Deciphering environmental factors influencing phytoplankton community structure in a polluted urban river.

Tuojiang River Basin is a first-class tributary of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River-which is the longest river in China. As phytoplankton are sensitive indicators of trophic changes in water bodies, characterizing phytoplankton communities and their growth influencing factors in polluted urban rivers can provide new ideas for pollution control. Here, we used direct microscopic count and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding methods to investigate phytoplankton community structure in Tuojiang River Basin (Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China). The association between phytoplankton community structure and water environmental factors was evaluated by Mantel analysis. Additional environmental monitoring data were used to pinpoint major factors that influenced phytoplankton growth based on structural equation modeling. At the phylum level, the dominant phytoplankton taxa identified by the conventional microscopic method mainly belonged to Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, and Cyanophyta, in contrast with Chlorophyta, Dinophyceae, and Bacillariophyta identified by eDNA metabarcoding. In α-diversity analysis, eDNA metabarcoding detected greater species diversity and achieved higher precision than the microscopic method. Phytoplankton growth was largely limited by phosphorus based on the nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios > 16:1 in all water samples. Redundancy analysis and structural equation modeling also confirmed that the nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio was the principal factor influencing phytoplankton growth. The results could be useful for implementing comprehensive management of the river basin environment. It is recommended to control the discharge of point- and surface-source pollutants and the concentration of dissolved oxygen in areas with excessive nutrients (e.g., Jianyang-Ziyang). Algae monitoring techniques and removal strategies should be improved in 201 Hospital, Hongrihe Bridge and Colmar Town areas.

The growth factor content as an indicator of platelet counts in platelet-rich plasma.

BACKGROUND: Platelet contains growth factors that enhance tissue repair mechanisms, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-AA and -AB), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß. Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been shown to significantly improve the treatment of tendon injuries compared with hyaluronic acid and placebo. The topic of agreement between platelet concentrations and growth factors has been covered in some previous studies, but growth factor levels did not correlate well with platelet concentrations. METHOD: In this study, autologous PRP was prepared by concentrating platelets through a J6-MI centrifuge. The automatic hematology analyzer Sysmex XN-20 was used to analyze the platelet concentration in PRP, and the PRP growth factors were determined by ELISA, including PDGF, transforming growth factor- ß1 (TGF-ß1), and EGF. Statistical analysis was conducted on data from 107 patients who received autologous PRP using Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: Pearson correlation analysis revealed PDGF, TGF, and EGF had a strong positive correlation with the platelet concentration of the final PRP product (r = 0.697, p < 0.0001; r = 0.488, p < 0.0001; r = 0.572, p < 0.0001, respectively) CONCLUSIONS: There was a strong positive correlation between the concentration of platelets in the final PRP product and the levels of PDGF-AB, TGF-ß, and EGF. These results suggested straightforward and cost-effective growth factor tests can provide valuable information about platelet content in PRP.

Exploring native arsenic (As)-resistant bacteria: Unveiling multifaceted mechanisms for plant growth promotion under As stress.

AIMS: This study explores the plant growth-promoting effect (PGPE) and potential mechanisms of the arsenic (As)-resistant bacterium Flavobacterium sp. A9 (A9 hereafter). METHODS AND RESULTS: The influences of A9 on the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana, lettuce and Brassica napus under As(V) stress were investigated. Additionally, a metabolome analysis was conducted to unravel the underlying mechanisms that facilitate PGPE. Results revealed that A9 significantly enhanced the fresh weight of Arabidopsis seedlings by 62.6% to 135.4% under As(Ⅴ) stress. A9 significantly increased root length (19.4%), phosphorus (25.28%), chlorophyll content (59%), pod number (24.42%) and weight (18.88%), while decreasing As content (48.33%, P ≤ 0.05) and oxidative stress of Arabidopsis. It also significantly promoted the growth of lettuce and B. napus under As(V) stress. A9 demonstrated the capability to produce ≥ 31 beneficial substances contributing to plant growth promotion (e.g., gibberellic acid), stress tolerance (e.g., thiamine) and reduced As accumulation (e.g., siderophores). CONCLUSIONS: A9 significantly promoted the plant growth under As stress and decreased As accumulation by decreasing oxidative stress and releasing beneficial compounds.

Trends in the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factors for older patients with cancer, 2010 to 2019.

INTRODUCTION: Older patients with cancer receiving myelosuppressive treatment are at an increased risk for developing febrile neutropenia (FN) or having chemotherapy dose-reductions or delays, resulting in suboptimal health outcomes. Granulocyte colony stimulating factors (G-CSF) are effective medications to reduce these adverse events and are recommended for patients ≥65 years receiving chemotherapy with >10 % FN risk. We sought to characterize the trends and predictors of G-CSF use between the youngest-old (66-74 years), middle-old (75-84 years), and oldest-old (≥85 years) patients with cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used registry data from SEER-Medicare for breast, lung, ovarian, colorectal, esophageal, gastric, uterine, prostate, pancreatic cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) diagnoses from 2010 to 2019. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used. RESULTS: Overall, 41.4 % of patients received G-CSF from chemotherapy initiation to three days after completion of the first chemotherapy course. The use rate remained relatively stable for all cancers, except for an increase in use for those with pancreatic cancer. G-CSF use decreased as patients got older. The oldest-old were 43.0 % (95 % confidence interval: 40.7-45.2 %) less likely to receive G-CSF compared to the youngest-old. Patients with breast cancer or NHL were more likely to receive G-CSF than those with other cancers. Patients who were female, married, White or Hispanic, and had fewer comorbidities were more likely to receive G-CSF. DISCUSSION: G-CSF is used less often in populations at higher risk of developing FN and related complications. Improving adherence to recommendations can improve health outcomes, especially in the oldest adults, older males, and Black patients.

Silencing the long noncoding RNA MALAT1 inhibits vitreous-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in RPE cells by regulating the PDGFRs/AKT axis.

PURPOSE: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial pathological process that contributes to proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), and research indicates that factors present in the vitreous that target cells play pivotal roles in regulating EMT. Experimental studies have confirmed that rabbit vitreous (RV) promotes EMT in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) MALAT1 has been implicated in EMT in various diseases. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the involvement of lncRNA MALAT1 in vitreous-induced EMT in RPE cells. METHODS: MALAT1 was knocked down in ARPE-19 cells by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) transfection. Reverse transcription PCR (RT‒PCR) was used to evaluate MALAT1 expression, and Western blotting analysis was used to measure the expression of EMT-related proteins. Wound-healing, Transwell, and cell contraction assays were conducted to assess cell migration, invasion, and contraction, respectively. Additionally, cell proliferation was assessed using the CCK-8 assay, and cytoskeletal changes were examined by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: MALAT1 expression was significantly increased in ARPE-19 cells cultured with RV. Silencing MALAT1 effectively suppressed EMT and downregulated the associated factors snail1 and E-cadherin. Furthermore, silencing MALAT1 inhibited the RV-induced migration, invasion, proliferation, and contraction of ARPE-19 cells. Silencing MALAT1 also decreased RV-induced AKT and P53 phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, lncRNA MALAT1 participates in regulating vitreous-induced EMT in human RPE cells; these results provide new insight into the pathogenesis of PVR and offer a potential direction for the development of antiproliferative drugs.

Distinct trajectories of neuropsychiatric symptoms in the 12 months following traumatic brain injury (TBI): a TRACK-TBI study.

BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and often resolve within 3 months post-injury. However, the degree to which individual patients follow this course is unknown. We characterized trajectories of neuropsychiatric symptoms over 12 months post-TBI. We hypothesized that a substantial proportion of individuals would display trajectories distinct from the group-average course, with some exhibiting less favorable courses. METHODS: Participants were level 1 trauma center patients with TBI (n = 1943), orthopedic trauma controls (n = 257), and non-injured friend controls (n = 300). Trajectories of six symptom dimensions (Depression, Anxiety, Fear, Sleep, Physical, and Pain) were identified using growth mixture modeling from 2 weeks to 12 months post-injury. RESULTS: Depression, Anxiety, Fear, and Physical symptoms displayed three trajectories: Stable-Low (86.2-88.6%), Worsening (5.6-10.9%), and Improving (2.6-6.4%). Among symptomatic trajectories (Worsening, Improving), lower-severity TBI was associated with higher prevalence of elevated symptoms at 2 weeks that steadily resolved over 12 months compared to all other groups, whereas higher-severity TBI was associated with higher prevalence of symptoms that gradually worsened from 3-12 months. Sleep and Pain displayed more variable recovery courses, and the most common trajectory entailed an average level of problems that remained stable over time (Stable-Average; 46.7-82.6%). Symptomatic Sleep and Pain trajectories (Stable-Average, Improving) were more common in traumatically injured groups. CONCLUSIONS: Findings illustrate the nature and rates of distinct neuropsychiatric symptom trajectories and their relationship to traumatic injuries. Providers may use these results as a referent for gauging typical v. atypical recovery in the first 12 months post-injury.

The effects of growth hormone supplementation in poor ovarian responders undergoing In vitro fertilization or Intracytoplasmic sperm injection: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

To evaluate the effect of growth hormone (GH) supplementation on outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) or Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for women with poor ovarian response. Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were obtained through search in several databases including PubMed, Scopus, Clinicaltrials.gov, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library. Outcome measures included live birth rate, clinical pregnancy rate, cycle cancelation rate, number of retrieved oocytes, number of transferred embryos, total dose of gonadotropin, duration of gonadotropin treatment, and peak estradiol level. Additionally, a meta-regression analysis was carried out to determine any potential linear relationships between these outcomes and IVF success. After analyzing 18 RCTs comprising of 1870 patients, the study found that GH supplementation improved the number of retrieved oocytes [standardized mean difference (SMD), 0.65; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.29-1.00] and transferred embryos group (SMD, 0.80, 95% CI, 0.39, 1.21) as well as peak E2 level (SMD, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.59, 1.81). While reduced the total dose and duration of gonadotropin treatment (SMD, -0.82, 95% CI, -1.25, -0.39, and SMD, -0.63, 95% CI, -1.04, -0.22, respectively). The meta-regression analysis found no linear relationship between clinical pregnancy, live birth rate, or cycle cancelation rate and the outcomes measured (p>0.1). Based on the available evidence, GH supplementation appears to improve the outcomes of IVF or ICSI in women with poor response. However, there is a need for further RCTs with larger sample sizes to determine the cost-effectiveness of adding GH to conventional protocols of IVF/ICSI for treating infertility in women with poor ovarian response.

Serum calciprotein particle-to-phosphate ratio as a predictor of cardiovascular events in incident hemodialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have identified increased blood calciprotein particle (CPP) levels as risk factors for vascular calcification and cardiovascular events in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Although positively correlated with serum phosphate levels, serum CPP levels vary considerably among patients with similar serum phosphate levels. We investigated the capacity of the ratio of serum CPP levels to serum phosphate levels (CPP/Pi ratio) to predict cardiovascular events in incident hemodialysis patients compared to the serum calcification propensity test (T50). METHODS AND RESULTS: The association between the CPP/Pi ratio and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) was investigated in 174 incident hemodialysis patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that the CPP/Pi ratio was independently associated with MACCE [hazard ratio 1.60, 95% confidence interval (1.15-2.23), p = 0.006] but serum T50 levels were not. CONCLUSIONS: The CPP/Pi ratio is a useful, novel biomarker for predicting the risk of cardiovascular events in patients undergoing incident hemodialysis.

RNF122 promotes glioblastoma growth via the JAK2/STAT3/c-Myc signaling Axis.

OBJECTIVE: The E3 ubiquitin ligase is well recognized as a significant contributor to glioblastoma (GBM) progression and has promise as a prospective therapeutic target. This study explores the contribution of E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF122 in the GBM progression and the related molecular mechanisms. METHODS: RNF122 expression levels were evaluated using qRT-PCR, WB, and IHC, while functional assays besides animal experiments were used to assess RNF122's effect on GBM progression. We also tested the RNF122 impact on JAK2/STAT3/c-Myc signaling using WB. RESULTS: RNF122 was upregulated in GBM and correlated to the advanced stage and poor clinical outcomes, representing an independent prognostic factor. Based on functional assays, RNF122 promotes GBM growth and cell cycle, which was validated further in subsequent analyses by JAK2/STAT3/c-Myc pathway activation. Moreover, JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway inhibitor WP1066 can weaken the effect of overexpression RNF122 on promoting GBM progression. CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that RNF122 caused an aggressive phenotype to GBM and was a poor prognosticator; thus, targeting RNF122 may be effectual in GBM treatment.

Sea-fan retinal neovascularization associated with rickettsial retinitis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Rickettsial disease has been commonly associated with retinitis, retinal vasculitis, and optic nerve involvement, but the development of retinal neovascularization has been very rarely reported. We herein describe a case of rickettsial retinitis complicated with the development of sea-fan retinal neovascularization documented with multimodal imaging, including fundus photography, SS-OCT, fluorescein angiography, and SS-OCT angiography. CASE PRESENTATION: A 26-year-old female with a history of fever one week earlier presented with sudden decreased vision in the left eye. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/2000 and the patient was diagnosed with rickettsial retinitis along the superotemporal retinal vascular arcade associated with serous retinal detachment and retinal hard exudates. The indirect immunofluorescence test was positive for Rickettsia conorii, and the patient was treated with oral doxycycline (200 mg/day) and oral prednisone (0.75 mg/kg/day, with gradual tapering). Four weeks after presentation, the retinal infiltrate and associated serous retinal detachment had resolved, but retinal hard exudates had increased. A large sea-fan preretinal fibrovascular neovascularization became apparent along the superotemporal retinal vascular arcade, but there was no associated retinal ischemia on fluorescein angiography. The patient received an adjunctive single intravitreal injection of 1.25 bevacizumab. Sequential follow-up examinations showed shrinking of sea-fan retinal neovascularization, a complete resolution of retinal hard exudates, and the development of a self-limited vitreous hemorrhage. On last follow-up, 30 months after intravitreal bevacizumab injection, BCVA was 20/25. CONCLUSION: Patients with rickettsial retinitis may develop a sea-fan retinal neovascularization, with subsequent vitreous hemorrhage, putatively through inflammatory mechanisms. Multimodal imaging including OCT, fluorescein angiography, and OCT-angiography, is highly useful for accurate diagnosis and reliable monitoring of the evolution of retinitis, retinal neovascularization, and other retinal changes. The use of a combination therapy with oral doxycycline and corticosteroids and intravitreal anti-VEGF can improve outcomes.

Improved salinity tolerance in cucumber seedlings inoculated with halotolerant bacterial isolates with plant growth-promoting properties.

To address salinity stress in plants in an eco-friendly manner, this study investigated the potential effects of salinity-resistant bacteria isolated from saline agricultural soils on the growth of cucumber (Cucumis sativus, cv. Royal) seedlings. A greenhouse factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design (CRD) with two factors, salinity at four levels and five bacterial treatments, with three replications (n = 3). Initially, fifty bacterial isolates were screened for their salinity and drought tolerance, phosphate solubilization activity, along with production of auxin, siderophore and hydrogen cyanide. Isolates K4, K14, K15, and C8 exhibited the highest resistance to salinity and drought stresses in vitro. Isolates C8 and K15 demonstrated the highest auxin production capacity, generating 2.95 and 2.87 µg mL- 1, respectively, and also exhibited significant siderophore production capacities (by 14% and 11%). Additionally, isolates C8 and K14 displayed greater phosphate solubilization activities, by 184.64 and 122.11 µg mL- 1, respectively. The statistical analysis revealed that the selected four potent isolates significantly enhanced all growth parameters of cucumber plants grown under salinity stress conditions for six weeks. Plant height increased by 41%, fresh and dry weights by 35% and 7%, respectively, and the leaf area index by 85%. The most effective isolate, C8, was identified as Bacillus subtilis based on the 16 S rDNA amplicon sequencing. This study demonstrated that inoculating cucumber seedlings with halotolerant bacterial isolates, such as C8 (Bacillus subtilis), possessing substantial plant growth-promoting properties significantly alleviated salinity stress by enhancing plant growth parameters. These findings suggest a promising eco-friendly strategy for improving crop productivity in saline agricultural environments.

Berberine suppressed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of colon epithelial cells through the TGF-ß1/Smad and NF-κB pathways associated with miRNA-1269a.

Objective: To explore the mechanisms of the TGF-ß1/Smad and NF-κB pathways in the effect of berberine (BBR) on colon cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and their regulatory relationships with microRNAs (miRNAs). Methods: TGF-ß1 was used to induce EMT in normal colon epithelial HCoEpiC cells and colon cancer HT29 cells in vitro. After BBR intervention, the expression of EMT-related markers and the major molecules involved in the TGF-ß1/Smad and NF-κB pathways were detected via western blotting. Cell migration was detected via wound healing assays. SMAD2 and NF-κB p65 were overexpressed and transfected into cells, and the inhibitors SB431542 and BAY 11-7082 were added to block the TGF-ß1/Smad and NF-κB pathways, respectively. The mRNA expression levels of related microRNA genes were detected by using RT‒PCR. Results: Treatment with 10 ng/ml TGF-ß1 for 72 h significantly induced EMT in HCoEpiC and HT29 cells, which was repressed by BBR. BBR significantly inhibited the TGF-ß1-induced migration of HCoEpiC and HT29 cells and the TGF-ß1-promoted expression of p-Smad2/3, NF-κB p65, and p-IκBα. Compared to those in the group treated with TGF-ß1, the expression of NF-κB p65 and p-Smad2 in the group treated with NF-κB pathway inhibitor BAY 11-7082 was decreased (P < 0.05), and TGF-ß1 signalling inhibitor SB431542 significantly reduced the expression of NF-κB p65 (P < 0.05). Overexpression of NF-κB p65 and SMAD2 in HT29 cells decreased the expression of E-cadherin and caused a relative increase in N-cadherin. BBR mediated the expression profile of microRNAs in TGF-ß1-induced HCoEpiC cells, but this pattern differed from that in HT29 cells. SB431542 and BAY 11-7082 significantly reduced the mRNA level of miR-1269a in HCoEpiC and HT29 cells (P < 0.05). Overexpressed NF-κB p65 and SMAD2 increased the mRNA level of miR-1269a in both cell lines; however, this increase was significantly lower than that in the TGF-ß1 treatment group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: BBR can significantly inhibit TGF-ß1-induced EMT in normal and cancerous colon epithelial cells through the inhibition of the TGF-ß1/Smad and NF-κB p65 pathways. TGF-ß1/Smads can promote the NF-κB p65 pathway, which is a common target of miR-1269a, and can partially regulate the expression of miR-1269a.

Physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses reveal that Pantoea sp. YSD J2 inoculation improves the accumulation of flavonoids in Cyperus esculentus L. var. sativus.

Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs), such as Pantoea sp. YSD J2, promote plant development and stress resistance, while their role in flavonoids accumulation still needs to be further understood. To investigate the complex flavonoid biosynthesis pathway of Cyperus esculentus L. var. sativus (tigernut), we compared Pantoea sp. YSD J2 inoculation (YSD J2) and water inoculation (CK) groups. YSD J2 significantly elevated the content of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and orientin. Furthermore, when analyzing flavonoid metabolome, YSD J2 caused increased levels of uralenol, petunidin-3-O-glucoside-5-O-arabinoside, luteolin-7-O-glucuronide-(2 â†’ 1)-glucuronide, kaempferol-3-O-neohesperidoside, cyanidin-3-O-(2″-O-glucosyl)glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide-7-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, luteolin-7-O-glucuronide-(2 â†’ 1)-(2″-sinapoyl)glucuronide, and quercetin-4'-O-glucoside, which further enhanced antioxidant activity. We then performed RNA-seq and LC-MS/MS, aiming to validate key genes and related flavonoid metabolites under YSD J2 inoculation, and rebuild the gene-metabolites regulatory subnetworks. Furthermore, the expression patterns of the trans cinnamate 4-monooxygenase (CYP73A), flavonol-3-O-L-rhamnoside-7-O-glucosyltransferase (UGT73C6), shikimate O-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (HCT), chalcone isomerase (CHI), flavonol synthase (FLS), and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) genes were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Additionally, 4 transcription factors (TF) (especially bHLH34, Cluster-37505.3) under YSD J2 inoculation are also engaged in regulating flavonoid accumulation. Moreover, the current work sheds new light on studying the regulatory effect of Pantoea sp. YSD J2 on tigernut development and flavonoid biosynthesis.

Assessing the ecological consequences of biodegradable plastics: Acute, chronic and multigenerational impacts of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate microplastics on freshwater invertebrate Daphnia magna.

Microplastics, pervasive contaminants in freshwater ecosystems, have raised ecological concerns. Efforts are underway to substitute conventional plastics with biodegradable alternatives that should be more easily decomposed in the environment. However, the biodegradation of these alternatives depends on specific conditions such as temperature, humidity, pH, and microorganisms, which are not always met. Consequently, these biodegradable alternatives can also fragment and generate microplastics, which can be ingested and affect biota. In this study, we investigated the acute, chronic, and multigenerational effects of two fractions (particles <63 µm and particles <125 µm) of biodegradable poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) at varying concentrations on the inhibition, mortality, reproduction activity, and growth of the freshwater invertebrate Daphnia magna. No acute effects were observed for either size fraction. However, during chronic and multigenerational experiments, an increase in the concentration of P3HB microplastics corresponded with increased mortality, reduced reproductive activity, and slower growth among the mother organisms. Given the important role of D. magna in the food chain, these findings suggest that biodegradable microplastics may indeed negatively affect freshwater ecosystems.

Proteus syndrome with progressive paralysis of the unilateral lower limb: A rare case report and literature review.

Objective: Proteus syndrome, a rare disorder with an incidence of one in a million, is characterized by connective tissue nevi, asymmetric limb overgrowth, and abnormal subcutaneous adipose tissue distribution. Limited awareness of this condition often hinders accurate clinical diagnosis. We report a case of Proteus syndrome with concurrent progressive paralysis in the unilateral lower limb, aiming to enhance understanding of the disease and its associated complications. Methods: The patient, an 11-year-old male, has been conclusively diagnosed with Proteus Syndrome. This diagnosis was established by analyzing clinical manifestations, imaging studies, and laboratory tests. In addition, a literature review was conducted to systematically elucidate the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of this condition. Results: According to the clinical manifestations, we confirmed a case of Proteus syndrome. This example exhibits the general characteristics of patients with severe hemihypertrophy of the bilateral lower limbs, anomalies in hypodermic and adipose distribution, and unilateral lower limb progressive paralysis. Pathological biopsy confirmed the right chest wall mass as a lipoma. Notably, the patient experiences lower limb movement disorders caused by intraspinal disease. At the same time, the gene sequencing results of this Proteus syndrome patient showed mutations in the IDUS gene and SPECC1L gene, which have not been reported before. Conclusion: We diagnosed Proteus Syndrome with lower limb sensorimotor abnormalities, which may be caused by mutations in the IDUS gene or SPECC1L gene. This is the first report of these kinds of gene mutations in association with Proteus Syndrome.

Quantifying Changes on OCT in Eyes Receiving Treatment for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: Application of artificial intelligence (AI) to macular OCT scans to segment and quantify volumetric change in anatomical and pathological features during intravitreal treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design: Retrospective analysis of OCT images from the Moorfields Eye Hospital AMD Database. Participants: A total of 2115 eyes from 1801 patients starting anti-VEGF treatment between June 1, 2012, and June 30, 2017. Methods: The Moorfields Eye Hospital neovascular AMD database was queried for first and second eyes receiving anti-VEGF treatment and had an OCT scan at baseline and 12 months. Follow-up scans were input into the AI system and volumes of OCT variables were studied at different time points and compared with baseline volume groups. Cross-sectional comparisons between time points were conducted using Mann-Whitney U test. Main Outcome Measures: Volume outputs of the following variables were studied: intraretinal fluid, subretinal fluid, pigment epithelial detachment (PED), subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM), hyperreflective foci, neurosensory retina, and retinal pigment epithelium. Results: Mean volumes of analyzed features decreased significantly from baseline to both 4 and 12 months, in both first-treated and second-treated eyes. Pathological features that reflect exudation, including pure fluid components (intraretinal fluid and subretinal fluid) and those with fluid and fibrovascular tissue (PED and SHRM), displayed similar responses to treatment over 12 months. Mean PED and SHRM volumes showed less pronounced but also substantial decreases over the first 2 months, reaching a plateau postloading phase, and minimal change to 12 months. Both neurosensory retina and retinal pigment epithelium volumes showed gradual reductions over time, and were not as substantial as exudative features. Conclusions: We report the results of a quantitative analysis of change in retinal segmented features over time, enabled by an AI segmentation system. Cross-sectional analysis at multiple time points demonstrated significant associations between baseline OCT-derived segmented features and the volume of biomarkers at follow-up. Demonstrating how certain OCT biomarkers progress with treatment and the impact of pretreatment retinal morphology on different structural volumes may provide novel insights into disease mechanisms and aid the personalization of care. Data will be made public for future studies. Financial Disclosures: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Retroperitoneal Doege-Potter syndrome with intraoperative blood glucose monitoring.

Background: Doege-Potter syndrome, characterized by solitary fibrous tumors and non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia, is rare. Here, we report a case of Doege-Potter syndrome in which retroperitoneal tumor resection was performed with continuous intraoperative blood glucose monitoring. Case presentation: A 37-year-old man presented with hypoglycemia-related symptoms, and a 10 × 12 × 9 cm tumor was found in his right kidney. Following tumor resection, insulin secretory abnormalities improved, and intraoperative blood glucose monitoring showed no hypoglycemic events. High levels of insulin-like growth factor-II confirmed the diagnosis of an insulin-like growth factor-II-producing tumor with non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia. Postoperative serum insulin-like growth factor-II levels normalized, with no recurrence observed over 3 years. Conclusions: This case highlights the rarity of primary retroperitoneal Doege-Potter syndrome, emphasizes the safety of intraoperative blood glucose levels during surgery, and suggests rapid recovery of insulin secretion postoperatively.

An integrated method for phenotypic analysis of wheat based on multi-view image sequences: from seedling to grain filling stages.

Wheat exhibits complex characteristics during its growth, such as extensive tillering, slender and soft leaves, and severe organ cross-obscuration, posing a considerable challenge in full-cycle phenotypic monitoring. To address this, this study presents a synthesized method based on SFM-MVS (Structure-from-Motion, Multi-View Stereo) processing for handling and segmenting wheat point clouds, covering the entire growth cycle from seedling to grain filling stages. First, a multi-view image acquisition platform was constructed to capture image sequences of wheat plants, and dense point clouds were generated using SFM-MVS technology. High-quality dense point clouds were produced by implementing improved Euclidean clustering combined with centroids, color filtering, and statistical filtering methods. Subsequently, the segmentation of wheat plant stems and leaves was performed using the region growth segmentation algorithm. Although segmentation performance was suboptimal during the tillering, jointing, and booting stages due to the glut leaves and severe overlap, there was a salient improvement in wheat leaf segmentation efficiency over the entire growth cycle. Finally, phenotypic parameters were analyzed across different growth stages, comparing automated measurements of plant height, leaf length, and leaf width with actual measurements. The results demonstrated coefficients of determination ( R 2 ) of 0.9979, 0.9977, and 0.995; root mean square errors (RMSE) of 1.0773 cm, 0.2612 cm, and 0.0335 cm; and relative root mean square errors (RRMSE) of 2.1858%, 1.7483%, and 2.8462%, respectively. These results validate the reliability and accuracy of our proposed workflow in processing wheat point clouds and automatically extracting plant height, leaf length, and leaf width, indicating that our 3D reconstructed wheat model achieves high precision and can quickly, accurately, and non-destructively extract phenotypic parameters. Additionally, plant height, convex hull volume, plant surface area, and Crown area were extracted, providing a detailed analysis of dynamic changes in wheat throughout its growth cycle. ANOVA was conducted across different cultivars, accurately revealing significant differences at various growth stages. This study proposes a convenient, rapid, and quantitative analysis method, offering crucial technical support for wheat plant phenotypic analysis and growth dynamics monitoring, applicable for precise full-cycle phenotypic monitoring of wheat.

Integrative analyses of long and short-read RNA sequencing reveal the spliced isoform regulatory network of seedling growth dynamics in upland cotton.

The polyploid genome of cotton has significantly increased the transcript complexity. Recent advances in full-length transcript sequencing are now widely used to characterize the complete landscape of transcriptional events. Such studies in cotton can help us to explore the genetic mechanisms of the cotton seedling growth. Through long-read single-molecule RNA sequencing, this study compared the transcriptomes of three yield contrasting genotypes of upland cotton. Our analysis identified different numbers of spliced isoforms from 31,166, 28,716, and 28,713 genes in SJ48, Z98, and DT8 cotton genotypes, respectively, most of which were novel compared to previous cotton reference transcriptomes, and showed significant differences in the number of exon structures and coding sequence length due to intron retention. Quantification of isoform expression revealed significant differences in expression in the root and leaf of each genotype. An array of key isoform target genes showed protein kinase or phosphorylation functions, and their protein interaction network contained most of the circadian oscillator proteins. Spliced isoforms from the GIGANTEA (GI) protien were differentially regulated in each genotype and might be expected to regulate translational activities, including the sequence and function of target proteins. In addition, these spliced isoforms generate diurnal expression profiles in cotton leaves, which may alter the transcriptional regulatory network of seedling growth. Silencing of the novel spliced GI isoform Gh_A02G0645_N17 significantly affected biomass traits, contributed to variable growth, and increased transcription of the early flowering pathway gene ELF in cotton. Our high-throughput hybrid sequencing results will be useful to dissect functional differences among spliced isoforms in the polyploid cotton genome.

Circular economy, economic growth, and e-waste generation in EU27 countries: Further evidence from the novel circular economy index and threshold effect.

The circular economy has been identified as a critical keyword for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Nevertheless, there is a lack of in-depth empirical literature on the impact mechanisms of the circular economy (CE) and economic growth (GDP) in mitigating e-waste generation (waste electrical and electronic equipment - WEEE). Given Europe's leading position in e-waste generation per capita, the study aims to scrutinize the interplay between CE, GDP, and WEEE for 2010-2020. The research applies advanced econometric methods, primarily centered around the system generalized method of moment and dynamic panel threshold. It was noteworthy that different CE indicators exhibited varying effects on WEEE through the econometric analysis. Therefore, the research uniquely utilized the entropy weight method to compute a holistic composite index for the circular economy (CEI) and gained some interesting findings. Firstly, CEI significantly reduced WEEE, while GDP drove its increase. However, an overly developed CEI of 0.7616 counteracted its beneficial effect. Secondly, the synergy of CEI*GDP engendered the circular economy rebound effect, diminishing environmental benefits. Thirdly, in the circular context, the environmental Kuznets curve was validated, showcasing an inverted U-shaped pattern. Finally, the study found CEI to have different threshold effects, with thresholds of 0.2161 to inhibit WEEE, 0.2114 to avert the circular economy rebound effect, and 0.2360 to leverage GDP in reducing WEEE. These outcomes give insights to policymakers in designing sound policies targeting circular economy development and decoupling e-waste generation from economic growth towards the United Nations' SDGs.