Cytological and molecular characterization of wheat lines carrying leaf rust and stem rust resistance genes Lr24 and Sr24.

Previous studies showed that Australian wheat cultivars Janz and Sunco carry leaf rust and stem rust resistance genes Lr24 and Sr24 derived from Thinopyrum ponticum chromosome arm 3AgL. However, the size of the alien segments carrying Lr24 and Sr24 in the lines were not determined. In this study, we used non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH), genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), and PCR-based landmark unique gene (PLUG) markers to visualize the alien segments in Janz and Sunco, and further compared them with the segments in US cultivars Agent and Amigo. The fraction length (FL) of the alien translocation in Agent was 0.70-1.00, whereas those in Janz, Sunco, and Amigo were smaller, at FL 0.85-1.00. It was deduced that the alien gene RAg encoding for red grain color and rust resistance genes Lr24 and Sr24 on chromosome arm 3AgL were in bins of FL 0.70-0.85 and 0.85-1.00, respectively. We retrieved and extracted nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) receptor genes corresponding to the region of Lr24 and Sr24 on chromosomes 3E, and 3J, 3Js and 3St from the reference genome sequences of Th. elongatum and Th. intermedium, respectively. A set of molecular markers developed for Lr24 and Sr24 from those extracted NBS-LRR genes will provide valuable information for fine mapping and cloning of these genes.

Proposal for an optimised definition of adverse pathology (unfavourable histology) that predicts metastatic risk in prostatic adenocarcinoma independent of grade group and pathological stage.

AIMS: Histological grading of prostate cancer is a powerful prognostic tool, but current criteria for grade assignment are not fully optimised. Our goal was to develop and test a simplified histological grading model, based heavily on large cribriform/intraductal carcinoma, with optimised sensitivity for predicting metastatic potential. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two separate non-overlapping cohorts were identified: a 419-patient post-radical prostatectomy cohort with long term clinical follow-up and a 209-patient post-radical prostatectomy cohort in which all patients had pathologically confirmed metastatic disease. All prostatectomies were re-reviewed for high-risk histological patterns of carcinoma termed 'unfavourable histology'. Unfavourable histology is defined by any classic Gleason pattern 5 component, any large cribriform morphology (> 0.25 mm) or intraductal carcinoma, complex intraluminal papillary architecture, grade 3 stromogenic carcinoma and complex anastomosing cord-like growth. For the outcome cohort, Kaplan-Meier analysis compared biochemical recurrence, metastasis and death between subjects with favourable and unfavourable histology, stratified by pathological stage and grade group. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models evaluated adding unfavourable histology to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) post-prostatectomy nomogram and stratification by percentage of unfavourable histology. At 15 years unfavourable histology predicted biochemical recurrence, with sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 88%, metastatic disease at 100 and 48% and death at 100 and 46%. Grade group 2 prostate cancers with unfavourable histology were associated with metastasis independent of pathological stage, while those without had no risk. Histological models for prediction of metastasis based on only large cribriform/intraductal carcinoma or increasing diameter of cribriform size improved specificity, but with lower sensitivity. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models demonstrated that unfavourable histology significantly improved discriminatory power of the MSKCC post-prostatectomy nomogram for biochemical failure (likelihood ratio test P < 0.001). In the retrospective review of a separate RP cohort in which all patients had confirmed metastatic disease, none had unequivocal favourable histology. CONCLUSIONS: Unfavourable histology at radical prostatectomy is associated with metastatic risk, predicted adverse outcomes better than current grading and staging systems and improved the MSKCC post-prostatectomy nomogram. Most importantly, unfavourable histology stratified grade group 2 prostate cancers into those with and without metastatic potential, independent of stage. While unfavourable histology is driven predominantly by large cribriform/intraductal carcinoma, the recognition and inclusion of other specific architectural patterns add to the sensitivity for predicting metastatic disease. Moreover, a simplified dichotomous model improves communication and could increase implementation.

Correlation of serum Meteorin-like (Metrnl) level with type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: Meteorin-like (Metrnl), a secreted myokine, is a newly discovered neurotrophic factor. The aim of this study was to determine if there is a correlation between the Metrnl level and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). METHODS: The investigation was conducted on a sample of 80 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 60 healthy controls. The T2DM patients were categorized into two subgroups based on skin biopsy: the DPN subgroup (n = 20) and the diabetes without neuropathy subgroup (n = 60). RESULTS: The T2DM groups had higher serum Metrnl concentrations compared with the controls. The serum Metrnl concentration was significantly lower in the DPN group than in T2DM patients without neuropathy. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a notable correlation between serum Metrnl and DPN (OR: 0.997, 95% CI: 0.995-1.000, P < 0.05). Serum Metrnl level was negatively correlated with age and SBP after a simple logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Serum Metrnl concentration is independently correlated with DPN.

Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir for inpatients with severe or critical COVID-19 beyond five days of symptom onset: a propensity score-matched, multicenter, retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need for therapeutic strategies for inpatients with severe or critical COVID-19. The evaluation of the clinical benefits of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Nmr/r) for these patients beyond five days of symptom onset is insufficient. METHODS: A new propensity score-matched cohort was constructed by using multicenter data from 6695 adult inpatients with COVID-19 from December 2022 to February 2023 in China after the epidemic control measures were lifted across the country. The severity of disease of the inpatients was based on the tenth trial edition of the Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19 in China. The symptom onset of 1870 enrolled severe or critical inpatients was beyond five days, and they received either Nmr/r plus standard treatment or only standard care. The ratio of patients whose SOFA score improved more than 2 points, crucial respiratory endpoints, changes in inflammatory markers, safety on the seventh day following the initiation of Nmr/r treatment, and length of hospital stay were evaluated. RESULTS: In the Nmr/r group, on Day 7, the number of patients with an improvement in SOFA score ≥ 2 was much greater than that in the standard treatment group (P = 0.024) without a significant decrease in glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.815). Additionally, the rate of new intubation was lower (P = 0.004) and the no intubation days were higher (P = 0.003) in the first 7 days in the Nmr/r group. Other clinical benefits were limited. CONCLUSIONS: Our study may provide new insight that inpatients with severe or critical COVID-19 beyond five days of symptom onset benefit from Nmr/r. Future studies, particularly randomized controlled trials, are necessary to verify the above findings.

Intestinal CXCR6+ ILC3s migrate to the kidney and exacerbate renal fibrosis via IL-23 receptor signaling enhanced by PD-1 expression.

Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) regulate inflammation and tissue repair at mucosal sites, but whether these functions pertain to other tissues-like the kidneys-remains unclear. Here, we observed that renal fibrosis in humans was associated with increased ILC3s in the kidneys and blood. In mice, we showed that CXCR6+ ILC3s rapidly migrated from the intestinal mucosa and accumulated in the kidney via CXCL16 released from the injured tubules. Within the fibrotic kidney, ILC3s increased the expression of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and subsequent IL-17A production to directly activate myofibroblasts and fibrotic niche formation. ILC3 expression of PD-1 inhibited IL-23R endocytosis and consequently amplified the JAK2/STAT3/RORγt/IL-17A pathway that was essential for the pro-fibrogenic effect of ILC3s. Thus, we reveal a hitherto unrecognized migration pathway of ILC3s from the intestine to the kidney and the PD-1-dependent function of ILC3s in promoting renal fibrosis.

Trace Selenium Doping for Improving the Reaction Kinetics of ZnS Cathode for Aqueous Zn-S Batteries.

Aqueous Zinc-sulfur (Zn-S) batteries are promising for the field of energy storage due to their low cost, high theoretical capacity, and safety. However, the large volume expansion and the inherently poor conductivity of sulfur would result in electrode cracking and sluggish reaction kinetics, limiting the practical application of Zn-S batteries. Herein, commercial zinc sulfide (ZnS) is employed instead of S as cathode and proposed a doping modification strategy to solve the above problems. The designed ZnS0.93Se0.07 cathode shows good cycle stability and much-improved reaction kinetics, which is due to the smaller bandgap of ZnS0.93Se0.07 (1.40 eV) compared to ZnS (1.86 eV). As a result, the obtained ZnS0.93Se0.07 cathode exhibits a high specific capacity of 552 mAh g-1 (1672.6 mAh g-1 based on S) at 0.1 A g-1 and 330 mAh g-1 (1000 mAh g-1 based on S) at 2 A g-1. Moreover, the ZnS0.93Se0.07 cathode can provide a high areal capacity of 3.8 mAh cm-2 at a high mass loading of 10 mg cm-2 and limited electrolyte (4 µL mg-1). This work provides a simple and effective cathode modification strategy, which is conducive to promoting the practical application of Zn-S batteries.

Single-nucleus transcriptional and chromatin accessible profiles reveal critical cell types and molecular architecture underlying chicken sex determination.

INTRODUCTION: Understanding the sex determination mechanisms in birds has great significance for the biological sciences and production in the poultry industry. Sex determination in chickens is a complex process that involves fate decisions of supporting cells such as granulosa or Sertoli cells. However, a systematic understanding of the genetic regulation and cell commitment process underlying sex determination in chickens is still lacking. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to dissect the molecular characteristics associated with sex determination in the gonads of chicken embryos. METHODS: Single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) and ATAC-seq (snATAC-seq) analysis were conducted on the gonads of female and male chickens at embryonic day 3.5 (E3.5), E4.5, and E5.5. RESULTS: Here, we provided a time-course transcriptional and chromatin accessible profiling of gonads during chicken sex determination at single-cell resolution. We uncovered differences in cell composition and developmental trajectories between female and male gonads and found that the divergence of transcription and accessibility in gonadal cells first emerged at E5.5. Furthermore, we revealed key cell-type-specific transcription factors (TFs) and regulatory networks that drive lineage commitment. Sex determination signaling pathways, dominated by BMP signaling, are preferentially activated in males during gonadal development. Further pseudotime analysis of the supporting cells indicated that granulosa cells were regulated mainly by the TEAD gene family and that Sertoli cells were driven by the DMRT1 regulons. Cross-species analysis suggested high conservation of both cell types and cell-lineage-specific TFs across the six vertebrates. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our study will contribute to accelerating the development of sex manipulation technology in the poultry industry and the application of chickens as a unique model for studying cell fate decisions.

Targeting the MCP-GPX4/HMGB1 Axis for Effectively Triggering Immunogenic Ferroptosis in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Induction of ferroptosis can inhibit cancer cells in vitro, however, the role of ferroptosis in treatment in vivo is controversial. The immunosuppressive cells activated by the ferroptotic tumor cells can promote the growth of residual tumor cells, hindering the application of ferroptosis stimulation in tumor treatment. In this study, a new strategy is aimed to be identified for effectively triggering immunogenic ferroptosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and simultaneously stimulating antitumor immune responses. Toward this, several molecular and biochemical experiments are performed using patient-derived organoid models and a KPC mouse model (LSL-KrasG12D /+, LSL-Trp53R172H/+, Pdx-1-Cre). It is observed that the inhibition of macrophage-capping protein (MCP) suppressed the ubiquitin fold modifier (UFM)ylation of pirin (PIR), a newly identified substrate of UFM1, thereby decreasing the transcription of GPX4, a marker of ferroptosis, and promoting the cytoplasmic transportation of HMGB1, a damage-associated molecular pattern. GPX4 deficiency triggered ferroptosis, and the pre-accumulated cytosolic HMGB1 is released rapidly. This altered release pattern of HMGB1 facilitated the pro-inflammatory M1-like polarization of macrophages. Thus, therapeutic inhibition of MCP yielded dual antitumor effects by stimulating ferroptosis and activating antitumor pro-inflammatory M1-like macrophages. The nanosystem developed for specifically silencing MCP is a promising tool for treating PDAC.

Differences of clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of IgA nephropathy patients with and without nephrotic syndrome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the differences in clinicopathological features and outcomes of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients with and without nephrotic syndrome. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, IgAN patients from January 2006 to December 2011 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were enrolled and followed up to Dec 31, 2013. Logistic and Cox regression were conducted to evaluate the associated factors of nephrotic syndrome (NS) and its relation with outcomes of creatinine doubling and progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). RESULTS: A total of 1413 patients with IgAN were enrolled in this study, 57 (4.0%) of whom exhibited NS. Meanwhile, 13 (22.8%) of NS IgAN patients had minimal change disease (MCD). Logistic regression showed that more presence of hypertension, less glomerular sclerosis, less tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis, and lower density of IgA deposition in mesangial region were significantly associated with NS IgAN that were independent of age and gender. In addition, a total of 921 patients (890 with non-NS IgAN and 31 with NS IgAN) were followed up to Dec 31, 2013. After adjusting for age, sex, baseline estimated glomerular rate, hypertension and hemoglobin, no significant difference was observed in outcomes of serum creatinine doubling and ESKD between patients with or without NS IgAN. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of NS IgAN patients was 4.0%, and 22.8% of them had MCD. Patients with NS IgAN had more severe clinical but less severe pathological features. However, outcomes of serum creatinine doubling and ESKD were not significantly different between patients with or without NS IgAN.

A study on the ultimate mechanical properties of middle-aged and elderly human aorta based on uniaxial tensile test.

Background: The mechanical properties of the aorta are particularly important in clinical medicine and forensic science, serving as basic data for further exploration of aortic disease or injury mechanisms. Objective: To study the influence of various factors (age, gender, test direction, anatomical location, and pathological characteristics) on the mechanical properties and thickness of the aorta. Methods: In this study, a total of 24 aortas (age range: 54-88 years old) were collected, one hundred and seventy-four dog-bone-shaped samples were made, and then the uniaxial tensile test was run, finally, pathological grouping was performed through histological staining. Results: Atherosclerotic plaques were mainly distributed near the openings of blood vessel branches. The distribution was most severe in the abdominal aorta, followed by the aortic arch. Aortic atherosclerosis was a more severe trend in the male group. In the comparison of thickness, there were no significant differences in age (over 50 years) and test direction, the average thickness of the aorta was greater in the male group than the female group and decreased progressively from the ascending aorta to the abdominal aorta. Comparing the mechanical parameters, various parameters are mainly negatively correlated with age, especially in the circumferential ascending aorta (εp "Y = -0.01402*X + 1.762, R2 = 0.6882", εt "Y = -0.01062*X + 1.250, R2 = 0.6772"); the parameters of males in the healthy group were larger, while the parameters of females were larger in atherosclerosis group; the aorta has anisotropy, the parameters in the circumferential direction were greater than those in the axial direction; the parameters of the ascending aorta were the largest in the circumferential direction, the ultimate stress [σp "1.69 (1.08,2.32)"] and ultimate elastic modulus [E2"8.28 (6.67,10.25)"] of the abdominal aorta were significantly larger in the axial direction; In the circumferential direction, the stress [σp "2.2 (1.31,3.98)", σt "0.13 (0.09,0.31)"] and ultimate elastic modulus (E2 "14.10 ± 7.21") of adaptive intimal thickening were greater than those of other groups, the strain (εp "0.82 ± 0.17", εt "0.53 ± 0.14") of pathological intimal thickening was the largest in the pathological group. Conclusion: The present study systematically analyzed the influence of age, sex, test direction, anatomical site, and pathological characteristics on the biomechanical properties of the aorta, described the distribution of aortic atherosclerosis, and illustrated the characteristics of aortic thickness changes. At the same time, new insights into the grouping of pathological features were presented.

Effectiveness of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir versus azvudine for adult inpatients with severe or critical COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: In China, both nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) and azvudine have been granted approval to treat adult SARS-CoV-2-infected patients with moderate symptoms. Information about the clinical effect of the two available agents among inpatients with severe or critical COVID-19 is scarce. PURPOSE: To compare the clinical outcomes of Paxlovid and azvudine among adult inpatients with severe or critical COVID-19. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in two large medical centres after the epidemic control measures were lifted in China. A new propensity score matched-inverse probability of treatment weighting cohort was constructed to evaluate the in-hospital all-cause mortality, hospital length of stay, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and safety. RESULTS: A total of 955 individuals were in the cohort. The antiviral therapy strategies were decided by the senior physician and the supplies of the pharmacy. A total of 451 patients were in the Paxlovid group, and 504 patients were in the azvudine group. Compared with Paxlovid, the effects of azvudine on in-hospital all-cause mortality were not significantly different, and the OR (95% CI) was 1.084 (0.822 to 1.430), and the average hospital length of stay of patients discharged alive was also similar in the azvudine group, and the difference (day) and (95% CI) was 0.530 (-0.334 to 1.393). After 7 days of therapy, the degree of decline in the SOFA score was greater in the Paxlovid group than in the azvudine group (p<0.001). The change in glomerular filtration rate was not significantly different (p=0.824). CONCLUSION: Paxlovid and azvudine had similar effectiveness on in-hospital all-cause mortality and hospital length of stay. Compared with the azvudine group, after 7 days of therapy, the degree of decline in SOFA score was significantly higher in the Paxlovid group. These findings need to be verified in larger prospective studies or randomised controlled trials.

Comprehensive whole-genome resequencing unveils genetic diversity and selective signatures of the Xiangdong black goat.

Xiangdong black goats, indigenous to Hunan Province, China, exhibit remarkable adaptation to challenging environments and possess distinct black coat coloration alongside exceptional meat quality attributes. Despite their significance, comprehensive genomic investigations of this breed have been notably lacking. This study involved a comprehensive examination of population structure, genomic diversity, and regions of selection in Xiangdong black goats utilizing whole-genome sequencing data from 20 samples of this breed and 139 published samples from six other Chinese goat breeds. Our genomic analysis revealed a total of 19,133,125 biallelic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the Xiangdong black goat genome, primarily located in intergenic and intronic regions. Population structure analysis indicated that, compared with Jintang, Guizhou and Chengdu goats, Xiangdong black goats exhibit a reduced level of genetic differentiation but exhibit relatively greater divergence from Jining goats. An examination of genetic diversity within Xiangdong black goats revealed a moderate level of diversity, minimal inbreeding, and a substantial effective population size, which are more reflective of random mating patterns than other Chinese goat breeds. Additionally, we applied four distinct selective sweep methods, namely, the composite likelihood ratio (CLR), fixation index (F ST), θ π ratio and cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity (XP-EHH), to identify genomic regions under positive selection and genes associated with fundamental biological processes. The most prominent candidate genes identified in this study are involved in crucial aspects of goat life, including reproduction (CCSER1, PDGFRB, IFT88, LRP1B, STAG1, and SDCCAG8), immunity (DOCK8, IL1R1, and IL7), lactation and milk production (SPP1, TLL1, and ERBB4), hair growth (CHRM2, SDC1, ITCH, and FGF12), and thermoregulation (PDE10A). In summary, our research contributes valuable insights into the genomic characteristics of the Xiangdong black goat, underscoring its importance and utility in future breeding programs and conservation initiatives within the field of animal breeding and genetics.

Ferrostatin­1 alleviates liver injury via decreasing ferroptosis following ricin toxin poisoning in rat.

Ricin is a highly toxic plant toxin that can cause multi-organ failure, especially liver dysfunction, and is a potential bioterrorism agent. Despite the serious public health challenge posed by ricin, effective therapeutic for ricin-induced poisoning is currently unavailable. Therefore, it is important to explore the mechanism of ricin poisoning and develop appropriate treatment protocols accordingly. Previous studies have shown that lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation are associated with ricin poisoning. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of cell death caused by excessive accumulation of lipid peroxide. The role and mechanism of ferroptosis in ricin poisoning are unclear and require further study. We investigated the effect of ferroptosis on ricin-induced liver injury and further elucidated the mechanism. The results showed that ferroptosis occurred in the liver of ricin-intoxicated rats, and Ferrostatin­1 could ameliorate hepatic ferroptosis and thus liver injury. Ricin induced liver injury by decreasing hepatic reduced glutathione and the protein level of glutathione peroxidase 4 and Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 11, increasing iron, malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species, and mitochondrial damage, whereas Ferrostatin­1 pretreatment increased hepatic reduced glutathione and the protein level of glutathione peroxidase 4 and Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 11, decreased iron, malondialdehyde, and reactive oxygen species, and ameliorated mitochondrial damage, thereby alleviated liver injury. These results suggested that ferroptosis exacerbated liver injury after ricin poisoning and that inhibition of ferroptosis may be a novel strategy for the treatment of ricin poisoning.

Hyperglycemic stress induces oxidative damage of enteric glial cells by triggering redoxosomes/p66SHC activation.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetic gastrointestinal dysfunction (DGD) is a serious complication of diabetic mellitus (DM), affecting the enteric nervous system (ENS), particular enteric glial cells (EGCs). This study aimed to elucidate the effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of hyperglycemic stress on EGCs in in vitro and in vivo models of DM. METHODS: In in vitro studies, enteric glial cell line CRL-2690 was exposed to hyperglycemia stress, and cell viability, cell apoptosis and oxidative damage were assessed. In in vivo studies, STZ-induced diabetic mice were constructed, and cell apoptosis and oxidative damage of EGCs in the duodenum of DM mice were assessed. RESULTS: The results showed that hyperglycemic stress markedly induced oxidative damage of EGCs in in vitro and in vivo models of DM. This damage was found to be dependent on the activation of redoxosomes, which involved the phosphorylation of SRC and Vav2, the up-regulation of active RAC1-GTP, and the activation of NADPH oxidase (NOX). Moreover, inhibitors of redoxosomes, such as the RAC1 inhibitor NSC23766 and the NOX inhibitor VAS2870, effectively mitigated the hyperglycemic stress-induced oxidative damage of EGCs. Additionally, inhibition of p66SHC, a downstream target of redoxosomes, attenuated oxidative damage of EGCs under hyperglycemic stress. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that the redoxosomes/p66SHC signaling is involved in the oxidative damage of EGCs during the pathological process of DGD. This signaling cascade may represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of DGD.

PET image-guided kidney injury theranostics enabled by a bipyramidal DNA framework.

Understanding the pharmacokinetic profiles of nanomaterials in living organisms is essential for their application in disease treatment. Bipyramidal DNA frameworks (BDFs) are a type of DNA nanomaterial that have shown prospects in the fields of molecular imaging and therapy. To serve as a reference for disease-related studies involving the BDF, we constructed a 68Ga-BDF and employed positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to establish its pharmacokinetic model in healthy mice. Our investigation revealed that the BDF was primarily eliminated from the body via the urinary system. Ureteral obstruction could significantly alter the metabolism of the urinary system. By utilizing the established pharmacokinetic model, we sensitively observed distinct imaging indicators in unilateral ureteral obstruction and acute kidney injury (a complication of ureteral obstruction) mouse models. Furthermore, we observed that the BDF showed therapeutic effects in an AKI model. We believe that the established pharmacokinetic model and unique renal excretion characteristics of the BDF will provide researchers with more information for studying kidney diseases.

The protein phosphatase qGL3/OsPPKL1 self-regulates its degradation to orchestrate brassinosteroid signaling in rice.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of phytohormones that regulate plant growth and development. In previous studies, we cloned and identified PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE WITH KELCH-LIKE1 (OsPPKL1) as the causal gene for the quantitative trait locus GRAIN LENGTH3 (qGL3) in rice (Oryza sativa). We also showed that qGL3/OsPPKL1 is mainly located in the cytoplasm and nucleus and negatively regulates BR signaling and grain length. Because qGL3 is a negative regulator of BR signaling, its turnover is critical for rapid response to changes in BRs. Here, we demonstrate that qGL3 interacts with the WD40-domain-containing protein WD40-REPEAT PROTEIN48 (OsWDR48), which contains a nuclear export signal (NES). The NES signal is crucial for the cytosolic localization of OsWDR48 and also functions in the self-turnover of qGL3. We show that OsWDR48 physically interacts with and genetically acts through qGL3 to modulate BR signaling. Moreover, qGL3 may indirectly promote the phosphorylation of OsWDR48 at the Ser-379 and Ser-386 sites. Substitutions of both phosphorylation sites in OsWDR48 to non-phosphorylatable alanine enhanced the strength of the OsWDR48-qGL3 interaction. Furthermore, we found that brassinolide can promote the accumulation of non-phosphorylated OsWDR48, leading to strong interaction intensity between qGL3 and OsWDR48. Taken together, our results show that OsWDR48 facilitates qGL3 retention and induces degradation of qGL3 in the cytoplasm. These findings suggest that qGL3 self-modulates its turnover by binding to OsWDR48 to regulate its cytoplasmic localization and stability, leading to efficient orchestration of BR signal transduction in rice.

Parenchymal volume preservation during partial nephrectomy: improved methodology to assess impact and predictive factors.

OBJECTIVE: To rigorously evaluate the impact of the percentage of parenchymal volume preserved (PPVP) and how well the preserved parenchyma recovers from ischaemia (Recischaemia ) on functional outcomes after partial nephrectomy (PN) using an accurate and objective software-based methodology for estimating parenchymal volumes and split renal function (SRF). A secondary objective was to assess potential predictors of the PPVP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 894 PN patients with available studies (2011-2014) were evaluated. The PPVP was measured from cross-sectional imaging at ≤3 months before and 3-12 months after PN using semi-automated software. Pearson correlation evaluated relationships between continuous variables. Multivariable linear regression evaluated predictors of ipsilateral glomerular filtration rate (GFR) preserved and the PPVP. Relative-importance analysis was used to evaluate the impact of the PPVP on ipsilateral GFR preserved. Recischaemia was defined as the percentage of ipsilateral GFR preserved normalised by the PPVP. RESULTS: The median tumour size and R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score were 3.4 cm and 7, respectively. In all, 49 patients (5.5%) had a solitary kidney. In all, 538 (60%)/251 (28%)/104 (12%) patients were managed with warm/cold/zero ischaemia, respectively. The median pre/post ipsilateral GFRs were 40/31 mL/min/1.73 m2 , and the median (interquartile range [IQR]) percentage of ipsilateral GFR preserved was 80% (71-88%). The median pre/post ipsilateral parenchymal volumes were 181/149 mL, and the median (IQR) PPVP was 84% (76-92%). In all, 330 patients (37%) had a PPVP of <80%, while only 34 (4%) had a Recischaemia of <80%. The percentage of ipsilateral GFR preserved correlated strongly with the PPVP (r = 0.83, P < 0.01) and loss of parenchymal volume accounted for 80% of the loss of ipsilateral GFR. Multivariable analysis confirmed that the PPVP was the strongest predictor of ipsilateral GFR preserved. Greater tumour size and endophytic and nearness properties of the R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score were associated with a reduced PPVP (all P ≤ 0.01). Solitary kidney and cold ischaemia were associated with an increased PPVP (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A reduced PPVP predominates regarding functional decline after PN, although a low Recischaemia can also contribute. Tumour-related factors strongly influence the PPVP, while surgical efforts can improve the PPVP as observed for patients with solitary kidneys.

Extrapolation study for determining the time since injury in a rat subcutaneous hematoma model utilizing ATR-FTIR spectroscopy.

The determination of the time of an injury has been a major problem in forensic science due to the lack of objective, reliable and portable methods. In this study, a subcutaneous hemorrhage model in rats was established over six days, and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics was used to determine the time since injury. Initial principal component analysis (PCA) showed variance among hematoma sites. Subsequently, spectral data were acquired to establish a dependable partial least square (PLS) regression model with predictive abilities. The root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) and the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) values produced by a genetic algorithm (GA) were 0.64 d (R2 = 0.88) and 0.57 d (R2 = 0.90), respectively. Few variables were involved in the model, and significantly better results were obtained in comparison to the conventional full-spectrum PLS model. In combination with the results of variable importance in projection (VIP) scores, all components, including proteins, nucleic acids and phospholipids, provided inferences regarding the samples at different time points; additionally, amide I and II bands represented the secondary structure of proteins and provided the largest contribution. Based on our preliminary study, the combination of swift and nondamaging ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with chemometrics could prove to be an advantageous approach for gauging the age of an injury in the forensic field.

Machine learning-based prediction models to guide the selection of Cas9 variants for efficient gene editing.

The increasing emergence of Cas9 variants has attracted broad interest, as these variants were designed to expand CRISPR applications. New Cas9 variants typically feature higher editing efficiency, improved editing specificity, or alternative PAM sequences. To select Cas9 variants and gRNAs for high-fidelity and efficient genome editing, it is crucial to systematically quantify the editing performances of gRNAs and develop prediction models based on high-quality datasets. Using synthetic gRNA-target paired libraries and next-generation sequencing, we compared the activity and specificity of gRNAs of four SpCas9 variants. The nucleotide composition in the PAM-distal region had more influence on the editing efficiency of HiFi Cas9 and LZ3 Cas9. We further developed machine learning models to predict the gRNA efficiency and specificity for the four Cas9 variants. To aid users from broad research areas, the machine learning models for the predictions of gRNA editing efficiency within human genome sites are available on our website.

Cysteine-modified PEGylated nanoparticles for targeted delivery of methylprednisolone to pancreatitis.

The timely suppression of inflammatory mediator production and mitigation of their effects on pancreatic acinar cells are crucial for the successful management of acute pancreatitis. To achieve effective treatment, we present a novel approach utilizing cysteine modified PEG nanoparticles for both precise accumulation at the site of pancreatitis and specific targeting of acinar cells. Methylprednisolone, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was tailored to enhance its circulation time in the bloodstream, preferentially accumulate in the pancreas and enhance cell uptake efficiency by acinar cells through specifically targeting L-Type amino acid transporter 1. The nanosystem significantly downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines in plasma, resulting in the effective suppression of inflammation in acinar cells within an acute pancreatitis rat model. The utilization of the dual targeted therapy strategy holds considerable potential for the clinical management of pancreatitis.