Fusarium diversity associated with diseased cereals in China, with an updated phylogenomic assessment of the genus.

Fusarium species are important cereal pathogens that cause severe production losses to major cereal crops such as maize, rice, and wheat. However, the causal agents of Fusarium diseases on cereals have not been well documented because of the difficulty in species identification and the debates surrounding generic and species concepts. In this study, we used a citizen science initiative to investigate diseased cereal crops (maize, rice, wheat) from 250 locations, covering the major cereal-growing regions in China. A total of 2 020 Fusarium strains were isolated from 315 diseased samples. Employing multi-locus phylogeny and morphological features, the above strains were identified to 43 species, including eight novel species that are described in this paper. A world checklist of cereal-associated Fusarium species is provided, with 39 and 52 new records updated for the world and China, respectively. Notably, 56 % of samples collected in this study were observed to have co-infections of more than one Fusarium species, and the detailed associations are discussed. Following Koch's postulates, 18 species were first confirmed as pathogens of maize stalk rot in this study. Furthermore, a high-confidence species tree was constructed in this study based on 1 001 homologous loci of 228 assembled genomes (40 genomes were sequenced and provided in this study), which supported the "narrow" generic concept of Fusarium (= Gibberella). This study represents one of the most comprehensive surveys of cereal Fusarium diseases to date. It significantly improves our understanding of the global diversity and distribution of cereal-associated Fusarium species, as well as largely clarifies the phylogenetic relationships within the genus. Taxonomic novelties: New species: Fusarium erosum S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium fecundum S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium jinanense S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium mianyangense S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium nothincarnatum S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium planum S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium sanyaense S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai, Fusarium weifangense S.L. Han, M.M. Wang & L. Cai. Citation: Han SL, Wang MM, Ma ZY, Raza M, Zhao P, Liang JM, Gao M, Li YJ, Wang JW, Hu DM, Cai L (2023). Fusarium diversity associated with diseased cereals in China, with an updated phylogenomic assessment of the genus. Studies in Mycology 104: 87-148. doi: 10.3114/sim.2022.104.02.

Global burden of gastric cancer in adolescents and young adults: estimates from GLOBOCAN 2020.

OBJECTIVES: Gastric cancer in adolescents and young adults (GCAYA) has been ignored by both patients and physicians. We examined the disease burden of GCAYA and its secular trends in incidence and mortality. STUDY DESIGN: A comprehensive analysis of the global burden of GCAYA based on data provided by GLOBOCAN 2020. METHODS: Global, regional, sex, and country-specific data of the incidence and mortality of GCAYA were extracted from the GLOBOCAN, the Cancer in Five Continents Plus, and the World Health Organization mortality database, respectively. The associations between the Human Development Index (HDI) and GCAYA burden were also evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: The global incidence of GCAYA was 0.79 per 100,000, and the corresponding mortality was 0.45 per 100,000 in 2020. The mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) was lower in AYA (0.61) than in patients aged 40-64 years (0.65) and patients aged 65 years and older (0.75). The age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) were 0.84 and 0.53 per 100,000, respectively, in women, compared with 0.74 and 0.45 per 100,000, respectively, in men. The majority of new cases (17,934) and deaths (10,360) were estimated to occur in Asia. There has a significant negative correlation between the MIR of GCAYA and HDI level (R2 = 0.2707, P < 0.0001). There was a decreasing trend of incidence and mortality in most countries. CONCLUSIONS: The MIR of GCAYA is lower than that among older patients and exhibit a positive association with socio-economic status. The incidence and mortality of GCAYA show a decreasing trend in most countries.

Knockdown of lncRNA HCG11 suppresses cell progression in ovarian cancer by modulating miR-144-3p/PBX3.

OBJECTIVE: LncRNA HCG11 has been confirmed to act as a crucial role in several human cancers. Nevertheless, to our knowledge, the function of HCG11 on the progression of ovarian cancer (OC) has not been studied. This article is designed to explore the mechanism and role of HCG11 in the tumorigenesis and development of OC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: RT-qPCR analysis was applied to detect the expression of HCG11, miR-144-3p and PBX3 in OC tissues and cell lines. MTT assay and transwell assay were opted to measure the cell viability of OC cells. The protein expression level of PBX3 was measured by Western blot assay. Dual-Luciferase reporter assay was carried out to assess the correlation between HCG11, miR-144-3p and PBX3. RESULTS: The upregulated of HCG11 was observed in OC tissues and OC cell lines. Moreover, miR-144-3p was down expressed in OC tissues and cell lines. Functionally, the knockdown of HCG11 prevented cell viability of SKOV3 cells, while miR-144-3p inhibitor abrogated the suppressor on cell progression. Furthermore, PBX3 was verified to be a target gene of miR-144-3p. In addition, PBX3 knockdown prevented the cell progression of SKOV3 cells. CONCLUSIONS: These data displayed that the knockdown of HCG11 prevented cell progression in OC by sponging miR-144-3p and downregulating PBX3. All results revealed that HCG11 can be a potential therapeutic target for OC therapy.

Role of miR-214-5p in the migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the role of miR-214-5p in proliferation and metastasis of pancreatic cancer (PC) cells, as well as its underlying mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 30 pairs of PC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were collected in our Department. The expression level of miR-214-5p was detected by quantitative Real-time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Biological information analysis and luciferase report gene assay were used to verify potential target genes of miR-214-5p. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell methods were applied to observe the interference of miR-214-5p on invasion and migration of PC cells. Western blot (WB) assay was applied to determine the expression changes of Jagged 1 (JAG1) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes in PC cells. RESULTS: QRT-PCR results showed that the expression level of miR-214-5p is significantly down-regulated in PC tissues and cells. Bioinformatics software and luciferase report gene assay identified that JAG1 is a target gene of miR-214-5p. The negative correlation between protein expressions of miR-214-5p and JAG1 was assessed by Western Blot assay. Furthermore, miR-214-5p could suppress cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and it also blocked the EMT in PC cells in vitro. Meanwhile, JAG1 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-214-5p on proliferation, invasion and migration of PC cells. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpressing miR-214-5p could significantly inhibit malignant behavior of PC cells through targeted regulation of JAG1. Thus, miR-214-5p might be a potential therapeutic target for treatment of PC.

Anomalous phase behavior of first-order fluid-liquid phase transition in phosphorus.

Although the existence of liquid-liquid phase transition has become more and more convincing, whether it will terminate at a critical point and what is the order parameter are still open. To explore these questions, we revisit the fluid-liquid phase transition (FLPT) in phosphorus (P) and study its phase behavior by performing extensive first-principles molecular dynamics simulations. The FLPT observed in experiments is well reproduced, and a fluid-liquid critical point (FLCP) at T = 3000 ∼ 3500 K, P = 1.5-2.0 Kbar is found. With decreasing temperature from the FLCP along the transition line, the density difference (Δρ) between two coexisting phases first increases from zero and then anomalously decreases; however, the entropy difference (ΔS) continuously increases from zero. These features suggest that an order parameter containing contributions from both the density and the entropy is needed to describe the FLPT in P, and at least at low temperatures, the entropy, instead of the density, governs the FLPT.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) pollutants in groundwater from coal gangue stack area: characteristics and origin.

The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the leachate from the gangue and 20 groundwater samples, which were collected from the 12th Coal Mine around gangue piles in Henan Province, China, were determined by SPE-GC-MS. The characteristics of PAHs pollutants in groundwater were investigated, and compared with the concentrations of PAHs in the leachate from different weathered gangues to discuss the pollution effects of PAHs from coal gangue on groundwater. The results showed that total concentrations of the 16 EPA preferentially controlled PAHs ranged from 146.9 ng/L to 1220.6 ng/L.The components of PAHs such as chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b + k]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-c,d]-pyrene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene were fairly high. The 2-4 rings PAHs such as naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluorene and chrysene were dominant in groundwater, which was similar to those of the leachate from the different weathered gangues. Therefore, it should be paid much more attention on the transport of lower ring numbered PAHs leached by rains from the coal mines after landfilling and dumping. Based on the spatial distribution of PAHs and the high concentrations of PAHs with 2-4 rings in groundwater and leaching samples, there might be other pollution sources of PAHs except for penetration from coal gangue into groundwater in the Pingdingshan coal mine area.

First identification of Neospora caninum infection in aborted bovine foetuses in China.

The first identification of Neospora caninum infection in the tissues of aborted bovine foetuses in China is reported. Aborted foetuses were collected from 16 dams, and 12 of the dams had high serum antibody titres to N. caninum determined using an ELISA test kit. The Nc-5 gene of N. caninum was amplified from DNA samples extracted from brains of four aborted foetuses using a Neospora-specific PCR assay, confirming N. caninum infection in the aborted foetuses. Histology and immunohistochemistry showed thick-walled (3 microm) tissue cyst in 25 microm diameter in the brain of one foetus. Non-suppurative encephalomyelitis, focal haemorrhage, hepatic lesions consisted of lymphocyte infiltration and haemorrhage were also found in the heart and lung of the foetus. Thus, we have confirmed for the first time the infection of N. caninum in aborted foetuses of cattle in the People's Republic of China.

[Simultaneous determination of carbamazepine and its active metabolite in serum by high performance liquid chromatography].

A rapid, sensitive and simple to operate high performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of carbamazepine (CBZ) and its metabolite (10,11-epoxide carbamazepine, ECBZ) in serum has been developed. The sample was extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was evaporated to dryness and taken up with the mobile phase. Separation of CBZ and ECBZ was achieved by reversed phase chromatography using a mobile phase consisting of methanol-water (1:1) at flow rate of 0.8 ml/min on a 5 microns YWG C-18 column. Eluent was monitored at 214 nm. The method has a good linearity. The recoveries of CBZ and ECBZ were found to be 99.7% +/- 2.45 and 97.3% +/- 4.20 respectively. Precision studies for both within day and day-to-day at different concentrations provided CV values of less than 6%. Some commonly used anticonvulsants can be determined in the same procedure without interference. This method well adapted to the therapeutic monitoring of CBZ treated patients, as well as for pharmacokinetic studies.