Simplified Helicobacter pylori therapy for patients with penicillin allergy: a randomised controlled trial of vonoprazan-tetracycline dual therapy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vonoprazan and tetracycline (VT) dual therapy as first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with penicillin allergy. METHODS: In this randomised controlled trial, treatment-naïve adults with H. pylori infection and penicillin allergy were randomised 1:1 to receive either open-label VT dual therapy (vonoprazan 20 mg two times per day+tetracycline 500 mg three times a day) or bismuth quadruple therapy (BQT; lansoprazole 30 mg two times per day+colloidal bismuth 150 mg three times a day+tetracycline 500 mg three times a day+metronidazole 400 mg three times a day) for 14 days. The primary outcome was non-inferiority in eradication rates in the VT dual group compared with the BQT group. Secondary outcomes included assessing adverse effects. RESULTS: 300 patients were randomised. The eradication rates in the VT group and the BQT group were: 92.0% (138/150, 95% CI 86.1% to 95.6%) and 89.3% (134/150, 95% CI 83.0% to 93.6%) in intention-to-treat analysis (difference 2.7%; 95% CI -4.6% to 10.0%; non-inferiority p=0.000); 94.5% (138/146, 95% CI 89.1% to 97.4%) and 93.1% (134/144, 95% CI 87.3% to 96.4%) in modified intention-to-treat analysis (difference 1.5%; 95% CI -4.9% to 8.0%; non-inferiority p=0.001); 95.1% (135/142, 95% CI 89.7% to 97.8%) and 97.7% (128/131, 95% CI 92.9% to 99.4%) in per-protocol analysis (difference 2.6%; 95% CI -2.9% to 8.3%; non-inferiority p=0.000). The treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were significantly lower in the VT group (14.0% vs 48.0%, p=0.000), with fewer treatment discontinuations due to TEAEs (2.0% vs 8.7%, p=0.010). CONCLUSIONS: VT dual therapy demonstrated efficacy and safety as a first-line treatment for H. pylori infection in the penicillin-allergic population, with comparable efficacy and a lower incidence of TEAEs compared with traditional BQT. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2300074693.

Transcriptome analysis of Gossypium hirsutum cultivar Zhongzhimian No.2 uncovers the gene regulatory networks involved in defense against Verticillium dahliae.

BACKGROUND: Cotton is globally important crop. Verticillium wilt (VW), caused by Verticillium dahliae, is the most destructive disease in cotton, reducing yield and fiber quality by over 50% of cotton acreage. Breeding resistant cotton cultivars has proven to be an efficient strategy for improving the resistance of cotton to V. dahliae. However, the lack of understanding of the genetic basis of VW resistance may hinder the progress in deploying elite cultivars with proven resistance. RESULTS: We planted the VW-resistant Gossypium hirsutum cultivar Zhongzhimian No.2 (ZZM2) in an artificial greenhouse and disease nursery. ZZM2 cotton was subsequently subjected to transcriptome sequencing after Vd991 inoculation (6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h post-inoculation). Several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in response to V. dahliae infection, mainly involved in resistance processes, such as flavonoid and terpenoid quinone biosynthesis, plant hormone signaling, MAPK signaling, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and pyruvate metabolism. Compared to the susceptible cultivar Junmian No.1 (J1), oxidoreductase activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were significantly increased in ZZM2. Furthermore, gene silencing of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1), which is involved in the oxidation-reduction process in ZZM2, compromised its resistance to V. dahliae, suggesting that COX1 contributes to VW resistance in ZZM2. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that the G. hirsutum cultivar ZZM2 responds to V. dahliae inoculation through resistance-related processes, especially the oxidation-reduction process. This enhances our understanding of the mechanisms regulating the ZZM2 defense against VW.

Phylogenomic conflict analyses of the plastid and mitochondrial genomes via deep genome skimming highlight their independent evolutionary histories: A case study in the cinquefoil genus Potentilla sensu lato (Potentilleae, Rosaceae).

Phylogenomic conflicts are widespread among genomic data, with most previous studies primarily focusing on nuclear datasets instead of organellar genomes. In this study, we investigate phylogenetic conflict analyses within and between plastid and mitochondrial genomes using Potentilla as a case study. We generated three plastid datasets (coding, noncoding, and all-region) and one mitochondrial dataset (coding regions) to infer phylogenies based on concatenated and multispecies coalescent (MSC) methods. Conflict analyses were then performed using PhyParts and Quartet Sampling (QS). Both plastid and mitochondrial genomes divided the Potentilla into eight highly supported clades, two of which were newly identified in this study. While most organellar loci were uninformative for the majority of nodes (bootstrap value < 70%), PhyParts and QS detected conflicting signals within the two organellar genomes. Regression analyses revealed that conflict signals mainly occurred among shorter loci, whereas longer loci tended to be more concordant with the species tree. In addition, two significant disagreements between the two organellar genomes were detected, likely attributed to hybridization and/or incomplete lineage sorting. Our results demonstrate that mitochondrial genes can fully resolve the phylogenetic relationships among eight major clades of Potentilla and are not always linked with plastome in evolutionary history. Stochastic inferences appear to be the primary source of observed conflicts among the gene trees. We recommend that the loci with short sequence length or containing limited informative sites should be used cautiously in MSC analysis, and suggest the joint application of concatenated and MSC methods for phylogenetic inference using organellar genomes.

Genome-Resolved Metagenomics and Denitrifying Strain Isolation Reveal New Insights into Microbial Denitrification in the Deep Vadose Zone.

The heavy use of nitrogen fertilizer in intensive agricultural areas often leads to nitrate accumulation in subsurface soil and nitrate contamination in groundwater, which poses a serious risk to public health. Denitrifying microorganisms in the subsoil convert nitrate to gaseous forms of nitrogen, thereby mitigating the leaching of nitrate into groundwater. Here, we investigated denitrifying microorganisms in the deep vadose zone of a typical intensive agricultural area in China through microcosm enrichment, genome-resolved metagenomic analysis, and denitrifying bacteria isolation. A total of 1000 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed, resulting in 98 high-quality, dereplicated MAGs that contained denitrification genes. Among them, 32 MAGs could not be taxonomically classified at the genus or species level, indicating that a broader spectrum of taxonomic groups is involved in subsoil denitrification than previously recognized. A denitrifier isolate library was constructed by using a strategy combining high-throughput and conventional cultivation techniques. Assessment of the denitrification characteristics of both the MAGs and isolates demonstrated the dominance of truncated denitrification. Functional screening revealed the highest denitrification activity in two complete denitrifiers belonging to the genus Pseudomonas. These findings greatly expand the current knowledge of the composition and function of denitrifying microorganisms in subsoils. The constructed isolate library provided the first pool of subsoil-denitrifying microorganisms that could facilitate the development of microbe-based technologies for nitrate attenuation in groundwater.

Correlation between gene polymorphism and adverse reactions of high-dose methotrexate in osteosarcoma patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to provide a reference based on evidence for an individualized clinical medication of high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) in osteosarcoma patients by evaluating the effect of gene polymorphism on adverse reactions of HD-MTX usage. METHODS: Several databases were combed for research on the association between gene polymorphisms and adverse reactions to HD-MTX up to January 2023. A meta-analysis and/or descriptive analysis on the incidence of HD-MTX-related adverse reactions were conducted by using clinical studies meeting inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Twelve studies involving 889 patients were included. There were 8, 6, 5, and 4 studies related to MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C, RFC1 G80A, and MDR1 C3435T polymorphisms, respectively. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism was associated with G3-4 hepatotoxicity, G3-4 nephrotoxicity, G3-4 gastrointestinal toxicity, and G3-4 mucositis under the recessive genetic model (MM vs. Mm/mm). Limited research showed that MTHFR C677T was associated with G3-4 nephrotoxicity in the allelic genetic model (M vs. m). MTHFR A1298C polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk of adverse reactions to HD-MTX usage, without statistical significance. This review's descriptive analysis showed no significant correlation between the RFC1 G80A, and MDR1 C3435T polymorphism and adverse reactions of HD-MTX. CONCLUSION: The MTHFR C677T mutation may enhance the risk of HD-MTX adverse reactions in osteosarcoma patients. Existing studies have not found a significant correlation between the MTHFR A1298C, RFC1 G80A, and MDR1 C3435T polymorphism and adverse reactions caused by HD-MTX. Lastly, this conclusion was limited because of few studies.

Temporal Characteristics of Penetration and Aspiration in Patients with Severe Dysphagia Associated with Lateral Medullary Syndrome.

To assess the severity and timing of penetration and aspiration (PA) of severe dysphagia after lateral medullary syndrome (LMS) and its association with temporal characteristics. We performed videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS) in 48 patients with LMS and severe dysphagia and 26 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects. The following temporal measures were compared between groups: velopharyngeal closure duration (VCD); hyoid bone movement duration (HMD); laryngeal vestibular closure duration (LCD); upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opening duration (UOD); stage transition duration (STD) and the interval between laryngeal vestibular closure and UES opening (LC-UESop). The association between temporal measures and Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) scores was analyzed. Differences in timing measures were compared between subgroups (safe swallows, and swallows with PA events during and after the swallow). PAS scores ≥ 3 were seen in 48% of swallows (4% occuring before, 35% occurred during and 61% after the swallow) from the LMS patients. Significantly longer STD and LC-UESop were found in the patients compared to the healthy subjects (p < 0.05). Significant negative correlations with PA severity were found for HMD, LCD, and UOD. Short UOD was the strongest predictor with an area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve of 0.66. UOD was also significantly shorter in cases of PA after the swallow (p < 0.01). Patients with LMS involving severe dysphagia exhibit a high frequency of PA (mostly during and after swallowing). PA events were associated with shorter UOD, HMD, and LCD. Notably, shortened UOD appears to be strongly associated with PA.

Ameliorative Effect of Morinda Officinalis Oligosaccharides on LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a disease characterized by extensive lung damage and rampant inflammation, with a high mortality rate and no effective treatments available. Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides (MOOs), derived from the root of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Morinda officinalis, known for its immune-boosting properties, presents a novel therapeutic possibility. To date, the impact of MOOs on ALI has not been explored. Our study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of MOOs against ALI and to uncover the underlying mechanisms through an integrated approach of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation. We discovered that MOOs significantly mitigated the pathological damage and decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-induced ALI in mice. Complementary in vitro studies further demonstrated that MOOs effectively attenuated the M1 polarization induced by LPS. Network pharmacology analysis identified HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1, and NF-κB as key overlapping targets within a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Furthermore, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses elucidated the biological processes and signaling pathways implicated in MOOs' therapeutic action on ALI. Subsequently, molecular docking affirmed the binding of MOOs to the active sites of these identified targets. Corroborating these findings, our in vivo and in vitro experiments consistently demonstrated that MOOs significantly inhibited the LPS-induced upregulation of HSP90 and NF-κB. Collectively, these findings suggest that MOOs confer protection against ALI through a multi-target, multi-pathway mechanism, offering a promising new therapeutic strategy to mitigate this severe pulmonary condition.

Phase Identification and Discovery of an Elusive Polymorph of Drug-Polymer Inclusion Complex Using Automated 3D Electron Diffraction.

3D electron diffraction (3D ED) has shown great potential in crystal structure determination in materials, small organic molecules, and macromolecules. In this work, an automated, low-dose and low-bias 3D ED protocol has been implemented to identify six phases from a multiple-phase melt-crystallisation product of an active pharmaceutical ingredient, griseofulvin (GSF). Batch data collection under low-dose conditions using a widely available commercial software was combined with automated data analysis to collect and process over 230 datasets in three days. Accurate unit cell parameters obtained from 3D ED data allowed direct phase identification of GSF Forms III, I and the known GSF inclusion complex (IC) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) (GSF-PEG IC-I), as well as three minor phases, namely GSF Forms II, V and an elusive new phase, GSF-PEG IC-II. Their structures were then directly determined by 3D ED. Furthermore, we reveal how the stabilities of the two GSF-PEG IC polymorphs are closely related to their crystal structures. These results demonstrate the power of automated 3D ED for accurate phase identification and direct structure determination of complex, beam-sensitive crystallisation products, which is significant for drug development where solid form screening is crucial for the overall efficacy of the drug product.

Bespoke Tailoring of Graphenoid Sheets: A Rippled Molecular Carbon Comprising Cyclically Fused Nonbenzenoid Rings.

The incorporation of nonbenzenoid rings into the hexagonal networks of graphenoid nanostructures is of immense importance for electronic, magnetic, and mechanical properties, but the underlying mechanisms of nonbenzenoid ring fusion are rather unexplored. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a rippled C84 molecular carbon, which contains 10 nonbenzenoid rings (five-, seven-, and eight-membered rings) that are contiguously fused to give a cyclic geometry. The fused nonbenzenoid rings impart high solubility, configurational stability, multiple reversible redox behaviors, unique aromaticity, and a narrow band gap to the system. Moreover, this carbon nanostructure allows for further functionalization via electrophilic substitution and metalation reactions, enabling access to finely tuned derivatives. Interestingly, both the bowl-shaped and planar conformations of the core in molecular carbon are observed in the solid state. Additionally, this molecular carbon displays ambipolar transport characteristics.

Metagenomic and network analyses reveal key players in nitrification in upland agricultural soils.

Nitrification, a key step in soil nitrogen cycling, is a biologically mediated process crucial to the ecological environment. However, how nitrifiers drive nitrification under different soil properties and climatic factors at large spatial scales is poorly understood. Here, using metagenomic sequencing and network-based approaches, we identified key nitrifying species of upland agricultural soils in northern China, which spans a wide range of climates and geographic distances. We found that potential nitrification rates (PNRs) varied in different soils and were positively correlated with soil pH (5.42-8.46) and mean annual temperature (MAT) and negatively correlated with the C/N ratio. Network analysis revealed that one module (module 3) was significantly correlated with PNR. In this module, 16 dominant nodes were associated with AOB Nitrosomonas and most nodes were significantly correlated with environmental factors, suggesting that abiotic conditions are important for determining the assembly of these key nitrifiers. Our study advanced the understanding of the key nitrifying populations and their environmental drivers in upland agricultural soil across different soil and climate types.

Nightmare or delight: Taxonomic circumscription meets reticulate evolution in the phylogenomic era.

Phylogenetic studies in the phylogenomics era have demonstrated that reticulate evolution greatly impedes the accuracy of phylogenetic inference, and consequently can obscure taxonomic treatments. However, the systematics community lacks a broadly applicable strategy for taxonomic delimitation in groups characterized by pervasive reticulate evolution. The red-fruit genus, Stranvaesia, provides an ideal model to examine the influence of reticulation on generic circumscription, particularly where hybridization and allopolyploidy dominate the evolutionary history. In this study, we conducted phylogenomic analyses integrating data from hundreds of single-copy nuclear (SCN) genes and plastomes, and interrogated nuclear paralogs to clarify the inter/intra-generic relationship of Stranvaesia and its allies in the framework of Maleae. Analyses of phylogenomic discord and phylogenetic networks showed that allopolyploidization and introgression promoted the origin and diversification of the Stranvaesia clade, a conclusion further bolstered by cytonuclear and gene tree discordance. With a well-inferred phylogenetic backbone, we propose an updated generic delimitation of Stranvaesia and introduce a new genus, Weniomeles. This new genus is distinguished by its purple-black fruits, thorns trunk and/or branches, and a distinctive fruit core anatomy characterized by multilocular separated by a layer of sclereids and a cluster of sclereids at the top of the locules. Through this study, we highlight a broadly-applicable workflow that underscores the significance of reticulate evolution analyses in shaping taxonomic revisions from phylogenomic data.

Microbiome resilience of Amazonian forests: Agroforest divergence to bacteria and secondary forest succession convergence to fungi.

An alarming and increasing deforestation rate threatens Amazon tropical ecosystems and subsequent degradation due to frequent fires. Agroforestry systems (AFS) may offer a sustainable alternative, reportedly mimicking the plant-soil interactions of the natural mature forest (MF). However, the role of microbial community in tropical AFS remains largely unknown. This knowledge is crucial for evaluating the sustainability of AFS and practices given the key role of microbes in the aboveground-belowground interactions. The current study, by comparing different AFS and successions of secondary and MFs, showed that AFS fostered distinct groups of bacterial community, diverging from the MFs, likely a result of management practices while secondary forests converged to the same soil microbiome found in the MF, by favoring the same groups of fungi. Model simulations reveal that AFS would require profound changes in aboveground biomass and in soil factors to reach the same microbiome found in MFs. In summary, AFS practices did not result in ecosystems mimicking natural forest plant-soil interactions but rather reshaped the ecosystem to a completely different relation between aboveground biomass, soil abiotic properties, and the soil microbiome.

Ritonavir Revisited: Melt Crystallization Can Easily Find the Late-Appearing Polymorph II and Unexpectedly Discover a New Polymorph III.

Identification of a thermodynamically stable polymorph is an important step in the early stage of drug development. Ritonavir (RIT) is a well-known case where the most stable polymorph II emerged after being marketed, leading to a loss of $250 million. Herein, we report the findings that routine melt crystallization can reveal the late-appearing polymorph II of RIT at small supercooling, but the probability of nucleation is very low. The addition of 30-50% polyethylene glycol (PEG) promotes the crystallization of Form II as the only phase at low supercooling, making it easier to detect in polymorphism screening. During the course of our research, a new polymorph, denoted Form III, was unexpectedly discovered, crystallizing as the major phase from neat RIT melts. Single crystals of Form III were grown from melt microdroplets. Benefiting from the ability of synchrotron radiation to detect weak diffraction signals that cannot be accessible by a laboratory diffractometer, a reasonable structure of Form III was solved with slight disorder relative to thiazole groups (P1 space group and Z' = 4). The thermodynamic stability ranking of the three true polymorphs is Form II > Form I > Form III, as opposed to the order of solubility. The capacity to efficiently reveal rich polymorphs, especially the kinetically hindered polymorph, and rapidly grow single crystals of a new phase for structure determination together highlights the necessity of incorporating melt crystallization into routine methods for pharmaceutical polymorphism screening.

A real-world exploratory study on the feasibility of vonoprazan and tetracycline dual therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in special populations with penicillin allergy or failed in previous amoxicillin-containing therapies.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a challenge for those who cannot use amoxicillin. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the eradication rate and adverse effects of vonoprazan and tetracycline dual therapy as first-line and rescue treatment regimens used in special populations with penicillin allergy or failed in previous amoxicillin-containing therapies. DESIGN: Patients enrolled were those who were H. pylori-positive with selected conditions: (1) allergic to penicillin, either naïve to treatment or had failed before; or (2) failed in previous amoxicillin-containing therapies. All enrolled patients accepted 14-day vonoprazan and tetracycline dual therapy (VT dual therapy) as follows: vonoprazan (20 mg b.i.d.) and tetracycline (500 mg t.i.d. [body weight < 70 kg] or 500 mg q.i.d. [body weight ≥ 70 kg]). H. pylori status was evaluated by 13 C-urease breath test 6 weeks after treatment. All adverse effects were recorded. Some patients underwent bacterial culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients were enrolled; 18 of them received VT dual therapy as first-line treatment, 44 patients received VT dual therapy as rescue treatment. Overall, 58 of 62 patients achieved successful eradication (93.5%), while all involved (100%,18/18) succeeded in the first-line treatment group and 40 cases (90.9%, 40/44) succeeded in the rescue treatment group. Sixty-one (61/62, 98.4%) patients completed the whole course of treatment. Adverse events occurred in 6 patients (6/62, 9.7%), while one patient quit because of skin rash. All adverse effects were mild and relieved spontaneously after H. pylori treatment. Five patients achieved successful H. pylori culture, and all strains isolated were sensitive to tetracycline. CONCLUSIONS: For the treatment of H. pylori infection in special populations with penicillin allergy or failed in previous amoxicillin-containing therapies, a 14-day vonoprazan and tetracycline dual therapy was effective and safe as first-line and rescue treatment in our study. Further study is warranted to verify its efficacy, especially for those who cannot use amoxicillin.

Distinct Denitrifying Phenotypes of Predominant Bacteria Modulate Nitrous Oxide Metabolism in Two Typical Cropland Soils.

Denitrifying nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in agroecosystems result from variations in microbial composition and soil properties. However, the microbial mechanisms of differential N2O emissions in agricultural soils are less understood. In this study, microcosm experiments using two main types of Chinese cropland soil were conducted with different supplements of nitrate and glucose to simulate the varying nitrogen and carbon conditions. The results show that N2O accumulation in black soil (BF) was significantly higher than that in fluvo-aquic soil (FF) independent of nitrogen and carbon. The abundance of most denitrifying genes was significantly higher in FF, but the ratios of genes responsible for N2O production (nirS and nirK) to the gene responsible for N2O reduction (nosZ) did not significantly differ between the two soils. However, the soils showed obvious discrepancies in denitrifying bacterial communities, with a higher abundance of N2O-generating bacteria in BF and a higher abundance of N2O-reducing bacteria in FF. High accumulation of N2O was verified by the bacterial isolates of Rhodanobacter predominated in BF due to a lack of N2O reduction capacity. The dominance of Castellaniella and others in FF led to a rapid reduction in N2O and thus less N2O accumulation, as demonstrated when the corresponding isolate was inoculated into the studied soils. Therefore, the different phenotypes of N2O metabolism of the distinct denitrifiers predominantly colonized the two soils, causing differing N2O accumulation. This knowledge would help to develop a strategy for mitigating N2O emissions in agricultural soils by regulating the phenotypes of N2O metabolism.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Modic Changes in Symptomatic Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: A Retrospective Study of 203 Patients.

BACKGROUND Modic changes (MC) are abnormal bone signals under the vertebral endplates on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine. Three types of MC may be seen on MRI as abnormal bone signals of the vertebral endplate and adjacent bone marrow. This retrospective study of 203 patients with symptomatic cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) aimed to evaluate factors associated with MC on cervical spine MRI. MATERIAL AND METHODS We included 203 patients with symptomatic cervical ossification of the OPLL. All patients underwent MRI with T1 and T2 sequences to assess the presence and type of MC. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the risk factors for MC. RESULTS The prevalence of MC in patients with symptomatic cervical OPLL was 21.18%. Type 2 MC accounted for 88.64% of the cases. Local type and MC share the same segment (100.00%), followed by segmental type (77.27%), mixed type (75.00%), and continuous type (75.00%). Age (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.09, P=0.013) and neck pain (OR=2.67, 95% CI: 1.04-6.83, P=0.041) were significantly correlated with MC. Further receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis displayed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.657 (P=0.002) for age, and the optimal cutoff was 60.50 years (sensitivity 0.67, specificity 0.68). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study found that older age and neck pain were significantly associated with development of cervical spine MC. Patients ≥60.5 years with symptomatic cervical OPLL had a higher probability of developing MC.

Visual Acuity and Visual Field Changes in Patients with End-Stage PACG with Tubular Visual Field after Cataract Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the impact of cataract surgery on visual acuity and visual field (VF) in patients with end-stage glaucoma with tubular VF, and assess the risk of severe visual impairment. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the case data of patients with end-stage glaucoma with tubular VF who underwent cataract surgery in our hospital in the past 7 years. RESULTS: A total of 59 patients with 63 eyes were enrolled, 62 eyes were primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and 1 eye was primary open-angle glaucoma. The last follow-up time was an average of 9 months, and no cases of severe vision loss occurred. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved significantly after surgery (0.57 ± 0.46 vs. 0.45 ± 0.43 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, p < 0.01), and there was a significant drop in intraocular pressure (IOP; 22.85 ± 9.7 vs. 16.07 ± 3.38, p < 0.01), a reduced number of glaucoma medications (2 ± 1.32 vs. 0.5 ± 1, p < 0.01), statistical improvement in VF index (VFI) and mean defect (MD) (12.3% ± 7.65% vs. 16.1% ± 9.84%, p < 0.01; -29.09 ± 2.16 vs. -28.31 ± 3.01, p < 0.01) after surgery. The higher the preoperative VFI and MD were, the better the postoperative BCVA (r = -0.387, r = -0.347, respectively). The degree of postoperative VFI improvement was significantly correlated with preoperative MD (r = 0.372, p < 0.01). During the follow-up period, 5 eyes (8%) underwent anti-glaucoma surgery due to elevated IOP. CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery can significantly improve visual acuity and VF in patients with end-stage PACG with tubular VF, and no patients have severe visual impairment. The less preoperative VF damage there is, the greater the postoperative visual acuity and VF improvement. Poor IOP control is the main cause of further damage to postoperative visual acuity and VF.

Rearrangement and domestication as drivers of Rosaceae mitogenome plasticity.

BACKGROUND: The mitochondrion is an important cellular component in plants and that functions in producing vital energy for the cell. However, the evolution and structure of mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) remain unclear in the Rosaceae family. In this study, we assembled 34 Rosaceae mitogenomes and characterized genome variation, rearrangement rate, and selection signal variation within these mitogenomes. RESULTS: Comparative analysis of six genera from the Amygdaloideae and five from the Rosoideae subfamilies of Rosaceae revealed that three protein-coding genes were absent from the mitogenomes of five Rosoideae genera. Positive correlations between genome size and repeat content were identified in 38 Rosaceae mitogenomes. Twenty repeats with high recombination frequency (> 50%) provided evidence for predominant substoichiometric conformation of the mitogenomes. Variations in rearrangement rates were identified between eleven genera, and within the Pyrus, Malus, Prunus, and Fragaria genera. Based on population data, phylogenetic inferences from Pyrus mitogenomes supported two distinct maternal lineages of Asian cultivated pears. A Pyrus-specific deletion (DEL-D) in selective sweeps was identified based on the assembled genomes and population data. After the DEL-D sequence fragments originally arose, they may have experienced a subsequent doubling event via homologous recombination and sequence transfer in the Amygdaloideae; afterwards, this variant sequence may have significantly expanded to cultivated groups, thereby improving adaptation during the domestication process. CONCLUSIONS: This study characterizes the variations in gene content, genome size, rearrangement rate, and the impact of domestication in Rosaceae mitogenomes and provides insights into their structural variation patterns and phylogenetic relationships.

Appropriate Nitrogen form Ratio and UV-A Supplementation Increased Quality and Production in Purple Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).

Purple lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Zhongshu Purple Lettuce) was chosen as the trial material, and LED intelligent light control consoles were used as the light sources. The purpose was to increase the yield and quality of purple lettuce while lowering its nitrate level. By adding various ratios of NO3--N and NH4+-N to the nutrient solution and 20 µmol m-2 s-1 UV-A based on white, red, and blue light (130, 120, 30 µmol m-2 s-1), the effects of different NO3--N/NH4+-N ratios (NO3--N, NO3--N/NH4+-N = 3/1, NH4+-N) and UV-A interaction on yield, quality, photosynthetic characteristics, anthocyanins, and nitrogen assimilation of purple lettuce were studied. In order to produce purple lettuce hydroponically under controlled environmental conditions, a theoretical foundation and technological specifications were developed, taking into account an appropriate UV-A dose and NO3--N/NH4+-N ratio. Results demonstrate that adding a 20 µmol m-2 s-1 UV-A, and a NO3--N/NH4+-N treatment of 3/1, significantly reduced the nitrate level while increasing the growth, photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin content of purple lettuce. The purple leaf lettuce leaves have an enhanced capacity to absorb nitrogen. Furthermore, plants have an acceleration of nitrogen metabolism, which raises the concentration of free amino acids and soluble proteins and promotes biomass synthesis. Thus, based on the NO3--N/NH4+-N (3/1) treatment, adding 20 µmol m-2 s-1 UV-A will be helpful in boosting purple lettuce production and decreasing its nitrate content.

The optimal choice of environmental tax revenue usage: Incentives for cleaner production or end-of-pipe treatment?

The environmental tax system is effective in pollution abatement. However, levying an environmental tax may be detrimental to economic growth. Reasonable use of environmental tax revenue may achieve both environmental protection and economic growth. This study proposes to earmark environmental tax revenue for pollution treatment. Taking fiscal expenditure theory into consideration, environmental tax revenue usage is divided into transfer expenditure and purchase expenditure. An environmental computable general equilibrium (CGE) model is established to evaluate the effects of environmental tax revenue usage. The optimal choice is to increase the environmental tax rate and simultaneously use tax revenue for cleaner production subsidies and end-of-pipe treatment expenditures. Under the optimal scenario, pollutant retention decreases by 21.45%, and GDP increases by 0.006%. For most regions in China, it is better to raise the environmental tax rate to the middle level of a specified range. Moreover, the government should distribute environmental tax revenue evenly across the expenditure of different environmental protection projects.