bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive Value of Prognostic Nutritional Index on COVID-19 Severity
Authors: Wang Zhong-hua , Lin Ying-Wen , Wei Xue-biao , Li Fei , Liao Xiao-Long , Yuan Hui-qing , Huang Dao-zheng , Qin Tie-he , Geng Heng , Wang Shou-hong
Published: January 2021

Background: The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been described as a simple risk-stratified tool for several diseases. We explored the predictive role of the PNI on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity.

Methods: A total of 101 patients with COVID-19 were included in this retrospective study from January 2020 to March 2020. They were divided into two groups according to COVID-19 severity: non-critical (n = 56) and critical (n = 45). The PNI was calculated upon hospital admission: 10 × serum albumin (g/dL) + 0.005 × total lymphocyte count (/mm3). Critical COVID-19 was defined as having one of the following features: respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilation; shock; organ dysfunction necessitating admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). The correlation between the PNI with COVID-19 severity was analyzed.

Results: The PNI was significantly lower in critically ill than that in non-critically ill patients (P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that the PNI was a good discrimination factor for identifying COVID-19 severity (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the PNI to be an independent risk factor for critical illness due to COVID-19 (P = 0.002).

Conclusions: The PNI is a valuable biomarker that could be used to discriminate COVID-19 severity.
Operative and Oncological Outcomes Comparing Sentinel Node Mapping and Systematic Lymphadenectomy in Endometrial Cancer Staging: Meta-Analysis With Trial Sequential Analysis
Authors: Gu Yu , Cheng Hongyan , Zong Liju , Kong Yujia , Xiang Yang
Published: January 2021

Objective

To evaluate the utility of sentinel lymph node mapping (SLN) in endometrial cancer (EC) patients in comparison with lymphadenectomy (LND).

Methods

Comprehensive search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, OVID, Web of science databases, and three clinical trials registration websites, from the database inception to September 2020. The primary outcomes covered operative outcomes, nodal assessment, and oncological outcomes. Software Revman 5.3 was used. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) were performed.

Results

Overall, 5,820 EC patients from 15 studies were pooled in the meta-analysis: SLN group (N = 2,152, 37.0%), LND group (N = 3,668, 63.0%). In meta-analysis of blood loss, SLN offered advantage over LND in reducing operation bleeding (I2 = 74%, P<0.01). Z-curve of blood loss crossed trial sequential monitoring boundaries though did not reach TSA sample size. There was no difference between SLN and LND in intra-operative complications (I2 = 7%, P = 0.12). SLN was superior to LND in detecting positive pelvic nodes (P-LN) (I2 = 36%, P<0.001), even in high risk patients (I2 = 36%, P = 0.001). While no difference was observed in detection of positive para-aortic nodes (PA-LN) (I2 = 47%, P = 0.76), even in high risk patients (I2 = 62%, P = 0.34). Analysis showed no difference between two groups in the number of resected pelvic nodes (I2 = 99%, P = 0.26). SLN was not associated with a statistically significant overall survival (I2 = 79%, P = 0.94). There was no difference in progression-free survival between SLN and LND (I2 = 52%, P = 0.31). No difference was observed in recurrence. Based on the GRADE assessment, we considered the quality of current evidence to be moderate for P-LN biopsy, low for items like blood loss, PA-LN positive.

Conclusion

The present meta-analysis underlines that SLN is capable of reducing blood loss during operation in regardless of surgical approach with firm evidence from TSA. SLN mapping is more targeted for less node dissection and more detection of positive lymph nodes even in high risk patients with conclusive evidence from TSA. Utility of SLN yields no survival detriment in EC patients.
Research Progress of Pancreas-Related Microorganisms and Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Zhang Wenqing , Zhang Kunpeng , Zhang Peng , Zheng Juanjuan , Min Congcong , Li Xiaoyu
Published: January 2021

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most common digestive system cancers. Early diagnosis is difficult owing to the lack of specific symptoms and reliable biomarkers. The cause of pancreatic cancer remains ambiguous. Smoking, drinking, new-onset diabetes, and chronic pancreatitis have been proven to be associated with the occurrence of pancreatic cancer. In recent years, a large number of studies have clarified that a variety of microorganisms colonized in pancreatic cancer tissues are also closely related to the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer, and the specific mechanisms include inflammatory induction, immune regulation, metabolism, and microenvironment changes caused by microorganism. The mechanism of action of the pancreatic colonized microbiome in the tumor microenvironment, as well as immunotherapy approaches require further study in order to find more evidence to explain the complex relationship between the pancreatic colonized microbiome and PDAC. Relevant studies targeting the microbiome may provide insight into the mechanisms of PDAC development and progression, improving treatment effectiveness and overall patient prognosis. In this article, we focus on the research relating to the microorganisms colonized in pancreatic cancer tissues, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. We also highlight the microbial diversity in the occurrence, invasion, metastasis, treatment, and prognosis of pancreatic cancer in order to elucidate its significance in the early diagnosis and new therapeutic treatment of pancreatic cancer, which urgently need to be improved in clinical practice. The elimination or increase in diversity of the pancreatic microbiome is beneficial for prolonging the survival of PDAC patients, improving the response to chemotherapy drugs, and reducing tumor burden. The colonization of microorganisms in the pancreas may become a new hotspot in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
PD-1 Blockade Aggravates Epstein–Barr Virus+ Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder in Humanized Mice Resulting in Central Nervous System Involvement and CD4+ T Cell Dysregulations
Authors: Volk Valery , Theobald Sebastian J. , Danisch Simon , Khailaie Sahamoddin , Kalbarczyk Maja , Schneider Andreas , Bialek-Waldmann Julia , Krönke Nicole , Deng Yun , Eiz-Vesper Britta , Dragon Anna Christina , von Kaisenberg Constantin , Lienenklaus Stefan , Bleich Andre , Keck James , Meyer-Hermann Michael , Klawonn Frank , Hammerschmidt Wolfgang , Delecluse Henri-Jacques , Münz Christian , Feuerhake Friedrich , Stripecke Renata
Published: January 2021

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is one of the most common malignancies after solid organ or allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Most PTLD cases are B cell neoplasias carrying Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). A therapeutic approach is reduction of immunosuppression to allow T cells to develop and combat EBV. If this is not effective, approaches include immunotherapies such as monoclonal antibodies targeting CD20 and adoptive T cells. Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) to treat EBV+ PTLD was not established clinically due to the risks of organ rejection and graft-versus-host disease. Previously, blockade of the programmed death receptor (PD)-1 by a monoclonal antibody (mAb) during ex vivo infection of mononuclear cells with the EBV/M81+ strain showed lower xenografted lymphoma development in mice. Subsequently, fully humanized mice infected with the EBV/B95-8 strain and treated in vivo with a PD-1 blocking mAb showed aggravation of PTLD and lymphoma development. Here, we evaluated vis-a-vis in fully humanized mice after EBV/B95-8 or EBV/M81 infections the effects of a clinically used PD-1 blocker. Fifteen to 17 weeks after human CD34+ stem cell transplantation, Nod.Rag.Gamma mice were infected with two types of EBV laboratory strains expressing firefly luciferase. Dynamic optical imaging analyses showed systemic EBV infections and this triggered vigorous human CD8+ T cell expansion. Pembrolizumab administered from 2 to 5 weeks post-infections significantly aggravated EBV systemic spread and, for the M81 model, significantly increased the mortality of mice. ICI promoted Ki67+CD30+CD20+EBER+PD-L1+ PTLD with central nervous system (CNS) involvement, mirroring EBV+ CNS PTLD in humans. PD-1 blockade was associated with lower frequencies of circulating T cells in blood and with a profound collapse of CD4+ T cells in lymphatic tissues. Mice treated with pembrolizumab showed an escalation of exhausted T cells expressing TIM-3, and LAG-3 in tissues, higher levels of several human cytokines in plasma and high densities of FoxP3+ regulatory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment. We conclude that PD-1 blockade during acute EBV infections driving strong CD8+ T cell priming decompensates T cell development towards immunosuppression. Given the variety of preclinical models available, our models conferred a cautionary note indicating that PD-1 blockade aggravated the progression of EBV+ PTLD.
LncRNA-Encoded Peptide: Functions and Predicting Methods
Authors: Xing Jiani , Liu Haizhou , Jiang Wei , Wang Lihong
Published: January 2021

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) was originally defined as the representative of the non-coding RNAs and unable to encode. However, recent reports suggest that some lncRNAs actually contain open reading frames that encode peptides. These coding products play important roles in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Here, we summarize the regulatory pathways of mammalian lncRNA-encoded peptides in influencing muscle function, mRNA stability, gene expression, and so on. We also address the promoting and inhibiting functions of the peptides in different cancers and other diseases. Then we introduce the computational predicting methods and data resources to predict the coding ability of lncRNA. The intention of this review is to provide references for further coding research and contribute to reveal the potential prospects for targeted tumor therapy.
Case Report: Prenatal Genetic Counseling to Parents of Fetuses Suspected of Having Ambiguous Genitalia
Authors: Sato Takeshi , Ishii Tomohiro , Yamaguchi Yu , Ichihashi Yosuke , Ochiai Daigo , Asanuma Hiroshi , Kuroda Tatsuo , Hasegawa Tomonobu
Published: January 2021

The occurrence of fetuses suspected of having ambiguous genitalia will likely increase in the future. Currently, the impact of prenatal genetic counseling on parents' understanding and psychological preparedness has not been addressed. We provided prenatal genetic counseling to parents of two fetuses suspected of ambiguous genitalia. Case 1: At 22 weeks of gestation, swelling of the labia majora, and a clitoris-like structure were noted despite 46,XY detected in amniotic fluid cells. Case 2: At 28 weeks of gestation, bladder exstrophy and a scrotum-like structure were noted. At 32 weeks (Case 1) and 37 weeks (Case 2) of gestation, we shared information with parents regarding the possible difficulty of legal sex assignment at birth, and a scenario for registration of the birth certificate. At birth, both babies presented with ambiguous genitalia. For both cases, the parents remained calm on seeing their baby's genitalia for the first time. After a month, we shared medical information with parents, including karyotype, testosterone production capacity, and surgical schedule. In both cases parents assigned their respective baby's legal sex as male. Several months later, parents were questioned on prenatal genetic counseling. Case 1: Mother, “I was prepared to address our baby's genitalia calmly.” Father, “I understood the procedure of legal sex assignment.” Case 2: Mother, “Without counseling, I would have been more upset and worried.” Father, “We were assured that multidisciplinary experts would support us.” Prenatal genetic counseling provides reassurance to parents, who remain informed and emotionally secure throughout the legal sex assignment of their child.
Case Report: Primary Peritonitis as the Onset of Pediatric Ménétrier's Disease
Authors: Barrés-Fernández Ana , Piolatti-Luna Andrés , Bretón-Martínez José Rafael , Crehuá-Gaudiza Elena , Quiñones-Torrelo Carmen , Moscardó-Navarro Anaïs , Fuertes-Latasa Cristina , Martínez-Costa Cecilia
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Primary peritonitis (PP) and Ménétrier's Disease (MD) are both rare conditions among pediatric population. Although about 150 MD cases have been described in the scientific literature to date, its onset with a PP is an unusual condition.

Case Presentation: We present a case of an 11-year-old boy who was admitted to our unit because of abdominal pain and distension. Complementary tests showed ascites, bilateral pleural effusion, leukocytosis, increased acute phase reactants and hypoproteinemia with hypoalbuminemia. Laparoscopy ruled out appendicitis or visceral perforations and exposed purulent peritoneal fluid, compatible with PP. Biochemical stool analysis showed increased clearance of alpha-1-antitrypsin, which was consistent with a protein-losing enteropathy. Gastroscopy findings were compatible with MD. The clinical course was favorable and he had no recurrence after 12 months of follow-up.

Conclusion: PP can be the first clinical manifestation of pediatric MD. Knowledge of MD and its generally benign nature in children is important in order to avoid excessive testing and unnecessary treatment.
The Pharmacological Action of Kaempferol in Central Nervous System Diseases: A Review
Authors: Silva dos Santos Jéssica , Gonçalves Cirino João Pedro , de Oliveira Carvalho Patrícia , Ortega Manoela Marques
Published: January 2021

Kaempferol (KPF) is a flavonoid antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables. Many studies have described the beneficial effects of dietary KPF in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, especially cancer. Nevertheless, little is known about the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying KPF actions in the central nervous system (CNS). Also, the relationship between KPF structural properties and their glycosylation and the biological benefits of these compounds is unclear. The aim of this study was to review studies published in the PubMed database during the last 10 years (2010–2020), considering only experimental articles that addressed the isolated cell effect of KPF (C15H10O6) and its derivatives in neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson, ischemia stroke, epilepsy, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, neuropathic pain, and glioblastoma. 27 publications were included in the present review, which presented recent advances in the effects of KPF on the nervous system. KPF has presented a multipotential neuroprotective action through the modulation of several proinflammatory signaling pathways such as the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38MAPK), serine/threonine kinase (AKT), and β-catenin cascade. In addition, there are different biological benefits and pharmacokinetic behaviors between KPF aglycone and its glycosides. The antioxidant nature of KPF was observed in all neurological diseases through MMP2, MMP3, and MMP9 metalloproteinase inhibition; reactive oxygen species generation inhibition; endogenous antioxidants modulation as superoxide dismutase and glutathione; formation and aggregation of beta-amyloid (β-A) protein inhibition; and brain protective action through the modulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), important for neural plasticity. In conclusion, we suggest that KPF and some glycosylated derivatives (KPF-3-O-rhamnoside, KPF-3-O-glucoside, KPF-7-O-rutinoside, and KPF-4′-methyl ether) have a multipotential neuroprotective action in CNS diseases, and further studies may make the KPF effect mechanisms in those pathologies clearer. Future in vivo studies are needed to clarify the mechanism of KPF action in CNS diseases as well as the impact of glycosylation on KPF bioactivity.
A New Score for Predicting Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients Administered Oral Antiplatelet Drugs
Authors: Lv Meina , Zheng Xiaochun , Wu Tingting , Chen Wenjun , Jiang Shaojun , Zhang Hongqin , Xu Fangda , Zhang Jinhua
Published: January 2021

Antiplatelet drugs may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Currently, there is no specific score for predicting the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding caused by oral antiplatelet drugs. In this study, the gastrointestinal bleeding risk score was established and compared with the CRUSADE score in order to reduce the occurrence of clinical gastrointestinal bleeding events. Our study included 4052 patients who received oral antiplatelet drugs. Data were obtained from the patient medical records inpatient system. Cases of acute gastrointestinal bleeding and mortality were recorded. The bleeding score was established by logistic regression, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and the Hosmer–Lemeshow test. Finally, 171 patients had acute gastrointestinal bleeding. The mortality rates of patients in the bleeding and nonbleeding groups were 24.6 and 4.7%, respectively. A multivariate analysis revealed that an age of >65 years, anemia, recent major bleeding, a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, combined oral anticoagulants, and dual antiplatelet therapy are risk factors, and combined proton pump inhibitors are protective factors for acute gastrointestinal bleeding. We used these risk factors to establish a score for predicting acute gastrointestinal bleeding, named (ABC)2D score. The area under the curve for (ABC)2D score was 0.857 (p < 0.001), higher than the CRUSADE score of 0.693 (p < 0.001). The Hosmer–Lemeshow p value was 0.324. We developed the (ABC)2D score based on seven risk factors (i.e., age, anemia, recent major bleeding, a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, no-proton pump inhibitors use, combined oral anticoagulants, and dual antiplatelet therapy). (ABC)2D score was superior to the CRUSADE score. This new risk-scoring model may help to identify patients at a significant risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Protective Effects of 1,8-Cineole Microcapsules Against Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Imbalance Associated Weight Loss Induced by Heat Stress in Broiler Chicken
Authors: Jiang Zhihui , Luo Maojun , Ma Wentao , Ma Shengming , Wang Yao , Zhang Kunpeng
Published: January 2021

Intestinal microbiota dysregulation is considered the primary trigger of low-grade inflammation responsible for weight loss due to heat stress. 1,8-Cineole is the major bacteriostatic agent in eucalypt and possesses remarkable anti-inflammatory properties. However, the mechanisms of its effect on intestinal microbiota remain unclear. In this study, 1,8-cineole was prepared into microcapsules prior to use as feed supplement in chickens. The microencapsulation efficiency and chemical stability of 1,8-cineole microcapsules were evaluated. The chicken treatment with 1,8-cineole microcapsules (1 or 3%) for 45 days, in the presence or absence of heat stress for fifteen days, commenced on Day 31, with or without an antibiotics mix (Abx) for three days on Day 27. Performance parameters were measured once a week from Day 30 through Day 45. Surface and entrapped concentration of 1,8-cineole was estimated as 7.89 g/100 g powder in the microcapsules. The time to maximal concentration (Tmax), terminal half-life (T1/2), and the area under plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-t) of the encapsulated 1,8-cineole were higher than those of the nonencapsulated in treated chickens, although the maximal concentrations (Cmax) were similar. Chickens treated under higher temperatures with 1,8-cineole microcapsules exhibited lower levels of grade inflammation and higher body weight gain. Dietary 1,8-cineole microcapsules recovered the normal structure of upper ileum and altered the ratio of gut microbiota under heat stress and increased the ratio of Lactobacillus and Escherichia, whereas the proportion of Salmonella decreased based on 16S rRNA analysis of the upper ileum microbiota. In vitro, 1,8-cineole effectively inhibited the growth of Salmonella as demonstrated by inhibition zone assay. In summary, our findings elucidated the interaction between 1,8-cineole and intestinal microbiota as a new mechanism for the anti-heat stress effect of 1,8-cineole in preventing low-grade inflammation and weight loss. The results suggest that 1,8-cineole microcapsules may be a good feed supplement to protect against heat stress injury.
Anticoagulation Quality of Warfarin and the Role of Physician–Pharmacist Collaborative Clinics in the Treatment of Patients Receiving Warfarin: A Retrospective, Observational, Single-Center Study
Authors: Qiu Sha , Wang Na , Zhang Chi , Gu Zhi-Chun , Qian Yan
Published: January 2021

Background: The management of patients receiving warfarin is complicated. This study evaluated the anticoagulation quality of warfarin, explored potential predictors associated with poor anticoagulation quality, and elucidated the role of clinical pharmacists in the management of warfarin treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data on patients who either initially received warfarin or returned to warfarin after withdrawal between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2020. The primary outcome was time in therapeutic range (TTR), and a TTR of ≥60% was considered as good anticoagulation quality. The secondary outcomes included thromboembolic and bleeding events during the follow-up. We assessed the TTR of each participant and investigated the potential predictors of poor anticoagulation quality (TTR < 60%) using logistic regression analysis. Additionally, we compared the warfarin anticoagulant quality and the incidence of clinical adverse events between atrial fibrillation patients in physician–pharmacist collaborative clinics (PPCCs) and general clinics.

Results: Totally, 378 patients were included. The mean TTR of patients was 42.6 ± 29.8%, with only 32% of patients having achieved good anticoagulation quality. During a mean follow-up period of 192 ± 92 days, we found no significant differences in the incidences of thromboembolic events (5.0% vs. 5.1%, p = 0.967) and bleeding events (1.7% vs. 4.7%, p = 0.241) between patients with good and those with poor anticoagulation quality. The presence of PPCCs (odds ratio [OR]: 0.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.25–0.90, p = 0.022) was an independent protective factor of poor anticoagulation quality, while the presence of more than four comorbidities (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.22–3.24, p = 0.006) and an average interval of international normalized ratio monitoring of >30 days (OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.10–2.76, p = 0.019) were independent risk factors of poor anticoagulation quality. Compared with atrial fibrillation patients in general clinics, patients in PPCCs were found to have a significantly increased mean TTR level (48.4% ± 25.7% vs. 38.0% ± 27.6%, p = 0.014).

Conclusion: The anticoagulation quality of warfarin was relatively low at our institution. The presence of more than four comorbidities and an average interval of international normalized ratio monitoring of >30 days independently contributed to poor anticoagulation quality. Meanwhile, the use of PPCC model improved the anticoagulation quality of warfarin.
The Suppression of Epidemic Spreading Through Minimum Dominating Set
Authors: Wang Jie , Zhang Lei , Zhu Wenda , Jiang Yuhang , Wu Wenmin , Xu Xipeng , Zhao Dawei
Published: January 2021

COVID-19 has infected millions of people, with deaths in more than 200 countries. It is therefore essential to understand the dynamic characteristics of the outbreak and to design effective strategies to restrain the large-scale spread of the epidemic. In this paper, we present a novel framework to depress the epidemic spreading, by leveraging the decentralized dissemination of information. The framework is equivalent to finding a special minimum dominating set for a duplex network which is a general dominating set for one layer and a connected dominating set for another layer. Using the spin glass and message passing theory, we present a belief-propagation-guided decimation (BPD) algorithm to construct the special minimum dominating set. As a consequence, we could immediately recognize the epidemic as soon as it appeared, and rapidly immunize the whole network at minimum cost.
Physicochemical Properties of Pure Water Treated by Pure Argon Plasma Jet Generated by Microwave Discharge in Opened Atmosphere
Authors: Sergeichev Konstantin F. , Lukina Natalya A. , Sarimov Ruslan M. , Smirnov Igor G. , Simakin Alexander V. , Dorokhov Aleksey S. , Gudkov Sergey V.
Published: January 2021

The physicochemical properties of water activated by high-purity low-temperature argon plasma of electrodeless microwave discharge at atmospheric pressure are investigated. Such parameters of activated water as electrical conductivity, redox potential, hydrogen index (pH), the concentrations of dissolved molecular oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, OH-radicals, nitrate and nitrite anions depending on the plasma jet distance above the water surface and duration of activation were studied. Under irradiation conditions close to optimum, it was shown that the generation rate in the absence of impurities are 200 μM/min for H2O2; 800 μM/min for •OH and 2 mM/min for NOx−. The use of plasma activated water (PAW) in agriculture has been tested. It was shown that strawberry seeds treated with a surfactant solution grow much faster than control seeds. The mechanisms of the chemical composition formation of activated water and its biological properties are discussed.
Developmental Changes of the Ovary in Neonatal Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus)
Authors: Islam Md. Rashedul , Ichii Osamu , Nakamura Teppei , Irie Takao , Masum Md. Abdul , Otani Yuki , Namba Takashi , Chuluunbaatar Tsolmon , Elewa Yaser Hosny Ali , Kon Yasuhiro
Published: January 2021

The reproductive characteristics and ovarian development in cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus, CRs) are unclear, although CRs are commonly used as animal models in biomedical research. We previously reported that young (6–8 weeks) CRs showed multi-oocyte follicles (MOFs) and double nucleated oocytes (DNOs) in different stages of follicles. The developmental changes in neonatal CR ovaries were investigated in the present study and were compared with our findings in previous studies of unique phenotypes, particularly in oocytes. CR ovaries at postnatal days (PND) 0, 4, and 7 were obtained from the Hokkaido Institute of Public Health. Samples were analyzed by light and transmission electron microscopy. The general histology and folliculogenesis in CR ovaries were similar to those in other experimental rodents. However, DNOs were observed in all age categories and were frequently observed in primordial follicles, whereas MOFs started to develop from PND4 with greater frequency in primary follicles. Almost all developing follicles expressed DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 4 and forkhead box L2, which are representative markers of oocytes and follicular epithelial cells, respectively. Ki-67 staining demonstrated the proliferative activity of granulosa cells, but not of oocytes, in follicles. Moreover, rapid folliculogenesis of CR due to a small number of apoptotic oocytes was suggested, based on results of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay, confirming the formation of DNOs or MOFs. These findings clarify the development of unique phenotypes of neonatal CR ovaries and support it as a useful model to better understand folliculogenesis and oocytogenesis as well as their abnormalities in humans and other animals.
Change in Sucrose Cleavage Pattern and Rapid Starch Accumulation Govern Lily Shoot-to-Bulblet Transition in vitro
Authors: Wu Yun , Ren Ziming , Gao Cong , Sun Minyi , Li Shiqi , Min Ruihan , Wu Jian , Li Danqing , Wang Xiuyun , Wei Yanping , Xia Yiping
Published: January 2021

In bulb crops, bulbing is a key progress in micropropagation and is the feature that most distinguishes bulbous crops from other plants. Generally, bulbing involves a shoot-to-bulblet transition; however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. We explored this process by tracking the shoot-to-bulblet transition under different culture conditions. Rapid starch accumulation occurred at 15 days after transplanting (DAT) in the bulblet-inducing treatments as confirmed via histological observations and the significant elevation of starch synthesis related-gene transcription, including LohAGPS, LohAGPL, LohGBSS, LohSS, and LohSBE. However, for shoots that did not transition to bulblets and maintained the shoot status, much higher soluble sugars were detected. Interestingly, we observed a clear shift from invertase-catalyzed to sucrose synthase-catalyzed sucrose cleavage pattern based on the differential expression of LohCWIN and LohSuSy during the key transition stage (prior to and after bulbing at 0–15 DAT). Shoots that transitioned into bulblets showed significantly higher LohSuSy expression, especially LohSuSy4 expression, than shoots that did not transition. A symplastic phloem unloading pathway at the bulblet emergence stage (15 DAT) was verified via the 6(5)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate fluorescent tracer. We propose that starch is the fundamental compound in the shoot-to-bulblet transition and that starch synthesis is likely triggered by the switch from apoplastic to symplastic sucrose unloading, which may be related to sucrose depletion. Furthermore, this study is the first to provide a complete inventory of the genes involved in starch metabolism based on our transcriptome data. Two of these genes, LohAGPS1.2b and LohSSIIId, were verified by rapid amplification of cDNA ends cloning, and these data will provide additional support for Lilium research since whole genome is currently lacking.
Histology and RNA Sequencing Provide Insights Into Fusarium Head Blight Resistance in AAC Tenacious
Authors: Nilsen Kirby T. , Walkowiak Sean , Kumar Santosh , Molina Oscar I. , Randhawa Harpinder S. , Dhariwal Raman , Byrns Brook , Pozniak Curtis J. , Henriquez Maria A.
Published: January 2021

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a serious fungal disease affecting wheat and other cereals worldwide. This fungus causes severe yield and quality losses from a reduction in grain quality and contamination of grain with mycotoxins. Intensive breeding efforts led to the release of AAC Tenacious, which was the first spring wheat cultivar registered in Canada with a resistant (R) rating to FHB. To elucidate the physiological mechanisms of resistance, we performed histological and transcriptomic analyses of AAC Tenacious and a susceptible control Roblin after inoculation with Fusarium graminearum (Fg). The spikelet and rachis of infected wheat spikes were hand sectioned and monitored by confocal and fluorescent microscopy. Visible hyphae were observed within the inoculated spikelets for AAC Tenacious; however, the infection was largely restricted to the point of inoculation (POI), whereas the adjacent florets in Roblin were heavily infected. Significant cell wall thickening within the rachis node below the POI was evident in AAC Tenacious compared to Roblin in response to Fg inoculation. Rachis node and rachilla tissues from the POI and the rachis node below the POI were collected at 5 days post inoculation for RNAseq. Significant changes in gene expression were detected in both cultivars in response to infection. The rachis node below the POI in AAC Tenacious had fewer differentially expressed genes (DEGs) when compared to the uninoculated control, likely due to its increased disease resistance. Analysis of DEGs in Roblin and AAC Tenacious revealed the activation of genes and pathways in response to infection, including those putatively involved in cell wall modification and defense response.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Community in Roots and Nitrogen Uptake Patterns of Understory Trees Beneath Ectomycorrhizal and Non-ectomycorrhizal Overstory Trees
Authors: Tatsumi Chikae , Hyodo Fujio , Taniguchi Takeshi , Shi Weiyu , Koba Keisuke , Fukushima Keitaro , Du Sheng , Yamanaka Norikazu , Templer Pamela , Tateno Ryunosuke
Published: January 2021

Nitrogen (N) is an essential plant nutrient, and plants can take up N from several sources, including via mycorrhizal fungal associations. The N uptake patterns of understory plants may vary beneath different types of overstory trees, especially through the difference in their type of mycorrhizal association (arbuscular mycorrhizal, AM; or ectomycorrhizal, ECM), because soil mycorrhizal community and N availability differ beneath AM (non-ECM) and ECM overstory trees (e.g., relatively low nitrate content beneath ECM overstory trees). To test this hypothesis, we examined six co-existing AM-symbiotic understory tree species common beneath both AM-symbiotic black locust (non-ECM) and ECM-symbiotic oak trees of dryland forests in China. We measured AM fungal community composition of roots and natural abundance stable isotopic composition of N (δ15N) in plant leaves, roots, and soils. The root mycorrhizal community composition of understory trees did not significantly differ between beneath non-ECM and ECM overstory trees, although some OTUs more frequently appeared beneath non-ECM trees. Understory trees beneath non-ECM overstory trees had similar δ15N values in leaves and soil nitrate, suggesting that they took up most of their nitrogen as nitrate. Beneath ECM overstory trees, understory trees had consistently lower leaf than root δ15N, suggesting they depended on mycorrhizal fungi for N acquisition since mycorrhizal fungi transfer isotopically light N to host plants. Additionally, leaf N concentrations in the understory trees were lower beneath ECM than the non-ECM overstory trees. Our results show that, without large differences in root mycorrhizal community, the N uptake patterns of understory trees vary between beneath different overstory trees.
The Effects of Leaf Extracts of Four Tree Species on Amygdalus pedunculata Seedlings Growth
Authors: Wang Xiuqing , Zhang Ruiqi , Wang Jinxin , Di Long , Wang Huaibiao , Sikdar Ashim
Published: January 2021

Vegetation reconstruction is an urgent problem in fragile environment like coal mine subsidence areas. Amygdalus pedunculata is an important eco-economic shrub species that promotes wind prevention, sand fixation as well as soil and water conservation. The natural regeneration of pure Amygdalus pedunculata forests is difficult to achieve because of its low seed germination rate and weak seedling growth. A stereo-complex ecosystem could potentially promote the germination and seedling growth of A. pedunculata and establish a steady mixed plantation consisting of trees and shrubs. Here, laboratory and pot experiments were conducted to assess the effect of four tree species on morphological and physiological indexes of A. pedunculata. The laboratory experiment showed that A. pedunculata seed germination and seedling growth from Yuyang County (YC-1) and Shenmu County (SC-6) were higher when plants were treated with the aqueous leaf extracts of Pinus sylvestris, Broussonetia papyrifera, and Pinus tabulaeformis compared with Populus simonii at concentrations of 2.5% (E2.5) and 5% (E5). Furthermore, the donor leaf extract was more sensitive to YC-1 than to SC-6. The pot experiment showed that the E2.5 and E5 treatments with the aqueous leaf extracts on the three tree species had strong promoting effects of seedling length, root length, seedling fresh weight, root fresh weight, and ground diameter for YC-1. The activity of catalase of A. pedunculata seedlings first increased and then decreased, while the activity of peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, roots, and the contents of soluble protein and chlorophyll decreased; the opposite patterns were observed for malondialdehyde, soluble sugar, cell membrane permeability, and proline were the opposite. Synthetical allelopathic effect index values of the leaf extracts of the three species on YC-1 were as follows: P. sylvestris > B. papyrifera > P. tabulaeformis (E2.5 to E20). Therefore, P. sylvestris and B. papyrifera could be used to promote the growth of A. pedunculata seedlings as well as for the construction of mixed plantations in coal mine degradation areas. Generally, this study provides new insight into the creation of stereo-complex ecosystems (P. sylvestris + A. pedunculata and B. papyrifera + A. pedunculata) in arid fragile environment.
Leveraging Controlled-Environment Agriculture to Increase Key Basil Terpenoid and Phenylpropanoid Concentrations: The Effects of Radiation Intensity and CO2 Concentration on Consumer Preference
Authors: Walters Kellie J. , Lopez Roberto G. , Behe Bridget K.
Published: January 2021

Altering the radiation intensity in controlled environments can influence volatile organic compound (VOC) biosynthetic pathways, including those of terpenoids and phenylpropanoids. In turn, the concentrations of these compounds can have a profound effect on flavor and sensory attributes. Because sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a popular culinary herb, our objectives were to (1) determine the extent radiation intensity and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration influence seedling terpenoid and phenylpropanoid concentrations; (2) determine if differences in phenylpropanoid and terpenoid concentrations influence consumer preference; and (3) characterize consumer preferences to better inform production and marketing strategies. “Nufar” sweet basil was grown with CO2concentrations of 500 or 1,000 μmol ⋅ mol–1under sole-source radiation intensities of 100, 200, 400, or 600 μmol ⋅ m–2⋅ s–1with a 16 h photoperiod to create daily light integrals of 6, 12, 23, and 35 mol⋅m–2⋅ d–1. After 2 weeks, concentrations of the terpenoids 1,8 cineole and linalool and the phenylpropanoids eugenol and methyl chavicol were quantified, and consumer sensory panel evaluations were conducted to quantify preferences. Overall, increasing radiation intensity from 100 to 600 μmol ⋅ m–2⋅ s–1increased 1,8 cineole, linalool, and eugenol concentrations 2. 4-, 8. 8-, and 3.3-fold, respectively, whereas CO2concentration did not influence VOCs. Contrary to our hypothesis, increased VOC concentrations were not correlated with consumer preference. However, overall liking was correlated with aftertaste and flavor. The conclusion that consumer preference is dependent on flavor can be drawn. However, increasing VOC concentrations to increase flavor did not improve flavor preference. Many consumer sensory preference characteristics (favorable preference for aftertaste, bitterness/sweetness, color, flavor, overall liking, and texture) were correlated with basil grown under a radiation intensity of 200 μmol ⋅ m–2⋅ s–1. This led us to determine that consumers prefer to detect the characteristic basil flavor made up of 1,8 cineole, eugenol, and linalool, which was not as prevalent in basil grown under 100 μmol ⋅ m–2⋅ s–1, but too high in basil grown under 400 and 600 μmol ⋅ m–2⋅ s–1, which led to lower consumer preference.
Physiological and Proteomic Signatures Reveal Mechanisms of Superior Drought Resilience in Pearl Millet Compared to Wheat
Authors: Ghatak Arindam , Chaturvedi Palak , Bachmann Gert , Valledor Luis , Ramšak Živa , Bazargani Mitra Mohammadi , Bajaj Prasad , Jegadeesan Sridharan , Li Weimin , Sun Xiaoliang , Gruden Kristina , Varshney Rajeev K. , Weckwerth Wolfram
Published: January 2021

Presently, pearl millet and wheat are belonging to highly important cereal crops. Pearl millet, however, is an under-utilized crop, despite its superior resilience to drought and heat stress in contrast to wheat. To investigate this in more detail, we performed comparative physiological screening and large scale proteomics of drought stress responses in drought-tolerant and susceptible genotypes of pearl millet and wheat. These chosen genotypes are widely used in breeding and farming practices. The physiological responses demonstrated large differences in the regulation of root morphology and photosynthetic machinery, revealing a stay-green phenotype in pearl millet. Subsequent tissue-specific proteome analysis of leaves, roots and seeds led to the identification of 12,558 proteins in pearl millet and wheat under well-watered and stress conditions. To allow for this comparative proteome analysis and to provide a platform for future functional proteomics studies we performed a systematic phylogenetic analysis of all orthologues in pearl millet, wheat, foxtail millet, sorghum, barley, brachypodium, rice, maize, Arabidopsis, and soybean. In summary, we define (i) a stay-green proteome signature in the drought-tolerant pearl millet phenotype and (ii) differential senescence proteome signatures in contrasting wheat phenotypes not capable of coping with similar drought stress. These different responses have a significant effect on yield and grain filling processes reflected by the harvest index. Proteome signatures related to root morphology and seed yield demonstrated the unexpected intra- and interspecies-specific biochemical plasticity for stress adaptation for both pearl millet and wheat genotypes. These quantitative reference data provide tissue- and phenotype-specific marker proteins of stress defense mechanisms which are not predictable from the genome sequence itself and have potential value for marker-assisted breeding beyond genome assisted breeding.
Evaluating Strategies for Adaptation to Climate Change in Grapevine Production–A Systematic Review
Authors: Naulleau Audrey , Gary Christian , Prévot Laurent , Hossard Laure
Published: January 2021

In many areas of the world, maintaining grapevine production will require adaptation to climate change. While rigorous evaluations of adaptation strategies provide decision makers with valuable insights, those that are published often overlook major constraints, ignore local adaptive capacity, and suffer from a compartmentalization of disciplines and scales. The objective of our study was to identify current knowledge of evaluation methods and their limitations, reported in the literature. We reviewed 111 papers that evaluate adaptation strategies in the main vineyards worldwide. Evaluation approaches are analyzed through key features (e.g., climate data sources, methodology, evaluation criteria) to discuss their ability to address climate change issues, and to identify promising outcomes for climate change adaptations. We highlight the fact that combining adaptation levers in the short and long term (location, vine training, irrigation, soil, and canopy management, etc.) enables local compromises to be reached between future water availability and grapevine productivity. The main findings of the paper are three-fold: (1) the evaluation of a combination of adaptation strategies provides better solutions for adapting to climate change; (2) multi-scale studies allow local constraints and opportunities to be considered; and (3) only a small number of studies have developed multi-scale and multi-lever approaches to quantify feasibility and effectiveness of adaptation. In addition, we found that climate data sources were not systematically clearly presented, and that climate uncertainty was hardly accounted for. Moreover, only a small number of studies have assessed the economic impacts of adaptation, especially at farm scale. We conclude that the development of methodologies to evaluate adaptation strategies, considering both complementary adaptations and scales, is essential if relevant information is to be provided to the decision-makers of the wine industry.
Structural and Biochemical Insights Into Two BAHD Acyltransferases (AtSHT and AtSDT) Involved in Phenolamide Biosynthesis
Authors: Wang Chengyuan , Li Jianxu , Ma Miaolian , Lin Zhaozhu , Hu Wenli , Lin Wei , Zhang Peng
Published: January 2021

Phenolamides represent one of the largest classes of plant-specialized secondary metabolites and function in diverse physiological processes, including defense responses and development. The biosynthesis of phenolamides requires the BAHD-family acyltransferases, which transfer acyl-groups from different acyl-donors specifically to amines, the acyl-group acceptors. However, the mechanisms of substrate specificity and multisite-acylation of the BAHD-family acyltransferases remain poorly understood. In this study, we provide a structural and biochemical analysis of AtSHT and AtSDT, two representative BAHD-family members that catalyze the multisite acylation of spermidine but show different product profiles. By determining the structures of AtSHT and AtSDT and using structure-based mutagenesis, we identified the residues important for substrate recognition in AtSHT and AtSDT and hypothesized that the acyl acceptor spermidine might adopt a free-rotating conformation in AtSHT, which can undergo mono-, di-, or tri-acylation; while the spermidine molecule in AtSDT might adopt a linear conformation, which only allows mono- or di-acylation to take place. In addition, through sequence similarity network (SSN) and structural modeling analysis, we successfully predicted and verified the functions of two uncharacterized Arabidopsis BAHD acyltransferases, OAO95042.1 and NP_190301.2, which use putrescine as the main acyl-acceptor. Our work provides not only an excellent starting point for understanding multisite acylation in BAHD-family enzymes, but also a feasible methodology for predicting possible acyl acceptor specificity of uncharacterized BAHD-family acyltransferases.
Leaf Phosphorus Concentration Regulates the Development of Cluster Roots and Exudation of Carboxylates in Macadamia integrifolia
Authors: Zhao Xin , Lyu Yang , Jin Kemo , Lambers Hans , Shen Jianbo
Published: January 2021

Phosphorus (P) deficiency induces cluster-root formation and carboxylate exudation in most Proteaceae. However, how external P supply regulates these root traits in Macadamia integrifolia remains unclear. Macadamia plants were grown hydroponically with seven P levels to characterize biomass allocation, cluster-root development, and exudation of carboxylates and acid phosphatases. Plant biomass increased with increasing P supply, peaking at 5 μM P, was the same at 5–25 μM P, and declined at 50–100 μM P. Leaf P concentration increased with increasing P supply, but shoot biomass was positively correlated with leaf P concentration up to 0.7–0.8 mg P g–1 dry weight (DW), and declined with further increasing leaf P concentration. The number of cluster roots declined with increasing P supply, with a critical value of leaf P concentration at 0.7–0.8 mg P g–1 DW. We found a similar trend for carboxylate release, with a critical value of leaf P concentration at 0.5 mg g–1 DW, but the activity of acid phosphatases showed a gradually-decreasing trend with increasing P supply. Our results suggest that leaf P concentration regulates the development and functioning of cluster roots, with a critical P concentration of 0.5–0.8 mg g–1, above which macadamia growth is inhibited.