Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an important sugar crop. Biotic and abiotic stresses such as diseases, cold, and drought are major factors limiting sugarcane production. β-1,3-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.39), a member of the pathogenesis-related protein family, plays an essential role not only in the plant defenses against pathogens but also in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. To systematically investigate the sugarcane β-1,3-glucanase gene family, 132 glycoside hydrolase (GH) 17 family members were identified in the genomes of the sugarcane wild species Saccharum spontaneum 'Np-X', the tropical species S. officinarum 'LA-Purple', and the Saccharum spp. hybrid cultivar 'R570'. The results of the phylogenetic analysis categorized them into four subfamilies, of which subfamily Ⅳ had the largest proportion of members (102). The members of the sugarcane GH17 gene family contained five conserved motifs and 0-16 introns. The majority of the GH17 genes exhibited a genome-wide replication pattern, with 89.50% originating from S. spontaneum 'Np-X' and S. officinarum 'LA-Purple', while 58.10% of them in the Saccharum spp. hybrid cultivar 'R570' belonged to the discrete replication type. Four major classes of cis-acting elements were identified in the promoters, including the elements related to plant growth, development, and tissue-specific expression (14.21%), light-responsive elements (38.24%), biotic or abiotic stress-responsive elements (9.18%), and hormone-responsive elements (38.37%), which suggested that this gene family was involved in plant growth, development, hormone responses, and stress responses. Transcriptome and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analyses showed that the sugarcane GH17 genes exhibited tissue-specific expression and were differentially expressed under low temperature, drought, and hormone treatments, as well as during the interactions between different sugarcane genotypes and Sporisorium scitamineum, suggesting their potential roles in plant defenses. In addition, some SsGlu genes (SsGlu5, SsGlu20, SsGlu21, SsGlu25, SsGlu28, and SsGlu39) were expected to serve as candidate stress-related genes. This study lays a foundation for further revealing the molecular mechanisms of the stress resistance of sugarcane via β-1,3-glucanase genes.
Saccharum/physiology* ; Stress, Physiological/genetics* ; Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase/metabolism* ; Multigene Family ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics*

Pregnant women account for 40% of all epilepsy patients, and the economic burden of pregnant women with epilepsy is 5 times higher than that of non-pregnant patients. Additionally, the rates of stillbirth and congenital malformations in pregnant women with epilepsy are 5 times greater than those in normal pregnant women. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehensively review and summarize the management of pregnant women with epilepsy to reduce the burden of the disease. This study provides a thorough review on teratogenic effects of anti-seizure medications (ASMs) used during pregnancy, and summarizes the effects of ASMs on health of offspring and offers clinical management recommendations for pregnant women with epilepsy, aiming to provide guidance for safe use of medications during pregnancy.

Objective:To analyze the genetic evolution and molecular characteristics of H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) isolated in a live poultry market.Methods:Samples such as poultry feces, sewage, and hair removal machine and chopping board swabs were collected. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect influenza A virus and H7N9 AIV in the samples. The whole genome of H7N9 AIV was amplified with influenza A virus universal primers and sequenced. BLAST and MEGA X were used for sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis and molecular characterization.Results:Seven poultry-related environment samples were collected in the live poultry market in Xuchang city in February 2023, and four were positive for H7N9 AIV. The whole genome sequences of three H7N9 AIV isolates were successfully obtained, and the isolates shared high nucleotide identity in different genes (98.37%-100.00%). BLAST analysis showed they were highly identical to H7N9 strains isolated from domestic poultry in China from 2020 to 2021. Genetic evolution analysis showed that the three isolates clustered in the same branch and were closer to the recent environmental isolates than to the recent strains isolated from human or avian. Through comparison with the sequences of the representative strains in different periods, it was found that the isolated strains in this study showed high avian pathogenicity with four amino acids KRAA inserted at the cleavage site; the hemagglutinin receptor-binding site was QSG, which was an avian binding receptor; there was a G186I mutation in hemagglutinin. Mammalian-adaptive mutation E627K was not detected in polymerase basic protein 2. Mutations (R292K and I38T) associated with drug resistance to neuraminidase inhibitor (oseltamivir) and polymerase acidic protein inhibitor (baloshavir) were not detected, suggesting that these isolates remained susceptible to these drugs. A S31N mutation was found in M2 protein, indicating they were resistant to alkamines.Conclusions:The three H7N9 AIV strains isolated in the live poultry market have high avian pathogenicity, but there are no significant increase in mutations related to the binding ability to human receptors, mammalian pathogenicity, viral transmissibility, or drug resistance as compared with previous representative strains causing human or avian infection.

Most information used to evaluate diabetic statuses is collected at a special time-point, such as taking fasting plasma glucose test and providing a limited view of individual's health and disease risk. As a new parameter for continuously evaluating personal clinical statuses, the newly developed technique "continuous glucose monitoring" (CGM) can characterize glucose dynamics. By calculating the complexity of glucose time series index (CGI) with refined composite multi-scale entropy analysis of the CGM data, the study showed for the first time that the complexity of glucose time series in subjects decreased gradually from normal glucose tolerance to impaired glucose regulation and then to type 2 diabetes (P for trend < 0.01). Furthermore, CGI was significantly associated with various parameters such as insulin sensitivity/secretion (all P < 0.01), and multiple linear stepwise regression showed that the disposition index, which reflects β-cell function after adjusting for insulin sensitivity, was the only independent factor correlated with CGI (P < 0.01). Our findings indicate that the CGI derived from the CGM data may serve as a novel marker to evaluate glucose homeostasis.
Humans ; Glucose ; Blood Glucose ; Insulin Resistance/physiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/diagnosis* ; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring ; Time Factors ; Insulin

Objective:To analyze the clinical features and magnetic resonance imaging of non-malignant patients assigned to Prostate Imaging Reporting And Data System (PI-RADS) 5 score.Methods:We performed a retrospective review of 289 patients who underwent magnetic resonance ultrasound targeted combined system biopsy with PI-RADS 5 lesions in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between May 2019 and July 2021. The median age 72 (66, 77)years, median body mass index 24.4(22.3, 27.1)kg/m 2, median prostate volume (PV) 37.39(29.39, 48.86) ml, median PSA 22.24(10.91, 62.69) ng/ml, and median PSAD 0.53(0.30, 1.52)ng/ml 2 were recorded. According to the biopsy pathological results, all patients were divided into benign lesion group and prostate cancer group. PSA, PSAD, PV, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were compared, and magnetic resonance imaging and clinical characteristics of patients with biopsy benign lesions were analyzed. Results:There were 11 cases (3.8%) with benign lesion and 278 cases (96.2%) with prostate cancer. The characters of 11 negative biopsy cases were displayed as follows: median age 69(66, 79)years, median body mass index 22.0(21.0, 25.5)kg/m 2, median PV 62.90(38.48, 71.96)ml, median PSA 5.55(2.99, 20.52)ng/ml, median PSAD 0.16(0.07, 0.24) ng/ml 2, median ADC 714.47(701.91, 801.26)×10 -6 mm 2/s, abnormal digital rectal and amination in 5 cases, smoking in 7 cases, and alcohol consumption in 4 cases. The median PV [62.90(38.48, 71.96) vs. 37.21(29.22, 47.82)ml, P<0.01], the PSA value [5.55(2.99, 20.52) vs. 23.53(11.14, 65.98)ng/ml, P<0.01], and the PSAD value [0.16(0.07, 0.24) vs. 0.58(0.31, 1.57)ng/ml 2, P<0.01] were significantly different between benign condition group and prostate carcinoma group. Benign condition group included 5 chronic prostatitis, 2 acute prostatitis (1 with focal adenocarcinoma), 2 granulomatous inflammation, and 2 tuberculous granulomatous inflammation. In 7 benign cases, PSA was less than 10 ng/ml, combined with frequent urination, urgency of urination and incontinence were founded. In 8 benign cases, the area of lesion was more than 50% of the total prostate area in the axial position and the imaging of magnetic resonance were diffused, with regular shape and uniform signal. The imaging of symmetrical distribution was in 6 cases. Conclusions:The benign condition with PI-RADS 5 lesions included chronic prostatitis, acute prostatitis, granulomatous inflammation and tuberculous granulomatous inflammation, among which prostatitis was the most common cause. The PSA value were less than 10 ng/ml in most benign cases, with symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency of urination and incontinence. The imaging of magnetic resonance were diffused, symmetrically distributed, with regular shape and uniform signal.

Objective:To evaluate the role of cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) in acute renal injury in a mouse model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and the relationship with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway.Methods:Twenty-four SPF-grade healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, with body mass index of 24-28 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=8 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), myocardial I/R group (I/R group) and myocardial I/R + CIRP-derived peptide C23 group (I/R+ C23 group). The model of myocardial I/R was developed by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 min followed by 120-min reperfusion in anesthetized animals. CIRP-derived peptide C23 8 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected before myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in I/R+ C23 group, while Sham group was only threaded without ligation. Blood samples were collected from the right internal carotid artery at 120 min of reperfusion for determination of the serum creatine kinase isoenzymes (CK-MB), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations. Renal tissues were obtained for examination of the pathological changes, and the tubular injury score was assessed. The expression of NF-κB, phosphorylated NF-κB (p-NF-κB), Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and IL-18 in renal tissues was detected by Western blot. The expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), NLRP3, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results:Compared with Sham group, the levels of serum CK-MB, LDH, Cr and BUN and renal tubule injury score were significantly increased, the expression of p-NF-κB, NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 was up-regulated, the expression of TLR4, NLRP3, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA was up-regulated ( P<0.05), and the pathological injury to renal tissues was aggravated in I/R group. Compared with I/R group, the serum CK-MB, LDH, Cr, BUN and renal tubular injury score were significantly decreased, and the expression of p-NF-κB, NLRP3, IL-1β and and IL-18 was down-regulated, the expression of TLR4, NLRP3, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and the pathological injury to renal tissues was alleviated in I/R+ C23 group. Conclusions:CIRP is involved in the process of acute renal injury in a mouse model of myocardial I/R, which is associated with activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and promotion of inflammatory responses.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of clinically significant prostate cancer (CsPCa) in patients with PI-RADS score 3.Methods:The data of 133 consecutive patients with the PI-RADS score 3 from January 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent 4-needle transperineal targeted biopsy and 12-needle systematic prostate biopsy (SB). The overall age was 66 (60-72) years, and the overall PSA value was 8.22 (5.95-11.41) ng/ml. All patients underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), and PI-RADS v2.0 score was 3. Patients were divided into two mutually exclusive groups: non CsPCa group and CsPCa group. The differences of lesion location, laterality, focality and sequence parameters of mpMRI between the two groups were compared, and multivariate binary logistic regression was used to analyze the independent predictors of PI-RADS score 3 in patients with CsPCa.Results:Biopsy results showed 57 cases of prostate cancer, including 41 cases of CsPCa, and 76 cases of non-prostate cancer. The detection rate of prostate cancer was 46.62 %(57/133), and the detection rate of CsPCa was 30.83 %(41/133). There were 41 cases in CsPCa group and 92 cases in non CsPCa group. There was no significant difference between CsPCa group and non CsPCa group in age [66 (58-70) years vs. 66 (60-72) years], body mass index [24.22 (21.82-25.71) kg/m 2 vs. 23.71 (21.99-26.12) kg/m 2], PSA [9.39 (6.35-12.55) ng/ml vs. 7.67 (5.83-10.51) ng/ml], abnormal rate of rectal digital examination [21.95% (9/41) vs. 9.78% (9/92)] (all P > 0.05). There was significant difference in PSAD [0.40 (0.16-0.65) ng/ml 2 vs. 0.17 (0.12-0.24) ng/ml 2] ( P<0.05). In MRI, PI-RADS=3 lesions were mainly located in the transitional zone [46.62 %(62/133)]. In CsPCa group, MRI lesions were located in peripheral zone in 16 cases, transitional zone in 19 cases, and both areas in 6 cases. There were 16 cases on the right, 15 cases on the left and 10 cases on both sides. The lesions were diffused in 19 cases and localized in 22 cases. In the non CsPCa group, 41 lesions were located in the peripheral zone, 43 in the transitional zone, and 8 in both areas. There were 26 cases on the right, 35 cases on the left and 31 cases on both sides. The lesions were diffuse in 56 cases and localized in 36 cases. There was no significant difference in lesion location, side and diffusion degree between the two groups ( P> 0.05). Compared with the non CsPCa group, the positive rate of all MRI sequences in CsPCa group was higher (82.93% vs. 40.22%, P < 0.001), the positive rate of T2 weighted imaging (T2WI) was higher (92.68% vs. 75.00%, P = 0.018), the positive rate of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) was higher (90.24% vs. 56.52%, P < 0.001), the maximum diameter was larger[(0.67(0.30-1.19)mm vs. 0.48(0.20-0.62)mm, P < 0.001], and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was lower[0.70(0.61-0.87) vs. 1.10(0.86-1.50), P < 0.001]. Concurrently, PSAD and lesion ADC were important predictors of CsPCa in logistic regression model [mean 10 fold cross validation AUC: 0.78(95% CI 0.65-0.88)]. Conclusions:Most of the MRI lesions in patients with PI-RADS 3 were located in the transitional zone, and the MRI lesions in CsPCa were more obvious and diffusion limited. PSAD and ADC values are independent predictors for the diagnosis of CsPCa in patients with PI-RADS score 3, and the log 2PSAD-ADC prediction model is helpful to find CsPCa from patients with PI-RADS score 3 and protect patients from unnecessary biopsy.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of single-plane bi-parameter magnetic resonance imaging (bpMRI) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 343 patients who underwent transperineal template prostate magnetic resonance-transrectal ultrasound (MRI-TRUS) cognitive fusion biopsy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2020 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, with median age of [65.0(59.0, 72.0)] years, median body mass index (BMI) of [24.1(22.2, 25.6)]kg/m 2, median prostate volume (PV) of [41.7(29.1, 53.3)]ml, median PSA[6.9 (5.5, 8.4) ng/ml], median PSAD of[0.17(0.12, 0.22) ng/ml 2], and abnormal rate of digital rectal examination (DRE) [6.4%(22/343)]. All patients underwent initial biopsy and bi-parameter magnetic resonance imaging (bpMRI) examination before biopsy, and the images were interpreted using prostate image reporting and data system version 2.1 (PI-RADS v2.1). The detection rates of prostate cancer and clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) were compared between single-plane bpMRI and bpMRI. When PI-RADS≥3 score, MRI results were positive; when PI-RADS ≤2 score, MRI results were negative. Results:In the single-plane bpMRI group, 121 MRI results were negative and 222 were positive. Positive patients included 95 with PI-RADS 3 score, 94 with PI-RADS 4 score, and 33 with PI-RADS 5 score. In bpMRI group, 141 MRI results were negative and 202 were positive. Among the positive patients, 67 patients with PI-RADS 3 score, 102 patients with PI-RADS 4 score, and 33 patients with PI-RADS 5 score. The detection rates of single-plane bpMRI and bpMRI for prostate cancer were 22.3% (27/121) and 15.6% (22/141) in MRI negative cases[22.3% (27/121) and 15.6% (22/141), P=0.17], and PI-RADS scores with 3 points [35.8% (34/95) vs. 44.8% (30/67), P=0.25], 4 points [89.4% (84/94)vs. 90.2% (92/102), P=0.85] and 5 points [90.9% (30/33) vs. 93.9% (31/33), P=1.00] showed no significant difference in stratification. The detection rate of csPCa in the single-plane bpMRI group and bpMRI group was significantly different in the MRI negative cases [7.4% (9/121) and 2.1% (3/141), P=0.04]. PI-RADS scores with 3 points [22.1% (21/95) vs. 29.9% (20/67), P=0.27], 4 points [80.9% (76/94) vs. 79.4% (81/102), P=0.80] and 5 points [84.9% (28/33) vs. 90.9% (30/33), P=0.71] showed no significant difference in stratification. Conclusions:For those suspected of prostate cancer patients with PSA 4-10 ng/ml and PI-RADS score ≥3, single-plane bpMRI or bpMRI examination has the same efficacy in term of the detection rate of prostate cancer and csPCa.

Objective:To explore the optimal core numbers in targeted prostate biopsy (TB).Methods:The clinical data of 138 patients with prostate cancer diagnosed by six needle trans-perineal TB combined with system biopsy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from October 2018 to March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Their age was (69.07 ± 7.97) years old, the PSA value was 9.15 (6.66, 12.95) ng/ml, the prostate volume was 35.01 (27.65, 43.27) cm 3and the PSA density was 0.25 (0.17, 0.36) ng/(ml ·cm 3). All patients accepted bi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging examination and had regions of interests (ROIs) with prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) version 2.0 scores ≥ 3. The detective rate of prostate cancer (PCa), clinically significant PCa (CsPCa) and clinically insignificant PCa (CIPCa), along with the Gleason score upgrading rate after radical prostatectomy were compared between different numbers of prostate TB cores. Results:The detective rates for present PCa or CsPCa for the first 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-core TB were 74.64%(103/138), 85.51%(118/138), 94.20%(130/138), 98.55%(136/138) and 100.00%(138/138) compared with the total number of cores taken, respectively. The detective rates for CsPCa for the first 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-core TB were 67.52%(79/117), 77.78%(91/117), 88.89%(104/117), 93.16%(109/117) and 98.29%(115/117) compared with the total number of cores taken, respectively. Additionally, 20.72%(23/111) patients had Gleason score upgrade after RP. Compared with 6-core TB, the rates of postoperative upgrading for the first 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-core TB were 50.00%(44/88), 67.05%(59/88), 81.82%(72/88), 88.64%(78/88) and 95.45%(84/88), respectively. For the ROIs with PI-RADS score of 3, 4 and 5, the CsPCa detected by 5, 4 and 3 needles of TB were 95.00% (19/20), 94.92% (56/59) and 94.74% (36/38) respectively. Postoperative upgrading rates were 11.11% (2/18), 9.30% (4/43) and 7.41% (2/27) respectively.Conclusions:For ROIs with PI-RADS score of 3, 4 and 5, TB with 5, 4 and 3 cores respectively is enough to obtain higher diagnostic efficiency and accuracy.

【Objective】 To explore the recruitment and retention strategy of blood donors by investigating the age composition of blood donors in some areas of China, so as to promote blood donation and enhance clinical blood supply. 【Methods】 Through the working platform of Practice Comparison Working Group of China’s Mainland Blood Collection and Supply Institutions, the average age and age composition of blood donors from 22 blood centers were collected, and statistical analysis was conducted after eliminating invalid data. 【Results】 The median average age of blood donors during the survey year was 30.02.The median age in 2.89% of the blood centers was lower than 25. The average age of different genders was statistically significant only in 2018(P<0.05). Fot first-time blood donors, the median constituent ratio of donors <25 and ≥25 years old was 54.53% and 44.28%, with median retention rate at 10.30% and 9.61%, respectively. The median overall participation rate of blood donors was 2.7%, with median participation rate of blood donors <25 years old at 5.1%. 【Conclusion】 The recruitment and retention of blood donor is crucial to enhance clinical blood supply. Blood donors <25 years old, with a longer period for future donation, should be the main target of blood donation recruitment. Meanwhile, the revision of upper age limit for blood donation is another important initiative to grow the blood donor pool.