In recent years, the spread of clubroot disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae infection has seriously affected the yield and quality of Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.. The cascade of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), a highly conserved signaling pathway, plays an important role in plant responses to both biotic and abiotic stress conditions. To mine the MAPK genes related to clubroot disease resistance in B. juncea, we conducted a genome-wide analysis on this vegetable, and we analyzed the phylogenetic evolution and gene structure of the MAPK gene family in mustard. The 66 BjuMAPK genes identified by screening the whole genome sequence of B. juncea were unevenly distributed on 17 chromosomes. At the genomic scale, tandem repeats led to an increase in the number of MAPK genes in B. juncea. It was found that members of the same subfamily had similar gene structures, and there were great differences among different subfamilies. These predicted cis-acting elements were related to plant hormones, stress resistance, and plant growth and development. The expression of BjuMAPK02, BjuMAPK15, BjuMAPK17, and BjuMAPK19 were down-regulated or up-regulated in response to P. brassicae infection. The above results lay a theoretical foundation for further studying the functions of BjuMAPK genes in B. juncea in response to the biotic stress caused by clubroot disease.
Mustard Plant/parasitology* ; Plasmodiophorida/pathogenicity* ; Plant Diseases/genetics* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Phylogeny ; Disease Resistance/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genome, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics*

Objective:To compare the efficacy of modified "double flaps" pyeloplasty and traditional dismembered pyeloplasty in the treatment of special types of hydronephrosis with small pelvis and long proximal ureteral stricture in children.Methods:The data of 39 children with special types of hydronephrosis treated in Seventh Medical Center, General Hospital of PLA from June 2018 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 33 were boys and 6 were girls. The median age of the patients was 12.0(4.5, 63.5) months. Nine of them had left hydronephrosis and four children had right hydronephrosis. These patients with small pelvis existed the characteristics that the anteroposterior diameter of pelvis was smaller than 2.5 cm and these patients existed the symptom of hematuria, flank pain or recurrent urinary tract infection with the imaging revealing ureteral obstruction. The length of proximal ureteral stenosis ranged from 2.0 to 4.0 cm. Among 39 cases, 19 cases were operated with modified "double flaps" pyeloplasty, which was the modified "double flaps" pyeloplasty group. 20 cases were operated with traditional Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty, which was traditional pyeloplasty group. The technique of modified "double flaps" pyeloplasty mainly included that the renal pelvis was cut into double flaps, the inferior flap was anastomosed with the spatulated ureter and the superior was covered, so that the length and caliber of the ureter were partial extended. The median age of two groups were 12.0 (6.0, 44.0) months and 12.0 (4.8, 62.8) months respectively, the anterior and posterior diameter of renal pelvis were (2.8±0.8)cm and (2.6±0.6)cm respectively, and split renal function were (36.7±5.1)% and (36.0±6.8)% respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in above parameters between the two groups( P>0.05). The clinical efficacy of the two groups were compared by collecting and comparing the operation related data and postoperative follow-up data. Results:The operation of 39 children in this study was successfully completed without conversion to open surgery.The operation time of "double flap" pyeloplasty group and traditional pyeloplasty group were (142.6±9.6) min and (124.5±8.6) min respectively, and the intraoperative anastomosis time were (56.1±7.2) min and (47.6±4.8) min respectively. There were significant difference in operation time and intraoperative anastomosis time between the two groups( P<0.05). Thirty-nine children were followed up normally without loss. The mean follow-up time was (27.7±2.5) months after surgery. In the "double flaps" pyeloplasty group, 2 cases suffered with fever who were diagnosed as urinary tract infection and improved after antibiotic treatment. In the traditional pyeloplasty group, 2 cases suffered with fever who were diagnosed as urinary tract infection and improved after antibiotic treatment. Two children had flank pain during follow-up to more than one year and the examination revealed that the anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis gradually increased. So surgery were performed again and the two children recovered. There were no significant differences in complication rate (2/19 and 4/20) and short-term surgical success rate(19/19 and 18/20) between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The operation time and anastomosis time of the modified "double flap" technique for treating hydronephrosis are longer than those of the traditional method. But in the treatment of special types of hydronephrosis with small renal pelvis or long proximal ureteral stricture, it may have application prospects in reducing complications.

The WUSCHEL related-homeobox (WOX) family is one of the plant-specific transcription factor families, playing important roles in plant growth and development. In this study, 51 WOX gene family members were identified from the genome data of Brassica juncea by searching and screening with HUMMER, Smart and other software. Their protein molecular weight, amino acids numbers, and isoelectric point were analyzed by using Expasy online software. Furthermore, bioinformatics software was used to systematically analyze the evolutionary relationship, conservative region, and gene structure of the WOX gene family. The mustard WOX gene family was divided into three subfamilies: ancient clade, intermediate clade, and WUS clade/modern clade. Structural analysis showed that the type, organization form and gene structure of the conservative domain of WOX transcription factor family members in the same subfamily were highly consistent, while there was a certain diversity among different subfamilies. 51 WOX genes are distributed unevenly on 18 chromosomes of mustard. Most of the promoters of these genes contain cis acting elements related to light, hormone and abiotic stress. Using transcriptome data and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis, it was found that the expression of mustard WOX gene was spatio-temporal specific, among which BjuWOX25, BjuWOX33, and BjuWOX49 might play an important role in the development of silique, and BjuWOX10, BjuWOX32, and BjuWOX11, BjuWOX23 respectively might play an important role in the response to drought and high temperature stresses. The above results may facilitate the functional study of mustard WOX gene family.
Mustard Plant/genetics* ; Multigene Family/genetics* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Plants/genetics* ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect and explore the underlying mechanisms of Longxue Tongluo Capsule (LTC) on ischemic stroke rats. METHODS: Twenty-six rats were randomly divided into four groups, including sham group, sham + LTC group, MCAO group, and MCAO + LTC group. Ischemic stroke rats were simulated by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and LTC treatment group were orally administrated with 300 mg/kg of LTC once daily for seven consecutive days. LTC therapy was validated in terms of neurobehavioral abnormality evaluation, cerebral infarct area, and histological assessments. The plasma metabolome comparisons amongst different groups were conducted by UHPLC-Q Exactive MS in combination with subsequent multivariate statistical analysis, aiming to finding the molecules in respond to the surgery or LTC treatment. RESULTS: Intragastric administration of LTC significantly decreased not only the neurobehavioral abnormality scores but also the cerebral infarct area of MCAO rats. The interstitial edema, atrophy, and pyknosis of glial and neuronal cells occurred in the infarcted area, core area, and marginal area of cerebral cortex were improved after LTC treatment. A total of 13 potential biomarkers were observed, and Youden index of 11 biomarkers such as LysoPC, SM, and PE were more than 0.7, which were involved in neuroprotective process. The correlation and pathway analysis showed that LTC was beneficial to ischemic stroke rats via regulating glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism, together with nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. Heatmap and ternary analysis indicated the synergistic effect of carbohydrates and lipids may be induced by flavonoid intake from LTC. CONCLUSION The present study could provide evidence that metabolomics, as systematic approach, revealed its capacity to evaluate the holistic efficacy of TCM, and investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the clinical treatment of LTC on ischemic stroke.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy among reproductive-age women, characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, chronic low-grade inflammation, and hyperandrogenemia. Studies have revealed that women with PCOS may experience an increased risk of various adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, miscarriages, and preterm births. Preterm birth is an important cause of adverse outcome among perinatal infants. However, due to the complexity of its pathogenesis, the current intervention treatment of preterm birth often yields unsatisfactory results. Recent studies have discovered that women with PCOS have a higher risk of preterm birth than those without, suggesting that PCOS is a risk factor for preterm birth. This article reviews the research progress of PCOS-related preterm birth to offer new insights into the prevention and treatment of preterm birth in women caused by PCOS.

Objective:To evaluate the mid-term complication rates of the Hui-Jing one-stage procedure (lingual mucosa combined with longitudinal preputial island flap onlay urethroplasty + tubularized incised plate glansplasty)versus the classic Bracka staged surgery for children with severe hypospadias.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 75 children with proximal hypospadias who were treated at the Seventh Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from March 2017 to June 2022. Of these patients, 31 cases (15 cases penoscrotal type and 16 cases perineal type) were underwent the Bracka two-stage surgery with a median age of 38 months (24.0, 44.5) and 44 cases underwent the Hui-Jing one-stage procedure (23 cases penoscrotal type and 21 perineal type) with a median age of 40.5 months (20.75, 90.5). The length of urethral plate defect after correction of penile curvature was (4.30±0.84)cm in the Bracka group and (4.56±0.79)cm in the Hui-Jing group, which also showed no significant difference.There was no statistically significant difference of the median age and the position of preoperative urethral opening between the two groups( P=0.47, P=0.74). The first stage of Bracka repair consists of orthoplasty and urethral bed substitution with free preputial graft. After 6 months, the urethral plate created from free graft was tabularized to form neourethra; Hui-Jing procedure group used the free lingual mucosal as urethral plate substitution, then we conducted longitudinal preputial island flap Onlay and Snodgrass phalloplasty. The incidence of postoperative urethral fistula, urethral stricture and urethral diverticulum was compared between the two groups of cases and the difference in efficacy between the two procedures was assessed. Results:Among the 75 patients included in the study, there was no statistically significant difference in age or location of urethral meatus between the Bracka and Hui-Jing groups. In Bracka group, 9 cases of urethral stricture (29.0%), 6 case of urethral fistula (19.4%), and 2 cases of urethral diverticulum (6.5%) occurred after surgery, while 12 cases of urethral fistula (27.3%) and 3 case of urethral fistula (6.8%) occurred in the Hui-Jing group. No urethral stricture occurred in Hui-Jing group. There was no statistically significant difference in overall incidence of complications between the two groups [17/31(54.8%) vs.15/44(34.1%), P=0.12]. The incidence of urethral fistula and urethral diverticulum show no significant differences between two groups(19.4% vs 27.3, P=0.61, 6.5% vs. 6.8%, P=0.13). The number of operation in Bracka group was (2.68±1.03) and the hospitalization cost was (12 984.63±3 808.15) Yuan, while the number of operation in Hui-Jing group was (1.36±0.53) and the hospitalization cost was (8 490.54±3 136.84) Yuan. Conclusions:The Hui-Jing one-stage procedure can be used for the surgical treatment of children with severe hypospadias. There is no urethral stricture happened in Hui-Jing group, while the general complication incidence and incidence of urethral fistula and diverticulum show no differences.

Objective:To establish a candidate reference method for the determination of angiotensin Ⅱ in human plasma by isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS) and to evaluate its performance.Methods:Using [ 13C 6- 15N]-angiotensin Ⅱ as the internal standard, the plasma was accurately weighed by gravimetric method and mixed with a certain amount of internal standard. At the same time, enzyme inhibitor was added. After zinc sulfate solution protein precipitation and reversed-phase solid-phase extraction plate treatment, it was analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The multi reaction ion monitoring mode(MRM)was selected by mass spectrometry to detect specific ion fragments of angiotensin Ⅱ and internal standard. The linearity, sensitivity, precision, recovery rate and uncertainty of the performance of the established method were evaluated according to ISO15193. Results:Angiotensin Ⅱ had good linearity in the range of 10-1 000 pg/g ( r=0.999 5), the lower limit of quantification was 7.68 pg/g, the analytical recoveries were 97.14% to 102.85%, intra-batch imprecision≤3.21%, inter-batch imprecision≤2.96%, and total imprecision≤3.67%. Conclusion:A method for the determination of plasma angiotensin Ⅱ was established by ID-LC-MS/MS. The method is accurate and reliable, and is expected to be a reference method for the determination of plasma angiotensin Ⅱ.

Objective:To analyze the serology and molecular typing of Listeriamonocytogenes isolated from patients in Henan, and to explore the epidemic situation of listeriosis, construct the molecular traceability database of patient isolates, so as to provide laboratory basis for listeriosis traceability. Methods:From January 2015 to July 2020, 71 positive Listeriamonocytogenes cases were monitored in 16 sentinel hospitals in Henan. Eighty samples of positive cases were collected for detection, and 71 positive strains were obtained for molecular typing. According to the Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Industry Standard of China (SN/T 2521-2010) and the instructions for the use of diagnostic serum of Listeriamonocytogenes, 80 strains of Listeriamonocytogenes were serotyped, and PFGE cluster analysis was performed according to the User Manual of National Foodborne Disease Molecular Traceability Network. Results:A total of 71 positive listeriosis cases were detected, of which 38 cases were perinatal cases and 33 cases were non-perinatal cases. Among the 80 positive cases of listeriosis, 58.75% (47/80) were from perinatal cases, 20.00% (16/80) were from non-perinatal cases with underlying diseases, the proportion of>1 month-≤5 years old,>5-≤60 years old and >60 years old was 7.50% (6/80), 12.50% (10/80) and 1.25% (1/80), respectively, in non-perinatal age group. There were 5 types of specimens, 73.75% (59/80) were blood, 15.00% (12/80) were cerebrospinal fluid, and 3.75% (3/80) were stool, intrauterine swab and sputum. 80 strains of Listeriamonocytogenes were classified into three serotypes, Type 1/2b, Type 1/2a and Type 4b accounted for 61.25% (49/80), 35.00% (28/80) and 3.75% (3/80) respectively. The 71 strains of Listeriamonocytogenes were digested by AscⅠ, and 58 bands were obtained. Each band type included 1-4 strains, and the similarity was 60.8%-100%. GX6A16HA0005, GX6A16HA0011, GX6A16HA0030, GX6A16HA0023, GX6A16HA0029 and GX6A16HA0054 were dominant bands, including 4, 4, 4, 3, 2 and 2 strains respectively. Four strains of GX6A16HA0005 from 2016, 2018 and 2020 were isolated. One strain from 2016 and one strain from 2018 were from Puyang City. Four strains of GX6A16HA0011 were isolated from samples of 2016, 2018 and 2020, including two strains of 2020 from Luoyang City. Four strains of GX6A16HA0030 were isolated from 2018 samples from Luoyang City, Shangqiu City and Zhengzhou City, respectively. Three strains of GX6A16HA0023 were isolated from 2017 and 2018 samples, of which one strain from 2017 and one strain from 2018 were from Luoyang City. Two strains of GX6A16HA0029 were isolated from 2018 samples, from Kaifeng City and Puyang City respectively. Two strains of GX6A16HA0054 were isolated from 2020 from Pingdingshan City and Anyang City, respectively. The PFGE patterns of 4 strains with different serotypes were the same. Conclusion:Listeriosis cases in Henan are mainly found in patients during the perinatal period, and in elderly, new-born, and low immunity population. The infection type is mainly invasive infection; the serotypes of epidemic strains are 1/2a, 1/2b and 4b, and the results of PFGE typing of strains are diverse. There is a consistent phenomenon of cross-year or different regions in the same year, different time zones in the same year and the same region; phenotyping and genotyping or different genotyping techniques should be combined in the traceability analysis.

Objective To understand the characteristic of subtype distribution among foreigners who were living with HIV-1,in Guangzhou.Methods HIV-1 RNAs were extracted from 114 serum specimens in foreigners diagnosed with HIV-1 infections between 2008 and 2010,and in 2015.Partial pol gene of HIV-1 genome from these RNA samples were amplified by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) with nucleotide sequenced.Subsequently,phylogenetic tree was reconstructed using the pol sequences of samples and references.Results Among all the 114 samples,57.9％ were from males and 42.1％ from females,with an average age as 35.21 years old and the standard deviation as 9.63 years.A total of 6.8％ of the samples were from Africans.The top three subtypes were identified as CRF02_AG,subtype G and subtype C,accounted for 30.7％,14.9％ and 12.3％ respectively.Compared with samples gathered from 2008 to 2010,the proportions of subtype A1 and CRF01_AE significantly increased,while the other subtypes significantly decreased in 2015 (x 2=37.570;P=0.013,99％ CI:0.010-0.016).Proportions of CRF01_AE and subtype G among males outnumbered the females but the proportions of subtype A1,CRF02_AG and URF among females appeared the other way round (x2=15.528;P=0.029,99％CI:0.024-0.033).Proportions of CRF02_AG and subtype G among HIV-1 positive Africans were larger than those from other Southeast Asian countries or areas,However,the proportion of CRF01_AE among HIV-1 positive patients from Southeast Asian countries was higher than those patients from other areas (x2=39.399;P=0.009,99％ CI:0.006-0.011).The rates of resistance to any drug of protease inhibitors (PIs),reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs),as well as to PIs,NRTIs,and NNRTIs alone,were 21.9％,12.3％,6.1％ and 7.0％,respectively.One of nine CRF01_AEs from the HIV-1 positive patients were found closely clustered in those phylogenetic tree (bootstrap=0.855) samples,collected from local patients in Guangzhou.Conclusions Our findings showed that these foreign subtypes had been spread to the natives,more from the Africans than from the other areas,in Guangzhou.These types of viruses were different from the strains identified locally,suggesting that they might have been brought in by foreigners living with HIV-1,in Guangzhou.Programs related to care,support and behavioral intervention for HIV positive foreigners living in Guangzhou,should be strengthened.

Objectives To provide genetic counseling and prenatal molecular diagnosis for two families with megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC).Methods Two MLC patients (probands 1 and 2) were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of Peking University First Hospital in June 2011 and June 2009,respectively.Peripheral blood was collected and DNA sequencing was performed for genetic analysis for the two MLC patients and their parents.Amniotic fluid and villus of two fetuses (fetus 1 and 2) were collected at 21+4 and 12+3 weeks of gestational age from their mothers when they were pregnant again.The genomic DNA of the two fetuses was extracted and corresponding sites of MLC1 gene were sequenced.Haplotype analysis using a combination of 3 microsatellite markers (AR,DXS6807 and DXS6797) on chromosome X and sex determining region of Y chromosome was performed to detect maternal cell contamination.Verification of the prenatal molecular diagnosis and follow up study after birth were conducted for both fetuses.Results Macrocephaly,motor development delay and typical findings on brain MRI were identified in the two probands,and were clinically diagnosed with MLC.Compound heterozygous mutations were detected in proband 1 [c.353C＞T (p.T118M) and c.803C＞G (p.T268R)] and proband 2 [c.353C＞T (p.T118M) and c.836T＞C(p.L279P)],respectively.MLC was genetically diagnosed.Heterozygous variation in c.353[c.353C＞T (p.T118M)] and wild c.803C were identified in fetus 1,and both wild c.353C and c.836T were found in fetus 2.No maternal cell contamination was detected in both fetuses.Sequencing the corresponding sites after birth confirmed the prenatal diagnosis,and the head circumference and motor development were normal in fetus 1 at 5 months old.No macrocephaly was found and no DNA sequencing was done in fetus 2 at one month old.Conclusions Genetic counseling and prenatal molecular diagnosis for MLC families combined with clinical and genetic diagnosis are important in preventing MLC.Haplotype analysis with a combination of three microsatellite markers on chromosome X and sex determining region of Y chromosome is useful in detecting maternal cell contamination and avoiding its influence on prenatal diagnosis,and confirming the reliability of prenatal diagnosis.