The plant AT-rich sequence and zinc-binding protein (PLATZ) family is composed of plant-specific zinc finger-like transcription factors, which play important roles in plant growth, development, and stress tolerance. In this study, to gain a better understanding of the PLATZ gene in C. sinensis and elucidate its response under drought and high temperature conditions, the PLATZ gene family of the C. sinensis cultivar 'Tieguanyin' was systematically identified, and a total of 12 CsPLATZ family members were identified. Expasy online and other bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the members of the PLATZ gene family in terms of protein physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, cis-acting elements, gene structures, and intra- and inter-species collinearity. The results of phylogenetic analysis classified the CsPLATZ family members into 2 subfamilies. The conserved domains and gene structures of PLATZ family members within the same subfamily had a high degree of consistency, whereas a certain degree of diversity was observed among the subfamilies. Twelve PLATZ genes were unevenly distributed across 7 chromosomes of C. sinensis and the promoter regions of these genes had multiple cis-acting elements related to hormone and stress responses. The collinearity analysis showed that there were 4 pairs of duplication events in the CsPLATZ gene family, all of which were segmental duplications. Based on this gene family, C. sinensis had a closer evolutionary relationship with A. thaliana than with O. sativa. The transcriptome analysis showed that the expression levels of CsPLATZ family members varied in different tissue samples of C. sinensis. 6 genes (CsPLATZ-1, CsPLATZ-2, CsPLATZ-3, CsPLATZ-4, CsPLATZ-6, and CsPLATZ-8) with high expression in shoots, young leaves, and roots were selected for high temperature and drought stress treatments, and their expression was quantified by qRT-PCR. The results indicated that the six genes might play important roles in the response to drought stress. In addition, CsPLATZ-2 and CsPLATZ-8 might have important functions in the response to high temperature stress. The results of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the biological functions of PLATZ genes and their possible roles in the growth, development, and stress responses of C. sinensis.
Droughts ; Camellia sinensis/physiology* ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics* ; Stress, Physiological/genetics* ; Multigene Family ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Hot Temperature ; Genes, Plant

The epitranscriptomic mark N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), which is the predominant internal modification in RNA, is important for plant responses to diverse stresses. Multiple environmental stresses caused by the tea-withering process can greatly influence the accumulation of specialized metabolites and the formation of tea flavor. However, the effects of the m⁶A-mediated regulatory mechanism on flavor-related metabolic pathways in tea leaves remain relatively uncharacterized. We performed an integrated RNA methylome and transcriptome analysis to explore the m⁶A-mediated regulatory mechanism and its effects on flavonoid and terpenoid metabolism in tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves under solar-withering conditions. Dynamic changes in global m⁶A level in tea leaves were mainly controlled by two m⁶A erasers (CsALKBH4A and CsALKBH4B) during solar-withering treatments. Differentially methylated peak-associated genes following solar-withering treatments with different shading rates were assigned to terpenoid biosynthesis and spliceosome pathways. Further analyses indicated that CsALKBH4-driven RNA demethylation can directly affect the accumulation of volatile terpenoids by mediating the stability and abundance of terpenoid biosynthesis-related transcripts and also indirectly influence the flavonoid, catechin, and theaflavin contents by triggering alternative splicing-mediated regulation. Our findings revealed a novel layer of epitranscriptomic gene regulation in tea flavor-related metabolic pathways and established a link between the m⁶A-mediated regulatory mechanism and the formation of tea flavor under solar-withering conditions.
RNA/metabolism* ; Epigenome ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Plant Leaves/metabolism* ; Camellia sinensis/metabolism* ; Flavonoids ; Terpenes/metabolism* ; Tea/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant

Objective:To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of Neuroform EZ stent in the treatment of severe intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS).Methods:A total of 36 patients with severe ICAS receiving Neuroform EZ stent angioplasty were retrospectively analyzed at Beijing Anzhen Hospital from July 2018 to January 2020. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) before endovascular intervention confirmed the diagnosis. Follow-up information was reviewed by neurologists at 30 days and 6 months after the procedure. The primary endpoints were transient ischemic attack (TIA), ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke and death caused by any reason within 30 days.Results:The overall technical success rate was 100%. The median stenosis rate was reduced from 93.6%±4.5% to 18.8%±11.2% ( t=37.36, P<0.001).Primary endpoint event was not reported. During follow-up, one patient developed TIA and no death or ischemic stroke was observed. No in-stent restenosis at six months occurred. Conclusion:Neuroform EZ stent is safe and effective in patients with severe ICAS. However, perspective studies need to be operated for further validation via long-term follow-up.

Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea with strong flavor, which is widely favored by consumers because of its floral and fruity aroma as well as fresh and mellow taste. During the processing of oolong tea, withering is the first indispensable process for improving flavor formation. However, the molecular mechanism that affects the flavor formation of oolong tea during withering remains unclear. Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze the difference among the fresh leaves, indoor-withered leaves and solar-withered leaves of oolong tea. A total of 10 793 differentially expressed genes were identified from the three samples. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in flavonoid synthesis, terpenoid synthesis, plant hormone signal transduction and spliceosome pathways. Subsequently, twelve differentially expressed genes and four differential splicing genes were identified from the four enrichment pathways for fluorescence quantitative PCR analysis. The results showed that the expression patterns of the selected genes during withering were consistent with the results in the transcriptome datasets. Further analysis revealed that the transcriptional inhibition of flavonoid biosynthesis-related genes, the transcriptional enhancement of terpenoid biosynthesis-related genes, as well as the jasmonic acid signal transduction and the alternative splicing mechanism jointly contributed to the flavor formation of high floral and fruity aroma and low bitterness in solar-withered leaves. The results may facilitate better understanding the molecular mechanisms of solar-withering treatment in flavor formation of oolong tea.
Camellia sinensis/genetics* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Plant Leaves ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Taste ; Tea ; Transcriptome/genetics*

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and safety of submaximal balloon dilation and to perform small-diameter stent for symptomatic carotid artery severely stenosis before coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG).Methods:From January 2016 to December 2019, 30 patients of the Department of Neurointervention in Beijing Anzhen Hospital with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis(≥70%) and the left main trunk or triple-vessel of coronary artery disease were analyzed retrospectively. General information, clinical characteristics, and imaging data of all cases were collected. All patients underwent submaximal balloon dilation and small-diameter stent implantation. Preoperative comorbidities or risk factors included hypertension 23 cases(76.7%), diabetes 10 cases(33.3%), hyperglycemia 14 cases(46.7%), moking 13 cases(43.3%). Left main trunk disease 6 cases(20.0%), three-vessels disease 24 cases(80.0%), mitral regurgitation 1 case(3.3%), stable angina 25 cases(83.3%), myocardial infarction 8 cases(26.7%), cerebral infarction 24 cases(80.0%) and transient ischemia attack(TIA) 6 cases(20.0%) caused by ipsilateral carotid artery stenosis. The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) score was 2(0-3), and the median modified Rankin Scale(mRS) score was 1(0-1) before the operation. The mean interval between carotid artery intervention and CABG was(23.4±8.2)days.Results:29 cases(96.7%, 29/30) underwent CAS-CABG operation successfully. In one case of carotid artery extreme tortuosity, the emboli protective device could not place the distal carotid artery. In the operative procedure, 27 cases(90.0%, 27/30) underwent with 3mm diameter balloon, only 3 cases(10.0%) with 3 mm balloon after pre-dilatation with 2 mm diameter balloon because of severely high-grade stenosis(99%). 25 cases(83.3%) with 7mm diameter stents and 5 cases(16.7%) with 6 mm diameter stents, including 22 cases(73.3%) with a closed-cell stent and 8 cases(26.7%) with an open-cell stent. In the perioperative period, the heart rate of two patients was lower than 50 BPM during operation and returned to normal after using atropine immediately. Another patient presented with chest tightness during interventional therapy. TNI elevation was examined urgently. After oxygen inhalation and intravenous infusion of Nitroglycerin, the patient's symptoms improved rapidly. No cardiac and cerebrovascular complications occurred during the perioperative period of CABG, no cardiac-related complications occurred within 30 days of follow-up, one case of TIA and 1 case of cerebral infarction. After intensive anti-platelet aggregation and lipid-lowering treatment, two patient's symptoms improved. There were no death cases in all patients during carotid artery interventional therapy, perioperative CABG and 30-day follow-up. Thirty days later, we performed a clinical follow-up of 23 cases, median 4.5(3.0-7.9) months, mRS Score Median 1(0-1). One patient presented with TIA, any patient had no symptoms of the cardiac or nervous system. Image follow-up of 17 cases, median 3.5(2.8-4.5) months, carotid artery ultrasound showed in-stent restenosis(stenosis rate>50%) in 1 case, the patient was asymptomatic restenosis, continue treatment of aggressive anti-platelet and lipid-lowering drugs.Conclusion:Submaximal balloon dilation and performing small-diameter stent for symptomatic carotid artery severely stenosis before CABG is safe and feasible, which could not only reduce the incidence of vagus reflex resulted in acute coronary syndrome during carotid artery stenosis intervention but also morbidity of acute ischemic stroke events during CABG.

AIM To study the effects of No.1 Weiyan Decoction (Codonopsis Radix,Paeoniae Radix alba,Taraxaci Herba,etc.) on hypoxia and hypoxic tolerance in gastric mucosal epithelial cells in rats with precancerous lesion of gastric cancer (PLGC).METHODS Forty rats were randomly divided into normal,model,Vitacoenzyme Tablets and No.1 Weiyan Decoction groups.Except for the normal group,the rats in the other groups were given with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and Little Chengqi Decoction to establish a PLGC rat model.Ten weeks after the administration,the gastric mucosal epithelial microvascular ultrastructure was observed,the expressions of Hif1a mRNA,HIF-1 α protein and VEGF protein in gastric mucosal epithelium were detected.RESULTS Compared with the normal group,the number of microvasculatures in gastric mucosal epithelium was decreased;lumen was severely stenosed or expansive;inner wall was not smooth and had adhesion;vascular endothelial cells were swollen;the expression of Hif1α mRNA showed an increasing trend;the expressions of HIF-1α protein and VEGF protein were anomalous in the model group.Compared with the model group,the gastric mucosal vascular lesion of PLGC rats was improved,and the expressions of Hif1a mRNA,HIF-1α protein and VEGF protein were significantly decreased in the No.1 Weiyan Decoction group.CONCLUSION No.1 Weiyan Decoction can improve hypoxia and hypoxia tolerance,and induce angiogenesis in gastric mucosal epithelium in PLGC rats.

[Objective]To appraise the indications,essential technical points and selection of prostheses of hemi or total arthroplasty of the shoulder for severe damages of proximal part of humerus.[Method]Twelve cases had an arthroplasty of the shoulder;4 total-arthroplasties and 8 hemi-arthroplasties of the shoulder;6 cases of four parts fractures,2 cases of humeral head osteonecrosis,1 case of osteonecrosis of humeral head and glenoid cavity,2 cases of proliferative arthritis with the shoulder rigidity,1 case of bone humor.The function of the shoulder was evaluated postoperatively according to the methods of Amercian Society of Surgeons for Shoulder and Elbow Joints.All cases were followed up with a mean duration of 14 months.[Result]Twelve cases revealed obvious relief of pain with absence of pain in 8 and mild in 4.Twelve cases had no prosthetic stems loosening.The motion range of the shoulder was improved with a mean abduction of 100.Ten cases had the satisfactory results for treatment.[Conclusion]Hemi or total arthroplastyof shoulder is effective for complicated proximal humeral damages.The key of success is related with scientific operative method,appropriate selection of prostheses,effective rehabilitation plan.