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ObjectiveTo utilize whole genome sequencing to comprehensively compare and analyze the genomic characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes （L. monocytogenes） and Listeria innocua （L. innocua） isolated from commercially available foods in Gansu Province.MethodsDuring 2021 and 2022， 25 strains of L. monocytogenes and 7 strains of L. innocua were isolated from commercially available food sources within Gansu Province and subjected to whole genome sequencing for phylogenetic lineage， clonal complex （CC）， sequence type （ST）， virulence gene， resistance gene， and pan-genome analyses.ResultsThe 32 Listeria strains examined could be classified into three distinct groups： L. monocytogenes lineages Ⅰ and Ⅱ and L. innocua. Considering their CC types， further subdivision into 10 subgroups was observed for L. monocytogenes， whereas L. innocua had 5 subgroups. Core genome multi-locus sequence typing effectively differentiated strains with different CC types within each lineage， with lineage Ⅰ showing a closer evolutionary relationship with L. innocua. All 25 L. monocytogenes strains carried Listeria pathogenicity island 1 （LIPI-1） and internalin genes； none carried LIPI-3， and 2 strains of ST87 carried LIPI-4. Conversely， none of the seven strains of L. innocua carried LIPI-1 or internalin genes； however， they all carried LIPI-4， and 5 carried LIPI-3. Among the L. monocytogenes strains， 16 carried surface sensory island 1 （SSI-1）， and 3 carried SSI-2； all 7 L. innocua strains did not carry SSI-1， but 6 of them carried SSI-2. The pan-genome size of L. monocytogenes increased linearly with the number of sequenced genomes. Upon reaching 15 strains， the number of core genes stabilized at 2 272， accounting for 46.2% of the pan-genome genes. Furthermore， 1 487 common core genes were shared between the 25 L. monocytogenes strains and 7 L. innocua strains， with the count tending to stabilize when the strain count reached 10.ConclusionMulti-locus sequence typing of the core genome can effectively distinguish among Listeria strains originating from different lineages and CCs. The similarity in the biochemical characteristics of L. monocytogenes and L. innocua is due to their close genetic relationship， while the differences in their pathogenicity can be attributed to the presence of certain virulence genes in L. monocytogenes.

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as a group of signaling molecules in rice functioning in regulation of development and stress responses. Respiratory burst oxidase homologues (Rbohs) are key enzymes in generation of ROS. However, the role of the nine Rboh family members was not fully understood in rice multiple disease resistance and yield traits. In this study, we constructed mutants of each Rboh genes and detected their requirement in rice multiple disease resistance and yield traits. Our results revealed that mutations of five Rboh genes (RbohA, RbohB, RbohE, RbohH, and RbohI) lead to compromised rice blast disease resistance in a disease nursery and lab conditions; mutations of five Rbohs (RbohA, RbohB, RbohC, RbohE, and RbohH) result in suppressed rice sheath blight resistance in a disease nursery and lab conditions; mutations of six Rbohs (RbohA, RbohB, RbohC, RbohE, RbohH and RbohI) lead to decreased rice leaf blight resistance in a paddy yard and ROS production induced by PAMPs and pathogen. Moreover, all Rboh genes participate in the regulation of rice yield traits, for all rboh mutants display one or more compromised yield traits, such as panicle number, grain number per panicle, seed setting rate, and grain weight, resulting in reduced yield per plant except rbohb and rbohf. Our results identified the Rboh family members involved in the regulation of rice resistance against multiple pathogens that caused the most serious diseases worldwide and provide theoretical supporting for breeding application of these Rbohs to coordinate rice disease resistance and yield traits.

Objective The International Medical Services Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) has gradually promoted the concept and practice of palliative care since 2016. This study aims to analyze the death status of end-of-life patients before and after the promotion endeavor, in order to evaluate the impact of palliative care on the death quality. Methods All clinical data from end-of-life patients who died at the International Medical Services Department of PUMCH in 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively collected, and their diagnosis and treatment details before death were compared. Results A total of 36 end-of-life patients who died in 2013 and 37 end-of-life patients who died in 2019 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In 2013, there were 19 males and 17 females, with an average age of (72.1±14.0) years, and 19 cases had advanced cancer. In 2019, there were 19 males and 18 females, with an average age of (70.8±15.3) years, and 27 cases had advanced cancer. Compared to patients who died in 2013, a lower proportion of the patients in 2019 who were transferred to the ICU before death(0 vs. 22.2%, P=0.008), received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (0 vs. 16.7%, P=0.011), had tracheal intubation(5.4% vs. 36.1%, P=0.001), invasive mechanical ventilation(2.7% vs. 33.3%, P=0.001), and total parenteral nutrition(32.4% vs. 61.1%, P=0.014), while a higher proportion received palliative care consultations(29.7% vs. 0, P

AIM: To compare the clinical efficacy of the Balanced energy system versus the conventional torsional ultrasound system in phacoemulsification surgeries for cataracts with varying nuclear hardness.METHODS: In this study, 120 patients(122 eyes)with age-related cataracts scheduled for surgery between November 2021 and November 2022 at our hospital were randomly divided into two groups: 58 patients(59 eyes)in the experimental group underwent surgery using the Balanced energy system, while 62 patients(63 eyes)in the control group were treated with the conventional torsional ultrasound system. Intraoperative cumulative dissipated energy(CDE), case time(CT), aspiration time(AST), and estimated fluid used(EFU)were recorded. Patients were followed-up for 3mo to examine and record the best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and corneal endothelial cell density(ECD), and to calculate the rate of endothelial cell loss.RESULTS: Comparing the intraoperative parameters between the two groups, there was no significant difference in CT(P>0.05), but the CDE, AST and EFU of the patients in the experimental group were lower than those of the control group(P0.05). In grade IV nuclear hardness cataracts, the rate of endothelial cell loss in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group(4.63%±4.10% vs. 6.63%±4.49%, P