Mapping and Candidate Gene Analysis of the Low-Temperature-Sensitive Albino Gene OsLTSA8 in Rice Seedlings.

Chloroplasts are organelles responsible for photosynthesis in plants, providing energy for growth and development. However, the genetic regulatory mechanisms underlying early chloroplast development in rice remain incompletely understood. In this study, we identified a rice seedling thermosensitive chlorophyll-deficient mutant, osltsa8, and the genetic analysis of two F2 populations suggested that this trait may be controlled by more than one pair of alleles. Through reciprocal F2 populations and QTL-seq technology, OsLTSA8 was mapped to the interval of 24,280,402-25,920,942 bp on rice chromosome 8, representing a novel albino gene in rice. Within the candidate gene region of OsLTSA8, there were 258 predicted genes, among which LOC_Os08g39050, LOC_Os08g39130, and LOC_Os08g40870 encode pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins. RNA-seq identified 18 DEGs (differentially expressed genes) within the candidate interval, with LOC_Os08g39420 showing homology to the pigment biosynthesis-related genes Zm00001d017656 and Sb01g000470; LOC_Os08g39430 and LOC_Os08g39850 were implicated in chlorophyll precursor synthesis. RT-qPCR was employed to assess the expression levels of LOC_Os08g39050, LOC_Os08g39130, LOC_Os08g40870, LOC_Os08g39420, LOC_Os08g39430, and LOC_Os08g39850 in the wild-type and mutant plants. Among them, the differences in the expression levels of LOC_Os08g39050 and LOC_Os08g39430 were the most significant. This study will contribute to further elucidating the molecular mechanisms of rice chloroplast development.

PECSS: Pulmonary Embolism Comprehensive Screening Score to safely rule out pulmonary embolism among suspected patients presenting to emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism is a severe cardiovascular disease and can be life-threatening if left untreated. However, the detection rate of pulmonary embolism using existing pretest probability scores remained relatively low and clinical rule out often relied on excessive use of computed tomographic pulmonary angiography. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from pulmonary embolism suspected patients in Zhongshan Hospital from July 2018 to October 2022. Pulmonary embolism diagnosis and severity grades were confirmed by computed tomographic pulmonary angiography. Patients were randomly divided into derivation and validation set. To construct the Pulmonary Embolism Comprehensive Screening Score (PECSS), we first screened for candidate clinical predictors using univariate logistic regression models. These predictors were then included in a searching algorithm with indicators of Wells score, where a series of points were assigned to each predictor. Optimal D-Dimer cutoff values were investigated and incorporated with PECSS to rule out pulmonary embolism. RESULTS: In addition to Wells score, PECSS identified seven clinical predictors (anhelation, abnormal blood pressure, in critical condition when admitted, age > 65 years and high levels of pro-BNP, CRP and UA,) strongly associated with pulmonary embolism. Patients can be safely ruled out of pulmonary embolism if PECSS ≤ 4, or if 4 < PECSS ≤ 6 and D-Dimer ≤ 2.5 mg/L. Comparing with Wells approach, PECSS achieved lower failure rates across all pulmonary embolism severity grades. These findings were validated in the held-out validation set. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to Wells score, PECSS approaches achieved lower failure rates and better compromise between sensitivity and specificity. Calculation of PECSS is easy and all predictors are readily available upon emergency department admission, making it widely applicable in clinical settings. TRAIL REGISTRATION: The study was retrospectively registered (No. CJ0647) and approved by Human Genetic Resources in China in April 2022. Ethical approval was received from the Medical Ethics Committee of Zhongshan Hospital (NO.B2021-839R).

The Mechanism of Important Components in Canine Fecal Microbiota Transplantation.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a potential treatment for many intestinal diseases. In dogs, FMT has been shown to have positive regulation effects in treating Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), canine parvovirus (CPV) enteritis, acute diarrhea (AD), and acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS). FMT involves transplanting the functional components of a donor's feces into the gastrointestinal tract of the recipient. The effective components of FMT not only include commensal bacteria, but also include viruses, fungi, bacterial metabolites, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) from the donor feces. By affecting microbiota and regulating host immunity, these components can help the recipient to restore their microbial community, improve their intestinal barrier, and induce anti-inflammation in their intestines, thereby affecting the development of diseases. In addition to the above components, mucin proteins and intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) may be functional ingredients in FMT as well. In addition to the abovementioned indications, FMT is also thought to be useful in treating some other diseases in dogs. Consequently, when preparing FMT fecal material, it is important to preserve the functional components involved. Meanwhile, appropriate fecal material delivery methods should be chosen according to the mechanisms these components act by in FMT.

Low fluid intake volume during the first 24 h and persistent negative fluid balance from the second day are associated with favorable prognosis for patients with sepsis.

For patients with sepsis and septic shock, it remains controversial when to restrict fluid intake and achieve a negative fluid balance. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the fluid intake volume during the first 24 h as well as fluid balance for 7 days on the prognosis of sepsis or septic shock. A total of 337 patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock at Ruijin Hospital (Shanghai, China) were enrolled in the present retrospective study. Patients with a low fluid intake volume during the first 24 h (fluid intake, 28.1±10.6 ml/kg) had lower in-hospital mortality rates (18.0 vs. 27.3%, P=0.043) and a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation [0 (0-6) vs. 3 (0-11), P=0.025] than the high-fluid volume intake group (62.6±17.6 ml/kg). Furthermore, survivors exhibited a daily negative net fluid balance from the second day (48 h), whereas non-survivors had a daily positive net fluid balance for 7 days, where fluid balance volumes were significantly lower in survivors compared with those in non-survivors. Finally, binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether the mean daily fluid balance (P<0.001) and the Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (P=0.048) were independent prognostic factors for patients with sepsis or septic shock. It was indicated that a low fluid intake volume during the first 24 h and a persistent negative fluid balance from the second day were associated with favorable outcomes. The mean daily fluid balance was an independent prognostic factor or patients with sepsis or septic shock.

Effects of fluid balance on prognosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome patients secondary to sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Fluid management is crucial to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to sepsis. However, choices of fluid resuscitation strategies and fluid input volumes remain a thorny problem. Our study aimed to elucidate the relationship between fluid balance and prognosis of ARDS patients secondary to sepsis. METHODS: Our study included 322 sepsis patients from Ruijin Hospital between 2014 and 2018, and 84 patients were diagnosed as ARDS within 72 hours after onset of sepsis according to Berlin ARDS Definition. RESULTS: Among the 322 sepsis patients, 84 (26.1%) were complicated with ARDS within 72 hours. ARDS patients had a lower oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2 166.4±71.0 vs. 255.0±91.2, P<0.05), longer duration of mechanical ventilation (11 [6-24] days vs. 0 [0-0] days, P<0.05) than those without ARDS. Sepsis patients with ARDS showed daily positive net fluid balance during seven days compared with those without ARDS who showed daily negative net fluid balance since the second day with significant statistical differences. Among the 84 sepsis patients with ARDS, 58 (69.0%) died. Mean daily fluid input volumes were much lower in survivors than in non-survivors (43.2±16.7 mL/kg vs. 51.0±25.2 mL/kg, P<0.05) while output volumes were much higher in survivors (45.2±19.8 mL/kg vs. 40.2±22.7 mL/kg, P<0.05). Using binary logistic regression analysis, we found that the mean daily fluid balance was independently associated with mortality of sepsis patients complicating with ARDS (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Early negative fluid balance is independently associated with a better prognosis of sepsis patients complicated with ARDS.