Significance of combined detection of LunX mRNA and tumor markers in diagnosis of lung carcinoma

Objective:To evaluate the significance of combined detection of LunX mRNA,carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),neuron-specific enolase(NSE),and cytokeratin 21-1 fragment(CYFRA21-1) in clinical diagnosis of lung carcinoma.Methods:Based on the quantitative RT-PCR and chemiluminescence immunoassay,the expression levels of LunX mRNA,CEA,NSE,and CYFRA21-1 in 113 patients with lung carcinoma(case group) and 30 healthy participants(control group) were detected.Meantime,the sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of the combination detection were also explored.Results:The positive rates of LunX mRNA in peripheral blood and CEA,NSE,and CYFRA21-1 in serum were significantly higher in case group than those in control group(χ2=17.295,16.825,19.148,and 17.450;P<0.05).There was no statistical significance when positive rate of LunX mRNA was evaluated among different pathological types(χ2=0.047,P>0.05).The positive rate of LunX mRNA in stage Ⅰ+Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and Ⅳ had a significantly increasing tendency(χ2=10.565,32.462,P<0.05).The positive rate of CYFRA21-1 was highest in squamous carcinoma(78.5%),the positive rate of NSE was highest in small cell carcinoma(86.7%),and the positive rate of CEA wag highest in lung adenocarcinoma(80.4%).The sensitivity and accuracy of the combination detection were 91.1% and 88.1%,respectively.Conclusions:The combined detection of LunX mRNA and tumor markers(TMs) including CEA,NSE,and CYFRA21-1 in peripheral blood is helpful to increase the diagnostic accuracy of lung cancer.Also,it can inform the pathological typing of lung carcinoma.

MIKC^(C)-type MADS-box genes in Rosa chinensis: the remarkable expansion of ABCDE model genes and their roles in floral organogenesis

MIKC^(C)-type MADS-box(MIKC^(C))genes encode transcription factors that have crucial roles in controlling floral organogenesis and flowering time in plants.Although this gene family has been well characterized in many plant species,its evolutionary and comprehensive functional analysis in rose is lacking.In this study,58 non-redundant MIKC^(C)uni-transcripts were extensively identified from rose transcriptomes.Phylogenetic analysis placed these genes into 12 clades with their Arabidopsis and strawberry counterparts,and revealed that ABCDE model(including AP1/FUL,AP3/PI,AG,and SEP clades),and SOC1 and AGL6 clade genes have remarkably expanded in Rosa chinensis,whereas genes from the FLC and AGL17 clades were undetectable.Sequence alignments suggest that the AP3/PI clade may contribute to more specific functions in rose due to a high variation of amino acid residues within its MADS-box domains.A comparative analysis of gene expression in specific floral organ differentiation stages and floral organs between R.chinensis cv.Old Blush and the closely related mutant genotype R.chinensis cv.Viridiflora(floral organs mutated into leaf-like structures)further revealed the roles of ABCDE model genes during floral organogenesis in rose.Analysis of co-expression networks provided an overview of the regulatory mechanisms of rose MIKC^(C)genes and shed light on both the prominent roles of AP3/PI clade genes in floral organogenesis and the roles of RcAGL19,RcAGL24,and RcSOC1 in regulating floral transition in rose.Our analyses provide an overall insight of MIKC^(C)genes in rose and their potential roles in floral organogenesis.

Genome-wide identification and evolutionary analysis of MLO gene family in Rosaceae plants

Mutants lacking wild-type MLO(Mildew resistance Locus O)proteins show broad-spectrum resistance to the powdery mildew fungus,and dysregulated cell death control,with spontaneous cell death in response to developmental or abiotic stimuli.In order to understand the evolution and divergence patterns of the MLO gene family in Rosaceae plants,we analysed systematically genome-wide data from Fragaria vesca,Prunus persica,Prunus mume,Malus domestica,Pyrus bretschneideri and Rubus occidentalis based on bioinformatics methods.Using three phylogenetic methods(the neighbour-joining,maximum likelihood,and Bayesian methods),we identified 117 MLO genes from 6 Rosaceae species.The results of all three phylogenetic analysis methods supported that these genes were divided into six clades.Conserved motif analysis found that only motif 2 was present in all MLO proteins and had 3 nearly invariant amino acid residues.The findings indicated that motif 2 might be shared by the MLO gene family.The structural features of these genes showed large variations in sequence length among different species,although the lengths and the numbers of exons exhibited high degrees of similarity.Selective pressure analysis showed extremely significant differences in all 6 clades,with 2,1,and 1 site(s)under significant positive selection detected in clades III,IV,and VI,respectively.These positive selection sites were important driving forces for the promotion of the functional differentiation of the MLO genes.Functional divergence analysis showed that the significantly divergent sites were located within the domains of the MLO genes.Functional distance analysis showed that the clade V had more conservative functions and might have retained more original functions during the evolutionary process.However,clade I may have undergone extensive altered functional constraints as a specialised functional role.Moreover,the most original function of the MLO genes in Rosaceae could be related to the evolution of their resistance to powdery mildew,which then gradually evolved into functions such as the regulation of flower development,the control of root morphology,and seed evolution due to the different evolutionary rates after gene duplication.These results provide a theoretical basis for further studies of the molecular evolutionary patterns of the plant MLO gene family.

Morphological studies of rose prickles provide new in sights

Prickles are common structures in plants that play a key role in defense against herbivores.In the Rosa genus,prickles are widely present with great diversity in terms of form and density.For cut rose production,prickles represent an important issue,as they can damage the flower and injure workers.Our objectives were to precisely describe the types of prickles that exist in roses,their tissues of origin and their development.We performed a detailed histological analysis of prickle initiation and development in a rose F1 population.Based on the prickle investigation of 110 roses,we proposed the fi rst categorization of prickles in the Rosa genus.They are mainly divided into two categories,nonglandular prickles(NGPs)and glandular prickles(GPs),and subcategories were defined based on the presence/absence of hairs and branches.We demonstrated that NGPs and GPs both originate from multiple cells ofthe ground meristem beneath the protoderm.For GPs,the gland cells originate from the protoderm of the GP at the early developmental stage.Our findings clearly demonstrate that prickles are notmodified trichomes(which originate from the protoderm).These conclusions are different from the current mainstream hypothesis.These results provide a foundation for further studies on prickle initiation and development in plants.

Comparative transcriptomic and metabonomic analysis revealed the relationships between biosynthesis of volatiles and flavonoid metabolites in Rosa rugosa

Rosa rugosa is not only cultivated as a landscaping plant,but also used in cosmetics,the medical and food industries.However,little information is currently available on the gene regulatory networks involved in its scent and color biosynthesis and metabolism.In this study,R.rugosa Thunb.f.rosea Rehd with red petals(RR)and its white petal variant(WR),were used to study the molecular mechanisms in flower color and scent.Sixty-five differential flavonoid metabolites and 15 volatiles were found to have significant differences between RR and WR.Correspondingly,the key regulators(MYB-bHLH-WD40)of anthocyanin synthesis pathway and their structural genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis,benzenoid/phenylpropanoid biosynthesis,terpenoid biosynthesis pathways were also found to be differentially expressed by comparative transcriptome.Further,qPCR permitted the identification of some transcripts encoding proteins that were putatively associated with scent and color biosynthesis in roses.Particularly,the results showed that the ACT gene(encoding CoA geraniol/citronellol acetyltransferase,GeneID:112190420),which expressed lower in WR,was involved in three pathways:flavonoid biosynthesis,phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and terpenoid biosynthesis,however,GT5(anthocyanin glycosylation gene,GeneID:112186660),expressed higher in WR,was involved in both flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways.These results suggested that ACT and GT5 might play important roles in regulating the relationship of color pigmentation and volatile emission.

QL1706 (anti-PD-1 IgG4/CTLA-4 antibody) plus chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a multi-cohort, phase II study

First-line chemoimmunotherapy(with or without bevacizumab)has improved outcomes in advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Here,this open-label,multi-cohort phase II study(NCT05329025)was done to investigate the safety and efficacy of QL1706(a single bifunctional MabPair product against PD-1 and CTLA-4)and chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab in this population.Patients were enrolled into five different cohorts based on genotype(cohorts 1-4,epidermal growth factor receptor[EGFR]wild-type;cohort 5,EGFR-mutant and progressed on EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors[TKIs]).Between June 11,2021 and December 29,2021,91 patients were enrolled.Most frequent treatment-related adverse events(TRAEs)included decreased appetite(60[65.9%]),anemia(60[65.9%]),infusion-related reactions(48[52.7%]),and pruritus(44[48.4%]).Grade≥3 TRAEs occurred in 30(33.0%)patients.Twenty-seven(45%)patients with wild-type EGFR achieved partial response(PR)(objective response rate[ORR]=45%)and had a median progression-free survival(mPFS)of 6.8 months(95%CI:5.2-9.7).For 31 patients harboring mutated EGFR,17(54.8%)achieved PR(ORR=54.8%),with an mPFS of 8.5 months(95%CI:5.72-not evaluable).Overall,QL1706 plus chemotherapy,regardless of having bevacizumab,was generally tolerable and had promising antitumor activity for EGFR wild-type advanced NSCLC in first-line setting.Moreover,QL1706 plus chemotherapy and bevacizumab showed favorable antitumor activity for patients who had EGFR mutated NSCLC but failed in TKI therapy,demonstrating a potential for treating this population.

How to improve superlubricity performance of diketone at steel interface:Effects of oxygen gas

Achievement of steady and reliable super-low friction at the steel/steel contact interface,one of the most tribological systems applied for mechanical moving parts,is of importance for prolonging machine lifetime and reducing energy consumption.Here we reported that the superlubricity performance of the steel/steel sliding interface lubricated with tiny amounts of diketone solution strongly depends on the oxygen content in surrounding environment.The increase of oxygen not only significantly shortens the initial running-in time but also further reduces the stable coefficient of friction in superlubricity stage due to the enhancement of tribochemical reactions.On the one hand,more severe oxidation wear occurring at higher oxygen content facilitates material removal of the contact interface,lowering the contact pressure and the corresponding initial friction.On the other hand,the growth of iron ions during the shear process in high oxygen environment promotes the formation of chelate which acted as an effective lubricated film chemisorbed at the steel/steel friction interface to further lower the interfacial friction.The results provide a new opportunity to further optimize the tribological performance of diketone superlubricity system,especially towards the lubrication of mechanical engineering materials.

Tribological properties of oil-impregnated polyimide in double-contact friction under micro-oil lubrication conditions

Oil-impregnated porous polyimide(iPPI)materials are usually used as retainer for bearings.In these bearings,balls and rings,balls and retainers are two different kinds of contact.In this paper,the friction and wear properties of iPPI were investigated using steel(disc)–steel(ball)–iPPI(pin)double-contact friction test rig for simulating the actual contact in bearings.The results show that compared with that of iPPI–steel single contact,the friction coefficient of iPPI–steel in double contacts is lower and decreases with the amount of additional oil.The surface of iPPI in single contact suffers more wear compared with that in double contacts.Different from single contact,the worn surfaces of iPPI in double contacts are blackened.The Raman spectra of worn surfaces of balls and discs indicate thatα-Fe_(2)O_(3) and Fe_(3)O_(4) were formed during rubbing of the double contacts.Many nanoscale iron oxide particles are found on the worn surfaces of iPPI in double contacts;on the contrary,few particles could be found on the surface in single contact.In double-contact friction,the nanoscale wear debris penetrates inside the iPPI material through the process of extruding and recycling of oil,which is the mechanism of the blackening of the iPPI worn surfaces.The studies show that the double-contact friction method is a new and effective method to study the friction in bearings,especially for those with polymer retainer.

Tribological properties of textured stator and PTFE-based material in travelling wave ultrasonic motors

This study fabricated textures on the stator surface of a traveling wave ultrasonic motor(USM)using laser and investigated the tribological behavior of a polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)composite friction material and stator.Initially,the effect of textures with different densities was tested.As the results suggested,the generation of large transfer films of PTFE composite was prevented by laser surface texturing,and adhesive wear reduced notably despite the insignificant decrease in load capacity and efficiency.Next,the 100-h test was performed to further study the effects of texture.Worn surface and wear debris were observed to discuss wear mechanisms.After 100 h,the form of wear debris changed into particles.The wear mechanisms of friction material sliding against the textured stator were small size fatigue and slight abrasive wear.The wear height of friction material decreased from 3.8μm to 1.1μm.This research provides a method to reduce the wear of friction materials used in travelling wave USMs.

Graft-accelerated virus-induced gene silencing facilitates functional genomics in rose flowers

Rose has emerged as a model ornamental plant for studies of flower development, senescence, and morphology, as well as the metabolism of floral fragrances and colors.Virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS) has long been used in functional genomics studies of rose by vacuum infiltration of cuttings or seedlings with an Agrobacterium suspension carrying TRV-derived vectors. However, VIGS in rose flowers remains a challenge because of its low efficiency and long time to establish silencing. Here we present a novel and rapid VIGS method that can be used to analyze gene function in rose,called ‘graft-accelerated VIGS', where axil ary sprouts are cut from the rose plant and vacuum infiltrated with Agrobacterium. The inoculated scions are then grafted back onto the plants to flower and silencing phenotypes can be observed within 5 weeks, post-infiltration. Using this new method, we successfully silenced expression of the RhDFR_1, RhA G, and RhNUDX_1 in rose flowers, and affected their color, petal number, as well as fragrance, respectively. This grafting method will facilitate high-throughput functional analysis of genes in rose flowers. Importantly, it may also be applied to other woody species that are not currently amenable to VIGS by conventional leaf or plantlet/seedling infiltration methods.

Water-based superlubricity in vacuum

This study achieved water‐based superlubricity with the lubrication of H_3PO_4 solution in vacuum(highest vacuum degree <10–4 torr) for the first time by performing a pre‐running process in air before running in vacuum. The stable water‐based superlubricity was sustainable in vacuum(0.02 torr) for 14 h until the test was stopped by the user for non‐experimental factor. A further analysis suggested that the superlubricity may be attributed to the phosphoric acid–water network formed in air, which can efficiently lock water molecules in the liquid lubricating film even in vacuum owing to the strong hydrogen bond interaction. Such capability to lock water is strongly affected by the strength of hydrogen bond and environmental conditions. The realization of water‐based superlubricity with H_3PO_4 solution in vacuum can lead to its application in space environment.

Tribological behavior of lubricant-impregnated porous polyimide

Porous materials impregnated with lubricants can be used in conditions where limited lubricant is desirable.In this work,three porous polyimides(PPI)with different densities were prepared.Polyalphaolefin(PAO)impregnated PPI(iPPI)discs were rubbed against steel and sapphire balls.In operando observations of the iPPI-sapphire contacts show that oil is released under an applied load,forming a meniscus around contacts.Cavitation at the outlet is created at high sliding speeds.The amount of released oil increases with increasing PPI porosity.Contact moduli,E*,estimated based on the actual contact size show that trapped oil in iPPIs contributes to load support.At higher speeds,tribological rehydration of the contact occurs in low density iPPI,with that E*rises with speed.For high density PPIs,high speeds give a constantly high E*which is limited by the viscoelastic properties of the PPI network and possibly the rate of oil exudation.Friction of iPPI-steel contacts is governed by the mechanical properties of the PPI,the flow of the lubricant,and the roughness of the PPI surfaces.For low-and medium-density(highly porous,high roughness)PPIs,large amount of oil is released,and lubrication is mainly via lubricant restricted in the contact in the pores and possibly tribological rehydration.For high density(low porosity)PPI,with lower roughness,hydrodynamic lubrication is achieved which gives the lowest friction.Our results show that polymeric porous materials for effective lubrication require the optimization of its surface roughness,stiffness,oil flow,and oil retentions.