Genomic analysis reveals phylogeny of Zygophyllales and mechanism for water retention of a succulent xerophyte.

Revealing the genetic basis for stress-resistant traits in extremophile plants will yield important information for crop improvement. Zygophyllum xanthoxylum, an extant species of the ancient Mediterranean, is a succulent xerophyte that can maintain a favorable water status under desert habitats; however, the genetic basis of this adaptive trait is poorly understood. Furthermore, the phylogenetic position of Zygophyllales, to which Z. xanthoxylum belongs, remains controversial. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the chromosome-level genome of Z. xanthoxylum. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Zygophyllales and Myrtales form a separated taxon as a sister to the clade comprising fabids and malvids, clarifying the phylogenetic position of Zygophyllales at whole-genome scale. Analysis of genomic and transcriptomic data revealed multiple critical mechanisms underlying the efficient osmotic adjustment using Na+ and K+ as "cheap" osmolytes that Z. xanthoxylum has evolved through the expansion and synchronized expression of genes encoding key transporters/channels and their regulators involved in Na+/K+ uptake, transport, and compartmentation. It is worth noting that ZxCNGC1;1 (cyclic nucleotide-gated channels) and ZxCNGC1;2 constituted a previously undiscovered energy-saving pathway for Na+ uptake. Meanwhile, the core genes involved in biosynthesis of cuticular wax also featured an expansion and upregulated expression, contributing to the water retention capacity of Z. xanthoxylum under desert environments. Overall, these findings boost the understanding of evolutionary relationships of eudicots, illustrate the unique water retention mechanism in the succulent xerophyte that is distinct from glycophyte, and thus provide valuable genetic resources for the improvement of stress tolerance in crops and insights into the remediation of sodic lands.

Strain measurement with adaptive local feature extraction method based on special fiber OFDR system.

The optical fiber distributed strain sensor based on the optical frequency domain reflectometer (OFDR) preserves its dominant position in short-distance measurement fields with high spatial resolution, such as biomedical treatment, soft robot, etc. However, owing to the weak intensity of the Rayleigh backscattered signal (RBS) in the single-mode fiber (SMF) and complex computation, the large strain changes cannot be precisely and rapidly demodulated by the traditional cross-correlation method. In this work, the OFDR with backscattering enhanced optical fiber (BEOF) is proposed and demonstrated for fast and large strain measurement. By enhancing the RBS amplitude, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is improved, resulting in a higher similarity between the reference signal and test signal, which is beneficial for the expansion of the strain measurement range. Moreover, the adaptive local feature extraction and matching (ALFEM) algorithm is presented and demonstrated, which replaces the traditional cross-correlation method for strain demodulation and fast measurement. On account of the enhancement ratio of BEOF, the dominant characteristic data segment can be extracted from whole wavelength data. In the experiments, the enhancing ratio of BEOF is designed as 10, resulting in the spatial resolution reaches 400µm and the strain measurement range is greatly increased to 4800µÉ›. Further, the effectiveness of the ALFEM algorithm has been verified, in which the strain demodulation time is approximately 25% of that of the traditional method. This scheme fully exploits the enhancement characteristic of the BEOF and is also applicable to the systems based on other types of BEOF, different strain changes and sensing distances.

Physiological and transcriptomic analyses provide insight into thermotolerance in desert plant Zygophyllum xanthoxylum.

BACKGROUND: Heat stress has adverse effects on the growth and reproduction of plants. Zygophyllum xanthoxylum, a typical xerophyte, is a dominant species in the desert where summer temperatures are around 40 °C. However, the mechanism underlying the thermotolerance of Z. xanthoxylum remained unclear. RESULTS: Here, we characterized the acclimation of Z. xanthoxylum to heat using a combination of physiological measurements and transcriptional profiles under treatments at 40 °C and 45 °C, respectively. Strikingly, moderate high temperature (40 °C) led to an increase in photosynthetic capacity and superior plant performance, whereas severe high temperature (45 °C) was accompanied by reduced photosynthetic capacity and inhibited growth. Transcriptome profiling indicated that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were related to transcription factor activity, protein folding and photosynthesis under heat conditions. Furthermore, numerous genes encoding heat transcription shock factors (HSFs) and heat shock proteins (HSPs) were significantly up-regulated under heat treatments, which were correlated with thermotolerance of Z. xanthoxylum. Interestingly, the up-regulation of PSI and PSII genes and the down-regulation of chlorophyll catabolism genes likely contribute to improving plant performance of Z. xanthoxylum under moderate high temperature. CONCLUSIONS: We identified key genes associated with of thermotolerance and growth in Z. xanthoxylum, which provide significant insights into the regulatory mechanisms of thermotolerance and growth regulation in Z. xanthoxylum under high temperature conditions.

Massive increases in C31 alkane on Zygophyllum xanthoxylum leaves contribute to its excellent abiotic stress tolerance.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Desert plants possess excellent water-conservation capacities to survive in extreme environments. Cuticular wax plays a pivotal role in reducing water loss through plant aerial surfaces. However, the role of cuticular wax in water retention by desert plants is poorly understood. METHODS: We investigated leaf epidermal morphology and wax composition of five desert shrubs from north-west China and characterized the wax morphology and composition for the typical xerophyte Zygophyllum xanthoxylum under salt, drought and heat treatments. Moreover, we examined leaf water loss and chlorophyll leaching of Z. xanthoxylum and analysed their relationships with wax composition under the above treatments. KEY RESULTS: The leaf epidermis of Z. xanthoxylum was densely covered by cuticular wax, whereas the other four desert shrubs had trichomes or cuticular folds in addition to cuticular wax. The total amount of cuticular wax on leaves of Z. xanthoxylum and Ammopiptanthus mongolicus was significantly higher than that of the other three shrubs. Strikingly, C31 alkane, the most abundant component, composed >71 % of total alkanes in Z. xanthoxylum, which was higher than for the other four shrubs studied here. Salt, drought and heat treatments resulted in significant increases in the amount of cuticular wax. Of these treatments, the combined drought plus 45 °C treatment led to the largest increase (107 %) in the total amount of cuticular wax, attributable primarily to an increase of 122 % in C31 alkane. Moreover, the proportion of C31 alkane within total alkanes remained >75 % in all the above treatments. Notably, the water loss and chlorophyll leaching were reduced, which was negatively correlated with C31 alkane content. CONCLUSION: Zygophyllum xanthoxylum could serve as a model desert plant for study of the function of cuticular wax in water retention because of its relatively uncomplicated leaf surface and because it accumulates C31 alkane massively to reduce cuticular permeability and resist abiotic stressors.

Flavonoids are involved in salt tolerance through ROS scavenging in the halophyte Atriplex canescens.

KEY MESSAGE: The content of flavonoids could increase in A. canescens under saline conditions. Overexpression of AcCHI in transgenic A. thaliana promotes flavonoid biosynthesis, thereby functioning in the tolerance of transgenic plants to salt and osmotic stress by maintaining ROS homeostasis. Atriplex canescens is a halophytic forage shrub with excellent adaptation to saline environment. Our previous study showed that a large number of genes related to the biosynthesis of flavonoids in A. canescens were significantly up-regulated by NaCl treatments. However, it remains unclear whether flavonoids are involved in A. canescens response to salinity. In this study, we found that the accumulation of flavonoids significantly increased in either the leaves or roots of A. canescens seedling under 100 and 300 mM NaCl treatments. Correspondingly, AcCHS, AcCHI and AcF3H, which encode three key enzymes (chalcone synthases (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), respectively) of flavonoids biosynthesis, were significantly induced in the roots or leaves of A. canescens by 100 or 300 mM NaCl. Then, we generated the transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing AcCHI and found that transgenic plants accumulated more flavonoids through enhancing the pathway of flavonoids biosynthesis. Furthermore, overexpression of AcCHI conferred salt and osmotic stress tolerance in transgenic A. thaliana. Contrasted with wild-type A. thaliana, transgenic lines grew better with greater biomass, less H2O2 content as well as lower relative plasma permeability in either salt or osmotic stress conditions. In conclusion, our results indicate that flavonoids play an important role in A. canescens response to salt stress through reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and the key enzyme gene AcCHI in flavonoids biosynthesis pathway of A. canescens has the potential to improve the stress tolerance of forages and crops.

Transcriptomic Analysis Provides Insight into the ROS Scavenging System and Regulatory Mechanisms in Atriplex canescens Response to Salinity.

Atriplex canescens is a representative halophyte with excellent tolerance to salt. Previous studies have revealed certain physiological mechanisms and detected functional genes associated with salt tolerance. However, knowledge on the ROS scavenging system and regulatory mechanisms in this species when adapting to salinity is limited. Therefore, this study further analyzed the transcriptional changes in genes related to the ROS scavenging system and important regulatory mechanisms in A. canescens under saline conditions using our previous RNA sequencing data. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway annotation revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were highly enriched in signal transduction- and reactive oxygen species-related biological processes, including "response to oxidative stress", "oxidoreductase activity", "protein kinase activity", "transcription factor activity", and "plant hormone signal transduction". Further analyses suggested that the transcription abundance of many genes involved in SOD, the AsA-GSH cycle, the GPX pathway, PrxR/Trx, and the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway were obviously enhanced. These pathways are favorable for scavenging excessive ROS induced by salt and maintaining the integrity of the cell membrane. Meanwhile, many vital transcription factor genes (WRKY, MYB, ZF, HSF, DREB, and NAC) exhibited increased transcripts, which is conducive to dealing with saline conditions by regulating downstream salt-responsive genes. Furthermore, a larger number of genes encoding protein kinases (RLK, CDPK, MAPK, and CTR1) were significantly induced by saline conditions, which is beneficial to the reception/transduction of salt-related signals. This study describes the abundant genetic resources for enhancing the salt tolerance in salt-sensitive plants, especially in forages and crops.

Identification of candidate genes related to salt tolerance of the secretohalophyte Atriplex canescens by transcriptomic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Atriplex canescens is a typical C4 secretohalophyte with salt bladders on the leaves. Accumulating excessive Na+ in tissues and salt bladders, maintaining intracellular K+ homeostasis and increasing leaf organic solutes are crucial for A. canescens survival in harsh saline environments, and enhanced photosynthetic activity and water balance promote its adaptation to salt. However, the molecular basis for these physiological mechanisms is poorly understood. Four-week-old A. canescens seedlings were treated with 100 mM NaCl for 6 and 24 h, and differentially expressed genes in leaves and roots were identified, respectively, with Illumina sequencing. RESULTS: In A. canescens treated with 100 mM NaCl, the transcripts of genes encoding transporters/channels for important nutrient elements, which affect growth under salinity, significantly increased, and genes involved in exclusion, uptake and vacuolar compartmentalization of Na+ in leaves might play vital roles in Na+ accumulation in salt bladders. Moreover, NaCl treatment upregulated the transcripts of key genes related to leaf organic osmolytes synthesis, which are conducive to osmotic adjustment. Correspondingly, aquaporin-encoding genes in leaves showed increased transcripts under NaCl treatment, which might facilitate water balance maintenance of A. canescens seedlings in a low water potential condition. Additionally, the transcripts of many genes involved in photosynthetic electron transport and the C4 pathway was rapidly induced, while other genes related to chlorophyll biosynthesis, electron transport and C3 carbon fixation were later upregulated by 100 mM NaCl. CONCLUSIONS: We identified many important candidate genes involved in the primary physiological mechanisms of A. canescens salt tolerance. This study provides excellent gene resources for genetic improvement of salt tolerance of important crops and forages.

The Effect of AtHKT1;1 or AtSOS1 Mutation on the Expressions of Na⁺ or K⁺ Transporter Genes and Ion Homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana under Salt Stress.

HKT1 and SOS1 are two key Na⁺ transporters that modulate salt tolerance in plants. Although much is known about the respective functions of HKT1 and SOS1 under salt conditions, few studies have examined the effects of HKT1 and SOS1 mutations on the expression of other important Na⁺ and K⁺ transporter genes. This study investigated the physiological parameters and expression profiles of AtHKT1;1, AtSOS1, AtHAK5, AtAKT1, AtSKOR, AtNHX1, and AtAVP1 in wild-type (WT) and athkt1;1 and atsos1 mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana under 25 mM NaCl. We found that AtSOS1 mutation induced a significant decrease in transcripts of AtHKT1;1 (by 56⁻62% at 6⁻24 h), AtSKOR (by 36⁻78% at 6⁻24 h), and AtAKT1 (by 31⁻53% at 6⁻24 h) in the roots compared with WT. This led to an increase in Na⁺ accumulation in the roots, a decrease in K⁺ uptake and transportation, and finally resulted in suppression of plant growth. AtHKT1;1 loss induced a 39⁻76% (6⁻24 h) decrease and a 27⁻32% (6⁻24 h) increase in transcripts of AtSKOR and AtHAK5, respectively, in the roots compared with WT. At the same time, 25 mM NaCl decreased the net selective transport capacity for K⁺ over Na⁺ by 92% in the athkt1;1 roots compared with the WT roots. Consequently, Na⁺ was loaded into the xylem and delivered to the shoots, whereas K⁺ transport was restricted. The results indicate that AtHKT1;1 and AtSOS1 not only mediate Na⁺ transport but also control ion uptake and the spatial distribution of Na⁺ and K⁺ by cooperatively regulating the expression levels of relevant Na⁺ and K⁺ transporter genes, ultimately regulating plant growth under salt stress.

[Triterpene saponins in Panax japonicus and their ~(13)C-NMR spectroscopic characteristics].

Panax japonicus( PJ) is a valuable medicinal plant belonging to the genus Panax of Araliaceae,the recumbent rhizome of which is widely used in clinic therapy,healthcare products and as cosmetic additives with functions of dissipating stasis,reducing swelling,stanching bleeding,and reinforcing deficiency,etc. PJ contains abundant levels of oleanane-and dammarane-type triterpene saponins,which are considered as the material basis for exerting pharmacodynamic action. Based on the previous researches,more than110 triterpene saponins have been reported from PJ. These triterpene saponins were summarized in this review,and could be classified into dammarenediol Ⅱ,protopanaxadiol,protopanaxatiol,ocotillol,oleanolic acid,ursolic acid and miscellaneous subtypes,according to their molecular skeletons in biosynthesis processes. Further more,the structural features of these triterpene saponins in the seven different subtypes,together with their~(13)C-NMR spectroscopic characteristics were described,hoping to provide available information for chemical diversity research of PJ.

Co-expression of tonoplast Cation/H(+) antiporter and H(+)-pyrophosphatase from xerophyte Zygophyllum xanthoxylum improves alfalfa plant growth under salinity, drought and field conditions.

Salinity and drought are major environmental factors limiting the growth and productivity of alfalfa worldwide as this economically important legume forage is sensitive to these kinds of abiotic stress. In this study, transgenic alfalfa lines expressing both tonoplast NXH and H(+)-PPase genes, ZxNHX and ZxVP1-1 from the xerophyte Zygophyllum xanthoxylum L., were produced via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Compared with wild-type (WT) plants, transgenic alfalfa plants co-expressing ZxNHX and ZxVP1-1 grew better with greater plant height and dry mass under normal or stress conditions (NaCl or water-deficit) in the greenhouse. The growth performance of transgenic alfalfa plants was associated with more Na(+), K(+) and Ca(2+) accumulation in leaves and roots, as a result of co-expression of ZxNHX and ZxVP1-1. Cation accumulation contributed to maintaining intracellular ions homoeostasis and osmoregulation of plants and thus conferred higher leaf relative water content and greater photosynthesis capacity in transgenic plants compared to WT when subjected to NaCl or water-deficit stress. Furthermore, the transgenic alfalfa co-expressing ZxNHX and ZxVP1-1 also grew faster than WT plants under field conditions, and most importantly, exhibited enhanced photosynthesis capacity by maintaining higher net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and water-use efficiency than WT plants. Our results indicate that co-expression of tonoplast NHX and H(+)-PPase genes from a xerophyte significantly improved the growth of alfalfa, and enhanced its tolerance to high salinity and drought. This study laid a solid basis for reclaiming and restoring saline and arid marginal lands as well as improving forage yield in northern China.

Up-regulation of P21 inhibits TRAIL-mediated extrinsic apoptosis, contributing resistance to SAHA in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM: P21, a multifunctional cell cycle-regulatory molecule, regulates apoptotic cell death. In this study we examined the effect of altered p21 expression on the sensitivity of acute myeloid leukemia cells in response to HDAC inhibitor SAHA treatment and investigated the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Stably transfected HL60 cell lines were established in RPMI-1640 with supplementation of G-418. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Western blot was applied to assess the protein expression levels of target genes. Cell apoptosis was monitored by AnnexinV-PE/7AAD assay. RESULTS: We showed HL60 cells that that didn't up-regulate p21 expression were more sensitive to SAHA-mediated apoptosis than NB4 and U937 cells that had increased p21 level. Enforced expression of p21 in HL60 cells reduced sensitivity to SAHA and blocked TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Conversely, p21 silencing in NB4 cells enhanced SAHA-mediated apoptosis and lethality. Finally, we found that combined treatment with SAHA and rapamycin down-regulated p21 and enhanced apoptosis in AML cells. CONCLUSION: We conclude that up-regulated p21 expression mediates resistance to SAHA via inhibition of TRAIL apoptotic pathway. P21 may serve as a candidate biomarker to predict responsiveness or resistance to SAHA-based therapy in AML patients. In addition, rapamycin may be an effective agent to override p21-mediated resistance to SAHA in AML patients.

3D printed PLGA scaffold with nano-hydroxyapatite carrying linezolid for treatment of infected bone defects.

BACKGROUND: Linezolid has been reported to protect against chronic bone and joint infection. In this study, linezolid was loaded into the 3D printed poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold with nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) to explore the effect of this composite scaffold on infected bone defect (IBD). METHODS: PLGA scaffolds were produced using the 3D printing method. Drug release of linezolid was analyzed by elution and high-performance liquid chromatography assay. PLGA, PLGA-HA, and linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds, were implanted into the defect site of a rabbit radius defect model. Micro-CT, H&E, and Masson staining, and immunohistochemistry were performed to analyze bone infection and bone healing. Evaluation of viable bacteria was performed. The cytocompatibility of 3D-printed composite scaffolds in vitro was detected using human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Long-term safety of the scaffolds in rabbits was evaluated. RESULTS: The linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds exhibited a sustained release of linezolid and showed significant antibacterial effects. In the IBD rabbit models implanted with the scaffolds, the linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds promoted bone healing and attenuated bone infection. The PLGA-HA scaffolds carrying linezolid upregulated the expression of osteogenic genes including collagen I, runt-related transcription factor 2, and osteocalcin. The linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds promoted the proliferation and osteogenesis of BMSCs in vitro via the PI3K/AKT pathway. Moreover, the rabbits implanted with the linezolid-loaded scaffolds showed normal biochemical profiles and normal histology, which suggested the safety of the linezolid-loaded scaffolds. CONCLUSION: Overall, the linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds fabricated by 3D printing exerts significant bone repair and anti-infection effects.

Experimental Research on the Antitumor Effect of Human Gastric Cancer Cells Transplanted in Nude Mice Based on Deep Learning Combined with Spleen-Invigorating Chinese Medicine.

Gastric cancer is still the fifth most common malignant tumor in the world and has the fourth highest mortality rate in the world. Gastric cancer is difficult to treat because of its unobvious onset, low resection rate, and rapid deterioration. Therefore, humans have been working hard to combat gastric cancer. At present, the most commonly used treatment method is radiotherapy. However, this method will damage the normal tissues of the irradiated area while treating malignant tumor cells. It not only has side effects of damage to the patient's skin and mucous membranes but also needs high-rate radiotherapy and has high cost for chemotherapy. In order to solve these problems, it is necessary to find new treatment methods. This article proposes the use of Chinese medicine to invigorate the spleen to inhibit human gastric cancer cells. This article combines modern machine learning technology with traditional Chinese medicine and combines traditional Chinese medicine physiotherapy with Western medicine nude mouse transplantation experiments. The treatment of tumors in Chinese medicine is based on the theory of Chinese medicine and has different characteristics. Western medicine has the advantage of permanently injuring patients. The process of the experiment is to transplant human-derived gastric cancer cells into nude mice. After grouping treatments and obtaining comparative data, deep learning techniques are used to analyze the properties of Chinese medicines for strengthening the spleen and to compare the properties of Chinese medicines for strengthening the spleen. The experimental results showed that the tumor inhibition rate of mice using fluorouracil was 18%, the tumor inhibition rate of mice using low-dose Chinese medicine was 16%, and the tumor inhibition rate of mice using high-dose Chinese medicine reached 52%. 80 days after the experiment, the survival rate of mice using high-dose Chinese medicine is 100% higher than that of mice without treatment.

Control of Grain Shape and Size in Rice by Two Functional Alleles of OsPUB3 in Varied Genetic Background.

Grain shape and size are key determinants of grain appearance quality and yield in rice. In our previous study, a grain shape QTL, qGS1-35.2, was fine-mapped using near-isogenic lines (NILs) derived from a cross between Zhenshan 97 (ZS97) and Milyang 46 (MY46). One annotated gene, OsPUB3, was found to be the most likely candidate gene. Here, knockout and overexpression experiments were performed to investigate the effects of OsPUB3 on grain shape and size. Four traits were tested, including grain length, grain width, grain weight, and the ratio of grain length to width. Knockout of OsPUB3 in NILZS97, NILMY46, and another rice cultivar carrying the OsPUB3MY46 allele all caused decreases in grain width and weight and increases in the ratio of grain length to width. Results also showed that the magnitude of the mutational effects varied depending on the target allele and the genetic background. Moreover, it was found that NILZS97 and NILMY46 carried different functional alleles of OsPUB3, causing differences in grain shape rather than grain weight. In the overexpression experiment, significant differences between transgenic-positive and transgenic-negative plants were detected in all four traits. These results indicate that OsPUB3 regulates grain shape and size through a complex mechanism and is a good target for deciphering the regulatory network of grain shape. This gene could be used to improve grain appearance quality through molecular breeding as well.

Clinical Features and Risk Factors for Nasal Rosacea: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: At present, some studies have reported that nasal rosacea may be an independent disease, but phenotypic characteristics and risk factors for nasal rosacea remain unknown. This study aimed to clarify the clinical features and explore the risk factors for nasal rosacea. METHODS: A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted, including 1615 rosacea patients and 1501 healthy individuals. The patients were divided into three groups based on the involved areas of the lesions (non-nasal, intermediate and nasal rosacea group). Their demographic data and clinical features were obtained from patients' medical records, and risk factors of nasal rosacea were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 927 (57.4%), 647 (40.1%) and 41 (2.5%) cases in the non-nasal, intermediate and nasal rosacea groups, respectively. Of 41 patients with nasal rosacea, all (100.0%) had fixed erythema and 17 cases (41.5%) had phymatous changes. Compared with control group, male gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14, 4.99), obesity (aOR = 3.19, 95% CI 1.86, 11.79) and alcohol use (aOR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.22, 5.40) were risk factors for nasal rosacea, but these three factors were not risk factors for non-nasal rosacea and intermediate rosacea groups. Among patients with nasal lesions (compared with patients without nasal phymatous changes), family history of rosacea was a risk factor (aOR = 2.12, 95% CI 1.01, 4.46) for nasal phymatous changes and Fitzpatrick IV skin type was a protective factor (aOR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.28, 0.86). CONCLUSION: Nasal rosacea has relatively specific clinical features and independent risk factors, suggesting that it may be a special type of rosacea.

[Combination of improved sex therapy and sildenafil for erectile dysfunction in Uigur men: retrospective analysis of 2505 cases].

OBJECTIVE: The sex therapy is not yet popularized at present. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the combination of the improved sex therapy and oral sildenafil on erectile dysfunction (ED). METHODS: A total of 3130 Uigur cases of ED received in Xinjiang Bogda Hospital were divided into a control group (n=625) and a trial group (n=2505), the former treated with oral sildenafil alone, and the latter by the combination of the improved genital therapy and sildenafil, both for 3 months and followed up at 6 and 12 months after the treatment. The therapeutic effects were evaluated and compared using IIEF-5. RESULTS: The IIEF-5 scores of the control group were 12.80 +/- 3.76 and 18.10 +/- 2.61 before and after the treatment, and 17.35 +/- 2.73 and 16.64 +/- 2.63 at 6 and 12 months, respectively, while those of the trial group were 12.73 +/- 3.52 and 19.06 +/- 4.07 before and af- ter the treatment, and 19.86 +/- 2.42 and 20.47 +/- 2.38 at 6 and 12 months, respectively, with statistically significant differences either between pre- and post-treatment (P < 0.05) or between the control and trial groups at 6 and 12 months (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of the improved sex therapy and oral sildenafil is superior to sildenafil alone in the treatment of ED, and its efficacy is relatively stable at 12 months.

Sodium chloride facilitates the secretohalophyte Atriplex canescens adaptation to drought stress.

Atriplex canescens is a C4 shrub with excellent adaptation to saline and arid environments. Our previous study showed that the secretion of excessive Na+ into leaf salt bladders is a primary strategy in salt tolerance of A. canescens and external 100 mM NaCl can substantially stimulate its growth. To investigate whether NaCl could facilitate Atriplex canescens response to drought stress, five-week-old seedlings were subjected to drought stress (30% of field water capacity) in the presence or absence of additional 100 mM NaCl. The results showed that, under drought stress, the addition of NaCl could substantially improve the growth of A. canescens by increasing leaf relative water content, enhancing photosynthetic activity and inducing a significant declined leaf osmotic potential (Ψs). The addition of NaCl significantly increased Na+ concentration in leaf salt bladders and the Na+ contribution to leaf Ψs, while had no adverse effects on K+ accumulation in leaf laminae. Therefore, the large accumulation of Na+ in salt bladders for enhancing osmotic adjustment (OA) ability is a vital strategy in A. canescens responding to drought stress. In addition, the concentration of free proline, bataine and soluble sugars exhibited a significant increase in the presence of NaCl under drought stress, and the betaine contribution to leaf Ψs was significantly increased by additional NaCl compared with that under drought treatment alone, suggesting that compatible solutes are also involved in OA in addition to functioning as protectants to alleviate water deficit injury.

[Clinical Characteristics and Bone Marrow Histopathology Features in Essential Thrombocythaemia Patients with Different Gene Mutation in China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics, laboratorial and bone marrow pathological features of primary thrombocytopenia (ET) patients with different mutations of CALR, JAK2 and MPL genes. METHODS: The chinical data of 120 cases of ET in Jiangsu provincial people's hospital/ The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2015 to December 2017 were collected and analyzed, including 76 cases with JAK2 gene mutation, 40 cases with CALR gene mutation, 2 cases with MPL gene mutations, 2 cases without gene mutation. RESULTS: Among the ET patients, compared with the JAK2 gene mutation, CALR gene mutation showed statistically significant deareament of white blood cells and hemoglobin (P=0.001, P=0.01) and the male platelets in CALR group showed significant increament (P=0.04). Fourthermore, the average number of megakaryocytes and its cluster numbers in each hight power field of vision showed statistically significant decreament in CALR group as compared with JAK2 group (P=0.001, P=0.001), and thrombotic events in CALR group were signicantly lower than those in JAK2 group (7.5% vs 18.4%) (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Mutations of CALR, JAK2 have different clinical characteristics and blood pathological changes of Chinese ET patients, and their clinical significance is worth to explore.

6-(2-Fluoro-phen-yl)-5,6-dihydro-benzimidazolo[1,2-c]quinazoline.

In the title compound, C(20)H(14)FN(3), the pyrimidine ring adopts a half-chair conformation. The dihedral angle between the benzimidazole ring system and the fluoro-phenyl ring is 84.18 (10)°. In the crystal structure, mol-ecules are linked into a two-dimensional network parallel to the bc plane by N-H⋯N and C-H⋯F hydrogen bonds.

[Development of a print quality inspection system for biochips].

An automatic inspection system for biochip's print quality is presented in this paper. It consists of an automatic mechanical control, a CCD sensor for getting the image of PET boart, and the special computer software for image processing and recognition. Experimental results indicate that this system is capable of providing a precise and effective realtime inspection for biochips' print quality.