The role and mechanism of cinnamaldehyde in cancer.

As cancer continues to rise globally, there is growing interest in discovering novel methods for prevention and treatment. Due to the limitations of traditional cancer therapies, there has been a growing emphasis on investigating herbal remedies and exploring their potential synergistic effects when combined with chemotherapy drugs. Cinnamaldehyde, derived from cinnamon, has gained significant attention for its potential role in cancer prevention and treatment. Extensive research has demonstrated that cinnamaldehyde exhibits promising anticancer properties by modulating various cellular processes involved in tumor growth and progression. However, challenges and unanswered questions remain regarding the precise mechanisms for its effective use as an anticancer agent. This article aims to explore the multifaceted effects of cinnamaldehyde on cancer cells and shed light on these existing issues. Cinnamaldehyde has diverse anti-cancer mechanisms, including inducing apoptosis by activating caspases and damaging mitochondrial function, inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, anti-proliferation, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. In addition, cinnamaldehyde also acts as a reactive oxygen species scavenger, reducing oxidative stress and preventing DNA damage and genomic instability. This article emphasizes the promising therapeutic potential of cinnamaldehyde in cancer treatment and underscores the need for future research to unlock novel mechanisms and strategies for combating cancer. By providing valuable insights into the role and mechanism of cinnamaldehyde in cancer, this comprehensive understanding paves the way for its potential as a novel therapeutic agent. Overall, cinnamaldehyde holds great promise as an anticancer agent, and its comprehensive exploration in this article highlights its potential as a valuable addition to cancer treatment options.

Understanding the relationship between pore size, surface charge density, and Cu2+ adsorption in mesoporous silica.

This research delved into the influence of mesoporous silica's surface charge density on the adsorption of Cu2+. The synthesis of mesoporous silica employed the hydrothermal method, with pore size controlled by varying the length of trimethylammonium bromide (CnTAB, n = 12, 14, 16) chains. Gas adsorption techniques and transmission electron microscopy characterized the mesoporous silica structure. Surface charge densities of the mesoporous silica were determined through potentiometric titration, while surface hydroxyl densities were assessed using the thermogravimetric method. Subsequently, batch adsorption experiments were conducted to study the adsorption of Cu2+ in mesoporous silica, and the process was comprehensively analyzed using Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and L3 edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES). The research findings suggest a positive correlation between the pore size of mesoporous silica, its surface charge density, and the adsorption capacity for Cu2+. More specifically, as the pore size increases within the 3-4.1 nm range, the surface charge density and the adsorption capacity for Cu2+ also increase. Our findings provide valuable insights into the relationship between the physicochemical properties of mesoporous silica and the adsorption behavior of Cu2+, offering potential applications in areas such as environmental remediation and catalysis.

Variations and reduction of plastome are associated with the evolution of parasitism in Convolvulaceae.

Parasitic lifestyle can often relax the constraint on the plastome, leading to gene pseudogenization and loss, and resulting in diverse genomic structures and rampant genome degradation. Although several plastomes of parasitic Cuscuta have  been reported, the evolution of parasitism in the family Convolvulaceae which is linked to structural variations and reduction of plastome has not been well investigated. In this study, we assembled and collected 40 plastid genomes belonging to 23 species representing four subgenera of Cuscuta and ten species of autotrophic Convolvulaceae. Our findings revealed nine types of structural variations and six types of inverted repeat (IR) boundary variations in the plastome of Convolvulaceae spp. These structural variations were associated with the shift of parasitic lifestyle, and IR boundary shift, as well as the abundance of long repeats. Overall, the degradation of Cuscuta plastome proceeded gradually, with one clade exhibiting an accelerated degradation rate. We observed five stages of gene loss in Cuscuta, including NAD(P)H complex → PEP complex → Photosynthesis-related → Ribosomal protein subunits → ATP synthase complex. Based on our results, we speculated that the shift of parasitic lifestyle in early divergent time promoted relaxed selection on plastomes, leading to the accumulation of microvariations, which ultimately resulted in the plastome reduction. This study provides new evidence towards a better understanding of plastomic evolution, variation, and reduction in the genus Cuscuta.

Role of nutritional support in nursing practice for improving surgical site wound healing in patients post-surgery with risk of pressure ulcers.

To explore the role of nutritional support in nursing practice on postoperative surgical site wound healing in patients undergoing surgery at risk for pressure ulcers. This study adopted a retrospective experimental design and included a total of 60 patients at risk of pressure ulcers, divided into a nutritional support group and a control group, with 30 people in each group. The nutritional support group implemented specific nutritional support measures after surgery, while the control group received standard postoperative care. Outcome measures included redness and swelling scores, edema scores, anxiety assessments, pain scores, bleeding volume, recovery time and incidence of pressure ulcers. The result indicates that patients who received nutritional support exhibited lower postoperative wound redness and swelling scores compared to the control group (3.11 ± 0.45 vs. 4.85 ± 0.74, p < 0.05). Additionally, the nutritional support group showed significantly lower edema scores (2.75 ± 0.37 vs. 3.53 ± 0.62, p < 0.05). Anxiety levels, as measured by the anxiety assessment scale (SAS), were also lower in the nutritional support group (6.52 ± 1.19 vs. 7.60 ± 1.62, p < 0.05). Moreover, the average healing time was shorter for the nutritional support group (7.27 ± 1.36 days) compared to the control group (9.71 ± 1.84 days, p < 0.05). Postoperative pain scores were lower in the nutritional support group (4.13 ± 0.72 vs. 5.43 ± 0.62, p < 0.05), and patient satisfaction scores were higher (9.42 ± 0.76 vs. 7.25 ± 0.81, p < 0.05). Nutritional support has a positive effect on postoperative wound healing at surgical sites in patients at risk of pressure ulcers in nursing practice. It can significantly reduce redness, swelling, edema, anxiety, and pain scores, reduce bleeding, shorten recovery time, and reduce pressure ulcers. incidence rate.

Environmental concentrations of microplastic-induced gut microbiota and metabolite disruption in silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Microplastics (MPs) existing extensively in various ecosystems can be ingested by marine organisms and enter the food chain, resulting the health risks from the presence of MPs in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. In the present study, an ideal model for Lepidoptera, the silkworm, Bombyx mori, was exposed to environmental concentrations (0.125 µg, 0.25 µg or 0.5 µg/diet) of MPs for 5 days, and the global changes in gut microbes and metabolites were subsequently examined via 16S rDNA sequencing and GC‒MS-based metabolomics. The results showed that MPs exposure did not seriously threaten survival but may regulate signaling pathways involved in development and cocoon production. MPs exposure induced gut microbiota perturbation according to the indices of α-diversity and ß-diversity, and the functional prediction of the altered microbiome and associated metabolites demonstrated the potential roles of the altered microbiome following MPs exposure in the metabolic and physiological states of silkworm. The metabolites markedly altered following MPs exposure may play vital biological roles in energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, xenobiotic detoxification and the immune system by directly or indirectly affecting the physiological state of silkworms. These findings contribute to assessing the health risks of MPs exposure in model insects and provide novel insight into the toxicity mechanism of MPs.

Optimizing the robustness of higher-low order coupled networks.

Enhancing the robustness of complex networks is of great practical significance as it ensures the stable operation of infrastructure systems. We measure its robustness by examining the size of the largest connected component of the network after initial attacks. However, traditional research on network robustness enhancement has mainly focused on low-order networks, with little attention given to higher-order networks, particularly higher-low order coupling networks(the largest connected component of the network must exist in both higher-order and low-order networks). To address this issue, this paper proposes robust optimization methods for higher-low order coupled networks based on the greedy algorithm and the simulated annealing algorithm. By comparison, we found that the simulated annealing algorithm performs better. The proposed method optimizes the topology of the low-order network and the higher-order network by randomly reconnecting the edges, thereby enhancing the robustness of the higher-order and low-order coupled network. The experiments were conducted on multiple real networks to evaluate the change in the robustness coefficient before and after network optimization. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively improve the robustness of both low-order and higher-order networks, ultimately enhancing the robustness of higher-low order coupled networks.

Comparative analyses of mitogenomes in the social bees with insights into evolution of long inverted repeats in the Meliponini.

The insect mitogenome is typically a compact circular molecule with highly conserved gene contents. Nonetheless, mitogenome structural variations have been reported in specific taxa, and gene rearrangements, usually the tRNAs, occur in different lineages. Because synapomorphies of mitogenome organizations can provide information for phylogenetic inferences, comparative analyses of mitogenomes have been given increasing attention. However, most studies use a very few species to represent the whole genus, tribe, family, or even order, overlooking potential variations at lower taxonomic levels, which might lead to some incorrect inferences. To provide new insights into mitogenome organizations and their implications for phylogenetic inference, this study conducted comparative analyses for mitogenomes of three social bee tribes (Meliponini, Bombini, and Apini) based on the phylogenetic framework with denser taxonomic sampling at the species and population levels. Comparative analyses revealed that mitogenomes of Apini and Bombini are the typical type, while those of Meliponini show diverse variations in mitogenome sizes and organizations. Large inverted repeats (IRs) cause significant gene rearrangements of protein coding genes (PCGs) and rRNAs in Indo-Malay/Australian stingless bee species. Molecular evolution analyses showed that the lineage with IRs have lower d N/ d S ratios for PCGs than lineages without IRs, indicating potential effects of IRs on the evolution of mitochondrial genes. The finding of IRs and different patterns of gene rearrangements suggested that Meliponini is a hotspot in mitogenome evolution. Unlike conserved PCGs and rRNAs whose rearrangements were found only in the mentioned lineages within Meliponini, tRNA rearrangements are common across all three tribes of social bees, and are significant even at the species level, indicating that comprehensive sampling is needed to fully understand the patterns of tRNA rearrangements, and their implications for phylogenetic inference.

A Review of Modeling of Composite Structures.

This paper provides a brief review on modeling of composite structures. Composite structures in this paper refer to any structure featuring anisotropy and heterogeneity, including but not limited to their traditional meaning of composite laminates made of unidirectional fiber-reinforced composites. Common methods used in modeling of composite structures, including the axiomatic method, the formal asymptotic method, and the variational asymptotic method, are illustrated in deriving the classical lamination theory for the composite laminated plates. Future research directions for modeling composite structures are also pointed out.

POU5F1 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells by reducing the ubiquitination level of TRAF6.

POU5F1 plays an important role in maintaining the cancer stem cell (CSC) -like properties of gastric cancer (GC) cells. The impact of POU5F1 on the proliferation and metastasis of GC was examined, along with the potential of ATRA as a specific therapeutic agent for GC. The dysregulation of POU5F1 expression in GC tissues was analyzed using public databases and bioinformatics techniques, and the disparity in POU5F1 expression between normal gastric tissues and GC tissues was further assessed through western blot, RT-qPCR, and immunohistochemistry. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of POU5F1 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells through both in vivo and in vitro experiments. Additionally, the effects of ATRA on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells were examined using in vivo and in vitro approaches. Our findings revealed a significant upregulation of POU5F1 in GC tissues, which was found to be associated with a poorer prognosis in patients with GC. Moreover, POU5F1 was observed to enhance the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells in vitro, as well as promote subcutaneous tumor growth and lung metastasis of GC cells in vivo. The overexpression of POU5F1 mechanistically triggers the process of Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by down-regulating E-Cadherin and up-regulating N-Cadherin and VIM. POU5F1 hinders the ubiquitination of TRAF6 through negative regulation of TRIM59, thereby facilitating the activation of the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, the administration of ATRA effectively impedes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells by suppressing the expression of POU5F1. The upregulation of POU5F1 elicits EMT, fosters the initiation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in GC cells, and stimulates the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of GC cells. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) can impede these POU5F1-induced effects, thereby potentially serving as an adjunctive therapeutic approach for GC.

Comparative analyses of eight complete plastid genomes of two hemiparasitic Cassytha vines in the family Lauraceae.

Cassytha is the sole genus of hemiparasitic vines (ca. 20 spp.) belonging to the Cassytheae tribe of the Lauraceae family. It is extensively distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. In this study, we determined the complete plastid genome sequences of C. filiformis and C. larsenii, which do not possess the typical quadripartite structure. The length of C. filiformis plastomes ranged from 114,215 to 114,618 bp, whereas that of C. larsenii plastomes ranged from 114,900 to 114,988 bp. Comparative genomic analysis revealed 1,013 mutation sites, four large intragenomic deletions, and five highly variable regions in the eight plastome sequences. Phylogenetic analyses based on 61 complete plastomes of Laurales species, 19 ITS sequences, and trnK barcodes from 91 individuals of Cassytha spp. confirmed a non-basal group comprising individuals of C. filiformis, C. larsenii, and C. pubescens in the family Lauraceae and proposed a sister relationship between C. filiformis and C. larsenii. Further morphological comparisons indicated that the presence or absence of hairs on the haustoria and the shape or size of fruits were useful traits for differentiating C. filiformis and C. larsenii.

Multimodal prehabilitation to improve the clinical outcomes of frail elderly patients with gastric cancer: a study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial (GISSG+2201).

INTRODUCTION: Gastric cancer (GC) diagnosed in the elderly population has become a serious public health problem worldwide. Given the combined effects of frailty and the consequences of cancer treatment, older individuals with GC are more likely than young patients to suffer from postoperative complications and poor clinical outcomes. Nutrition, functional capacity and psychological state-based multimodal prehabilitation, which is dominated by Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathway management, has been shown to reduce postoperative complications, promote functional recovery and decrease hospitalisation time in certain malignancies. However, no previous studies have investigated the clinical application of multimodal prehabilitation in frail older patients with GC. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The study is a prospective, multicentre randomised controlled trial in which a total of 368 participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomised into either a prehabilitation group or an ERAS group. The prehabilitation group will receive multimodal prehabilitation combined with ERAS at least 2 weeks before the gastrectomy is performed, including physical and respiratory training, nutritional support, and therapy and psychosocial treatment. The ERAS group patients will be treated according to the ERAS pathway. All interventions will be supervised by family members. The primary outcome measures are the incidence and severity of postoperative complications. Secondary outcomes include survival, functional capacity and other short-term postoperative outcomes. Overall, the multimodal prehabilitation protocol may improve functional capacity, reduce the surgical stress response and concomitant systemic inflammation, and potentially modulate the tumour microenvironment to improve short-term and long-term clinical outcomes and patients' quality of life. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: All procedures and participating centres of this study were approved by their respective ethics committees (QYFYKYLL 916111920). The final study results will be published separately in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05352802.

Light regulation of secondary metabolism in fungi.

Fungi have evolved unique metabolic regulation mechanisms for adapting to the changing environments. One of the key features of fungal adaptation is the production of secondary metabolites (SMs), which are essential for survival and beneficial to the organism. Many of these SMs are produced in response to the environmental cues, such as light. In all fungal species studied, the Velvet complex transcription factor VeA is a central player of the light regulatory network. In addition to growth and development, the intensity and wavelength of light affects the formation of a broad range of secondary metabolites. Recent studies, mainly on species of the genus Aspergillus, revealed that the dimer of VeA-VelB and LaeA does not only regulate gene expression in response to light, but can also be involved in regulating production of SMs. Furthermore, the complexes have a wide regulatory effect on different types of secondary metabolites. In this review, we discussed the role of light in the regulation of fungal secondary metabolism. In addition, we reviewed the photoreceptors, transcription factors, and signaling pathways that are involved in light-dependent regulation of secondary metabolism. The effects of transcription factors on the production of secondary metabolites, as well as the potential applications of light regulation for the production of pharmaceuticals and other products were discussed. Finally, we provided an overview of the current research in this field and suggested potential areas for future research.

The roles of brassinosteroids and methyl jasmonate on postharvest grape by regulating the interaction between VvDWF4 and VvTIFY 5 A.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) are known for the regulation of plant development, and the crosstalk between them is important for plant growth. However, the interaction between them in the development of postharvest fruit is unresolved. We found that BR treatment enhanced the accumulation of sugar composition and aroma content, reduced the content of organic acids (such as tartaric acid) and promoted the coloring of grape callus. After the application of MeJA, the acidity increased and the sugar content decreased. The physiological data showed that exogenous BR also attenuated the JA inhibition of postharvest ripening in grape. DWF4 is a key enzyme in the BR biosynthetic pathway, and it can effectively regulate the content of endogenous BRs. TIFY 5 A, which belongs to the Jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) family, can be baited by DWF4 through the Y2H experiment. TIFY 5 A represses the expression of dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR) which plays a key role in the synthesis of anthocyanins, while this will be alleviated by VvDWF4. The interaction between TIFY 5 A and DWF4 contributes to the cross talk between JA and BR signalling pathways. This is also verified by the transgenic experimental results. The results in this paper provides a new insight into the relationship between BR and JA signalling pathways, which is important to the regulation of the postharvest ripening of grape.

Fibroblast growth factor 15, induced by elevated bile acids, mediates the improvement of hepatic glucose metabolism after sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 15/19, which is expressed in and secreted from the distal ileum, can regulate hepatic glucose metabolism in an endocrine manner. The levels of both bile acids (BAs) and FGF15/19 are elevated after bariatric surgery. However, it is unclear whether the increase in FGF15/19 is induced by BAs. Moreover, it remains to be understood whether FGF15/19 elevations contribute to improvements in hepatic glucose metabolism after bariatric surgery. AIM: To investigate the mechanism of improvement of hepatic glucose metabolism by elevated BAs after sleeve gastrectomy (SG). METHODS: By calculating and comparing the changes of body weight after SG with SHAM group, we examined the weight-loss effect of SG. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) test and area under the curve of OGTT curves were used to assess the anti-diabetic effects of SG. By detecting the glycogen content, expression and activity of glycogen synthase as well as the glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Pepck), we evaluated the hepatic glycogen content and gluconeogenesis activity. We examined the levels of total BA (TBA) together with the farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-agonistic BA subspecies in systemic serum and portal vein at week 12 post-surgery. Then the histological expression of ileal FXR and FGF15 and hepatic FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4) with its corresponding signal pathways involved in glucose metabolism were detected. RESULTS: After surgery, food intake and body weight gain of SG group was decreased compare with the SHAM group. The hepatic glycogen content and glycogen synthase activity was significantly stimulated after SG, while the expression of the key enzyme for hepatic gluconeogenesis: G6Pase and Pepck, were depressed. TBA levels in serum and portal vein were both elevated after SG, the FXR-agonistic BA subspecies: Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), lithocholic acid (LCA) in serum and CDCA, DCA, LCA in portal vein were all higher in SG group than that in SHAM group. Consequently, the ileal expression of FXR and FGF15 were also advanced in SG group. Moreover, the hepatic expression of FGFR4 was stimulated in SG-operated rats. As a result, the activity of its corresponding pathway for glycogen synthesis: FGFR4-Ras-extracellular signal regulated kinase pathway was stimulated, while the corresponding pathway for hepatic gluconeogenesis: FGFR4- cAMP regulatory element-binding protein- peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α pathway was suppressed. CONCLUSION: Elevated BAs after SG induced FGF15 expression in distal ileum by activating their receptor FXR. Furthermore, the promoted FGF15 partly mediated the improving effects on hepatic glucose metabolism of SG.

Molecular regulation of fungal secondary metabolism.

Many bioactive secondary metabolites synthesized by fungi have important applications in many fields, such as agriculture, food, medical and others. The biosynthesis of secondary metabolites is a complex process involving a variety of enzymes and transcription factors, which are regulated at different levels. In this review, we describe our current understanding on molecular regulation of fungal secondary metabolite biosynthesis, such as environmental signal regulation, transcriptional regulation and epigenetic regulation. The effects of transcription factors on the secondary metabolites produced by fungi were mainly introduced. It was also discussed that new secondary metabolites could be found in fungi and the production of secondary metabolites could be improved. We also highlight the importance of understanding the molecular regulation mechanisms to activate silent secondary metabolites and uncover their physiological and ecological functions. By comprehensively understanding the regulatory mechanisms involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, we can develop strategies to improve the production of these compounds and maximize their potential benefits.

Development and validation of a preoperative nomogram for predicting the surgical difficulty of laparoscopic colectomy for right colon cancer: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: In laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for right colon cancer, complete mesocolic excision is a standard procedure that involves extended lymphadenectomy and blood vessel ligation. This study aimed to establish a nomogram to facilitate evaluation of the surgical difficulty of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy based on preoperative parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The preoperative clinical and computed tomography-related parameters, operative details, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. The difficulty of laparoscopic colectomy was defined using the scoring grade reported by Escal et al . with modifications. Multivariable logistic analysis was performed to identify parameters that increased the surgical difficulty. A preoperative nomogram to predict the surgical difficulty was established and validated. RESULTS: A total of 418 consecutive patients with right colon cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical resection at a single tertiary medical center between January 2016 and May 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to a training data set ( n =300, 71.8%) and an internal validation data set ( n =118, 28.2%). Meanwhile, an external validation data set with 150 consecutive eligible patients from another tertiary medical center was collected. In the training data set, 222 patients (74.0%) comprised the non-difficulty group and 78 (26.0%) comprised the difficulty group. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that adipose thickness at the ileocolic vessel drainage area, adipose area at the ileocolic vessel drainage area, adipose density at the ileocolic vessel drainage area, presence of the right colonic artery, presence of type III Henle's trunk, intra-abdominal adipose area, plasma triglyceride concentration, and tumor diameter at least 5 cm were independent risk factors for surgical difficulty; these factors were included in the nomogram. The nomogram incorporating seven independent predictors showed a high C-index of 0.922 and considerable reliability, accuracy, and net clinical benefit. CONCLUSIONS: The study established and validated a reliable nomogram for predicting the surgical difficulty of laparoscopic colectomy for right colon cancer. The nomogram may assist surgeons in preoperatively evaluating risk and selecting appropriate patients.

The Absence of a Weak-Tie Effect When Predicting Large-Weight Links in Complex Networks.

Link prediction is a hot issue in information filtering. Link prediction algorithms, based on local similarity indices, are widely used in many fields due to their high efficiency and high prediction accuracy. However, most existing link prediction algorithms are available for unweighted networks, and there are relatively few studies for weighted networks. In the previous studies on weighted networks, some scholars pointed out that links with small weights play a more important role in link prediction and emphasized that weak-ties theory has a significant impact on prediction accuracy. On this basis, we studied the edges with different weights, and we discovered that, for edges with large weights, this weak-ties theory actually does not work; Instead, the weak-ties theory works in the prediction of edges with small weights. Our discovery has instructive implications for link predictions in weighted networks.

Hyperprolactinaemia is common in Chinese premenopausal women with breast diseases.

Purpose: Hyperprolactinaemia has been proposed to play a role in breast lesions pathophysiology. Thus far, controversial results have been reported for the relationship between hyperprolactinaemia and breast lesions. Moreover, the prevalence of hyperprolactinaemia in a population with breast lesions is scarcely reported. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of hyperprolactinaemia in Chinese premenopausal women with breast diseases, and explore the associations between hyperprolactinaemia with different clinical characteristics. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study performed in the department of breast surgery of Qilu hospital of Shandong University. Overall, 1,461 female patients who underwent the serum prolactin (PRL) level assay before breast surgery from January 2019 to December 2020 were included. Patients were divided into two groups: before and after menopause. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 software. Results: The results showed an elevated PRL level in 376 of the 1,461 female patients with breast lesions (25.74%). Furthermore, the proportion of hyperprolactinemia among premenopausal patients with breast disease (35.75%, 340/951) was significantly higher than among postmenopausal patients with breast disease (7.06%, 36/510). In premenopausal patients, the proportion of patients with hyperprolactinaemia and the mean serum PRL level were significantly higher in those diagnosed with fibroepithelial tumours (FETs) and in younger patients (aged < 35 years) than in those with non-neoplastic lesions and in those aged ≥ 35 years (both p < 0.05). Especially, the prolactin level exhibited steady ascending tendency for positive correlation with FET. Conclusion: Hyperprolactinaemia is prevalent in Chinese premenopausal patients with breast diseases, especially in those with FETs, which implies a potential association, to some extent, between the PRL levels in various breast diseases.

Mitochondrial genome sequencing and analysis of the invasive Microstegium vimineum: a resource for systematics, invasion history, and management.

Premise of the Research: Plants remain underrepresented among species with sequenced mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes), due to the difficulty in assembly with short-read technology. Invasive species lag behind crops and other economically important species in this respect, representing a lack of tools for management and land conservation efforts. Methodology: The mitogenome of Microstegium vimineum, one of the most damaging invasive plant species in North America, was sequenced and analyzed using long-read data, providing a resource for biologists and managers. We conducted analyses of genome content, phylogenomic analyses among grasses and relatives based on mitochondrial coding regions, and an analysis of mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphism in this invasive grass species. Pivotal Results: The assembly is 478,010 bp in length and characterized by two large, inverted repeats, and a large, direct repeat. However, the genome could not be circularized, arguing against a "master circle" structure. Long-read assemblies with data subsets revealed several alternative genomic conformations, predominantly associated with large repeats. Plastid-like sequences comprise 2.4% of the genome, with further evidence of Class I and Class II transposable element-like sequences. Phylogenetic analysis placed M. vimineum with other Microstegium species, excluding M. nudum, but with weak support. Analysis of polymorphic sites across 112 accessions of M. vimineum from the native and invasive ranges revealed a complex invasion history. Conclusions: We present an in-depth analysis of mitogenome structure, content, phylogenetic relationships, and range-wide genomic variation in M. vimineum's invasive US range. The mitogenome of M. vimineum is typical of other andropogonoid grasses, yet mitochondrial sequence variation across the invasive and native ranges is extensive. Our findings suggest multiple introductions to the US over the last century, with subsequent spread, secondary contact, long-distance dispersal, and possibly post-invasion selection on awn phenotypes. Efforts to produce genomic resources for invasive species, including sequenced mitochondrial genomes, will continue to provide tools for their effective management, and to help predict and prevent future invasions.