Inadvertent radical nephrectomy leads to worse prognosis in renal pelvic urothelial carcinoma patients: A propensity score-matched study.

Objective: To compare overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in renal pelvic urothelial carcinoma (RPUC) patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (NU) and inadvertent radical nephrectomy (RN). Patients and methods: In this retrospective study, patients with RPUC who underwent NU or RN diagnosed between 2004 and 2017 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. To adjust the confounders, the propensity score-matched analysis was conducted. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were performed to explore the effect of different surgical methods on OS and CSS. Results: A total of 2197 cases were finally included in this analysis, among which, 187 (8.5%) patients were treated with RN and 2010 (91.5%) patients were treated with NU. Before matching, the survival analysis revealed that the OS (HR: 1.444, 95%CI: 1.197, 1.741) and CSS (HR: 1.522, 95%CI: 1.211, 1.914) of patients who received RN were worse than that of patients who received NU (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0003, respectively). After matching, the RN group had a worse OS (HR: 1.298, 95%CI: 1.002, 1.682) than the NU group (p = 0.048). No significant difference was observed in CSS between the RN and NU groups (p = 0.282). The hierarchical analysis showed that there was no significant difference observed in OS and CSS in patients with tumor size ≤4.2 cm (p = 0.884 and p = 0.496, respectively). In tumor size >4.2 cm, both OS (HR: 1.545, 95%CI: 1.225, 1.948) and CSS (HR: 1.607, 95%CI: 1.233, 2.095) of patients who received RN were worse than those of patients who received NU (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0005). Conclusion: RN could lead to worse oncological outcomes than NU in patients with renal pelvis urothelial carcinoma. Accurate diagnosis of renal pelvis urothelial carcinoma is extremely important.

The rs13347 Polymorphism of the CD44 Gene Is Associated with the Risk of Kidney Stones Disease in the Chinese Han Population of Northeast Sichuan, China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between the rs13347 polymorphism of the CD44 gene and the risk of kidney stone disease (KSD) in the Han population of northeast Sichuan, China, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of KSD. METHODS: We used PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique to perform genotyping at rs13347 locus of the CD44 gene in the KSD group and the gontrol group. SNP Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) testing was used to confirm the balance of genetic inheritance. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used for the assessment of rs13347 polymorphism and the risk of developing KSD and to compare the relationship between the polymorphism of rs13347 and clinical characteristics of patients with KSD. RESULTS: Genotypic results of rs13347 locus of the CD44 gene in the two groups were consistent with the SNP-HWE test, indicating the genetic balance. At the same time, multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that subjects with CT and TT genotypes at rs13347 in the CD44 gene were more likely to have KSD, and there was a higher prevalence rate in males. Furthermore, carrying allele T at rs13347 was also a risk factor for KSD. In addition, people carrying CT and TT genotypes at rs13347 also have a significantly increased risk of relapsing KSD. CONCLUSION: The rs13347 polymorphism of the CD44 gene may be associated with the risk of KSD in the Han population of northeast Sichuan in China, and the recurrence rate of KSD in the carriers of CT and TT genotypes is higher.

Identification of Hub Genes and Pathways Associated with CAR-T Cell-Mediated Neurotoxicity in DLBCL.

BACKGROUND: Severe neurotoxicity after chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy can be a crucial lifethreatening event in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and management of those toxicities is still a serious clinical challenge. The underlying mechanisms of CAR-T cell-mediated neurotoxicity remain poorly elucidated because very few studies examine the intact tumor microenvironment before CAR-T cell infusion. Herein, we pur-posed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to CAR-T cell-mediated neurotoxicity in the DLBCL microenvironment before CAR-T cell infusion and reveal their potential mechanisms. METHODS: The mRNA expression profile data of GSE153438 were obtained from the GEO database. The GSE153438 dataset includes 26 samples with non-severe neurotoxicity (grade 0 - 2) and 10 samples with severe neurotoxicity (grade 3 or higher). Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) patway enrichment assessment was carried out. We screened the hub gene by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and Cytoscape software. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was also analyzed with the GSEA software. Moreover, the predictive value of the hub gene for severe neurotoxicity was evaluated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: We identified a total of 25 up-regulated DEGs and 26 downregulated DEGs associated with CAR-T cell-mediated neurotoxicity in the DLBCL microenvironment before CAR-T cell infusion. Results of GO analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in T cell activation, leukocyte cell-cell adhesion, and positive regulation of cell adhesion. The KEGG analysis revealed that DEGs were significantly enriched in T cell receptor signaling pathway, cell adhesion molecules, and Epstein-Barr virus infection. GSEA revealed that the glycolysis pathway was significantly associated with severe neurotoxicity. The top centrality hub gene GZMB was identified from the PPI network. ROC curve analysis showed that GZMB had a potential predictive value for severe neurotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: In DLBCL microenvironment before CAR-T cell infusion, we identified T cell activation and glycolysis pathways significantly associated with CAR-T cell-mediated severe neurotoxicity. GZMB might be used as a predictive and therapeutic molecular marker for neurotoxicity. The study suggested that the tumor microenviron-ment before CAR-T cell infusion plays an essential role in the early prediction of neurotoxicity.

A historical and ethnobotanical study on local botanical knowledge recorded in the book "Mongolia and Amdo and the Dead City of Khara-Khoto".

BACKGROUND: There is a plentiful amount of local knowledge on plants hidden in the literature of foreign exploration to China in modern history. Mongolia and Amdo and the Dead City of Khara-Khoto (MAKK) is an expedition record on the sixth scientific expedition to northwestern China (1907-1909) initiated by P. K. Kozlov (1863-1935), a famous Russian Central Asian explorer. Used as a non-professional biology book, MAKK contains some botanical knowledge. The information noted down over more than 100 years ago is about the traditional knowledge of the Mongolian folks lived on the Mongolian plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau for the understanding and utilization of plants, which is of a highlighted function for the study of the botany and the history of science and technology. We therefore have carried on relevant collation, analysis, investigation and criticism to Mongolian local knowledge on plants in MAKK, and obtained the status quo of these local knowledge. METHODS: The authors used the literature research method to sort and compare the two versions of MAKK, separating out the Mongolian local knowledge about plant naming and utilization. Then, these contents were verified through literature textual method and were catalogued according to the method of ethnobotany. Based on these, the authors carried out field investigations along with Kozlov's expedition routes in Alxa in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The methods of key informants interview, snowball sampling, and rational sampling were all used in field investigations. By analyzing the interview data of 34 key informants, we obtained the status quo of local knowledge recorded in MAKK. RESULTS: By means of regulation and research, it is found that Mongolian plant folk names of one genus and eight species were recorded in MAKK. Their morphological characteristics and traditional grazing knowledge are crucial naming basis. There are three types on the structures of Mongolian plant name: simple primary name, complex primary name, and secondary name. Corresponding relations between Mongolian folk name and scientific name are existed in "one-to-one," "multitude-to-one," and "one-to-multitude" forms. The classification of certain plants by Mongolian people has reached the level of species or varieties. In addition, the Mongols' usage for nine species of plants was noted in MAKK. These plants are mainly used for edible, graziery, fuelwood, building material, toponym, and belief. With the development and change of the society, it is found that some utilization methods have been replaced or even disappeared, while the remainders still continue to be applied. CONCLUSIONS: Firstly, the Mongols have indigenous rules and systems for nominating and classifying plants. Secondly, the Mongolian local knowledge on plants possesses multiform character. Thirdly, the Mongolian local knowledge on plants and Mongolian culture have mutual influence and interdependence relationship. Fourthly, the Mongolian local knowledge on plants urgently needs to be protected in many forms. Finally, it is veritable and reliable for the records of Mongolian botanical local knowledge in MAKK by textual research, and it is valuable for scientific research. The historical notes more than 100 years ago are not only supply dependable information and momentous historical data for Mongolian ethnobotany and Chinese minority science and technology history research, but also offer references for ecology, flora, and botanical history study.

Robust Visual Tracking Using Structural Patch Response Map Fusion Based on Complementary Correlation Filter and Color Histogram.

A part-based strategy has been applied to visual tracking with demonstrated success in recent years. Different from most existing part-based methods that only employ one type of tracking representation model, in this paper, we propose an effective complementary tracker based on structural patch response fusion under correlation filter and color histogram models. The proposed method includes two component trackers with complementary merits to adaptively handle illumination variation and deformation. To identify and take full advantage of reliable patches, we present an adaptive hedge algorithm to hedge the responses of patches into a more credible one in each component tracker. In addition, we design different loss metrics of tracked patches in two components to be applied in the proposed hedge algorithm. Finally, we selectively combine the two component trackers at the response maps level with different merging factors according to the confidence of each component tracker. Extensive experimental evaluations on OTB2013, OTB2015, and VOT2016 datasets show outstanding performance of the proposed algorithm contrasted with some state-of-the-art trackers.

Identification and characterization of BoPUB3: a novel interaction protein with S-locus receptor kinase in Brassica oleracea L.

Armadillo repeat containing 1 (ARC1) is phosphorylated by S-locus receptor kinase (SRK) and functions as a positive regulator in self-incompatibility response of Brassica. However, ARC1 only causes partial breakdown of the self-incompatibility response, and other SRK downstream factors may also participate in the self-incompatibility signaling pathway. In the present study, to search for SRK downstream targets, a plant U-box protein 3 (BoPUB3) was identified from the stigma of Brassica oleracea L. BoPUB3 was highly expressed in the stigma, and its expression was increased with the stigma development and reached to the highest level in the mature-stage stigma. BoPUB3, a 76.8-kDa protein with 697 amino acids, is a member of the PUB-ARM family and contains three domain characteristics of BoARC1, including a U-box N-terminal domain, a U-box motif, and a C-terminal arm repeat domain. The phylogenic tree showed that BoPUB3 was close to BoARC1. The synteny analysis revealed that B. oleracea chromosomal region containing BoPUB3 had high synteny with the Arabidopsis thaliana chromosomal region containing AtPUB3 (At3G54790). In addition, the subcellular localization analysis showed that BoPUB3 primarily localized in the plasma membrane and also in the cytoplasm. The combination of the yeast two-hybrid and in vitro binding assay showed that both BoPUB3 and BoARC1 could interact with SRK kinase domain, and SRK showed much higher level of ß-galactosidase activity in its interaction with BoPUB3 than with BoARC1. These results implied that BoPUB3 is a novel interactor with SRK, which lays a basis for further research on whether PUB3 participates in the self-incompatibility signaling pathway.

Cardinality Balanced Multi-Target Multi-Bernoulli Filter with Error Compensation.

The cardinality balanced multi-target multi-Bernoulli (CBMeMBer) filter developed recently has been proved an effective multi-target tracking (MTT) algorithm based on the random finite set (RFS) theory, and it can jointly estimate the number of targets and their states from a sequence of sensor measurement sets. However, because of the existence of systematic errors in sensor measurements, the CBMeMBer filter can easily produce different levels of performance degradation. In this paper, an extended CBMeMBer filter, in which the joint probability density function of target state and systematic error is recursively estimated, is proposed to address the MTT problem based on the sensor measurements with systematic errors. In addition, an analytic implementation of the extended CBMeMBer filter is also presented for linear Gaussian models. Simulation results confirm that the proposed algorithm can track multiple targets with better performance.

N-terminal domains of ARC1 are essential for interaction with the N-terminal region of Exo70A1 in transducing self-incompatibility of Brassica oleracea.

Self-incompatibility (SI) is an important mating system to prevent inbreeding and promote outcrossing. ARC1 and Exo70A1 function as the downstream targets of the S-locus receptor kinase and play conservative roles in Brassica SI signaling. Based on the sequence homology, Exo70A1 is divided into four subdomains: leucine zipper (Leu(128)-Leu(149)), hypervariable region (Ser(172)-Leu(197)), SUMO modification motif (Glu(260)-Ile(275)), and pfamExo70 domain (His(271)-Phe(627)). ARC1 contains four domains as follows: leucine zipper (Leu(116)-Leu(137)), coiled-coil domain (Thr(210)-Val(236)), U-box (Asp(282)-Trp(347)) motif, and ARM (Ala(415)-Thr(611)) domain. Bioinformatics analysis, yeast two-hybrid screening and pull-down assays show that leucine zipper and coiled-coil motifs of ARC1116-236 are required for the interaction with Exo70A1, while the addition of ARM motif results in loss of the interaction with Exo70A1. Meanwhile, the N-terminal of Exo70A1 without any domains shows a weak interaction with ARC1, and the level of LacZ expression increases with addition of leucine zipper and reaches the maximum value with hypervariable region and SUMO modification motif, indicating that hypervariable region and SUMO modification motif of Exo70A1172-275 is mainly responsible for the binding with ARC1, whereas pfamExo70 domain has little affinity for ARC1. Lys(181) located in the Exo70A1 hypervariable region may be the ubiquitination site mediating the interaction between ARC1 and Exo70A1. Therefore, both the leucine zipper with coiled-coil structure of ARC1116-236, and the hypervariable region and SUMO modification motif of Exo70A1172-275 are the core interaction domains between ARC1 and Exo70A1. Any factors affecting these core domains would be the regulators of ARC1 mediating ubiquitin degradation in self-incompatible system.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Species Dependency Governs Better Plant Physiological Characteristics and Leaf Quality of Mulberry (Morus alba L.) Seedlings.

Understanding the synergic interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and its host mulberry (Morus alba L.), an important perennial multipurpose plant, has theoretical and practical significance in mulberry plantation, silkworm cultivation, and relevant textile industry. In a greenhouse study, we compared functional distinctions of three genetically different AMF species (Acaulospora scrobiculata, Funneliformis mosseae, and Rhizophagus intraradices) on physiological and growth characteristics as well as leaf quality of 6-month-old mulberry seedlings. Results showed that mulberry was AMF-species dependent, and AMF colonization significantly increased shoot height and taproot length, stem base and taproot diameter, leaf and fibrous root numbers, and shoot and root biomass production. Meanwhile, leaf chlorophyll a or b and carotenoid concentrations, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were generally significantly greater, while intercellular CO2 concentration was significantly lower in AMF-inoculated seedlings than in non-AMF-inoculated counterparts. These trends were also generally true for leaf moisture, total nitrogen, all essential amino acids, histidine, proline, soluble protein, sugar, and fatty acid as they were significantly increased under mycorrhization. Among these three tested AMFs, significantly greater effects of AMF on above-mentioned mulberry physiological and growth characteristics ranked as F. mosseae > A. scrobiculata > R. intraradices, whilst on mulberry leaf quality (e.g., nutraceutical values) for better silkworm growth as F. mosseae ≈A. scrobiculata > R. intraradices. In conclusion, our results showed that greater mulberry biomass production, and nutritional quality varied with AMF species or was AMF-species dependent. Such improvements were mainly attributed to AMF-induced positive alterations of mulberry leaf photosynthetic pigments, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and N-containing compounds (methionine, threonine, histidine, and proline). As a result, application of Funneliformis mosseae or A. scrobiculata in mulberry plantation could be a promising management strategy to promote silkworm cultivation and relevant textile industry.

[The application of low-dose multi spiral CT chest scan in pneumoconiosis].

OBJECTIVE: To apply low-dose multi spiral computed tomography (MSCT) chest scans in the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pneumoconiosis. METHODS: One hundred and twenty dust-exposed volunteers were examined by MSCT chest scans at conventional dose and low dose, and the results of conventional-dose scans were set as the gold standard. Comparative analysis was performed on the major CT findings and quality of post-processing images, including 1.5 mm and 5.0∼10.0 mm thick high -resolution reconstructed images, multiplanar reformat images, and maximum intensity projection images. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty cases of small circular shadows, 36 cases of ribbon shadows in pulmonary parenchyma, 1 case of honeycombing shadow, and 13 cases of big shadows were all showed on low -dose MSCT. But 94 (95.9%) of 98 cases of interlobular septal thickening shadows and 98 (93.3%) of 105 cases of short branched shadows were detected on low-dose MSCT. There were no significant differences in display of the mentioned large and small shadows between low-dose scans and conventional-dose scans (P > 0.05). Eighty-five cases of small airway disease, 8 cases of pulmonary inflammatory lesions, and 47 cases of hilar and mediastinal lymph node swelling were all detected by MSCT. As for the 46 cases of emphysema, 38 (82.6%) were shown. The low-dose MSCT images of 1.5 mm thickness had more artifacts than those of other thickness. The radiation dose of low-dose MSCT was about 1/3-1/5 of that in the conventional-dose MSCT. CONCLUSION: There is no difference in display of pneumoconiosis between low-dose and conventional-dose MSCT chest scans. With lower radiation dose, low-dose MSCT can be applied in the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.