High-throughput UAV-based rice panicle detection and genetic mapping of heading-date-related traits.

Introduction: Rice (Oryza sativa) serves as a vital staple crop that feeds over half the world's population. Optimizing rice breeding for increasing grain yield is critical for global food security. Heading-date-related or Flowering-time-related traits, is a key factor determining yield potential. However, traditional manual phenotyping methods for these traits are time-consuming and labor-intensive. Method: Here we show that aerial imagery from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), when combined with deep learning-based panicle detection, enables high-throughput phenotyping of heading-date-related traits. We systematically evaluated various state-of-the-art object detectors on rice panicle counting and identified YOLOv8-X as the optimal detector. Results: Applying YOLOv8-X to UAV time-series images of 294 rice recombinant inbred lines (RILs) allowed accurate quantification of six heading-date-related traits. Utilizing these phenotypes, we identified quantitative trait loci (QTL), including verified loci and novel loci, associated with heading date. Discussion: Our optimized UAV phenotyping and computer vision pipeline may facilitate scalable molecular identification of heading-date-related genes and guide enhancements in rice yield and adaptation.

Clinical value of Cyclin D1 and P21 in the differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: With the continuous discovery of new borderline thyroid lesions and benign and malignant "gray areas", coupled with the limitations of traditional immune indicators, the differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has become more difficult. Cyclin D1 and P21 are cell cycle regulators involved in the occurrence and metastasis of multiple tumors, including PTC, but their specific functions are unclear. METHODS: In our study, immunohistochemical staining was used to explore the expression of Cyclin D1 and P21 in PTC, paracancerous tissue, follicular adenoma (FA) and papillary thyroid hyperplasia. In addition, their relationship with the clinicopathological features of PTC and their differential diagnostic value in distinguishing between intralymph node PTC metastases and intralymph node ectopic thyroid tissue were studied. RESULTS: Among 200 primary PTC lesions, Cyclin D1 and P21 were found to be expressed in 186 (93.00%) and 177 (88.50%), respectively, and their expression levels were significantly higher in PTC tissue than in adjacent tissue, FA tissue and papillary thyroid hyperplasia tissue (P < 0.05). The expression levels of Cyclin D1 and P21 were positively correlated with tumor size and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05) but not with sex, age, number of tumor lesions, histological subtype, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or TNM stage (P < 0.05). The expression levels of Cyclin D1 and P21 were significantly correlated (P < 0.05). The positivity rates of Cyclin D1 and P21 in intralymph node PTC metastases were 97.96% (48/49) and 89.80% (44/49), respectively, which were significantly higher than those in intralymph node ectopic thyroid tissue (P < 0.05). The sensitivity (Se) and negative predictive value (NPV) of Cyclin D1 and P21 detection alone or in combination were higher than those of the combined detection of the classical antibody markers CK19, HBME-1 and Galectin-3. Besides, the Se, Sp, PPV and NPV of Cyclin D1 and P21 in differentiating intralymph node PTC metastases and intralymph node ectopic thyroid tissue were higher. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study show that Cyclin D1 and P21 are highly sensitive and specific markers for the diagnosis of PTC that are superior to traditional classical antibodies. And, these two markers are of great value in the differential diagnosis of intralymph node PTC metastases and intralymph node ectopic thyroid tissue.

PDE-7 Inhibitor BRL-50481 Reduces Neurodegeneration and Long-Term Memory Deficits in Mice Following Sevoflurane Exposure.

Sevoflurane, one of the most commonly used anesthetic agents, has been demonstrated to induce widespread neurodegeneration in the developing brain. We aimed to evaluate the protective effects of a PDE-7 inhibitor (BRL-50481) against the neurotoxic effects of sevoflurane on the developing nervous system. Spatial learning and memory in sevoflurane-treated mice were examined using the Morris water maze test, and neuroprotective effects of PDE-7 inhibitor (BRL-50481) against sevoflurane-induced impairments were evaluated. Our results showed that sevoflurane treatment markedly induced neurodegeneration and impaired long-term memory in neonatal mice. Notably, BRL-50481 coadministration could significantly attenuate sevoflurane-induced learning and memory defects, prevent deterioration of recognition memory, and protect against neuron apoptosis. Mechanistically, BRL-50481 administration suppressed sevoflurane-induced neurodegenerative disorders through restoring cAMP and activating cAMP/CREB signaling in the hippocampus. PDE7 inhibitor may be a potential therapeutic agent for sevoflurane-induced neurodegeneration and long-term memory deficits.

Immune Protection of SIV Challenge by PD-1 Blockade During Vaccination in Rhesus Monkeys.

Though immune correlates for protection are still under investigation, potent cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses are desirable for an ideal HIV-1 vaccine. PD-1 blockade enhances SIV-specific CD8+ T cells. However, little information has been reported about how it affects the immunogenicity and protection of prophylactic SIV vaccines in nonhuman primates. Here, we show that PD-1 blockade during vaccination substantially improved protective efficacy in SIV challenged macaques. The PD-1 pathway was blocked using a monoclonal antibody specific to human PD-1. Administration of this antibody effectively augmented and sustained vaccine-induced SIV-specific T cell responses for more than 42 weeks after first immunization in rhesus monkeys, as compared with SIV vaccination only. Importantly, after intrarectally repeated low-dosage challenge with highly pathogenic SIVmac239, monkeys with PD-1 blockade during vaccination achieved full protection against incremental viral doses of up to 50,000 TICD50. These findings highlight the importance of PD-1 blockade during vaccination for the development of HIV vaccines.

Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells improve ovarian function in natural aging through secreting hepatocyte growth factor and epidermal growth factor.

BACKGROUND: Although many reports show that various kinds of stem cells have the ability to recover function in premature ovarian aging, few studies have looked at stem cell treatment of natural ovarian aging (NOA). We designed this experimental study to investigate whether human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) retain the ability to restore ovarian function, and how hAMSCs work in this process. METHODS: To build the NOA mouse model, the mice were fed for 12-14 months normally with young fertile female mice as the normal control group (3-5 months old). Hematoxylin and eosin staining permitted follicle counting and showed the ovarian tissue structure. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum levels of the sex hormones estradiol (E2), anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The proliferation rate and marker expression level of human ovarian granule cells (hGCs) (ki67, AMH, FSH receptor, FOXL2, and CYP19A1) were measured by flow cytometry (FACS). Cytokines (growth factors) were measured by a protein antibody array methodology. After hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were co-cultured with hGCs, proliferation (ki67) and apoptosis (Annexin V) levels were analyzed by FACS. After HGF and EGF were injected into the ovaries of natural aging mice, the total follicle numbers and hormone levels were tested. RESULTS: After the hAMSCs were transplanted into the NOA mouse model, the hAMSCs exerted a therapeutic activity on mouse ovarian function by improving the follicle numbers over four stages. In addition, our results showed that hAMSCs significantly promoted the proliferation rate and marker expression level of ovarian granular cells that were from NOA patients. Meanwhile, we found that the secretion level of EGF and HGF from hAMSCs was higher than other growth factors. A growth factor combination (HGF with EGF) improved the proliferation rate and inhibited the apoptosis rate more powerfully after a co-culture with hGCs, and total follicle numbers and hormone levels were elevated to a normal level after the growth factor combination was injected into the ovaries of the NOA mouse model. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide insight into the notion that hAMSCs play an integral role in resistance to NOA. Furthermore, our present study demonstrates that a growth factor combination derived from hAMSCs plays a central role in inhibiting ovarian aging. Therefore, we suggest that hAMSCs improve ovarian function in natural aging by secreting HGF and EGF.

Different therapeutic effects of cells derived from human amniotic membrane on premature ovarian aging depend on distinct cellular biological characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Many reports have shown that various kinds of stem cells have the ability to recover premature ovarian aging (POA) function. Transplantation of human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) improves ovarian function damaged by chemotherapy in a mice model. Understanding of how to evaluate the distinct effects of adult stem cells in curing POA and how to choose stem cells in clinical application is lacking. METHODS: To build a different degrees of POA model, mice were administered different doses of cyclophosphamide: light dose (70 mg/kg, 2 weeks), medium dose (70 mg/kg, 1 week; 120 mg/kg, 1 week), and high dose (120 mg/kg, 2 weeks). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detected serum levels of sex hormones, and hematoxylin and eosin staining allowed follicle counting and showed the ovarian tissue structure. DiIC18(5)-DS was employed to label human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) and hAECs for detecting the cellular retention time in ovaries by a live imaging system. Proliferation of human ovarian granule cells (ki67, AMH, FSHR, FOXL2, and CYP19A1) and immunological rejection of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (CD4, CD11b, CD19, and CD56) were measured by flow cytometry (fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)). Distinction of cellular biological characteristics between hAECs and hAMSCs was evaluated, such as collagen secretory level (collagen I, II, III, IV, and VI), telomerase activity, pluripotent markers tested by western blot, expression level of immune molecules (HLA-ABC and HLA-DR) analyzed by FACS, and cytokines (growth factors, chemotactic factors, apoptosis factors, and inflammatory factors) measured by a protein antibody array methodology. RESULTS: After hAMSCs and hAECs were transplanted into a different degrees of POA model, hAMSCs exerted better therapeutic activity on mouse ovarian function in the high-dose administration group, promoting the proliferation rate of ovarian granular cells from premature ovarian failure patients, but also provoking immune rejection. Meanwhile, our results showed that the biological characteristics of hAMSCs were superior to hAECs, but not to expression of immune molecules. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that hAMSCs are a more effective cell type to improve ovarian function than hAECs. Meanwhile, this distinct effect is attributable to cellular biological characteristics of hAMSCs (telomerase activity, expression level of pluripotent markers, cytokine and collagen secretion) that are superior to hAECs, except for immunological rejection. Sufficient consideration of cell properties is warranted to move forward to more effective clinical therapy.