Rice Soluble Starch Synthase I: Allelic Variation, Expression, Function, and Interaction With Waxy

Starch, which is composed of amylose and amylopectin, is the key determinant of rice quality. Amylose is regulated by the Waxy (Wx) gene, whereas amylopectin is coordinated by various enzymes including eight soluble starch synthases (SSSs), of which SSSI accounts for ∼70% of the total SSS activity in cereal endosperm. Although great progress has been made in understanding SSSI gene expression and function, allelic variation and its effects on gene expression, rice physicochemical properties and qualities, and interactions with the Wx gene remain unclear. Herein, SSSI nucleotide polymorphisms were analyzed in 165 rice varieties using five distinct molecular markers, three of which reside in an SSSI promoter and might account for a higher expression of the SSSIi allele in indica ssp. than of the SSSIj allele in japonica ssp. The results of SSSI promoter-Beta-Glucuronidase (β-GUS) analysis were consistent with the expression results. Moreover, analysis of near isogenic lines (NILs) in the Nipponbare (Nip) background showed that Nip (SSSIi) and Nip (SSSIj) differed in their thermal properties, gel consistency (GC), and granule crystal structure. Knockdown of SSSI expression using the SSSI-RNA interference (RNAi) construct in both japonica and indica backgrounds caused consistent changes in most tested physicochemical characteristics except GC. Moreover, taste value analysis (TVA) showed that introduction of the SSSI allele in indica or knockdown of SSSI expression in japonica cultivars significantly reduced the comprehensive taste value, which was consistent with the superior taste of japonica against indica. Furthermore, to test the potential interaction between SSSI and different Wx alleles, three NILs within the Wx locus were generated in the indica cv. Longtefu (LTF) background, which were designated as LTF (Wxa), LTF (Wxb), and LTF (wx). The SSSI-RNAi construct was also introduced into these three NILs, and physiochemical analysis confirmed that the knockdown of SSSI significantly increased the rice apparent amylose content (AAC) only in the Wxa and Wxb background and caused different changes in GC in the NILs. Therefore, the effect of SSSI variation on rice quality also depends on its crosstalk with other factors, especially the Wx gene. These findings provide fundamental knowledge for future breeding of rice with premium eating and cooking qualities

Fused Deposition Modeling PEEK Implants for Personalized Surgical Application: From Clinical Need to Biofabrication

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology is suitable for manufacturing personalized orthopedic implants for reconstruction surgery. Compared with traditional titanium, polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is the ideal material for 3DP orthopedic implants due to its various advantages, including thermoplasticity, thermal stability, high chemical stability, and radiolucency suitable elastic modulus. However, it is challenging to develop a well-designed method and manufacturing technique to meet the clinical needs because it requires elaborate details and interplays with clinical work. Furthermore, establishing surgical standards for new implants requires many clinical cases and an accumulation of surgical experience. Thus, there are few case reports on using 3DP PEEK implants in clinical practice. Herein, we formed a team with a lot of engineers, scientists, and doctors and conducted a series of studies on the 3DP PEEK implants for chest wall reconstruction. First, the thoracic surgeons sort out the specific types of chest wall defects. Then, the engineers designed the shape of the implant and performed finite element analysis for every implant. To meet the clinical needs and mechanical requirements of implants, we developed a new fused deposition modeling technology to make personalized PEEK implants. Overall, the thoracic surgeons have used 114 personalized 3DP PEEK implants to reconstruct the chest wall defect and further established the surgical standards of the implants as part of the Chinese clinical guidelines. The surface modification technique and composite process are developed to overcome the new clinical problems of implant-related complications after surgery. Finally, the major challenges and possible solutions to translating 3DP PEEK implants into a mature and prevalent clinical product are discussed in the paper

Interaction of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Stem Cell Factor to Promote Primordial Follicle Assembly in the Chicken

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and KIT signaling are required for ovarian development. In this study the interactive effect of FSH and stem cell factor (SCF) on folliculogenesis was investigated in the chicken. Correlated changes between the FSH receptor and the expression of KIT signaling genes were seen to be involved in the formation of the chicken primordial follicles. Follicle-stimulating hormone and SCF displayed a reciprocal stimulating effect in the promotion of folliculogenesis involving elevated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and protein kinase B (AKT) proteins. Knockdown of c-KIT or SCF reduced the stimulatory effect of FSH on KIT signaling as well as upon MAPK and AKT phosphorylation. Treatment of FSH and SCF in combination enhanced ovarian cell proliferation and N-cadherin expression, but inhibited cell apoptosis and E-cadherin expression. Overall, the reciprocal stimulating effect of FSH and SCF in promoting chicken follicle assembly involving accelerated ovarian cell proliferation, N-cadherin expression, inhibited cell apoptosis, and E-cadherin expression is demonstrated

Ginsenoside Rh1 Improves the Effect of Dexamethasone on Autoantibodies Production and Lymphoproliferation in MRL/lpr Mice

Ginsenoside Rh1 is able to upregulate glucocorticoid receptor (GR) level, suggesting Rh1 may improve glucocorticoid efficacy in hormone-dependent diseases. Therefore, we investigated whether Rh1 could enhance the effect of dexamethasone (Dex) in the treatment of MRL/lpr mice. MRL/lpr mice were treated with vehicle, Dex, Rh1, or Dex + Rh1 for 4 weeks. Dex significantly reduced the proteinuria and anti-dsDNA and anti-ANA autoantibodies. The levels of proteinuria and anti-dsDNA and anti-ANA autoantibodies were further decreased in Dex + Rh1 group. Dex, Rh1, or Dex + Rh1 did not alter the proportion of CD4+ splenic lymphocytes, whereas the proportion of CD8+ splenic lymphocytes was significantly increased in Dex and Dex + Rh1 groups. Dex + Rh1 significantly decreased the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ splenic lymphocytes compared with control. Con A-induced CD4+ splenic lymphocytes proliferation was increased in Dex-treated mice and was inhibited in Dex + Rh1-treated mice. Th1 cytokine IFN-γ mRNA was suppressed and Th2 cytokine IL-4 mRNA was increased by Dex. The effect of Dex on IFN-γ and IL-4 mRNA was enhanced by Rh1. In conclusion, our data suggest that Rh1 may enhance the effect of Dex in the treatment of MRL/lpr mice through regulating CD4+ T cells activation and Th1/Th2 balance

Treatment of Huge Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Cinobufacini Injection in Transarterial Chemoembolization: A Retrospective Study

The aim of this study is to examine the safety and efficacy of Cinobufacini injection in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for treatment of huge hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Clinical data of 56 consecutive patients with HCC larger than 10 cm who had been treated with TACE between December 2010 and August 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Among these patients, 31 belonged to the Cinobufacini group and 25 belonged to the epirubicin group. The clinical efficacy, survival time, and adverse events in patients in the two groups were compared. The objective response rate in the Cinobufacini group was significantly higher than that in the epirubicin group (53.6% versus 23.1%, = 0.022). The median survival time (10.6 versus 14.1 months, 2 = 0.092, = 0.762) and the median time to progression (4.9 versus 5.7 months, 2 = 0.097, = 0.756) were similar between the groups. The incidence rate of adverse events was lower in the Cinobufacini group than in the epirubicin group ( < 0.05). The short-term clinical efficacy of Cinobufacini is better than that of epirubicin in TACE for treating huge HCC, while their long-term clinical efficacy is similar. However, lower incidence of adverse events was noted in TACE using Cinobufacini rather than epirubicin

Reduced MLH3 Expression in the Syndrome of Gan-Shen Yin Deficiency in Patients with Different Diseases

Traditional Chinese medicine formulates treatment according to body constitution (BC) differentiation. Different constitutions have specific metabolic characteristics and different susceptibility to certain diseases. This study aimed to assess the characteristic genes of gan-shen Yin deficiency constitution in different diseases. Fifty primary liver cancer (PLC) patients, 94 hypertension (HBP) patients, and 100 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients were enrolled and classified into gan-shen Yin deficiency group and non-gan-shen Yin deficiency group according to the body constitution questionnaire to assess the clinical manifestation of patients. The mRNA expressions of 17 genes in PLC patients with gan-shen Yin deficiency were different from those without gan-shen Yin deficiency. However, considering all patients with PLC, HBP, and DM, only MLH3 was significantly lower in gan-shen Yin deficiency group than that in non-gen-shen Yin deficiency. By ROC analysis, the relationship between MLH3 and gan-shen Yin deficiency constitution was confirmed. Treatment of MLH3 (−/− and −/+) mice with Liuweidihuang wan, classical prescriptions for Yin deficiency, partly ameliorates the body constitution of Yin deficiency in MLH3 (−/+) mice, but not in MLH3 (−/−) mice. MLH3 might be one of material bases of gan-shen Yin deficiency constitution

Enhanced betatron radiation by steering a laser-driven plasma wakefield with a tilted shock front

We have experimentally realized a scheme to enhance betatron radiation by manipulating transverse oscillation of electrons in a laser-driven plasma wakefield with a tilted shock front (TSF). Very brilliant betatron x-rays have been produced with significant enhancement both in photon yield and peak energy but almost maintain the e-beam energy spread and charge. Particle-in-cell simulations indicate that the accelerated electron beam (e beam) can acquire a very large transverse oscillation amplitude with an increase in more than 10-fold, after being steered into the deflected wakefield due to the refraction of the driving laser at the TSF. Spectral broadening of betatron radiation can be suppressed owing to the small variation in the peak energy of the low-energy-spread e beam in a plasma wiggler regime. It is demonstrated that the e-beam generation, refracting, and wiggling can act as a whole to realize the concurrence of monoenergetic e beams and bright x-rays in a compact laser-wakefield accelerator

A Long-Lived Accretionary Process during the Amalgamation of the North China Craton: Insights from Neoarchean–Paleoproterozoic Polyphase Magmatism in the Lüliang Complex

There has been a long debate regarding the timing of the final amalgamation of the North China Craton, which is considered to have occurred either during the Neoarchean or Paleoproterozoic era. One major point of contention is whether there existed a long-lived subduction lasting through the Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic. The Lüliang Complex contains multiphases of magmatism and thus represents the most viable region to address this controversy. In this study, we carried geochronological and geochemical analysis on the representative granitoids. Secondary ion mass spectrometry U–Pb dating revealed four distinct granitoid groups emplaced at 2531 ± 4, 2189–2173, 2027 ± 25, and 1852 ± 41 Ma, respectively. Notably, the 2531 Ma granitic gneiss was identified for the first time in this region. Based on the geochemical characteristics, the granitoids can be divided into two types. The 2531 and 2027 Ma groups display I-type features, while the 2189–2173 and 1852 Ma groups exhibit A-type geochemical affinities. Both I-type groups exhibit enrichment in Rb, depletion in Nb, Ta, and Ti, moderate fractionated REE patterns, substantial negative Eu anomalies, low Sr/Y ratios, and positive εHf(t) (+3.51 to +5.53 and +5.59 to +7.32, respectively), indicating that they were generated from partial melting of the juvenile mafic crust. In contrast, the 2189–2173 Ma granitoids belong to A2-type and were most likely generated by the partial melting of felsic rocks in the back-arc region, while the 1852 Ma granitoids belong to A1-type and were most possibly the result of partial melting of mafic-intermediate rocks during the post-collisional stage. Based on the records of A-type granitic magmatism and the ~1950 Ma peak metamorphism throughout the Trans-North China Orogen, we propose that a long-lived subduction process (2531–1950 Ma) can mostly explain the existing geological phenomena. It is likely that the subduction between the Eastern and Western Blocks should have commenced at ~2531 Ma, followed by a long-lived subduction. The two blocks ultimately collided with each other to form the North China Craton at ~1950 Ma, which triggered post-collisional exhumation and partial melting at ~1852 Ma