Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal the Mechanisms Underlying Methyl Jasmonate-Induced Mannitol Stress Resistance in Banana.

Exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) application has shown promising effects on plant defense under diverse abiotic stresses. However, the mechanisms underlying MeJA-induced stress resistance in bananas are unclear. Therefore, in this study, we treated banana plants with 100 µM MeJA before inducing osmotic stress using mannitol. Plant phenotype and antioxidant enzyme activity results demonstrated that MeJA improved osmotic stress resistance in banana plants. Thereafter, to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying MeJA-induced osmotic stress resistance in banana seedlings, we conducted high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) using leaf and root samples of "Brazilian" banana seedlings treated with MeJA for 0 h and 8 h. RNA-seq analysis showed that MeJA treatment upregulated 1506 (leaf) and 3341 (root) genes and downregulated 1768 (leaf) and 4625 (root) genes. Then, we performed gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses on the differentially expressed genes. We noted that linoleic acid metabolism was enriched in both root and leaf samples, and the genes of this pathway exhibited different expression patterns; 9S-LOX genes were highly induced by MeJA in the leaves, whereas 13S-LOX genes were highly induced in the roots. We also identified the promoters of these genes, as the differences in response elements may contribute to tissue-specific gene expression in response to MeJA application in banana seedlings. Overall, the findings of this study provide insights into the mechanisms underlying abiotic stress resistance in banana that may aid in the improvement of banana varieties relying on molecular breeding.

EFFICACY OF VITRECTOMY COMBINED WITH INTRAVITREAL ANTIBIOTICS FOR SEVERE POST-TRAUMATIC ENDOPHTHALMITIS.

PURPOSE: To explore clinical efficacy of vitrectomy combined with intravitreal antibiotics in treating severe endophthalmitis after open-globe trauma in patients. METHODS: The records of all patients who received vitrectomy combined with intravitreal for the severe post-traumatic endophthalmitis with light perception or worse between 2010 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients received vitrectomy combined with intravitreal antibiotics, repeated intravitreal antibiotics with or without vitreous aspiration, and retinal repair after the infection was controlled. Efficacy of severe post-traumatic endophthalmitis was analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-one patients (121 eyes) were included in this study. The mean BCVA improved from 4.03 ± 0.18 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution to 1.75 ± 1.41 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution ( P < 0.001) at the end of the follow-up period, which increased in 106 eyes (87.60%). Infection was successfully controlled in all eyes, 88 eyes within two operations. Pathogens including streptococci (odds ratio [OR] = 6.68, P < 0.001), fungi (OR = 15.23, P < 0.001), and mixed infection (OR = 6.67, P < 0.05) were related to the number of operations. Finally, 60 eyes (49.59%) received silicone oil filling, 25 received gas tamponade, and the remaining 36 received no tamponade; complete vitrectomy was performed in all eyes with intraocular tamponade. All eyes for gas tamponade and no tamponade had been remained stable without retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy after 6-month follow-up. The rate of recurrent retinal detachment after silicone oil tamponade was 4.96% (six eyes), including 1.65% (two eyes) of proliferative vitreoretinopathy; these eyes underwent reoperation of retinal detachment repair. CONCLUSION: Vitrectomy combined with intravitreal antibiotics may be an effective treatment option for severe post-traumatic endophthalmitis.

A review of the current state of the computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems for breast cancer diagnosis.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting females worldwide. Early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer may aid in timely treatment, reducing the mortality rate to a great extent. To diagnose breast cancer, computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems employ a variety of imaging modalities such as mammography, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and histological imaging. CAD and breast-imaging specialists are in high demand for early detection and diagnosis. This system has the potential to enhance the partiality of traditional histopathological image analysis. This review aims to highlight the recent advancements and the current state of CAD systems for breast cancer detection using different modalities.

Overexpression of PBK/TOPK relates to poor prognosis of patients with breast cancer: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: PDZ-binding kinase/T-lymphokine-activated killer cell-derived protein kinase (PBK/TOPK) is a potential prognostic indicator for patients with breast cancer. The objective of the present study was to explore the relationship between PBK/TOPK expression and clinicopathological indicators as well as the survival of patients with breast cancer. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of PBK/TOPK in 202 cases of breast cancer tissues. The relationship between PBK/TOPK and clinicopathological parameters was evaluated using Spearman's rank-order correlation. The difference in PBK/TOPK expression among different molecular types was analyzed with the chi-square test. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to create a survival curve and the log rank test was used to analyze the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Prognostic correlation was assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Among 202 breast cancer samples, PBK/TOPK was expressed ("+" and "++") in 182 samples (90.1%). In addition, the histological grade, TNM stages, lymph node metastasis, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), and Ki-67 were positively associated with PBK/TOPK expression. With regard to the molecular type, the expression of PBK/TOPK is different. The expression level of PBK/TOPK was negatively correlated with both the OS and DFS of breast cancer patients. The difference in the above results is meaningful (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PBK/TOPK is overexpressed in breast cancer, and the expression is closely related to the clinicopathological characteristics of the disease. Breast cancer patients with high expression of PBK/TOPK have a poor prognosis. Therefore, healthcare providers can optimize breast cancer management using this indicator.

A long noncoding RNA functions in high-light-induced anthocyanin accumulation in apple by activating ethylene synthesis.

Anthocyanin production in apple (Malus domestica) fruit and their consequent coloration can be induced by high-light treatment. The hormone ethylene is also essential for this coloration, but the regulatory relationships that link ethylene and light with anthocyanin-associated coloration are not well defined. In this study, we observed that high-light treatment of apple fruit increased anthocyanin accumulation more than moderate-light treatment did and was the main contributor of induced ethylene production and activation of anthocyanin biosynthesis. A transcriptome study of light-treated apple fruit suggested that a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), MdLNC610, the corresponding gene of which is physically located downstream from the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxygenase (ACO) ethylene biosynthesis gene MdACO1, likely affects anthocyanin biosynthesis under high-light treatment. Expression and promoter ß-glucuronidase reporter analyses further showed that MdLNC610 upregulates expression of MdACO1 and so likely participates in high-light-induced ethylene biosynthesis. Overexpression of MdACO1 and MdLNC610 in apple fruit and calli indicated that a major increase in MdLNC610 expression activates MdACO1 expression, thereby causing an increase in ethylene production and anthocyanin levels. These results suggest that MdLNC610 participates in the regulation of high-light-induced anthocyanin production by functioning as a positive regulator to promote MdACO1 expression and ethylene biosynthesis. Our study provides insights into the relationship between mRNA and lncRNA networks in the ethylene biosynthetic pathway and anthocyanin accumulation in apple fruit.

MdMYB8 is associated with flavonol biosynthesis via the activation of the MdFLS promoter in the fruits of Malus crabapple.

Flavonols are polyphenolic compounds that play important roles in plant stress resistance and development. They are also valuable components of the human diet. The Malus crabapple cultivar 'Flame' provides an excellent model for studying flavonol biosynthesis due to the high flavonol content of its fruit peel. To obtain a more detailed understanding of the flavonol regulatory network involved in fruit development, the transcriptomes of the fruit of the Malus cv. 'Flame' from five continuous developmental stages were analyzed using RNA sequencing. A flavonol-related gene module was identified through weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated that phytohormones are involved in regulating flavonol biosynthesis during fruit development. A putative transcription factor, MdMYB8, was selected for further study through hub gene correlation network analysis and yeast one-hybrid assays. Stable overexpression or RNAi knockdown of MdMYB8 in transgenic 'Orin' apple calli resulted in a higher or lower flavonol content, respectively, suggesting that MdMYB8 is a regulator of flavonol biosynthesis. This transcriptome analysis provides valuable data for future studies of flavonol synthesis and regulation.