[The prediction value of combined serum levels of TMAO and TML for poor prognosis in patients with heart failure]

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of combined serum levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and trimethyllysine (TML) for poor prognosis in patients with heart failure. Methods: This single-center prospective cohort study included hospitalized patients with heart failure and complete baseline data from the Department of Cardiology at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from June 2017 to December 2020. Patients were categorized into four groups based on median serum levels of TMAO and TML after admission: TMAO low level TML low level group (TMAO<9.7 μmol/L, TML<0.73 μmol/L), TMAO low level TML high level group (TMAO<9.7 μmol/L, TML≥0.73 μmol/L), TMAO high level TML low level group (TMAO≥9.7 μmol/L, TML<0.73 μmol/L) and TMAO high level TML high level group (TMAO≥9.7 μmol/L, TML≥0.73 μmol/L). The primary endpoint was a composite endpoint of cardiovascular death and readmission for heart failure. Multiple factor Cox regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlation between serum TMAO and TML levels and poor prognosis in patients with heart failure. Results: A total of 471 patients with heart failure were included, with an mean age of (62.5±12.0) years and a median follow-up time of 1.61 (1.06, 2.90) years. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, gender, and traditional risk factors, the TMAO high level TML high level group had a higher incidence of primary endpoint events compared to the TMAO low level TML low level group (HR=1.71, 95%CI 1.05-2.77, P=0.03). Conclusion: Elevated serum levels of both TMAO and TML can effectively predict the occurrence of long-term adverse events in patients with heart failure.

[Associations of onset age, diabetes duration and glycated hemoglobin level with ischemic stroke risk in type 2 diabetes patients: a prospective cohort study]

Objective: To investigate the associations of onset age, diabetes duration, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels with ischemic stroke risk in type 2 diabetes patients. Methods: The participants were from Comprehensive Research on the Prevention and Control of the Diabetes in Jiangsu Province. The study used data from baseline survey from December 2013 to January 2014 and follow-up until December 31, 2021. After excluding the participants who had been diagnosed with stroke at baseline survey and those with incomplete information on onset age, diabetes duration, and HbA1c level, a total of 17 576 type 2 diabetes patients were included. Cox proportional hazard model was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95%CI of onset age, diabetes duration, and HbA1c level for ischemic stroke. Results: During the median follow-up time of 8.02 years, 2 622 ischemic stroke cases were registered. Multivariate Cox proportional risk regression model showed that a 5-year increase in type 2 diabetes onset age was significantly associated with a 5% decreased risk for ischemic stroke (HR=0.95, 95%CI: 0.92-0.99). A 5-year increase in diabetes duration was associated with a 5% increased risk for ischemic stroke (HR=1.05, 95%CI: 1.02-1.10). Higher HbA1c (per 1 standard deviation increase:HR=1.17, 95%CI: 1.13-1.21) was associated with an increased risk for ischemic stroke. Conclusion: The earlier onset age of diabetes, longer diabetes duration, and high levels of HbA1c are associated with an increased risk for ischemic stroke in type 2 diabetes patients.

Three-dimensional fruit growth analysis clarifies developmental mechanisms underlying complex shape diversity in persimmon fruit

The determination of fruit size and shape are of considerable interest in horticulture and developmental biology. Fruit typically exhibits three-dimensional structures characterized by geometric features that are dependent on the genotype. Although minor developmental variations have been recognized, few studies have fully visualized and measured these variations throughout fruit growth. Here, a high-resolution 3D scanner was used to investigate the fruit development of 51 persimmon (Diospyros kaki) cultivars with various complex shapes. We obtained 2380 3D models that fully represented fruit appearance, and enabled precise and automated measurements of shape features throughout fruit development, including horizontal and vertical grooves, length-to-width ratio, and roundness. The 3D fruit model analysis identified key stages that determined the shape attributes at maturity. Typically, genetic diversity was found in vertical groove development, and these grooves could be filled by tissue expansion in the carpel fusion zone during fruit development. In addition, transcriptome analysis of fruit tissues from groove and non-groove tissues revealed gene co-expression networks that were highly associated with groove depth variation. The presence of YABBY homologs was most closely associated with groove depth and indicated the possibility that this pathway is a key molecular contributor to vertical groove depth variation. Overall, our results revealed deterministic patterns of complex shape traits in persimmon fruit and showed that different growth patterns among tissues are the main factor contributing to the shape of both vertical and horizontal grooves.

[A prospective study on association between sleep duration and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults in Suzhou]

Objective: To investigate the prospective association of sleep duration with the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults in Suzhou. Methods: The study used the data of 53 269 participants aged 30-79 years recruited in the baseline survey from 2004 to 2008 and the follow-up until December 31, 2017 of China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) conducted in Wuzhong District, Suzhou. After excluding participants with airflow limitation, self-reported chronic bronchitis/emphysema/coronary heart disease history at the baseline survey and abnormal or incomplete data, a total of 45 336 participants were included in the final analysis. The association between daily sleep duration and the risk for developing COPD was analyzed by using a Cox proportional hazard regression model, and the hazard ratio (HR) values and their 95%CI were calculated. The analysis was stratified by age, gender and lifestyle factors, and cross-analysis was conducted according to smoking status and daily sleep duration. Results: The median follow-up time was 11.12 years, with a total of 515 COPD diagnoses in the follow-up. After adjusting for potential confounders, multifactorial Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that daily sleep duration ≥10 hours was associated with higher risk for developing COPD (HR=1.42, 95%CI: 1.03-1.97). The cross analysis showed that excessive daily sleep duration increased the risk for COPD in smokers (HR=2.49, 95%CI: 1.35-4.59, interaction P<0.001). Conclusion: Longer daily sleep duration (≥10 hours) might increase the risk for COPD in adults in Suzhou, especially in smokers.

[Efficacy and safety of pulsed radiofrequency combined with gabapentin in the treatment of acute herpetic neuralgia]

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) combined with gabapentin in the treatment of acute herpetic neuralgia (AHN). Methods: A total of 123 AHN patients were retrospectively selected in Henan Provincial People's Hospital from November 2019 to July 2022, who were divided into two groups based on treatment methods: control group (treated with gabapentin, n=61) and study group (treated with gabapentin and PRF, n=62). The visual analog scale (VAS) was utilized for pain severity assessment and the self-rating scale for sleep (SRSS) was utilized for sleep quality evaluation. The differences in serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10, chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL-10), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), IL-2 and IL-6 before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. The overall treatment effectiveness and the occurrence rates of postherpetic neuralgia and adverse reactions were evaluated in both groups. Results: Among the study group patients, 28 were male and 34 were female, and the age was (62.8±8.5) years. Among the control group patients, 35 were male and 26 were female, and the age was (64.0±7.8) years. The VAS scores of the study group before and after treatment were 7.96±1.33 and 1.52±0.60, respectively, while the control group were 7.68±1.52 and 2.70±0.64. The SRSS scores before and after treatment in the study group were 31.74±5.90 and 12.06±2.81, respectively, while those in the control group were 33.10±5.54 and 14.14±2.96, respectively. Before treatment, there were no statistically differences of the VAS scores and SRSS scores in both groups (all P>0.05). After treatment, the VAS scores and SRSS scores in both groups decreased compared with before treatment (all P<0.05), the study group's VAS scores and SRSS scores were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). Before treatment, there were no statistically differences of the serum levels of IL-10, CXCL-10, PGE2, COX-2, IL-2 and IL-6 in both groups (all P>0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of IL-10, CXCL-10, PGE2, COX-2 and IL-6 in both groups decreased compared with before treatment, while the IL-2 level increased. Additionally, the study group had lower serum levels of IL-10, PGE2, COX-2 and IL-6 compared with the control group (all P<0.05). After treatment, the study group had 35 cases of cure, 26 cases of effectiveness, and 1 case of ineffectiveness, while the control group had 22 cases of cure, 31 cases of effectiveness, and 8 cases of ineffectiveness. The overall treatment efficacy of the study group was better than that of the control group (P=0.012). The incidence of postherpetic neuralgia in the study group after treatment was 16.1% (10/62), which was lower than that in the control group, which was 37.7% (23/61) (P<0.05). There were no statistically differences of the occurrence rates of adverse reactions in both groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Combining PRF with gabapentin for the treatment of AHN demonstrates better overall efficacy and safety, which can more effectively alleviate pain, improve sleep, and reduce inflammatory cytokine levels.

Genetic insights into the dissolution of dioecy in diploid persimmon Diospyros oleifera Cheng

BACKGROUND

Dioecy, a sexual system of single-sexual (gynoecious/androecious) individuals, is rare in flowering plants. This rarity may be a result of the frequent transition from dioecy into systems with co-sexual individuals.

RESULTS

In this study, co-sexual expression (monoecy and hermaphroditic development), previously thought to be polyploid-specific in Diospyros species, was identified in the diploid D. oleifeara historically. We characterized potential genetic mechanisms that underlie the dissolution of dioecy to monoecy and andro(gyno)monoecy, based on multiscale genome-wide investigations of 150 accessions of Diospyros oleifera. We found all co-sexual plants, including monoecious and andro(gyno)monoecious individuals, possessed the male determinant gene OGI, implying the presence of genetic factors controlling gynoecia development in genetically male D. oleifera. Importantly, discrepancies in the OGI/MeGI module were found in diploid monoecious D. oleifera compared with polyploid monoecious D. kaki, including no Kali insertion on the promoter of OGI, no different abundance of smRNAs targeting MeGI (a counterpart of OGI), and no different expression of MeGI between female and male floral buds. On the contrary, in both single- and co-sexual plants, female function was expressed in the presence of a genome-wide decrease in methylation levels, along with sexually distinct regulatory networks of smRNAs and their targets. Furthermore, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified a genomic region and a DUF247 gene cluster strongly associated with the monoecious phenotype and several regions that may contribute to andromonoecy.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our findings demonstrate stable breakdown of the dioecious system in D. oleifera, presumably also a result of genomic features of the Y-linked region.

Investigating a Causal Relationship Between Diabetes Mellitus and Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization Study

OBJECTIVE

Previous observational studies reported an association of diabetes mellitus (DM) with oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), however, the potential causality of the association between them remains unclear.

METHODS

To explore this causal relationship in individuals of European descent, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study was conducted. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of DM was used to represent the exposure factor (T1DM: n = 24,840; T2DM: n = 215,654), and GWAS of OPC represented the outcome (n = 3,448).

RESULTS

Forty-one single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to T1DM and fifty-four SNPs related to T2DM were identified as effective instrumental variables (IVs) in the two-sample MR analyses. In IVW estimates, neither T1DM nor T2DM significantly contributed to an increased risk of OPC [T1DM: OR 1.0322 (95% CI 0.9718, 1.0963), P = 0.3033; T2DM: OR 0.9998 (95% CI 0.9995, 1.0002), P = 0.2858]. Four other regression models produced similar results. MR-Egger regression results [Cochran's Q statistic was 47.1544 (P = 0.1466) in T1DM, and 35.5084 (P = 0.9512) in T2DM] suggested no horizontal pleiotropy between IVs and outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest little evidence to support the genetic role of diabetes mellitus in OPC development in the European population.

Risk of Cardiac-Specific Mortality in Patients with Lymphoma Treated with Radiotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The mainstays of treatment for Non-Hodgkin (NHL) and Hodgkin (HL) lymphoma are chemotherapy, radiotherapy (RT), or a combination of both. Thanks to improvements in treatment options many patients outlive their diagnosis by several decades. As treatments are de-intensified and cardiac sparing techniques have improved, the impact of RT on cardiac mortality should be re-visited. In this study, we sought to investigate the potential association between thoracic irradiation and cardiac-specific mortality (CSM) in patients with lymphoma. We hypothesized that receipt of RT would be associated with higher risk of cardiac death.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database was queried to identify all patients with HL and NHL with a thoracic primary site from 1975 to 2018. Kaplan Meier estimators were used to analyze cardiac-specific survival. Cohorts were balanced using inverse probability treatment weighing (IPTW). Hazard ratios were calculated using multivariate cox regression analysis. The following treatment eras were defined for analysis: pre-1995, 1995-2003, post-2003, to roughly correspond to the adoption of 3D conformal RT (3DCRT) and intensity-modulated RT (IMRT).

RESULTS

We identified 10,602 patients, of which 8,088 (76%) had NHL and 2,514 (24%) had HL. Seventy-three percent of patients received chemotherapy and 38% received RT. Median follow up was 11.2 years. Forty-eight percent of patients were alive at last follow up, 6.6% had died from cardiac-specific causes, and 45% had died of other causes. Patients who received RT were had a lower risk of CSM (HR = 0.64, p < 0.01). However, IPTW survival analysis revealed no difference in the risk of cardiac death between the treatment cohorts (HR = 1.00, p = 0.99). Multivariate cox regression analysis identified female sex (HR = 0.73, p <0.01), age younger than 40 (HR = 0.27, p <0.01), and diagnosis after 1995 (HR = 0.31, p <0.01) to be associated with a lower CSM. In patients who received RT, we found that the risk of CSM was a higher (HR = 2.66, p <0.01) in those treated in the pre-1995 era and lower (HR = 0.32, p < 0.01) in the post-2003 era when compared to patients treated between 1995-2003. Additionally, receipt of RT was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.82, p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our IPTW analysis shows that patients with thoracic lymphoma treated with RT have a similar risk of cardiac death to patients who did not receive RT, and an improved OS. Known cardiovascular risk factors like male sex and older age were associated with higher risk of cardiac death in patients receiving RT. We also found that patients treated with RT pre-1995 had higher CSM compared to those treated in 1995-2003 and those treated after 2003 had the lowest CSM, possibly in part attributable to the adoption of newer RT techniques. These findings may help clinicians counsel patients with lymphoma on the optimal modality of therapy and the possibility for late treatment effects in the modern era.

Genetic basis of lineage-specific evolution of fruit traits in hexaploid persimmon

Frequent polyploidization events in plants have led to the establishment of many lineage-specific traits representing each species. Little is known about the genetic bases for these specific traits in polyploids, presumably due to plant genomic complexity and their difficulties in applying genetic approaches. Hexaploid Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki) has evolved specific fruit characteristics, including wide variations in fruit shapes and astringency. In this study, using whole-genome diploidized/quantitative genotypes from ddRAD-Seq data of 173 persimmon cultivars, we examined their population structures and potential correlations between their structural transitions and variations in nine fruit traits. The population structures of persimmon cultivars were highly randomized and not substantially correlated with the representative fruit traits focused on in this study, except for fruit astringency. With genome-wide association analytic tools considering polyploid alleles, we identified the loci associated with the nine fruit traits; we mainly focused on fruit-shape variations, which have been numerically characterized by principal component analysis of elliptic Fourier descriptors. The genomic regions that putatively underwent selective sweep exhibited no overlap with the loci associated with these persimmon-specific fruit traits. These insights will contribute to understanding the genetic mechanisms by which fruit traits are independently established, possibly due to polyploidization events.

[Incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and risk factors in the Suzhou cohort]

Objective: To understand the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Suzhou cohort, and explore the risk factors for the development of COPD in Suzhou, and provide a scientific basis for COPD prevention. Methods: This study was based on the China Kadoorie Biobank project in Wuzhong District, Suzhou. After excluding individuals with airflow obstruction and self-reported chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or pulmonary heart disease at baseline, 45 484 individuals were finally included in the analysis. Cox proportional risk models were used to analyze risk factors of COPD and calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence interval (CI) in the Suzhou cohort. The effect modifications of smoking on the association between other risk factors and COPD were evaluated. Results: Complete follow-up was available through December 31, 2017. Participants were followed up for a median of 11.12 years, and 524 individuals were diagnosed with COPD during the follow-up period; the incidence was 105.54 per 100 000 person-years. Multivariate Cox proportional risk regression models showed that age (HR=3.78, 95%CI:3.32-4.30), former smoking (HR=2.00, 95%CI:1.24-3.22), current smoking (<10 cigarettes/day, HR=2.14, 95%CI:1.36-3.35;≥10 cigarettes/day, HR=2.69, 95%CI:1.60-4.54), history of respiratory disease (HR=2.08, 95%CI:1.33-3.26), daily sleep duration ≥10 hours (HR=1.41, 95%CI:1.02-1.95) were associated with increased risk of COPD. However, education level of primary school and above (primary or junior high school, HR=0.65, 95%CI:0.52-0.81; high school and above, HR=0.54, 95%CI:0.33-0.87), consuming fresh fruit daily (HR=0.59, 95%CI:0.42-0.83) and consuming spicy food weekly (HR=0.71, 95%CI:0.53-0.94) were associated with reduced risk of COPD. Conclusions: The incidence of COPD is low in Suzhou. Older age, smoking, history of respiratory disease, and long sleep duration were risk factors for the development of COPD in the Suzhou cohort.

[Follow-up study on the relationship between changes in waist circumference and body weight and changes in blood pressure levels among high cardiovascular risk population]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between changes in waist circumference, body weight, and blood pressure change in a high cardiovascular risk population and to provide a theoretical basis and reference for the prevention and treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Methods: A total of 12 931 patients with a high risk of cardiovascular disease participating in the follow-up survey in 2016 were selected as the study subjects, and their long-term follow-up data from 2017 to 2019 were included in the analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using a t-test, χ² test, and generalized estimation equation (GEE). Results: Increased waist circumference, body weight, and BMI were associated with a higher risk of elevated blood pressure in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Waist circumference, weight, and BMI were reduced when blood pressure levels were lower. SBP and DBP increased by 0.200 (95%CI: 0.164-0.236) mmHg and 0.085 (95%CI: 0.066-0.105) mmHg for each 1 cm increase of waist circumference. SBP increased by 0.355 (95%CI: 0.289-0.421) mmHg and DBP increased by 0.182 (95%CI: 0.144-0.220) mmHg for each 1 kg increase in body weight. For each 1 kg/m² increase in BMI, SBP increased by 1.100 (95%CI: 1.194-1.258) mmHg, and DBP increased by 0.365 (95%CI: 0.273-0.456) mmHg. Compared with urban residents, SBP changes more with waist circumference and body weight, and DBP changes more with waist circumference in high-risk cardiovascular disease groups (all P for interaction <0.05). SBP with waist circumference and BMI and DBP with BMI was greater in participants without hypertension than in those with hypertension (all P for interaction <0.05). Conclusion: There is a positive linear correlation between the changes in waist circumference, body weight, and BMI and the changes in blood pressure in a high-risk cardiovascular disease population.

H3K4me3 plays a key role in establishing permissive chromatin states during bud dormancy and bud break in apple

Bud dormancy helps woody perennials survive winter and activate robust plant development in the spring. For apple (Malus × domestica), short-term chilling induces bud dormancy in autumn, then prolonged chilling leads to dormancy release and a shift to a quiescent state in winter, with subsequent warm periods promoting bud break in spring. Epigenetic regulation contributes to seasonal responses such as vernalization. However, how histone modifications integrate seasonal cues and internal signals during bud dormancy in woody perennials remains largely unknown. Here, we show that H3K4me3 plays a key role in establishing permissive chromatin states during bud dormancy and bud break in apple. The global changes in gene expression strongly correlated with changes in H3K4me3, but not H3K27me3. High expression of DORMANCY-ASSOCIATED MADS-box (DAM) genes, key regulators of dormancy, in autumn was associated with high H3K4me3 levels. In addition, known DAM/SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) target genes significantly overlapped with H3K4me3-modified genes as bud dormancy progressed. These data suggest that H3K4me3 contributes to the central dormancy circuit, consisting of DAM/SVP and abscisic acid (ABA), in autumn. In winter, the lower expression and H3K4me3 levels at DAMs and gibberellin metabolism genes control chilling-induced release of dormancy. Warming conditions in spring facilitate the expression of genes related to phytohormones, the cell cycle, and cell wall modification by increasing H3K4me3 toward bud break. Our study also revealed that activation of auxin and repression of ABA sensitivity in spring are conditioned at least partly through temperature-mediated epigenetic regulation in winter.

Integer programming for selecting set of informative markers in paternity inference

Background

Parentage information is fundamental to various life sciences. Recent advances in sequencing technologies have made it possible to accurately infer parentage even in non-model species. The optimization of sets of genome-wide markers is valuable for cost-effective applications but requires extremely large amounts of computation, which presses for the development of new efficient algorithms.

Results

Here, for a closed half-sib population, we generalized the process of marker loci selection as a binary integer programming problem. The proposed systematic formulation considered marker localization and the family structure of the potential parental population, resulting in an accurate assignment with a small set of markers. We also proposed an efficient heuristic approach, which effectively improved the number of markers, localization, and tolerance to missing data of the set. Applying this method to the actual genotypes of apple (Malus × domestica) germplasm, we identified a set of 34 SNP markers that distinguished 300 potential parents crossed to a particular cultivar with a greater than 99% accuracy.

Conclusions

We present a novel approach for selecting informative markers based on binary integer programming. Since the data generated by high-throughput sequencing technology far exceeds the requirement for parentage assignment, a combination of the systematic marker selection with targeted SNP genotyping, such as KASP, allows flexibly enlarging the analysis up to a scale that has been unrealistic in various species. The method developed in this study can be directly applied to unsolved large-scale problems in breeding, reproduction, and ecological research, and is expected to lead to novel knowledge in various biological fields. The implementation is available at https://github.com/SoNishiyama/IP-SIMPAT.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12859-022-04801-z.

POS1444 FLT1 AND EPHB2 ARE NOVEL GENETIC MARKERS ASSOCIATED WITH PANCREATITIS IN PATIENTS TAKING AZATHIOPRINE FOR IMMUNE-MEDIATED CONDITIONS: INTEGRATING GENOME- AND TRANSCRIPTOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION STUDIES

Background

Azathioprine (AZA) is a thiopurine immunosuppressant medication used to treat a variety of immune-mediated diseases. Unfortunately, its use is limited by adverse effects. Pancreatitis, a potentially severe, life-threatening side effect is independent of dose and necessitates AZA discontinuation given the high risk of recurrent pancreatitis with continued use or re-challenge. The mechanisms driving pancreatitis are unclear. While classic thiopurine-induced acute pancreatitis (TIAP) has been associated with HLA haplotypes, most patients taking AZA and presenting with pancreatitis do not fulfill the stringent criteria for TIAP.

Objectives

To identify genetic risk factors for pancreatitis in patients taking azathioprine for immune-mediated conditions.

Methods

Using a biobank linked to electronic health records (EHR) from a tertiary center, we identified new users of AZA. Patients were excluded if the primary indication for AZA was organ transplant or if there was a history of pancreatitis prior to AZA use. The analysis was restricted to patients with EHR-reported race as White due to insufficient case counts for the non-White group. We then identified patients with amylase or lipase values that exceeded twice the upper limit of normal (“>2x ULN”) or with ICD-9/ICD-10 codes for acute pancreatitis. Each record was manually reviewed to confirm the timing of AZA use in relation to laboratory derangements or ICD coding, as well as to further classify patients into three increasingly strict, but not exclusive categories: 1) pancreatic injury (amylase or lipase >2x ULN); 2) acute pancreatitis1, or 3) TIAP2. We completed genotyping with Illumina Infinium Expanded Multi-Ethnic Genotyping Array plus custom content data, employed Michigan Imputation servers for genetic imputation, and used PrediXcan (GTEx v8) to impute gene expression. We then conducted genome-wide association and transcriptome-wide association studies (GWAS, TWAS). Acknowledging the relatively small overall cohort, and possible imbalance of cases vs controls, we used the Firth logistic regression method, which is a penalized likelihood-based method.

Results

We studied 2127 AZA users (35.4% male; mean 44.5+/-17.2 years). The median AZA dose was 100mg/day (IQR: 50-125mg/day). Rheumatologic conditions (56.9%) and inflammatory bowel disease (40.4%) comprised the most common primary indications for AZA. Pancreatic injury, pancreatitis, and TIAP were diagnosed in 42 (2.0%), 16 (0.8%), and 9 (0.4%) patients, respectively. GWAS identified several significantly associated genes, many with overlapping TWAS findings in the pancreas and liver (Figure 1). From these, the two protein-encoding genes Fms Related Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-1 (FLT1) and Ephrin type-B receptor-2 (EPHB2) overlapped in two or more pancreatitis phenotypes in the TWAS and GWAS, respectively. EPHB2 was associated with a 8.6-fold (P=1.84 x 10-8) and a 31.4-fold (P=2.87x 10-8) higher likelihood of pancreatic injury and TIAP, respectively.

Figure 1.

Conclusion

FLT1—a gene that encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase and is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) family—and EPHB2—a gene that encodes a member of the Eph receptor family, which is the largest subgroup of the receptor tyrosine kinase family—are novel genetic markers associated with pancreatitis in patients taking AZA. VEGF can potentiate inflammation and the pancreas microenvironment is known to promote VEGF expression, which has been linked to pancreatic cancer development; anti-VEGF treatments have been investigated both for mitigating inflammation and also anti-pancreatic cancer treatment. Future studies validating our findings in AZA-induced pancreatitis are warranted.

References

[1]Crockett et al. Gastroenterology (2018). 154(4):1096-1101.

[2]Heap et al. Nature Genetics (2014). 46:1131-1134

Disclosure of Interests

Shailja Shah Consultant of: ad hoc consultant for Phathom pharmaceuticals, Tyler Reese: None declared, Jacy Zanussi: None declared, Alyson Dickson: None declared, Laura Daniel: None declared, Ran Tao: None declared, Tyne Miller-Fleming: None declared, Peter Straub: None declared, Adriana Hung: None declared, Puran Nepal: None declared, Wei-Qi Wei: None declared, Elizabeth Phillips: None declared, Nancy Cox: None declared, Charles M. Stein: None declared, QiPeng Feng: None declared, Cecilia P. Chung: None declared

Reinvention of hermaphroditism via activation of a RADIALIS-like gene in hexaploid persimmon

In flowering plants, different lineages have independently transitioned from the ancestral hermaphroditic state into and out of various sexual systems¹. Polyploidizations are often associated with this plasticity in sexual systems^2,3. Persimmons (the genus Diospyros) have evolved dioecy via lineage-specific palaeoploidizations. More recently, hexaploid D. kaki has established monoecy and also exhibits reversions from male to hermaphrodite flowers in response to natural environmental signals (natural hermaphroditism, NH), or to artificial cytokinin treatment (artificial hermaphroditism, AH). We sought to identify the molecular pathways underlying these polyploid-specific reversions to hermaphroditism. Co-expression network analyses identified regulatory pathways specific to NH or AH transitions. Surprisingly, the two pathways appeared to be antagonistic, with abscisic acid and cytokinin signalling for NH and AH, respectively. Among the genes common to both pathways leading to hermaphroditic flowers, we identified a small-Myb RADIALIS-like gene, named DkRAD, which is specifically activated in hexaploid D. kaki. Consistently, ectopic overexpression of DkRAD in two model plants resulted in hypergrowth of the gynoecium. These results suggest that production of hermaphrodite flowers via polyploidization depends on DkRAD activation, which is not associated with a loss-of-function within the existing sex determination pathway, but rather represents a new path to (or reinvention of) hermaphroditism.

[Epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors for high risk cardiovascular disease population in Jiangsu province]

Objective: To investigate the detection types and aggregation of high-risk population of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Jiangsu province and the related influencing factors to provide reference for the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease. Methods: A total of 120 211 participants were included in the investigation. Information was collected by questionnaire based survey, physical examination and biochemical tests. χ² test and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: The detection rate of CVD high risk was 25.03%. The detection rates were 19.01%, 4.85%, 3.18% and 5.31% for hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular history and WHO assessed risk ≥20% types, respectively. Male, rural, old age, low education level, low family income, drinking, waist circumference exceeding standard, overweight and obesity were risk factors of CVD (all P<0.01). The composition ratios of aggregation of 1, 2 and ≥3 high risk types of CVD were 74.01%, 22.91% and 3.08%, respectively. With the increase of aggregation types, the correlation strength increased with age, rural residents, education level and annual family income. Conclusion: Targeted measures should be carried out according to different influencing factors for the prevention and control of CVD in Jiangsu province in order to achieve the maximum prevention and control effect with the minimum cost.

[Mediating effect of physical activity on association between sedentary leisure-time and obesity indexes among hypertensive individuals]

Objective: To explore the mediating effect of physical activity on association between sedentary leisure-time and obesity indexes among hypertensive individuals. Methods: After excluding of those with a prior history of heart disease, stroke and cancer, a total of 20 178 hypertensive participants in the China Kadooire Biobank (CKB) study from Wuzhong district of Suzhou city were included. Mediating effect analysis was used to analyze the mediating effect of physical activity (PA) on correlation between sedentary leisure-time and body fat percentage (BFP), waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI). Results: After adjusted for age, gender, smoking status, alcohol consumption, education levels, intake frequencies of meat and intake frequencies of fresh fruit, sedentary leisure-time (SLT) was negatively correlated with PA (β=-0.246, P<0.001), but positively associated with BFP (β=0.061, P<0.001), WC (β=0.087, P<0.001) and BMI (β=0.071, P<0.001). After including the mediator variable PA, the direct effect of SLT on obesity index was still significant. PA was negatively correlated with BFP, WC and BMI (β=-0.052, -0.083 and -0.028, respectively, P<0.001). Analysis of mediating effect indicated that the association of SLT with BFP, WC and BMI were partly mediated by PA, the proportion of mediating effect was 20.820%, 23.421% and 9.915%. Stratified by gender, PA had mediating effect on SLT and all obesity indexes in women, while only on SLT and BFP and WC in men. Conclusions: There is a significant mediating effect of PA on correlation between SLT and obesity indexes among hypertensive individuals. Hypertensive patients should increase the level of physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior to achieve a profounder healthy effect.

[Association between occupational hazard exposures and small airway function among middle-aged and elderly people]

Objective: To investigate the association between occupational hazard exposures and small airway function among middle-aged and elderly people. Methods: From July to December in 2015, a multistage cluster random sampling method was used to select 3 600 residents aged 40 years old and above from 6 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease surveillance points in Jiangsu province. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect relevant information. Multivariable linear regression model was performed to determine the relationship between occupational hazard exposures and small airway function. Results: A total of 3 347 participants were included in the final analysis, and 44.6% of participants had been exposed to occupational hazard exposures. Compared with participants without the exposure history of occupational hazards, the significantly lower post-bronchodilator FEF_50%, FEF_75% and MMEF levels were observed in those with the exposure history of occupational hazards (β=-82.74, -55.43 and -91.57, respectively). Post-bronchodilator FEF_75% and MMEF (β=-51.78 and -79.47, respectively) in the participants with the exposure history of occupational dust and post-bronchodilator FEF_50%, FEF_75% and MMEF (β=-96.84, -32.87 and -75.72, respectively) in the participants with the exposure history of occupational harmful gas all showed a lower level. Post-bronchodilator FEF_75% was negatively associated with occupational hazard exposures in males (β_male=-91.65 vs. β_female=-27.21, P for interaction=0.022). Conclusions: The small airway function is worse in the middle-aged and elderly population with the exposure history of occupational hazards, and it is more significant in the male population.

Genomics-based discrimination of 2n gamete formation mechanisms in polyploids: a case study in nonaploid Diospyros kaki 'Akiou'

Unreduced gametes (2n gametes), possessing double the haploid genome, whatever ploidy that happens to be, are a common source of ploidy variation in plant populations. First and second division restitution (FDR and SDR) are the dominant mechanisms of 2n gamete production; all else being equal, FDR gametes have a higher degree of heterozygosity, thus they are advantageous in breeding. The discrimination of these mechanisms from the consequence of hybridization is challenging, especially in higher polyploids, and usually requires information on centromere location. In this study, we propose a genotyping-based strategy to uncover the mechanisms of 2n gamete formation in progeny that has a higher ploidy than its parents. Simulation of 2n gamete production revealed that FDR and SDR pathways can be discriminated based on allele transmission patterns alone without information on centromere location. We applied this strategy to study the formation mechanism of a nonaploid Diospyros kaki ‘Akiou', which was bred via hybridization between D. kaki hexaploid cultivars. The result demonstrated that ‘Akiou' was derived from the fertilization of a normal female gamete by a 2n male gamete and that this 2n gamete was produced through FDR. Consequently, the distinct duplex transmission pattern in the FDR gamete enabled us to infer the genomic characteristics of polyploid persimmon. The method could be tested only for the plant being polypoid, which allows for the ability to discriminate causes of 2n gamete formation using allele dosage in progeny, and will be useful in future studies of polyploid genomics.

Large trans-ethnic meta-analysis identifies AKR1C4 as a novel gene associated with age at menarche

STUDY QUESTION

Does the expansion of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to a broader range of ancestries improve the ability to identify and generalise variants associated with age at menarche (AAM) in European populations to a wider range of world populations?

SUMMARY ANSWER

By including women with diverse and predominantly non-European ancestry in a large-scale meta-analysis of AAM with half of the women being of African ancestry, we identified a new locus associated with AAM in African-ancestry participants, and generalised loci from GWAS of European ancestry individuals.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

AAM is a highly polygenic puberty trait associated with various diseases later in life. Both AAM and diseases associated with puberty timing vary by race or ethnicity. The majority of GWAS of AAM have been performed in European ancestry women.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

We analysed a total of 38 546 women who did not have predominantly European ancestry backgrounds: 25 149 women from seven studies from the ReproGen Consortium and 13 397 women from the UK Biobank. In addition, we used an independent sample of 5148 African-ancestry women from the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS) for replication.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Each AAM GWAS was performed by study and ancestry or ethnic group using linear regression models adjusted for birth year and study-specific covariates. ReproGen and UK Biobank results were meta-analysed using an inverse variance-weighted average method. A trans-ethnic meta-analysis was also carried out to assess heterogeneity due to different ancestry.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

We observed consistent direction and effect sizes between our meta-analysis and the largest GWAS conducted in European or Asian ancestry women. We validated four AAM loci (1p31, 6q16, 6q22 and 9q31) with common genetic variants at P < 5 × 10-7. We detected one new association (10p15) at P < 5 × 10-8 with a low-frequency genetic variant lying in AKR1C4, which was replicated in an independent sample. This gene belongs to a family of enzymes that regulate the metabolism of steroid hormones and have been implicated in the pathophysiology of uterine diseases. The genetic variant in the new locus is more frequent in African-ancestry participants, and has a very low frequency in Asian or European-ancestry individuals.

LARGE SCALE DATA

N/A.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Extreme AAM (<9 years or >18 years) were excluded from analysis. Women may not fully recall their AAM as most of the studies were conducted many years later. Further studies in women with diverse and predominantly non-European ancestry are needed to confirm and extend these findings, but the availability of such replication samples is limited.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Expanding association studies to a broader range of ancestries or ethnicities may improve the identification of new genetic variants associated with complex diseases or traits and the generalisation of variants from European-ancestry studies to a wider range of world populations.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

Funding was provided by CHARGE Consortium grant R01HL105756-07: Gene Discovery For CVD and Aging Phenotypes and by the NIH grant U24AG051129 awarded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Genome-wide study on the polysomic genetic factors conferring plasticity of flower sexuality in hexaploid persimmon

Sexuality is one of the fundamental mechanisms that work towards maintaining genetic diversity within a species. In diploid persimmons (Diospyros spp.), separated sexuality, the presence of separate male and female individuals (dioecy), is controlled by the Y chromosome-encoded small-RNA gene, OGI. On the other hand, sexuality in hexaploid Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki) is more plastic, with OGI-bearing genetically male individuals, able to produce both male and female flowers (monoecy). This is thought to be linked to the partial inactivation of OGI by a retrotransposon insertion, resulting in DNA methylation of the OGI promoter region. To identify the genetic factors regulating branch sexual conversion, genome-wide correlation/association analyses were conducted using ddRAD-Seq data from an F₁ segregating population, and using both quantitative and diploidized genotypes, respectively. We found that allelic ratio at the Y-chromosomal region, including OGI, was correlated with male conversion based on quantitative genotypes, suggesting that OGI can be activated in cis in a dosage-dependent manner. Genome-wide association analysis based on diploidized genotypes, normalized for the effect of OGI allele dosage, detected three fundamental loci associated with male conversion. These loci underlie candidate genes, which could potentially act epigenetically for the activation of OGI expression.

[Analysis on prediction power of HIV infection risk assessment tool in men who have sex with men in Guizhou province]

Objective: To evaluate the prediction power of HIV infection risk assessment tool and the applicability in MSM in Guizhou province. Methods: MSM were recruited through snowball sampling method. Questionnaire surveys were conducted among the MSM using HIV infection risk assessment tool, and combined with HIV serologic test results, the risk prediction power of HIV infection risk assessment tool was evaluated. Results: A total of 3 379 MSM were recruited from January 2018 to December 2019 in Guizhou. The HIV infection rate was 3.3%(111/3 379). The mean risk scores of HIV positive and HIV negative MSM were (12.15±3.08) and (12.07±3.07), respectively. The difference in risk score was significant between MSM with different HIV status (t=8.69, P<0.001). According to the principle of decision tree, individual risk scores were divided into following three categories: ≤11.96, 11.97-14.80 and >14.80, the HIV infection rate was 0.8%, 4.3% and 8.6% respectively, suggesting that the higher the individual risk score was, the higher the HIV infection rate was (trend χ²=88.18, P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the higher the individual risk score was, the higher the risk of HIV infection was. Compared to the total score ≤11.96, the aOR values at total scores of 11.97-14.80 and >14.80 were 6.34 (95%CI: 3.38-11.88) and 14.07(95%CI: 7.44-26.61), respectively. The risk of HIV infection in Miao ethnic group was higher than that in Han ethnic group (aOR=1.83, 95%CI:1.04-3.21), and the risk of HIV infection in those with education level of primary school and below was higher than that in undergraduates or those with education level of junior college and above (aOR=2.50, 95%CI:1.06-5.88), and the risk of HIV infection was higher in those who had bisexual behaviors than in those who had homosexual behaviors (aOR=1.95, 95%CI:1.19-3.19). The risk of HIV infection was higher in those who had never received HIV testing (aOR=1.53, 95%CI:1.01-2.33). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under ROC (AUC) for HIV infection prediction was 0.751 (95%CI:0.710-0.792, P<0.001). The maximum Youden's index was individual risk score of 12.56, and the sensitivity of the risk assessment tool was 0.838, and its specificity was 0.412. Conclusions: The results of HIV infection risk assessment tool in Guizhou indicated that in MSM the higher the individual risk score, the higher the risk of HIV infection is. The tool can be used to evaluate the risk of HIV infection in MSM, but the specificity should be improved.

Functional and expressional analyses of apple FLC-like in relation to dormancy progress and flower bud development

We previously identified the FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC)-like gene, a MADS-box transcription factor gene that belongs to Arabidopsis thaliana L. FLC clade, in apple (Malus $\times$  domestica Borkh.), and its expression in dormant flower buds is positively correlated with cumulative cold exposure. To elucidate the role of the MdFLC-like in the dormancy process and flower development, we first characterized the phenotypes of MdFLC-like overexpressing lines with the Arabidopsis Columbia-0 background. The overexpression of MdFLC-like significantly delayed the bolting date and reduced the plant size, but it did not significantly affect the number of rosette leaves or flower organ formation. Thus, MdFLC-like may affect vegetative growth and development rather than flowering when expressed in Arabidopsis, which is not like Arabidopsis FLC that affects development of flowering. We compared seasonal expression patterns of MdFLC-like in low-chill 'Anna' and high-chill 'Fuji' and 'Tsugaru' apples collected from trees grown in a cold winter region in temperate zone and found an earlier upregulation in 'Anna' compared with 'Fuji' and 'Tsugaru'. Expression patterns were also compared in relation to developmental changes in the flower primordia during the chilling accumulation period. Overall, MdFLC-like was progressively upregulated during flower primordia differentiation and development in autumn to early winter and reached a maximum expression level at around the same time as the genotype-dependent chilling requirements were fulfilled in high-chill cultivars. Thus, we hypothesize MdFLC-like may be upregulated in response to cold exposure and flower primordia development during the progress of endodormancy. Our study also suggests MdFLC-like may have a growth-inhibiting function during the end of endodormancy and ecodormancy when the temperature is low and unfavorable for rapid bud outgrowth.

Preharvest long-term exposure to UV-B radiation promotes fruit ripening and modifies stage-specific anthocyanin metabolism in highbush blueberry

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) light (280-315 nm) is an important environmental signal that regulates plant development and photomorphogenesis, while also affecting the flavonoid pathway, including anthocyanin biosynthesis. Regarding the effects of UV-B radiation on fruits, the effects of a short-term or postharvest irradiation on fruit quality have been well-documented, but the effects of a long-term preharvest UV-B irradiation on fruit growth and coloration remain unclear. Thus, in this study, we investigated the effects of a long-term treatment involving an environmentally relevant UV-B dose on highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) fruit. The preharvest UV-B treatment quickly promoted fruit growth and sugar accumulation, which is not commonly observed in other fruit tree species. The UV-B exposure also accelerated fruit ripening and coloration. The dual-luciferase assay proved that in blueberries, expression of VcUFGT encoding anthocyanin biosynthesis key enzyme, is positively and negatively regulated by VcMYBA1 and VcMYBC2, respectively. Throughout the fruit development stage, the UV-B treatment up-regulated VcMYBPA1 expression, which increased VcUFGT expression via VcMYBA1. In the green fruit stage, the UV-B treatment increased HY5 encoding UV receptor, which up-regulates VcMYBPA1 and down-regulates VcMYBC2, thereby promotes the accumulation of anthocyanins. On the other hand, excessive anthocyanin synthesis was inhibited by increased VcMYBC2 levels in mature fruits when exposed to UV-B light through HY5-independent pathway. In conclusion, anthocyanin-related MYB activators and repressor may coordinately balance the accumulation of anthocyanins in blueberry fruits, with UV-B treatments possibly influencing their effects in a stage-specific manner. The potential utility of preharvest UV-B treatments for improving blueberry fruit quality is discussed herein.

Down-regulation of long non-coding RNA DUXAP8 suppresses proliferation, metastasis and EMT by modulating miR-498 through TRIM44-mediated AKT/mTOR pathway in non-small-cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

The long non-coding RNA double homeobox A pseudogene 8 (DUXAP8) was reported to be involved in the initiation and development of multiple cancers. However, the detailed biological role of DUXAP8 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to explore the biological function and molecular mechanism of DUXAP8 in NSCLC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The levels of DUXAP8, microRNA-498 (miR-498) and tripartite motif-44 (TRIM44) were detected by Quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The cell proliferation, migration and invasion were detected by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and transwell assays. Protein expression levels were detected by Western blot. The target relationships among DUXAP8, miR-498 and TRIM44 were predicted by starBase2.0 and confirmed using luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. To detect the role of DUXAP8 in vivo, tumor xenografts were created.

RESULTS

DUXAP8 and TRIM44 were upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, while miR-498 was downregulated. Functionally, knockdown of DUXAP8 could repress proliferation, migration, invasion, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and phosphorylation of AKT/mTOR in NSCLC cells. This inhibition could be restored by inhibiting miR-498 or overexpressing TRIM44. Furthermore, we also observed a positive correlation between DUXAP8 and TRIM44 expression, while the expressions of miR-498 and DUXAP8, as well as miR-498 and TRIM44, were negatively correlated in NSCLC tissues. Importantly, DUXAP8 could regulate the expression of TRIM44 via miR-498. Moreover, knockdown of DUXAP8 notably decreased the xenograft tumor volume, weight and number of metastatic nodules in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results identified that LncRNA DUXAP8 could regulate cell proliferation, metastasis and EMT in NSCLC cells by inhibiting miR-498 through the activation of TRIM44-mediated AKT/mTOR pathway.

Quantitative analysis of auxin metabolites in lychee flowers

To investigate the modulation of endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) level by biosynthesis and inactivation during floral development, IAA and its metabolites were analyzed by LC-ESI/MS/MS in Lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) flowers. In the bloomed flowers, the level of free IAA was higher in males than in females. In contrast, the total sum level of IAA metabolites was higher in females than in males, suggesting a higher biosynthetic activity of IAA in the females before the bloom. A detailed time-course analysis from the bud stage to the developing flower stage showed higher levels of IAA in females than males. The major metabolites were oxidized IAA in both sexes. The results suggest that IAA is involved in the maturation of female floral tissues in lychee, and oxidative metabolism plays an essential role in controlling the free IAA levels therein.

Genome-Wide Identification of Loci Associated With Phenology-Related Traits and Their Adaptive Variations in a Highbush Blueberry Collection

Genetic variation in phenological traits is the key in expanding production areas of crops. Southern highbush blueberry (SHB) is a blueberry cultivar group adapted to warmer climates and has been developed by multiple interspecific hybridizations between elite northern highbush blueberry (NHB) (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and low-chill Vaccinium species native to the southern United States. In this study, we employed a collection of diverse SHB accessions and performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for five phenology-related traits [chilling requirement (CR), flowering date, ripening date, fruit development period, and continuous flowering] using polyploid GWAS models. Phenology-related traits showed higher heritability and larger correlation coefficients between year replications, which resulted in the detection of robust phenotype-genotype association peaks. Notably, a single association peak for the CR was detected on Chromosome 4. Comparison of genotypes at the GWAS peaks between NHB and SHB revealed the putative introgression of low-chill and late-flowering alleles into the highbush genetic pool. Our results provide basic insights into the diversity of phenological traits in blueberry and the genetic establishment of current highbush cultivar groups.

Molecular Mechanism Underlying Derepressed Male Production in Hexaploid Persimmon

Sex expression in plants is often flexible and contributes to the maintenance of genetic diversity within a species. In diploid persimmons (the genus Diospyros), the sexuality is controlled by the Y chromosome-encoded small-RNA gene, OGI, and its autosomal counterpart, MeGI. Hexaploid Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki) evolved more flexible sex expression, where genetically male individuals carrying OGI can produce both male and female flowers (monoecy). This is due to (semi-)inactivation of OGI by the Kali-SINE retrotransposon insertion on the promoter region and the resultant DNA methylations. Instead, flower sex determination in Oriental persimmon is also dependent on DNA methylation states of MeGI. Here, we focused on a cultivar, Kumemaru, which shows stable male flower production. Our results demonstrated that cv. Kumemaru carries OGI with Kali-SINE, which was highly methylated as well as in other monoecious cultivars; nevertheless, OGI gene could have a basal expression level. Transcriptomic analysis between cv. Kumemaru and 14 cultivars that predominantly produce female flowers showed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) specific to cv. Kumemaru, which is mainly involved in stress responses. Co-expression gene networks focusing on the DEGs also suggested the involvement of stress signals, mainly via gibberellin (GA), salicylic acid (SA), and especially jasmonic acid (JA) signal pathways. We also identified potential regulators of this co-expression module, represented by the TCP4 transcription factor. Furthermore, we attempted to identify cv. Kumemaru-specific transcript polymorphisms potentially contributing to derepressed OGI expression by cataloging subsequences (k-mers) in the transcriptomic reads from cv. Kumemaru and the other 14 female cultivars. Overall, although the direct genetic factor to activate OGI remains to be solved, our results implied the involvement of stress signals in the release of silenced OGI and the resultant continuous male production.

[Risk factors of permanent stoma in rectal cancer patients undergoing transabdominal anterior resection with temporary stoma]

Objective: To investigate the risk factors of turning temporary stoma into permanent stoma in rectal cancer patients undergoing transabdominal anterior resection with temporary stoma. Methods: A case-control study was carried out. Data of rectal cancer patients who underwent transabdominal anterior resection with temporary stoma and completed follow-up in Department of General Surgery of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from June 2008 to June 2018 were collected and analyzed. In this study, temporary stoma included defunctioning stoma (ostomy was made during operation) and salvage stoma (ostomy was made within one month after operation due to anastomotic leakage or severe complications). Cases of multiple intestinal tumors were excluded. A total of 308 rectal cancer patients were enrolled in the study, including 198 males and 110 females with a median age of 56 (48-65) years. Ninety-four patients received intraperitoneal chemotherapy during operation. Among 308 patients, upper rectal cancer was observed in 64 cases, middle rectal cancer in 89 cases and low rectal cancer in 155 cases. Twenty patients underwent transverse colostomy and 288 underwent ileostomy. Phone call following-up was conducted from August to September 2019 to investigate whether stoma was reversed, causes of reversal failure, and tumor relapsed or not in detail. Permanent stoma was defined as that the stoma was still not reversed by the latest follow-up. The univariate analysis was performed with chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, and variables with P value < 0.10 were included in the non-conditional logistic regression model for multivariate analysis. Results: The median follow-up time was 54.3 (32.4-73.8) months. During follow-up, 8 cases had local recurrence and 37 cases had distant metastasis. Among the 308 patients with temporary ostomy, 247 (80.2%) patients had stomas reversed and the median interval time was 4.5 (3.5-6.1) months. The median interval time in 65 patients with salvage stoma was significantly longer that in 182 patients with defunctioning stoma [5.5 (4.3-7.5) vs. 4.2 (3.4-5.5) months; Z=-4.387, P<0.001]. The temporary ostomy was confirmed to become permanent stoma in 61 patients (19.8%), including 45 cases of defunctioning stoma and 16 cases of salvage stoma. Univariate analysis showed that preoperative anemia, intraperitoneal chemotherapy during operation, middle rectal cancer, transverse colostomy, pathological stage, postoperative local recurrence and distant metastasis were associated with permanent stoma (all P<0.10). Multivariate analysis revealed that the intraperitoneal chemotherapy during operation (OR=1.961, 95% CI: 1.029-3.738, P=0.041), middle rectal cancer (OR=2.401, 95% CI: 1.195-4.826, P=0.014), transverse colostomy (OR=3.433, 95% CI: 1.234-9.553, P=0.018), and distant metastasis (OR=8.282, 95% CI:3.820-17.954, P<0.001) were independent risk factors of permanent stoma. Conclusions: There is high risk of turning temporary stoma into permanent stoma among rectal cancer patients undergoing transabdominal anterior resection who receive intraperitoneal chemotherapy during operation, present as the middle rectal cancer, undergo transverse colostomy or develop distant metastasis. Surgeons need to evaluate and balance the risks and benefits thoroughly, and then inform the patients in order to avoid potential conflicts.

[Association between family history of diabetes and incident diabetes of adults: a prospective study]

Objective: To evaluate the association betweew family history of diabetes and incident diabetes of adults. Methods: A total of 49 266 participants in the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) study from Wuzhong district of Suzhou city were included in the analysis, after the exclusion of those with heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes at baseline survey. The person-year of follow-up was calculated from the date on completion of baseline survey to the date on any firstly-occurred event, i.e., diabetes incidence, death, loss of follow-up, or December 31, 2013. Cox regression model was used to estimate the hazards ratios of the association between family history of diabetes and incident diabetes. Results: During 348 677 person-years of the follow-up (median 7.08 years), a total of 423 men and 791 women were diagnosed as having diabetes. Compared to those without diabetic family history, participants with family history of diabetes showed a higher risk of diabetes, with a HR (95%CI) of 1.90 (1.57-2.29), and the risk increased with the number of relatives suffering from diabetes (Pfor trend<0.05). The family history of maternal type, sibling type, and sibling and parental type had a statistically significant association with the risk of diabetes. The adjusted HR (95%CI) was 2.03 (1.45-2.77), 2.07 (1.56-2.68) and 2.39 (1.14-4.34), respectively. Modification effects of tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, body mass index and physical activity on the association between diabetic family history and risk of diabetes were not observed in the study (Pfor interaction >0.05). Conclusions: Diabetic family history is associated with the increased incident diabetes, and the risk increased with the number of relatives suffering from diabetes.

[A study on the relationship between insufficient sleep and obesity among children and adolescents in China]

Objective: To analyze the relationship between insufficient sleep and obesity or central obesity in Chinese Han children and adolescents aged 9-18 years. Methods: A total of 172 710 students who participated in the 2014 Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health with complete data of sleep duration and physical examination, were selected as study subjects. Insufficient sleep was defined, according to the amount of sleep for pediatric populations recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Obesity and central obesity of children and adolescents were judged by experts from the Group of China Obesity Task Force and Health Industry Standards in China. Differences between groups were compared by using the t test or χ(2) test. Logistic regression method was applied to assess the relationship between insufficient sleep and obesity or central obesity. Results: In 2014, numbers of students with insufficient sleep, obesity and central obesity among Chinese Han children and adolescents aged 9-18 years appeared as 133 410 (77.2%), 11 145 (6.5%), and 12 603 (17.8%), respectively. Among the students with insufficient sleep, 8 358 (6.3%) were with obesity and 12 244 (17.9%) were with central obesity. The prevalence of obesity and central obesity among boys with insufficient sleep was higher than that in girls. Pupils with insufficient sleep showed the highest prevalence of obesity and central obesity. After controlling for potential confounders, the risk of obesity appeared an increase of 14.5% (OR=1.145, 95%CI: 1.092-1.200) and the risk of central obesity increased by 12.7% (OR=1.127, 95%CI: 1.078-1.178) in students with insufficient sleep, when compared with those with adequate sleep. Compared with those whose daily sleep duration was less than 6 hours, the ones who slept 7-10 hours per day showed significantly reduction on the risk of obesity and central obesity in students. Conclusions: Insufficient sleep significantly increase the risk of obesity and central obesity in children and adolescents while adequate sleep of 7-10 hours per day would reduce the risk of obesity and central obesity in students.

[Clinical application effects of portable visual retractor in superficial temporal fascia flap harvesting]

Objective: To explore the clinical application effects of portable visual retractor in superficial temporal fascia flap harvesting. Methods: From January 2010 to June 2019, 27 patients meeting the inclusion criteria and planning to perform operation of superficial temporal fascia flap harvesting were admitted to the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the First Clinical Medical Center of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital. The patients were divided into traditional surgical method group [6 males and 3 females, aged (34±14) years], cold light source retractor group [6 males and 4 females, aged (35±16) years], and portable visual retractor group [7 males and 1 female, aged (30±14) years] according to way of superficial temporal fascia flap harvesting. The superficial temporal fascia flaps of patients in traditional surgical method group were resected by traditional way of resection, and the superficial temporal fascia flaps of patients in cold light source retractor group and portable visual retractor group were resected at assistance of cold light source retractor and portable visual retractor, respectively. Length of incision, operation time, intraoperative blood loss volume, postoperative drainage volume, and postoperative complication of patients in 3 groups were observed and recorded. Data were processed with Fisher's exact probability test, one-way analysis of variance, least significant difference test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Bonferroni correction. Results: The length of incision of patients in visual retractor group was (3.6±0.8) cm, significantly shorter than (12.6±1.6) cm in traditional surgical method group and (5.8±0.9) cm in cold light source retractor group (P<0.05). The incision length of patients in traditional surgical method group was significantly longer than that in cold light source retractor group (P<0.05). The operation time of patients in visual retractor group was 24.0 (23.3, 25.8) min, significantly shorter than 35.0 (30.5, 36.5) min in traditional surgical method group and 28.5 (26.8, 30.5) min in cold light source retractor group (H=16.5, 9.8, P<0.05). The operation time of patients in traditional surgical method group was significantly longer than that in cold light source retractor group (H=6.6, P<0.05). The intraoperative blood loss volume was (26±3) mL of patients in visual retractor group, significantly less than (34±4) mL in traditional surgical method group and (30±6) mL in cold light source retractor group (P<0.05). The intraoperative blood loss volume of patients in traditional surgical method group was significantly more than that in cold light source retractor group (P<0.05). The postoperative drainage volumes of patients in visual retractor group, cold light source retractor group, and traditional surgical method group were (33±4), (34±6), and (31±7) mL, respectively, and there were no significantly statistical differences in postoperative drainage volumes among patients in the three groups (F=0.3, P>0.05). There were no severe complications such as ischemia and necrosis of superficial temporal fascia flaps in patients of the three groups. One patient in cold light source retractor group had subcutaneous hematoma after operation, which was improved by removing stitches and hematoma. Conclusions: Superficial temporal fascia flap harvesting at the assistance of portable visual retractor has the advantages of clear visual field, simple operation, short operation time, small incision, and less intraoperative blood loss.

The persimmon genome reveals clues to the evolution of a lineage-specific sex determination system in plants

Most angiosperms bear hermaphroditic flowers, but a few species have evolved outcrossing strategies, such as dioecy, the presence of separate male and female individuals. We previously investigated the mechanisms underlying dioecy in diploid persimmon (D. lotus) and found that male flowers are specified by repression of the autosomal gene MeGI by its paralog, the Y-encoded pseudo-gene OGI. This mechanism is thought to be lineage-specific, but its evolutionary path remains unknown. Here, we developed a full draft of the diploid persimmon genome (D. lotus), which revealed a lineage-specific whole-genome duplication event and provided information on the architecture of the Y chromosome. We also identified three paralogs, MeGI, OGI and newly identified Sister of MeGI (SiMeGI). Evolutionary analysis suggested that MeGI underwent adaptive evolution after the whole-genome duplication event. Transformation of tobacco plants with MeGI and SiMeGI revealed that MeGI specifically acquired a new function as a repressor of male organ development, while SiMeGI presumably maintained the original function. Later, a segmental duplication event spawned MeGI’s regulator OGI on the Y-chromosome, completing the path leading to dioecy, and probably initiating the formation of the Y-chromosome. These findings exemplify how duplication events can provide flexible genetic material available to help respond to varying environments and provide interesting parallels for our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the transition into dieocy in plants.

Plant sexuality has fascinated scientists for decades. Most plants can self-reproduce but not all. For example, a small subset of species have evolved a system called dioecy, with separate male and female individuals. Dioecy has evolved multiple times independently and, while we do not understand the molecular mechanisms underlying dioecy in many of these species yet, a picture is starting to emerge with recent progress in several dioecious species. Here, we focused on the evolutionary events leading to dioecy in persimmon. Our previous work had identified a pair of genes regulating sex in this species, called OGI and MeGI. We drafted the whole genome sequence of diploid persimmon to investigate their evolutionary history. We discovered a lineage-specific whole-genome duplication event, and observed that MeGI underwent adaptive evolution after this event. Transgenic analyses validated that MeGI newly acquired a male-suppressor function, while the other copy of this gene, SiMeGI, did not. The regulator of MeGI, OGI, resulted from a second smaller-scale segmental duplication event, finalizing the system. This study sheds light on the role of duplication as a mechanism that promote flexible genes functions, and how it can affect important biological functions, such as the establishment of a new sexual system.

Epigenetic Flexibility Underlies Somaclonal Sex Conversions in Hexaploid Persimmon

Epigenetic regulation adds a flexible layer to genetic variations, potentially enabling long-term, but reversible, changes to a trait, while maintaining genetic information. In the hexaploid Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki), genetically monoecious cultivars bearing male flowers require the Y-encoded small RNA (smRNA) gene, OGI. This gene represses the expression of its autosomal counterpart gene, MeGI, as part of the canonical male production system. However, a D. kaki cultivar, Saijo, which lacks the OGI gene and originally bears only female flowers, occasionally produces somaclonal mutant male and revertant female (RF) branches. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying these somaclonal sex conversions in persimmon. Specifically, we aimed to unravel how a genetically female tree without the OGI gene can produce male flowers and RF flowers. Applying multi-omics approaches, we revealed that this noncanonical male production system is basically consistent with the canonical system, in which the accumulation of smRNA targeting MeGI and the considerable DNA methylation of MeGI are involved. The epigenetic status of MeGI on CGN and CHG was synchronized to the genome-wide methylation patterns, both in transition to and from the male production system. These results suggest that the somaclonal sex conversions in persimmon are driven by the genome-wide epigenetic regulatory activities. Moreover, flexibility in the epigenetic layers of long-lived plant species (e.g. trees) is important for overcoming genetic robustness.

[Monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma: a clinicopathological analysis of twelve cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL). Methods: A total of 12 specimens were collected, which were surgically resected and verified as MEITL by postoperative pathology, immumohistochemical staining and gene rearrangement at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2012 to 2018, and all of these had complete clinical and pathological data. The MEITL cases were reviewed to compare the clinicopathological characteristics, including morphologic and immunophenotypic features and followed up by telephone and clinic visit. Results: All the cases were diagnosed with MEITL. There were 8 males and 4 females. Male to female ratio was 2∶1, at a median age of 54 years. The sites of involvement included jejunum (4 cases), ileum (5 cases), duodenum (1 case), ileocecal junction (1 case) and rectum (1 case). The neoplastic cells were monotonous of small to intermediate cells in size with round to slightly irregular nuclei in 11 cases. The immunophenotyping showed that CD3 (12/12), CD8 (11/12), CD43 (11/12), CD56 (11/12), TIA-1 (12/12) were positive; CD5 (12/12), Gran B (9/12), and perforin (7/12) were negative. Two cases aberrantly expressed the B-cell marker CD20. A high proliferation index was demonstrated by Ki-67 immunostaining. In situ hybridization for EBER was all negative(12/12). The whole exome sequencing(WES) mutational landscape of MEITL was remarkably homogeneous, showing significantly enriched clusters among histone modifier genes, JAK-STAT and MAPK-signal pathways. Histonelysine N-methytransferase SETD2 gene was mutated in 2/4 tumors. All the patients analyzed harbored at least one mutation in the JAK-STAT signal pathway, including STAT5B (2/4), JAK3 (3/4) and STAT5A (2/4). Furthermore, frequent alterations (TP53) were observed in the MAPK pathway in 3/4 of MEITL cases. The CNV analysis derived from WES data identified multiple regions of frequent gains and losses. In particular, gains in 1q, 7q and 9q, and recurrent losses involving 7p and 8p were observed. Conclusions: MEITL is a rare and aggressive type of extranodal T-cell lymphoma. The differential diagnosis of MEITL includes EATL, extranodal NT/T-cell lymphoma and other types of PTCL. Diagnosis should be correlated to clinical symptoms while the final diagnosis is mainly based on the pathological features, immunophenotypes and genetic testing.

[Interpretation of clinical practice guideline for anorectal day surgery 2019 edition]

As the rapid development of minimally invasive techniques, anesthesia, and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), anorectal day surgery receiving more and more attention by improving efficiency of medical care while reducing cost and hospitalized infection. However, day surgery also faces the challenge of completing the whole process from patient admission to discharge within 24 hours. Therefore, establishing a reasonable and detailed day surgery process is the cornerstone to guarantee safe medical practice and patients satisfaction. National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya), together with China Ambulatory Surgery Alliance formulates the clinical practice guideline for anorectal day surgery 2019 edition. Here we make some interpretations of the guidelines on the detailed process of anorectal day surgery, including indication, preoperative examination, preoperative risk evaluation, health education, assessment of day surgery anesthesia and before leaving postanesthesia care unit (PACU), postoperative management, assessment of discharge and follow-up, for the convenience of various medical centers.

Works on heart, how about brain? Effect of hyperkalemia on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of hyperkalemia on the brain after I/R in h transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 120 adult male SD rats were randomly assigned to four groups: (1) hyperkalemia 80 µg/g (HK80) group; (2) hyperkalemia 40 µg/g (HK40) group; (3) normal saline (NS) group; (4) sham (SH) group. The concentration of serum K+ was elevated in HK80 and HK40 groups. The transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model was used to assess the effect of hyperkalemia on the brain after I/R. After 24 h reperfusion, the infarct volume and cell damage of rat's I/R brain tissue sections were analyzed. The concentration of K+, Ca2+ and calmodulin (CaM), the activity of Ca-ATPase, the expression of Western blot of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 1 (NCX1), were also measured.

RESULTS

After 24 h reperfusion, compared with NS group, the two-hyperkalemia groups (HK80 and HK40) were with less infarct volume and cell damage, higher concentration of K+ but lower Ca2+ and CaM compared with NS group. The activity of Ca-ATPase was also elevated, the expression of CaMK II and NCX1 were down-regulated in the two hyperkalemia groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperkalemia could also ameliorate the brain I/R injury by alleviating calcium overload inhibiting the activity of NCX1, lowering the concentration of Ca2+.