Cassava genome from a wild ancestor to cultivated varieties

Cassava is a major tropical food crop in the Euphorbiaceae family that has high carbohydrate production potential and adaptability to diverse environments. Here we present the draft genome sequences of a wild ancestor and a domesticated variety of cassava and comparative analyses with a partial inbred line. We identify 1,584 and 1,678 gene models specific to the wild and domesticated varieties, respectively, and discover high heterozygosity and millions of single-nucleotide variations. Our analyses reveal that genes involved in photosynthesis, starch accumulation and abiotic stresses have been positively selected, whereas those involved in cell wall biosynthesis and secondary metabolism, including cyanogenic glucoside formation, have been negatively selected in the cultivated varieties, reflecting the result of natural selection and domestication. Differences in microRNA genes and retrotransposon regulation could partly explain an increased carbon flux towards starch accumulation and reduced cyanogenic glucoside accumulation in domesticated cassava. These results may contribute to genetic improvement of cassava through better understanding of its biology

Predictive value of two different definitions of contrast-associated acute kidney injury for long-term major adverse kidney events in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Background: It remains controversial whether contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) is associated with long-term major adverse kidney events (MAKE) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: By the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria, CA-AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine ≥ 0.3 mg/dL or 50% from baseline within 48 h after PCI; or an increase in serum creatinine ≥ 0.5 mg/dL or 25% within 72 h by the contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) criteria. The primary endpoint was 1-year MAKE, defined as a composite of all-cause mortality and persistent renal dysfunction. Results: A total of 402 patients were finally included in this study. The primary endpoint occurred in 29 (7.2%) patients. There was a significant association between CA-AKI and 1-year MAKE assessed by both the AKIN (hazard ratios [HR]: 11.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.29–31.24, p = 0.000) and CIN (HR: 6.45, 95% CI: 2.56–16.25, p = 0.000) definitions. However, the AKIN definition (HR: 4.95, 95% CI: 1.17–21.02, p = 0.030) was more reliable in the prediction of persistent renal dysfunction than CIN definition (HR: 4.08, 95% CI: 0.99–16.87, p = 0.052). Additionally, the area under receiver operating characteristic curve was larger for predicting 1-year MAKE with the AKIN definition than CIN definition (0.742 vs. 0.727). Conclusions: In patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI, CA-AKI was significantly associated with 1-year MAKE. Moreover, the AKIN definition might be more reliable in the prediction of long-term prognosis