GmEID1 modulates light signaling through the Evening Complex to control flowering time and yield in soybean

Soybean (Glycine max) morphogenesis and flowering time are accurately regulated by photoperiod, which determine the yield potential and limit soybean cultivars to a narrow latitudinal range. The E3 and E4 genes, which encode phytochrome A photoreceptors in soybean, promote the expression of the legume-specific flowering repressor E1 to delay floral transition under long-day (LD) conditions. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that the diurnal expression pattern of GmEID1 is opposite to that of E1 and targeted mutations in the GmEID1 gene delay soybean flowering regardless of daylength. GmEID1 interacts with J, a key component of circadian Evening Complex (EC), to inhibit E1 transcription. Photoactivated E3/E4 interacts with GmEID1 to inhibit GmEID1-J interaction, promoting J degradation resulting in a negative correlation between daylength and the level of J protein. Notably, targeted mutations in GmEID1 improved soybean adaptability by enhancing yield per plant up to 55.3% compared to WT in field trials performed in a broad latitudinal span of more than 24°. Together, this study reveals a unique mechanism in which E3/E4-GmEID1-EC module controls flowering time and provides an effective strategy to improve soybean adaptability and production for molecular breeding.

Diverse flowering responses subjecting to ambient high temperature in soybean under short-day conditions

Flowering time is one of important agronomic traits determining the crop yield and affected by high temperature. When facing high ambient temperature, plants often initiate early flowering as an adaptive strategy to escape the stress and ensure successful reproduction. However, here we find opposing ways in the short-day crop soybean to respond to different levels of high temperatures, in which flowering accelerates when temperature changes from 25 to 30 °C, but delays when temperature reaches 35 °C under short day. phyA-E1, possibly photoperiodic pathway, is crucial for 35 °C-mediated late flowering, however, does not contribute to promoting flowering at 30 °C. 30 °C-induced up-regulation of FT2a and FT5a leads to early flowering, independent of E1. Therefore, distinct responsive mechanisms are adopted by soybean when facing different levels of high temperatures for successful flowering and reproduction.

Apical Papilla Regulates Dental Follicle Fate via the OGN-Hh Pathway

Root apical complex, including Hertwig's epithelial root sheath, apical papilla, and dental follicle (DF), is the germinal center of root development, wherein the DF constantly develops into periodontal tissue. However, whether DF development is regulated by the adjacent apical papilla remains largely unknown. In this study, we employed a transwell coculture system and found that stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) inhibit the differentiation and maintain the stemness of dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs). Meanwhile, partial SCAP differentiation markers were upregulated after DFSC coculture. High-throughput RNA sequencing revealed that the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway was significantly downregulated in DFSCs cocultured with SCAPs. Upregulation or downregulation of the Hh pathway can respectively activate or inhibit the multidirectional differentiation of DFSCs. Osteoglycin (OGN) (previously known as mimecan) is highly expressed in the dental papilla, similarly to Hh pathway factors. By secreting OGN, SCAP regulated the stemness and multidirectional differentiation of DFSCs via the OGN-Hh pathway. Finally, Ogn^-/- mice were established using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. We found that the root length growth rate was accelerated during root development from PN0 to PN30 in Ogn^-/- mice. Moreover, the hard tissues (including dentin and cementum) of the root in Ogn^-/- mice were thicker than those in wild-type mice. These phenotypes were likely due to Hh pathway activation and the increased cell proliferation and differentiation in both the apical papilla and DF. The current work elucidates the molecular regulation of early periodontal tissue development, providing a theoretical basis for future research on tooth root biology and periodontal tissue regeneration.

The prognostic value of splenic abnormalities in pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with complete response diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

AIM

To investigate whether spleen imaging characteristics of baseline 2-[¹⁸F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) can help to predict the clinical outcome in complete response (CR) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three hundred and six patients with DLBCL were enrolled in the study and divided into recurrence and non-recurrence groups. The splenic abnormalities were compared using the chi-square test and quantitative indexes were compared using the t-test. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to compare progression-free survival (PFS). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match patients with and without splenic abnormalities according to age, gender, and initial Ann Arbor stage at a 1:2 ratio (52:104); then the recurrence and PFS results were compared again.

RESULTS

Age, international prognostic index (IPI), stage, splenomegaly, and focal splenic lesions were significantly different between the recurrence and non-recurrence groups. IPI, stage, baseline spleen mean standard uptake value (SUVmean)/liver SUVmean, splenomegaly, and focal lesions were selected by Cox single-factor analysis, and only focal lesions showed a statistical difference in terms of Cox multivariate analysis (p=0.022, hazard ratio [HR]: 2.843). After PSM, focal splenic lesions (n=20) were still statistically different (p=0.003) between the recurrence and non-recurrence groups, and this played an essential role in PFS forecasting (p=0.0004, HR: 3.767).

CONCLUSION

Focal splenic lesions were identified as an independent risk factor for the prognosis of DLBCL. Pretreatment splenomegaly and focal splenic lesions appeared to be related to the relapse and PFS of DLBCL patients. Focal splenic lesions still showed meaningful predictive value even with propensity matching.

[Clinical characteristics of Danon disease]

Objective: To review the clinical data of 7 patients with Danon disease and analyze their clinical characteristics. Methods: The medical records of 7 patients with Danon disease, who were hospitalized in Peking Union Medical College Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from April 2008 to July 2021, were reviewed and summarized, of which 6 cases were diagnosed as Danon disease by lysosomal-associated membrane protein-2 (LAMP-2) gene mutation detection and 1 case was diagnosed by clinicopathological features. Clinical manifestations, biochemical indexes, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, skeletal muscle and myocardial biopsy and gene detection results were analyzed, and patients received clinical follow-up after discharge. Results: Six patients were male and average age was (15.4±3.5) years and the average follow-up time was (27.7±17.0) months. The main clinical manifestations were myocardial hypertrophy (6/7), decreased myodynamia (2/7) and poor academic performance (3/7). Electrocardiogram features included pre-excitation syndrome (6/7) and left ventricular hypertrophy (7/7). Echocardiography examination evidenced myocardial hypertrophy (6/7), and left ventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction during the disease course (1/7). The results of skeletal muscle biopsy in 6 patients were consistent with autophagy vacuolar myopathy. Subendocardial myocardial biopsy was performed in 3 patients, and a large amount of glycogen deposition with autophagosome formation was found in cardiomyocytes. LAMP-2 gene was detected in 6 patients, and missense mutations were found in all these patients. During the follow-up period, implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation was performed in 1 patient because of high atrioventricular block 4 years after diagnosis, and there was no death or hospitalization for cardiovascular events in the other patients. Conclusion: The main clinical manifestations of Danon disease are cardiomyopathy, myopathy and mental retardation. Pre-excitation syndrome is a common electrocardiographic manifestation. Autophagy vacuoles can be seen in skeletal muscle and myocardial pathological biopsies. LAMP-2 gene mutation analysis is helpful in the diagnose of this disease.

Altered regulation of flowering expands growth ranges and maximizes yields in major crops

Flowering time influences reproductive success in plants and has a significant impact on yield in grain crops. Flowering time is regulated by a variety of environmental factors, with daylength often playing an important role. Crops can be categorized into different types according to their photoperiod requirements for flowering. For instance, long-day crops include wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), and pea (Pisum sativum), while short-day crops include rice (Oryza sativa), soybean (Glycine max), and maize (Zea mays). Understanding the molecular regulation of flowering and genotypic variation therein is important for molecular breeding and crop improvement. This paper reviews the regulation of flowering in different crop species with a particular focus on how photoperiod-related genes facilitate adaptation to local environments.

Divergence of functions and expression patterns of soybean bZIP transcription factors

Soybean (Glycine max) is a major protein and oil crop. Soybean basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors are involved in many regulatory pathways, including yield, stress responses, environmental signaling, and carbon-nitrogen balance. Here, we discuss the members of the soybean bZIP family and their classification: 161 members have been identified and clustered into 13 groups. Our review of the transcriptional regulation and functions of soybean bZIP members provides important information for future study of bZIP transcription factors and genetic resources for soybean breeding.

Paclitaxel-resistant related lncRNA DBH-AS1 promotes the proliferation and invasion of esophageal cancer

OBJECTIVE

Chemoresistance is one of the main obstacles in the clinical treatment of cancer. However, secondary resistance to paclitaxel poses new challenges for cancer treatment. Long noncoding RNAs regulate cellular functions at different levels and mechanisms and play an important role in the biological behavior of tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

LncRNA microarrays were used to detect lncRNAs in Paclitaxel-resistant cells and corresponding parental cells. Cell counting kit 8 and Transwell analysis were used to test the effect of lncRNA on function.

RESULTS

The expression of lncRNA DBH-AS1 in TE-4 TAX-R cells was significantly higher than that in TE-4 cells. Transwell analysis showed that the overexpression of lncRNA DBH-AS1 increased the invasion of Eca cells. Cell scratches and Transwell analysis showed that the overexpression of lncRNA DBH-AS1 in Eca cell culture supernatants promoted the migration and invasion of HUVEC. In addition, lncRNA DBH-AS1 relies on miR-21 to regulate the expression of YOD1.

CONCLUSIONS

Paclitaxel-resistant lncRNA DBH-AS1 appears to promote ECa cell proliferation and invasion by acting as a ceRNA and regulating miR-21-5p /YOD1 signaling pathway.

[Health-adjusted life expectancy in residents in Guangzhou, 2010-2019]

Objective: To analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of life expectancy (LE) and health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) in Guangzhou from 2010 to 2019, and quantize the comprehensive impact of different causes and sequelae on health. Methods: The LE, HALE, and cause-excluded health adjusted life expectancy (CEHALE) were estimated using cause-of-death surveillance datasets from Guangzhou Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2010 to 2019 and open data from the Global Burden of Disease Study. Joinpoint log-linear regression model was used to analyze the temporal trend and described spatial distribution. Results: In 2019, the LE in residents in Guangzhou was 82.9 years (80.1 years in men and 85.9 years in women), and the HALE was 75.6 years (74.0 years in men and 77.3 years in women). Compared with the urban fringe, the central urban area had higher LE and HALE, and the differences between LE and HALE were small. The LE and HALE in Guangzhou showed an increasing trend from 2010 to 2019. The LE increased by 2.8 years (AAPC=0.4, 95%CI: 0.3-0.4), with the increase of 2.8 years in men and 2.9 years in women. The HALE increased by 2.4 years (AAPC=0.3, 95%CI: 0.3-0.4), with the increase of 2.5 years in men and 2.2 years in women. The median healthy life lost due to communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases was 6.2 years (AAPC=-4.2, 95%CI: -5.3--3.1), while the median healthy life lost due to non-communicable diseases was 14.7 years (AAPC=1.6, 95%CI: 0.9-2.3), the median healthy life expectancy reduced by injury was 6.3 years (AAPC=-3.5, 95%CI: -4.5--2.6). Musculoskeletal disorders, skin and subcutaneous diseases, cardiovascular diseases, nutritional deficiencies, diabetes and kidney diseases were the top five diseases causing healthy life expectancy loss. Conclusion: The LE and HALE in residents in Guangzhou increased steadily from 2010 to 2019, but the quality of life in the urban fringe was lower than that of the central urban area. Non-communicable diseases were the leading causes of healthy life expectancy loss. Health policies and prevention measures should be developed according to area specific characteristics, and social medical resources should be rationally allocated to key diseases to reduce their disease burden.

[Effect of duodenal stump reinforcement on postoperative complications in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy]

Objective: To evaluate the influence of duodenal stump reinforcing on the short-term complications after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. Methods: A retrospective cohort study with propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted. Clinical data of 1204 patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from April 2009 to December 2018 were collected. The digestive tract reconstruction methods included Billroth II anastomosis, Roux-en-Y anastomosis and un-cut-Roux- en-Y anastomosis. A linear stapler was used to transected the stomach and the duodenum. Among 1204 patients, 838 were males and 366 were females with mean age of (57.0±16.0) years. Duodenal stump was reinforced in 792 cases (reinforcement group) and unreinforced in 412 cases (non-reinforcement group). There were significant differences in resection range and anastomotic methods between the two groups (both P<0.001). The two groups were matched by propensity score according to the ratio of 1∶1, and the reinforcement group was further divided into purse string group and non-purse string group. The primary outcome was short-term postoperative complications (within one month after operation). Complications with Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III a were defined as severe complications, and the morbidity of complication between the reinforcement group and the non-reinforcement group, as well as between the purse string group and the non-purse string group was compared. Results: After PSM, 411 pairs were included in the reinforcement group and the non-reinforcement group, and there were no significant differences in baseline data between the two groups (all P>0.05). No perioperative death occurred in any patient.The short-term morbidity of postoperative complication was 7.4% (61/822), including 14 cases of anastomotic leakage (23.0%), 11 cases of abdominal hemorrhage (18.0%), 8 cases of duodenal stump leakage (13.1%), 2 cases of incision dehiscence (3.3%), 6 cases of incision infection (9.8%) and 20 cases of abdominal infection (32.8%). Short-term postoperative complications were found in 25 patients (6.1%) and 36 patients (8.8%) in the reinforcement group and the non-reinforcement group, respectively, without significant difference (χ²=2.142, P=0.143). Nineteen patients (2.3%) developed short-term severe complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥IIIa), while no significant difference in severe complications was found between the two groups (1.7% vs. 2.9%, χ²=1.347, P=0.246). Sub-group analysis showed that the morbidity of short-term postoperative complication of the purse string group was 2.6% (9/345), which was lower than 24.2% (16/66) of the non-purse string group (χ²=45.388, P<0.001). Conclusion: Conventional reinforcement of duodenal stump does not significantly reduce the incidence of duodenal stump leakage, so it is necessary to choose whether to reinforce the duodenal stump individually, and purse string suture should be the first choice when decided to reinforce.

Aged Callus Skeletal Stem/Progenitor Cells Contain an Inflammatory Osteogenic Population With Increased IRF and NF-κB Pathways and Reduced Osteogenic Potential

Skeletal stem/progenitor cells (SSPCs) are critical for fracture repair by providing osteo-chondro precursors in the callus, which is impaired in aging. However, the molecular signatures of callus SSPCs during aging are not known. Herein, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on 11,957 CD45-CD31-Ter119- SSPCs isolated from young and aged mouse calluses. Combining unsupervised clustering, putative makers, and DEGs/pathway analyses, major SSPC clusters were annotated as osteogenic, proliferating, and adipogenic populations. The proliferating cluster had a differentiating potential into osteogenic and adipogenic lineages by trajectory analysis. The osteoblastic/adipogenic/proliferating potential of individual clusters was further evidenced by elevated expression of genes related to osteoblasts, adipocytes, or proliferation. The osteogenic cluster was sub-clustered into house-keeping and inflammatory osteogenic populations that were decreased and increased in aged callus, respectively. The majority of master regulators for the inflammatory osteogenic population belong to IRF and NF-κB families, which was confirmed by immunostaining, RT-qPCR, and Western blot analysis. Furthermore, cells in the inflammatory osteogenic sub-cluster had reduced osteoblast differentiation capacity. In conclusion, we identified 3 major clusters in callus SSPCs, confirming their heterogeneity and, importantly, increased IRF/NF-κB-mediated inflammatory osteogenic population with decreased osteogenic potential in aged cells.

The effect of salvianolate on cardiomyocyte remodeling improvement after myocardial infarction through calcineurin/nuclear factor C3 of the activated T cell/B-myosin heavy chain pathway regulation

Enormous evidences in clinic and experimental studies have demonstrated that salvianolate (Sal) could treat cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction (MI), but the underlying mechanism was still needed to be explored. This study aims to investigate the effect of Sal on cardiomyocyte remodeling after MI in rats and explore whether the possible mechanism was related to decreasing the β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) expression in cardiomyocytes via the calcineurin (CaN)/nuclear factor C3 of the activated T cell (NFATc3) pathway. Both MI model and angiotensin II induced primary myocardial cells obtained from rats were used in this study. After treatment with Sal, the cardiac function was assessed by color Doppler echocardiography, while MI area, myocardial cell area and heart mass index (HMI) were analyzed via Masson and hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE) stain, respectively. Additionally, CaN activity, and CaN, NFATc3, β-MHC mRNA and protein expressions in myocardial tissue and myocardial cells were tested via corresponding methods, mainly including real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot (WB), immunohistochemistry and fluorescence staining analysis. As a result we obtained the high dose of Sal in vivo could perform beneficial effects on cardiomyocyte remodeling of MI rats, mainly manifesting as improving fractional shortening and ejection fraction rates, reducing the MI area, myocardial cross-sectional area and HMI (P<0.05, 0.01), inhibiting the activity of CaN in myocardial tissue, down-regulating b-MHC mRNA and protein expressions, and decreasing the nuclear translocation of NFATc3 (P<0.05). In the in vitro experiments, 10 μmol/L of Sal could inhibit the increase of the myocardial cell area and CaN activity, down-regulate the mRNA and protein of CaN A subunit, β-MHC; and inhibit the nuclear translocation of NFATc3 (P<0.05, 0.01). In conclusion: use of Sal can improve cardiomyocyte remodeling and down-regulate the expression of β-MHC in cardiomyocytes, of which the mechanism might be related to the reduction of the nuclear translocation of NFATc3 as well as the down-regulation of CaNA subunit expression and/or the inhibition of CaN activity. The results will provide a laboratory basis for the clinical application of Sal.

[Clinical observation of 8 cases with central nervous system anaerobic infection diagnosed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing of cerebrospinal fluid]

The current study summarized the clinical characteristics of 8 patients with central nervous system anaerobic infections who visited the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from June 2019 to June 2021. Among the 8 patients, 7 cases had headache and fever as the first symptoms, and 1 case had left-sided limb weakness as the first symptom. Four patients had a previous history of diabetes (1 patient had a history of tooth extraction before the onset of the disease), 1 patient had a previous history of sinusitis, 1 patient had a history of tooth extraction before the onset of the disease, and 2 patients had chronic extensive periodontitis or periapical periodontitis. Five cases showed abnormal intracranial and/or meningeal enhancement on cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and 1 case showed swelling of the whole brain tissue on cranial computed tomography (CT). After treatment, symptoms of 4 cases were improved, symptoms of 1 case were aggravated, and 3 cases died. Anaerobic infections can occur in various parts of the body:the central nervous system, oral cavity, head and neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, skin and soft tissues. It is generally believed that anaerobic bacteria rarely cause central nervous system infection, therefore, anaerobic culture of cerebrospinal fluid is usually not performed. Moreover, anaerobic culture is affected by many factors, and thus it is difficult to obtain positive results. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing can identify multiple pathogens (viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic) from samples based on DNA and/or RNA sequences and has advantages in diagnosing anaerobic infections of the central nervous system. Prompt empirical antimicrobial therapy is essential for the prognosis of the patients.

Effects of wearing personal protective equipment during COVID-19 pandemic on composition and diversity of skin bacteria and fungi of medical workers

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing PPE can induce skin damage such as erythema, pruritus, erosion, and ulceration among others. Although the skin microbiome is considered important for skin health, the change of the skin microbiome after wearing PPE remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to characterize the diversity and structure of bacterial and fungal flora on skin surfaces of healthcare workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS).

METHODS

A total of 10 Chinese volunteers were recruited and the microbiome of their face, hand, and back were analyzed before and after wearing PPE. Moreover, VISIA was used to analyze skin features.

RESULTS

Results of alpha bacterial diversity showed that there was statistically significant decrease in alpha diversity indice in the skin samples from face, hand, and three sites after wearing PPE as compared with the indice in the skin samples before wearing PPE. Further, the results of evaluated alpha fungal diversity show that there was a statistically significant decrease in alpha diversity indices in the skin samples from hand after wearing PPE as compared with the indices in the skin samples before wearing PPE (P<0.05). Results of the current study found that the main bacteria on the face, hand, and back skin samples before wearing the PPE were Propionibacterium spp. (34.04%), Corynebacterium spp. (13.12%), and Staphylococcus spp. (38.07%). The main bacteria found on the skin samples after wearing the PPE were Staphylococcus spp. (31.23%), Xanthomonas spp. (26.21%), and Cutibacterium spp. (42.59%). The fungal community composition was similar in three skin sites before and after wearing PPE.

CONCLUSION

It was evident that wearing PPE may affect the skin microbiota, especially bacteria. Therefore, it was evident that the symbiotic microbiota may reflect the skin health of medical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Talin1 is highly expressed in the fallopian tube and chorionic villi to promote trophoblast invasion in tubal pregnancy]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of Talin1 in the fallopian tube and chorionic villi in patients with tubal pregnancy and its role in regulating invasion and migration of trophoblasts.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to detect the localization and expression level of Talin1 in the fallopian tube and chorionic villi in patients with tubal pregnancy and in women with normal pregnancy. In the cell experiment, HTR-8/SVneo cells was transfected with Talin1 siRNA and the changes in cell invasion and migration were assessed using scratch assay and Transwell assay. The expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9, N-cadherin and Snail in the transfected cells were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTS

Positive expression of Talin1 was detected in both normal fallopian tube tissues and tissues from women tubal pregnancy, and its expression was localized mainly in the cytoplasm of cilia cells. The expression level of Talin1 was significantly higher in both the fallopian tube and chorionic villi in women with tubal pregnancy than in normal fallopian tube and chorionic villi samples (P < 0.01). In HTR-8/SVneo cells, transfection with Talin1 siRNA significantly inhibited cell invasion (P < 0.01) and migration (P < 0.05), down-regulated the expression of N-cadherin, MMP-2 and Snail (P < 0.05), and up-regulated the expression of MMP-9 in the cells (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The expression of Talin1 in the fallopian tube and chorionic villi is significantly increased in women with tubal pregnancy, suggesting the association of Talin1-regulated trophoblast cell invasion with the occurrence of tubal pregnancy.

[Comparison of clinical efficacy and quality of life between uncut Roux-en-Y and Billroth II with Braun anastomosis in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer]

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy and quality of life between uncut Roux-en-Y and Billroth II with Braun anastomosis in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Inclusion criteria: (1) 18 to 75 years old; (2) gastric cancer proved by preoperative gastroscopy, CT and pathological results and tumor was suitable for D2 radical distal gastrectomy; (3) postoperative pathological diagnosis stage was T1-4aN0-3M0 (according to the AJCC-7th TNM tumor stage), and the margin was negative; (4) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) physical status score <2 points, and American Association of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade 1 to 3; (5) no mental illness; (6) able to answer questionnaires independently; (7) patients agreed to undergo laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and signed an informed consent. Exclusion criteria: (1) patients with severe chronic diseases and American Association of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade >3; (2) patients with other malignant tumors; (3) patients suffered from serious mental diseases; (4) patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy or immunotherapy. According to the above criteria, clinical data of 200 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy at the Department of General Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from January 2016 to December 2019 were collected. Of the 200 patients, 108 underwent uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis and 92 underwent Billroth II with Braun anastomosis. The general data, intraoperative and postoperative conditions, complications, and endoscopic evaluation 1 year after the surgery were compared. Besides, the quality of life of two groups was also compared using the Chinese version of the European Organization For Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and quality of life questionnaire-stomach 22 (QLQ-STO22). Results: There were no significant differences in baseline data between the two groups (all P>0.05). All the 200 patients successfully underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy without intraoperative complications, conversion to open surgery or perioperative death. There were no significant differences between two groups in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, time to flatus, time to removal of gastric tube, time to liquid diet, time to removal of drainage tube or length of postoperative hospital stay (all P>0.05). Endoscopic evaluation was conducted 1 year after surgery. Compared to Billroth II with Braun group, the uncut Roux-en-Y group had a significantly lower incidences of gastric stasis [19.8% (17/86) vs. 37.0% (27/73), χ(2)=11.199, P=0.024], gastritis [11.6% (10/86) vs. 34.2% (25/73), χ(2)=20.892, P<0.001] and bile reflux [1.2% (1/86) vs. 28.8% (21/73), χ(2)=25.237, P<0.001], and the differences were statistically significant. The EORTC questionnaire was performed 1 year after surgery, there were no significant differences in the scores of QLQ-C30 scale between the two groups (all P>0.05), while the scores of QLQ-STO22 showed that, compared to the Billroth II with Braun group, the uncut Roux-en-Y group had a lower pain score (median: 8.3 vs. 16.7, Z=-2.342, P=0.019) and reflux score (median: 0 vs 5.6, Z=-2.284, P=0.022), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05), indicating milder symptoms. Conclusion: The uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis is safe and reliable in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, which can reduce the incidences of gastric stasis, gastritis and bile reflux, and improve the quality of life of patients after surgery.

[Glucose-6 phosphatase catalytic subunit inhibits the proliferation of liver cancer cells by inducing cell cycle arrest]

Objective: To investigate the effects of glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit (G6PC) recombinant adenovirus on proliferation and cell cycle regulation of liver cancer cells. Methods: Recombinant adenovirus AdG6PC was constructed. Huh7 cells and SK-Hep1 cells were set as Mock, AdGFP and AdG6PC group. Cell proliferation and clone formation assay were used to observe the proliferation of liver cancer cells. Transwell and scratch assay were used to observe the invasion and migration of liver cancer cells. Cell cycle flow cytometry assay was used to analyze the effect of G6PC overexpression on the proliferation cycle of liver cancer cells. Western blot was used to detect the effect of G6PC overexpression on the cell-cycle protein expression in liver cancer cells. Results: The recombinant adenovirus AdG6PC was successfully constructed. Huh7 and SK-Hep1 cells proliferation assay showed that the number of proliferating cells in the AdG6PC group was significantly lower than the other two groups (P < 0.05). Clone formation assay showed that the number of clones was significantly lower in AdG6PC than the other two groups (P < 0.05), suggesting that G6PC overexpression could significantly inhibit the proliferation of liver cancer cells. Transwell assay showed that the number of cell migration was significantly lower in AdG6PC than the other two groups (P < 0.05). Scratch repair rate was significantly lower in AdG6PC than the other two groups (P < 0.05), suggesting that G6PC overexpression can significantly inhibit the invasion and migration of liver cancer cells. Cell cycle flow cytometry showed that G6PC overexpression had significantly inhibited the Huh7 cells G(1)/S phase transition. Western blot result showed that G6PC overexpression had down-regulated the proliferation in cell-cycle related proteins expression. Conclusion: G6PC inhibits the proliferation, cell-cycle related expression, and migration of liver cancer cells by inhibiting the G(1)/S phase transition.

[Accuracy of photogrammetry and conventional impression techniques for complete-arch implant rehabilitation: an in vitro comparative study]

Objective: To compare the accuracy of photogrammetry and conventional impression techniques for complete-arch implant rehabilitation. Methods: An edentulous maxillary stone cast containing 8 screw-retained implant abutment replicas was derived from a 74-year-old male patient who visited the Department of Dental Implant Center, Capital Medical University School of Stomatology in September 2019. The stone cast was copied through the open-tray splinted impression, and the copied cast was used as the master cast for this study. The abutment-level impressions of master cast were made by photogrammetry (PG) and the conventional impression technique (CNV) by one attending doctor. Group PG: after which scan bodies were connected to each implant replica, a photogrammetry system was used to obtain digital impressions of the master cast (n=10); Group CNV: conventional open-tray splinted impression technique was performed to fabricate conventional definitive casts (n=10). After connecting the scan bodies onto each implant replicas, the master cast and the 10 definitive casts from group CNV were digitized with a laboratory reference scanner. All data of group PG, group CNV and mater cast were saved as ".stl" files. For all test scans and reference scan, the three-dimensional information of scan bodies were converted to implant abutment replicas using a computer aided design software (Exocad). The data of the group PG and the group CNV were respectively registered with the reference data (trueness analysis) and pairwise within group (precision analysis) for accuracy evaluation in a three-dimensional analysis software (Geomagic Control X). Results: The trueness and precision of group PG [(17.33±0.34) and (2.50±0.79) μm ] were significantly statistically better than those of group CNV [(24.30±4.16) and (26.12±4.54) μm] respectively (t=-5.29 and -34.35, P<0.001). Conclusions: For complete-arch implant abutment-level impression, photogrammetry produces significantly better accuracy than conventional impression technique.

Parallel selection of distinct Tof5 alleles drove the adaptation of cultivated and wild soybean to high latitudes

Photoperiod responsiveness is a key factor limiting the geographic distribution of cultivated soybean and its wild ancestor. In particular, the genetic basis of the adaptation in wild soybean remains poorly understood. In this study, by combining whole-genome resequencing and genome-wide association studies we identified a novel locus, Time of Flowering 5 (Tof5), which promotes flowering and enhances adaptation to high latitudes in both wild and cultivated soybean. By genomic, genetic and transgenic analyses we showed that Tof5 encodes a homolog of Arabidopsis thaliana FRUITFULL (FUL). Importantly, further analyses suggested that different alleles of Tof5 have undergone parallel selection. The Tof5H1 allele was strongly selected by humans after the early domestication of cultivated soybean, while Tof5H2 allele was naturally selected in wild soybean, and in each case facilitating adaptation to high latitudes. Moreover, we found that the key flowering repressor E1 suppresses the transcription of Tof5 by binding to its promoter. In turn, Tof5 physically associates with the promoters of two important FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), FT2a and FT5a, to upregulate their transcription and promote flowering under long photoperiods. Collectively, our findings provide insights into how wild soybean adapted to high latitudes through natural selection and indicate that cultivated soybean underwent changes in the same gene but evolved a distinct allele that was artificially selected after domestication.