGC) and below-ground carbon stock (BGC) for mangrove forests, aiming to provide a scientific basis for estimation of total mangrove carbon stocks. RESULTS: The average above-ground carbon stock in each region was sizeable (ranging from 12.0 to 150.2 Mg/ha), but average below-ground carbon stock was dominant (ranging from 46.6 to 388.6 Mg/ha), accounting for 69-91% of total carbon stock at the sites studied in China. Significant positive relationships were found between above-ground and below-ground mangrove carbon stocks, with the best fitting equation as BGC = 1.58 * AGC + 81.06 (Mg/ha, R2 = 0.62, p < 0.01, n = 122) for China. Such linear relationships vary for mangrove forests of different types and locations, from different geographical regions in China to other countries worldwide. CONCLUSION: The positive relationship we found between above- and below-ground carbon stocks of mangrove forests in China and worldwide can facilitate more accurate assessments of mangrove blue carbon stocks at regional or global scales using modern techniques including remote sensing.

Genome Resource for Peanut Web Blotch Causal Agent Peyronellaea arachidicola Strain YY187.

Peyronellaea arachidicola is the causal agent of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) web blotch. Here, we report an assembled draft genome sequence of P. arachidicola strain YY187 obtained from the symptomatic leaf of peanut in China. The genome size is 47.3 Mb, consisting of 26 contigs (N50 = 2.2 Mb) with G+C content of 56.37%. This genome will provide a valuable foundation for further research on genetics and comparative genomics of P. arachidicola.