High Hydrophilic and Antibacterial Efficient UV-Curable Silicone-Containing Choline Chloride Quaternary Ammonium Salts Functionalized Materials.

Antibacterial materials with high hydrophobicity have drawbacks such as protein adsorption, bacterial contamination, and biofilm formation, which are responsible for some serious adverse health events. Therefore, antibacterial materials with high hydrophilicity are highly desired. In this paper, UV-curable antibacterial materials are prepared from silicone-containing Choline chloride (ChCl) functionalized hyperbranched quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) and tri-hydroxylethyl acrylate phosphate (TAEP). The materials show high hydrophilic performance because their water contact angle is as low as 19.3°. The materials also exhibit quite high antibacterial efficiency against S. aureus over 95.6%, fairly high transmittance over 90%, and good mechanical performance with tensile strength as high as 6.5 MPa. It reveals that it is a feasible strategy to develop antibacterial materials with low hydrophobicity from silicone-modified ChCl-functionalized hyperbranched QAS.

Characterization of the ddt1 Mutant in Rice and Its Impact on Plant Height Reduction and Water Use Efficiency.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a fundamental global staple, nourishes over half of the world's population. The identification of the ddt1 mutant in rice through EMS mutagenesis of the indica cultivar Shuhui527 revealed a dwarf phenotype, characterized by reduced plant height, smaller grain size, and decreased grain weight. Detailed phenotypic analysis and map-based cloning pinpointed the mutation to a single-base transversion in the LOC_Os03g04680 gene, encoding a cytochrome P450 enzyme, which results in a premature termination of the protein. Functional complementation tests confirmed LOC_Os03g04680 as the DDT1 gene responsible for the observed phenotype. We further demonstrated that the ddt1 mutation leads to significant alterations in gibberellic acid (GA) metabolism and signal transduction, evidenced by the differential expression of key GA-related genes such as OsGA20OX2, OsGA20OX3, and SLR1. The mutant also displayed enhanced drought tolerance, as indicated by higher survival rates, reduced water loss, and rapid stomatal closure under drought conditions. This increased drought resistance was linked to the mutant's improved antioxidant capacity, with elevated activities of antioxidant enzymes and higher expression levels of related genes. Our findings suggest that DDT1 plays a crucial role in regulating both plant height and drought stress responses. The potential for using gene editing of DDT1 to mitigate the dwarf phenotype while retaining improved drought resistance offers promising avenues for rice improvement.

The kinesin-13 protein BR HYPERSENSITIVE 1 is a negative brassinosteroid signaling component regulating rice growth and development.

Phytohormones performed critical roles in regulating plant architecture and thus determine grain yield in rice. However, the roles of brassinosteroids (BRs) compared to other phytohormones in shaping rice architecture are less studied. In this study, we report that BR hypersensitive1 (BHS1) plays a negative role in BR signaling and regulate rice architecture. BHS1 encodes the kinesin-13a protein and regulates grain length. We found that bhs1 was hypersensitive to BR, while BHS1-overexpression was less sensitive to BR compare to WT. BHS1 was down-regulated at RNA and protein level upon exogenous BR treatment, and proteasome inhibitor MG132 delayed the BHS1 degradation, indicating that both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation machineries are involved in BHS1-mediated regulation of plant growth and development. Furthermore, we found that the BR-induced degradation of BHS1 was attenuated in Osbri1 and Osbak1 mutants, but not in Osbzr1 and Oslic mutants. Together, these results suggest that BHS1 is a novel component which is involved in negative regulation of the BR signaling downstream player of BRI1.

iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of rice formyl tetrahydrofolate deformylase in salt response.

MAIN CONCLUSION: A new molecular mechanism of tetrahydrofolate deformylase involved in the salt response presumably affects mitochondrial and chloroplast function by regulating energy metabolism and accumulation of reactive oxygen species. High salinity severely restrains plant growth and development, consequently leading to a reduction in grain yield. It is therefore critical to identify the components involved in plant salt resistance. In our previous study, we identified a rice leaf early-senescence mutant hpa1, which encodes a formyl tetrahydrofolate deformylase (Xiong et al. in Sci China Life Sci 64(5):720-738, 2021). Here, we report that HPA1 also plays a role in the salt response. To explore the molecular mechanism of HPA1 in salt resistance, we attempted to identify the differentially expressed proteins between wild type and hpa1 mutant for salinity treatment using an iTRAQ-based comparative protein quantification approach. A total of 4598 proteins were identified, of which 279 were significantly altered, including 177 up- and 102 down-regulated proteins. A functional analysis suggested that the 279 differentially expressed proteins are involved mainly in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, photosynthesis, posttranslational modifications, protein turnover and energy metabolism. Moreover, a deficiency in HPA1 impaired chlorophyll metabolism and photosynthesis in chloroplasts and affected the electron flow of the electron transport chain in mitochondria. These changes led to abnormal energy metabolism and accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which may affect the permeability and integrity of cell membranes, leading to cell death. In addition, the results were verified by transcriptional or physiological experiments. Our results provide an insight into a new molecular mechanism of the tetrahydrofolate cycle protein formyl tetrahydrofolate deformylase, which is involved in the salt response, presumably by affecting mitochondrial and chloroplast function regulating energy metabolism and accumulation of reactive oxygen species under salt stress.

SPL50 Regulates Cell Death and Resistance to Magnaporthe Oryzae in Rice.

BACKGROUND: The identification of spotted leaf 50 (spl50), a novel lesion mimic mutant (LMM) in rice, provides critical insights into the mechanisms underlying programmed cell death (PCD) and innate immunity in plants. RESULTS: Based on ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS)-induced mutagenesis, the spl50 mutant mimics hypersensitive responses in the absence of pathogen by displaying spontaneous necrotic lesions after the tillering phase. SPL50, an ARM repeat protein essential for controlling reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism and boosting resistance to blast disease, was identified by map-based cloning techniques. This work also demonstrates the detrimental effects of spl50 on photosynthetic efficiency and chloroplast development. The crucial significance of SPL50 in cellular signaling and stress response is shown by its localization to the cytoplasm and constitutive expression in various plant tissues. In light of growing concerns regarding global food security, this study highlights the pivotal role of SPL50 in regulating programmed cell death (PCD) and enhancing the immune response in plants, contributing to strategies for improving crop disease resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The novel identification of the SPL50 gene in rice, encoding an ARM repeat protein, reveals its pivotal role in regulating PCD and innate immune responses independently of pathogen attack.

A novel model incorporating quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound into PI-RADSv2-based nomogram detecting clinically significant prostate cancer.

The diagnostic accuracy of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) of Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADSv2) is limited by subjectivity in result interpretation and the false positive results from certain similar anatomic structures. We aimed to establish a new model combining quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound, PI-RADSv2, clinical parameters to optimize the PI-RADSv2-based model. The analysis was conducted based on a data set of 151 patients from 2019 to 2022, multiple regression analysis showed that prostate specific antigen density, age, PI-RADSv2, quantitative parameters (rush time, wash-out area under the curve) were independent predictors. Based on these predictors, we established a new predictive model, the AUCs of the model were 0.910 and 0.879 in training and validation cohort, which were higher than those of PI-RADSv2-based model (0.865 and 0.821 in training and validation cohort). Net Reclassification Index analysis indicated that the new predictive model improved the classification of patients. Decision curve analysis showed that in most risk probabilities, the new predictive model improved the clinical utility of PI-RADSv2-based model. Generally, this new predictive model showed that quantitative parameters from contrast enhanced ultrasound could help to improve the diagnostic performance of PI-RADSv2 based model in detecting csPCa.

Efficacy and safety of different thermal ablative therapies for desmoid-type fibromatosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) is a locally aggressive tumor characterized by peripheral infiltration of neoplastic cells and remote metastasis disability. This systematic review examined the efficacy and safety of thermal ablative therapy for DF tumors. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase from January 1, 2000, to November 12, 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was used to guide literature selection. The inclusion criteria were the following: (I) the patients were diagnosed with aggressive fibromatosis pathologically, (II) the patients were treated by thermal ablations, and (III) a focus on treatment efficacy and safety. Meanwhile, the exclusion criteria were the following: (I) cohorts of patients with hypertrophic scar, Gardner fibroma, or nodular fasciitis; (II) conference abstracts, reviews, case reports, letters to editors, comments, or editorials; (III) number of patients <5; (IV) in vitro or animal experiments; and (V) non-English language articles. The inverse variance method with a random effects model was used to obtain the pooled data. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify treatment factors. Egger test was conducted to assess the risk of publication bias. Results: After literature selection, 694 DF tumors were identified in 23 studies. In terms of modality, 13 studies used cryoablation, 9 studies used high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and 1 study used microwave ablation (MWA). The pooled symptom relief rate was 90% [95% confidence interval (CI): 80-97%], with that for HIFU being 100% (95% CI: 85-100%), that for cryoablation being 87% (95% CI: 74-97%), and that MWA being 89% (95% CI). The pooled major complication rate was 3% (95% CI: 1-7%), and that for each modality was as follows: HIFU =2% (95% CI: 0-6%), cryoablation =4% (95% CI: 1-8%), MWA =11%, ultrasound =6% (95% CI: 1-13%), computed tomography (CT) =2% (95% CI: 0-7%), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) =3% (95% CI: 0-14%). The pooled nonperfused volume rate (NPVR) was 76% (95% CI: 71-81%), and that for each modality was as follows: HIFU =77% (95% CI: 71-85%), cryoablation =74% (95% CI: 69-79%), ultrasound =75% (95% CI: 67-83%), CT =76% (95% CI: 67-87%), and MRI =78% (95% CI: 70-87%). The pooled local control rate was 88% (95% CI: 79-94%) and that for each modality was as follows: HIFU =99% (95% CI: 96-100%), cryoablation =80% (95% CI: 68-90%), and MWA =78%. The differences in major complication rate (P=0.77) and NPVR between imaging-guided modalities (P=0.40) were not significant, nor were the differences in symptom relief rate (P=0.32) and major complication rate (P=0.61) between ablative techniques; however, the differences in local control rate (P=0.01) were significant between ablative techniques. Conclusions: Imaging-guided thermal ablative therapies contribute to symptom relief with a duration of more than 6 months and a low major complication rate of DF tumors.