Spatial-temporal differentiation and influencing factors of rural settlements in mountainous areas: an example of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Southwestern China

Rural settlement is the basic spatial unit for compact communities in rural area. Scientific exploration of spatial-temporal differentiation and its influencing factors is the premise of spatial layout rationalization. Based on land use data of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture(hereinafter referred to as Liangshan Prefecture) in Sichuan Province, China from 1980 to 2020, compactness index, fractal dimension, imbalance index, location entropy and the optimal parameters-based geographical detector(OPGD) model are used to analyze the spatial-temporal evolution of the morphological characteristics of rural settlements, and to explore the influence of natural geographical factors, socioeconomic factors, and policy factors on the spatial differentiation of rural settlements. The results show that:(1) From 1980 to 2020, the rural settlements area in Liangshan Prefecture increased by 15.96 km^(2). In space, the rural settlements are generally distributed in a local aggregation, dense in the middle and sparse around the periphery. In 2015, the spatial density and expansion index of rural settlements reached the peak.(2) From 1980 to 2020, the compactness index decreased from 0.7636 to 0.7496, the fractal dimension increased from 1.0283 to 1.0314, and the fragmentation index decreased from 0.1183 to 0.1047. The spatial morphological structure of rural settlements tended to be loose, the shape contour tended to be complex, the degree of fragmentation decreased, and the spatial distribution was significantly imbalanced.(3) The results of OPGD detection in 2015 show that the influence of each factor is slope(0.2371) > traffic accessibility(0.2098) > population(0.1403) > regional GDP(0.1325) > elevation(0.0987) > poverty alleviation(0). The results of OPGD detection in 2020 show that the influence of each factor is slope(0.2339) > traffic accessibility(0.2198) > population(0.1432) > regional GDP(0.1219) > poverty alleviation(0.0992) > elevation(0.093). Natural geographical factors(slope and elevation) are the basic factors affecting the spatial distribution of rural settlements, and rural settlements are widely distributed in the river valley plain and the second half mountain area. Socioeconomic factors(traffic accessibility, population, and regional GDP) have a greater impact on the spatial distribution of rural settlements, which is an important factor affecting the spatial distribution of rural settlements. Policy factors such as poverty alleviation relocation have an indispensable impact on the spatial distribution of rural settlements. The research results can provide decisionmaking basis for the spatial arrangement of rural settlements in Liangshan Prefecture, and optimize the implementation of rural revitalization policies.

Sex Determination in Homo sapiens as a Multi-Step Process: Potential for Development of Variants and Sex Differences in Disease Risk

Reproduction via cis-binary mechanisms appears to have evolved fairly early in the evolution of complex organisms, and a system committed to prior to evolution of humans. While the evolution of a chromosomal-specific approach has been a successful strategy for survival of a large variety of species including humans, the fidelity of sex determination leading to 100% cis-binary outcomes is not achieved in many species, with evidence for homosexual or bisexual behaviour evident in more than 1500 species. Thus, such outcomes indicates that sex determination is a multi-step process and not a single event, and as such, could lead to the appearance of variants during the process which developed much earlier than humans. Variants could arise either due to intrinsic variation in the steps of determination, or also be influenced by environmental factors of a biological or psychological nature. In contrast to homosexual variants which do not require interventions such as hormone therapy or surgery, expression of gender dysphoria, is more based in psychology, but also has biological underpinnings and can be influenced by such hormonal interventions and surgery. While the numbers of those with gender dysphoria is small (~0.6% - 1.0% of population), the attention given to this issue raises the possibility of biological and psychological environmental factors impacting the emergence of some of those expressing gender dysphoria. Furthermore, transitioning from male-to-female or female-to-male can have consequences regarding disease risks latter in life, including the appearance of autoimmune diseases. This review will attempt to review some of the evidence regarding sex determination, discuss why the system has potentially not been improved upon during evolution, how a potential role for sex chromosome function on neurodevelopment may be central to variation in humans, and how commitment to the current strategy is likely integrated into other sex-related events such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause to ensure species survival. It will also discuss how variants in sex determination could contribute to sex differences in disease risk and how epigenetic modifications could play a role in such risk. .

Influence of sex on outcomes of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma:a multicenter cohort study in China

Objective:Sex-specific differences are observed in various liver diseases,but the influence of sex on the outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)after liver transplantation(LT)remains to be determined.This study is the first Chinese nationwide investigation of the role of sex in post-LT outcomes in patients with HCC.Methods:Data for recipients with HCC registered in the China Liver Transplant Registry between January 2015 and December 2020 were analyzed.The associations between donor,recipient,or donor-recipient transplant patterns by sex and the post-LT outcomes were studied with propensity score matching(PSM).The survival associated with different sex-based donor-recipient transplant patterns was further studied.Results:Among 3,769 patients enrolled in this study,the 1-,3-,and 5-year overall survival(OS)rates of patients with HCC after LT were 96.1%,86.4%,and 78.5%,respectively,in female recipients,and 95.8%,79.0%,and 70.7%,respectively,in male recipients after PSM(P=0.009).However,the OS was comparable between recipients with female donors and male donors.Multivariate analysis indicated that male recipient sex was a risk factor for post-LT survival(HR=1.381,P=0.046).Among the donor-recipient transplant patterns,the male-male donor-recipient transplant pattern was associated with the poorest post-LT survival(P<0.05).Conclusions:Our findings highlighted that the post-LT outcomes of female recipients were significantly superior to those of male recipients,and the male-male donor-recipient transplant pattern was associated with the poorest post-LT survival.Livers from male donors may provide the most benefit to female recipients.Our results indicate that sex should be considered as a critical factor in organ allocation.

Epidemiological Profile of Men Who Have Sex with Men: First Data about Male Sex Workers in Central African Republic (CAR)

Objectives: Sex work is not well documented among African men. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of men who have sex with men (MSM) and eventually to determine the proportion of sex workers (SW) among them, as well as the proportion of MSM who have been victims of gender-based violence (GBV). Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study coordinated by the Direction de la Médecine du Travail was carried out at the headquarters of the association ALTERNATIVES in Bangui Bangui from July 1 to October 31, 2021. Consenting MSM present during the study period were systematically included. Sociodemographic variables, those relating to the future vision of the activity and to GBV were collected and analyzed using Epi-Info version 7 software. Results: Forty MSM with an average age of 23 years and mainly secondary education (75.0%) were included. The vast majority of MSM were unemployed (85.0%). 45.0% had been victims of GBV and wanted to stop working as an MSM (47.5%), and almost 2/3 (65.0%) would accept another income-generating activity in exchange for the MSM. Violence was sexual (32.5%), economic (22.5%), physical (20.0%), verbal (12.5%) and psychological (12.5%). Conclusion: The MSM were mainly young, poorly educated, unemployed, and almost half were victims of GBV. The desire to change MSM activity to another income-generating activity alongside that of MSM shows that many of them are SW, workers in the informal sector. This must be taken into account in prevention activities, even if the data needs to be confirmed on a much larger sample.

The interventional effect of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharide on atherosclerosis in mice of different sexes

In the present study,we investigated the intervention effects of a purified Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharide(PCP)on high-fat diet(HFD)-induced atherosclerosis in male and female LDLr-/-mice.Results showed that HFD caused severe dyslipidemia,atherosclerotic lesions,oxidative damages and inflammation in male and female mice,and these effects seemed to be more pronounced in males than in females.However,the above variations could be dose-dependently reversed by PCP treatment,and the intervention effects on males were greater than those on females.Nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB),mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPKs)and protein kinase B(Akt)are 3 pivotal signaling pathways mediating the development of atherosclerosis.Consistently,PCP was also found to significantly decrease the phosphorylation of p65,p38,extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2(ERK1/2)and Akt,and increase the protein expression of inhibitor of NF-κB(IκB)in the aortas of male and female mice induced by HFD.Taken together,these findings indicated that PCP could be effective for the prevention of atherosclerosis,and the intervention effect of PCP on male mice was more obvious than that of female mice.

Hard life for sons in the nest?Sex-dependent offspring mortality in Great Tits in urban and forest areas

Sex-biased mortality can occur in birds during development,for example due to sexual differences in energy requirement and/or environmental sensitivity,or the effects of sex hormones or sex differences in the expression of mutations linked to sex chromosomes.The extent of sex-bias in mortality may also be related to environmental conditions that influence offspring development and survival.Urban areas often provide poorer conditions for nestling development resulting in higher offspring mortality compared to natural areas,which may accelerate sex differences in offspring mortality in cities.To test this hypothesis,we examined the sex ratio of dead offspring in Great Tits(Parus major),using 427 samples of unhatched eggs and dead nestlings collected in two urban and two forest sites between 2013 and 2019.The ratio of males in the whole sample of dead offspring(56.9%)was significantly higher than expected by an 1:1 ratio,and the strongest sex biases were detected in urban areas(57.6%males)and in young nestlings(<14 days old,59.0%males).However,the sex ratios of dead offspring did not differ significantly among study sites and between offspring developmental stages.29.3%of unhatched eggs contained a visible embryo,and the proportion of embryo-containing unhatched eggs did not differ significantly between urban and forest study sites.These results suggest male-biased offspring mortality in Great Tits,and highlight the need of large datasets to detect subtle differences between habitats and developmental stages.

Flower development and sexual dimorphism in Vernicia montana

The mu oil tree(Vernicia montana Lour.) is a dioecious species, but the genetic mechanisms underlying its phenotypic sexual dimorphism are unclear. In this study, we determined two pivotal phases of sex differentiation of mu oil tree via morphological and histological analyses of unisexual flowers:(Ⅰ) differentiation of male or female primordia to produce staminate flowers(SFs) or transient hermaphrodite flowers(HFs),and(Ⅱ) complete abortion of stamens in transient HFs to generate pistillate flowers(PFs). A total of 1621 sex-biased genes were identified by comparative transcriptome analysis which exhibited elevated rates of protein evolution than unbiased genes. The female-biased genes were enriched in the production of defense compounds while male-biased genes were focused on the production of viable pollens. Transcriptomebased analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes(DEGs) between PFs and SFs in phase Ⅰ involved in abscisic acid(ABA), auxin(AUX), cytokinin(CK), ethylene(ET), and gibberellin(GA) biosynthesis and signaling showed higher expression levels in males than in females in general, whereas the DEGs involved in jasmonic acid(JA) and salicylic acid(SA) pathways displayed opposite expression patterns. Moreover,differentially expressed endogenous ABA, AUX, GAs, JA, and SA exhibited consistent biased expression patterns with the DEGs by UPLC-MSbased analysis. Exogenous application of an anti-ethylene plant growth regulator could promote the development of stamens in PFs and generated HFs. Comparative transcriptomic and hormonal analyses of PFs and SFs in phase Ⅱ indicated an increase in ET concentration when abortion of stamens in PFs occurred. This study suggested that phytohormones play key roles in sex dimorphism and ET may determine the development of stamens in PFs of mu oil tree, which provides an insight into plant sex differentiation mechanisms.

The Ca^(2+)/CaN/ACC and cAMP/PKA/HK signal pathways are required for PBAN-mediated sex pheromone biosynthesis in Conogethes punctiferalis

Conogethes punctiferalis is a crop and fruit pest that has caused serious economic losses to agricultural production.This pest relies heavily on its sex pheromone to ensure sexual encounters and subsequent mating success.However,the molecular mechanism underlying sex pheromone biosynthesis in this species remains elusive.The present study investigated the detailed mechanism underlying PBAN-regulated sex pheromone biosynthesis in C.punctiferalis by transcriptome sequencing of the C.punctiferalis pheromone glands(PGs)and subsequent functional identification of the target genes.The results showed that female mating started from the first scotophase,and peaked at the second to fifth scotophases in accordance with the release of sex pheromones.PBAN regulated sex pheromone biosynthesis by employing Ca^(2+)and cAMP as secondary messengers,as demonstrated by RNA interference(RNAi),pharmacological inhibitors,and behavioral assays.Further investigation revealed that calcineurin(CaN)and acetyl-CoA carboxylase(ACC)were activated by PBAN/Ca^(2+)signaling,and the RNAimediated knockdown of CaN and ACC transcripts significantly reduced sex pheromone production,ultimately leading to a significantly reduced ability of females to attract males.Importantly,hexokinase(HK)was found to regulate sex pheromone biosynthesis in response to the PBAN/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway,as demonstrated by RNAi,enzyme activity,and pharmacological inhibitor assays.Furthermore,Far2 and Desaturase1 were found to participate in PBAN-regulated sex pheromone biosynthesis.Altogether,our findings revealed that PBAN regulates sex pheromone biosynthesis through the PBANR/Ca^(2+)/CaN/ACC and PBANR/cAMP/PKA/HK pathways in C.punctiferalis,which enriches our comprehension of the details of sex pheromone biosynthesis in moths.

Gut microbiota affects the estrus return of sows by regulating the metabolism of sex steroid hormones

Background Sex hormones play important roles in the estrus return of post-weaning sows.Previous studies have demonstrated a complex and bi-directional regulation between sex hormones and gut microbiota.However,the extent to which the gut microbiota affects estrus return of post-weaning sows is largely unknown.Results In this study,we first screened 207 fecal samples from well-phenotyped sows by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and identified significant associations between microbes and estrus return of post-weaning sows.Using metagenomic sequencing data from 85 fecal samples,we identified 37 bacterial species that were significantly associated with estrus return.Normally returning sows were characterized by increased abundances of L.reuteri and P.copri and decreased abundances of B.fragilis,S.suis,and B.pseudolongum.The changes in gut microbial composition significantly altered the functional capacity of steroid hormone biosynthesis in the gut microbiome.The results were confirmed in a validation cohort.Significant changes in sex steroid hormones and related compounds were found between normal and non-return sows via metabolome analysis.An integrated analysis of differential bacterial species,metagenome,and fecal metabolome provided evidence that normal return-associated bacterial species L.reuteri and Prevotella spp.participated in the degradation of pregnenolone,progesterone,and testosterone,thereby promoting estrogen biosynthesis.Furthermore,the microbial metabolites related to sow energy and nutrient supply or metabolic disorders also showed relationships with sow estrus return.Conclusions An integrated analysis of differentially abundant bacterial species,metagenome,and fecal metabolome revealed the involvement of L.reuteri and Prevotella spp.in sow estrus return.These findings provide deep insight into the role of gut microbiota in the estrus return of post-weaning sows and the complex cross-talk between gut microbiota and sex hormones,suggesting that the manipulation of the gut microbiota could be an effective strategy to improve sow estrus return after weaning.

Silencing transformer and transformer-2 in Zeugodacus cucurbitae causes defective sex determination with inviability of most pseudomales

transformer is a switch gene for sex determination in many insects, which cooperates with transformer-2 that is expressed in both sexes to regulate female differentiation, particularly in dipterans. Zeugodacus cucurbitae(Coquillett) is a very destructive pest worldwide, however, its sex determination pathway remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we show that the female sex ratio is sharply reduced with knockdown of either transformer or transformer-2 by RNA interference in early embryos of Z. cucurbitae. Most of the males grown from the embryos with transient transformer and transformer-2 suppression mated with wild-type females and produced mixed sex progeny, with one exception that produced only female progeny, and all of the few remaining males failed to mate with wild-type females and produced no progeny. The exceptional male and those males with mating failure were XX pseudomales as determined by the detection of Y chromosome-linked Maleness-on-the-Y, indicating that most XX pseudomales are not viable. The phenotypes of transformer and transformer-2 suggest that they play a key role in regulating sex determination and are required for female sexual development of Z. cucurbitae. Our results will be beneficial to the understanding of sex determination in Z. cucurbitae and can facilitate the development of genetic sexing strains for its biological control.

Clinical Application of Sex Hormone in Different Physiological Periods in the Diagnosis of Infertility Patients

Background: Infertility is characterized by the inability to conceive after a year of regular unprotected intercourse. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of sex hormone levels during different physiological periods in the diagnosis of infertility patients. Methods: From December 2019 to May 2021, a total of 93 infertility patients were admitted and selected as the observation group. Among them, 31 cases were in the follicular stage, 31 cases in the ovulation stage, and 31 cases in the luteal stage. Ninety-three healthy women for fertility evaluation due to male infertility were selected as the control group. The control group included 31 women in the follicular phase, 31 women in the ovulatory phase, and 31 women in the luteal phase. The levels of sex hormones (prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), and progesterone (P)) during different physiological phases were compared between the observation and control groups. Results: The follicular phase showed no significant difference in LH levels between the observation group and the control group. The observation group showed higher levels of PRL and P compared to the control group, while the levels of FSH, E2, and T were lower in the observation group compared to the control group. The ovulation phase showed no significant difference in PRL levels between the two groups. The observation group showed lower levels of LH, FSH, E2, T, and P compared to the control group. The luteal phase showed no statistical difference in E2 levels between the two groups. The observation group showed higher levels of PRL, LH, and FSH compared to the control group, while the levels of T and P were lower in the observation group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Infertile women show variations in hormone levels compared to the normal levels during the follicular phase, ovulatory phase, and luteal phase.

Study on sex differences and potential clinical value of threedimensional computerized tomography pelvimetry in rectal cancer patients

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic rectal cancer radical surgery is a complex procedure affected by various factors.However,the existing literature lacks standardized parameters for the pelvic region and soft tissues,which hampers the establishment of consistent conclusions.AIM To comprehensively assess 16 pelvic and 7 soft tissue parameters through computerized tomography(CT)-based three-dimensional(3D)reconstruction,providing a strong theoretical basis to address challenges in laparoscopic rectal cancer radical surgery.METHODS We analyzed data from 218 patients who underwent radical laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer,and utilized CT data for 3D pelvic reconstruction.Specific anatomical points were carefully marked and measured using advanced 3D modeling software.To analyze the pelvic and soft tissue parameters,we emp-loyed statistical methods including paired sample t-tests,Wilcoxon rank-sum tests,and correlation analysis.RESULTS The investigation highlighted significant sex disparities in 14 pelvic bone parameters and 3 soft tissue parameters.Males demonstrated larger measurements in pelvic depth and overall curvature,smaller measurements in pelvic width,a larger mesorectal fat area,and a larger anterior-posterior abdominal diameter.By contrast,females exhibited wider pelvises,shallower depth,smaller overall curvature,and an increased amount of subcutaneous fat tissue.However,there were no significant sex differences observed in certain parameters such as sacral curvature height,superior pubococcygeal diameter,rectal area,visceral fat area,waist circumference,and transverse abdominal diameter.CONCLUSION The reconstruction of 3D CT data enabled accurate pelvic measurements,revealing significant sex differences in both pelvic and soft tissue parameters.This study design offer potential in predicting surgical difficulties and creating personalized surgical plans for male rectal cancer patients with a potentially“difficult pelvis”,ultimately improving surgical outcomes.Further research and utilization of these parameters could lead to enhanced surgical methods and patient care in laparoscopic rectal cancer radical surgery.

Keep in mind sex differences when prescribing psychotropic drugs

Women represent the majority of patients with psychiatric diagnoses and also the largest users of psychotropic drugs.There are inevitable differences in efficacy,side effects and long-term treatment response between men and women.Psychopharmacological research needs to develop adequately powered animal and human trials aimed to consider pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of central nervous system drugs in both male and female subjects.Healthcare professionals have the responsibility to prescribe sex-specific psychopharmacotherapies with a priority to differentiate between men and women in order to minimize adverse drugs reactions,to maximize therapeutic effectiveness and to provide personalized management of care.

Changes in the adult sex ratio of six duck species breeding populations over two decades

Despite all efforts,long-term changes in the adult sex ratios of breeding duck populations are still unclear;this uncertainty is especially true for male-bias populations,which are often under the scrutiny of researchers lacking convenient results for the active protection of endangered species.Species with male-bias populations are usually strongly affected by a decline in population size that leads to a higher extinction risk.In this study,we examined our long-term data of the abundance of breeding populations in six duck species(Mallard Anas platyrhynchos,Gadwall Mareca strepera,Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina,Common Pochard Aythya ferina,Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula,and Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula)from fishponds in South Bohemia,Czechia,between 2004 and 2022.This evidence was used to assess long-term changes in the adult sex ratio in these breeding populations and investigate the possible effects of the NAO index(North Atlantic Oscillation index)on them,indicating climate conditions in winter.We determined a long-term decrease of the proportion of females in the breeding season in two of the six examined species:Common Pochard and Red-crested Pochard,which is driven by the long-term increase in the number of males in contrast to the decreasing or stable number of females likely caused by different migration behaviours between females and males.In the case of Common Pochard,in breeding populations,we estimated 60-65%of males in the early 2000s rising to 75-80%in the early 2020s.However,we establish no significant effects linked to climate conditions of the previous winter in these species as a crucial cause of the changes of the proportion of females in the breeding population.

Prevalence of Gender-Based Violence among Sex Workers in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR)

Background: Violence against women has become an international public health and human rights issue in recent decades. The violence suffered by sex workers is of little interest for research, yet it constitutes a major health and safety problem. We propose to assess the extent of the phenomenon of gender-based violence (GBV) among sex workers (SWs) in the city of Bangui in the CAR. Methodology: This is a descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study covering the period from July to October 2021 carried out among SWs in Bangui, the capital of the CAR. Given that the SWs association had only 159 members in Bangui, an exhaustive sampling was retained. Were included in the study, any SW present during the data collection period and having given their written consent. The parameters studied were socio-demographic characteristics: age, sex, residence, level of education, marital status, and characteristics linked to violence: the notion of violence during their professional activity, the type of violence, the declaration and the declaration if necessary, the response and management of this violence. The data collected was analyzed using Epi info version 7 software. Results: Of the 159 SWs that counted the association, 108 had been included. The average age was 27.0 years with extremes of 14 and 46 years. The age groups of 25 to 34 years were the most represented (43.5%). Fifty-six SWs (51.9%) had reached the secondary level. Unemployed SWs were in the majority at 74.1%;Sixty-six (66) SWs in our sample (61.1%) had already been victims of violence during the exercise of their activity Sexual violence was the most represented (28.5%) followed by verbal violence (22.4%). Sixty-eight (62.9%) wanted to stop the professional activity of SWs and 93.1% would accept another income-generating activity in place of sex work. Conclusion: It is necessary to supervise SWs and protect them within the framework of respect for human rights, rather than criminalizing them and the exploiters flouting their human dignity and putting their lives in danger. .

Three-dimensional analysis of age and sex differences in femoral head asphericity in asymptomatic hips in the United States

BACKGROUND The sphericity of the femoral head is a metric used to evaluate hip pathologies and is associated with the development of osteoarthritis and femoral-acetabular impingement.AIM To analyze the three-dimensional asphericity of the femoral head of asymptomatic pediatric hips.We hypothesized that femoral head asphericity will vary significantly between male and female pediatric hips and increase with age in both sexes.METHODS Computed tomography scans were obtained on 158 children and adolescents from a single institution in the United States(8-18 years;50%male)without hip pain.Proximal femoral measurements including the femoral head diameter,femoral head volume,residual volume,asphericity index,and local diameter difference were used to evaluate femoral head sphericity.RESULTS In both sexes,the residual volume increased by age(P<0.05).Despite significantly smaller femoral head size in older ages(>13 years)in females,there were no sex-differences in residual volume and aspherity index.There were no age-related changes in mean diameter difference in both sexes(P=0.07)with no significant sex-differences across different age groups(P=0.06).In contrast,there were significant increases in local aspherity(maximum diameter difference)across whole surface of the femoral head and all quadrants except the inferior regions in males(P=0.03).There were no sex-differences in maximum diameter difference at any regions and age group(P>0.05).Increased alpha angle was only correlated to increased mean diameter difference across overall surface of the femoral head(P=0.024).CONCLUSION There is a substantial localized asphericity in asymptomatic hips which increases with age in.While 2D measured alpha angle can capture overall asphericity of the femoral head,it may not be sensitive enough to represent regional asphericity patterns.

Prognostic significance of grade of malignancy based on histopathological differentiation and Ki-67 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Objective:Tumor cell malignancy is indicated by histopathological differentiation and cell proliferation.Ki-67,an indicator of cellular proliferation,has been used for tumor grading and classification in breast cancer and neuroendocrine tumors.However,its prognostic significance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)remains uncertain.Methods:Patients who underwent radical pancreatectomy for PDAC were retrospectively enrolled,and relevant prognostic factors were examined.Grade of malignancy(GOM),a novel index based on histopathological differentiation and Ki-67,is proposed,and its clinical significance was evaluated.Results:The optimal threshold for Ki-67 was determined to be 30%.Patients with a Ki-67 expression level>30%rather than≤30%had significantly shorter 5-year overall survival(OS)and recurrence-free survival(RFS).In multivariate analysis,both histopathological differentiation and Ki-67 were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS and RFS.The GOM was used to independently stratify OS and RFS into 3 tiers,regardless of TNM stage and other established prognostic factors.The tumor-nodemetastasis-GOM stage was used to stratify survival into 5 distinct tiers,and surpassed the predictive performance of TNM stage for OS and RFS.Conclusions:Ki-67 is a valuable prognostic indicator for PDAC.Inclusion of the GOM in the TNM staging system may potentially enhance prognostic accuracy for PDAC.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for predicting differentiation degree of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)for predicting differentiation degree of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods Totally 86 HCC patients confirmed by postoperative pathology were retrospectively enrolled and divided into poorly differentiated,moderately differentiated and highly differentiated groups according to postoperative Edmondson-Steiner grading.Preoperative CEUS parameters were compared among groups,and binary logistic regression was used to analyze CEUS-related independent predictors of HCC with different differentiation.The receiver operating characteristic curves of parameters being significant different among groups were drawn,the areas under the curve(AUC)were calculated,and the efficacy for predicting HCC with different differentiation degree was evaluated.Results There were 29 cases in poorly differentiated group,37 in moderately differentiated group and 20 cases in highly differentiated group.The arrival time of contrast agent in poorly differentiated group was earlier than that in moderately and high differentiated groups(both P<0.05),while in moderately differentiated group was not significantly different with that in highly differentiated group(P>0.05).The washout grade were significantly different between each 2 groups(all P<0.05).The arrival time of contrast agent and washout grade were independent predictors of highly or poorly differentiated,moderately or poorly differentiated,moderate-highly or poorly differentiated HCC,and washout grade also was independent predictor of highly or moderately differentiated HCC(all P<0.05).The AUC of the arrival time of contrast agent for predicting highly or moderately differentiated,highly or poorly differentiated,moderately or poorly differentiated,moderate-highly or poorly differentiated HCC was 0.615,0.787,0.690 and 0.724,respectively,while of washout grade was 0.801,0.927,0.795 and 0.841,respectively.Conclusion CEUS could be used to effectively predict differentiation degree of HCC.

An overview of autophagy in the differentiation of dental stem cells

Dental stem cells(DSCs)have attracted significant interest as autologous stem cells since they are easily accessible and give a minimal immune response.These properties and their ability to both maintain self-renewal and undergo multi-lineage differentiation establish them as key players in regenerative medicine.While many regulatory factors determine the differentiation trajectory of DSCs,prior research has predominantly been based on genetic,epigenetic,and molecular aspects.Recent evidence suggests that DSC differentiation can also be influenced by autophagy,a highly conserved cellular process responsible for maintaining cellular and tissue homeostasis under various stress conditions.This comprehensive review endeavors to elucidate the intricate regulatory mechanism and relationship between autophagy and DSC differentiation.To achieve this goal,we dissect the intricacies of autophagy and its mechanisms.Subsequently,we elucidate its pivotal roles in impacting DSC differentiation,including osteo/odontogenic,neurogenic,and angiogenic trajectories.Furthermore,we reveal the regulatory factors that govern autophagy in DSC lineage commitment,including scaffold materials,pharmaceutical cues,and the extrinsic milieu.The implications of this review are far-reaching,underpinning the potential to wield autophagy as a regulatory tool to expedite DSC-directed differentiation and thereby promote the application of DSCs within the realm of regenerative medicine.

The environment,especially the minimum temperature,affects summer maize grain yield by regulating ear differentiation and grain development

Ear differentiation,grain development and their interaction with factors in the growing environment,such as temperature,solar radiation and precipitation,greatly influence grain number and grain weight,and ultimately affect summer maize production.In this study,field experiments involving different sowing dates were conducted over three years to evaluate the effects of temperature factors,average solar radiation and total precipitation on the growth process,ear differentiation,fertilization characteristics,grain filling and yield of summer maize varieties with different growth durations.Four hybrids were evaluated in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain(HHHP),China from 2018 to 2020 with five different sowing dates.The results showed that the grain yield formation of summer maize was strongly impacted by the environment from the silking(R1)to milking(R3)stage.Average minimum temperature(AT_(min))was the key environmental factor that determined yield.Reductions in the length of the growing season(r=–0.556,P<0.01)and the total floret number on ear(R^(2)=0.200,P<0.001)were found when AT_(min) was elevated from the emerging(VE)to R1 stage.Both grain-filling rate(R^(2)=0.520,P<0.001)and the floret abortion rate on ear(R^(2)=0.437,P<0.001)showed quadratic relationships with AT_(min) from the R1 to physiological maturity(R6)stage,while the number of days after the R1 stage(r=–0.756,P<0.01)was negatively correlated with AT_(min).An increase in AT_(min) was beneficial for the promotion of yield when it did not exceeded a certain level(above 23°C during the R1–R3 stage and 20–21°C during the R1-R6 stage).Enhanced solar radiation and precipitation during R1–R6 increased the grain-filling rate(R^(2)=0.562,P<0.001 and R^(2)=0.229,P<0.05,respectively).Compared with short-season hybrids,full-season hybrids showed much greater suitability for a critical environment.The coordinated regulation of AT_(min),ear differentiation and grain development at the pre-and post-silking stages improved maize yield by increasing total floret number and grain-filling rate,and by reducing the floret abortion rate on ear.