[Identification of the feature of immune cells infiltration in inherited renal carcinoma with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome]

Objective: To investigate the feature of immune cells infiltration in inherited renal carcinoma with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome and their relationship with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. Methods: The samples were collected from patients with VHL syndrome renal carcinoma who were diagnosed and treated surgically at the Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital from 2010 to 2019. RNA-Seq was performed on 6 pairs of VHL syndrome renal carcinoma and adjacent normal tissues. To identify the specific infiltrated immune cells, RNA-Seq data was converted into the infiltration data of 14 types of immune cells using the TIP tool. Immunohistochemical staining was used to verify the expression of the markers of these specific infiltrated immune cells in the paraffin sections of 54 paired VHL syndrome renal carcinoma and adjacent normal tissues, and to analyze their relationship with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. Results: Compared with adjacent normal tissues, CD4 Naive infiltration level was significantly down-regulated (0.289±0.009 vs 0.200±0.012,P<0.001) and CD4 Memory infiltration level was significantly up-regulated (0.123±0.014 vs 0.222±0.016,P<0.001) in VHL syndrome renal carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that CD45RA (a CD4 Naive cell marker) expression was significantly reduced (50.9±1.9 vs 15.6±0.9,P<0.001) and CD45RO (a CD4 Memory cell marker) expression was significantly increased (22.2±1.1 vs 80.8±4.3,P<0.001) in VHL syndrome renal carcinoma. Besides, lower CD45RA expression and higher CD45RO expression were associated with higher histological grade, advanced tumor stage and shorter disease-free survival (all P<0.01). In addition, CD45RA expression was positively correlated with VHL expression (r=0.693 3, P<0.000 1) and CD45RO expression was negatively correlated with VHL expression (r=-0.609 0, P<0.000 1). Conclusions: This study found that CD4 Naive and CD4 Memory cells may be differentially infiltrated immune cells in VHL syndrome renal carcinoma, and their infiltration levels were associated with the expression of VHL and the prognosis of patients.

[Clinicopathological and prognostic characteristics of clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma]

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological, clinicopathological and prognostic characteristics of clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma (CCPRCC) based on Chinese patient population. Method: Patients with renal cell carcinoma diagnosed at Peking University First Hospital from June 2016 to June 2020 were included in this study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All cases were grouped according to CCPRCC, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), and papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC), and the general clinical, postoperative pathological and follow-up data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. Result: A total of 18 CCPRCC patients were enrolled in this study, accounting for 0.44% (18/4 110) of the postoperative pathologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma cases in our hospital during this time period. The age range of the included patients was 28-86 years old, with a median age of 49.5 years old. There were 11/18 males and 7/18 females. All CCPRCC patients had no family history of renal malignant tumors. Among them, only one patient with CCPRCC had related clinical symptoms, that was intermittent waist and abdomen pain, while the other 17 cases were found by physical examination without any related symptoms. Compared with ccRCC and pRCC, there was no significant difference in their end stage renal disease history(χ²_ccRCC=0.291, χ²_pRCC=1.161,all P>0.05). The maximum diameter of CCPRCC tumor was smaller than pRCC (χ²=-2.280,P =0.027) but not significantly different from ccRCC (χ²=-0.579,P =0.565). The majority of patients with CCPRCC were in pT1, their pathological stage was earlier than the other two types, and their overall survival was better than ccRCC and pRCC (P<0.05). Conclusion: CCPRCC is a type of renal cell carcinoma with unique epidemiology, clinicopathology and prognostic characteristics. Patients with this subtype have an earlier clinical stage and a better prognosis than ccRCC and pRCC.

Fungi of quarantine concern for China I: Dothideomycetes

The current list of Chinese quarantine pests includes 130 fungal species. However, recent changes in the taxonomy of fungi following the one fungus = one name initiative and the implementation of DNA phylogeny in taxonomic revisions, resulted in many changes of these species names, necessitating an update of the current list. In addition, many quarantine fungi lack modern morphological descriptions and authentic DNA sequences, posing significant challenges for the development of diagnostic protocols. The aim of the present study was to review the taxonomy and names of the 33 Chinese quarantine fungi in Dothideomycetes, and provide reliable DNA barcodes to facilitate rapid identification. Of these, 23 names were updated according to the single name nomenclature system, including one new combination, namely Cophinforma tumefaciens comb. nov. (syn. Sphaeropsis tumefaciens). On the basis of phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons, a new genus Xenosphaeropsis is introduced to accommodate the monotypic species Xenosphaeropsis pyriputrescens comb. nov. (syn. Sphaeropsis pyriputrescens), the causal agent of a post-harvest disease of pears. Furthermore, four lectotypes (Ascochyta petroselini, Mycosphaerella ligulicola, Physalospora laricina, Sphaeria lingam), three epitypes (Ascochyta petroselini, Phoma lycopersici, Sphaeria lingam), and two neotypes (Ascochyta pinodella, Deuterophoma tracheiphila) are designated to stabilise the use of these names. A further four reference strains are introduced for Cophinforma tumefaciens, Helminthosporium solani, Mycocentrospora acerina, and Septoria linicola. In addition, to assist future studies on these important pathogens, we sequenced and assembled whole genomes for 17 species, including Alternaria triticina, Boeremia foveata, B. lycopersici, Cladosporium cucumerinum, Didymella glomerata, Didymella pinodella, Diplodia mutila, Helminthosporium solani, Mycocentrospora acerina, Neofusicoccum laricinum, Parastagonospora pseudonodorum, Plenodomus libanotidis, Plenodomus lingam, Plenodomus tracheiphilus, Septoria petroselini, Stagonosporopsis chrysanthemi, and Xenosphaeropsis pyriputrescens. Citation: Zhao P, Crous PW, Hou LW, et al. 2021. Fungi of quarantine concern for China I: Dothideomycetes. Persoonia 47: 45-105. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2021.47.02.

Renal Functional and Perioperative Outcomes of Retroperitoneal Robot-Assisted Versus Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy with Segmental Renal Artery Clamping

Background: Retroperitoneal approach and segmental renal artery clamping in partial nephrectomy are techniques that facilitate postoperative recovery and renal function preservation. This study aimed to compare the renal function preservation and perioperative outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) with these techniques. Materials and Methods: Clinical parameters of 43 patients who had undergone retroperitoneal RAPN from March 2017 to December 2019 were retrospectively collected and compared with those of 52 patients who had undergone retroperitoneal LPN at the same period in our institution. Differences in operating time, warm ischemia time, estimated blood loss, complications, postoperative hospital stay, as well as renal function loss were compared between the two groups. Results: Background characteristics between RAPN and LPN groups such as age, gender, BMI, and tumor characteristics were comparable. All RAPNs and LPNs were successfully completed without conversion to open surgery or nephrectomy. No significant difference in operating time, estimated blood loss, complications, and postoperative hospital stay was observed between RAPN and LPN groups. The warm ischemia time in RAPN group was slightly shorter than that of LPN groups (P = .054). Compared with the LPN group, the RAPN group was significantly associated with less glomerular filtration rate reduction and renal volume loss rate (P = .042 and P = .013, respectively). Conclusions: The perioperative outcomes were comparable between the two groups. However, compared with LPN, RAPN had superiority in preserving renal function in our series.

Propofol alleviates intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats through p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the influences of propofol on intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats through the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The models of intestinal I/R injury were first successfully established. All rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely, S group, I/R group, P group and P + S group. Pathological-morphological changes, injury score and wet-to-dry weight ratio of intestinal tissues as well as oxidative stress indexes in each group of rats were detected. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to measure the levels of inflammatory factors such as creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in each group of rats. Furthermore, Western blotting (WB) assay was applied to determine the protein expression levels of p38 MAPK and NF-κB in different groups.

RESULTS

Intestinal tissue injury was the severest in I/R group, with the infiltration of massive inflammatory cells and oozing of blood (Figure 1A, I/R). Compared with those in I/R group, the infiltration of inflammatory cells and damage to intestinal villi were notably relieved in P group and P + S group, revealing that the intestinal mucosal injury was remarkably repaired in P group and P + S group (Figure 1A, P). Moreover, the intestinal tissue injury score was evidently higher in I/R group, P group and P + S group than that in S group (p<0.05). However, it was markedly lower in P group and P + S group than that in I/R group (p<0.05). I/R group, P group and P + S group exhibited significantly increased wet-to-dry weight ratio of intestinal tissues in comparison with S group (p<0.05). However, P group and P + S group exhibited distinctly lower wet-to-dry weight ratio of intestinal tissues than I/R group (p<0.05). The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced prominently, while that of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was elevated significantly in P group and P + S group in contrast with those in I/R group (p<0.05). On the contrary, P + S group displayed remarkably lower MDA content and higher SOD content than P group (p<0.05). The levels of CK-MB, TNF-α and IL-6 in the blood rose markedly in I/R group compared with those in S group (p<0.05). However, they declined evidently in P group and P + S group in contrast with those in I/R group (p<0.05). Besides, the protein expression level of phosphorylated p38 MAPK was significantly higher in I/R group, P group and P + S group than that in S group (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the protein expression of total p38 MAPK among the four groups (p>0.05). However, the protein expression level of phosphorylated p38 MAPK was distinctly down-regulated in P group and P + S group in comparison with that in I/R group (p<0.05). Finally, I/R group, P group and P + S group had a prominently higher protein expression level of NF-κB than S group (p<0.05). However, P group and P + S group exerted a significantly lower protein expression level of NF-κB than I/R group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Propofol decreases the release of inflammatory factors and alleviates intestinal edema by inhibiting the p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby mitigating and treating the intestinal I/R injury in rats.

The Physicochemical Characteristic of Activated Carbon Based on Sludge and Preparation Method

To understand the features and best preparation of sludge activated carbon (SAC), and the pore structure, component, adsorption characteristics, and the yield rate of SAC, many tests have been carried out. The study illustrated that the pore structure was mostly mesopore and amorphous pore such as the ink bottle hole. In terms of different preparations to obtain SAC, the yield of SAC in sample No.1 achieved 88.09%. Using the preparation of ZnCl2 as an activator, the iodine adsorption value was significantly higher than other preparations. However, the content of quartz in sample No.1 achieved a maximum of 52.51%. Charcoal was detected in all samples except sample nos 9-12. The adsorption capacity of Cu(II) and Cd(II) reached a maximum of 600.02 mg.kg-1 and 383.2 mg.kg-1. The results showed an optimum preparation condition, which was by using the ZnCl2 as an activator, 2:1 as the impregnated ratio, 40% concentration in activator and at 400ºC reaction temperature could create rich pore structure and charcoal inside.

Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Renal Artery Aneurysm Repair: A Rare Case Report and Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

The treatment of renal artery aneurysms (RAAs) includes surgical repair and endovascular techniques. Surgical repair is divided into open surgery repair and laparoscopic surgery repair. Laparoscopic RAA has fewer postoperative complications than open surgery. Some experiences with robotic RAA repair via transperitoneal access have been recently reported. However, no report could be found on the treatment of retroperitoneal RAA with the da Vinci robot-assisted surgery thus far.

CASE PRESENTATION

Here, the surgical management of an 8.6-mm right-sided RAA via robot-assisted laparoscopic retroperitoneal approach in a 58-year-old man who presented with flank discomfort is reported. The aneurysm was resected, and the renal artery was reconstructed. The total operative time was 2 h with a warm ischemia time of 25 min, and the estimated surgical blood loss was 50 mL. The patient resumed a regular diet on postoperative day 2, and the hospital stay lasted 5 days. No intraoperative nor postoperative morbidity was reported. Follow-up imaging and functional analysis demonstrated resolution of the aneurysm and preservation of renal function after 2.5 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Robot-assisted laparoscopic retroperitoneal RAA repair is flexible and safe. The greatest advantage of retroperitoneal surgery is direct access to the renal artery. Furthermore, it could reduce the injury in the abdominal organs and avoid abdominal adhesion. This approach may also allow for improved postoperative recovery, reduce the morbidity correlated with transperitoneal RAA, and thus may be considered as an alternative to transperitoneal surgery for RAAs in the future.

Fungi of quarantine concern for China I: Dothideomycetes

The current list of Chinese quarantine pests includes 130 fungal species. However, recent changes in the taxonomy of fungi following the one fungus = one name initiative and the implementation of DNA phylogeny in taxonomic revisions, resulted in many changes of these species names, necessitating an update of the current list. In addition, many quarantine fungi lack modern morphological descriptions and authentic DNA sequences, posing significant challenges for the development of diagnostic protocols. The aim of the present study was to review the taxonomy and names of the 33 Chinese quarantine fungi in Dothideomycetes, and provide reliable DNA barcodes to facilitate rapid identification. Of these, 23 names were updated according to the single name nomenclature system, including one new combination, namely Cophinforma tumefaciens comb. nov. (syn. Sphaeropsis tumefaciens). On the basis of phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons, a new genus Xenosphaeropsis is introduced to accommodate the monotypic species Xenosphaeropsis pyriputrescens comb. nov. (syn. Sphaeropsis pyriputrescens), the causal agent of a post-harvest disease of pears. Furthermore, four lectotypes (Ascochyta petroselini, Mycosphaerella ligulicola, Physalospora laricina, Sphaeria lingam), three epitypes (Ascochyta petroselini, Phoma lycopersici, Sphaeria lingam), and two neotypes (Ascochyta pinodella, Deuterophoma tracheiphila) are designated to stabilise the use of these names. A further four reference strains are introduced for Cophinforma tumefaciens, Helminthosporium solani, Mycocentrospora acerina, and Septoria linicola. In addition, to assist future studies on these important pathogens, we sequenced and assembled whole genomes for 17 species, including Alternaria triticina, Boeremia foveata, B. lycopersici, Cladosporium cucumerinum, Didymella glomerata, Didymella pinodella, Diplodia mutila, Helminthosporium solani, Mycocentrospora acerina, Neofusicoccum laricinum, Parastagonospora pseudonodorum, Plenodomus libanotidis, Plenodomus lingam, Plenodomus tracheiphilus, Septoria petroselini, Stagonosporopsis chrysanthemi, and Xenosphaeropsis pyriputrescens. Citation: Zhao P, Crous PW, Hou LW, et al. 2021. Fungi of quarantine concern for China I: Dothideomycetes. Persoonia 47: 45-105. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2021.47.02.

Prediction of 90-day mortality after surgery for colorectal cancer using standardized nationwide quality-assurance data

Background

Personalized risk assessment provides opportunities for tailoring treatment, optimizing healthcare resources and improving outcome. The aim of this study was to develop a 90-day mortality-risk prediction model for identification of high- and low-risk patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.

Methods

This was a nationwide cohort study using records from the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group database that included all patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2015. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression prediction model was developed using 121 pre- and intraoperative variables and internally validated in a hold-out test data set. The accuracy of the model was assessed in terms of discrimination and calibration.

Results

In total, 49 607 patients were registered in the database. After exclusion of 16 680 individuals, 32 927 patients were included in the analysis. Overall, 1754 (5.3 per cent) deaths were recorded. Targeting high-risk individuals, the model identified 5.5 per cent of all patients facing a risk of 90-day mortality exceeding 35 per cent, corresponding to a 6.7 times greater risk than the average population. Targeting low-risk individuals, the model identified 20.9 per cent of patients facing a risk less than 0.3 per cent, corresponding to a 17.7 times lower risk compared with the average population. The model exhibited discriminatory power with an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 85.3 per cent (95 per cent c.i. 83.6 to 87.0) and excellent calibration with a Brier score of 0.04 and 32 per cent average precision.

Conclusion

Pre- and intraoperative data, as captured in national health registries, can be used to predict 90-day mortality accurately after colorectal cancer surgery.

Fusarium: more than a node or a foot-shaped basal cell

Recent publications have argued that there are potentially serious consequences for researchers in recognising distinct genera in the terminal fusarioid clade of the family Nectriaceae. Thus, an alternate hypothesis, namely a very broad concept of the genus Fusarium was proposed. In doing so, however, a significant body of data that supports distinct genera in Nectriaceae based on morphology, biology, and phylogeny is disregarded. A DNA phylogeny based on 19 orthologous protein-coding genes was presented to support a very broad concept of Fusarium at the F1 node in Nectriaceae. Here, we demonstrate that re-analyses of this dataset show that all 19 genes support the F3 node that represents Fusarium sensu stricto as defined by F. sambucinum (sexual morph synonym Gibberella pulicaris). The backbone of the phylogeny is resolved by the concatenated alignment, but only six of the 19 genes fully support the F1 node, representing the broad circumscription of Fusarium. Furthermore, a re-analysis of the concatenated dataset revealed alternate topologies in different phylogenetic algorithms, highlighting the deep divergence and unresolved placement of various Nectriaceae lineages proposed as members of Fusarium. Species of Fusarium s. str. are characterised by Gibberella sexual morphs, asexual morphs with thin- or thick-walled macroconidia that have variously shaped apical and basal cells, and trichothecene mycotoxin production, which separates them from other fusarioid genera. Here we show that the Wollenweber concept of Fusarium presently accounts for 20 segregate genera with clear-cut synapomorphic traits, and that fusarioid macroconidia represent a character that has been gained or lost multiple times throughout Nectriaceae. Thus, the very broad circumscription of Fusarium is blurry and without apparent synapomorphies, and does not include all genera with fusarium-like macroconidia, which are spread throughout Nectriaceae (e.g., Cosmosporella, Macroconia, Microcera). In this study four new genera are introduced, along with 18 new species and 16 new combinations. These names convey information about relationships, morphology, and ecological preference that would otherwise be lost in a broader definition of Fusarium. To assist users to correctly identify fusarioid genera and species, we introduce a new online identification database, Fusarioid-ID, accessible at www.fusarium.org. The database comprises partial sequences from multiple genes commonly used to identify fusarioid taxa (act1, CaM, his3, rpb1, rpb2, tef1, tub2, ITS, and LSU). In this paper, we also present a nomenclator of names that have been introduced in Fusarium up to January 2021 as well as their current status, types, and diagnostic DNA barcode data. In this study, researchers from 46 countries, representing taxonomists, plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, and students, strongly support the application and use of a more precisely delimited Fusarium (= Gibberella) concept to accommodate taxa from the robust monophyletic node F3 on the basis of a well-defined and unique combination of morphological and biochemical features. This F3 node includes, among others, species of the F. fujikuroi, F. incarnatum-equiseti, F. oxysporum, and F. sambucinum species complexes, but not species of Bisifusarium [F. dimerum species complex (SC)], Cyanonectria (F. buxicola SC), Geejayessia (F. staphyleae SC), Neocosmospora (F. solani SC) or Rectifusarium (F. ventricosum SC). The present study represents the first step to generating a new online monograph of Fusarium and allied fusarioid genera (www.fusarium.org).

Modular gene analysis reveals distinct molecular signatures for subsets of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease with clinical sequelae such as itching, dyspigmentation and scarring.

OBJECTIVES

We applied a previously described modular analysis approach to assess the molecular heterogeneity of patients with CLE.

METHODS

Whole-blood transcriptomes of RNA sequencing data from a racially and ethnically diverse group of patients with CLE (n = 62) were used to calculate gene co-expression module scores. An unsupervised cluster analysis and k-means clustering based on these module scores were then performed. We used Fisher's exact tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests to compare characteristics between patient clusters.

RESULTS

Six unique clusters of patients with CLE were identified from the cluster analysis. We observed that seven inflammation modules were elevated in two clusters of patients with CLE. Additionally, these clusters were characterized by interferon, neutrophil and cell-death signatures, suggesting that interferon-related proteins, neutrophils and cell-death processes could be driving the inflammatory response in these subgroups. Three different clusters had a predominant T-cell signature, which were supported by lymphocyte counts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support a diverse molecular profile in CLE that further adds to the clinical variations of this skin disease, and may affect disease course and treatment selection. Future studies with a larger and diverse cohort of patients with CLE are warranted to confirm these findings.

[Epidemiological and virus molecular characterization of dengue fever outbreak in Hunan province, 2018]

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of a dengue fever outbreak in Hunan province in 2018. Methods: Real-time PCR assay was performed for the laboratory diagnosis of 8 suspected dengue fever cases. Etiological surveillance was performed in 186 suspected dengue fever cases and fever cases who had close contacts with dengue fever patients. C6/36 cells was used for the virus isolation from acute phase serum. By sequencing the full length of E genes of 15 dengue virus strains, phylogenetic analysis was performed based on the sequences obtained, including reference sequences from the NCBI GenBank database, the serotypes and gene subtypes of the virus were analyzed to trace the possible source of transmission. An emergency monitoring of vector density and a retrospective survey of sero-epidemiology in healthy population were conducted in the epidemic area. Results: In the serum samples of 8 suspected patients, 6 were dengue virus RNA positive, and 4 were NS1 antigen positive. In 186 suspected patients, 96 were dengue virus nucleic acid, NS1 antigen or antibody positive in etiological test. A total of 64 dengue virus strains were isolated. The phylogenetic analysis showed that all the dengue virus strains belonged to type 2, which might be from Guangdong or Zhejiang provinces. The Bretub index was up to 65, indicating an extremely high risk of transmission. The positive rate of the dengue virus IgG antibody was 0.53%(2/377) in retrospective survey of 377 healthy people. Conclusion: The field epidemiologic and the molecular genetics analyses showed the outbreak of dengue fever in Hunan in 2018 was caused by imported cases and dengue virus 2.

Expression, purification and characterization of three odorant binding proteins from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) are critical components in insect olfactory systems where they bind, solubilize and transport odorant molecules to receptors. Here, we cloned three OBPs (PxylGOBP1, PxylGOBP2 and PxylOBP24) from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, one of the most destructive pests of cruciferous crops. These three OBPs were expressed in Escherichia coli as recombinant proteins, purified and characterized by fluorescence binding assays with 39 ligands including sex pheromone and plant-derived chemical compounds. PxylGOBP1 and PxylGOBP2 showed significantly different binding affinities to theses ligands, suggesting distinct binding preferences of these two general odorant binding proteins. PxylOBP24 showed no or extremely low binding activities to selected ligands, suggesting it may be involved in non-olfactory functions. Circular dichroism spectral results demonstrated that PxylGOBP1 and PxylGOBP2 shared similar secondary structures while PxylOBP24 was significantly different. This study improves our knowledge of insect OBPs, which will assist in a better understanding of insect olfactory system and developing more environmentally friendly pest control strategies for P. xylostella.

Effects of soybean isoflavones on the growth performance, intestinal morphology and antioxidative properties in pigs

Soybean meal is rich in soybean isoflavones, which exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anticancer functions in humans and animals. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of soybean isoflavones on the growth performance, intestinal morphology and antioxidative properties in pigs. A total of 72 weaned piglets (7.45 ± 0.13 kg; 36 males and 36 females) were allocated into three treatments and fed corn-soybean meal (C-SBM), corn-soy protein concentrate (C-SPC) or C-SPC supplemented with equal levels of the isoflavones found in the C-SBM diet (C-SPC + ISF) for a 72-day trial. Each treatment had six replicates and four piglets per replicate, half male and half female. On day 42, one male pig from each replicate was selected and euthanized to collect intestinal samples. The results showed that compared to pigs fed the C-SPC diet, pigs fed the C-SBM and C-SPC + ISF diets had higher BW on day 72 (P < 0.05); pigs fed the C-SBM diet had significantly higher average daily gain (ADG) during days 14 to 28 (P < 0.05), with C-SPC + ISF being intermediate; pigs fed the C-SBM diet tended to have higher ADG during days 42 to 72 (P = 0.063), while pigs fed the C-SPC + ISF diet had significantly higher ADG during days 42 to 72 (P < 0.05). Moreover, compared to pigs fed the C-SPC diet, pigs fed the C-SBM diet tended to have greater villus height (P = 0.092), while pigs fed the C-SPC + ISF diet had significantly greater villus height (P < 0.05); pigs fed the C-SBM and C-SPC + ISF diets had significantly increased villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05). Compared with the C-SPC diet, dietary C-SPC + ISF tended to increase plasma superoxide dismutase activity on days 28 (P = 0.085) and 42 (P = 0.075) and reduce plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) content on day 42 (P = 0.089), as well as significantly decreased jejunal mucosa MDA content on day 42 (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference in the expression of tight junction genes among the three groups was found (P > 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that a long-term exposure to soybean isoflavones enhances the growth performance, protects the intestinal morphology and improves the antioxidative properties in pigs.

LncRNA DARS-AS1 regulates microRNA-129 to promote malignant progression of thyroid cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) DARS-AS1 in thyroid cancer, and to further investigate whether it can promote the development of thyroid cancer by regulating microRNA-129.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the level of DARS-AS1 in tumor tissues and paracancerous tissues of 34 thyroid carcinomas. It was also used to analyze the relationship between the expression of DARS-AS1 and the clinical indicators of thyroid cancer and the prognosis of patients. qPCR was used to further verify the expression of DARS-AS1 in thyroid cancer cell lines. The DARS-AS1 knockdown model was constructed using lentivirus in thyroid cancer cell lines. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), cell clone formation, and transwell migration assays were performed to evaluate the effects of DARS-AS1 on the biological function of thyroid cancer cells. Finally, the potential mechanism was explored by using recovery experiments and the interplay between DARS-AS1 and microRNA-129 was further studied.

RESULTS

qPCR results revealed that the level of DARS-AS1 in tumor tissues of thyroid cancer patients was remarkably higher than that in adjacent tissues, and the difference was statistically significant. Compared with patients with low expression of DARS-AS1, patients with high DARS-AS1 expression had a higher incidence of high tumor stage, distant metastasis, and a lower overall survival rate. Besides, compared with NC group, the proliferation and migration ability of shRNA-AS1 expression knockdown group sh-DARS-AS1 was remarkably decreased. qPCR results indicated that there was a negative correlation between the level of microRNA-129 and DARS-AS1 in thyroid cancer tissues. In addition, cell proliferation and migration ability in the microRNA-129 overexpression group were remarkably decreased. The recovery experiment also found that there was a mutual regulation between DARS-AS1 and microRNA-129, which together affected the malignant progression of thyroid cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

DARS-AS1 level in tumor tissues of thyroid cancer was remarkably increased and was correlated with the pathological stage, distant metastasis, and poor prognosis of thyroid cancer. Moreover, DARS-AS1 could promote the proliferation and migration capabilities of thyroid cancer cells by modulating microRNA-129.

MicroRNA-361-5p suppresses the tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma through targeting WT1 and suppressing WNT/β-cadherin pathway

OBJECTIVE

MicroRNA-361-5p (miR-361-5p) has been found to be involved in the pathogenesis of several human cancers. However, the specific role of miR-361-5p is still unclear in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, this study was designed to elucidate the function of miR-361-5p in HCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expression levels of miR-361-5p and Wilms' tumor-1 (WT1) were detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. Moreover, the function of miR-361-5p was examined through Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assays. The protein expressions were examined via Western blot analysis and immunocytochemical assay. Tumor growth of HCC was observed via xenograft tumor formation assay. The relationship between miR-361-5p and WT1 was verified by the Dual-Luciferase assay.

RESULTS

Downregulation of miR-361-5p was identified in HCC, which predicted a worse prognosis in HCC patients. Furthermore, it was found that miR-361-5p suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCC by inhibiting WT1. MiR-361-5p also inhibited tumor growth of HCC. Besides that, miR-361-5p suppressed EMT and negatively activated the WNT/β-cadherin pathway in HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-361-5p suppressed tumorigenesis of HCC by targeting WT1 and inactivating the WNT/β-cadherin pathway.

Long noncoding RNA AFAP1-AS1 promoted osteosarcoma proliferation and invasion via upregulating BDNF

Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, "Long noncoding RNA AFAP1-AS1 promoted osteosarcoma proliferation and invasion via upregulating BDNF, by B.-M. Zhao, F.-H. Cheng, L. Cai, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23 (7): 2744-2749-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201904_17547-PMID: 31002124" has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/17547.

Long noncoding RNA AFAP1-AS1 promoted osteosarcoma proliferation and invasion via upregulating BDNF

OBJECTIVE

Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have got much attention for their role in tumor progression. LncRNA AFAP1-AS1 was studied in this research to identify how it affects the development and proliferation of osteosarcoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The mRNA expression of AFAP1-AS1 in osteosarcoma cells and tissue samples was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Moreover, cell proliferation assay and Matrigel assay were performed. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism was explored by using qRT-PCR and Western blot assay.

RESULTS

The expression level of AFAP1-AS1 was higher in osteosarcoma samples than that in adjacent tissues. In addition, the proliferation and invasion were inhibited after AFAP1-AS1 was downregulated in vitro. Besides, the mRNA and protein expression levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were reduced after downregulation of AFAP1-AS1. Furthermore, the expression level of BDNF was positively related to the expression of AFAP1-AS1 in osteosarcoma tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

AFAP1-AS1 could enhance the proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells by upregulating BDNF, which might be a potential therapeutic target in osteosarcoma.

Long noncoding RNA GAS5 enhanced by curcumin relieves poststroke depression by targeting miR-10b/BDNF in rats

The treatment for post-stroke depression (PSD) is mainly based on a therapeutic strategy combining anti-stroke and anti-depressant drugs. In the present study, the therapeutic effect of curcumin on rats with PSD was detected by open field tests and tail suspension tests, as well as the examination of corticosterone and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) levels in the serum and neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and dopamine (DA) levels in the hippocampus. Curcumin notably alleviated depression compared to the controls. Furthermore, long noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) enhanced by curcumin contributed to activation of the BDNF/Trkβ signaling pathway to promote the expression of synaptic-related proteins. GAS5 was demonstrated to function as a sponge of miR-10b. GAS5 upregulation by curcumin could reduce miR-10b to compromise the BDNF mRNA levels. Taken together, these results revealed a novel mechanism of curcumin on PSD through the GAS5/miR-10b/BDNF regulatory axis.

The phoma-like dilemma

Species of Didymellaceae have a cosmopolitan distribution and are geographically widespread, occurring in diverse ecosystems. The family includes several important plant pathogenic fungi associated with fruit, leaf, stem and root diseases on a wide variety of hosts, as well as endophytic, saprobic and clinically relevant species. The Didymellaceae was recently revised based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses of ex-type strains subjected to DNA sequencing of partial gene data of the LSU, ITS, rpb2 and tub2 loci. Several poly- and paraphyletic genera, including Ascochyta, Didymella and Phoma were redefined, along with the introduction of new genera. In the present study, a global collection of 1 124 Didymellaceae strains from 92 countries, 121 plant families and 55 other substrates, including air, coral, human tissues, house dust, fungi, insects, soil, and water were examined via multi-locus phylogenetic analyses and detailed morphological comparisons, representing the broadest sampling of Didymellaceae to date. Among these, 97 isolates representing seven new genera, 40 new species and 21 new combinations were newly introduced in Didymellaceae. In addition, six epitypes and six neotypes were designated to stabilise the taxonomy and use of older names. A robust, multi-locus reference phylogenetic tree of Didymellaceae was generated. In addition, rpb2 was revealed as the most effective locus for the identification of Didymellaceae at species level, and is proposed as a secondary DNA marker for the family.

New and Interesting Fungi. 3

Seven new genera, 26 new species, 10 new combinations, two epitypes, one new name, and 20 interesting new host and / or geographical records are introduced in this study. New genera are: Italiofungus (based on Italiofungus phillyreae) on leaves of Phillyrea latifolia (Italy); Neolamproconium (based on Neolamproconium silvestre) on branch of Tilia sp. (Ukraine); Neosorocybe (based on Neosorocybe pini) on trunk of Pinus sylvestris (Ukraine); Nothoseptoria (based on Nothoseptoria caraganae) on leaves of Caragana arborescens (Russia); Pruniphilomyces (based on Pruniphilomyces circumscissus) on Prunus cerasus (Russia); Vesiculozygosporium (based on Vesiculozygosporium echinosporum) on leaves of Muntingia calabura (Malaysia); Longiseptatispora (based on Longiseptatispora curvata) on leaves of Lonicera tatarica (Russia). New species are: Barrmaelia serenoae on leaf of Serenoa repens (USA); Chaetopsina gautengina on leaves of unidentified grass (South Africa); Chloridium pini on fallen trunk of Pinus sylvestris (Ukraine); Cadophora fallopiae on stems of Reynoutria sachalinensis (Poland); Coleophoma eucalyptigena on leaf litter of Eucalyptus sp. (Spain); Cylindrium corymbiae on leaves of Corymbia maculata (Australia); Diaporthe tarchonanthi on leaves of Tarchonanthus littoralis (South Africa); Elsinoe eucalyptorum on leaves of Eucalyptus propinqua (Australia); Exophiala quercina on dead wood of Quercus sp., (Germany); Fusarium californicum on cambium of budwood of Prunus dulcis (USA); Hypomyces gamsii on wood of Alnus glutinosa (Ukraine); Kalmusia araucariae on leaves of Araucaria bidwillii (USA); Lectera sambuci on leaves of Sambucus nigra (Russia); Melanomma populicola on fallen twig of Populus canadensis (Netherlands), Neocladosporium syringae on branches of Syringa vulgarishorus (Ukraine); Paraconiothyrium iridis on leaves of Iris pseudacorus (Ukraine); Pararoussoella quercina on branch of Quercus robur (Ukraine); Phialemonium pulveris from bore dust of deathwatch beetle (France); Polyscytalum pinicola on needles of Pinus tecunumanii (Malaysia); Acervuloseptoria fraxini on Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Russia); Roussoella arundinacea on culms of Arundo donax (Spain); Sphaerulina neoaceris on leaves of Acer negundo (Russia); Sphaerulina salicicola on leaves of Salix fragilis (Russia); Trichomerium syzygii on leaves of Syzygium cordatum (South Africa); Uzbekistanica vitis-viniferae on dead stem of Vitis vinifera (Ukraine); Vermiculariopsiella eucalyptigena on leaves of Eucalyptus sp. (Australia).

[Application of endoscopic resection of benign tumor in infratemporal fossa]

Objective: To explore the application of endoscopy and clinical effect of endoscopic resection of benign tumor in infratemporal fossa. Methods: The clinical data of 11 patients with benign tumors in infratemporal fossa admitted to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Skull Base Surgery of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2016 to September 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 6 males and 5 females, with the age ranging from 11 to 63 years old. The main clinical manifestations were pharyngeal foreign body sensation, submaxillary pain, maxillofacial numbness and tongue numbness. Imaging examination showed that the tumor was round and had a clear boundary with the surrounding tissue. All the patients underwent endoscopic surgery. Appropriate surgical approach was selected according to the location of the tumor and its relationship with the internal carotid artery. The endoscopic surgical approaches included trans-oropharyngeal approach in 7 cases, trans-lateral pterygomandibular raphe approach in 1 case and trans-medial pterygomandibular raphe approach in 3 cases. The pathological results, prognosis, complications and relapse of patients were summarized through descriptive statistics. Results: The tumors were completely resected under endoscope in all patients, and there was no significant complication occurred after surgery. The average pain VAS score was 3.1 after surgery and average hospital stay was 5.9 d. The postoperative pathological diagnoses consisted of 6 cases of pleomorphic adenoma, 4 cases of neurilemmoma and 1 case of basal cell adenoma. All patients were followed up regularly from 6 to 39 months without recurrence of tumor. Conclusion: Endoscopic resection of benign tumors in infratemporal fossa has the advantages of minimal damage, rapid recovery, few complications, and definite curative effect, which can be used as an important alternative for surgical treatment of benign tumors.

P1709 Left atrial strain: a novel prognostic marker in patients with chronic kidney disease

Funding Acknowledgements

Nil

Background and objectives

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events that are underestimated by traditional risk stratification algorithms. We sought to determine clinical and echocardiographic predictors of adverse outcomes in CKD patients.

Methods

Stage 3 and 4 CKD patients without previous cardiac disease underwent a comprehensive transthoracic and stress echocardiogram, with left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) strain analysis. Participants were followed for the primary end point of a composite of all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The secondary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death and MACE.

Results

243 patients (male 63%; mean age 59.2 ± 14.4 years) were followed for a median of 3.9 ± 2.7 years. 69 patients met the primary endpoint and 58 the secondary end point. Age (p &lt; 0.01), history of diabetes mellitus (p &lt; 0.01), indexed LV mass(LVMI) (p &lt; 0.01), LV global longitudinal strain(GLS) (p &lt; 0.01), indexed LA volume(LAVI) (p &lt; 0.01), E/e’ ratio (p &lt; 0.01) and LA strain (LAs) (p &lt; 0.01) were independent predictors of death and MACE. On Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, LAs (p &lt; 0.01) was the only independent predictor for the primary end point in a model accounting for age, diabetes mellitus, LVMI, LVGLS, E/e’ and LAVI. LAs remained an independent predictor for the secondary end point.

Conclusions

LAs is an independent predictor of death and MACE in CKD patients, in whom the predominant cardiac abnormality is diastolic impairment. LAs is a prognostic biomarker, reflecting alterations in diastolic function in CKD.

Abstract P1709 Figure. Kaplan Meier curve of LAs

Fungal Planet description sheets: 951-1041

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antarctica, Apenidiella antarctica from permafrost, Cladosporium fildesense from an unidentified marine sponge. Argentina, Geastrum wrightii on humus in mixed forest. Australia, Golovinomyces glandulariae on Glandularia aristigera, Neoanungitea eucalyptorum on leaves of Eucalyptus grandis, Teratosphaeria corymbiicola on leaves of Corymbia ficifolia, Xylaria eucalypti on leaves of Eucalyptus radiata. Brazil, Bovista psammophila on soil, Fusarium awaxy on rotten stalks of Zea mays, Geastrum lanuginosum on leaf litter covered soil, Hermetothecium mikaniae-micranthae (incl. Hermetothecium gen. nov.) on Mikania micrantha, Penicillium reconvexovelosoi in soil, Stagonosporopsis vannaccii from pod of Glycine max. British Virgin Isles, Lactifluus guanensis on soil. Canada, Sorocybe oblongispora on resin of Picea rubens. Chile, Colletotrichum roseum on leaves of Lapageria rosea. China, Setophoma caverna from carbonatite in Karst cave. Colombia, Lareunionomyces eucalypticola on leaves of Eucalyptus grandis. Costa Rica, Psathyrella pivae on wood. Cyprus, Clavulina iris on calcareous substrate. France, Chromosera ambigua and Clavulina iris var. occidentalis on soil. French West Indies, Helminthosphaeria hispidissima on dead wood. Guatemala, Talaromyces guatemalensis in soil. Malaysia, Neotracylla pini (incl. Tracyllales ord. nov. and Neotracylla gen. nov.) and Vermiculariopsiella pini on needles of Pinus tecunumanii. New Zealand, Neoconiothyrium viticola on stems of Vitis vinifera, Parafenestella pittospori on Pittosporum tenuifolium, Pilidium novae-zelandiae on Phoenix sp. Pakistan, Russula quercus-floribundae on forest floor. Portugal, Trichoderma aestuarinum from saline water. Russia, Pluteus liliputianus on fallen branch of deciduous tree, Pluteus spurius on decaying deciduous wood or soil. South Africa, Alloconiothyrium encephalarti, Phyllosticta encephalarticola and Neothyrostroma encephalarti (incl. Neothyrostroma gen. nov.) on leaves of Encephalartos sp., Chalara eucalypticola on leaf spots of Eucalyptus grandis × urophylla, Clypeosphaeria oleae on leaves of Olea capensis, Cylindrocladiella postalofficium on leaf litter of Sideroxylon inerme, Cylindromonium eugeniicola (incl. Cylindromonium gen. nov.) on leaf litter of Eugenia capensis, Cyphellophora goniomatis on leaves of Gonioma kamassi, Nothodactylaria nephrolepidis (incl. Nothodactylaria gen. nov. and Nothodactylariaceae fam. nov.) on leaves of Nephrolepis exaltata, Falcocladium eucalypti and Gyrothrix eucalypti on leaves of Eucalyptus sp., Gyrothrix oleae on leaves of Olea capensis subsp. macrocarpa, Harzia metrosideri on leaf litter of Metrosideros sp., Hippopotamyces phragmitis (incl. Hippopotamyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Phragmites australis, Lectera philenopterae on Philenoptera violacea, Leptosillia mayteni on leaves of Maytenus heterophylla, Lithohypha aloicola and Neoplatysporoides aloes on leaves of Aloe sp., Millesimomyces rhoicissi (incl. Millesimomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Rhoicissus digitata, Neodevriesia strelitziicola on leaf litter of Strelitzia nicolai, Neokirramyces syzygii (incl. Neokirramyces gen. nov.) on leaf spots of Syzygium sp., Nothoramichloridium perseae (incl. Nothoramichloridium gen. nov. and Anungitiomycetaceae fam. nov.) on leaves of Persea americana, Paramycosphaerella watsoniae on leaf spots of Watsonia sp., Penicillium cuddlyae from dog food, Podocarpomyces knysnanus (incl. Podocarpomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Podocarpus falcatus, Pseudocercospora heteropyxidicola on leaf spots of Heteropyxis natalensis, Pseudopenidiella podocarpi, Scolecobasidium podocarpi and Ceramothyrium podocarpicola on leaves of Podocarpus latifolius, Scolecobasidium blechni on leaves of Blechnum capense, Stomiopeltis syzygii on leaves of Syzygium chordatum, Strelitziomyces knysnanus (incl. Strelitziomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Strelitzia alba, Talaromyces clemensii from rotting wood in goldmine, Verrucocladosporium visseri on Carpobrotus edulis. Spain, Boletopsis mediterraneensis on soil, Calycina cortegadensisi on a living twig of Castanea sativa, Emmonsiellopsis tuberculata in fluvial sediments, Mollisia cortegadensis on dead attached twig of Quercus robur, Psathyrella ovispora on soil, Pseudobeltrania lauri on leaf litter of Laurus azorica, Terfezia dunensis in soil, Tuber lucentum in soil, Venturia submersa on submerged plant debris. Thailand, Cordyceps jakajanicola on cicada nymph, Cordyceps kuiburiensis on spider, Distoseptispora caricis on leaves of Carex sp., Ophiocordyceps khonkaenensis on cicada nymph. USA, Cytosporella juncicola and Davidiellomyces juncicola on culms of Juncus effusus, Monochaetia massachusettsianum from air sample, Neohelicomyces melaleucae and Periconia neobrittanica on leaves of Melaleuca styphelioides × lanceolata, Pseudocamarosporium eucalypti on leaves of Eucalyptus sp., Pseudogymnoascus lindneri from sediment in a mine, Pseudogymnoascus turneri from sediment in a railroad tunnel, Pulchroboletus sclerotiorum on soil, Zygosporium pseudomasonii on leaf of Serenoa repens. Vietnam, Boletus candidissimus and Veloporphyrellus vulpinus on soil. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.

Expression level of proteoglycan, collagen and type II collagen in osteoarthritis rat model is promoted and degradation of cartilage is prevented by glucosamine methyl ester

OBJECTIVE

In the current study, the effect of glucosamine methyl ester on cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis rat model was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into 5 groups of 8 animals each. Osteoarthritis was induced in 4 groups using medial parapatellar incision followed by anterior cruciate ligament transection and meniscectomy. Normal and model osteoarthritis groups were given normal saline. The three treatment groups received 2, 5 and 10 mg/kg doses of glucosamine methyl ester daily for one month.

RESULTS

Microscopic examination of the knee cartilage showed a significant reduction in degeneration score in the treatment groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed inhibition of interleukin-1β expression and nitric oxide generation on treatment with glucosamine methyl ester. Expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-3 and -13 in the treatment groups were significantly lower compared to the model osteoarthritis group. Polymerase chain reaction revealed an increased expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 on treatment of rats with glucosamine methyl ester. In the osteoarthritis rats treated with various doses of glucosamine methyl ester staining, the level of toluidine blue and Masson's trichrome increased. In addition, the level of type II collagen was also higher in the rats of treatment group. The level of proteoglycan, collagen and type II collagen in OA rats treated with 10 mg/kg doses was ~3.2- (p<0.01), 2.4- (p<0.02), and 3.6- (p<0.05) fold, respectively higher compared to the untreated animals.

CONCLUSIONS

Glucosamine methyl ester, therefore, prevents degeneration of cartilage in osteoarthritis rats. It exhibits its effect by promoting proteoglycan, collagen, type II collagen, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1, and decreasing matrix metalloproteinase. Therefore, glucosamine methyl ester exhibits therapeutic effect against osteoarthritis.

Liberibacter crescens Is a Cultured Surrogate for Functional Genomics of Uncultured Pathogenic 'Candidatus Liberibacter' spp. and Is Naturally Competent for Transformation

'Candidatus Liberibacter' spp. are uncultured insect endosymbionts and phloem-limited bacterial plant pathogens associated with diseases ranging from severe to nearly asymptomatic. 'Ca. L. asiaticus', causal agent of Huanglongbing or citrus "greening," and 'Ca. L. solanacearum', causal agent of potato zebra chip disease, respectively threaten citrus and potato production worldwide. Research on both pathogens has been stymied by the inability to culture these agents and to reinoculate into any host. Only a single isolate of a single species of Liberibacter, Liberibacter crescens, has been axenically cultured. L. crescens strain BT-1 is genetically tractable to standard molecular manipulation techniques and has been developed as a surrogate model for functional studies of genes, regulatory elements, promoters, and secreted effectors derived from the uncultured pathogenic Liberibacters. Detailed, step-by-step, and highly reproducible protocols for axenic culture, transformation, and targeted gene knockouts of L. crescens are described. In the course of developing these protocols, we found that L. crescens is also naturally competent for direct uptake and homology-guided chromosomal integration of both linear and circular plasmid DNA. The efficiency of natural transformation was about an order of magnitude higher using circular plasmid DNA compared with linearized fragments. Natural transformation using a replicative plasmid was obtained at a rate of approximately 900 transformants per microgram of plasmid, whereas electroporation using the same plasmid resulted in 6 × 10⁴ transformants. Homology-guided marker interruptions using either natural uptake or electroporation of nonreplicative plasmids yielded 10 to 12 transformation events per microgram of DNA, whereas similar interruptions using linear fragments via natural uptake yielded up to 34 transformation events per microgram of DNA.

Genera of phytopathogenic fungi: GOPHY 3

This paper represents the third contribution in the Genera of Phytopathogenic Fungi (GOPHY) series. The series provides morphological descriptions, information about the pathology, distribution, hosts and disease symptoms for the treated genera, as well as primary and secondary DNA barcodes for the currently accepted species included in these. This third paper in the GOPHY series treats 21 genera of phytopathogenic fungi and their relatives including: Allophoma, Alternaria, Brunneosphaerella, Elsinoe, Exserohilum, Neosetophoma, Neostagonospora, Nothophoma, Parastagonospora, Phaeosphaeriopsis, Pleiocarpon, Pyrenophora, Ramichloridium, Seifertia, Seiridium, Septoriella, Setophoma, Stagonosporopsis, Stemphylium, Tubakia and Zasmidium. This study includes three new genera, 42 new species, 23 new combinations, four new names, and three typifications of older names.

[Relationship between selenium and the risk for oral cancer: a case-control study]

Objective: To explore the relationship between selenium and the risk for oral cancer. Methods: We performed a case-control study in 325 cases of newly diagnosed primary oral cancer from the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University and 650 controls from the same hospital and community. Unconditional logistic regression and stratification analyses were used to explore the association between selenium and oral cancer. Adjusted OR and corresponding 95%CI were calculated. The analyses on multiple interactions between selenium and smoking or drinking status, and fruit or fish intake frequencies were conducted. Results: The level of serum selenium was 112.42 (80.98-145.06) μg/L in the case group, which was lower than 164.85 (144.44-188.53) μg/L in control group, the difference was statistical significant (P<0.01). There was a negative correlation between serum selenium level and the risk for oral cancer regardless of smoking and drinking status, and fruits and fish intake frequencies (P<0.05). There were multiple interactions between serum selenium level and smoking or drinking status, and fruit and fish intakes. Conclusions: The high level of serum selenium is a protective factor for the incidence of oral cancer, and serum selenium has multiple interactions with smoking or drinking status, and fruit and fish intakes. Therefore, reducing tobacco use and alcohol consumption and increasing the intakes of fruit and fish can reduce the risk for oral cancer to some extent.

[Clinicopathologic features and prognostic analyses of locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma patients after initial surgery]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinicopathologic features and potential prognostic predictors of locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma patients after initial surgery.

METHODS

Authors retrospectively analyzed data extracted from 81 patients who were treated for postoperative locally recurrence of renal cell carcinoma from January 2006 to June 2016 in the Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital. Postoperative locally recurrence of renal cell carcinoma was defined as disease recurring in the remnant kidney, renal fossa, adjacent abdomen, ipsilateral adrenal and retroperitoneal lymph nodes.

RESULTS

In the study, 81 patients were finally included, of whom 43 were initially treated in our hospital and 38 were initially treat in other centers. Partial nephrectomy (PN) was performed for 38 cases (26 in our hospital and 12 in other hospitals) as initial treatment and radical nephrectomy (RN) was conducted for the remnant 43 cases (17 in our hospital and 26 in other hospitals). Overall median recurrence time was 26 months (range: 3-164 months), in which 26 months (range: 3-55 months) for PN cases and 30 months (range: 4-164 months) for RN cases (P=0.009). Sixty-nine patients had single site recurrence, including remnant kidney (n=29), renal fossa (n=20), abdomen (n=4), ipsilateral lymph nodes (n=5), ipsilateral adrenal (n=11), while 12 patients had multiple sites recurrence. Seventy-eight patients were managed by complete surgical resection, while three patients were managed by radiofrequency ablation. Postoperative pathological diagnoses included clear cell carcinoma (n=72), papillary renal cell carcinoma (n=8, 7 cases with type 1, 1 case with type 2) and Xp11 translocation/TFE3 gene fusion renal cell carcinoma (n=1). Complete pathologic information of the initial surgery could be extracted from 43 patients who were initially treated in our hospital. Seventeen patients with initial radical nephrectomy were staged as T1a (n=4), T1b (n=2), T2a (n=1), T3a (n=8), and T3b (n=2). Twenty-six patients with initial partial nephrectomy were staged as T1a (n=18), T1b (n=7), and T3a (n=1). For PN cohort, the patients with T1a stage disease had longer median recurrence time than those with beyond T1a stage disease, and the difference was significant (29 months vs. 18 months, P=0.041). At the end of the follow-up, 58 patients were alive, 4 died and 19 lost the follow-up. Overall, 3-year and 5-year disease free survival rates were 81.9%, and 53.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The present research reported a large-scale single central experience of locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma. The recurrence time of the PN group is shorter than that of the RN group. For patients after PN surgery, median recurrence time is longer for patients with T1a stage tumor when compared with those with stage beyond T1a. Patients can obtain relative long-term survival after complete secondary surgery resection.

Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti complex from China

The Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC) is shown to encompass 33 phylogenetic species, across a wide range of habitats/hosts around the world. Here, 77 pathogenic and endophytic FIESC strains collected from China were studied to investigate the phylogenetic relationships within FIESC, based on a polyphasic approach combining morphological characters, multi-locus phylogeny and distribution patterns. The importance of standardised cultural methods to the identification and classification of taxa in the FIESC is highlighted. Morphological features of macroconidia, including the shape, size and septum number, were considered as diagnostic characters within the FIESC. A multi-locus dataset encompassing the 5.8S nuclear ribosomal gene with the two flanking internal transcribed spacers (ITS), translation elongation factor (EF-1α), calmodulin (CAM), partial RNA polymerase largest subunit (RPB1) and partial RNA polymerase second largest subunit (RPB2), was generated to distinguish species within the FIESC. Nine novel species were identified and described. The RPB2 locus is demonstrated to be a primary barcode with high success rate in amplification, and to have the best species delimitation compared to the other four tested loci.

Setophoma spp. on Camellia sinensis

During our investigation of Camellia sinensis diseases (2013–2018), a new leaf spot disease was found in seven provinces of China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Tibet and Yunnan), occurring on both arboreal and terraced tea plants. The leaf spots were round to irregular, brown to dark brown, with grey or tangerine margins. Multi-locus (LSU, ITS, gapdh, tef-1α, tub2) phylogenetic analyses combined with morphological observations revealed four new species belonging to the genus Setophoma, i.e.S. antiqua, S. longinqua, S. yingyisheniae and S. yunnanensis. Of these four species, S. yingyisheniae was found to be present on diseased terraced tea plants in six of the seven sampled provinces (excluding Yunnan). The other three species only occurred on arboreal tea plants in Yunnan Province. In addition to the four species isolated from diseased leaves, S. endophytica sp. nov. was isolated from healthy leaves of terraced tea plants.