Genome-wide analysis of SET domain genes and the function of GhSDG51 during salt stress in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

BACKGROUND: Cotton, being extensively cultivated, holds immense economic significance as one of the most prominent crops globally. The SET (Su(var), E, and Trithorax) domain-containing protein is of significant importance in plant development, growth, and response to abiotic stress by modifying the lysine methylation status of histone. However, the comprehensive identification of SET domain genes (SDG) have not been conducted in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). RESULTS: A total of 229 SDGs were identified in four Gossypium species, including G. arboretum, G. raimondii, G. hirsutum, and G. barbadense. These genes could distinctly be divided into eight groups. The analysis of gene structure and protein motif revealed a high degree of conservation among the SDGs within the same group. Collinearity analysis suggested that the SDGs of Gossypium species and most of the other selected plants were mainly expanded by dispersed duplication events and whole genome duplication (WGD) events. The allopolyploidization event also has a significant impact on the expansion of SDGs in tetraploid Gossypium species. Furthermore, the characteristics of these genes have been relatively conserved during the evolution. Cis-element analysis revealed that GhSDGs play a role in resistance to abiotic stresses and growth development. Furthermore, the qRT-PCR results have indicated the ability of GhSDGs to respond to salt stress. Co-expression analysis revealed that GhSDG51 might co-express with genes associated with salt stress. In addition, the silencing of GhSDG51 in cotton by the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) method suggested a potential positive regulatory role of GhSDG51 in salt stress. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study comprehensively analyze the SDGs in cotton and provide a basis for understanding the biological role of SDGs in the stress resistance in upland cotton.

Multimodal remote sensing application for weed competition time series analysis in maize farmland ecosystems.

Although weeds cause serious harm to crops through competition for resources, they also have ecological functions. We need to study the change law of competition between crops and weeds, and achieve scientific farmland weed management under the premise of protecting weed biodiversity. In the research, we perform a competitive experiment in Harbin, China, in 2021, with five periods of maize as the study subjects. Comprehensive competition indices (CCI-A) based on maize phenotypes were used to describe the dynamic processes and results of weeds competition. The relation between in structural and biochemical information of maize and weed competitive intensity (Levels 1-5) at different periods and the effects on yield parameters were analyzed. The results showed that the differences of maize plant height, stalk thickness, and N and P elements among different competition levels (Levels 1-5) changed significantly with increasing competition time. This directly resulted in 10%, 31%, 35% and 53% decrease in maize yield; and 3%, 7%, 9% and 15% decrease in hundred grain weight. Compared to the conventional competition indices, CCI-A had better dispersion in the last four periods and was more suitable for quantifying the time-series response of competition. Then, multi-source remote sensing technologies are applied to reveal the temporal response of spectral and lidar information to community competition. The first-order derivatives of the spectra indicate that the red edge (RE) of competition stressed plots biased in short-wave direction in each period. With increasing competition time, RE of Levels 1-5 shifted towards the long wave direction as a whole. The coefficients of variation of canopy height model (CHM) indicate that weed competition had a significant effect on CHM. Finally, the deep learning model with multimodal data (Mul-3DCNN) is created to achieve a large range of CCI-A predictions for different periods, and achieves a prediction accuracy of R2 = 0.85 and RMSE = 0.095. Overall, this study use of CCI-A indices combined with multimodal temporal remote sensing imagery and DL to achieve large scale prediction of weed competitiveness in different periods of maize.

High versus Low Mechanical Index Imaging Diagnostic Ultrasound in Patients with Myocardial Infarction: A Therapeutic Application Study.

BACKGROUND High mechanical index impulse of ultrasound is used for diagnosis of microvascular coronary obstruction and the necrotic area, but an experimental model study suggested that it can restore microvascular and epicardial coronary flow. The purposes of the study were to test the safety and therapeutic efficacy of high acoustic energy diagnostic ultrasound in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction subjected to a low (n=199) or high (n=251) mechanical index ultrasound before and after percutaneous coronary interventions and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated. Coronary angiographies were performed for the assessment of culprit vessels. Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade 1 or 2 were considered as culprit vessels. RESULTS Patients diagnosed through low acoustic energy ultrasound reported 235 infarct vessels and patients diagnosed through high acoustic energy ultrasound reported 300 infarct vessels. With respect to low acoustic energy, high acoustic energy reduced the number of culprit vessels at post-percutaneous coronary interventions at 48 hours before hospital discharge (P=0.015) and post-percutaneous coronary interventions at 1-month from the baseline interventions (P=0.043). Also, the maximum% ST-segment resolution and an ejection fraction of the left ventricle was increased and microvascular coronary obstruction in infarct vessels was decreased for both evaluation points. High acoustic energy could not affect heart rate (P=0.133) and oxygen saturation (P=0.079). CONCLUSIONS High acoustic energy ultrasound is a safe method for diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and may have therapeutic applications.

Paper-based immune-affinity arrays for detection of multiple mycotoxins in cereals.

Mycotoxins produced by different species of fungi may coexist in cereals and feedstuffs, and could be highly toxic for humans and animals. For quantification of multiple mycotoxins in cereals, we developed a paper-based mycotoxin immune-affinity array. First, paper-based microzone arrays were fabricated by photolithography. Then, monoclonal mycotoxin antibodies were added in a copolymerization reaction with a cross-linker to form an immune-affinity monolith on the paper-based microzone array. With use of a competitive immune-response format, paper-based mycotoxin immune-affinity arrays were successfully applied to detect mycotoxins in samples. The detection limits for deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, T-2 toxin, and HT-2 toxin were 62.7, 10.8, 0.36, and 0.23 µg·kg-1, respectively, which meet relevant requirements for these compounds in food. The recovery rates were 81-86% for deoxynivalenol, 89-117% for zearalenone, 79-86% for T-2 toxin, and 78-83% for HT-2 toxin, and showed the paper-based immune-affinity arrays had good reproducibility. In summary, the paper-based mycotoxin immune-affinity array provides a sensitive, rapid, accurate, stable, and convenient platform for detection of multiple mycotoxins in agro-foods. Graphical abstract Paper-based immune-affinity monolithic array. DON deoxynivalenol, HT-2 HT-2 toxin, T-2 T-2 toxin, PEGDA polyethylene glycol diacrylate, ZEN zearalenone.

Effectiveness of acupuncture for breast cancer related lymphedema: protocol for a single-blind, sham-controlled, randomized, multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: Although various treatments for breast cancer related lymphedema exist, there is still a need for a more effective and convenient approach. Pilot studies and our clinical observations suggested that acupuncture may be a potential option. This study aims to verify the effectiveness of acupuncture on BCRL and evaluate its safety using a rigorously designed trial. METHODS/DESIGN: Women who are clinically diagnosed as unilateral BCRL, with a 10% to 40% increase in volume compared to the unaffected arm, will be recruited. Following baseline assessment, participants will be randomized to either the real acupuncture group or sham-acupuncture group at a ratio of 1:1, and given a standard real acupuncture or sham-acupuncture treatment accordingly on both arms followed by the same usual care of decongestive therapy. Volume measurements of both arms will be performed for every participant after each treatment. Data collected at baseline and the last session will be used to calculate the primary outcome and secondary outcomes. Other data will be exploited for interim analyses and trial monitoring. The primary outcome is the absolute reduced limb volume ratio. Secondary outcomes are incidence of adverse events and change in quality of life. A t test or non-parameter test will be used to compare the difference between two groups, and assess the overall effectiveness of acupuncture using the SPSS software (version 12). DISCUSSION: This study will help expand our knowledge about the effectiveness of acupuncture on BCRL, and how acupuncture might be used in the management of this condition. Acupuncture may be a promising complement or alternative to conventional lymphedema treatment methods, if its effectiveness is confirmed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02803736 (Registered on October 31, 2016).

Intercellular Interactions Mediated by HGF And TGF-Β Promote the 3D Spherical and Xenograft Growth of Liver Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the importance of the interactions between liver cancer cells and fibroblasts has been increasingly recognized; however, many details remain to be explored. METHODS: In this work, we first studied their intercellular interactions using conditioned medium from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), then through a previously established coculture model. RESULTS: Culturing in a conditioned medium from MEFs could significantly increase the growth, migration, and invasion of liver cancer cells. The coculture model further demonstrated that a positive feedback loop was formed between transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) from HepG2 cells and mHGF (mouse hepatocyte growth factor) from MEFs during coculture. In this feedback loop, c-Met expression in HepG2 cells was significantly increased, and its downstream signaling pathways, such as Src/FAK, PI3K/AKT, and RAF/MEK/ERK, were activated. Moreover, the proportion of activated MEFs was also increased. More importantly, the growth-promoting effects caused by the interaction of these two cell types were validated in vitro by a 3D spheroid growth assay and in vivo by a xenograft mouse model. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these findings provide valuable insights into the interactions between fibroblasts and liver cancer cells, which may have therapeutic implications for the treatment of liver cancer.

The Effects of Ginkgo biloba Extract on Autophagy in Human Macrophages Stimulated by Cigarette Smoke Extract.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on autophagy in human macrophages stimulated by cigarette smoke extract (CSE). METHODS: The human monocyte cell line U937 was cultured in vitro, and phorbol ester (PMA) was added to the cell culture medium to induce differentiation into human macrophages. CSE was prepared by traditional methods for experiments. The cells were divided into four groups: the blank group, the CSE model group, the GBE + CSE group, and the rapamycin + CSE group. Immunofluorescence was used to identify human macrophages, transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of human macrophages in each group, ELISA was used to measure the amount of IL-6 and IL-10 in the supernatant from each group of cells, the mRNA levels of p62, ATG5, ATG7, and Rab7 were measured by real-time qPCR, and the protein expression levels of p62, ATG5, ATG7, and Rab7 were measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: U937 cells were successfully differentiated into human macrophages after induction with PMA. The CSE model group had many more autophagosomes than the blank group. Compared with the CSE model group, the GBE + CSE group and the rapamycin + CSE group had significantly more autophagolysosomal. Compared with the other groups, the CSE model group had a higher level of IL-6 but a lower level of IL-10 in the supernatant (p < 0.05). Compared with the blank group, the mRNA and protein expression levels of p62 in the CSE model group were significantly decreased, while the mRNA and protein expression levels of ATG5 and ATG7 were significantly increased in the CSE model group (p < 0.05). No difference was found in the mRNA and protein expression levels of Rab7 between the blank group and the CSE model group. Compared with the CSE model group, the IL-6 level in the GBE + CSE group and the rapamycin + CSE group cell culture supernatant decreased significantly, p62 mRNA and protein expression significantly decreased, while ATG5, ATG7, and Rab7 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Moreover, increased LC3-II/LC3-I ratio were also found in the GBE + CSE group and the rapamycin + CSE group compared with the CSE model group. CONCLUSIONS: GBE could promote the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes in human macrophages, enhance the autophagy function of human macrophages, and reduce the damaging effect of CSE on the autophagy function of macrophages.

Computational fluid dynamics simulation analysis of the effect of curved rice leaves on the deposition behaviour of droplets.

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies on the droplet deposition behaviour of rice leaves have modelled the leaves as flat surface structures, their curved surface structures actually have a significant effect on droplet deposition. RESULTS: In this paper, the statistical distribution of the coordinate parameters of rice leaves at the elongation stage was determined, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation models of droplet impact on rice leaves with different curvature radii were built, and the effect of leaf curvature radius on the deposition behaviour and spreading diameter of droplets on rice leaves was studied using validated simulation models. The results showed that the average relative errors of the CFD simulation models were in the range of 2.23-9.63%. When the droplets struck the rice leaves at a speed of 4 m/s, the 50 µm droplets did not bounce within the curvature radii of 25-120 cm, the maximum spreading diameters of 200 and 500 µm droplets that just adhered to the leaves were 287 and 772 µm, respectively. The maximum spreading diameters of 50, 200, and 500 µm droplets that just split were 168, 636, and 1411 µm, respectively. As the curvature radii of the leaves increased, the maximum spreading diameter of the droplets gradually decreased, and droplet bouncing was more likely to occur. However, a special case in which no significant change in the maximum spreading diameter arose when 50 µm droplets hit a leaf with a curvature radius exceeding 50 cm. CONCLUSION: Splitting generally occurred for large droplets with a small curvature radius and small tilt angle; bouncing generally occurred for large droplets with a large curvature radius and large tilt angle. When the droplet was small, the deposition behaviour was mostly adhesion. The change in spreading diameter after stabilisation was similar to the change in maximum spreading diameter, where the spreading diameter after stabilisation greatly increased after droplet splitting. This paper serves as a reference for the study of pesticide droplet deposition and its application in rice-plant protection.

Variable rate air-assisted spray based on real-time disease spot identification.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the variable-rate application (VA) of agrochemicals on fruit trees is based on canopy volume and biomass. The canopy volume has a significant relationship with disease resistance and degree of disease incidence. Therefore, this study proposes a VA method that uses deep convolutional neural networks for real-time recognition of disease spots on pear trees. Furthermore, it specifies the limitations and application scenarios of the disease spot recognition. Field performance tests were conducted to verify the performance of the proposed VA system. RESULTS: The results showed a mean average precision, precision, and recall of 87.42%, 83.76%, and 87.23%, respectively. The spot recognition rate was 81.3% when the canopy sampling distance, spot diameter, and canopy porosity were 1.2 m, 4-8 mm, and 55.76%, respectively. The results indicate that the proposed VA system saved 51.9% spray volume compared to conventional methods while ensuring quality. CONCLUSION: Compared to the traditional constant rate model, the proposed VA technology based on real-time disease spot identification can reduce spraying in nondiseased areas, thereby abandoning the previous saturation application practice and significantly reducing pesticide use. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

[Chemical constituents of the roots of Vaccinium bracteatum].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the roots of Vaccinium bracteatum. METHODS: The constituents were separated and purified with chromatographic methods (including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and RP-18 column chromatography), and their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods (including MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR). RESULTS: 10 compounds were isolated from the roots of Vaccinium bracteatu and were elucidated as chlorogenic acid (1), pinoresinol (2), ferulic acid (3), kaempferol (4), trans-caffeic acid (5), beta-sitosterol (6), quercetin (7), oleanolic acid (8), apigenin (9) and luteolin (10). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1 -3 are obtained from this plant for the first time.

Recent Progress on the Role of Fibronectin in Tumor Stromal Immunity and Immunotherapy.

As a major component of the stromal microenvironment of various solid tumors, the extracellular matrix (ECM) has attracted increasing attention in cancer-related studies. ECM in the tumor stroma not only provides an external barrier and framework for tumor cell adhesion and movement, but also acts as an active regulator that modulates the tumor microenvironment, including stromal immunity. Fibronectin (Fn), as a core component of the ECM, plays a key role in the assembly and remodeling of the ECM. Hence, understanding the role of Fn in the modulation of tumor stromal immunity is of great importance for cancer immunotherapy. Hence, in-depth studies on the underlying mechanisms of Fn in tumors are urgently needed to clarify the current understanding and issues and to identify new and specific targets for effective diagnosis and treatment purposes. In this review, we summarize the structure and role of Fn, its potent derivatives in tumor stromal immunity, and their biological effects and mechanisms in tumor development. In addition, we discuss the novel applications of Fn in tumor treatment. Therefore, this review can provide prospective insight into Fn immunotherapeutic applications in tumor treatment.

Autonomous Navigation System of Greenhouse Mobile Robot Based on 3D Lidar and 2D Lidar SLAM.

The application of mobile robots is an important link in the development of intelligent greenhouses. In view of the complex environment of a greenhouse, achieving precise positioning and navigation by robots has become the primary problem to be solved. Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology is a hot spot in solving the positioning and navigation in an unknown indoor environment in recent years. Among them, the SLAM based on a two-dimensional (2D) Lidar can only collect the environmental information at the level of Lidar, while the SLAM based on a 3D Lidar demands a high computation cost; hence, it has higher requirements for the industrial computers. In this study, the robot navigation control system initially filtered the information of a 3D greenhouse environment collected by a 3D Lidar and fused the information into 2D information, and then, based on the robot odometers and inertial measurement unit information, the system has achieved a timely positioning and construction of the greenhouse environment by a robot using a 2D Lidar SLAM algorithm in Cartographer. This method not only ensures the accuracy of a greenhouse environmental map but also reduces the performance requirements on the industrial computer. In terms of path planning, the Dijkstra algorithm was used to plan the global navigation path of the robot while the Dynamic Window Approach (DWA) algorithm was used to plan the local navigation path of the robot. Through the positioning test, the average position deviation of the robot from the target positioning point is less than 8 cm with a standard deviation (SD) of less than 3 cm; the average course deviation is less than 3° with an SD of less than 1° at the moving speed of 0.4 m/s. The robot moves at the speed of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 m/s, respectively; the average lateral deviation between the actual movement path and the target movement path is less than 10 cm, and the SD is less than 6 cm; the average course deviation is <3°, and the SD is <1.5°. Both the positioning accuracy and the navigation accuracy of the robot can meet the requirements of mobile navigation and positioning in the greenhouse environment.

Computational fluid dynamics simulation experimental verification and analysis of droplets deposition behaviour on vibrating pear leaves.

BACKGROUND: The interaction between canopy and droplets is very important in the process of crop spraying. During the actual air-assisted application process, air-mist flow inevitably disturbs the leaves before droplets reaching them, which will also affect the final deposition state of the droplets on the leaf. Currently, researches on the interaction between droplets and the target leaf surface mainly focuses on the deposition behaviour on the surface of stationary target leaves rather than the dynamic leaves. Therefore, the deposition characteristics after the collision between the droplets and dynamic leaves are important for practical application and worth further study. RESULTS: Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed to characterise the surface roughness, contact angle, and mechanical vibration. The interaction platform between the droplet and the vibrating pear leaf was built for experimental verification under laboratory conditions. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results, which revealed the main reason for the droplet spreading and sliding was the inertial force generated by the relative velocity. It also indicated that the pear leaf vibration can improve the deposition of low-velocity and small droplets, which is different from that of static pear leaves. CONCLUSION: The deposition effect of droplets in vibrating pear leaves was investigated. This study also provides a simulation method for the collision between a vibrating leaf and moving droplets, and provides reference for the study of droplet deposition characteristics under the vibration of fruit trees.

Identification and Comprehensive Evaluation of Resistant Weeds Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Based Multispectral Imagery.

Atrazine is one of the most widely used herbicides in weed management. However, the widespread use of atrazine has concurrently accelerated the evolution of weed resistance mechanisms. Resistant weeds were identified early to contribute to crop protection in precision agriculture before visible symptoms of atrazine application to weeds in actual field environments. New developments in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms and sensor technologies promote cost-effective data collection by collecting multi-modal data at very high spatial and spectral resolution. In this study, we obtained multispectral and RGB images using UAVs, increased available information with the help of image fusion technology, and developed a weed spectral resistance index, WSRI = (RE-R)/(RE-B), based on the difference between susceptible and resistant weed biotypes. A deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) was applied to evaluate the potential for identifying resistant weeds in the field. Comparing the WSRI introduced in this study with previously published vegetation indices (VIs) shows that the WSRI is better at classifying susceptible and resistant weed biotypes. Fusing multispectral and RGB images improved the resistance identification accuracy, and the DCNN achieved high field accuracies of 81.1% for barnyardgrass and 92.4% for velvetleaf. Time series and weed density influenced the study of weed resistance, with 4 days after application (4DAA) identified as a watershed timeframe in the study of weed resistance, while different weed densities resulted in changes in classification accuracy. Multispectral and deep learning proved to be effective phenotypic techniques that can thoroughly analyze weed resistance dynamic response and provide valuable methods for high-throughput phenotyping and accurate field management of resistant weeds.

Model construction and validation of airflow velocity attenuation through pear tree canopies.

To investigate the airflow velocity attenuation inside pear tree canopies and the factors that influence its effect on air-assisted spraying, the relationship between the resistance of the canopies to airflow and airflow velocity inside the canopies was determined. At the same time, the theoretical model of airflow velocity attenuation in the canopy was constructed, in which the velocity attenuation factor k and the incoming velocity were the model input values, and the airflow velocity in the canopy was the model output value. Then, experimental verification of the theoretical model was completed. The determination test of airflow velocity inside canopies with three leaf area densities revealed that the error range between the established theoretical model and the experimental airflow velocity inside the pear tree canopy was 0.11-1.25 m/s, and the mean size of the model accuracy was 83.4% under various working conditions. The results revealed that the region from a depth of 0 m to 0.3 m inside the canopy was the rapid attenuation area of the airflow and that from 0.3 m to 0.9 m was the low attenuation area. Furthermore, they revealed that high-speed airflow could strongly disturb the outer branches and leaves, greatly changing the windward area of the canopy blades and thus affecting the accuracy of the model. By introducing a dynamic parameter of the canopy leaf windward area for model correction, the R2 of the model was above 0.9. Finally, validation of the model was performed in an air-assisted spraying operation in an orchard. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the regulation of airflow parameters of air-assisted spraying of pear trees.

Effects of high-activity radioactive iodine treatment on renal function in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma - retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: It is not clear whether high-activity radioactive iodine (¹³¹I) treatment will affect renal function. This study aimed to investigate the effects of high-activity ¹³¹I treatment on the clinical metrics of renal function in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 262 DTC patients with abnormal baseline renal function (group A) and 262 DTC patients with normal baseline renal function (group B) who received 131I therapy were analysed. Each group was further divided into three subgroups based on the cumulative activity of 131I: subgroup 1 if the cumulative activity was less than 11.1 GBq; subgroup 2 if the cumulative activity was between 11.1 GBq and 18.5 GBq; and subgroup 3 if the cumulative activity was more than 18.5 GBq. The clinical metrics of renal function including serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were measured and compared before initial 131I treatment and 5 years later. RESULT: There was no significant difference of the demographics between the two groups. In group A, SCr and BUN levels were elevated in 186 and 113 patients, respectively, and eGFR was decreased in 108 patients before the initial ¹³¹I therapy. SCr and BUN levels were found to be increased in all subgroups 5 years after the initial ¹³¹I therapy; furthermore, eGFR was found to be decreased in all subgroups after ¹³¹I therapy, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). A gender bias was not observed in the changing trends of SCr and BUN levels and eGFR. In group B, no significant difference in the mean levels of SCr, BUN, and eGFR was observed in the 3 subgroups (p > 0.05), regardless of gender, before the initial ¹³¹I therapy and 5 years later. A total of 5, 2, and 2 patients presented with abnormal renal function after ¹³¹I treatment in subgroups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in the incidence of renal dysfunction among the 3 subgroups (p = 0.423). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the nephrotoxicity of high-activity ¹³¹I therapy, regardless of gender, is very low in patients with DTC with normal renal function; however, high-activity ¹³¹I therapy may exacerbate the loss of renal function in those with renal dysfunction.

Evaluation of biventricular longitudinal myocardial function in normal fetuses at different gestational ages using ultrasonic velocity vector imaging.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate biventricular myocardial function and biventricular longitudinal global myocardial function of fetuses at different gestational weeks using ultrasonic velocity vector imaging. Methods: A total of 127 pregnant women were enrolled and divided into five groups according to the gestational age of their fetuses. The velocity, strain, and strain rate of the left and right ventricles were measured, and these biventricular parameters were compared between the groups. The global parameters of the biventricular myocardium were also compared. Results: A pairwise comparison revealed that the differences in biventricular velocity and strain rate between groups in adjacent gestational weeks were not statistically significant (P > 0.05), but velocity increased with gestational age. A comparison of fetal longitudinal global myocardial parameters revealed that the global velocity, strain, and strain rate of the right ventricle were higher than those of the left ventricle, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in all groups. Conclusion: The peak velocities of the fetal left and right ventricles increased with gestational age, but the global strain and strain rate did not, suggesting that fetal myocardial function is mature and constant in the middle and late stages of pregnancy and can more reliably reflect myocardial deformation. The peak systolic velocity, global strain, and peak strain rate of the right ventricle were higher than those of the left ventricle, suggesting that the right ventricle dominates longitudinal systolic movement from the second trimester of pregnancy.

Quantitative Scintigraphy Evaluated the Relationship between 131I Therapy and Salivary Glands Function in DTC Patients: A Retrospective Analysis.

Purpose: Quantitative scintigraphy to evaluate salivary gland function changes in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) after iodine-131 (131I) treatment. Methods: A total of 458 patients with DTC grouped by sex and age were included. Salivary gland scintigraphy was performed to evaluate salivary gland function before and after 131I treatment. The uptake fraction (UF), uptake index (UI), and excretion fraction (EF) of two pairs of parotid glands and submandibular glands were measured and compared. The Chi-square test was conducted according to function impairment count. Results: Salivary gland function in different age groups and sexes were quite different, especially for women <55 years old, who had decreased UF, UI, and EF of all four glands without basal injury. The secretion or uptake function of some salivary glands with basic function impairment before 131I treatment was increased after iodine treatment. Only a small percentage of males showed reduced functional parameters after several treatments. The most significant difference in the count of impairment for the four salivary glands were the first and third examinations, which was more evident in women. The submandibular gland had the most significant reduction in uptake. Conclusion: Changes in salivary gland function are more common in young females being treated for DTC. Impairment of salivary gland function is correlated with the number of treatments and the cumulative dose of 131I. Some salivary gland functions impaired before 131I treatment were enhanced in the early treatment.

Precise medicine of programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 inhibitor immunotherapy combined radiotherapy for inoperable advanced lung cancer: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors are a group of immune checkpoint inhibitors immunotherapy for cancer treatment. These immune checkpoint inhibitors are becoming first-line treatments for several types of cancer. Radiotherapy for cancer is a traditional treatment and the therapeutic effect is not satisfactory due to the side effect of chemotherapeutic drugs. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PD1/PD-L1 inhibitor immunotherapy combined chemotherapy for inoperable advanced lung cancer. METHODS: We will utilize PubMed, PubMed Central, EMbase, Medline, CNKI, WAN FANG Database, and Web of Science to screen eligible studies published from January 1, 2015 to December 30, 2020. Two reviewers will extract data and evaluate the risk of bias independently. The quality of the included studies will be evaluated using the RevMan 5.3 software for data analysis. RESULTS: This review will summarize high-quality evidence of trials to evaluate the precise medicine efficacy and safety of PD1/PD-L1 inhibitor combined radiotherapy for inoperable advanced lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the systematic review will provide scientific evidence of the efficacy and safety of PD1/PD-L1 inhibitor combined radiotherapy for inoperable advanced lung cancer to guide the clinician's drug use. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Not applicable. INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202140123.

Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Regenerative Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Opportunities and Challenges.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology with a high rate of disability. Traditional treatments for RA remain a challenging issue. For example, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have no therapeutic effects on joint destruction, and the prominent side effects include gastrointestinal symptoms. RA is characterized by recurrence and bone attrition. Therefore, regenerative medicine and the use of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) therapies have recently emerged as potential options. UC-MSCs are multifunctional stem cells that are present in neonatal umbilical cord tissue and can differentiate into many kinds of cells, which have broad clinical application prospects in the tissue engineering of bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, ligament, nerve, liver, endothelium, and myocardium. Moreover, UC-MSCs have advantages, such as convenient collection of materials and no ethical disputes; thus, these cells have attracted increasing attention from researchers. However, there are few clinical studies regarding UC-MSC therapy for RA. In this paper, we will review traditional drugs for RA treatment and then focus on UC-MSC therapy for RA, including preclinical and clinical UC-MSC applications for RA patients in the context of regenerative medicine. Finally, we will summarize the challenges and perspectives of UC-MSCs as a potential therapeutic strategy for RA. This review will help to design and discover more potent and efficacious treatments for RA patients and aid in advancing this class of cell therapy.