Establishment of an in vitro cell coculture model for investigating the whitening mechanism of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil.

BACKGROUND: In vitro single-cell experiments may yield inconsistent results compared to clinical trials. To enhance the reliability of cosmetic active ingredient screening, a coculture model of B16F10-HaCaT cells was established in vitro based on the structural characteristics of human skin, thereby improving the credibility of experimental outcomes. Currently, most cosmetic whitening additives primarily target simple efficacy goals such as inhibiting tyrosinase activity or melanin transfer. Therefore, investigating novel and efficient whitening additives has become a prominent research focus. OBJECTIVES: The aim is to establish an in vitro cell coculture model for more reliable experimental results and investigate the mechanism by which Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil inhibits melanin production and transfer. METHODS: The impact of different concentrations of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil on cocultured cell proliferation rate was assessed using cck8 assay. Tyrosinase inhibition ability in cocultured cells was tested using levodopa as a substrate. Melanin production inhibition ability in coculture cells was evaluated by lysing cells with sodium hydroxide. The effect of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil on dendrite-related gene expression levels was examined through qPCR analysis. Additionally, Western blotting was employed to study the effect of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil on dendrite-related protein expression levels. RESULTS: Different concentrations of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil did not affect the proliferation activity of cocultured cells. A specific concentration of α-MSH increased cell tyrosinase activity, cellular melanin content, as well as Rac1, Cdc42, and PAR-2 gene and protein expression related to dendritic formation. Treatment with a certain concentration of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil resulted in decreased tyrosinase activity and melanin content in cells along with downregulated expression levels of Rac1, Cdc42, and PAR-2 genes and proteins associated with dendritic formation. CONCLUSIONS: Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil at specific concentrations exhibits the ability to inhibit tyrosinase activity, decrease melanin content, and possesses the potential to impede melanin transfer.

Significance of Nutritional-Inflammatory Index as Predictors for Total Neoadjuvant Therapy-Induced Tumor Regression in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the predictive capacity of the nutritional-inflammatory index and clinicopathological characteristics in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) receiving total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT). Methods: Data from 127 patients with LARC receiving TNT from January 2017 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinicopathological characteristics with different TNT-induced responses were compared. The Chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney test were used to analyze the association between pre-TNT factors and TNT-induced responses. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to construct a predictive model. Results: In the cohort of 127 patients with LARC who underwent total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), the mean age was 54.1 ± 11.4 years; 88 (69.3%) were male. Seventy patients (55.1%) exhibited a favorable response to TNT, while 57 patients (44.9%) demonstrated a poor response. Tumor characteristics, including diameter, distance from the anal verge, pre-TNT lymphocyte, pre-TNT hemoglobin, CA199, PLR, and HALP, exhibit correlations with TNT-induced tumor regression. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified large tumor diameters (> 5.0 cm; p = 0.005, HR 2.958; 95% CI 1.382-6.335) and low HALP (≤ 40; p = 0.002, HR 0.261; 95% CI 0.111-0.612) as predictors of TNT-induced poor responses. Additionally, low levels of HALP were associated with an increased risk of recurrence in patients with LARC with TNT, but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.087, HR 2.008, 95% CI 0.906-4.447). Conclusion: A large tumor diameter and low HALP predict poor tumor regression induced by the CAPOX-based TNT regimen in patients with LARC.

Recent studies have shown that total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) is becoming a key treatment for some people with advanced rectal cancer. However, there's still a lot we do not know about what affects how well patients respond to this treatment. The aim of this study was to see if certain nutritional and inflammatory measures, along with other clinic characteristics, can predict how well patients with advanced rectal cancer will respond to TNT. We looked back at medical records from 127 patients who received TNT between 2017 and 2021. We examined how certain pre-treatment factors were linked to patients' responses to the therapy. Certain tumor characteristics and blood test results were connected to how well the tumors responded to treatment. Specifically, patients with larger tumors (over 5 cm in diameter) and lower levels of a specific blood marker called HALP were more likely to have a poor response to treatment. Although low HALP was also linked to a higher chance of the cancer coming back, this result was not strong enough to be certain about.

Stratospheric influence on surface ozone pollution in China.

Events of stratospheric intrusions to the surface (SITS) can lead to severe ozone (O3) pollution. Still, to what extent SITS events impact surface O3 on a national scale over years remains a long-lasting question, mainly due to difficulty of resolving three key SITS metrics: frequency, duration and intensity. Here, we identify 27,616 SITS events over China during 2015-2022 based on spatiotemporally dense surface measurements of O3 and carbon monoxide, two effective indicators of SITS. An overview of the three metrics is presented, illustrating large influences of SITS on surface O3 in China. We find that SITS events occur preferentially in high-elevation regions, while those in plain regions are more intense. SITS enhances surface O3 by 20 ppbv on average, contributing to 30-45% of O3 during SITS periods. Nationally, SITS-induced O3 peaks in spring and autumn, while over 70% of SITS events during the warm months exacerbate O3 pollution. Over 2015-2022, SITS-induced O3 shows a declining trend. Our observation-based results can have implications for O3 mitigation policies in short and long terms.

Prognostic value of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index in patients with gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy: a propensity-score matching cohort study and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient evidence existed about the prognostic role of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) for gastric cancer patients who underwent curative resection. The aim of this study was to identify the predictive ability of ALI for survival after curative gastrectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 328 gastric cancer patients who received curative gastrectomy from the database of Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, and investigated the prognostic role of the preoperative ALI compared with clinicopathological variables and other serum biomarkers, such as preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and Lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR). To minimize intergroup differences, propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was employed. Additionally, we performed a meta-analysis of four cohort studies published up to October 2023 following the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: In the overall cohort, patients in the low ALI group had a significantly worse overall survival compared to those in the high ALI group (P < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis identified that ALI maintained its prognostic significance across different subgroups. In addition, ROC analysis showed that ALI had a higher AUC value for 3-year overall survival compared to NLR, PLR, and LMR (0.576 vs. 0.573 vs. 0.557 vs. 0.557). Multivariate analysis indicated that ALI, other than other serum biomarkers, was an independent risk factor for decreased overall survival in GC patients following curative surgery (HR = 1.449; 95%CI: 1.028-2.045; P = 0.034). Consistently, PSM analysis supported all of these findings. The meta-analysis including 4 studies evaluating 2542 patients, confirmed the association between the low ALI and poor survival outcomes. CONCLUSION: The preoperative ALI was an independent prognostic factor for survival in gastric cancer patients who underwent curative gastrectomy.

Laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy for nonmetastatic T4a gastric cancer: a meta-analysis of reconstructed individual participant data from propensity score-matched studies.

BACKGROUND: ​The applicability of laparoscopy to nonmetastatic T4a patients with gastric cancer remains unclear due to the lack of high-quality evidence. The purpose of this study was to compare the survival rates of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) versus open gastrectomy (OG) for these patients through a meta-analysis of reconstructed individual participant data from propensity score-matched studies. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane library and CNKI were examined for relevant studies without language restrictions through July 25, 2023. Individual participant data on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were extracted from the published Kaplan-Meier survival curves. One-stage and two-stage meta-analyses were performed. In addition, data regarding surgical outcomes and recurrence patterns were also collected, which were meta-analyzed using traditional aggregated data. RESULTS: Six studies comprising 1860 patients were included for analysis. In the one-stage meta-analyses, the results demonstrated that LG was associated with a significantly better DFS (Random-effects model: P = 0.027; Restricted mean survival time [RMST] up to 5 years: P = 0.033) and a comparable OS (Random-effects model: P = 0.135; RMST up to 5 years: P = 0.053) than OG for T4a gastric cancer patients. Two-stage meta-analyses resulted in similar results, with a 13% reduced hazard of cancer-related death (P = 0.04) and 10% reduced hazard of overall mortality (P = 0.11) in the LG group. For secondary outcomes, the pooled results showed an association of LG with less estimated blood loss, faster postoperative recovery and more retrieved lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery for patients with nonmetastatic T4a disease is associated with a potential survival benefit and improved surgical outcomes.

The potential of Paeonia lactiflora pall seeds oil as a pure natural cosmetics raw material: In Vitro findings.

BACKGROUND: As a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Paeonia lactiflora Pall is rich in various active ingredients such as polysaccharides and total flavonoids while having ornamental value. It has potential application value in the development of food and cosmetics. OBJECTIVE: To study the in vitro efficacy of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil. METHODS: Firstly, the levels of linolenic acid and linoleic acid in Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil were quantified using gas chromatography. The impact of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil on the proliferation rate of B16F10 cells was assessed through the CCK-8 method, while the melanin content of B16F10 cells was determined using the sodium hydroxide lysis method. The inhibitory effects of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil on elastase, collagenase and hyaluronidase were evaluated by biochemical techniques in vitro. Lastly, the hen's egg chorioallantoic membrane test (HET-CAM) was conducted to confirm the absence of eye irritation caused by Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil. RESULTS: Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil within a certain volume concentration range (0.5%-4%) had no effect on the proliferation of B16F10 cells. Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil showed significant inhibition of elastase, collagenase and hyaluronidase. Notably, the highest concentration tested, 4% Paeonia lactiflora Pall seed oil, yielded the most pronounced outcomes without causing any irritation. CONCLUSION: A certain concentration of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil has a significant effect on decreasing the melanin content in B16F10 cells and inhibiting the activities of elastase, collagenase, and hyaluronidase, which can provide a reference for the development of pure natural cosmetics raw materials.

OsmiR5519 regulates grain size and weight and down-regulates sucrose synthase gene RSUS2 in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

MAIN CONCLUSION: The up-regulation of OsmiR5519 results in the decrease of grain size, weight and seed setting rate. OsmiR5519 plays important roles in the process of grain filling and down-regulates sucrose synthase gene RSUS2. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are one class of small non-coding RNAs that act as crucial regulators of plant growth and development. In rice, the conserved miRNAs were revealed to regulate the yield components, but the function of rice-specific miRNAs has been rarely studied. The rice-specific OsmiR5519 was found to be abundantly expressed during reproductive development, but its biological roles remain unknown. In this study, the function of rice-specific OsmiR5519 was characterized with the miR5519-overexpressing line (miR5519-OE) and miR5519-silenced line (STTM5519). At seedling stage, the content of sucrose, glucose and fructose was obviously lower in the leaves of miR5519-OE lines than those of wild-type (WT) line. The grain size and weight were decreased significantly in miR5519-OE lines, compared to those of WT rice. The cell width of hull in miR5519-OE was smaller than that in WT. The seed setting rate was notably reduced in miR5519-OE lines, but not in STTM5519 lines. Cytological observation demonstrated that the inadequate grain filling was the main reason for the decline of seed setting rate in miR5519-OE lines. The percentage of the defects of grain amounted to 40% in miR5519-OE lines, which almost equaled to the decreased value of seed setting rate. Furthermore, the sucrose synthase gene RSUS2 was identified as a target of OsmiR5519 via RNA ligase-mediated 3'-amplification of cDNA ends (3'-RLM-RACE), dual luciferase assays and transient expression assays. In summary, our results suggest that OsmiR5519 regulates grain size and weight and down-regulates RSUS2 in rice.

Identification of important gene signatures in schizophrenia through feature fusion and genetic algorithm.

Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric disorder that can significantly affect a patient's quality of life and lead to permanent brain damage. Although medical research has identified certain genetic risk factors, the specific pathogenesis of the disorder remains unclear. Despite the prevalence of research employing magnetic resonance imaging, few studies have focused on the gene level and gene expression profile involving a large number of screened genes. However, the high dimensionality of genetic data presents a great challenge to accurately modeling the data. To tackle the current challenges, this study presents a novel feature selection strategy that utilizes heuristic feature fusion and a multi-objective optimization genetic algorithm. The goal is to improve classification performance and identify the key gene subset for schizophrenia diagnostics. Traditional gene screening techniques are inadequate for accurately determining the precise number of key genes associated with schizophrenia. Our innovative approach integrates a filter-based feature selection method to reduce data dimensionality and a multi-objective optimization genetic algorithm for improved classification tasks. By combining the filtering and wrapper methods, our strategy leverages their respective strengths in a deliberate manner, leading to superior classification accuracy and a more efficient selection of relevant genes. This approach has demonstrated significant improvements in classification results across 11 out of 14 relevant datasets. The performance on the remaining three datasets is comparable to the existing methods. Furthermore, visual and enrichment analyses have confirmed the practicality of our proposed method as a promising tool for the early detection of schizophrenia.

Injectable, Adhesive Albumin Nanoparticle-Incorporated Hydrogel for Sustained Localized Drug Delivery and Efficient Tumor Treatment.

Injectable hydrogels are receiving increasing attention as local depots for sustained anticancer drug delivery. However, most current hydrogel-based carriers lack tissue-adhesive ability, a property that is important for the immobilization of drug-loaded systems at tumor sites to increase local drug concentration. In this study, we developed a paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded injectable hydrogel with firm tissue adhesion for localized tumor therapy. PTX-loaded bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles (PTX@BN) were prepared, and the drug-loaded hydrogel was then fabricated by cross-linking PTX@BN with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA)-terminated 4-armed poly(ethylene glycol) (4aPEG-OPA) via a condensation reaction between OPA and the amines in BSA. The hydrogel showed firm adhesion to various organs and tumor tissues ex vivo due to the condensation reaction of unreacted OPA groups and amines in the tissues. The PTX-loaded nanocomposite hydrogels sustained PTX release over 30 days following the Korsmeyer-Peppas model and exhibited notable inhibition activities against mouse C26 colon and 4T1 breast cancer cells in vitro. Following peritumoral injection into mice with C26 or 4T1 tumors, the PTX@BN-loaded hydrogel significantly enhanced the antitumor efficacy and prolonged animal survival time compared to free PTX solutions with low systemic toxicity. Therefore, the adhesive, PTX-loaded nanocomposite hydrogels have the potential for efficient localized tumor therapy.

Plum blossom low molecular weight polypeptide protects HaCaT cells against UVB-induced oxidative damage in vitro and underlying mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Increasing amounts of ultraviolet radiation occur as ozone depletion causes the earth's ozone layer to be destroyed, making antioxidant efficacy a research hotspot. Previous studies on plum blossom have mostly focused on Volatile Oils, Flavonoids, Phenylpropanoids, and other compounds, whereas few studies have focused on low molecular weight polypeptide (LMWP) of plum blossom. This research provides a reference for the deep processing and utilization of plum blossom. OBJECTIVES: (a) Plum blossom low molecular weight polypeptides protect HaCaT cells against UVB-induced oxidative damage in vitro and the underlying mechanism. (b) Improve the theoretical basis for the intense processing and utilization of plum blossom. METHODS: The safe concentration of LMWP and the survival rate of HaCaT cells were determined using the CCK-8 experiment. The fluorescence intensity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was identified using the dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) method; Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were measured in ruptured cells; Western blot analysis was used to examine the expression levels of three proteins: nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and benzoquinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1). RESULTS: It was noted that a certain concentration of LMWP could promote cell proliferation. In oxidatively damaged HaCaT cells, SOD levels and survival rates were markedly reduced, but ROS and MDA levels were elevated. However, after treatment with LMWP, the survival rate of the cells and SOD levels were markedly increased, and the levels of ROS and MDA were markedly decreased. As shown by Western blotting, the model group exhibited lower levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO-1 expression than the control group, whereas LMWP-treated cells had significantly higher levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO-1 expression than their model-treated counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: LMMP can effectively protect HaCaT cells against oxidative damage in vitro induced by UVB, and the underlying mechanism is linked to the activation of the transcription factor Nrf2.

Elucidating drivers of severe wintertime fine particulate matter pollution episodes in the Yangtze River Delta region of eastern China.

Understanding the causes and sources responsible for severe fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution episodes that occur under conducive synoptic weather patterns (SWPs) is essential for regional air quality management. The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region in eastern China has experienced recurrent severe PM2.5 episodes during the winters from 2013 to 2017. In this study, we employed an objective classification approach, the self-organizing map, to investigate the underlying impact of predominant SWPs on PM2.5 pollution in the YRD. We further conducted a series of source apportionment simulations using the Particulate Source Apportionment Technology (PSAT) tool integrated within the Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx) to quantify the source contributions to PM2.5 pollution under different SWPs. Here we identified six predominant SWPs over the YRD that are robustly connected to the evolution of the Siberian High. Considering the regional average PM2.5 anomalies, our results show that polluted SWPs favourable for the occurrence of regional PM2.5 pollution account for 61-78 %. The most conducive SWP, associated with the highest regional exceedance (46 %) of PM2.5 levels, is characterized by noticeable cyclonic anomalies at 850 hPa and stagnant surface weather conditions. Our source apportionment analysis emphasizes the pivotal role of local emissions and intra-regional transport within the YRD in shaping PM2.5 pollution in representative cities. Local emissions have the most significant impact on PM2.5 levels in Shanghai (32-48 %), while PM2.5 pollution in Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Hefei is more influenced by intra-regional transport (33-61 %). Industrial and residential emissions are the dominant sources, contributing 32-41 % and 24-38 % to PM2.5, respectively. Under specific SWPs associated with a stronger influence of inter-regional transport from northern China, there is a synchronously remarkable enhancement in the contribution of residential emissions. Our study pinpoints the opportunities for future air quality planning that would benefit from quantitative source attribution linked to prevailing SWPs.

OsmiRNA5488 Regulates the Development of Embryo Sacs and Targets OsARF25 in Rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Small RNAs are a class of non-coding RNAs that typically range from 20 to 24 nucleotides in length. Among them, microRNAs (miRNAs) are particularly important regulators for plant development. The biological function of the conserved miRNAs has been studied extensively in plants, while that of the species-specific miRNAs has been studied in-depth. In this study, the regulatory role of a rice-specific OsmiRNA5488 (OsmiR5488) was characterized with the miR5488-overexpressed line (miR5488-OE) and miR5488-silenced line (STTM-5488). The seed-setting rate was notably reduced in miR5488-OE lines, but not in STTM-5488 lines. Cytological observation demonstrated the different types of abnormal mature embryo sacs, including the degeneration of embryo sacs and other variant types, in miR5488-OE lines. The percentage of the abnormal mature embryo sacs accounted for the reduced value of the seed-setting rate. Furthermore, OsARF25 was identified as a target of OsmiR5488 via RNA ligase-mediated 3'-amplifification of cDNA ends, dual luciferase assays, and transient expression assays. The primary root length was decreased with the increases in auxin concentrations in miR5488-OE lines compared to wild-type rice. Summarily, our results suggested that OsmiR5488 regulates the seed-setting rate and down-regulates the targeted gene OsARF25.

Comparisons of perioperative and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant therapy: an updated pooled analysis of eighteen studies.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in advanced gastric cancer patients who received neoadjuvant therapy represent a controversial issue. We performed an updated meta-analysis to evaluate the perioperative and long-term survival outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) versus conventional open gastrectomy (OG) in this subset of patients. METHODS: Electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were comprehensively searched up to May 2023. The short-term and long-term outcomes of LG versus OG in advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy were evaluated. Effect sizes with 95% confidence intervals were always assessed using random-effects model. The prospective protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022359126). RESULTS: Eighteen studies (2 randomized controlled trials and 16 cohort studies) involving 2096 patients were included. In total, 933 patients were treated with LG and 1163 patients were treated with OG. In perioperative outcomes, LG was associated with less estimated blood loss (MD = - 65.15; P < 0.0001), faster time to flatus (MD = - 0.56; P < 0.0001) and liquid intake (MD = - 0.42; P = 0.02), reduced hospital stay (MD = - 2.26; P < 0.0001), lower overall complication rate (OR = 0.70; P = 0.002) and lower minor complication rate (OR = 0.69; P = 0.006), while longer operative time (MD = 25.98; P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of proximal margin, distal margin, R1/R2 resection rate, retrieved lymph nodes, time to remove gastric tube and drainage tube, major complications and other specific complications. In survival outcomes, LG and OG were not significantly different in overall survival, disease-free survival and recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSION: LG can be a safe and feasible technique for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy. However, more high-quality randomized controlled trials are still needed to further validate the results of our study.

Clinical significance of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index in gastrointestinal cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) has been identified as a scientific and clinical priority in multiple malignancies. The aim of this study is to investigate the value of the ALI before treatment in evaluating postoperative complications (POCs) and survival outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were comprehensively reviewed up to June 2022. The endpoints were POCs and survival outcomes. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were also performed. Results: Eleven studies including 4417 participants were included. A significant heterogeneity in the ALI cut-off value among studies was observed. Patients in the low ALI group showed increased incidence of POCs (OR=2.02; 95%CI:1.60-2.57; P<0.001; I2 = 0%). In addition, a low ALI was also significantly associated with worse overall survival (HR=1.96; 95%CI: 1.58-2.43; P<0.001; I2 = 64%), which remained consistent in all subgroups based on country, sample size, tumor site, tumor stage, selection method and Newcastle Ottawa Scale score. Moreover, patients in the low ALI group had an obviously decreased disease-free survival compared to these in the high ALI group (HR=1.47; 95%CI: 1.28-1.68; P<0.001; I2 = 0%). Conclusion: Based on existing evidence, the ALI could act as a valuable predictor of POCs and long-term outcomes in patients with GI cancer. However, the heterogeneity in the ALI cut-off value among studies should be considered when interpreting these findings.

Hydrocarbon Accumulation Periods in the Upper Paleozoic Strata of the Western Ordos Basin, China, Based on Fluid Inclusions and Basin Modeling.

The upper Paleozoic strata in the western part of the Ordos Basin have rich oil and gas resources but low exploration levels. These strata were subjected to multiple tectonic events, such as the Caledonian, Hercynian, Indosinian, and Himalayan movements, which led to a relatively complex process of hydrocarbon accumulation in the study area. These strata also have obvious structural segmentation in the north-south direction. However, the accumulation periods of the upper Paleozoic strata in different structural sections of the western Ordos Basin and their differences are poorly understood. A total of 65 sandstone samples from the upper Paleozoic reservoirs in 16 representative wells were selected for fluid inclusion analyses. The results of fluid inclusion analyses, combined with the burial-thermal histories of representative wells, were used to determine the hydrocarbon accumulation periods of the main layers and summarize their patterns in different structural regions and layers. The results show that the formation of fluid inclusions in the main upper Paleozoic strata can be divided into two stages. The first-stage inclusions mainly occur in secondary quartz edges, and the second-stage inclusions mainly occur in healed microcracks. The inclusion types are dominantly hydrocarbon-bearing, brine, and minor nonhydrocarbon gas inclusions. The hydrocarbon components are mostly CH4 and minor asphaltene, and the nonhydrocarbon gases are dominantly CO2 and minor SO2. The homogenization temperatures of the brine inclusions associated with hydrocarbon inclusions in major layers in the study area have a wide distribution and multiple peaks; the main peaks in the central part of a given tectonic area are slightly lower than those in the eastern part, and the main peaks in a given location tend to increase with decreasing burial depth. Hydrocarbon accumulation in the upper Paleozoic strata in the study area mainly occurred in the Early and Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. The Early and Middle Jurassic were the mature oil and gas accumulation periods, and the Early Cretaceous was the high-maturity natural gas accumulation period and the most critical accumulation period. The accumulation period in the central part of a given structural region occurred earlier than that in the eastern part, and the accumulation period in different layers in a given location gradually shifted at a later time from deep to shallow.

Prophylactic drainage versus non-drainage following gastric cancer surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational studies.

BACKGROUND: The role of prophylactic drainage (PD) in gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC) is not well-established. The purpose of this study is to compare the perioperative outcomes between the PD and non-drainage (ND) in GC patients undergoing gastrectomy. METHODS: A systematic review of electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure was performed up to December 2022. All eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies were included and meta-analyzed separately. The registration number of this protocol is PROSPERO CRD42022371102. RESULTS: Overall, 7 RCTs (783 patients) and 14 observational studies (4359 patients) were ultimately included. Data from RCTs indicated that patients in the ND group had a lower total complications rate (OR = 0.68; 95%CI:0.47-0.98; P = 0.04; I2 = 0%), earlier time to soft diet (MD = - 0.27; 95%CI: - 0.55 to 0.00; P = 0.05; I2 = 0%) and shorter length of hospital stay (MD = - 0.98; 95%CI: - 1.71 to - 0.26; P = 0.007; I2 = 40%). While other outcomes including anastomotic leakage, duodenal stump leakage, pancreatic leakage, intra-abdominal abscess, surgical-site infection, pulmonary infection, need for additional drainage, reoperation rate, readmission rate, and mortality were not significantly different between the two groups. Meta-analyses on observational studies showed good agreement with the pooled results from RCTs, with higher statistical power. CONCLUSION: The present meta-analysis suggests that routine use of PD may not be necessary and even harmful in GC patients following gastrectomy. However, well-designed RCTs with risk-stratified randomization are still needed to validate the results of our study.

Natural allelic variation in GRAIN SIZE AND WEIGHT 3 of wild rice regulates the grain size and weight.

Grain size is important for yield in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Although many genes involved in grain size have been isolated, few can be used in breeding due to their interactions and phenotypic effects. Here, we describe natural variation in the granule-type quantitative trait locus GRAIN SIZE AND WEIGHT 3 (GSW3) located on chromosome 3 in wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) that encodes a GTPase-regulated protein and negatively regulates grain length, grain width, and 1,000-grain weight. The insertion of a 232-bp fragment of the genomic sequence in the wild rice, a natural allelic variant gene (GSW3), increased the expression levels and reduced the grain length and width and 1,000-grain weight. Knockout of GSW3 in the wild rice inbred line Huaye 3 increased the grain length and width and 1,000-grain weight. Introducing GSW3Huaye3 into cultivated rice line KJ01 and overexpressing GSW3Huaye3 in Huaye 3 resulted in reduced grain length and width and 1,000-grain weight, and grain size and 1,000-grain weight changes were closely related to GSW3 expression levels. GSW3 regulated the grain length and width simultaneously by promoting grain glume cell division and longitudinal and transverse cell growth. GSW3 was also involved in regulating the gibberellic acid signaling pathway and negatively regulated plant growth. Furthermore, a critical SNP in the GSW3 coding region was obviously correlated with grain size variation in a core collection of cultivated rice. This SNP resulted in an amino acid substitution from Gln to Arg at position 161 in GSW3, which reduced the grain size. Our study shows that GSW3 negatively regulates the grain shape, which could explain different grain shapes in modern cultivars and wild rice. GSW3 may also be used for breeding rice varieties with improved grain shapes and higher yield.

Distinct seasonality in vertical variations of tropospheric ozone over coastal regions of southern China.

The surface ozone pollution is strongly coupled with ozone variations above the ground. Using sufficient airborne ozone profiles during 2012-2018, this study reveals the tropospheric ozone distributions over four cities located in coastal regions of southern China. The 7-year mean tropospheric ozone profiles in the four cities consistently show a double-maxima profile, with a local maximum at 1 km altitude and the other in the middle-to-upper troposphere. Seasonally, springtime ozone is larger than the annual mean throughout the troposphere, while ozone in summer is high in the middle-to-upper troposphere, leading to largest vertical variations among seasons. Ozone in the middle-to-upper troposphere is lower in autumn than in spring and summer. The winter ozone is characterized with a minimum in the lower troposphere, and low values in the middle-to-upper troposphere, leading to least vertical variations among seasons. We untangle the causes for these complicated vertical ozone variations using the GEOS-Chem model. The tropospheric ozone over southern China is partitioned into locally produced ozone, regionally transported native ozone, imported ozone from outside of China (foreign ozone) and natural stratospheric ozone. The results suggest that the springtime ozone abundance is due to the enhanced import of foreign and stratospheric ozone and the intensified regional transport processes of native ozone. In summer, local ozone production is enhanced and regional transport of ozone in the middle-to-upper troposphere is strengthened due to upward air motions, while such transport becomes weaker in autumn leaving low ozone in the middle-to-upper troposphere. In winter, the intensive westerly jets promote foreign and stratospheric ozone again in the middle-to-upper troposphere, but the local ozone production and regional transport are sharply reduced, resulting in low ozone near the surface. This study provides new insights into regional ozone profiles and reveals the significance of vertical ozone variations on surface ozone prevention strategy.