Forsythia suspensa is a traditional Chinese medicine and a commonly used landscaping plant. Its dried fruit is used in medicine for its functions of clearing heat, removing toxins, reducing swelling, dissipating masses, and dispersing wind and heat. It possesses extremely high medicinal and economic value. However, the genetic differentiation and diversity of its wild populations remain unclear. In this study, chloroplast genome sequences were obtained from 15 wild individuals of F. suspensa using high-throughput sequencing technology. The sequence characteristics and intraspecific variations were analyzed. The results were as follows:(1) The full length of the F. suspensa chloroplast genome ranged from 156 184 to 156 479 bp, comprising a large single-copy region, a small single-copy region, and two inverted repeat regions. The chloroplast genome encoded a total of 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes.(2) A total of 166-174 SSR loci, 792 SNV loci, and 63 InDel loci were identified in the F. suspensa chloroplast genome, indicating considerable genetic variation among individuals.(3) Population structure analysis revealed that F. suspensa could be divided into five or six groups. Both the population structure analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction results indicated significant genetic variation within the wild populations of F. suspensa, with no obvious correlation between intraspecific genetic differentiation and geographical distribution. This study provides new insights into the genetic diversity and differentiation within F. suspensa species and offers additional references for the conservation of species diversity and the utilization of germplasm resources in wild F. suspensa.
Genome, Chloroplast ; Forsythia/classification* ; Phylogeny ; Genetic Variation ; Chloroplasts/genetics* ; Microsatellite Repeats

The AP2/ERF transcription factor family is a class of transcription factors widely present in plants, playing a crucial role in regulating flowering, flower development, flower opening, and flower senescence. Based on transcriptome data from flower, leaf, and stem samples of two Lonicera macranthoides varieties, 117 L. macranthoides AP2/ERF family members were identified, including 14 AP2 subfamily members, 61 ERF subfamily members, 40 DREB subfamily members, and 2 RAV subfamily members. Bioinformatics and differential gene expression analyses were performed using NCBI, ExPASy, SOMPA, and other platforms, and the expression patterns of L. macranthoides AP2/ERF transcription factors were validated via qRT-PCR. The results indicated that the 117 LmAP2/ERF members exhibited both similarities and variations in protein physicochemical properties, AP2 domains, family evolution, and protein functions. Differential gene expression analysis revealed that AP2/ERF transcription factors were primarily differentially expressed in the flowers of the two L. macranthoides varieties, with the differentially expressed genes mainly belonging to the ERF and DREB subfamilies. Further analysis identified three AP2 subfamily genes and two ERF subfamily genes as potential regulators of flower development, two ERF subfamily genes involved in flower opening, and two ERF subfamily genes along with one DREB subfamily gene involved in flower senescence. Based on family evolution and expression analyses, it is speculated that AP2/ERF transcription factors can regulate flower development, opening, and senescence in L. macranthoides, with ERF subfamily genes potentially serving as key regulators of flowering duration. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further research into the specific functions of the AP2/ERF transcription factor family in L. macranthoides and offer important theoretical insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying floral phenotypic differences among its varieties.
Plant Proteins/chemistry* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Transcription Factors/chemistry* ; Lonicera/classification* ; Flowers/metabolism* ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Multigene Family

AIM:To compare and analyze the effectiveness and safety of reducing the diameter of the back optical zone diameter(BOZD)of orthokeratology lens designed by CRT and VST in controlling the progression of myopia in children and adolescents.METHODS:Retrospective study. The study subjects were 400 myopia patients aged 8-16 years who were admitted to the orthokeratology fitting center of our hospital from June 2019 to May 2022, with 400 eyes(including right eye data analysis). The subjects were divided into CRT-S group(BOZD<6.0 mm), CRT group(BOZD=6.0 mm), VST-S group(BOZD<6.2 mm), VST group(BOZD=6.2 mm)according to the brand of orthokeratology lens and BOZD group, with 100 cases in each group. Uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), corneal flat K value, axial length, spherical equivalent, and incidence of corneal injury were collected and analyzed at 1 d, 1 wk, 1 and 6 mo, 1 and 2 a, respectively.RESULTS:After wearing lenses for 1 d, the UCVA of the VST-S group improved the fastest, but after 1 wk, all groups reached a good UCVA, and there was no significant difference between groups. The corneal flat K value of the CRT-S group decreased the most after wearing lenses for 6 mo, and there was no significant difference in the corneal flat K value of all groups after 1 year of lens wearing. At each time point, the axial length growth decreased significantly after reducing the BOZD of the same brand of orthokeratology lens. At 6 mo, there was no significant difference in the axial length growth and defocus ring diameter between the CRT-S group and the VST-S group, but at 1 and 2 a, the VST-S group had significantly lower axial length growth and defocus ring diameter than the CRT-S group. The growth of the diopter sphere and spherical equivalent(SE)was significantly reduced when the BOZD of the same brand of orthokeratology lens was reduced at 2 a follow-up. The VST-S group had the smallest changes in the degree of SE and had the best myopia control effect. There was no significant difference in the change value of the diopter cylinder and the incidence of corneal injury among the four groups.CONCLUSION:Reducing the BOZD of the orthokeratology lens can effectively control the growth of the axial length and the progression of myopia degree. The myopia control effect of the VST lens is better than that of the CRT lens after reducing the BOZD. Reducing the BOZD of the orthokeratology lens does not increase the risk of additional corneal injury.

AIM:To compare and analyze the effectiveness and safety of reducing the diameter of the back optical zone diameter(BOZD)of orthokeratology lens designed by CRT and VST in controlling the progression of myopia in children and adolescents.METHODS:Retrospective study. The study subjects were 400 myopia patients aged 8-16 years who were admitted to the orthokeratology fitting center of our hospital from June 2019 to May 2022, with 400 eyes(including right eye data analysis). The subjects were divided into CRT-S group(BOZD<6.0 mm), CRT group(BOZD=6.0 mm), VST-S group(BOZD<6.2 mm), VST group(BOZD=6.2 mm)according to the brand of orthokeratology lens and BOZD group, with 100 cases in each group. Uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), corneal flat K value, axial length, spherical equivalent, and incidence of corneal injury were collected and analyzed at 1 d, 1 wk, 1 and 6 mo, 1 and 2 a, respectively.RESULTS:After wearing lenses for 1 d, the UCVA of the VST-S group improved the fastest, but after 1 wk, all groups reached a good UCVA, and there was no significant difference between groups. The corneal flat K value of the CRT-S group decreased the most after wearing lenses for 6 mo, and there was no significant difference in the corneal flat K value of all groups after 1 year of lens wearing. At each time point, the axial length growth decreased significantly after reducing the BOZD of the same brand of orthokeratology lens. At 6 mo, there was no significant difference in the axial length growth and defocus ring diameter between the CRT-S group and the VST-S group, but at 1 and 2 a, the VST-S group had significantly lower axial length growth and defocus ring diameter than the CRT-S group. The growth of the diopter sphere and spherical equivalent(SE)was significantly reduced when the BOZD of the same brand of orthokeratology lens was reduced at 2 a follow-up. The VST-S group had the smallest changes in the degree of SE and had the best myopia control effect. There was no significant difference in the change value of the diopter cylinder and the incidence of corneal injury among the four groups.CONCLUSION:Reducing the BOZD of the orthokeratology lens can effectively control the growth of the axial length and the progression of myopia degree. The myopia control effect of the VST lens is better than that of the CRT lens after reducing the BOZD. Reducing the BOZD of the orthokeratology lens does not increase the risk of additional corneal injury.

With the increasing use of plastics worldwide, the amount of plastic waste being discarded has also risen. This plastic waste undergoes physical and chemical processes, breaking down into smaller particles known as microplastics (MPs) or nanoplastics (NPs). Advances in technology have enhanced our ability to detect these smaller particles, and it has been confirmed that plastics can be found in marine organisms as well as within the human body. However, research on the effects of MPs or NPs on living organisms has only recently been started, and our understanding remains limited. Studies on the immunological impacts are still ongoing, revealing that MPs and NPs can differentially affect various immune cells based on the material, size, and shape of the plastic particles. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of MPs and NPs on the immune system. We will also explore the methods for plastic removal through physicochemical, microbial, or biological means.

With the increasing use of plastics worldwide, the amount of plastic waste being discarded has also risen. This plastic waste undergoes physical and chemical processes, breaking down into smaller particles known as microplastics (MPs) or nanoplastics (NPs). Advances in technology have enhanced our ability to detect these smaller particles, and it has been confirmed that plastics can be found in marine organisms as well as within the human body. However, research on the effects of MPs or NPs on living organisms has only recently been started, and our understanding remains limited. Studies on the immunological impacts are still ongoing, revealing that MPs and NPs can differentially affect various immune cells based on the material, size, and shape of the plastic particles. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of MPs and NPs on the immune system. We will also explore the methods for plastic removal through physicochemical, microbial, or biological means.

With the increasing use of plastics worldwide, the amount of plastic waste being discarded has also risen. This plastic waste undergoes physical and chemical processes, breaking down into smaller particles known as microplastics (MPs) or nanoplastics (NPs). Advances in technology have enhanced our ability to detect these smaller particles, and it has been confirmed that plastics can be found in marine organisms as well as within the human body. However, research on the effects of MPs or NPs on living organisms has only recently been started, and our understanding remains limited. Studies on the immunological impacts are still ongoing, revealing that MPs and NPs can differentially affect various immune cells based on the material, size, and shape of the plastic particles. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of MPs and NPs on the immune system. We will also explore the methods for plastic removal through physicochemical, microbial, or biological means.

ObjectiveTo investigate the pharmacodynamic effects of Houshihei San （HSHS） recorded with the effects of treating wind and limb heaviness on muscle tissue injury after middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO） in rats through the ferroptosis pathway. MethodsThirty SD male rats were selected and randomly grouped as follows： sham， MCAO， deferoxamine mesylate， high-dose HSHS （HSHS-H， 0.54 g·kg^-1）， and low-dose HSHS （HSHS-L， 0.27 g·kg^-1）， with 6 rats in each group. A laser scattering system was used to evaluate the stability of the MCAO model， and rats were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage for 7 days. During the administration period， behavioral， imaging and other methods were used to systematically evaluate the skeletal muscle tissue injury after MCAO and the therapeutic effect in each administration group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to evaluate the cross-section of muscle cells. Subsequently， immunohistochemistry was used to detect tumor suppressor p53 and glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4） in the soleus tissue. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of p53， GPX4， myogenic differentiation 1 （MyoD1）， nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， Myostatin， solute carrier family 7 member 11 （SLC7A11）， muscle ring-finger protein-1 （MuRF1）， and muscle atrophy F-box protein （MAFbx） to verify the therapeutic effect in each group. ResultsCompared with the MCAO group， HSHS enhanced the locomotor ability and promoted muscle regeneration， which suggested that the pharmacological effects of HSHS were related to the inhibition of muscle tissue ferroptosis to reduce the expression of muscle atrophy factors. Behavioral and imaging results suggested that compared with the MCAO group， HSHS ameliorated neurological impairments in rats on day 7 （P<0.01）， enhanced 5-min locomotor distance and postural control （P<0.01）， strengthened grasping power and promoted muscle growth （P<0.01）， stabilized skeletal muscle length and weight （P<0.01）， and increased the cross-section of muscle cells （P<0.01）. Compared with the MCAO group， HSHS promoted the increases in glutathione and superoxide dismutase content and inhibited the increase in malondialdehyde content （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Ferroptosis pathway-related assays suggested that HSHS reduced the p53-positive cells and increased the GPX4-positive cells （P<0.01）. HSHS ameliorated muscle function decline after stroke by promoting the expression of GPX4， Nrf2， SLC7A11， and MyoD1 and inhibiting the expression of p53， Myostatin， MurRF1， and MAFbx to reduce ferroptosis in the muscle （P<0.01）. ConclusionHSHS， prepared with reference to the method in the Synopsis of Golden Chamber， can simultaneously reduce the myolysis and increase the protein synthesis in the skeletal muscle tissue after ischemic stroke by regulating the ferroptosis pathway.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent malignancy of the digestive tract that poses a significant threat to human health, with an incidence rate that continues to rise globally. Increasing research highlights the crucial role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), in regulating ferroptosis and contributing to the malignant progression of ESCC. These ncRNAs influence the proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion capabilities of ESCC cells by modulating iron metabolism and redox balance. miRNAs can regulate cellular iron accumulation and oxidative stress by targeting ferroptosis-related genes; lncRNAs may indirectly affect iron metabolic pathways by competitively binding to miRNAs; circRNAs, through a sponge effect, may regulate the activity of miRNAs. This review systematically summarizes the mechanisms of ncRNAs-mediated regulation of ferroptosis in ESCC, focusing on molecular mechanisms, regulatory networks, and their specific roles in the ferroptosis process. Additionally, the potential of ncRNAs in ESCC diagnosis, prognosis assessment, and therapeutic intervention is discussed, aiming to provide new insights and targets for ferroptosis-based tumor therapy.
Ferroptosis/genetics* ; Humans ; Esophageal Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma ; MicroRNAs/physiology* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/physiology* ; RNA, Circular ; RNA, Untranslated/physiology*