Molecular analyses display the increasing diversity of Podostemaceae in China

Podostemaceae(riverweed family),one of the largest aquatic plant families in the world,comprises about 350 species in 51 genera placed in three subfamilies,Podostemoideae,Weddellinoideae,and Tristichoideae(Koi et al.,2022).Most Podostemaceae genera(~38)are monotypic or oligotypic,with a high level of endemism(Koi et al.,2018,2022).Members of Podostemaceae adhere to rocks in fast-flowing rivers,streams,or waterfalls in the subtropics and tropics(Koi et al.,2018).As an adaptation to fastrunning currents,the morphological structure of river-weeds tends to be extremely reduced,including a loss or reduction of primary shoots or roots(Koi and Kato,2007).The vegetative mass of these plants resembles lichens or bryophytes,and are thus known commonly as“dream bryophytes”(Philbrick and Retana,1998).Podostemaceae plants flower when the water level drops during the dry season.In recent years,anthropogenic factors and climate change have severely affected river weed habitats,decreasing populations of these plants.

Identification of Serum Exosomal MicroRNA Expression Profiling in Menopausal Females with Osteoporosis by High-throughput Sequencing

Estrogen deficiency,which mainly occurs in postmenopausal women,is a primary reason for osteoporosis in clinical diagnosis.However,the molecular regulation of osteoporosis in menopausal females is still not adequately explained in the literature,with the diagnosis and treatment for osteoporosis being limited.Herein,exosomal microRNAs(miRNAs)were used to evaluate their diagnosis and prediction effects in menopausal females with osteoporosis.In this study,6 menopausal females without osteoporosis and 12 menopausal females with osteoporosis were enrolled.The serum exosomes were isolated,and the miRNA expression was detected by miRNA high-throughput sequencing.Exosomal miRNA effects were analyzed by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses.The miRNA-targeted genes were evaluated by Targetscan 7.2 and the protein-protein interactions(PPI)by STRING.Hub genes were analyzed by the CytoHubba app of Cytoscape.The results showed that 191 aberrant miRNAs were found in the group of menopausal females with osteoporosis,including 72 upregulated miRNAs and 121 downregulated miRNAs.Aberrant miRNAs were involved in many signaling pathways,such as the Wnt,MAPK,and Hippo pathways.Based on PPI network analysis,FBXL3,FBXL13,COPS2,UBE2D3,DCUN1D1,DCUN1D4,CUL3,FBXO22,ASB6,and COMMD2 were the 10 most notable genes in the PPI network.In conclusion,aberrant serum exosomal miRNAs were associated with an altered risk of osteoporosis in menopausal females and may act as potential biomarkers for the prediction of risk of osteoporosis in menopausal females.

Mapping the habitat suitability of Ottelia species in Africa

Understanding the influence of environmental covariates on plant distribution is critical,especially for aquatic plant species.Climate change is likely to alter the distribution of aquatic species.However,knowledge of this change on the burden of aquatic macroorganisms is often fraught with difficulty.Ottelia,a model genus for studying the evolution of the aquatic family Hydrocharitaceae,is mainly distributed in slow-flowing creeks,rivers,or lakes throughout pantropical regions in the world.Due to recent rapid climate changes,natural Ottelia populations have declined significantly.By modeling the effects of climate change on the distribution of Ottelia species and assessing the degree of niche similarity,we sought to identify high suitability regions and help formulate conservation strategies.The models use known background points to determine how environmental covariates vary spatially and produce continental maps of the distribution of the Ottelia species in Africa.Additionally,we estimated the possible influences of the optimistic and extreme pessimistic representative concentration pathways scenarios RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 for the 2050s.Our results show that the distinct distribution patterns of studied Ottelia species were influenced by topography(elevation)and climate(e.g.,mean temperature of driest quarter,annual precipitation,and precipitation of the driest month).While there is a lack of accord in defining the limiting factors for the distribution of Ottelia species,it is clear that water-temperature conditions have promising effects when kept within optimal ranges.We also note that climate change will impact Ottelia by accelerating fragmentation and habitat loss.The assessment of niche overlap revealed that Ottelia cylindrica and O.verdickii had slightly more similar niches than the other Ottelia species.The present findings identify the need to enhance conservation efforts to safeguard natural Ottelia populations and provide a theoretical basis for the distribution of various Ottelia species in Africa.

Efficacy of Spinal Pia Mater Incision and Laminoplasty Combined with Internal Fixation for Old Spinal Cord Injury

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of incising spinal pia mater to relieve pressure and unilateral open-door laminoplasty with internal screw fixation for treatment of the dated spinal cord injury. Methods From March, 2009 to July, 2010, 16 cases with chronic cervical cord injury underwent spinal dura mater incision and unilateral open-door laminoplasty with internal screw fixation. Nerve functions of preand postoperation were evaluated by Frankel classification and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale. The improvement rate of JOA score at the indicated time was recorded. Results Postoperative Frankel classification rating of 16 patients improved obviously. JOA scores at the 1st month, 3rd month, 6th month, and 12th month after surgery were 7.9±2.3, 8.5±1.6, 8.9±2.1, and 12.4±2.5, respectively, and significantly increased compared with that prior to surgery (5.5±0.6). At the end of follow-up period, JOA score was significantly higher than that of pre-treatment (P<0.05). The recovery was relatively rapid during the first 3 months following the surgery, then entered a platform period. Conclusion It is effective for patients with dated spinal cord injury to undergo spinal decompression and laminoplasty.

A progressive compression model of thoracic spinal cord injury in mice： function assessment and pathological changes in spinal cord

Non-traumatic injury accounts for approximately half of clinical spinal cord injury, including chronic spinal cord compression. However, previous rodent spinal cord compression models are mainly designed for rats, few are available for mice. Our aim is to develop a thoracic progressive compression mice model of spinal cord injury. In this study, adult wild-type C57BL/6 mice were divided into two groups: in the surgery group, a screw was inserted at T9 lamina to compress the spinal cord, and the compression was increased by turning it further into the canal(0.2 mm) post-surgery every 2 weeks up to 8 weeks. In the control group, a hole was drilled into the lamina without inserting a screw. The results showed that Basso Mouse Scale scores were lower and gait worsened. In addition, the degree of hindlimb dysfunction in mice was consistent with the degree of spinal cord compression. The number of motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord was reduced in all groups of mice, whereas astrocytes and microglia were gradually activated and proliferated. In conclusion, this progressive compression of thoracic spinal cord injury in mice is a preferable model for chronic progressive spinal cord compression injury.

Microplastic pollution in Yellow River,China:Current status and research progress of biotoxicological effects

This study aims to comprehensively assess the environmental risks of microplastics in the Yellow River,achieving the following results through comprehensive research.The average microplastic abundances in the river waters and sediments are 5358-654000 n/m3 and 43.57-615 items/kg,respectively,and there are fewer microplastics in water samples than in sediments.Microplastics in the study area can be divided into five types according to their occurrence morphologies,namely fragments,foams,films,fibers,and particles.The most widely distributed pollution types in sediments include debris,fibers,and particles.In contrast,fibers are the dominant type in water samples,accounting for 68.18%‒98.93%.The chemical components of the microplastics include polyethylene,polypropylene,polystyrene,polyethylene terephthalate,and polyvinyl chloride.The microplastics are in four colors,with white accounting for a higher proportion.The grain size of the microplastics in tributaries or lakes of the Yellow River is less than 2 mm,which makes them liable to enter organisms for enrichment.Furthermore,the sources of the microplastics are closely related to agricultural and industrial production and biological activities in habitats and exhibit seasonal and hydrological characteristics.The microplastics in the study area show the adsorption of metals and nonmetals to different degrees,which increases the pollution risks of heavy metals combined with microplastics.In addition,microplastics can accumulate in organisms in the Yellow River and cause physical,biochemical,and other damage to aquatic organisms,thus further posing carcinogenic risks to human beings.Therefore,it is necessary to study,monitor,and control the pollution and effects of microplastics in the Yellow River,in order to provide theoretical references for the control of pollution and ecological risk of microplastics in the river.

The complete plastome sequences of five Aponogeton species(Aponogetonaceae):Insights into the structural organization and mutational hotspots

Members of the aquatic plant genus Aponogeton are widely used commercially in aquariums because of their variable leaf shape and unique inflorescences.However,due to extensive similarity between species in this genus,morphological characters are generally inadequate for taxonomic classification.Currently,molecular makers available for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of Aponogeton are limited.One approach to clarifying relationships between species in these complex groups is to use divergence hotspot regions within the genome.Here,we sequenced and analyzed the plastomes of five Aponogeton species collected from China,Zambia,and Kenya,and subsequently screened these plastomes for divergent DNA hotspots.The five plastomes are circular structures with sizes ranging from 154,167 bp to 154,860 bp.The Large and the Small Single Copies are separated by two Inverted Repeats.One hundred and thirteen unique genes were identified including 79 protein-coding,30 tRNA,and four rRNA genes.We found that the most abundant repeats in all but one species were mononucleotide repeats(A/T)and that there were 23 potential RNA ending sites.Interestingly,a^3 kb inversion,which includes the accD gene,was detected within the Asian species of Aponogeton.The inversion may be related to more frequent exchanges between this region and the nuclear genome.Furthermore,we detected mutational hotspot sites among the five Aponogeton species.Three of these hotspots are intergenic spacer regions(accD-psaI,rbcL-accD and trnH-GUG-psbA)that might be suitable for use as barcodes to resolve intra-generic relationships.We also identified four highly variable protein-coding genes(ccsA,rpl22,rps16 and ycf1)may be used as barcodes to resolve the higher-level phylogenies.Our study will provide valuable molecular resources for the taxonomic and phylogenomic study of the complex genus Aponogeton.

Blood lead level in Chinese adults with and without coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND The Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy study found that edetate disodium(disodium ethylenediaminetet-raacetic acid)chelation therapy significantly reduced the incidence of cardiac events in stable post-myocardial infarction patients,and a body of epidemiological data has shown that accumulation of biologically active metals,such as lead and cadmium,is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease.However,limited studies have focused on the relationship between angiograph-ically diagnosed coronary artery disease(CAD)and lead exposure.This study compared blood lead level(BLL)in Chinese pa-tients with and without CAD.METHODS In this prospective,observational study,450 consecutive patients admitted to Beijing Anzhen Hospital with sus-pected CAD from November 1,2018,to January 30,2019,were enrolled.All patients underwent coronary angiography,and an experienced heart team calculated the SYNTAX scores(SXscore)for all available coronary angiograms.BLLs were determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometry and compared between patients with angiographically diagnosed CAD and those without CAD.RESULTS In total,343(76%)patients had CAD,of whom 42%had low(0−22),22%had intermediate(23−32),and 36%had high(≥33)SXscore.BLLs were 36.8±16.95μg/L in patients with CAD and 31.2±15.75μg/L in those without CAD(P=0.003).When BLLs were categorized into three groups(low,middle,high),CAD prevalence increased with increasing BLLs(P<0.05).In the multivariate regression model,BLLs were associated with CAD(odds ratio(OR):1.023,95%confidence interval(CI):1.008−1.039;P=0.0017).OR in the high versus low BLL group was 2.36(95%CI:1.29−4.42,P=0.003).Furthermore,BLLs were independently associated with intermediate and high SXscore(adjusted OR:1.050,95%CI:1.036-1.066;P<0.0001).CONCLUSION BLLs were significantly associated with angiographically diagnosed CAD.Furthermore,BLLs showed excel-lent predictive value for SXscore,especially for complex coronary artery lesions.

Clinical efficacy of different treatments and their impacts on the quality of life of octogenarians with coronary artery disease

Background:Coronary artery disease(CAD)in octogenarians(age of>80 years)has a high risk of mortality and high expenses.Research shows that the prevalence of CAD is higher among octogenarians than that among younger people,but few such patients undergo percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)or coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG).This study aimed to evaluate different treatments w让h respect to their clinical effects and impacts on quality of life of octogenarians with CAD.Methods:Data of 519 octogenarians with CAD consecutively treated at Beijing Anzhen Hospital,Capital Medical University(Beijing,China)from January 2010 to January 2016 were collected in this study.The patients were categorized into three groups based on the treatments they received:the PCI group(n=292),CABG group(n=110),and medical treatment group(n=117).The followings were recorded during follow-up:clinical data,death(all-cause and cardiovascular-related),re-hospitalization time,Seattle Angina Questionnaire(SAQ)score,and occurrence of hemorrhagic events(cerebral bleeding,gastrointestinal bleeding,and dermal ecchymosis).Results:The median follow-up duration was 25.0(25th,75th percentile:17.0,55.5)months among 417 patients.The all-cause death rates(28.2%vs.12.0%and 14.6%,respectively)and cardiovascular-related death rates(15.4%us.3.8%and 6.4%,respectively)were significantly higher in the medical treatment group than those in the PCI group and CABG group(all P<0.05).The re-hospitalization rate for cardiovascular events was significantly lower in the CABG group than those in the PCI group and medical treatment group(3.8%vs.12.8%and 14.9%,respectively)(x^2=8.23&P=0.018).The SAQ scores of physical limitation,angina frequency,treatment satisfaction,and disease perception were significantly higher in the PCI group and CABG group than those in the medical treatment group(all P<0.05).No significant difference in the angina stability score was observed among the three groups(F=3.179,P=0.204).Conclusion:PCI and CABG result in reduced mortality and better quality of life in octogenarians with CAD.

Unfractionated Heparin with Sequential Enoxaparin in Patients with Complex Coronary Artery Lesions during Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

背景: 尽管有它的限制， Unfractionated 肝磷脂(UFH ) 在经皮的冠的干预(一种总线标准) 期间被用作主要抗凝剂选择。一些研究显示静脉内的 enoxaparin 能是一种有效、安全的选择。我们的队同时根据指南(班 IIA ) 独自使用了 enoxaparin 并且在一种总线标准期间发现一点导管血栓。我们与 UFH 在联合用 enoxaparin 推荐新 anticoagulation 策略。Enoxaparin 没有反复在一种总线标准期间监视 anticoagulation 的需要有更可预言的抗凝剂回答。这回顾的研究试图评估与复杂冠的动脉 disease.Methods 在一种总线标准病人与 UFH 在联合使用 enoxaparin 的功效和安全:在2015年1月和2017年4月之间，在 0.75 mg/kg (观察组)的剂量在 3000 U 正静脉内的 enoxaparin 的起始的剂量收到了静脉内的 UFH 的 600 个一种总线标准病人和在 100 U/kg (控制组)的剂量收到了 UFH 的 600 个一种总线标准病人连续地在这回顾的研究被包括。端点是在流血的心肌的梗塞( TIMI )和输送和30天、1年的主要不利cardio脑血管的事件( MACCE ) .Results 的手术后的 48-h thrombolysis :基线临床， angiographic ，和程序的特征在组之间是类似的，除了每在观察组的病人有更少的 stent 培植( 2.13 对 2.25 在控制组织， P = 0.002 )。流血的 TIMI (3.3% 对 4.7%) 没显示出观察组和控制组之间的重要差别。在 30 天的后续期间， MACCE 的率在观察组是 0.9% ， 1.5% 在控制组织。处于 MACCE 的率没有重要差别，死亡，心肌的梗塞，目标容器 revascularization ，脑血管的事件，并且在在在组之间以及在 transfemoral approach.Conclusions 的亚群分析的一种总线标准以后的 30 天和 1 年以内的咽峡炎:有顺序的 enoxaparin 的 UFH 在复杂冠的动脉疾病的一种总线标准作为 UFH 有类似的抗凝剂效果和安全。