Neutrophils and extracellular traps in crystal-associated diseases.

Crystalline material can cause a multitude of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, such as gouty arthritis, silicosis, kidney disease, and atherosclerosis. Crystals of various types are thought to cause similar inflammatory responses, including the release of proinflammatory mediators and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), processes that further promote necroinflammation and tissue damage. It has become apparent that the intensity of inflammation and the related mechanisms of NET formation and neutrophil death in crystal-associated diseases can vary depending on the crystal type, amount, and site of deposition. This review details new mechanistic insights into crystal biology, highlights the differential effects of various crystals on neutrophils and extracellular trap (ET) formation, and discusses treatment strategies and potential future approaches for crystal-associated disorders.

Global, regional, and national burden of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernias: a systematic analysis of prevalence, incidence, deaths, and DALYs with projections to 2030.

BACKGROUND: Hernias, particularly inguinal, femoral, and abdominal, present a global health challenge. While the global burden of disease (GBD) study offers insights, systematic analyses of hernias remain limited. This research utilizes the GBD dataset to explore hernia implications, combining current statistics with 2030 projections and frontier analysis. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2019 GBD Study, focusing on hernia-related metrics: prevalence, incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) across 204 countries and territories, grouped into 21 GBD regions by the socio-demographic index (SDI). Data analysis encompassed relative change calculations, as well as annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC), both of which are based on joinpoint regression analysis. The study additionally employed frontier analysis and utilized the Bayesian age-period-cohort model for predicting trends up to 2030. Analyses utilized R version 4.2.3. RESULTS: From 1990 to 2019, the global prevalence of hernia cases surged by 36%, reaching over 32.5 million, even as age-standardized rates declined. A similar pattern was seen in mortality and DALYs, with absolute figures rising but age-standardized rates decreasing. Gender data between 1990 and 2019 showed consistent male dominance in hernia prevalence, even as rates for both genders fell. Regionally, Andean Latin America had the highest prevalence, with Central Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia noting significant increases and decreases, respectively. Frontier analyses across 204 countries and territories linked higher SDIs with reduced hernia prevalence. Yet, some high SDI countries, like Japan and Lithuania, deviated unexpectedly. Predictions up to 2030 anticipate increasing hernia prevalence, predominantly in males, while age-standardized death rates and age-standardized DALY rates are expected to decline. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis reveals a complex interplay between socio-demographic factors and hernia trends, emphasizing the need for targeted healthcare interventions. Despite advancements, vigilance and continuous research are essential for optimal hernia management globally.

A polysaccharide from Epiphyllum oxypetalum (DC.) Haw. and its immunomodulatory activity.

A polysaccharide (EOP) from Epiphyllum oxypetalum (DC.) Haw. was isolated and identified, and its immunomodulatory activity was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. By using multispectral analysis, EOP was determined to be composed of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, and galacturonic acid at a molar ratio of 26.65:11.48:53.79:6.04, and its molecular weight was 5.77 × 106 Da. In addition, backbone structure of EOP was determined to consist of (1 â†’ 4)-linked ß-Galp, (1 â†’ 2)-linked ß-Rhap, (1 â†’ 3,4)-linked ß-Galp, (1 â†’ 2,4)-linked ß-Rhap and (1 â†’ 4) -linked α-GalpA, terminating with t-ß-Arap and t-ß-Galp. The in vitro immunomodulatory activity assay on RAW 264.7 cell showed that EOP increased the proliferation of macrophages, enhanced its phagocytic capability, and promoted the production of cytokines including nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Furthermore, the in vivo evaluation on zebrafish showed that EOP could reduce the residual content of fluorescent microspheres in zebrafish, which indicated that EOP had the capability to enhance the macrophage phagocytosis. All results suggested that EOP showed a complex structure and exhibited significant immunomodulatory activity both in vitro and in vivo that had the potential to be utilized valuably in food and medicine industries.

The global, regional, and national burden and its trends of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernia from 1990 to 2019: findings from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernia repairs are the most common surgical procedure worldwide. However, studies on hernia disease burden are notably limited, in both developed and low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We investigated temporal trends in the incidence and prevalence of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernias at global, regional, and national levels in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019 using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 (GBD 2019). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Annual incident cases, prevalent cases, age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs), and age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPRs) of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernias between 1990 and 2019 were extracted from the GBD 2019 study and stratified by sex, age, and location. Percentage changes in incident cases and prevalent cases, and the estimated annual percentage changes of ASIRs and ASPRs were calculated to quantify the trends in the incidence and prevalence of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernias. Data analysis for the present study was conducted from 15 June 2022 to 15 July 2022. RESULTS: Globally, there were 32.53 million [95% uncertainty interval (UI): 27.71-37.79] prevalent cases and 13.02 million (10.68-15.49) incident cases of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernias in 2019, which increased by 36.00% and 63.67%, respectively, compared with 1990. Eighty-six percent of the incident cases were males, the male-to-female ratio was 6 : 1, and most patients were aged 50-69 years. India (2.45 million), China (1.95 million), and Brazil (0.71 million) accounted for more than one-third (39%) of the incident cases worldwide. From 1990 to 2019, the ASIR and ASPR showed a decreasing trend worldwide, except in Central Sub-Saharan Africa, which had an increasing trend in ASIR and ASPR. CONCLUSION: The global incident cases and prevalent cases of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernias increased substantially from 1990 to 2019, with a heavier burden observed in males, older adults, and in LMICs such as India and China. In addition, the ASIR and ASPR increased substantially in Central Sub-Saharan Africa. More efforts are warranted for hernia management to reduce the burden of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernias, such as by providing safe hernia surgical treatment for males, older adults, and LMICs.

Ribosome footprint profiling enables elucidating the systemic regulation of fatty acid accumulation in Acer truncatum.

BACKGROUND: The accumulation of fatty acids in plants covers a wide range of functions in plant physiology and thereby affects adaptations and characteristics of species. As the famous woody oilseed crop, Acer truncatum accumulates unsaturated fatty acids and could serve as the model to understand the regulation and trait formation in oil-accumulation crops. Here, we performed Ribosome footprint profiling combing with a multi-omics strategy towards vital time points during seed development, and finally constructed systematic profiling from transcription to proteomes. Additionally, we characterized the small open reading frames (ORFs) and revealed that the translational efficiencies of focused genes were highly influenced by their sequence features. RESULTS: The comprehensive multi-omics analysis of lipid metabolism was conducted in A. truncatum. We applied the Ribo-seq and RNA-seq techniques, and the analyses of transcriptional and translational profiles of seeds collected at 85 and 115 DAF were compared. Key members of biosynthesis-related structural genes (LACS, FAD2, FAD3, and KCS) were characterized fully. More meaningfully, the regulators (MYB, ABI, bZIP, and Dof) were identified and revealed to affect lipid biosynthesis via post-translational regulations. The translational features results showed that translation efficiency tended to be lower for the genes with a translated uORF than for the genes with a non-translated uORF. They provide new insights into the global mechanisms underlying the developmental regulation of lipid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: We performed Ribosome footprint profiling combing with a multi-omics strategy in A. truncatum seed development, which provides an example of the use of Ribosome footprint profiling in deciphering the complex regulation network and will be useful for elucidating the metabolism of A. truncatum seed oil and the regulatory mechanisms.

Treatment of mesh infection after inguinal hernia repair: 3-year experience with 120 patients.

PURPOSE: Mesh infection is a devastating complication of sterile hernia repair surgery. This study was performed to assess the short- and long-term outcomes following treatment for mesh infection after inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included all patients who developed mesh infection after inguinal hernia repair from January 2018 to December 2020. Patient demographics, mesh infection characteristics, microbiology, features of surgery, short- and long-term outcomes, and follow-up data were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 120 patients (8 women, 112 men; mean age, 54.4 years; mean body mass index, 24.8 kg/m2) were treated for mesh infection. The cultures were positive in 88 patients; 62.5% of these were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. Laparoscopic exploration was performed in 108 patients. Seventy patients underwent complete removal of infected mesh, and 50 underwent partial removal. During the short-term follow-up, 11 patients developed a minor wound infection and were treated with dressings and antibiotics, 1 developed a wound infection requiring debridement, 30 developed seromas, and 3 developed hematomas that did not require surgical intervention. During the mean follow-up of 39.1 months, 4 patients developed hernia recurrence, 2 experienced chronic pain, and 23 developed recurrent infection requiring reoperation in the partial mesh removal group (in contrast, only 4 patients in the complete mesh removal group developed recurrent infection, with a statistically significant difference). CONCLUSION: The outcome of mesh infection after inguinal hernia repair treated by mesh removal is satisfactory. Systematic individualized treatment by experienced experts based on the patient's previous repair technique, implanted mesh, and physical condition is recommended.

Chromosomal-level genome and multi-omics dataset provides new insights into leaf pigmentation in Acer palmatum.

Acer palmatum (A. palmatum), a deciduous shrub or small arbour which belongs to Acer of Aceraceae, is an excellent greening species as well as a beautiful ornamental plant. In this study, a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome for A. palmatum was constructed using Oxford Nanopore sequencing and Hi-C technology. The assembly genome was ∼745.78 Mb long with a contig N50 length of 3.20 Mb, and 95.30 % (710.71 Mb) of the assembly was anchored into 13 pseudochromosomes. A total of 28,559 protein-coding genes were obtained, ∼90.02 % (25,710) of which could be functionally annotated. The genomic evolutionary analysis revealed that A. palmatum is most closely related to A. yangbiense and A. truncatum, and underwent only an ancient gamma whole-genome duplication event. Despite lacking a recent independent WGD, 25,795 (90.32 %) genes of A. palmatum were duplicated, and the unique/expanded gene families were linked with genes involved in plant-pathogen interaction and several metabolic pathways, which might underpin adaptability. A combined genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analysis related to the biosynthesis of anthocyanin in leaves during the different season were characterized. The results indicate that the dark-purple colouration of the leaves in spring was caused by a high amount of anthocyanins, especially delphinidin and its derivatives; and the red colouration of the leaves in autumn by a high amount of cyanidin 3-O-glucoside. In conclusion, these valuable multi-omic resources offer important foundations to explore the molecular regulation mechanism in leaf colouration and also provide a platform for the scientific and efficient utilization of A. palmatum.

Utilization of laparoscopic and open inguinal hernia repair at a large hernia center in China: a single-center observational study.

BACKGROUND: The utilization of laparoscopic and open inguinal hernia repair in China remains unclear. We aim to investigate the rates of laparoscopic and open inguinal hernia repairs and its associated factors at a large hernia center. METHODS: Data were obtained from the front sheet of medical records of Beijing Chaoyang hospital. Adult inguinal hernia inpatients who underwent hernia repairs between 2013 and 2020 were included. We calculated the overall rates of laparoscopic and open inguinal hernia repairs and compared the rate of laparoscopic repairs between different sex, age groups, types, and sides of inguinal hernias. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with the rate of laparoscopic repairs. RESULTS: 14,481 inpatients with inguinal hernia were included. 91.78% were male, 75.43% were more than 50 years, 75.20% were unilateral inguinal hernia, and 64.57% were indirect inguinal hernia. Overall, 49.47% underwent laparoscopic repairs and 50.53% underwent open repairs. Women had lower rate of laparoscopic repair than men, especially in those with unilateral hernias. Bilateral and direct inguinal hernia had higher rates of laparoscopic repair than unilateral and indirect inguinal hernia. Multivariable logistic regression showed that inpatients who were women, > 70 years, pantaloon inguinal hernia, with obstruction, and more comorbidities were less likely to have laparoscopic repairs. CONCLUSION: Around 50% of inguinal hernia patients at a large hernia center underwent laparoscopic repairs, which was more commonly performed in male, young, bilateral inguinal hernia, and inpatients without comorbidities. More efforts were needed to increase the safe and effective laparoscopic utilization among female patients with inguinal hernias.

Transcriptome profiling provides insights into leaf color changes in two Acer palmatum genotypes.

BACKGROUND: Ornamental trees with seasonally-dependent leaf color, such as Acer palmatum, have gained worldwide popularity. Leaf color is a main determinant of the ornamental and economic value of A. palmatum. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for leaf color changes remain unclear. RESULTS: We chose A. palmatum cultivars with yellow ('Jinling Huangfeng') and red ('Jinling Danfeng') leaves as the ideal material for studying the complex metabolic networks responsible for variations in leaf coloration. The 24 libraries obtained from four different time points in the growth of 'Jinling Huangfeng' and 'Jinling Danfeng' was subjected to Illumina high-throughput sequencing. We observed that the difference in cyanidin and delphinidin content is the primary reason behind the varying coloration of the leaves. Transcriptomic analyses revealed 225,684 unigenes, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) confirmed that they were involved in 'anthocyanin biosynthesis.' Eighteen structural genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis were thought to be related to anthocyanin accumulation, whereas 46 MYBs, 33 basic helix-loop-helixs (bHLHs), and 29 WD40s were presumed to be involved in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. Based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), three candidate genes (ApRHOMBOID, ApMAPK, and ApUNE10) were screened in the significant association module with a correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.86. CONCLUSION: In this study, the leaf color changes of two A. palmatum genotypes were analyzed. These findings provide novel insights into variations in leaf coloration and suggest pathways for targeted genetic improvements in A. palmatum.

Prevalence of induced abortion among Chinese women aged 18-49 years: Findings from three cross-sectional studies.

There are few latest researches about induced abortion in China. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of induced abortion and the related factors, thereby helping make targeted policies and measures to promote women's health. Three comparable cross-sectional surveys among Chinese women aged 18-49 years were performed in 2016, 2017, and 2021. A total of 14,573 eligible respondents were included in the study. 16.70% (95%CI 16.10%-17.31%) of respondents self-reported having experienced induced abortion, while 6.88% (95%CI 6.46%-7.29%) self-reported repeat induced abortion. Age range of 25-49 years (aOR 2.27-6.31, all P<0.05), living in western (aOR 1.72, 95%CI 1.50-1.98) and central (aOR 1.36, 95%CI 1.21-1.52) regions, having children (aOR 2.85, 95%CI 2.35-3.46) were associated with higher prevalence of induced abortion. Moreover, age range of 25-49 years, living in western and central regions, having children were also related to higher prevalence of repeat induced abortion (aOR 1.67-11.52, all P<0.05). Conversely, educational level of college or higher, household annual income over 80,000 Chinese yuan were associated with lower prevalence of induced abortion and repeat induced abortion (aOR 0.52-0.80, all P<0.05). Induced abortion remains noticeable in China. Sustained efforts are required to reduce unintentional pregnancy, improve reproductive health and post-abortion care services, and promote women's health.

A protocol for developing core outcome sets for laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: Hiatal hernias negatively damage patients' health and life quality. Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair is currently the gold standard for the treatment of hiatal hernia (LHHR). Numerous clinical trials on laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair have been done, but the published findings are highly variable due to the lack of unique outcome sets. Basic outcome sets have ever been established over the previous decade for a few procedures, but not for hiatal hernia repair yet. This protocol outlines the procedure to develop a core outcome set for laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair COS-LHHR). COS-LHHR will provide a unique criteria for clinical investigations. METHODS: This study will be conducted in four phases: (1) scoping reviews of existing qualitative studies and outcome reporting in randomized controlled trials to develop a list of potential outcome domains; (2) qualitative interviews with patients to explore the impact of laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair and the outcomes that they care most; (3) a multi-round e-Delphi study to achieve preliminary consensus on the core outcome set; and (4) an evidence-based consensus on a core outcome set will be achieved through a structured group consensus meeting, recommending best assessment outcome sets. DISCUSSION: The development the COS-LHHR will guide clinical research of laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair with unique outcome assessment. This would improve comparative analyses among studies.

The chromosome-scale genome provides insights into pigmentation in Acer rubrum.

Acer rubrum L. is one of the most prevalent ornamental species of the genus Acer, due to its straight and tall stems and beautiful leaf colors. For this study, the Oxford Nanopore platform and Hi-C technology were employed to obtain a chromosome-scale genome for A. rubrum. The genome size of A. rubrum was 1.69 Gb with an N50 of 549.44 Kb, and a total of 39 pseudochromosomes were generated with a 99.61% genome. The A. rubrum genome was predicted to have 64644 genes, of which 97.34% were functionally annotated. Genome annotation identified 67.14% as the transposable element (TE) repeat sequence, with long terminal repeats (LTR) being the richest (55.68%). Genome evolution analysis indicated that A. rubrum diverged from A. yangbiense ∼6.34 million years ago. We identified 13 genes related to pigment synthesis in A. rubrum leaves, where the expressions of four ArF3'H genes were consistent with the synthesis of cyanidin (a key pigment) in red leaves. Correlation analysis verified that the pigmentation of A. rubrum leaves was under the coordinated regulation of non-structural carbohydrates and hormones. The genomic sequence of A. rubrum will facilitate genomic breeding research for this species, while providing the valuable utilization of Aceraceae resources.

Fertility intentions to have a second or third child under China's three-child policy: a national cross-sectional study.

STUDY QUESTION: What proportion of people want to have a second or third child after the enactment of the three-child policy in China? SUMMARY ANSWER: Under the three-child policy, fertility intention to have a second child was ∼60% (56% of women vs 65% of men), and fertility intention to have a third child was 13% (10% of women vs 17% of men) among the Chinese population. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: The Chinese government announced the three-child policy on 31 May 2021, allowing all couples to have up to three children. At present, there is a lack of national surveys on the fertility intentions of women and men to have a second or third child under the three-child policy in China. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: In June 2021, a national cross-sectional survey including 9243 respondents aged 18-49 years was conducted online from 31 provinces in China's mainland using a random sampling method. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Data on the intention to have a second or third child were collected by anonymous questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were performed to assess fertility intentions. Multivariate and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between fertility intentions and the investigated factors. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Approximately 60% (5493/9243) of the investigated people (55.6% women vs 64.7% men) intended to have a second child, and 13.0% (1203/9243) of them (10.0% women vs 17.1% men) intended to have a third child under China's three-child policy. For non-child respondents, 46.8% of women and 60.4% of men intended to have a second child. For one-child respondents, 47.8% of women and 53.8% of men intended to have a second child. For two-child respondents, 14.4% of women and 25.9% of men intended to have a third child. The mean desired family size was 1.58 children per woman, which was lower than the 1.76 children per man. Notably, the age-specified fertility intentions of men were always higher than those of women. Women with a college or higher degree (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.60, 95% CI 0.42-0.88) and a high-middle (aOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53-0.95) or high (aOR 0.64, 95% CI 0.48-0.85) household income, as well as men living in urban areas (aOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.58-0.87) and having a high-middle household income (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.52-0.90), were associated with a lower intention to have a third child (all P < 0.05). In contrast, men of public service personnel had a higher intention to have a third child than factory workers (aOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.02-2.04, P < 0.05). Meanwhile, approximately one out of five two-child respondents intended to have a third child, while one out of four two-girl respondents (aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.44-3.04) were willing to have a third child with a strong preference for boys (12.7% for boys vs 2.7% for girls). Economic and childrearing barriers were the leading barriers to having one more child. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The online survey might limit the representativeness of the present study's sample. A large sample size was enrolled and a random sampling method was used to increase the sample diversity and representativeness. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study will assist in estimating the impact on population demographic of the three-child policy in China. Multiple efforts are needed to create a fertility-friendly environment for couples, thereby increasing fertility intentions to have one more child and increasing fertility rates. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): No funding. The authors declare no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

The prevalence of barriers to rearing children aged 0-3 years following China's new three-child policy: a national cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: To further optimize birth policy, China implemented a new three-child policy to allow per couple to have up to three children on May 31, 2021. METHODS: A national cross-sectional survey was conducted among 18 to 49-year-old Chinese parents who had at least one child in June 2021. We calculated the prevalence of self-reported childrearing barriers and used univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression to analyze associated factors. RESULTS: 94.7% of the respondents self-reported barriers to rearing children aged 0-3 years, and the biggest barrier included high time cost (39.3%), high parenting cost (36.5%) and high education cost (13.5%). Women (aOR 1.49, 95%CI 1.13,1.96) and people with college degree or above (aOR 3.46, 95%CI 2.08, 5.75) were associated with higher prevalence of childrearing barriers, and people who intended to have a second child (aOR 0.58, 95%CI 0.40, 0.83) and people who intended to have a third child (aOR 0.51,95%CI 0.37, 0.71) were less likely to report childrearing barriers. The biggest barrier was more likely to be high time cost for parents one of whom is only child (aOR1.21, 95%CI 1.03, 1.42) and physical factors for parents both of whom are only child (aOR 1.56,95%CI 1.08, 2.26). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of barriers to rearing children aged 0-3 years was high among Chinese people of childbearing age who had children. Full consideration should be given to the barriers of people with different sociodemographic characteristics and people with fertility intention, thus making targeted childrearing policies and supporting measures to reduce the burden on people of childbearing age, encourage suitable couples to have a second or third child and then cope with China's aging population.

Soluble uric acid inhibits ß2 integrin-mediated neutrophil recruitment in innate immunity.

Neutrophils are key players during host defense and sterile inflammation. Neutrophil dysfunction is a characteristic feature of the acquired immunodeficiency during kidney disease. We speculated that the impaired renal clearance of the intrinsic purine metabolite soluble uric acid (sUA) may account for neutrophil dysfunction. Indeed, hyperuricemia (HU, serum UA of 9-12 mg/dL) related or unrelated to kidney dysfunction significantly diminished neutrophil adhesion and extravasation in mice with crystal- and coronavirus-related sterile inflammation using intravital microscopy and an air pouch model. This impaired neutrophil recruitment was partially reversible by depleting UA with rasburicase. We validated these findings in vitro using either neutrophils or serum from patients with kidney dysfunction-related HU with or without UA depletion, which partially normalized the defective migration of neutrophils. Mechanistically, sUA impaired ß2 integrin activity and internalization/recycling by regulating intracellular pH and cytoskeletal dynamics, physiological processes that are known to alter the migratory and phagocytic capability of neutrophils. This effect was fully reversible by blocking intracellular uptake of sUA via urate transporters. In contrast, sUA had no effect on neutrophil extracellular trap formation in neutrophils from healthy subjects or patients with kidney dysfunction. Our results identify an unexpected immunoregulatory role of the intrinsic purine metabolite sUA, which contrasts the well-known immunostimulatory effects of crystalline UA. Specifically targeting UA may help to overcome certain forms of immunodeficiency, for example in kidney dysfunction, but may enhance sterile forms of inflammation.

Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia Promotes Recovery from Ischemic Organ Injury by Modulating the Phenotype of Macrophages.

Acute organ injury, such as acute kidney injury (AKI) and disease (AKD), are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Hyperuricemia (HU) is common in patients with impaired kidney function but the impact of asymptomatic HU on the different phases of AKI/AKD is incompletely understood. We hypothesized that asymptomatic HU would attenuate AKD because soluble, in contrast to crystalline, uric acid (sUA) can attenuate sterile inflammation. In vitro, 10 mg/dL sUA decreased reactive oxygen species and interleukin-6 production in macrophages, while enhancing fatty acid oxidation as compared with a physiological concentration of 5 mg/dL sUA or medium. In transgenic mice, asymptomatic HU of 7-10 mg/dL did not affect post-ischemic AKI/AKD but accelerated the recovery of kidney excretory function on day 14. Improved functional outcome was associated with better tubular integrity, less peritubular inflammation, and interstitial fibrosis. Mechanistic studies suggested that HU shifted macrophage polarization towards an anti-inflammatory M2-like phenotype characterized by expression of anti-oxidative and metabolic genes as compared with post-ischemic AKI-chronic kidney disease transition in mice without HU. Our data imply that asymptomatic HU acts as anti-oxidant on macrophages and tubular epithelial cells, which endorses the recovery of kidney function and structure upon AKI.

Assembly and comparative analysis of the first complete mitochondrial genome of Acer truncatum Bunge: a woody oil-tree species producing nervonic acid.

BACKGROUND: Acer truncatum (purpleblow maple) is a woody tree species that produces seeds with high levels of valuable fatty acids (especially nervonic acid). The species is admired as a landscape plant with high developmental prospects and scientific research value. The A. truncatum chloroplast genome has recently been reported; however, the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) is still unexplored. RESULTS: We characterized the A. truncatum mitogenome, which was assembled using reads from PacBio and Illumina sequencing platforms, performed a comparative analysis against different species of Acer. The circular mitogenome of A. truncatum has a length of 791,052 bp, with a base composition of 27.11% A, 27.21% T, 22.79% G, and 22.89% C. The A. truncatum mitogenome contains 62 genes, including 35 protein-coding genes, 23 tRNA genes and 4 rRNA genes. We also examined codon usage, sequence repeats, RNA editing and selective pressure in the A. truncatum mitogenome. To determine the evolutionary and taxonomic status of A. truncatum, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis based on the mitogenomes of A. truncatum and 25 other taxa. In addition, the gene migration from chloroplast and nuclear genomes to the mitogenome were analyzed. Finally, we developed a novel NAD1 intron indel marker for distinguishing several Acer species. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we assembled and annotated the mitogenome of A. truncatum, a woody oil-tree species producing nervonic acid. The results of our analyses provide comprehensive information on the A. truncatum mitogenome, which would facilitate evolutionary research and molecular barcoding in Acer.

Global Percentage of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infections Among the Tested Population and Individuals With Confirmed COVID-19 Diagnosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Asymptomatic infections are potential sources of transmission for COVID-19. Objective: To evaluate the percentage of asymptomatic infections among individuals undergoing testing (tested population) and those with confirmed COVID-19 (confirmed population). Data Sources: PubMed, EMBASE, and ScienceDirect were searched on February 4, 2021. Study Selection: Cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, case series studies, and case series on transmission reporting the number of asymptomatic infections among the tested and confirmed COVID-19 populations that were published in Chinese or English were included. Data Extraction and Synthesis: This meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. Random-effects models were used to estimate the pooled percentage and its 95% CI. Three researchers performed the data extraction independently. Main Outcomes and Measures: The percentage of asymptomatic infections among the tested and confirmed populations. Results: Ninety-five unique eligible studies were included, covering 29 776 306 individuals undergoing testing. The pooled percentage of asymptomatic infections among the tested population was 0.25% (95% CI, 0.23%-0.27%), which was higher in nursing home residents or staff (4.52% [95% CI, 4.15%-4.89%]), air or cruise travelers (2.02% [95% CI, 1.66%-2.38%]), and pregnant women (2.34% [95% CI, 1.89%-2.78%]). The pooled percentage of asymptomatic infections among the confirmed population was 40.50% (95% CI, 33.50%-47.50%), which was higher in pregnant women (54.11% [95% CI, 39.16%-69.05%]), air or cruise travelers (52.91% [95% CI, 36.08%-69.73%]), and nursing home residents or staff (47.53% [95% CI, 36.36%-58.70%]). Conclusions and Relevance: In this meta-analysis of the percentage of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections among populations tested for and with confirmed COVID-19, the pooled percentage of asymptomatic infections was 0.25% among the tested population and 40.50% among the confirmed population. The high percentage of asymptomatic infections highlights the potential transmission risk of asymptomatic infections in communities.

Identification of the initial water-site and movement in Gleditsia sinensis seeds and its relation to seed coat structure.

BACKGROUND: Water uptake is essential for seed germination. However, Gleditsia sinensis seeds have a water-impermeable seed coat, which is beneficial for its adaption to the environment, but prohibits its germination without treatment. This feature may be associated with the structure of the seed coat. Thus, the aim of this research was to identify and describe the initial water uptake site and water movement and to determine the relationship between seed coat structure and water absorption. RESULTS: A water temperature of 80 °C was optimal to break the hardseededness of G. sinensis seeds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the seed coat consisted of a palisade layer and light line that can hinder water entry into the seed. Also, a structure of vascular bundles existed in the hilar region. Hot water treatment caused the tightly closed micropyle to open and the cavity beneath it expanded; the layer of palisade cells in the lens was raised. The embryo dye-tracking tests showed that the radicle tip was the initial region to be stained red. After staining for 24 h, the red-stained area on the vascular bundle side of cotyledon was more extensive than that on the other side. Further studies by MRI maps indicated that the micropyle was the initial site for water imbibition. Some water then migrated along the space between the seed coat and the endosperm to the chalazal; simultaneously, the rest of the water reached the embryonic axis and spread into cotyledons. The maps of 20-24 h showed that water was unevenly distributed within the cotyledons in a way that the edge parts were more hydrated than the center. Blocking tests showed that the hilar region was the initial and an important region during seed imbibition. The medial region and chalazal portion were capable of imbibing water when the hilar region was blocked, but water absorption was later and slower than that through the hilar region. CONCLUSION: MRI technology provides a promising and non-invasive technique to identify the water gap and the path of water movement in the seed. Combined with the results of SEM, the relation between seed coat and its imbibition can be inferred.

Genetic Background but Not Intestinal Microbiota After Co-Housing Determines Hyperoxaluria-Related Nephrocalcinosis in Common Inbred Mouse Strains.

Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal formation, aggregation and growth is a common cause of kidney stone disease and nephrocalcinosis-related chronic kidney disease (CKD). Genetically modified mouse strains are frequently used as an experimental tool in this context but observed phenotypes may also relate to the genetic background or intestinal microbiota. We hypothesized that the genetic background or intestinal microbiota of mice determine CaOx crystal deposition and thus the outcome of nephrocalcinosis. Indeed, Casp1-/-, Cybb-/- or Casp1-/-/Cybb-/- knockout mice on a 129/C57BL/6J (B6J) background that were fed an oxalate-rich diet for 14 days did neither encounter intrarenal CaOx crystal deposits nor nephrocalcinosis-related CKD. To test our assumption, we fed C57BL/6N (B6N), 129, B6J and Balb/c mice an oxalate-rich diet for 14 days. Only B6N mice displayed CaOx crystal deposits and developed CKD associated with tubular injury, inflammation and interstitial fibrosis. Intrarenal mRNA expression profiling of 64 known nephrocalcinosis-related genes revealed that healthy B6N mice had lower mRNA levels of uromodulin (Umod) compared to the other three strains. Feeding an oxalate-rich diet caused an increase in uromodulin protein expression and CaOx crystal deposition in the kidney as well as in urinary uromodulin excretion in B6N mice but not 129, B6J and Balb/c mice. However, backcrossing 129 mice on a B6N background resulted in a gradual increase in CaOx crystal deposits from F2 to F7, of which all B6N/129 mice from the 7th generation developed CaOx-related nephropathy similar to B6N mice. Co-housing experiments tested for a putative role of the intestinal microbiota but B6N co-housed with 129 mice or B6N/129 (3rd and 6th generation) mice did not affect nephrocalcinosis. In summary, genetic background but not the intestinal microbiome account for strain-specific crystal formation and, the levels of uromodulin secretion may contribute to this phenomenon. Our results imply that only littermate controls of the identical genetic background strain are appropriate when performing knockout mouse studies in this context, while co-housing is optional.