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Abstract Objective High-risk neuroblastoma patients often have poor outcomes despite multi-treatment options. The risk stratification of high-risk MYCN-not-amplified (HR-MYCN-NA) patients remains difficult. This study aims to identify a gene set signature that can help further stratify HR-MYCN-NA patients for a potential personalized therapeutic strategy. Methods Three microarrays and one single-cell RNA sequence dataset were acquired and analyzed. Firstly, the prognostic-related genes (PRGs) in HR-MYCN-NA tumor cells were identified using TARGET-NB and GSE137804 datasets. Then, the prognostic model was established by LASSO-Cox regression, and verified in external cohort (GSE49710, GSE45547). Moreover, a time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and area under the ROC (AUC) was used to assess survival prediction. A nomogram was established to predict the 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) of HR-MYCN-NA patients. Results In the training set, a five-PRGs signature, which include GAL, GFRA3, MARCKS, PSMD13, and ZNHIT3 genes, was identified and successfully stratified HR-MYCN-NA patients into ultra-high risk (UHR) and high-risk (HR) subtypes (HR = 4.29, P

Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalic acid (MEHP) is the most toxic metabolite of plasticizer di-2-ethylhexyl phthalic acid (DEHP), and there is limited information available on the effects of MEHP on neurotoxicity. This study aims to examine the neurotoxicity of MEHP and preliminarily explore its potential molecular mechanisms. We found that MEHP impeded the growth of zebrafish embryos and the neurodevelopmental-related gene expression at environmentally relevant concentrations. MEHP exposure also induces oxidative stress response and brain cell apoptosis accompanied by a decrease in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in zebrafish larvae. RNA-Seq and bioinformatics analysis showed that MEHP treatment altered the nervous system, neurogenic diseases, and visual perception pathways. The locomotor activity in dark-to-light cycles and phototaxis test confirmed the abnormal neural behavior of zebrafish larvae. Besides, the immune system has produced a large number of differentially expressed genes related to neural regulation. Inflammatory factor IL1β and IL-17 signaling pathways highly respond to MEHP, indicating that inflammation caused by immune system imbalance is a potential mechanism of MEHP-induced neurotoxicity. This study expands the understanding of the toxicity and molecular mechanisms of MEHP, providing a new perspective for in-depth neurotoxicity exploration of similar compounds.

Abstract Objective The prognostic value of tumor size in neuroblastoma (NB) patients has not been fully evaluated. Our purpose is to elucidate the prognostic significance of tumor size in surgery performed on neuroblastoma patients. Methods Neuroblastoma patients diagnosed from 2004 to 2015 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) for the study. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to identify risk factors and the independent prognostic influences of tumor size on NB patients. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed through univariate Cox regression analysis. To determine the optimal cutoff value of tumor size, we first divided the cohort into three groups (≤5 cm, 5–10 cm, >10 cm). Subsequently, the patients were divided into two groups repeatedly, with tumor size at 1 cm intervals. The cutoff value that maximized prognostic outcome difference was selected. Furthermore, we performed the Kaplan–Meier methods to visually present differences in prognosis between the optimal tumor size cutoff value in different subgroups. Results A total of 591 NB patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected from the SEER database in this study. Cox analysis showed that age >1 year (HR = 2.42, p 4 cm might predict poor prognosis, which should be included in the evaluation of prognostic factors for NB.

Rotaviruses (RVs) are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in children, while histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) are believed to be host attachment and susceptibility factors of RVs. A large case–control study nested in a population-based diarrhea surveillance targeting children

Key Points Currently bacterial and viral agents in the gastrointestinal tract are under-detected and poorly defined in developing countries. A new sensitive TAC assay provided comprehensive identification of microorganisms, including neglected pathogens, in Chinese children with moderate and severe diarrhea.

Background: Despite the considerable disease burden caused by the disease, rotavirus vaccine has not been introduced into routine national immunization schedule, and norovirus vaccines are being developed without a comprehensive understanding of gastroenteritis epidemiology. To bridge this knowledge gap, we investigated the disease burden of viral gastroenteritis in rural China. Methods: Between October 2011 and December 2013, population-based surveillance was conducted in Zhengding and Sanjiang counties in China. Stool samples were collected from children

AIM: To explore the factors affecting visual acuity recovery after phacoemulsification for high myopia complicated with cataract.METHODS: From March 2015 to October 2017, 86 eyes of 70 patients with high myopia complicated with cataract were treated by phacoemulsification, and the factors affecting the visual acuity recovery after phacoemulsification for high myopia complicated with cataract were analyzed.RESULTS: There was no correlation between posterior vitreous detachment and postoperative visual acuity recovery. Axial length, corneal astigmatism and macular disease were correlated with visual acuity recovery. Axis length, corneal astigmatism and macular disease were the risk factors affecting the outcome of surgery.CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification can effectively improve the visual acuity of patients with high myopia complicated with cataract. Macular lesion, excessive axial length and corneal astigmatism are the three main factors affecting the poor outcome after operation.

A putative natural double-flowered hybrid in Lycoris Herb. was found on Mt. Zhangjiajie in Hunan, China. The putative natural hybrid had a chromosome number of 2n = 18 and was karyotypically formulated as 2n = 4m + 6st + 5t + 3T. The karyotype of the putative natural hybrid was classified as 2B type according to the degree of asymmetry and Stebbins’ criteria. According to the gross morphology, phenology and karyotype of the putative natural hybrid, it was suggested that this taxon was probably from the natural hybridization between L. aurea and L. radiata.

Apart from the long-term effects of climate change, the frequency and severity of extreme weather events have been increasing. Given the risks posed by climate change, particularly the changes in extreme weather events, the question of how to adapt to these changes and mitigate their negative impacts has received great attention from policy makers. The overall goals of this study are to examine whether farmers adapt to extreme weather events through crop diversification and which factors influence farmers' decisions on crop diversification against extreme weather events in China. To limit the scope of this study, we focus on drought and flood events only. Based on a unique large-scale household survey in nine provinces, this study finds that farmers respond to extreme weather events by increasing crop diversification. Their decision to diversify crops is significantly influenced by their experiences of extreme weather events in the previous year. Such results are understandable because farmers' behaviors are normally based on their expectations. Moreover, household characteristics also affect farmers' decisions on crop diversification strategy, and their effects differ by farmers' age and gender. This paper concludes with several policy implications.

Under climate change, rising frequency and serious extreme weather events have challenged agricultural production. Designing appropriate adaptation measures to the extreme weather events require rigorous and empirical analysis. The overall goals of this study are to understand physical adaptation measures taken by farmers and the impacts of household and community assets on farmers' adaptation when they face drought. The analyses are based on a unique data set collected from a household survey in three provinces in China. The survey results show that though not common on annual basis, some farmers did use physical adaptation measures to fight drought. Regression analysis reveals that both household and community assets significantly affect farmers' adaptation behaviors. Improving households' social capital and wealth, communities' network and access to government's anti-drought service can facilitate farmers' adaptation to drought. Results indicate that community's irrigation infrastructure and physical adaptation taken by farmers can substitute each other. Further analysis shows that the households taking adaptation measures have higher crop yields than those without taking these measures. The paper concludes with several policy implications.

The purpose of this paper is to document the likely impacts of climate change on China's agriculture and the current adaptation efforts made by government and farmers. The review of literature shows that climate change will have a significant impact on agriculture, primarily through its effect on crop yields. The extent of predicted impacts highly depends on the crop, the CO2 fertilization effect assumption and adaptation abilities. Market response to the production shocks resulting from climate change will lessen the impacts on agricultural production predicted by natural scientists. On adaptation, the government's major efforts have been in the developing new technologies, reforming extension system and enhancing institutional capacity. Farmers do adapt to climate change, but their adaptation measures cannot fully offset the negative impacts of climate change. The paper concludes and makes implications for future studies.

The overall goal of this paper is to examine impacts of climate change on water supply and demand balance and their consequences on agricultural production in ten river basins in China. To realize this goal, China Water Simulation Model (CWSM) is used to analyze three alternative climate scenarios (A1B, A2 and B2). The results show that the impacts of climate change on water supply and demand balance differ largely among alternative scenarios. While significant impacts of climate change on water balance will occur under the A1B scenario, the impacts of climate change under the A2 and B2 scenarios will be marginal. Under the A1B scenario, the water shortage in the river basins located in the northern China will become more serious, particularly in Liaohe and Haihe river basins, but the other river basins in the southern China will improve their water balance situations. Despite larger impacts of climate change on water balance in the northern China, its impacts on total crops' production will be moderate if farmers would be able to reallocate water among crops and adjust irrigated and rainfed land. The paper concludes with some policy implications.

Currently, antioxidants are added in the human diet to prevent free radical-induced cell damage, and there has been an explosive interest in the use of antioxidant nutritional supplements. The effects of different factors on the antioxidant activity of phycocyanins (PCs) were studied. The results showed that PCs generated hydroxyl radicals in the light, while scavenging them in the dark. When PCs were denatured by sodium dodecyl sulfate, urea and in alkaline condition, their ability to generate hydroxyl radicals disappeared and that of scavenging them greatly increased. This showed that the phycobilin moiety is the main part of PC involved in scavenging hydroxyl radicals. Trypsin hydrolysis of PCs showed that the apoprotein portion of the molecule also made a significant contribution to the antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]