Tislelizumab Plus Platinum and Etoposide Versus Placebo Plus Platinum and Etoposide as First-Line Treatment for Extensive-Stage SCLC (RATIONALE-312): A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized, Phase 3 Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC) prognosis remains poor. The phase 3 RATIONALE-312 study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tislelizumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for ES-SCLC. METHODS: RATIONALE-312 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, conducted in the People's Republic of China. Eligible patients with previously untreated ES-SCLC were randomized 1:1 to receive four cycles of tislelizumab 200 mg or placebo, with etoposide plus carboplatin or cisplatin intravenously every 3 weeks, followed by tislelizumab 200 mg or placebo as maintenance. The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Secondary end points included progression-free survival and safety. RESULTS: Between July 22, 2019 and April 21, 2021, 457 patients were randomized to tislelizumab (n = 227) or placebo (n = 230), plus chemotherapy. Baseline demographics were generally balanced between arms. At the data cutoff (April 19, 2023), the median study follow-up was 14.2 months (interquartile range: 8.6-25.3). Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy exhibited a statistically significant OS benefit versus placebo plus chemotherapy (stratified hazard ratio = 0.75 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.61-0.93]; one-sided p = 0.0040; median: 15.5 [95% CI: 13.5-17.1] versus 13.5 mo [95% CI: 12.1-14.9], respectively). Progression-free survival was significantly improved in the tislelizumab versus placebo arm (stratified hazard ratio = 0.64 [95% CI: 0.52-0.78]; p < 0.0001; median: 4.7 [95% CI: 4.3-5.5] versus 4.3 mo [95% CI: 4.2-4.4], respectively). Grade greater than or equal to 3 treatment-related adverse events were reported in 86% of patients in each treatment arm and were mostly hematologic. CONCLUSIONS: Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy exhibited statistically significant clinical benefit and manageable safety compared with placebo plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with advanced ES-SCLC.

Dysregulated CXCL12 expression in osteoblasts promotes B-lymphocytes preferentially homing to the bone marrow in MRL/lpr mice.

Objective: Todetect the abnormal distribution of B-lymphocytes between peripheral and bone marrow (BM) compartments and explore the mechanism of abnormal chemotaxis of B-lymphocytes in lupus subjects. Methods: The proportions of CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR)4+ B cells and CFDA-labeled MRL/lpr-derived B cells were detected by flow cytometry. The levels of CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL)12in peripheral blood (PB)were measured by ELISA. The migrated B cells to osteoblasts (OBs) was measured by transwell migration assay. The relative spatial position of B cells, OBs and CXCL12 was presented by Immunofluorescence assay. Results: Firstly, we found that the percentage of CXCR4+ B cells was lower in PB and higher in the BM from both MRL/lpr mice and patientswith Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Secondly, OBs from MRL/lpr mice produced more CXCL12 than that from C57BL/6 mice. Besides, MRL/lpr-derived OBs demonstrated more potent chemotactic ability toward B-lymphocytes than control OBs by vitro an vivo. Additionally, more B-lymphocytes were found to co-localize with OBs within the periosteal zone of bone in MRL/lpr mice. Lastly, the percentages of CXCR4+B cells were found to be negatively correlated with serum Immunoglobulin (Ig) G concentration, moreover, BM CXCL12 levels were found to be positively correlated with SLE disease activity index Score and negatively correlated with serum Complement3 (C3) concentration. Conclusions: our results indicated that there is a shifted distribution of B-lymphocytes between BM and peripheral compartments in both SLE patients and MRL/lpr mice. Besides, the up-regulated levels of CXCL12 in OBs was indicated to contribute to the enhanced chemotactic migration and anchorage of B-lymphocytes to OBs.

Ear Plaster Therapy as a Safe and Effective Treatment for Gestational Vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) are common symptoms that often complicate early pregnancy for many women. While clinical treatments such as fasting, fluid infusion, and nutritional support are conventionally applied to manage NVP, their effectiveness varies. However, traditional ear plaster therapy offers a promising alternative that effectively relieves symptoms and poses no known risk to the development of embryos or fetuses. This therapy is known for its ease of application, cost-effectiveness, and favorable outcomes. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of combining ear plaster therapy with conventional treatments in alleviating symptoms of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women, surpassing the results achieved with conventional treatment alone. The protocol presented herein describes a method to relieve NVP using round, smooth, and hard cowherb seeds applied to specific ear points. These seeds are gently rubbed onto the surface of the ear, utilizing the principles of acupressure. By stimulating the designated ear points, this procedure aims to regulate the body's energy flow and restore balance, thereby reducing the severity and frequency of NVP. The application of cowherb seeds on specific ear points is a straightforward technique that healthcare professionals can easily implement or self-administered by pregnant women under appropriate guidance. Overall, ear plaster therapy presents a safe, effective, and economical approach for managing gestational vomiting, offering women a potential solution to alleviate their discomfort during pregnancy.

Tislelizumab Versus Docetaxel in Patients With Previously Treated Advanced NSCLC (RATIONALE-303): A Phase 3, Open-Label, Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: The phase 3 RATIONALE-303 trial (NCT03358875) investigated the efficacy and safety of tislelizumab versus docetaxel in pretreated patients with advanced NSCLC. Here, we report the efficacy and safety results and describe the exploratory biomarker analyses. METHODS: A total of 805 patients aged more than or equal to 18 years with locally advanced or metastatic squamous or nonsquamous NSCLC were randomized 2:1 to intravenous tislelizumab 200 mg or docetaxel 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. Co-primary end points were overall survival (OS) in the intent-to-treat (ITT) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) tumor cell expression greater than or equal to 25% populations. The exploratory biomarker analyses included PD-L1 expression, tumor mutation burden, and gene expression profile. RESULTS: At the prespecified interim analysis (August 10, 2020), the co-primary end point of OS in the ITT population was met, with a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in OS with tislelizumab versus docetaxel (median 17.2 versus 11.9 mo, respectively; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.64, p < 0.0001). At the final analysis (July 15, 2021), the other co-primary end point of OS in the PD-L1 tumor cell greater than or equal to 25% population was further met (median 19.3 versus 11.5 mo, respectively; HR = 0.53, p < 0.0001), and OS continued to improve in the ITT population (median 16.9 versus 11.9 mo, respectively, HR = 0.66). Exploratory biomarker analyses revealed the potential association of NOTCH1-4 mutations with improved tislelizumab efficacy for both OS and progression-free survival, whereas tissue tumor mutation burden correlated with progression-free survival benefit, but not OS benefit. No new safety signals were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Tislelizumab was found to have a significantly improved and long-term clinical benefit in OS versus docetaxel in pretreated patients with advanced NSCLC, regardless of PD-L1 expression.

Impacts of evaporation and inundation on near-surface salinity at a coastal wetland park.

Salinization is one of the main causes of conversion between different ecosystems and landuse functions in coastal wetlands. In this paper, we studied the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil moisture and salinity in a reclaimed national wetland park in Guangdong Province, China. We found that diel evaporation affected soil water up to 40 cm deep. Extreme rainfall only increased topsoil moisture with limited leaching effects on soil salinity. Salt accumulation occurred between 40 and 70 cm depth in rainy season, lasting until the end of monitoring period. Whereas the topsoil was salinized between land-surface to 30 cm deep in dry season, which was recovered after rainfall. This result suggested that the force balance between capillarity and gravity created a relative stable saline layer which was not flushed out during inundation. Therefore, considering these site-specific features could lead to the improved understanding of the migration of salinity in the soil profiles.

Associations between interleukin-1-B gene -511G/A polymorphism and sepsis risk: A meta-analysis.

The role of the cytokine (IL) gene has been indicated in the progression of sepsis. Nevertheless, the outcomes remain controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the relationship of IL-1B gene -511G/A polymorphism and the risk of sepsis. To perform a retrospective database analysis, the CNKI PubMed,EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched for related articles. Then, the combined odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a fixed- or a random-effects model. A total of six related articles were discovered. The result of the meta-analysis showed that IL-1B -511G/A polymorphism was not significantly correlated with sepsis risk in the total population, but in the subgroup analysis we found that IL-1B -511G/A polymorphism was associated with sepsis risk in Caucasian populations (A vs. G: OR = 1.22, 95 %CI = 1.01-1.48; AA vs. GG: OR = 2.14, 95 %CI = 1.33-3.43; Recessive model: OR = 2.59, 95 %CI = 1.68-4.01). This meta-analysis showed that the IL-1B -511A allele might be a low-penetrant risk factor for sepsis in Caucasians.

Significant Mobility of Novel Heteroaggregates of Montmorillonite Microparticles with Nanoscale Zerovalent Irons in Saturated Porous Media.

This study conducted laboratory column experiments to systematically examine the transport of novel heteroaggregates of montmorillonite (Mt) microparticles with nanoscale zerovalent irons (nZVIs) in saturated sand at solution ionic strengths (ISs) ranging from 0.001 to 0.2 M. Spherical nZVIs were synthesized using the liquid phase reduction method and were attached on the plate-shaped Mt surfaces in monolayer. While complete deposition occurred for nZVIs in sand, significant transport was observed for Mt-nZVI heteroaggregates at IS ≤ 0.01 M despite the transport decrease with an increasing loading concentration of nZVIs on Mt. The increased mobility of Mt-nZVI heteroaggregates was because the attractions between nZVIs and sand collectors were reduced by the electrostatic repulsions between the Mt and the collector surfaces, which led to a decreased deposition in the sand columns. Complete deposition occurred for the Mt-nZVI heteroaggregates at IS ≥ 0.1 M due to a favorable deposition at Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) primary energy minima. Interestingly, a large fraction of the deposited heteroaggregates was released by reducing IS because of a monotonic decrease of interaction energy with separation distance for the heteroaggregates at low ISs (resulting in repulsive forces), in contrast to the irreversible deposition of nZVIs. Therefore, the fabricated heteroaggregates could also have high mobility in subsurfaces with saline pore water through continuous capture and release using multiple injections of water with low ISs. Our study was the first to examine the transport of heteroaggregates of a plate-like particle with spherical nanoparticles in porous media; the results have important implications in the use of nanoscale zerovalent iron for in situ soil and groundwater remediation.

Decreased Expression of Programmed Death Ligand-L1 by Seven in Absentia Homolog 2 in Cholangiocarcinoma Enhances T-Cell-Mediated Antitumor Activity.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has been reported as an important mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a primary immune inhibitory molecule expressed on tumor cells that promotes immune evasion. In addition, seven in absentia homolog 2 (Siah2), a RING E3 ubiquitin ligase, has been involved in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, the role of m6A-METTL14-Siah2-PD-L1 axis in immunotherapy remains to be elucidated. In this study, we showed that METTL14, a component of the m6A methyltransferase complex, induced Siah2 expression in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). METTL14 was shown to enrich m6A modifications in the 3'UTR region of the Siah2 mRNA, thereby promoting its degradation in an YTHDF2-dependent manner. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that Siah2 interacted with PD-L1 by promoting its K63-linked ubiquitination. We also observed that in vitro and in vivo Siah2 knockdown inhibited T cells expansion and cytotoxicity by sustaining tumor cell PD-L1 expression. The METTL14-Siah2-PD-L1-regulating axis was further confirmed in human CCA specimens. Analysis of specimens from patients receiving anti-PD1 immunotherapy suggested that tumors with low Siah2 levels were more sensitive to anti-PD1 immunotherapy. Taken together, our results evidenced a new regulatory mechanism of Siah2 by METTL14-induced mRNA epigenetic modification and the potential role of Siah2 in cancer immunotherapy.

Identification of bZIP transcription factors and their responses to brown spot in pear.

Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) is a conserved transcription factor (TF) widely present in eukaryotes, and it plays an important role in regulating plant growth and stress responses. To better understand the white pear bZIP gene family, comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the pear genome was performed. A total of 84 PbbZIP genes were identified, which were divided into 13 subfamilies by phylogenetic analysis. The 84 PbbZIP genes were all located in the nucleus, and 77 of those genes were unevenly distributed across the 17 chromosomes of white pear. The other 7 PbbZIP genes were located on the scaffold. Subsequent expression profile analysis showed that PbbZIP genes in exocarp were significantly upregulated or downregulated in 'Huangguan' pear with brown spot (BS) compared with healthy pear and in response to hormonal treatment with gibberellin A3 (GA3). These results provide helpful insights into the characteristics of PbbZIP genes and their responses to BS in 'Huangguan' pear.

Corrigendum: Decreased expression of programmed death ligand-L1 by seven in absentia homolog 2 in cholangiocarcinoma enhances T-cell-mediated antitumor activity.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.845193.].

Association among B lymphocyte subset and rheumatoid arthritis in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Autoantibody production are the main risk factors for inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to investigate differences in B lymphocyte subsets (native B, memory B, and plasmablasts) and several cytokines in RA patients and their correlation with the clinical parameters. METHODS: In total, 81 RA patients (active RA and inactive RA) and 40 healthy subjects were recruited between September 2018 and October 2020. The distribution of B lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood samples was measured via flow cytometry and the plasma cytokines were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the value of each index for RA diagnosis and activity prediction. RESULTS: The percentages of native B and memory B cells in RA patients did not differ significantly from the percentages of those in healthy controls. However, the percentage of plasmablasts in active RA patients was significantly higher compared with healthy subjects and inactive RA patients. The percentage of plasmablasts was significantly related to C reaction protein. ROC curve analysis showed that when the best cutoff value of plasmablasts/B cell was 1.08%, the area under the curve (AUC) for diagnosing RA was 0.831 (95% CI 0.748 ~ 0.915), the specificity was 91.4%, and the sensitivity was 67.5%. The AUC predicted by the combination of plasmablast and anti-CCP for active RA patients was 0.760, which was higher than that of plasmablast and anti-CCP. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the percentage of plasmablast varies among RA patients in different stages. The percentage of plasmablasts can be used as an early diagnosis marker for RA.

Observed equilibrium partition and second-order kinetic interaction of quantum dot nanoparticles in saturated porous media.

This study integrated batch experiments and theoretical calculations to understand the equilibrium adsorption and kinetic interaction of CdSeS/ZnS alloyed quantum dots nanoparticles (QDNPs) in sand porous media under different ionic strengths (ISs; 0.001-0.2 M NaCl). Our experimental results showed that equilibrium was reached for QDNP concentration between solid phase and bulk solution due to reversible adsorption of the QDNPs on sand surfaces. Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) interaction energy calculations showed that the repulsive energy barriers were low and primary energy wells were shallow (i.e., comparable to the average kinetic energy of a colloid) at all tested solution ISs. Hence, the QDNPs could mobilize into and simultaneously escape from the primary wells by Brownian diffusion, resulting in the reversible adsorption. Additional batch experiments confirmed that a fraction of adsorbed QDNPs was released even without any perturbation of system conditions. The release was more evident at a lower IS because the primary energy wells spanned more narrowly at low ISs and thus the nanoparticles have a higher possibility to escape out. The batch kinetic experiments showed that the adsorption of QDNPs followed first- and second-order kinetic interactions at low and high ISs, respectively. These results indicate that the well-known colloid filtration theory that assumes irreversible first-order kinetics for colloid deposition is not suitable for describing the QDNP adsorption. The findings in our work can aid better description and prediction of fate and transport of QDNPs in subsurface environments.

A nucleoside diphosphate kinase gene OsNDPK4 is involved in root development and defense responses in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

MAIN CONCLUSION: Dysfunctional mutation of OsNDPK4 resulted in severe defects in root development of rice. However, the resistance of Osndpk4 against bacterial blight was significantly enhanced. Nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPKs) are an evolutionarily conserved family of important enzymes balancing the energy currency nucleoside triphosphates by catalyzing the transfer of their phosphate groups. The aim of this study was to elucidate the function of OsNDPK4 in rice. A dysfunctional rice mutant was employed to characterize the function of OsNDPK4. Its expression and subcellular localization were examined. The transcriptomic change in roots of Osndpk4 was analyzed by RNA-seq. The rice mutant Osndpk4 showed severe defects in root development from the early seedling stage. Further analysis revealed that meristematic activity and cell elongation were significantly inhibited in primary roots of Osndpk4, together with reduced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Map-based cloning identified that the mutation occurred in the OsNDPK4 gene. OsNDPK4 was found to be expressed in a variety of tissues throughout the plant and OsNDPK4 was located in the cytosol. Osndpk4 showed enhanced resistance to the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) and up-regulation of pathogenesis-related marker genes. In addition, transcriptomic analysis showed that OsNDPK4 was significantly associated with a number of biological processes, including translation, protein modification, metabolism, biotic stress response, etc. Detailed analysis revealed that the dysfunction of OsNDPK4 might reorchestrate energy homeostasis and hormone metabolism and signalling, resulting in repression of translation, DNA replication and cell cycle progression, and priming of biotic stress defense. Our results demonstrate that OsNDPK4 plays important roles in energy homeostasis, development process, and defense responses in rice.

Interleukin-1 Beta +3594 C/T Gene Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Sepsis: A Meta-Analysis.

Emerging evidence has indicated that the interleukin-1B (IL-1B) +3954 C > T polymorphism may affect individual susceptibility to sepsis. However, the results of published studies are inconclusive. The aim of this meta-analysis was to elucidate the association of this polymorphism with sepsis risk. Eligible studies were identified by a search of electronic databases. Overall and subgroup analyses were performed. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied to assess the associations between the IL-1B +3954 C > T polymorphism and sepsis risk. Six case-control studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled analysis indicated that the IL-1B +3954 C > T polymorphism significantly decreased the risk of sepsis under the homozygote model (TT vs. CC: OR = 0.57, 95% CI:0.37-0.88). In stratified analysis, we found that the protective effect of the IL-1B +3954 C > T polymorphism on sepsis risk remained significant in the subgroup of Caucasians and for high-quality studies. In conclusion, the IL-1B +3954 C > T polymorphism is associated with decreased sepsis risk in Caucasians. Further well-designed studies with large sample sizes are required to confirm this conclusion.

A Pelota-like gene regulates root development and defence responses in rice.

Background and Aims: Pelota (Pelo) are evolutionarily conserved genes reported to be involved in ribosome rescue, cell cycle control and meiotic cell division. However, there is little known about their function in plants. The aim of this study was to elucidate the function of an ethylmethane sulphonate (EMS)-derived mutation of a Pelo-like gene in rice (named Ospelo). Methods: A dysfunctional mutant was used to characterize the function of OsPelo. Analyses of its expression and sub-cellular localization were performed. The whole-genome transcriptomic change in leaves of Ospelo was also investigated by RNA sequencing. Key Results: The Ospelo mutant showed defects in root system development and spotted leaves at early seedling stages. Map-based cloning revealed that the mutation occurred in the putative Pelo gene. OsPelo was found to be expressed in various tissues throughout the plant, and the protein was located in mitochondria. Defence responses were induced in the Ospelo mutant, as shown by enhanced resistance to the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, coupled with upregulation of three pathogenesis-related marker genes. In addition, whole-genome transcriptome analysis showed that OsPelo was significantly associated with a number of biological processes, including translation, metabolism and biotic stress response. Detailed analysis showed that activation of a number of innate immunity-related genes might be responsible for the enhanced disease resistance in the Ospelo mutant. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that OsPelo positively regulates root development while its loss of function enhances pathogen resistance by pre-activation of defence responses in rice.

Monocular Visual-Inertial SLAM:Continuous Preintegration and Reliable Initialization.

In this paper, we propose a new visual-inertial Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithm. With the tightly coupled sensor fusion of a global shutter monocular camera and a low-cost Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), this algorithm is able to achieve robust and real-time estimates of the sensor poses in unknown environment. To address the real-time visual-inertial fusion problem, we present a parallel framework with a novel IMU initialization method. Our algorithm also benefits from the novel IMU factor, the continuous preintegration method, the vision factor of directional error, the separability trick and the robust initialization criterion which can efficiently output reliable estimates in real-time on modern Central Processing Unit (CPU). Tremendous experiments also validate the proposed algorithm and prove it is comparable to the state-of-art method.

Effectiveness of enteral feeding protocol on clinical outcomes in critically ill patients: A before and after study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Enteral nutrition (EN) feeding protocol was proposed to have positive impact on critically ill patients. However, current studies showed conflicting results. The present study aimed to investigate whether enteral feeding protocol was able to improve clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. METHODS: A before (stage 1) and after (stage 2) interventional study was performed in 10 tertiary care hospitals. All patients expected to stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) for over three days were potentially eligible. Clinical outcomes such as 28-day mortality, ICU length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), and nosocomial infection were compared between the two stages. MAIN RESULTS: A total of 410 patients were enrolled during the study period, including 236 in stage 1 and 174 in stage 2. EN feeding protocol was able to increase the proportion of EN in day 2 (41.8±22.3 vs. 50.0±28.3%; p = 0.006) and day 6 (70.3±25.2 vs. 77.6±25.8%; p = 0.006). EN percentages tended to be higher in stage 1 than that in stage 2 on other days, but statistical significance was not reached. There was no difference in 28-day mortality between stage 1 and 2 (0.14 vs. 0.14; p = 0.984). Implementation of EN feeding protocol marginally reduced ICU length of stay (19.44±18.48 vs. 16.29±16.19 days; p = 0.077). There was no difference in the duration of MV between stage a and stage 2 (14.24±14.49 vs. 14.51±17.55 days; p = 0.877). CONCLUSIONS: The study found that the EN feeding protocol was able to increase the proportion of EN feeding, but failed to reduce 28-day mortality, incidence of nosocomial infection or duration of MV.

Effect of rhubarb on extravascular lung water in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE:: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rhubarb on extravascular lung water (EVLW) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHOD:: A total of 80 patients with ARDS were randomly divided into a treatment group (40 cases) and control group (40 cases). Patients in the treatment group received rhubarb (30.0 g/d) and patients in the control group received conventional therapy for seven consecutive days. Extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) and pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) were determined using pulse contour cardiac output (PiCCO) technology, and the oxygenation index was measured by blood gas analysis at baseline and on days 3, 5 and 7 after treatment. RESULTS:: The oxygenation index was higher and the levels of EVLWI and PVPI were lower after treatment in the two groups; however, these indexes showed significant differences on the 5th and 7th days after rhubarb treatment compared with the results in the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION:: Rhubarb can decrease EVLWI and PVPI, and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS.

Effect of rhubarb on extravascular lung water in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Summary Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rhubarb on extravascular lung water (EVLW) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Method: A total of 80 patients with ARDS were randomly divided into a treatment group (40 cases) and control group (40 cases). Patients in the treatment group received rhubarb (30.0 g/d) and patients in the control group received conventional therapy for seven consecutive days. Extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) and pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) were determined using pulse contour cardiac output (PiCCO) technology, and the oxygenation index was measured by blood gas analysis at baseline and on days 3, 5 and 7 after treatment. Results: The oxygenation index was higher and the levels of EVLWI and PVPI were lower after treatment in the two groups; however, these indexes showed significant differences on the 5th and 7th days after rhubarb treatment compared with the results in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Rhubarb can decrease EVLWI and PVPI, and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS.

Isolation, Characterization and Transcriptome Analysis of a Cytokinin Receptor Mutant Osckt1 in Rice.

Cytokinins play important roles in regulating plant development, including shoot and root meristems, leaf longevity, and grain yield. However, the in planta functions of rice cytokinin receptors have not been genetically characterized yet. Here we isolated a rice mutant, Osckt1, with enhanced tolerance to cytokinin treatment. Further analysis showed that Osckt1 was insensitive to aromatic cytokinins but responded normally to isoprenoid and phenylurea-type cytokinins. Map-based cloning revealed that the mutation occurred in a putative cytokinin receptor gene, histidine kinase 6 (OsHK6). OsCKT1 was found to be expressed in various tissues throughout the plant and the protein was located in the endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, whole-genome gene expression profiling analysis showed that OsCKT1 was involved in cytokinin regulation of a number of biological processes, including secondary metabolism, sucrose and starch metabolism, chlorophyll synthesis, and photosynthesis. Our results demonstrate that OsCKT1 plays important roles in cytokinin perception and control of root development in rice.