Genetic structure shows the presence of small-scale management units in a relict tree species.

Identifying conservation units is crucial for the effective conservation of threatened species. Previous cases are almost exclusively based on large-scale but coarse sampling for genetic structure analyses. Significant genetic structure can occur within a small range, and thus multiple conservation units may exist in narrowly distributed plants. However, small-scale genetic structure is often overlooked in conservation planning especially for wind-pollinated and wind-dispersed trees, largely due to the absence of dense and elaborate sampling. In this study, we focused on a representative endangered relict plant, Metasequoia glyptostroboides. Using both nuclear microsatellites (nSSRs) and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) fragments, we sampled across the narrow distribution range of this species and determined its conservation units by exploring its genetic structure and historical demography. cpDNA haplotypes were classified into two groups, but mixed in space, suggesting that the existent wild trees of M. glyptostroboides cannot be divided into different evolutionarily significant units. However, using nSSRs, we detected strong spatial genetic structure, with significant genetic differentiation and weak gene flow between the samples in the east of the species' distribution range and other samples. The divergence between the two nSSR groups was dated to the Last Glacial Maximum (c. 19.6 kya), suggesting that such spatial genetic structure has been maintained for a long term. Therefore, these two nSSR groups should be considered as different conservation units, that is, management units, to protect intergroup genetic variations, which is likely to be the outputs of local adaptation. Our findings highlight the necessity to reveal small-scale genetic structure and population demography to improve the conservation strategies of evolutionary potential of endangered plants.

The polarization of M2 macrophages can be adjusted to alleviate renal injury by methylprednisolone in sepsis-AKI.

Acute kidney injury in sepsis patients has an extreme mortality rate in clinical. It obviously seems that immune cells, for example, macrophages are involved with this process. Macrophages, as highly important immune cells, play a significant role in the development of human kidney diseases. But the specific role of macrophages in this process is still unclear. Under different timeline points, we surprisingly found that macrophages had the most dynamic changes in acute kidney injury immune cells. Based on macrophages' functions, they are primarily classified into M1 macrophages (pro-inflammatory) and M2 macrophages (anti-inflammatory). The polarization of M2 macrophages is closely associated with the seriousness of sepsis-induced kidney injury, but how to modulate their polarization to alleviate sepsis-associated renal damage remains unknown. We discovered that the polarization of M2 macrophages after methylprednisolone injection can significantly alleviate acute kidney injury by reducing secreted cytokine. This study suggests that the proportion of macrophage subtypes can be regulated by methylprednisolone to alleviate acute kidney injury in sepsis to provide a new sight for a clinical to provide a promising strategy for renal injury caused.

[Re-operation treatment in uremic patients complicated with persistent secondary hyperparathyroidism after parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation].

Objective:To analyze the clinical profile and therapeutic effect of re-operation treatment in uremic patients complicated with persistent secondary hyperparathyroidism(SHPT)after parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation.Method:Twelve persistent SHPT patients who were treated with reoperation of paramyroidectomy(PTX)were enrolled in this study during the period from Jan 2014 to Jul 2017 in our hospital.We evaluated the location of the remaining parathyroid glands by ultrasonography,dual-phase 99 Tcm-sestamibi scintigraphy,CT and MR imaging of the neck before the operation.We resected the parathyroid gland tissue in situ,and the ectopic parathyroid glands hiding in thymus,mediastinal,tracheal esophageal groove,thyroid gland and other locations in the neck.During the surgery,nanocarbon imaging was used to help identify the parathyroid gland and parathyroid hormone assay(IOPTH)was measured at the end of the surgery.We observed the changes of clinical symptoms after the surgery and collected blood parameters including serum intact aramyroidhomone(i-PTH),calcium(Ca),phosphoms(P),calcium and phosphorus product before and after surgery.Complications and failure were also analyzed.Result:All the 12 patients underwented successful operation.The postoperative pathological results were hyperplastic parathyroid glands tissue.22 parathyroid glands were resected,among which 14 were located at the neck in situ,8 were ectopic,i.e.,located at thymus in 4 cases,superior mediastinum in 2 cases and thyroid parenchyma in 2 cases.The clinical symptoms were significantly improved including osteoarthritis,skin itching and limb weakness.The levels of serum iPTH,calcium,phosphorus and calcium and phosphorus product were significantly lower than those before operation(P<0.05).Ten patients presented hypocalcemia after surgery and the level of calcium returned to normal after supplement of calcium.Temporary injury of laryngeal nerve was found in4 cases,but there was no patient with transient bucking,dyspnea or death.No recurrence was found during 1 year follow-up.Conclusion:It was very important to locate the residual parathyroid gland accurately with a variety of imaging methods in uremic patients complicated with persistent or recurrent SHPT when they needed re-operation.Surgeons should explorate ectopic parathyroid gland according to the concept of the superior mediastinum dissection and the central compartment neck dissection.Meanwhile,the use of nanocarbon assisted parathyroid gland negative imaging and rapid IOPTH can significantly improve the success rate of surgery and reduce surgical complications.

WNT5A modulates cell cycle progression and contributes to the chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Although there are many studies on the mechanism of chemoresistance in cancers, studies on the relations between WNT5A and chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer are rare. The present study was to examine the role of WNT5A in the regulation of cell cycle progression and in chemo-resistance in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. METHODS: Fresh pancreatic cancer and paracarcinoma tissues were obtained from 32 patients. The expressions of WNT5A, AKT/p-AKT and Cyclin D1 were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the correlation between WNT5A expression and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed. The relationship between WNT5A expression and gemcitabine resistance was studied in PANC-1 and MIAPaCa2 cell lines. The effect of WNT5A on the regulation of cell cycle and gemcitabine cytotoxicity were investigated. The associations among the expressions of p-AKT, Cyclin D1 and WNT5A were also analyzed in cell lines and the effect of WNT5A on restriction-point (R-point) progression was evaluated. RESULTS: WNT5A, p-AKT and Cyclin D1 were highly expressed in pancreatic cancer tissues, and the WNT5A expression was correlated with the TNM stages. In vitro, WNT5A expression was associated with gemcitabine chemoresistance. The percentage of cells was increased in G0/G1 phase and decreased in S phase after knockdown of WNT5A in PANC-1. WNT5A promoted Cyclin D1 expression through phosphorylation of AKT which consequently enhanced G1-S transition and gemcitabine resistance. Furthermore, WNT5A enhanced the cell cycle progression toward R-point through regulation of retinoblastoma protein (pRb) and pRb-E2F complex formation. CONCLUSIONS: WNT5A induced chemoresistance by regulation of G1-S transition in pancreatic cancer cells. WNT5A might serve as a predictor of gemcitabine response and as a potential target for tumor chemotherapy.

[Observation on acupuncture at "Neitinggong" for antagonisting ototoxicity caused by gentamicin].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of acupuncture at "Neitinggong" drug-induced deafness. METHODS: Guinea pig deafness model was prepared by injection of gentamicin (GM). Acupuncture was respectively given at the points "Neitinggong" "Tinggong" (SI 19) and non-acupoints on the auricle in the experimental animals in different groups and the effects of different points on the auditory brainstem response and cochlear hair cells were observed. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between GM group and Neitinggong group, and between GM group and Tinggong group. There was no significant difference between GM group and the auricle group, and between Neitinggong group and Tinggong group. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at "Neitinggong" can strength the function of the internal ear, and relieve the injury of cochlear hair cells caused by gentamicin, which is an effective acupoint for treatment of drug-induced deafness.