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A new species, Astragalus liuaiminii Z. Z. Yang & Q. R. Liu (Fabaceae), is described and illustrated from Xinjiang Province, China. The new species is close to A. wenquanensis S. B. Ho, but differs from the latter by leaves having a single leaflet (vs. 3–5 leaflets), and inflorescences with 1–2 flowers (vs. inflorescences with 5–7 flowers). It is also similar to A. monophyllus Maxim in leaf shape, but differs by its calyx expanding to become saccate and totally enveloping the pod (vs. calyx tubular, and ruptured by pod after flowering).

Abstract Background In our previous investigation, we revealed a significant increase in the expression of microRNA-6881-3p (miR-6881-3p) in follicular fluid granulosa cells (GCs) from women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) compared to those with normal ovarian reserve (NOR). However, the role of miR-6881-3p in the development of DOR remains poorly understood. Objective This study aimed to elucidate the involvement of miR-6881-3p in the regulation of granulosa cells (GCs) function and the pathogenesis of DOR. Materials and methods Initially, we assessed the expression levels of miR-6881-3p in GCs obtained from human follicular fluid in both NOR and DOR cases and explored the correlation between miR-6881-3p expression and clinical outcomes in assisted reproduction technology (ART). Bioinformatic predictions and dual-luciferase reporter assays were employed to identify the target gene of miR-6881-3p. Manipulation of miR-6881-3p expression was achieved through the transfection of KGN cells with miR-6881-3p mimics, inhibitor, and miRNA negative control (NC). Following transfection, we assessed granulosa cell apoptosis and cell cycle progression via flow cytometry and quantified target gene expression through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB) analysis. Finally, we examined the correlation between target gene expression levels in GCs from NOR and DOR patients and their association with ART outcomes. Results Our findings revealed elevated miR-6881-3p levels in GCs from DOR patients, which negatively correlated with ovarian reserve function and ART outcomes. We identified a direct binding interaction between miR-6881-3p and the 3’-untranslated region of the SMAD4. Transfection with miR-6881-3p mimics induced apoptosis in KGN cell. Furthermore, miR-6881-3p expression negatively correlated with both mRNA and protein levels of the SMAD4. The mRNA and protein levels of SMAD4 were notably reduced in GCs from DOR patients, and SMAD4 mRNA expression positively correlated with ART outcomes. In addition, the mRNA levels of FSHR, CYP11A1 were notably reduced after transfection with miR-6881-3p mimics in KGN cell, while LHCGR notably increased. The mRNA and protein levels of FSHR, CYP11A1 were notably reduced in GCs from DOR patients, while LHCGR notably increased. Conclusion This study underscores the role of miR-6881-3p in directly targeting SMAD4 mRNA, subsequently diminishing granulosa cell viability and promoting apoptosis, and may affect steroid hormone regulation and gonadotropin signal reception in GCs. These findings contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis of DOR.

AbstractIn contemporary times, the employment of vitrification freezing technology has led to the widespread adoption of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) worldwide. Meanwhile, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a crucial protocol for priming the endometrium during FET cycles. Estrogen is required in HRT cycles for the induction of progesterone receptors and to promote endometrial thickness. However, there is no universal consensus on the treatment duration, dosage regimen, administration route, and target serum estrogen levels. Therefore, this study aimed to offer a comprehensive review of these topics. A shorter duration of estrogen exposure may elevate the risk of early miscarriage, while prolonged exposure to estrogen does not seem to confer advantages to general population and may be attempted in individuals with thin endometrium. Moreover, excessive estrogen levels on the day of progesterone administration may be associated with higher miscarriage rates and lower live birth rates (LBR). To offer more comprehensive guidance for clinical practice, extensive and prospective studies involving a large sample size are warranted to determine the optimal concentration and duration of estrogen exposure.

Mitochondria plays an essential role in regulating cellular metabolic homeostasis, proliferation/differentiation, and cell death. Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in many age-related pathologies. Evidence supports that the dysfunction of mitochondria and the decline of mitochondrial DNA copy number negatively affect ovarian aging. However, the mechanism of ovarian aging is still unclear. Treatment methods, including antioxidant applications, mitochondrial transplantation, emerging biomaterials, and advanced technologies, are being used to improve mitochondrial function and restore oocyte quality. This article reviews key evidence and research updates on mitochondrial damage in the pathogenesis of ovarian aging, emphasizing that mitochondrial damage may accelerate and lead to cellular senescence and ovarian aging, as well as exploring potential methods for using mitochondrial mechanisms to slow down aging and improve oocyte quality.

Abstract Background Despite a large number of studies on the selection of trigger drugs, it remains unclear whether the dual trigger with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, compared to the trigger with hCG alone, can improve the reproductive outcome of patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the laboratory and clinical outcomes of dual trigger versus single trigger. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated 520 in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles between July 2014 and September 2020 at the Reproductive and Genetic Center of Integrative Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. All patients underwent IVF/ICSI treatment with fresh embryo transfer using the GnRH antagonist protocol. We used propensity score matching to control for confounding variables and binary logistic regression analysis to determine the correlations between trigger methods and pregnancy outcomes. After propensity score matching, 57 cycles from each group were evaluated and compared for laboratory or clinical outcomes in this retrospective cohort study. Results There was no significant difference in the number of oocytes retrieved, embryos available, top-quality embryos, or the rate of normal fertilization between the dual-trigger and single-trigger protocols, respectively. The incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, implantation rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, early miscarriage rate, and live birth rate were also similar between the two groups, while the miscarriage rate (37.0% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.045) was higher in the dual-trigger than the single-trigger group. Subsequent binary logistic regression analysis showed that age was a remarkably significant independent predictor of both clinical pregnancy rate (odds ratio = 0.90, 95% confidence interval: 0.84–0.97, p = 0.006) and live birth rate (odds ratio = 0.89, 95% confidence interval: 0.82–0.97, p = 0.005). Conclusions Therefore, dual-trigger for final oocyte maturation might increase miscarriage rate, but in terms of the laboratory and other pregnancy outcomes such as clinical pregnancy rate, early miscarriage rate or live birth rate, there was no evidence to show that dual trigger was superior to an hCG-trigger alone for patients undergoing GnRH-antagonist cycles with fresh embryo transfer. Trial registration Retrospectively registered.

Abstract Background Previous studies have shown that frozen embryo transfer (FET) resulted in increased live birth rates (LBR) and reduced the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) than did fresh embryo transfer in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In addition, overweight/obese women with PCOS are at increased risk of subfertility and complications of pregnancy, compared with normal-weight women. The ovarian stimulation and artificial hormone regimes are the two more commonly used endometrial preparation protocols in PCOS patients.This retrospective study aims to compare the pregnancy outcomes of mildly stimulated cycles (mSTC) and artificial cycles (AC) prior to FET in overweight/obese women with PCOS. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in overweight/obese women with PCOS who underwent their first FET cycles from January 2018 to December 2020. Two endometrial preparation protocols were used: the mildly stimulated cycles (N = 173) and the artificial cycles (N = 507). All pregnancy outcomes were analyzed by Student’s t-test, Chi-square (χ 2 ) statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results This study enrolled 680 cases of FET cycles. The mSTC group exhibited significantly higher LBR compared with the AC group (49.7% vs. 41.0%; P = 0.046), while the rate of miscarriage was significantly lower (6.4% vs. 23.0%; P

Non-enhanced CT scanning is the first choice for the diagnosis of suspected cerebral hemorrhage in the emergency room.Medical staffs usually use CT images to manually segment the lesions of patients with suspected acute cerebral hemorrhage, and then classify them based on clinical experience.This method of manual diagnosis requires the physician's experience and is highly subjective.Moreover, the segmentation and classification tasks are performed separately, and the characteristic information associated between the two tasks cannot be fully utilized, and the time cost is high, which increases the difficulty of quickly segmenting and classifying cerebral hemorrhage lesions based on CT images.In response to the above problems, the paper proposes a model for segmentation and classification of cerebral hemorrhage images based on multi-task learning.On the one hand, the weight of the loss function is optimized according to the difficulty of learning different tasks.On the other hand, public information sharing is realized in the shallow layer of the multi-task learning network, and private information of different tasks is extracted deeply to obtain more representative features, so as to quickly and accurately segment and classify the CT images of patients with cerebral hemorrhage.The experimental results show that the segmentation annotations generated by the multi-task learning network have good visual consistency with the real annotations.Under the optimal weight, the average Dice coefficient (DSC) of all subjects is 0.828, the sensitivity is 0.842, the specificity is 0.985, and the positive predictive value (PPV) is 0.838.The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and AUC value of multi-task learning network classification are 95.00%, 90.48%, 100.00% and 0.982, respectively.Compared with single-task deep learning, Y-Net and multi task learning assisted by classification, this method makes more effective use of relevant task information, and at the same time improves the segmentation and classification accuracy of hemorrhage lesions by adjusting the weight of the loss function.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the seventh coronavirus (CoV) that has spread in humans and has become a global pandemic since late 2019. Efficient and accurate laboratory diagnostic methods are one of the crucial means to control the development of the current pandemic and to prevent potential future outbreaks. Although real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) is the preferred laboratory method recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for diagnosing and screening SARS-CoV-2 infection, the versatile immunoassays still play an important role for pandemic control. They can be used not only as supplemental tools to identify cases missed by rRT-PCR, but also for first-line screening tests in areas with limited medical resources. Moreover, they are also indispensable tools for retrospective epidemiological surveys and the evaluation of the effectiveness of vaccination. In this review, we summarize the mainstream immunoassay methods for human coronaviruses (HCoVs) and address their benefits, limitations, and applications. Then, technical strategies based on bioinformatics and advanced biosensors were proposed to improve the performance of these methods. Finally, future suggestions and possibilities that can lead to higher sensitivity and specificity are provided for further research.

Purpose: Abnormal adherence at functional myofascial interfaces is hypothesized as an important phenomenon in myofascial pain syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of MR elastography (MRE)–based slip interface imaging (SII) to visualize and assess myofascial mobility in healthy volunteers. Methods: SII was used to assess local shear strain at functional myofascial interfaces in the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) and thighs. In the FDP, MRE was performed at 90 Hz vibration to each index, middle, ring, and little finger. Two thigh MRE scans were performed at 40 Hz with knees flexed and extended. The normalized octahedral shear strain (NOSS) maps were calculated to visualize myofascial slip interfaces. The entropy of the probability distribution of the gradient NOSS was computed for the two knee positions at the intermuscular interface between vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius, around rectus femoris, and between vastus intermedius and vastus medialis. Results: NOSS map depicted distinct functional slip interfaces in the FDP for each finger. Compared to knee flexion, clearer slip interfaces and larger gradient NOSS entropy at the vastus lateralis–vastus intermedius interface were observed during knee extension, where the quadriceps are not passively stretched. This suggests the optimal position for using SII to visualize myofascial slip interface in skeletal muscles is when muscles are not subjected to any additional force. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that MRE‐based SII can visualize and assess myofascial interface mobility in extremities. The results provide a foundation for investigating the hypothesis that myofascial pain syndrome is characterized by changes in the mobility of myofascial interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagenetic physical simulation is a reliable means to study patterns of pore evolution and variations of physical properties, however, the current compaction model is mostly based on sandstone, and there is a lack of quantitative compaction and porosity reduction studies for more complex rock fabrics. In order to simulate the continuous change of intergranular porosity in the reservoir under compaction during the diagenesis of buried sedimentary strata, a self-designed diagenesis simulation experimental system was adopted. Using different modern sediment samples, the simulation experiment of mechanical compaction of glutenite was carried out. The experiment shows that during the process of mechanical compaction of glutenite, the change of porosity with depth is segmented, and there is a good logarithmic relationship between depth and porosity in the process of diagenetic compaction. The larger the grain size in the reservoir rock, the better the pore preservation capacity; When the sand particles fill the pores among gravel, stable secondary support structure formed by gravel and sand grades can effectively take over the bearing pressure, and when the sand-grade particle content is about 30%, the pressure-bearing capacity is the strongest; Intergranular heterobase filling is greater in samples with high heterobase content, high heterobasic content is not favourable to the preservation of primary pores. This study provides favorable experimental support for the preservation mechanism of deep clastic reservoir pores, and has important theoretical and practical significance for oil and gas exploration in the study area. The use of simulation experiment provides a useful idea for the evaluation and prediction of reservoirs and the search for favorable reservoir development zones in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist(GnRH-ant) has been shown to have a negative effect on endometrial receptivity. Therefore, the use of lower doses of GnRH-ant during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) may improve endometrial receptivity and clinical pregnancy rate. However, the GnRH-ant dose is relatively flexible and there is no fixed requirement for guidance. In this retrospective study, we determined the effects of half-dose and full-dose GnRH-ant on IVF-ET outcomes. Methods Of the 316 cycles in the 314 patients analyzed in this study, 149 received GnRH-ant half-dose (Group1), while 167 received GnRH-ant full-dose (Group2). The groups were further classified based on age and BMI. Age subgroups, were divided as age ≤ 35(subgroup A) and age > 35(subgroup B): 180 cycles in subgroup A (107 cycles in subgroup A1,73 cycles in subgroup A2), 136 cycles in subgroup B (42 cycles in subgroup B1,94 cycles in subgroupB2). The subgroups based on BMI were divided as BMI

Competition and abiotic stress such as waterlogging (WL) represent main factors limiting plant growth and determining plant resistance and distribution patterns in wetland ecosystems. One of the basic steps for wetland restoration is to plant trees to ensure a quicker recovery and prevent erosion. Plant survival and adaptation are considered criteria of principal priority for the screening of plant species for wetland ecosystem restoration. WL influences plant species in wetlands via the deterioration of the plant root environment which leads to oxygen deficiency that affects plant growth, photosynthesis, respiration, and other metabolic processes. A suitable plant species was determined according to tolerance to WL during wetland vegetation recovery activities. Thus, two tree species (Cleistocalyx operculatus and Syzygium jambos) that showed a certain waterlogging tolerance were chosen to study their behaviors in different planting model and environmental conditions. Given that interspecific relationship should be considered during plant community construction, the eco-physiological adaptable mechanisms between these woody plants under well-watered condition and waterlogging stress were explored. Results showed that both species were waterlogging-tolerant species due to their ability to adapt to submergence conditions for 120 days. Moreover, C. operculatus possessed stronger tolerance to waterlogging stress because of a significant adventitious roots biomass accumulation. A competitive relationship was found between C. operculatus and S. jambos under well-watered condition, and C. operculatus showed better growth performance benefited from morphological responses (plant height, number of blade and leaf area) and endogenous hormone variations. In comparison, S. jambos suffered some negative effects when the well-watered mixed planting was used. However, the competitive relationship under well-watered condition was transformed into mutualistic relationship under waterlogging stress. The mixed planting under waterlogging condition significantly improved the tolerance of C. operculatus and S. jambos to waterlogging stress, compared with the monoculture., Especially, S. jambos showed improvements in root length, root surface area, and redox equilibration between lower levels of relative conductivity, malondialdehyde, and O2⋅− and had increased levels of non-enzymatic antioxidant components, such as reduced glutathione and soluble proteins. The interspecific relationship between C. operculatus and S. jambos was altered by waterlogging stress, and both showed improved tolerance to waterlogging stress. This study can provide a glimmer of light on suitable plant species selection and plant community construction during the revegetation activities in wetland zones. C. operculatus and S. jambos represent potential candidates in wetland restoration in a mixed planting model.

Context Verbascoside (VB), which is found in many medicinal plant families, exhibits biological activities in various diseases. However, its effects on varicocele (VCL)-induced damage remain unknown. Objective To investigate the effects and mechanism of VB on experimental rats with varicocele (VCL)-induced damage. Materials and methods Sixty sexually mature male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into six groups (n = 10): control, control-sham, VCL-vehicle (normal saline), and VCL + VB groups (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally). After 4 weeks of VB treatment, all animals were sacrificed, and the body and testicular weight, sperm quality parameters, histopathology, antioxidant status, and hormone levels were tested. The levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone in the hypothalamus were detected by western blot. Results Compared with the VCL-vehicle group (41.14%), administration of VB significantly increased the sperm viability (59.29, 65.45, 84.93%). VB groups showed higher Johnson’s score (3.57 ± 0.15, 4.71 ± 0.26, 7.93 ± 0.37) than VCL-vehicle group (2.72 ± 0.24). Antioxidant status and hormone levels alterations were also observed. Meanwhile, the mean number of apoptotic tubules (8.15 ± 0.96, 6.61 ± 1.05, 2.17 ± 0.08) and apoptotic index showed a marked decrease. Compared with the VCL-vehicle group (0.21 ± 0.09), the VB groups (0.36 ± 0.07, 0.42 ± 0.06, 0.88 ± 0.10) showed considerable increases in GnRH. Discussion and conclusions VB has protective effects on reproductive organs and VB may be therapeutically useful in the treatment of varicocele through up-regulation of the HPG axis.

The potential management of waterlogging-damaged plants can be through the promotion of aliphatic polyamine accumulation, such as spermidine (SPD), in non-accumulator and accumulator species under stress. Camellia oleifera, commonly called tea oil, is an evergreen shrub confronting waterlogged soils in Hainan forest plantations during the pluvial season. As far as we know, few studies focused on the responses of C. oleifera to abiotic stresses, such as waterlogging (WL), and the involvement of SPD in WL tolerance remains unclear. Therefore, two cultivars of C. oleifera (CoH1 and CoH2) were subjected to WL and exogenous SPD to shed light on the role of SPD on WL tolerance via the morphological and physio-biochemical responses of C. oleifera under stress. The results showed that the two varieties of C. oleifera were sensitive to WL stress, and spraying SPD enhanced WL tolerance via root activities, photosynthesis, redox-homeostasis, antioxidant machinery, and compatible solute components. Thus, exogenous SPD significantly reduced the damages caused by WL in C. oleifera seedlings. Moreover, the alternative oxidase (AOX) protein content was down regulated by WL in both varieties of C. oleifera, whereas exogenous SPD enhanced the AOX protein under stress. The two varieties of C. oleifera generally had similar morphological and physiological responses to WL. However, CoH2 demonstrated better photosynthesis compared to CoH1. The results of the present study provide a significant outlook to improve the accumulation of SPD in trees under abiotic stress, particularly via genome editing techniques.

Meningiomas, the most prevalent primary benign intracranial tumors, often exhibit complicated levels of adhesion to adjacent normal tissues, significantly influencing resection and causing postoperative complications. Surgery remains the primary therapeutic approach, and when combined with adjuvant radiotherapy, it effectively controls residual tumors and reduces tumor recurrence when complete removal may cause a neurologic deficit. Previous studies have indicated that slip interface imaging (SII) techniques based on MR elastography (MRE) have promise as a method for sensitively determining the presence of tumor-brain adhesion. In this study, we developed and tested an improved algorithm for assessing tumor-brain adhesion, based on recognition of patterns in MRE-derived normalized octahedral shear strain (NOSS) images. The primary goal was to quantify the tumor interfaces at higher risk for adhesion, offering a precise and objective method to assess meningioma adhesions in 52 meningioma patients. We also investigated the predictive value of MRE-assessed tumor adhesion in meningioma recurrence. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of the improved SII technique in distinguishing the adhesion degrees, particularly complete adhesion. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in adhesion percentages between complete and partial adherent tumors (p = 0.005), and complete and non-adherent tumors (p<0.001). The improved technique demonstrated superior discriminatory ability in identifying tumor adhesion patterns compared to the previously described algorithm, with an AUC of 0.86 vs. 0.72 for distinguishing complete adhesion from others (p = 0.037), and an AUC of 0.72 vs. 0.67 for non-adherent and others. Aggressive tumors exhibiting atypical features showed significantly higher adhesion percentages in recurrence group compared to non-recurrence group (p = 0.042). This study validates the efficacy of the improved SII technique in quantifying meningioma adhesions and demonstrates its potential to affect clinical decision-making. The reliability of the technique, coupled with potential to help predict meningioma recurrence, particularly in aggressive tumor subsets, highlights its promise in guiding treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Backgrounds Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are essential factors that regulate tumor development and metastasis via diverse molecular mechanisms in a broad type of cancers. However, the pathological roles of lncRNAs in gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) remain largely unknown. Here we discovered a novel lncRNA termed lncRNA Highly expressed in GBC (lncRNA-HGBC) which was upregulated in GBC tissue and aimed to investigate its role and regulatory mechanism in the development and progression of GBC. Methods The expression level of lncRNA-HGBC in GBC tissue and different cell lines was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. The full length of lncRNA-HGBC was obtained by 5′ and 3′ rapid amplification of the cDNA ends (RACE). Cellular localization of lncRNA-HGBC was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays and subcellular fractionation assay. In vitro and in vivo assays were preformed to explore the biological effects of lncRNA-HGBC in GBC cells. RNA pull-down assay, mass spectrometry, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were used to identify lncRNA-HGBC-interacting proteins. Dual luciferase reporter assays, AGO2-RIP, and MS2-RIP assays were performed to verify the interaction between lncRNA-HGBC and miR-502-3p. Results We found that lncRNA-HGBC was upregulated in GBC and its upregulation could predict poor survival. Overexpression or knockdown of lncRNA-HGBC in GBC cell lines resulted in increased or decreased, respectively, cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and in xenografted tumors. LncRNA-HGBC specifically bound to RNA binding protein Hu Antigen R (HuR) that in turn stabilized lncRNA-HGBC. LncRNA-HGBC functioned as a competitive endogenous RNA to bind to miR-502-3p that inhibits target gene SET. Overexpression, knockdown or mutation of lncRNA-HGBC altered the inhibitory effects of miR-502-3p on SET expression and downstream activation of AKT. Clinically, lncRNA-HGBC expression was negatively correlated with miR-502-3p, but positively correlated with SET and HuR in GBC tissue. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that lncRNA-HGBC promotes GBC metastasis via activation of the miR-502-3p-SET-AKT cascade, pointing to lncRNA-HGBC as a new prognostic predictor and a therapeutic target.

Mixed stands can be more productive if growth facilitation via niche segregation occurs. Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen, a tropical tree species endemic to Hainan Island with great economic values, belongs to the family Leguminosae. However, selecting mixed species with suitable ecological niches to efficiently construct mixed forests of D. odorifera in the context of abiotic stress [drought, nitrogen (N) deposition] remained obscure. In the present study, the target plant D. odorifera was planted with the same species D. odorifera, heterogeneous but the same family Delonix regia and non-Leguminous Family Swietenia mahagoni in the root interaction and isolated models under two watering regimes [100% and 30% field capacity (FC)] and two N applications (application, non-application), respectively. Principle component analysis based on the performances of growth, phenotype, and physiology was performed to identify the main factors affected by the treatments and the most discriminatory effects of water, N level, and species interaction models. Both comprehensive evaluation values and comprehensive index values were calculated to evaluate the influences of different niche neighbors on D. odorifera. Results showed that D. odorifera was benefited from S. mahagoni but inhibited from D. odorifera in all treatments under root system interaction. Drought stress aggravated the inhibitory effects on D. odorifera from D. odorifera. N application stimulated the promoted effects on D. odorifera from S. mahagoni but enhanced competition intensity of D. odorifera from D. regia under the 100% FC condition. N application alleviated the inhibitory effect of drought stress on D. odorifera from D. odorifera and S. mahagoni. Furthermore, the responses of D. odorifera to different niche neighbors were dominated by belowground interaction rather than the negligible aboveground one. Therefore, the feasibility of niche segregation as the criterion for selecting neighbors to construct D. odorifera mixed stands was confirmed. In addition, water level and N application could alter responses of D. odorifera to different niche neighbors under the root system interaction. Appropriate N application could alleviate the inhibitory effect of drought stress on D. odorifera in its mixed forests. A mixture with S. mahagoni under appropriate N application could be the optimal planting model.

ObjectiveThe primary objective of the study was to assess traditional Chinese formula DKP supplementation in terms of efficacy and safety on reproductive outcomes of expected poor ovarian responder (POR, POSEIDON Group 4) undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).Design, Setting, and ParticipantsWomen eligible for IVF-ET were invited to participate in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, superiority trial at academic fertility centers of ten public hospitals in Chinese Mainland. A total of 462 patients (35–44 years) equally divided between DKP and placebo groups with antral follicle count (AFC)

In forest systems, neighbor-induced root morphological plasticity (RMP) is species specific and environment dependent. However, related studies on leguminous woody trees remain sparse. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the root morphological response of the leguminous woody Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen to different N-fixing niche neighbors under models of root system contact and isolation and to evaluate whether such response can be modified by drought or the application of nitrogen (N). The relationship between root morphology and the relative competitiveness of the whole D. odorifera plantlet was also assessed. D. odorifera plantlets from the woody Leguminosae family were used as target species and were grown with either identical N-fixing niche D. odorifera, the heterogeneous but con-leguminous Delonix regia, or the non-leguminous Swietenia mahagoni. All plants were grown under two water conditions (100% and 30% field capacity) and two N treatments (no N application and N application). Two planting models (root system contact in Experiment 1, root system isolation in Experiment 2) were applied to neighboring plantlets. The RMP of D. odorifera was assessed based on root morphology, root system classification, root nodules, and RMP-related indices. The growth of D. odorifera was estimated based on the relative growth ratio, net assimilation rate, and leaf N content. The relative competitiveness of the whole D. odorifera plantlet was evaluated through relative yield. The results of Experiment 1 showed that D. odorifera had different RMP responses to a different N-fixing niche neighbor with root system contact. The RMP of D. odorifera was promoted by a different N-fixing niche neighbor under conditions of drought or N deficiency. Drought improved the RMP of D. odorifera exposed to a different N-fixing niche neighbor. N application converted the promoting effect of D. regia on RMP to an inhibitory effect under well-watered conditions. Experiment 2 showed that belowground interaction with a different N-fixing niche neighbor may be the only way to influence RMP, as effects of aboveground interaction were negligible. Finally, correlation analysis showed that neighbor-induced RMP might predict the relative competitiveness of the whole D. odorifera plantlet under conditions of drought or N deficiency. These findings highlight the influences of neighbors, drought, and N application on the RMP of D. odorifera and contribute to understanding neighbor-induced dynamic changes in the root traits of leguminous woody species in forest systems in the context of climate change.

The Fukang Sag in the Junggar Basin is an important petroleum exploration and exploitation region. However, the geothermal regime and tectono-thermal evolution of the Fukang Sag, which control its hydrocarbon generation and conservation, are still controversial. This study involved a systematic analysis of the present-day geothermal gradient, heat flow, and thermal history of the Fukang Sag for better further exploration. According to the well log data and well-testing temperature data, we calculated that the geothermal gradient of the Fukang Sag ranges from 16.6 °C/km to 29.6 °C/km, with an average of 20.8 °C/km, and the heat flow ranges from 34.6 mWm−2 to 64.3 mWm−2, with an average of 44.6 mWm−2. Due to the basement relief, they decrease from northeast to southwest. The weight averages of the single-grain apatite (U-Th)/He ages of the core samples are 1.3–85.2 Ma, and their apatite fission track ages range from 50.9 Ma to 193.8 Ma. The thermal modeling results revealed that the Fukang Sag experienced late Permian, late Jurassic, and late Cretaceous cooling events (although the timing and magnitude of these events varied among the samples), which were related to the continuous compression of the Junggar Basin. In addition, basin modeling indicated that the heat flow of the Fukang Sag decreased from 80 mWm−2 in the Carboniferous to the current value of 44.6 mWm−2. The Fukang Sag's edge exhibits prolific hydrocarbon generation in the Carboniferous–Permian source rocks, while the Jurassic source rocks within the sag also undergo abundant hydrocarbon generation. This study provides new insights into the present-day geothermal field and tectono-thermal evolutionary history of the Fukang Sag, which are significant in terms of regional tectonic evolution and oil and gas resource assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin sand bodies are widelv developed in the Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation in the hinterland of Jung-gar Basin, and the thickness of the reservoir is about 10-20 m. The prediction of thin sand bodies is difficult due to the lack of discernible seismic data. W ith the data from logging curves and well drilling, and under the guidance of the principle of high-resolution sequence stratigraphy, the first member of the Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation was divided into 1 long-term cycle, 2 medium-term cycles, and 6 short-term cycles. Within each short-term cycle, 6 seismic inversion slices were preferentially selected through the seismic slicing technique. By this method, the sedimentary evolution characteristics of sand bodies in six different periods, namely, low level period, lake in-trusion period, high level period, lake recession period, lake intrusion period, and lake flooding period, within the first member of the Qingshuihe Formation ( about 140 m thick) in the hinterland of the Junggar Basin, were identi-fied, thus reducing the multiplicity of interpretations of the seismic data. This paper combines seismic slicing and high-resolution sequence stratigraphy, plays the role of lateral resolution of seismic data and high-resolution of wells, overcomes the lack of seismic resolution, deepens the research on the identification of thin sand body and depositional law in short - term cycle, achieves a good exploration effect, guides the deployment of wells in the field, and serves as a reference for the identification of thin bed in other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing concerns have been raised about the long-term negative effects of subconcussive repeated head impact (RHI). To elucidate RHI injury mechanisms, many efforts have studied how head impacts affect the skull-brain biomechanics and have found that mechanical interactions at the skull-brain interface dampen and isolate brain motions by decoupling the brain from the skull. Despite intense interest, in vivo quantification of the functional state of the skull-brain interface remains difficult. This study developed a magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) based technique to non-invasively assess skull-brain mechanical interactions (i.e., motion transmission and isolation function) under dynamic loading. The full MRE displacement data were separated into rigid body motion and wave motion. The rigid body motion was used to calculate the brain-to-skull rotational motion transmission ratio (Rtr) to quantify skull-brain motion transmissibility, and the wave motion was used to calculate the cortical normalized octahedral shear strain (NOSS) (calculated based on a partial derivative computing neural network) to evaluate the isolation capability of the skull-brain interface. Forty-seven healthy volunteers were recruited to investigate the effects of age/sex on Rtr and cortical NOSS, and 17 of 47 volunteers received multiple scans to test the repeatability of the proposed techniques under different strain conditions. The results showed that both Rtr and NOSS were robust to MRE driver variations and had good repeatability, with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values between 0.68 and 0.97 (fair to excellent). No age or sex dependence were observed with Rtr, whereas a significant positive correlation between age and NOSS was found in the cerebrum, frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes (all p < 0.05), but not in the occipital lobe (p = 0.99). The greatest change in NOSS with age was found in the frontal lobe, one of the most frequent locations of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Except for the temporal lobe (p = 0.0087), there was no significant difference in NOSS between men and women. This work provides motivation for utilizing MRE as a non-invasive tool for quantifying the biomechanics of the skull-brain interface. It evaluated the age and sex dependence and may lead to a better understanding of the protective role and mechanisms of the skull-brain interface in RHI and TBI, as well as improve the accuracy of computational models in simulating the skull-brain interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an aggressive and highly lethal biliary tract malignancy, with extremely poor prognosis. In the present study, we analyzed the potential involvement of MYBL2, a member of the Myb transcription factor family, in the carcinogenesis of human GBC. Methods: MYBL2 expression levels were measured in GBC and cholecystitis tissue specimens using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemical (IHC) assays. The effects of MYBL2 on cell proliferation and DNA synthesis were evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay (CCK-8), colony formation, and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) retention assay, flow cytometry analysis, western blot, and a xenograft model of GBC cells in nude mice. Results: MYBL2 expression was increased in GBC tissues and associated with histological differentiation, tumour invasion, clinical stage and unfavourable overall survival in GBC patients. The downregulation of MYBL2 expression resulted in the inhibition of GBC cell proliferation, and DNA replication in vitro, and the growth of xenografted tumours in nude mice. Conversely, MYBL2 overexpression resulted in the opposite effects. Conclusions: MYBL2 overexpression promotes GBC cell proliferation through the regulation of the cell cycle at the S and G2/M phase transitions. Thus, MYBL2 could serve as a potential prognostic and therapeutic biomarker in GBC patients.

Background: To assess the effect of weight loss in overweight and/or obese women on the in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment outcome before IVF cycles by a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies were conducted. Systematic literature searches were conducted, and all randomized trials that evaluated the impact of weight loss in IVF treatment cycles were included in the study. Study selection, quality estimation, and data extractions were performed independently and in duplicate. Results: A total of 924 patients were enrolled in seven studies; the effects of weight loss on the IVF treatment outcome before the IVF treatment cycle were assessed. The clinical pregnancy rate (risk ratio [RR]: 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15–2.27), miscarriage rate (RR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.34–0.93), and live birth rate (RR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.41–2.45) had a statistically significant difference between the intervention and control group. No significant differences were observed in the number of oocytes retrieved (weighted mean difference [WMD]: 0.84, 95% CI: −0.12–1.79), gonadotropin consumption (WMD: 2.59, 95% CI: −6.61–1.42), or the duration of stimulation (WMD: −0.46, 95% CI: −1.64–0.71). Conclusions: Before IVF treatment, obese and overweight women should lose weight by physical activity and/or dietary management because weight loss can improve pregnancy rate, reduce miscarriage rate, and meliorate live birth rate. At the same time, further prospective RCTs are required to establish which methods of weight loss are most suited to this purpose, as well as determining whether cut points for body mass index need to be recommended before accessing IVF.

Reference genes are commonly used for normalization of target gene expression during RT-qPCR analysis. However, no housekeeping genes or reference genes have been identified to be stable across different tissue types or under different experimental conditions. To identify the most suitable reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis of target gene expression in the hepatopancreas of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) under various conditions (sex, age, water temperature, and drug treatments), seven reference genes, including beta actin (ACTB), beta-2 microglobulin (B2M), embryonic elongation factor-1 alpha (EEF1A), glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), alpha tubulin (TUBA), ribosomal protein l8 (RPL8) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), were evaluated in this study. The stability and ranking of gene expression were analyzed using three different statistical programs: GeNorm, Normfinder and Bestkeeper. The expression errors associated with selection of the genes were assessed by the relative quantity of CYP4T. The results indicated that all the seven genes exhibited variability under the experimental conditions of this research, and the combination of ACTB/TUBA/EEF1A or of ACTB/EEF1A was the best candidate that raised the accuracy of quantitative analysis of gene expression. The findings highlighted the importance of validation of housekeeping genes for research on gene expression under different conditions of experiment and species.

Gallbladder cancer, with high aggressivity and extremely poor prognosis, is the most common malignancy of the bile duct. The main objective of the paper was to investigate the effects of schisandrin B (Sch B) on gallbladder cancer cells and identify the mechanisms underlying its potential anticancer effects. We showed that Sch B inhibited the viability and proliferation of human gallbladder cancer cells in a dose-, time -dependent manner through MTT and colony formation assays, and decrease mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) at a dose-dependent manner through flow cytometry. Flow cytometry assays also revealed G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis in GBC-SD and NOZ cells. Western blot analysis of Sch B-treated cells revealed the upregulation of Bax, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP and downregulation of Bcl-2, NF-κB, cyclin D1 and CDK-4. Moreover, this drug also inhibited the tumor growth in nude mice carrying subcutaneous NOZ tumor xenografts. These data demonstrated that Sch B induced apoptosis in gallbladder cancer cells by regulating apoptosis-related protein expression, and suggests that Sch B may be a promising drug for the treatment of gallbladder cancer.

Gallbladder cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the biliary tract, and this condition has a rather dismal prognosis, with an extremely low five-year survival rate. To improve the outcome of unresectable and recurrent gallbladder cancer, it is necessary to develop new effective treatments and drugs. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of cordycepin on human gallbladder cells and uncover the molecular mechanisms responsible for these effects. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays revealed that cordycepin affected the viability and proliferation of human gallbladder cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis showed that cordycepin induced S phase arrest in human gallbladder cancer cell lines(NOZ and GBC-SD cells). Cordycepin-induced apoptosis was observed using an Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) double-staining assay, and the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, western blot analysis revealed the upregulation of cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-PARP and Bax and the downregulation of Bcl-2, cyclin A and Cdk-2 in cordycepin-treated cells. Moreover, cordycepin inhibited tumor growth in nude mice bearing NOZ tumors. Our results indicate that this drug may represent an effective treatment for gallbladder carcinoma.

Baicalein, a widely used Chinese herbal medicine, has multiple pharmacological activities. However, the precise mechanisms of the anti-proliferation and anti-metastatic effects of baicalein on gallbladder cancer (GBC) remain poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the anti-proliferation and anti-metastatic effects of baicalein and the related mechanism(s) on GBC. In the present study, we found that treatment with baicalein induced a significant inhibitory effect on proliferation and promoted apoptosis in GBC-SD and SGC996 cells, two widely used gallbladder cancer cell lines. Additionally, treatment with baicalein inhibited the metastasis of GBC cells. Moreover, we demonstrated for the first time that baicalein inhibited GBC cell growth and metastasis via down-regulation of the expression level of Zinc finger protein X-linked (ZFX). In conclusion, our studies suggest that baicalein may be a potential phytochemical flavonoid for therapeutics of GBC and ZFX may serve as a molecular marker or predictive target for GBC.

AIM: To explore the relations of clinical efficacy and surgical timing of vitrectomy combined with silicone oil tamponade for severe infectious traumatized endophthalmitis.METHODS: Totally 59 patients(59 eyes)with severe infectious traumatized endophthalmitis accepted vitrectomy combined with silicone oil tamponade. Patients were divided into two groups by different surgical timing. Group A accepted operation in 24 hours. Group B accepted operation 24 hours after injury. Retina status during operation, clinical efficacy and best-corrected visual acuity were observed and recorded. RESULTS: The cases of early operation group got lesser retina injury and higher efficacy and better best-corrected visual acuity. CONCLUSION:Vitrectomy combined with silicone oil tamponade is an effective way to cure severe infected traumatized endophthalmitis. Early surgical treatment is the key to achieve better effect.