Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of GDP-D-mannose pyrophosphorylase and KATANIN in Corymbia citriodora

The GDP-D-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMP) and microtubule severing enzyme KATANIN (KTN) are crucial for wood formation. Although functional identification has been performed in Arabidopsis, few comprehensive studies have been conducted in forest trees. In this study, we discovered 8 CcGMP and 4 CcKTN genes by analyzing the whole genome sequence of Corymbia citriodora. The chromosomal location, genome synteny, phylogenetic relationship, protein domain, motif identification, gene structure, cis-acting regulatory elements, and protein-interaction of CcGMP and CcKTN were all investigated. KTN has just one pair of segmentally duplicated genes, while GMP has no duplication events. According to gene structure, two 5’ UTRs were identified in CcGMP4. Furthermore, there is no protein-interaction between KTN and GMP. Based on real-time PCR, the expression of most genes showed a positive connection with DBH diameters. In addition, the expression of CcGMP4 and CcKTN4 genes were greater in different size tree, indicating that these genes are important in secondary xylem production. Overall, this findings will enhance our comprehension of the intricacy of CcGMP&CcKTN across diverse DBHs and furnish valuable insights for future functional characterization of specific genes in C. citriodora

Microbacterium spp. peritonitis in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis: a single-center experience and literature review

IntroductionPeritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis (PDRP) caused by Microbacterium spp. is very rare, with only 9 cases reported to date. In this study, we report the treatment experiences of 7 patients at our peritoneal dialysis center.MethodsWe retrospectively collected clinical characteristics and antibiotic management of all 7 episodes of PDRP caused by Microbacterium spp. in 7 patients from at our center over 4 years, and reviewed the documented Microbacterium spp. PDRP in the literature.ResultsEmpiric antibiotic therapy was initiated as soon as possible, and consisted of intraperitoneal (IP) gentamicin in combination with vancomycin. After up to 5 days, gentamicin was changed to meropenem if the treatment was not effective. The intended course of antibiotic treatment was 21-day. Totally, 6 episodes were cured (85.7%), which was higher than reported.ConclusionThe 21-day antibiotic therapy program by combining vancomycin and meropenem may benefit the management of Microbacterium spp. PDRP

Genetic Diversity and Structure through Three Cycles of a Eucalyptus urophylla S.T.Blake Breeding Program

Eucalyptus urophylla S.T.Blake is an important commercial tropical plantation species worldwide. In China, a breeding program for this species has progressed through three cycles but genetic diversity and structure in the breeding populations are uncertain. A sampling of field trials from these populations was carried out to evaluate their genetic diversity and structure using 16 microsatellite loci. Significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were recorded at all 16 loci in the populations. Overall expected and observed heterozygosity (He and Ho) estimates of 0.87 and 0.59 respectively for the first cycle population, and 0.88 and 0.60 respectively for the third cycle population, revealed reasonably high levels of genetic diversity. The genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst) revealed low differentiation among pairs of provenances (from the species’ native range) comprising the first cycle population (range: 0.012–0.108), and AMOVA results showed that the majority of molecular genetic variation existed among individuals rather than among provenances for the first cycle population and among individuals rather than among field trial sources in the third cycle population. Levels of genetic diversity appeared to remain unchanged from the first to third cycle populations, and the results indicate prospects for maintaining if not increasing diversity through recurrent breeding. Likely effects of artificial directional selection, prior to sampling, on both populations examined are discussed along with implications for future E. urophylla breeding

Assembly of ruthenium-based complex into metal-organic framework with tunable area-selected luminescence and enhanced photon-to-electron conversion efficiency

Host–guest photofunctional materials have received much attention recently due to their potential applications in light emitting diodes, polarized emission, and other optoelectronic fields. In this work, we report the encapsulation of a photoactive ruthenium-based complex (4,4′-diphosphonate-2,2′-bipyridine) into the biphenyl-based metal–organic framework (MOF) as a host–guest material toward potential photofunctional applications. The resulting material (denoted as Ru@MOF) presents different two-color blue/red luminescences at the crystal interior and exterior as detected by three-dimensional confocal fluorescence microscopy. Additionally, up-conversion emission and an enhanced photoluminescence lifetime relative to the pristine Ru-based complex can also be observed in this Ru@MOF system. Upon attaching on the rutile TiO2 nanoarray, the Ru@MOF also exhibits alternated photoelectrochemical properties relative to the pristine complex. Moreover, a density functional theoretical calculation was performed on the Ru@MOF structure to provide understanding of the host–guest interactions. Based on the combination of experimental and theoretical studies on the Ru@MOF system, the aim of this work is to deeply investigate how the host–guest materials can present different photofunctionalities and optoelectronic properties compared with those of the individual components, and to give detailed information on the potential host–guest energy/electronic transfer between the MOF and the complex

Relationship Between Short-Term Blood Pressure Variability and Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients

Background/Aims: Blood pressure (BP) variability is associated with cardiovascular events, and cerebral and renal damage. The aim of this study was to investigate any potential relationship between short-term BP variability and incidence of acute onset conditions, such as acute kidney injury (AKI), in critically ill patients. Methods: BP was monitored to analyze its variability in critically ill patients in present study. Short-term BP variability was assessed as average real variability (ARV), standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) of 24-hour BP. Results: A total of 565 patients were included, 41.2% (n=233) of which presented with AKI after admission (AKI stage I, n = 94; stage II, n = 37; stage III, n = 102). The mean APACHE II score was 21.5 for all patients. ARV of 24 h systolic BP was significantly higher in patients with AKI (p<0.001). This association remained (p=0.006) after adjustment for potential confounders. The incidence of AKI increased with the ARV from 14.0% (ARV ≤6 mmHg) to 73.9% (ARV >14 mmHg). A weak association was also found between BP variability and hospital mortality in critically ill patients. Conclusion: BP variability is correlated with the incidence of AKI in critically ill patients

Serum Phosphorus Might Be a Predictor of Kidney Disease Progression in IgA Nephropathy

Introduction: High serum phosphorus level has been reported to be a risk factor for disease progression in patients with chronic kidney disease, whereas, its role in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) still remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum phosphorus and progression of IgAN. Methods: A total of 247 patients diagnosed with IgAN from 2016.11 to 2019.12 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The association between serum phosphorus and kidney disease progression events, defined as 30% estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline or kidney failure, was evaluated using Cox models. Results: Serum phosphorus was an independent risk factor for poor renal outcome after adjusting for age, gender, urine protein, MAP, eGFR, hemoglobin, Oxford S and T scores (HR, 2.586; 95% CI, 1.238–5.400, p = 0.011). The addition of serum phosphorus to the reference model containing clinical and pathological variables significantly improved the risk prediction of IgAN progression (C statistic, 0.836; 95% CI, 0.783–0.889) as compared with the reference model (C statistic, 0.821; 95% CI, 0.756–0.886). The ability of serum phosphorus level to predict progression was much stronger in IgAN patients without use of immunosuppression (HR 5.173; 95% CI, 1.791–14.944; p = 0.002). Conclusion: Higher serum phosphorus levels were independently associated with kidney disease progression in patients with IgAN, especially in those without immunosuppression. The addition of serum phosphorus to clinical and pathological data at the time of biopsy significantly improved risk prediction of IgAN progression

Clinical features and outcomes of patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus

AbstractPurpose To investigate the clinical characteristics, pathological features, and outcomes of patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in northwest China.Methods This retrospective study included 491 patients with SLE tested for ANCA antibodies and 171 patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) as controls. Subgroup analysis limited to those with renal involvement, and by ANCA antibody subtype (PR3 vs MPO). To compare the proteinuria remission rates between ANCA-positive and ANCA-negative lupus nephritis (LN) groups, a logistic regression model was used for propensity score matching based on age, hemoglobin, and baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).Results Compared to ANCA-negative SLE (n = 442), ANCA-positive SLE (n = 46) occur in older patients; however, these patients were younger than those with AAV (n = 167). The eGFR of patients with ANCA-positive LN (n = 25) was higher than that of patients having AAV with renal involvement (n = 56) but lower than that of patients with ANCA-negative LN (n = 163). Patients with SLE who had MPO-ANCA (n = 16) had higher levels of serum creatinine compared to those with PR3-ANCA (n = 30) (156.5 µmol/L vs. 45.5 µmol/L, p = 0.005). During the follow-up period, the remission rate of proteinuria in patients with ANCA-positive LN was lower than that of patients with ANCA-negative LN (50% vs. 75%, p = 0.008).Conclusion Patients with ANCA-positive LN may have worse baseline renal function and lower protein remission rates compared to patients with ANCA-negative LN. ANCA titers should be regularly monitored throughout the follow-up period in patients with SLE, especially in cases of renal involvement

Analysis of Plasma EBV-DNA and Soluble Checkpoint Proteins in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients after Definitive Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy

Background. Tumor immunotherapy and immunological checkpoint-related proteins are research hotspots. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is the main treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Hence, the evaluation of its effect is very important. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the concentrations of soluble checkpoint proteins, plasma EBV-DNA, and cytokines in NPC patients treated with IMRT. Methods. In this study, the plasma samples of 37 NPC patients and 40 healthy controls were collected. Luminex MAGPIX was used to detect the concentrations of 32 plasma targets, including soluble programmed cell death 1 (sPD-1). RT-qPCR was used to measure EBV-DNA. Results. The concentrations of 33 plasma targets were detected in NPC patients before and after IMRT to explore the changes after IMRT. The results showed that IMRT could increase the expression of sPD-1 and significantly reduce the level of EBV-DNA in the plasma of NPC patients. The expression level of sPD-1 in TNM I/II patients was significantly higher than that in III/IV patients. Besides, the concentrations of 12 other targets were significantly different after IMRT, including LAG-3, PD-L1, TIM-3, IFN-γ, IL-12p70, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-17A, and IL-22. High sPD-1 patients had longer survival than those with low sPD-1. Also, patients with lower EBV-DNA and TNM grades I and II/III had longer survival than those with higher EBV-DNA or TNM IV. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that the concentration of sPD-1 was significantly increased and EBV-DNA was significantly reduced in the NPC patients after IMRT. Plasma EBV-DNA level was a highly specific and sensitive biomarker for NPC diagnosis. Both sPD-1 expression and EBV-DNA concentration in plasma were related to the survival of patients

Transcriptomic Analysis Identifies Candidate Genes Related to Intramuscular Fat Deposition and Fatty Acid Composition in the Breast Muscle of Squabs (Columba)

Despite the fact that squab is consumed throughout the world because of its high nutritional value and appreciated sensory attributes, aspects related to its characterization, and in particular genetic issues, have rarely been studied. In this study, meat traits in terms of pH, water-holding capacity, intramuscular fat content, and fatty acid profile of the breast muscle of squabs from two meat pigeon breeds were determined. Breed-specific differences were detected in fat-related traits of intramuscular fat content and fatty acid composition. RNA-Sequencing was applied to compare the transcriptomes of muscle and liver tissues between squabs of two breeds to identify candidate genes associated with the differences in the capacity of fat deposition. A total of 27 differentially expressed genes assigned to pathways of lipid metabolism were identified, of which, six genes belonged to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway along with four other genes. Our results confirmed in part previous reports in livestock and provided also a number of genes which had not been related to fat deposition so far. These genes can serve as a basis for further investigations to screen markers closely associated with intramuscular fat content and fatty acid composition in squabs. The data from this study were deposited in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)’s Sequence Read Archive under the accession numbers SRX1680021 and SRX1680022. This is the first transcriptome analysis of the muscle and liver tissue in Columba using next generation sequencing technology. Data provided here are of potential value to dissect functional genes influencing fat deposition in squabs