Genetic background influences mineral accumulation in rice straw and grains under different soil pH conditions.

Mineral element accumulation in plants is influenced by soil conditions and varietal factors. We investigated the dynamic accumulation of 12 elements in straw at the flowering stage and in grains at the mature stage in eight rice varieties with different genetic backgrounds (Japonica, Indica, and admixture) and flowering times (early, middle, and late) grown in soil with various pH levels. In straw, Cd, As, Mn, Zn, Ca, Mg, and Cu accumulation was influenced by both soil pH and varietal factors, whereas P, Mo, and K accumulation was influenced by pH, and Fe and Ni accumulation was affected by varietal factors. In grains, Cd, As, Mn, Cu, Ni, Mo, Ca, and Mg accumulation was influenced by both pH and varietal factors, whereas Zn, Fe, and P accumulation was affected by varietal factors, and K accumulation was not altered. Only As, Mn, Ca and Mg showed similar trends in the straw and grains, whereas the pH responses of Zn, P, K, and Ni differed between them. pH and flowering time had synergistic effects on Cd, Zn, and Mn in straw and on Cd, Ni, Mo, and Mn in grains. Soil pH is a major factor influencing mineral uptake in rice straw and grains, and genetic factors, flowering stage factors, and their interaction with soil pH contribute in a combined manner.

Phylogenomics identifies parents of naturally occurring tetraploid bananas.

BACKGROUND: Triploid bananas are almost sterile. However, we succeeded in harvesting seeds from two edible triploid banana individuals (Genotype: ABB) in our conservation repository where various wild diploid bananas were also grown. The resulting rare offspring survived to seedling stages. DNA content analyses reveal that they are tetraploid. Since bananas contain maternally inherited plastids and paternally inherited mitochondria, we sequenced and assembled plastomes and mitogenomes of these seedlings to trace their hybridization history. RESULTS: The coding sequences of both organellar genomic scaffolds were extracted, aligned, and concatenated for constructing phylogenetic trees. Our results suggest that these tetraploid seedlings be derived from hybridization between edible triploid bananas and wild diploid Musa balbisiana (BB) individuals. We propose that generating female triploid gametes via apomeiosis may allow the triploid maternal bananas to produce viable seeds. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a practical avenue towards expanding genetic recombination and increasing genetic diversity of banana breeding programs. Further cellular studies are needed to understand the fusion and developmental processes that lead to formation of hybrid embryos in banana reproduction, polyploidization, and evolution.

Measurement of the distance between tumor micro-foci and gross tumor in rectal cancer pathological specimens: implication on margin distance of clinical target volume treated with high-dose radiotherapy for rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To measure the micro-foci distance away from gross tumor and to provide reference to create the clinical target volume (CTV) margin for boost radiotherapy in rectal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Twenty-eight rectal cancer surgical specimens of only total mesorectal excision were collected. The pathological specimens were retrospectively measured, and the nearest distance between the tumor micro-foci and gross tumor was microscopically measured. The "in vivo-in vitro" retraction factor was calculated as the ratio of the deepest thickness laterally and the vertical height superior/inferiorly of the rectal tumor measured in MRI and those measured in immediate pathological specimens. The retraction factor during pathological specimen processing was calculated as the distance ratio before and after dehydration in the lateral, superior, and inferior sides by the "knot marking method." The distances of tumor micro-foci were individually corrected with these two retraction factors. RESULTS: The mean "in vivo-in vitro" tumor retraction factors were 0.913 peripherally and 0.920 superior/inferiorly. The mean tumor specimen processing retraction factors were 0.804 peripherally, 0.815 inferiorly, and 0.789 superiorly. Of 28 patients, 14 cases (50.0%) had 24 lateral micro-foci, 8 cases (28.6%) had 13 inferior micro-foci, and 7 cases (25.0%) had 19 superior micro-foci. The 95th percentiles of the micro-foci distance for 28 patients were 6.44 mm (peripheral), 5.54 mm (inferior), and 5.42 mm (superior) after retraction correction. CONCLUSION: The micro-foci distances of 95% of rectal adenocarcinoma patients examined were within 6.44 mm peripherally, 5.54 mm inferiorly, and 5.42 mm superiorly. These findings provide reference to set the boost radiotherapy CTV margin for rectal cancer.

Predictive value of preoperative routine examination for the prognosis of patients with pT2N0M0 or pT3N0M0 colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been increasing. With the popularization of endoscopic technology, a number of early CRC has been diagnosed. However, despite current treatment methods, some patients with early CRC still experience postoperative recurrence and metastasis. AIM: To search for indicators associated with early CRC recurrence and metastasis to identify high-risk populations. METHODS: A total of 513 patients with pT2N0M0 or pT3N0M0 CRC were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Results of blood routine test, liver and kidney function tests and tumor markers were collected before surgery. Patients were followed up through disease-specific database and telephone interviews. Tumor recurrence, metastasis or death were used as the end point of study to find the risk factors and predictive value related to early CRC recurrence and metastasis. RESULTS: We comprehensively compared the predictive value of preoperative blood routine, blood biochemistry and tumor markers for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of CRC. Cox multivariate analysis demonstrated that low platelet count was significantly associated with poor DFS [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.995, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.991-0.999, P = 0.015], while serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level (HR = 1.008, 95%CI: 1.001-1.016, P = 0.027) and serum total cholesterol level (HR = 1.538, 95%CI: 1.026-2.305, P = 0.037) were independent risk factors for OS. The cutoff value of serum CEA level for predicting OS was 2.74 ng/mL. Although the OS of CRC patients with serum CEA higher than the cutoff value was worse than those with lower CEA level, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.075). CONCLUSION: For patients with T2N0M0 or T3N0M0 CRC, preoperative platelet count was a protective factor for DFS, while serum CEA level was an independent risk factor for OS. Given that these measures are easier to detect and more acceptable to patients, they may have broader applications.

Symmetry-breaking of Dibenzo[b,d]thiophene Sulfone Enhancing Polaron Generation for Boosted Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

The current bottleneck in the development of efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution is the limited availability of high-performance acceptor units. Over the past nine years, dibenzo[b,d]thiophene sulfone (DBS) has been the preferred choice for the acceptor unit. Despite extensive exploration of alternative structures as potential replacements for DBS, a superior substitute remains elusive. In this study, a symmetry-breaking strategy was employed on DBS to develop a novel acceptor unit, BBTT-1SO. The asymmetric structure of BBTT-1SO proved beneficial for increasing multiple moment and polarizability. BBTT-1SO-containing polymers showed higher efficiencies for hydrogen evolution than their DBS-containing counterparts by up to 166 %. PBBTT-1SO exhibited an excellent hydrogen evolution rate (HER) of 222.03 mmol g-1 h-1 and an apparent quantum yield of 27.5 % at 500 nm. Transient spectroscopic studies indicated that the BBTT-1SO-based polymers facilitated electron polaron formation, which explains their superior HERs. PBBTT-1SO also showed 14 % higher HER in natural seawater splitting than that in deionized water splitting. Molecular dynamics simulations highlighted the enhanced water-PBBTT-1SO polymer interactions in salt-containing solutions. This study presents a pioneering example of a substitute acceptor unit for DBS in the construction of high-performance photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution.

Genome assembly of Ottelia alismoides, a multiple-carbon utilisation aquatic plant.

OBJECTIVES: Ottelia Pers. is in the Hydrocharitaceae family. Species in the genus are aquatic, and China is their centre of origin in Asia. Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers., which is distributed worldwide, is a distinguishing element in China, while other species of this genus are endemic to China. However, O. alismoides is also considered endangered due to habitat loss and pollution in some Asian countries. Ottelia alismoides is the only submerged macrophyte that contains three carbon dioxide-concentrating mechanisms, i.e. bicarbonate (HCO3-) use, crassulacean acid metabolism and the C4 pathway. In this study, we present its first genome assembly to help illustrate the various carbon metabolism mechanisms and to enable genetic conservation in the future. DATA DESCRIPTION: Using DNA and RNA extracted from one O. alismoides leaf, this work produced ∼ 73.4 Gb HiFi reads, ∼ 126.4 Gb whole genome sequencing short reads and ∼ 21.9 Gb RNA-seq reads. The de novo genome assembly was 6,455,939,835 bp in length, with 11,923 scaffolds/contigs and an N50 of 790,733 bp. Genome assembly completeness assessment with Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs revealed a score of 94.4%. The repetitive sequence in the assembly was 4,875,817,144 bp (75.5%). A total of 116,176 genes were predicted. The protein sequences were functionally annotated against multiple databases, facilitating comparative genomic analysis.

Gut Microbiota in Patients with Prediabetes.

Prediabetes is characterized by abnormal glycemic levels below the type 2 diabetes threshold, and effective control of blood glucose may prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes. While the association between the gut microbiota, glucose metabolism, and insulin resistance in diabetic patients has been established in previous studies, there is a lack of research regarding these aspects in prediabetic patients in Asia. We aim to investigate the composition of the gut microbiota in prediabetic patients and their differences compared to healthy individuals. In total, 57 prediabetic patients and 60 healthy adult individuals aged 18 to 65 years old were included in this study. Biochemistry data, fecal samples, and 3 days of food records were collected. Deoxyribonucleic acid extraction and next-generation sequencing via 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid metagenomic sequencing were conducted to analyze the relationship between the gut microbiota and dietary habits. Prediabetic patients showed a lower microbial diversity than healthy individuals, with 9 bacterial genera being less abundant and 14 others more abundant. Prediabetic patients who consumed a low-carbohydrate (LC) diet exhibited higher diversity in the gut microbiota than those who consumed a high-carbohydrate diet. A higher abundance of Coprococcus was observed in the prediabetic patients on an LC diet. Compared to healthy individuals, the gut microbiota of prediabetic patients was significantly different, and adopting an LC diet with high dietary fiber consumption may positively impact the gut microbiota. Future studies should aim to understand the relationship between the gut microbiota and glycemic control in the Asian population.

Cavity-coupled telecom atomic source in silicon.

Novel T centers in silicon hold great promise for quantum networking applications due to their telecom band optical transitions and the long-lived ground state electronic spins. An open challenge for advancing the T center platform is to enhance its weak and slow zero phonon line (ZPL) emission. In this work, by integrating single T centers with a low-loss, small mode-volume silicon photonic crystal cavity, we demonstrate an enhancement of the fluorescence decay rate by a factor of F = 6.89. Efficient photon extraction enables the system to achieve an average ZPL photon outcoupling rate of 73.3 kHz under saturation, which is about two orders of magnitude larger than the previously reported value. The dynamics of the coupled system is well modeled by solving the Lindblad master equation. These results represent a significant step towards building efficient T center spin-photon interfaces for quantum information processing and networking applications.

Draft genome of Brasenia schreberi, a worldwide distributed and endangered aquatic plant.

OBJECTIVES: Brasenia is a monotypic genus in the family of Cabombaceae. The only species, B. schreberi, is a macrophyte distributed worldwide. Because it requires good water quality, it is endangered in China and other countries due to the deterioration of aquatic habitats. The young leaves and stems of B. schreberi are covered by thick mucilage, which has high medical value. As an allelopathic aquatic plant, it can also be used in the management of aquatic weeds. Here, we present its assembled and annotated genome to help shed light on medial and allelopathic substrates and facilitate their conservation. DATA DESCRIPTION: Genomic DNA and RNA extracted from B. schreberi leaf tissues were used for whole genome and RNA sequencing using a Nanopore and/or MGI sequencer. The assembly was 1,055,148,839 bp in length, with 92 contigs and an N50 of 22,379,495 bp. The repetitive elements in the assembly were 555,442,205 bp. A completeness assessment of the assembly with BUSCO and compleasm indicated 88.4 and 90.9% completeness in the Eudicots database and 95.4 and 96.6% completeness in the Embryphyta database. Gene annotation revealed 67,747 genes that coded for 73,344 proteins.

Study on pulse current auxiliary heating process of submerged arc welding.

During the welding process, temperature filed distribution of weldment is one of the key factors which influence welding quality. In order to improve the mechanical properties of welding joint, a technology for heating process of weldment using auxiliary pulse current was proposed in this article. Firstly, through metallographic experiment, strength experiment and hardness experiment, it was proved that the auxiliary pulse current not only can refine grain size but also improves the mechanical property of the welding joint. Then the paper used ANSYS and its ANSYS Parametric Design Language parametric design language to simulate the welding process with assistant pulse current, and the temperature field, the pulse current density distribution and the time of effective pulse current in the welded joint were obtained. Quantitative analyses were undertaken on the influence laws of auxiliary pulse current parameters on weld temperature field, auxiliary pulse current density distribution and the time of effective pulse current. A new parameter was defined as time-current density (the time integral of current density) to demonstrate the change rule of auxiliary pulse current density distribution with time. Finally, analyzing the reasons for raising the welding quality. There were two reasons for such phenomenon: one was auxiliary pulse current change the state of heat distribution in the weld seam area, the other was that the impulse oscillation of the auxiliary pulse influences the nucleation process of melting region.

Electrocardiogram Parameters Associated With the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Hypertension in High-Altitude Tibetan Populations: A Retrospective Single-Centre Study.

BACKGROUND: Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a commonly used diagnostic method for pulmonary hypertension (PH) in Tibetan areas, but its sensitivity and specificity are not good enough. This study aimed to investigate the ECG parameters associated with the diagnosis of PH in Tibetan areas. METHODS: Ninety-four PH patients of Tibetan ethnicity who were treated at the hospital between March 2019 and October 2020, and 52 Tibetan individuals as controls, were included. The ECG parameters were compared between groups. Multivariate logistic analysis was performed to identify the ECG parameters that can be used for the diagnosis of PH. The univariate significances of ECG parameters were included in the multivariate analyses, whereas those exhibiting opposite trends between different PH subtypes were excluded. RESULTS: Two ECG parameters were significant in multivariate analysis. The final model included S wave amplitude in lead V3 (OR 5.81; 95% CI 2.79-12.11; p<0.001) and a negative T wave in leads V1-V3 (OR 0.05; 95% CI 0.01-0.41; p=0.005). The ROC curve analysis on the final model yielded an AUC of 0.830 (95% CI 0.766-0.894; p<0.001), indicating good diagnostic performance. A nomogram for diagnosis of PH was also established using S wave amplitude in lead V3 and a negative T wave in leads V1-V3. CONCLUSION: The ECG parameters S wave amplitude in lead V3 and a negative T wave in leads V1-V3 were independent factors associated with the diagnosis of PH in high-altitude Tibetan populations.

Loss of primary cilia and dopaminergic neuroprotection in pathogenic LRRK2-driven and idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

Activating LRRK2 mutations cause Parkinson's disease. Previously, we showed that cholinergic interneurons and astrocytes but not medium spiny neurons of the dorsal striatum lose primary cilia in LRRK2 mutant mice. Single nucleus RNA sequencing shows that cilia loss in cholinergic interneurons correlates with higher LRRK2 expression and decreased glial derived neurotrophic factor transcription. Nevertheless, much higher LRRK2 expression is seen in medium spiny neurons that have normal cilia in mice and humans. In parallel with decreased striatal dopaminergic neurite density, LRRK2 G2019S neurons show increased autism-linked CNTN5 adhesion protein expression; glial cells show significant loss of ferritin heavy chain. Human striatal tissue from LRRK2 pathway mutation carriers and idiopathic Parkinson's disease show similar cilia loss in cholinergic interneurons and astrocytes and overall loss of such neurons. These data strongly suggest that loss of cilia in specific striatal cell types decreases neuroprotection for dopamine neurons in mice and human Parkinson's disease.

Perspectives of oral health therapists on the barriers to oral care provision in nursing homes in Singapore: A qualitative analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Oral health therapists (OHTs) are a valuable resource for increasing access to dental care for the frail elderly in nursing homes (NHs). However, OHTs face several barriers and their skill-set continues to be under-utilized. AIMS: To evaluate the perceptions of OHTs regarding the barriers towards oral care provision for the elderly residents in NHs. METHODOLOGY: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 OHTs to discuss the factors that may hinder them from providing oral health services in NHs. An inductive thematic analysis directed by the grounded theory approach was performed. RESULTS: Four major themes emerged: (i) lack of opportunity, (ii) lack of adequate education and training, (iii) limited work scope and registration status, and (iv) lack of adequate financial remuneration and adequate equipment. OHTs also raised the lack of awareness among OHTs and the various stakeholders, of how the skill-set of OHTs may be relevant for oral care provision in NHs. CONCLUSION: Findings revealed underlying educational and regulatory barriers which need to be addressed in tandem. Addressing these barriers can be impactful in informing future strategies for the greater utilization of the skill-set of OHTs in Singapore.

Performance and Solution Structures of Side-Chain-Bridged Oligo (Ethylene Glycol) Polymer Photocatalysts for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution under Natural Light Illumination.

Converting solar energy into hydrogen energy using conjugated polymers (CP) is a promising solution to the energy crisis. Improving water solubility plays one of the critical factors in enhancing the hydrogen evolution rate (HER) of CP photocatalysts. In this study, a novel concept of incorporating hydrophilic side chains to connect the backbones of CPs to improve their HER is proposed. This concept is realized through the polymerization of carbazole units bridged with octane, ethylene glycol, and penta-(ethylene glycol) to form three new side-chain-braided (SCB) CPs: PCz2S-OCt, PCz2S-EG, and PCz2S-PEG. Verified through transient absorption spectra, the enhanced capability of PCz2S-PEG for ultrafast electron transfer and reduced recombination effects has been demonstrated. Small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) analyses reveal that these three SCB-CPs form cross-linking networks with different mass fractal dimensions (f) in aqueous solution. With the lowest f value of 2.64 and improved water/polymer interfaces, PCz2S-PEG demonstrates the best HER, reaching up to 126.9 µmol h-1 in pure water-based photocatalytic solution. Moreover, PCz2S-PEG exhibits comparable performance in seawater-based photocatalytic solution under natural sunlight. In situ SAXS analysis further reveals nucleation-dominated generation of hydrogen nanoclusters with a size of ≈1.5 nm in the HER of PCz2S-PEG under light illumination.

Chromosome-level genome assembly and demographic history of Euryodendron excelsum in monotypic genus endemic to China.

Euryodendron excelsum is in a monotypic genus Euryodendron, endemic to China. It has intermediate morphisms in the Pentaphylacaceae or Theaceae families, which make it distinct. Due to anthropogenic disturbance, E. excelsum is currently found in very restricted and fragmented areas with extremely small populations. Although much research and effort has been applied towards its conservation, its long-term survival mechanisms and evolutionary history remain elusive, especially from a genomic aspect. Therefore, using a combination of long/short whole genome sequencing, RNA sequencing reads, and Hi-C data, we assembled and annotated a high-quality genome for E. excelsum. The genome assembly of E. excelsum comprised 1,059,895,887 bp with 99.66% anchored into 23 pseudo-chromosomes and a 99.0% BUSCO completeness. Comparative genomic analysis revealed the expansion of terpenoid and flavonoid secondary metabolite genes, and displayed a tandem and/or proximal duplication framework of these genes. E. excelsum also displayed genes associated with growth, development, and defence adaptation from whole genome duplication. Demographic analysis indicated that its fluctuations in population size and its recent population decline were related to cold climate changes. The E. excelsum genome assembly provides a highly valuable resource for evolutionary and ecological research in the future, aiding its conservation, management, and restoration.

Intrinsic self-organization of integrin nanoclusters within focal adhesions is required for cellular mechanotransduction.

Upon interaction with the extracellular matrix, the integrin receptors form nanoclusters as a first biochemical response to ligand binding. Here, we uncover a critical biodesign principle where these nanoclusters are spatially self-organized, facilitating effective mechanotransduction. Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts (MEFs) with integrin ß3 nanoclusters organized themselves with an intercluster distance of ~550 nm on uniformly coated fibronectin substrates, leading to larger focal adhesions. We determined that this spatial organization was driven by cell-intrinsic factors since there was no pre-existing pattern on the substrates. Altering this spatial organization using cyclo-RGD functionalized Titanium nanodiscs (of 100 nm, corroborating to the integrin nanocluster size) spaced at intervals of 300 nm (almost half), 600 nm (normal) or 1000 nm (almost double) resulted in abrogation in mechanotransduction, indicating that a new parameter i.e., an optimal intercluster distance is necessary for downstream function. Overexpression of α-actinin, which induces a kink in the integrin tail, disrupted the establishment of the optimal intercluster distance, while simultaneous co-overexpression of talin head with α-actinin rescued it, indicating a concentration-dependent competition, and that cytoplasmic activation of integrin by talin head is required for the optimal intercluster organization. Additionally, talin head-mediated recruitment of FHOD1 that facilitates local actin polymerization at nanoclusters, and actomyosin contractility were also crucial for establishing the optimal intercluster distance and a robust mechanotransduction response. These findings demonstrate that cell-intrinsic machinery plays a vital role in organizing integrin receptor nanoclusters within focal adhesions, encoding essential information for downstream mechanotransduction signalling.

Role of the autonomic nervous system in young, middle-aged, and older individuals with essential hypertension and sleep-related changes in neurocardiac regulation.

Essential hypertension involves complex cardiovascular regulation. The autonomic nervous system function fluctuates throughout the sleep-wake cycle and changes with advancing age. However, the precise role of the autonomic nervous system in the development of hypertension during aging remains unclear. In this study, we characterized autonomic function during the sleep-wake cycle in different age groups with essential hypertension. This study included 97 men (53 with and 44 without hypertension) aged 30-79 years. They were stratified by age into young (< 40 years), middle-aged (40-59 years), and older (60-79 years) groups. Polysomnography and blood pressure data were recorded for 2 min before and during an hour-long nap. Autonomic function was assessed by measuring heart rate variability and blood pressure variability. Data were analyzed using t tests, correlation analyses, and two-way analysis of variance. During nonrapid eye movement (nREM), a main effect of age was observed on cardiac parasympathetic measures and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), with the highest and lowest levels noted in the younger and older groups, respectively. The coefficients of the correlations between these measures and age were lower in patients with hypertension than in normotensive controls. The BRS of young patients with hypertension was similar to that of their middle-aged and older counterparts. However, cardiac sympathetic activity was significantly higher (p = 0.023) and BRS was significantly lower (p = 0.022) in the hypertension group than in the control group. During wakefulness, the results were similar although some of the above findings were absent. Autonomic imbalance, particularly impaired baroreflex, plays a more significant role in younger patients with hypertension. The nREM stage may be suitable for gaining insights into the relevant mechanisms.

An exploration of mechanism of high quality and yield of Gastrodia elata Bl. f. glauca by the isolation, identification, and evaluation of Mycena.

Gastrodia elata Bl. f. glauca is an important traditional Chinese medicinal plant. The yield and quality of Gastrodia elata Bl. have significantly decreased due to multigenerational asexual reproduction. Therefore, it is necessary to have sexual reproduction of Gastrodia elata Bl. to supplement the market supply. Seeds of G. elata Bl. have no endosperm, and their sexual reproduction depends on the nutrients provided by the embryo cells infected by Mycena fungi to complete seed germination. However, Mycena fungi are small and have many species, and not all Mycena fungi can promote the germination of G. elata Bl. seeds. Therefore, it is of great significance to isolate and identify suitable germination fungi and explore the mechanism for improving the production performance and yield, and quality of G. elata Bl. Six closely related Mycena isolates, JFGL-01, JFGL-02, JFGL-03, JFGL-04, JFGL-05, and JFGL-06, were isolated from the leaves and protocorms of G. elata Bl. f. glauca and were identified as Mycena purpureofusca. The mycelial state and number of germinating protocorms were used as indicators to preferentially select Mycena fungi, and it was concluded that JFGL-06 had the best mycelial state and ability to germinate G. elata Bl. seeds. Finally, a mechanism to increase the yield of G. elata Bl. was explored by comparing the changes in nutrient elements and microbial diversity in the soil around G. elata Bl. with different strains. JFGL-06 proved to be an excellent Mycena fungal strain suitable for G. elata Bl. f. glauca. Compared with the commercial strain, JFGL-06 significantly increased the C, N, Na, Mg, S, Cl, K, Ca, and Fe contents of the soil surrounding the protocorms of G. elata Bl. f. glauca. JFGL-06 improved the composition, diversity, and metabolic function of the surrounding soil microbial community of G. elata Bl. f. glauca protocorms at the phylum, class, and genus levels, significantly increased the relative abundance of bacteria such as Acidobacteria and fungi such as Trichoderma among the dominant groups, and increased the abundance of functional genes in metabolic pathways such as nucleotide metabolism and energy metabolism. There was a significant reduction in the relative abundance of bacteria, such as Actinomycetes, and fungi, such as Fusarium, in the dominant flora, and a reduced abundance of functional genes, such as amino acid metabolism and xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism. This is the main reason why the JFGL-06 strain promoted high-quality and high-yield G. elata Bl. f. glauca in Changbai Mountain.

Efficacy of cecal retroflexion observed on adenoma missing of ascending colon during colonoscopy: A prospective, randomized, pilot trial.

BACKGROUND: Although colonoscopic retroflexion has been proved effective in reducing missed adenomas, there is still a lack of comprehensive and in-depth research focused on the ascending colon. We aimed to conduct a randomized controlled trial and tandem colonoscopy to investigate whether cecal retroflexion observed during colonoscopy can reduce missed adenomas in the ascending colon. METHODS: Men and women required to be between 45 and 80 years of age were screened for enrollment in the trial. Patients were randomly assigned according to a 1:1 ratio to either the trial group or control group. Patients in the trial group underwent 2 forward examination and a cecal retroflexion observed in the ascending colon, while patients in the control group underwent only 2 forward examinations in the ascending colon. The primary outcome was adenoma miss rate. The secondary outcomes contained adenoma detection rate, polyp miss rate, polyp detection rate, insertion time and withdrawal time. Differences between groups in the primary outcome and in the other categorical indicators were tested using chi-squared test and Fisher exact test. For the comparison of continuous outcomes, the Student t test was applied. RESULTS: A total of 60 subjects were eligible for the study between April to June 2020, of which 55 were randomized and eligible for analysis (26 to the control group and 29 to the trial group). The characteristics of patients were no significant differences statistically between the trial group and the control group. Similarly, the characteristics of the colonoscopy procedures included cecal insertion distance, the length of cecum and ascending colon, insertion time, withdrawal time, quality of bowel preparation, numerical rating scale for pain, polyps detected, and adenomas detected, and there were no significant differences statistically between the 2 groups (P = .864, P = .754, P = .700, P = .974, P = .585, P = .835, P = .373, P = .489). The characteristics of the polyps were also no significant differences statistically between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: This pilot trial failed to show benefit of cecal retroflexion observed on adenoma missing of ascending colon during colonoscopy; however, further conclusions require a prospective study with a higher level of evidence. (NCT03355443).