A novel protein FNDC3B-267aa encoded by circ0003692 inhibits gastric cancer metastasis via promoting proteasomal degradation of c-Myc.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) ranks fifth in global cancer incidence and third in mortality rate among all cancer types. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been extensively demonstrated to regulate multiple malignant biological behaviors in GC. Emerging evidence suggests that several circRNAs derived from FNDC3B play pivotal roles in cancer. However, the role of circFNDC3B in GC remains elusive. METHODS: We initially screened circFNDC3B with translation potential via bioinformatics algorithm prediction. Subsequently, Sanger sequencing, qRT-PCR, RNase R, RNA-FISH and nuclear-cytoplasmic fractionation assays were explored to assess the identification and localization of circ0003692, a circRNA derived from FNDC3B. qRT-PCR and ISH were performed to quantify expression of circ0003692 in human GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues. The protein-encoding ability of circ0003692 was investigated through dual-luciferase reporter assay and LC/MS. The biological behavior of circ0003692 in GC was confirmed via in vivo and in vitro experiments. Additionally, Co-IP and rescue experiments were performed to elucidate the interaction between the encoded protein and c-Myc. RESULTS: We found that circ0003692 was significantly downregulated in GC tissues. Circ0003692 had the potential to encode a novel protein FNDC3B-267aa, which was downregulated in GC cells. We verified that FNDC3B-267aa, rather than circ0003692, inhibited GC migration in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, FNDC3B-267aa directly interacted with c-Myc and promoted proteasomal degradation of c-Myc, resulting in the downregulation of c-Myc-Snail/Slug axis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the novel protein FNDC3B-267aa encoded by circ0003692 suppressed GC metastasis through binding to c-Myc and enhancing proteasome-mediated degradation of c-Myc. The study offers the potential applications of circ0003692 or FNDC3B-267aa as therapeutic targets for GC.

Discrepancy between arterial oxygen saturation and pulse oximetry measurement in a Chinese pediatric patient cohort.

Background: Increasing evidence suggest a racial bias in pulse oximetry measurement, but this was under investigated in Asian pediatric populations. Methods: Via the Pediatric Intensive Care database, this retrospective study included pediatric patient records of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and oxygen saturation on pulse oximetry (SpO2) measured within 10 min. Discrepancy was examined, and potential predictors of occult hypoxemia (defined as SaO2 <88% with the paired SpO2 ≥92%) as well as its association with outcomes were explored by logistic regression. Results: A total of 390 patients were included with 454 pairs of SaO2-SpO2 readings. The study population consisted of Han Chinese (99.0%) and 43.6% were female. Occult hypoxemia was observed in 20.0% of the patients, with a mean SaO2 of 71.4 ± 15.8%. Potential predictors of occult hypoxemia included female, being first admitted to cardiac ICU, congenital heart disease, increased heart rate, while patients with prior surgery records were less likely to experience occult hypoxemia. Patients with occult hypoxemia had numerically higher in-ICU mortality (16.7% versus 10.9%) and in-hospital mortality (17.9% versus 10.9%), but the associations were not statistically significant. Conclusions: There was a substantial proportion of hypoxemia that was not detected by pulse oximetry in the Chinese pediatric patients, which might be predicted by several characteristics and seemed to associate with mortality.

Single-incision laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair in the treatment of adult female patients with inguinal hernia.

BACKGROUND: Women have a 3% lifetime chance of developing an inguinal hernia, which is not as common in men. Due to its cosmetic benefits, single-incision laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (SIL-TAPP) inguinal hernia repair is becoming increasingly popular in the management of inguinal hernia in women. However, there are no studies comparing the safety and applicability of SIL-TAPP repair with conventional laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (CL-TAPP) inguinal hernia repair for the treatment of inguinal hernia in women. AIM: To compare the outcomes of SIL-TAPP and CL-TAPP repair in adult female patients with inguinal hernia and to estimate the safety and applicability of SIL-TAPP repair in adult female inguinal hernia patients. METHODS: We retrospectively compared the clinical information and follow-up data of female inguinal hernia patients who underwent SIL-TAPP inguinal hernia repair and those who underwent CL-TAPP inguinal hernia repair at the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from February 2018 to December 2020 and assessed the long-term and short-term outcomes of both cohorts. RESULTS: This study included 123 patients, with 71 undergoing SIL-TAPP repair and 52 undergoing CL-TAPP repair. The two cohorts of patients and inguinal hernia characteristics were similar, with no statistically meaningful difference. The rate of intraoperative inferior epigastric vessel injury was lower in patients in the SIL-TAPP cohort (0, 0%) than in patients in the CL-TAPP cohort (4, 7.7%) and was significantly different (P < 0.05). In addition, the median [interquartile range (IQR)] total hospitalization costs were significantly lower in patients in the SIL-TAPP cohort [$3287 (3218-3325)] than in patients in the CL-TAPP cohort [$3511 (3491-3599)]. Postoperatively, the occurrence rate of trocar site hernia was lower in the SIL-TAPP cohort (0, 0%) than in the CL-TAPP cohort (4, 7.7%), and the median (IQR) cosmetic score was significantly higher in the SIL-TAPP cohort [10 (10-10)] than in the CL-TAPP cohort [9 (9-10)]. CONCLUSION: SIL-TAPP repair did not increase the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications in female inguinal hernia patients. Moreover, female inguinal hernia patients who underwent SIL-TAPP repair had a lower probability of trocar site hernia and inferior epigastric vessel injury than female inguinal hernia patients who underwent CL-TAPP repair. In addition, female inguinal hernia patients who underwent SIL-TAPP repair reported a more aesthetically pleasing postoperative abdominal incision. Therefore, SIL-TAPP repair is a better option for the treatment of inguinal hernias in women.

First record of Fusarium concentricum (Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae) isolated from the moth Polychrosis cunninhamiacola (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) as an entomopathogenic fungus.

Fusarium concentricum Nirenberg & O' Donnell (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) is a fungal species known to infect plants, but never reported as entomopathogenic. Polychrosis cunninhamiacola Liu et Pei (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae) is a major and widespread insect pest causing economic losses to cultivated Chinese fir Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. It is routinely controlled by extensive use of chemical insecticides, which is perceived as environmentally unsustainable. During March and April of 2019-2020, muscardine cadavers of larvae and pupae of P. cunninhamiacola infected with growing fungus were collected in a fir forest in northern Guangdong Province, China. Conidia were isolated and cultured on PDA medium, from which the fungal strain was identified as F. concentricum FCPC-L01 by morphology and by sequence alignment match with Tef-1α gene. Pathogenicity bioassays at the conidial concentration 1 × 107 revealed P. cunninhamiacola adults and Danaus chrysippus (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) larvae are sensitive to the fungal infection, but not the fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). We believe results indicate this fungal strain might be applicable against specific target insect pests. As this is the first record of a natural infection caused by F. concentricum in insects, we propose host specificity tests should be done to evaluate its potential as a biocontrol agent.

Intravenous As2O3 as a promising treatment for psoriasis - an experimental study in psoriasis-like mouse model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and mechanistic bases of the intravenous injection of arsenic trioxide at clinical-relevant doses for treating an imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mouse model. METHODS: After inducing psoriasis-like skin lesions on the back of mice with imiquimod, mice in each group were injected with a clinical dose of arsenic trioxide through the tail vein. The changes in the gene expression, protein expression and distribution of relevant inflammatory factors were evaluated in the inflicted skin area, for mechanisms underlying the efficacy of intravenous As2O3 intervention. HaCaT cells were used to establish an in vitro psoriasis model and pcDNA3.1-NF-κB overexpression plasmid was transfected into cells to overexpress P65, which further confirmed the role of the NF-κB signaling pathway in the effectiveness of As2O3. RESULTS: Clinical dose of As2O3 can significantly improve abnormal symptoms and pathological changes in psoriasis-like skin lesions induced by IMQ in mice. While IMQ induced abnormal expression and distribution of inflammatory factors in the RIG-I pathway and the microRNA-31 (miR-31) pathway in psoriatic skin tissues, intravenous As2O3 can effectively regulate and restore the normality. The leading role of NF-κB signaling was evidenced in vivo and validated in vitro using the NF-κB-overexpressed HaCaT cell model. CONCLUSION: Clinical dosage of As2O3 may achieve effective treatment of IMQ-induced psoriatic skin lesions by modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway which regulates both the RIG-I and the miR-31 lines of action. Our data provided strong evidence supporting the claim that systemic As2O3 administration of clinical doses can be a promising treatment for psoriasis patients.

Information infrastructure and greenhouse gas emission performance in urban China: A difference-in-differences analysis.

Owing to its network spillover effect, information infrastructure performs outstandingly in promoting economic growth and technological innovation, and has received widespread attention. However, the ecological performance of information infrastructure, especially its impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission performance, has been less studied. To investigate this issue, using panel data for 281 prefecture-level cities in China from 2003 to 2018, we treat the Broadband China policy as a quasi-natural experiment in information infrastructure, and conduct a difference-in-differences (DID) analysis. The results show that: (1) Information infrastructure significantly improves urban GHG emission performance. This conclusion holds even after controlling for pilot selection endogeneity, sampling bias, and other policy interference. (2) Technological innovation, industrial structure upgrading, factor allocation enhancement, and tertiary agglomeration are effective channels for information infrastructure to improve GHG emission performance. (3) The treatment effect varies with city size, digital economy level, and economic status. Specifically, information infrastructure exhibits significant emission reduction performance in cities with large size, advanced digital economy, and leading economic status, while the emission reduction effect drops in other cities. This study provides insights into the transition to a carbon-neutral manner for infrastructure in China and other developing countries.

Alterations of gut microbiota diversity, composition and metabonomics in testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia rats.

BACKGROUND: Studies had shown many diseases affect the stability of human microbiota, but how this relates to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has not been well understood. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the regulation of BPH on gut microbiota composition and metabonomics. METHODS: We analyzed gut samples from rats with BPH and healthy control rats, the gut microbiota composition and metabonomics were detected by 16S rDNA sequencing and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS: High-throughput sequencing results showed that gut microbiota beta-diversity increased (P < 0.01) in the BPH group vs. control group. Muribaculaceae (P < 0.01), Turicibacteraceae (P < 0.05), Turicibacter (P < 0.01) and Coprococcus (P < 0.01) were significantly decreased in the BPH group, whereas that of Mollicutes (P < 0.05) and Prevotella (P < 0.05) were significantly increased compared with the control group. Despite profound interindividual variability, the levels of several predominant genera were different. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences in several bacteria. BPH group vs. control group: Firmicutes (52.30% vs. 57.29%, P > 0.05), Bacteroidetes (46.54% vs. 41.64%, P > 0.05), Clostridia (50.89% vs. 54.66%, P > 0.05), Ruminococcaceae (25.67% vs. 20.56%, P > 0.05). LC-MS/MS of intestinal contents revealed that differential metabolites were mainly involved in cellular processes, environmental information processing, metabolism and organismal systems. The most important pathways were global and overview maps, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, digestive system and endocrine system. Through enrichment analysis, we found that the differential metabolites were significantly enriched in metabolic pathways, steroid hormone biosynthesis, ovarian steroidogenesis, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and bile secretion. Pearson correlation analysis (R = 0.94) showed that there was a strong correlation between Prevotellaceae, Corynebacteriaceae, Turicibacteraceae, Bifidobacteriaceae and differential metabolites. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested an association between the gut microbiota and BPH, but the causal relationship between the two groups is unclear. Thus, further studies are warranted to elucidate the potential mechanisms and causal relationships between BPH and gut microbiota.

How green technology innovation affects carbon emission efficiency: evidence from developed countries proposing carbon neutrality targets.

With the introduction of national carbon neutrality targets, carbon emission reduction actions in developed countries have become a hot topic as part of the international community's drive to take action to mitigate climate change. Carbon emission efficiency is an important indicator that can be used to measure progress toward carbon emission reduction targets. The relationship between green technology innovation and carbon emission efficiency has not been adequately studied, and the transmission mechanism is not yet clear. Based on the above research gaps, taking 32 developed countries that have proposed carbon neutral targets as research samples, this paper used spatial econometric models to explore the impact of green technology innovation on carbon emission efficiency and adopted spatial mediation model and spatial moderation model to analyze the transmission effects of economic development, urbanization, and financial development on environment-related green technology and carbon emission efficiency. This paper aimed to provide a policy basis for developed countries to mitigate carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality goals as soon as possible. The following results were obtained: (1) Luxembourg, Norway, and Switzerland were found to be efficient in terms of carbon emissions, while most developed countries were in an inefficient state. (2) Environment-related green technology innovation significantly improved carbon emission efficiency. (3) Economic development and urbanization had a mediating role on green technology innovation and carbon emission efficiency. In other words, green technology innovation could have an indirect impact on carbon emission efficiency by influencing economic development and urbanization. (4) Financial development could positively moderate the sensitivity of carbon emission efficiency to green technology innovation. Improving the level of green technology innovation is one way to improve carbon emission efficiency, and the mediating effect of economic development and urbanization can be used as a focus point to improve carbon emission efficiency. The pressure of carbon emission reduction can be moderated by finance development. The results of this study provide theoretical support that will assist developed countries in achieving their carbon neutrality targets.

Genome-wide analysis of cell-Free DNA methylation profiling with MeDIP-seq identified potential biomarkers for colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the most common malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. This study aimed to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers for colorectal cancer by genome-wide plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation analysis. METHODS: Peripheral blood from colorectal cancer patients and healthy controls was collected for cfDNA extraction. Genome-wide cfDNA methylation profiling, especially differential methylation profiling between colorectal cancer patients and healthy controls, was performed by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (MeDIP-seq). Logistic regression models were established, and the accuracy of this diagnostic model for colorectal cancer was verified using tissue-sourced data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) due to the lack of cfDNA methylation data in public datasets. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, 939 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) located in promoter regions were found in colorectal cancer patients; 16 of these DMRs were hypermethylated, and the remaining 923 were hypomethylated. In addition, these hypermethylated genes, mainly PRDM14, RALYL, ELMOD1, and TMEM132E, were validated and confirmed in colorectal cancer by using publicly available DNA methylation data. CONCLUSIONS: MeDIP-seq can be used as an optimal approach for analyzing cfDNA methylomes, and 12 probes of four differentially methylated genes identified by MeDIP-seq (PRDM14, RALYL, ELMOD1, and TMEM132E) could serve as potential biomarkers for clinical application in patients with colorectal cancer.

Towards Carbon Neutrality: The Impact of Renewable Energy Development on Carbon Emission Efficiency.

The energy transition and carbon emission efficiency are important thrust and target functions, respectively, for achieving carbon neutrality in the future. Using a sample of 30 Chinese provinces from 2006 to 2018, we measured their carbon efficiency using the game cross-efficiency data envelopment analysis (DEA). Then, a random forest regression model was used to explore the impact of renewable energy development on regional carbon emission efficiency. The results are as follows. First, China's carbon emission efficiency in the southeast coastal area was better than that in the northwest area. Second, renewable energy development first inhibited and then promoted carbon emission efficiency, and there existed a reasonable range. Third, through a regional heterogeneity analysis, the trend of the influence of renewable energy development on carbon emission efficiency was found to not be significantly different in eastern, central, and western China, but there was a certain gap in the reasonable range. Our study not only helps to promote the study of renewable energy development and the carbon neutral target, but also provides an important reference for Chinese policy-makers to design a reasonable carbon emissions reduction path.

How industrial convergence affects regional green development efficiency: A spatial conditional process analysis.

Industrial convergence is a key means to transform the economic mode. Taking the convergence of manufacturing and producer services in China as the research object, this study explored how industrial convergence affects regional green development efficiency (GDE). First, a coupling evaluation system was established to measure industrial convergence degree, and the directional distance function-based slacks-based measure was combined with the global Malmquist-Luenberger index to measure GDE. Second, we employed spatial econometric models to analyze the relationship between industrial convergence and GDE. Then, using the spatial conditional process analysis, a unified framework of green innovation, investment structure, and energy intensity was constructed to investigate the transmission mechanism involved. The results showed that: (1) Regional GDE and green innovation had a spatial dependence. (2) Considering the spatial correlation, industrial convergence is conductive to regional GDE. (3) Green innovation is an effective path by which industrial convergence improves regional GDE. (4) In this mediating process, the investment structure and energy intensity play a moderating role. The investment bias in high-tech industries increases the role of industrial convergence in promoting regional GDE and green innovation, while the moderating direction of energy intensity is opposite. In addition, there is a crowding-out effect in energy dependence, which hinders the effectiveness of green innovation.

[Soil-epikarst structures and their hydrological characteristics on dolomite slopes in karst region of southwest China]. / 西南喀斯特白云岩坡地土壤-表层岩溶带结构及水文特征.

Epikarst is the core area of karst critical zone, with important hydrologic regulation and storage function. However, the effects of karst development degree on hydrologic characteristics of epikasrt is still unclear. We used geophysical exploration and hydrogeological techniques, combined with the dynamic monitoring of moisture and water levels, to quantify the karst development degrees and their hydrologic characteristics on slope lands. We analyzed the responses of soil-epikarst systems to rainfall. Results showed that geophysical exploration technology could be well applied to the detection of surface-subsurface structures in the karst areas. The average thickness of soil and surface karst zone on the slope was less than 0.63 m and 2.60 m, respectively. The slopes of strong-karstification characterized by high apparent resistivity, well-developed joint fractures, and strong permeability (0.73 m·d-1). Such a result indicated that epikarst could regulate precipitation. The responses of soil moisture had a larger rainfall threshold (>20.50 mm·d-1) and the water level was determined by rainfall amount. In contrast, the slope with weak-karstification had low apparent resistivity and weak permeability (0.07 m·d-1). Moisture and water level were sensitive to rainfall. Karst channels were developed locally at 240-300 cm with a permeability coefficient of up to 432 mm·d-1. Obvious preferential flow was observed in extreme rainfall events on this slope, which could induce flood disaster in the adjacent depression. Our results would provide scientific basis for further research on water resources regulation, management, and eco-hydrology in karst areas of southwest China.

Disturbance of the Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted domain may underlie placental Dio3 suppression and extracellular thyroid hormone disturbance in placenta-derived JEG-3 cells following decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE209) exposure.

Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE209) has been widely used as a flame retardant in the past four decades, leading to human health consequences, especially neurological impairments. Our previous in vivo studies have suggested that developmental neurotoxicity in offspring may be the result of BDE209-induced placental type III iodothyronine deiodinase (Dio3) disturbance and consequent thyroid hormone (TH) instability. Dio3 is paternally imprinted gene, and its balanced expression is crucial in directing normal development and growth. In this study, we used placenta-derived cells to investigate how BDE209 affected Dio3 expression through interfering imprinting mechanisms in the delta-like homolog 1 (Dlk1)-Dio3 imprinted region. Gene chip analysis and RT-qPCR identified miR409-3p, miR410-5p, miR494-3p, miR668-3p and miR889-5p as potential candidates involved in Dio3 deregulation. The sodium bisulfite-clonal sequencing revealed the BDE209 affect methylation status of two differentially methylated regions (DMRs), intergenic-DMR (IG-DMR) and maternally expressed gene 3-DMR (MEG3-DMR). Our data indicate that placental Dio3 may be a potential molecular target for future study of BDE209 developmental toxicity. In particular, miRNAs, IG-DMR and MEG3-DMR in the Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted locus may be informative in directing studies in TH disturbance and developmental toxicity induced by in utero exposure to environmental persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and those candidate miRNAs may prove to be convenient and noninvasive biomarkers for future large-scale population studies.

Metarhizium Entomopathogenic Fungi Against the Beetle Brontispa longissima (Coleoptera: Hispidae): Isolation and Species Identification.

Seven entomopathogenic fungi strains (M1-7) were isolated from field-obtained dead coconut hispine beetles Brontispa longissima (Gestro), identified to species, and bioassayed for their pathogenicity. According to ITS sequences, all isolates belong in the genus Metarhizium, mainly M. flavoviride and M. anisopliae. Measured median lethal times (LT50) of 1×107 conidia/ml of M1-7 against fourth-instar B. longissima larvae within 15 d following exposure were, respectively: 5.43, 10.64, 11.26, 10.93, 6.62, 4.73, and 5.95 d. The isolate M6 yielded the highest mortality to fourth-instar larvae, and was thus selected to be tested against other larval instars and adults of B. longissima, after Time-Dose-Mortality (TDM) models. M6 proved more pathogenic against larvae than adults. The obtained bioassays data produced a good fit to the TDM models, yielding estimated LC50 and LT50 for each of the tested developmental stages of B. longissima. Both the obtained dose (ß) and time effect (ri) parameters from TDM models suggest that first-instar larvae are the most susceptible life stage of the pest insect, while adults are more resistant to M6 infection. Calculated LC50 values were, respectively, 1.23×103 and 1.15×106 conidia/ml for first-instar larvae and adults, on the 15th day following M6 inoculation. Estimated LT50 were 3.3 and 5.9 d for first-instar larvae and adults, respectively, at 1×108 conidia/ml. Taken together, these results would suggest Metarhizium M6 as an option for the biological control of B. longissima in the field.

A novel salvianolic acid A analog with resveratrol structure and its antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo.

E-DRS is a novel salvianolic acid A (SAA) analog, which was synthesized from resveratrol (RES) and methyldopate. Its structure is similar to that of SAA, but the 3',4'-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene group and the ester structure in SAA were replaced by the RES structure and an amine group, respectively. E-DRS scavenged free oxygen radicals effectively, including superoxide anion (ascorbic acid > E-DRS > SAA ≥ rutin > RES) and DPPH radical (rutin > E-DRS ≥ ascorbic acid > SAA > RES), and exhibited powerful total antioxidant capacity (ascorbic acid > E-DRS > SAA ≥ rutin > RES) in vitro. Furthermore, oral administration of E-DRS dose-dependently and significantly decreased CCl4 -induced oxidative stress in mice as indicated by the decreased content of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, oral administration of E-DRS also increased the content of nonenzymatic antioxidant glutathione (GSH) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver of mice. All these results demonstrated that E-DRS had good antioxidant activities both in vitro and in vivo, and could be a potential antioxidant agent after further optimization and evaluation.

New records of Celoporthe guangdongensis and Cytospora rhizophorae on mangrove apple in China.

BACKGROUND: Sonneratia apetala Francis Buchanan-Hamilton (Sonneratiaceae, Myrtales), is a woody species with high adaptability and seed production capacity. S. apetala is widely cultivated worldwide as the main species for mangrove construction. However, the study of diseases affecting S. apetala is limitted, with only a few fungal pathogens being recorded. Cryphonectriaceae (Diaporthales) species are the main pathogens of plants. They can cause canker diseases to several trees and thereby seriously threaten the health of the hosts. These pathogens include Cryphonectria parasitica (Cryphonectriaceae) causing chestnut blight on Castanea (Rigling and Prospero 2017) and Cytospora chrysosperma (Cytosporaceae) causing polar and willow canker to Populus and Salix (Wang et al. 2015) . Therefore, the timely detection of of Cryphonectriaceae canker pathogens on S. apetala is extremely important for protecting the mangrove forests. NEW INFORMATION: Two diaporthalean fungi, Celoporthe guangdongensis and Cytospora rhizophorae have been reported for the first time to cause canker on the branches of S. apetala. C. guangdongensis is significantly pathogenic and C. rhizophorae is saprophytic on S. apetala.

Differential Behavioral Responses of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Workers Toward Nestmate and Non-Nestmate Corpses.

The removal of corpses (aka 'necrophoric behavior') is critical to sanitation in ant colonies. However, little is known about differences in the necrophoric responses of Solenopsis invicta workers towards corpses of nestmates and non-nestmates. We introduced corpses of S. invicta workers from either intracolony (i.e., nestmate) or intercolony (i.e., non-nestmate) origin at the entrance of artificial nests, and recorded workers' aggressive responses and necrophoric behaviors for analysis. Solenopsis invicta workers displayed distinct responses towards corpses of different origins. Specifically, resident workers were more likely to remove fresh non-nestmate corpses than nestmate corpses, but there was no difference regarding corpses that had been dead for 15 min or longer. Resident workers reacted more aggressively to, and removed more quickly, fresh non-nestmate corpses than corpses of their nestmates. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the removal time between nestmate and non-nestmate corpses that had been dead for 15 min or longer. Resident workers always displayed stronger aggressiveness towards non-nestmate corpses than nestmate corpses, excepting to corpses that had been dead for 6 h, which elicited a response. No significant correlation between the removal times and aggressiveness levels were detected in any treatments. It remains to be tested whether this differential response is adaptive in how it influences colony fitness and competition.

LGALS3 Is a Poor Prognostic Factor in Diffusely Infiltrating Gliomas and Is Closely Correlated With CD163+ Tumor-Associated Macrophages.

Background: Glioma, the most common brain tumor, is a heterogeneous group of glia-derived tumors, the majority of which have characteristics of diffuse infiltration and immunosuppression. The LGALS protein family is a large class of sugar-binding proteins. Among them, LGALS3 has been reported to promote tumor development and progression in some cancers. However, the clinical significance and biological functions of LGALS3 in glioma remain virtually unknown. The purpose of our research is to detect LGALS3 expression and its prognostic value in glioma and reveal the relationship between its expression and the clinico/molecular-pathological features of patients and immune cell infiltration. Methods: LGALS3 protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression data of LGALS3 was downloaded and analyzed from TCGA and Rembrandt datasets. The association between LGALS3 and glioma clinically relevant diagnostic/molecular markers (IDH, 1p19q, ATRX, MGMT, and TERT) was examined using the Chi-Squared (χ2) test. The correlation between LGALS3 expression and the infiltration of multiple intra-tumoral immune cell types, including B cells (CD20), T cells (CD4 and CD8), macrophages (CD68), and M2 tumor-associated macrophages (CD163), was evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox regression analysis were applied to evaluate the prognostic value of LGALS3 in glioma. The log-rank test was used to evaluate Kaplan-Meier results for significance. Results: Out of all 304 glioma cases, LGALS3 protein was expressed in 125 glioma cases (41.1%, 125/304), with 69.2% (9/13) in WHO I, 9.8% (8/82) in WHO II, 34.2% (26/76) in WHO III, and 61.7% (82/133) in WHO IV. The expression of LGALS3 was correlated with patient age, WHO grade, PHH3 (mitosis), Ki67 index, IDH, 1p/19q codeletion, and TERT promoter status. LGALS3 was an independent poor prognostic marker in diffusely infiltrating gliomas and was positively correlated with immune cell infiltration, particularly CD163+ tumor-associated macrophages in the TCGA dataset, Rembrandt dataset, and our SYSUCC cohort (R = 0.419, 0.627, and 0.724). Conclusion: LGALS3 was highly expressed in pilocytic astrocytoma, GBM, and IDH wild-type LGG. It served as a poor prognostic marker in diffusely infiltrating gliomas. Based on its prognostic significance and strong correlation with CD163+ TAMs, it may act as an important therapeutic target for human glioma.