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Sporocarps of macrofungi support other diverse fungal species that are termed fungicolous fungi. However, the external environmental factors that affect the diversity and composition of fungicolous fungal communities remains largely unknown. In this study, the diversities, composition, and trophic modes of fungicolous fungal communities residing in host macrofungi from diverse habitats in the Qinling Mountains were analyzed. Additionally, the number of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) encoded by saprophytic, pathogenic, and symbiotic fungi was also quantified and compared. The results revealed that the diversity and composition of fungicolous fungal communities varied with months of collection and the habitats of host fungi, and saprophytic fungi were more abundant on wood than on the ground. Meanwhile, it was also found that saprophytic fungi possessed higher abundances of cell-wall-degrading enzymes than pathogenic or symbiotic fungi. Based on the above findings, it was hypothesized that the greater abundance of saprophytic fungi on wood compared to the ground may be due to their possession of a more diverse array of enzymes capable of degrading wood cell walls, thereby allowing for more efficient nutrient acquisition from decaying wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), also known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, is an autoimmune disease characterized by low platelet count and increased bleeding tendency. Currently, glucocorticoid and splenectomy are the main therapies for ITP but with obvious side effects including tendency of relapse and risk of internal bleeding. In this study, we report the Mongolian medicine Qishunbaolier (QSBLE) can significantly and efficiently increase platelet count with a low recurrent rate and unnoticeable side effect. We profiled the microRNA (miRNA) expression in the blood sample of ITP patients and identified 44 miRNAs that are differentially expressed in ITP patients before and after QSBLE treatment. Out of these 44 miRNAs, 25 are expressed in control subjects and are downregulated in ITP patients, whereas the treatment with QSBLE restores their expressions to the level of control subjects. This result suggests that abnormal expression of these 25 miRNAs might be connected to the pathogenesis of ITP. Interestingly, 14 of those 44 miNRAs are predicted to target at least once on 31 known IPT associated genes, indicating the possible mechanism of QSBLE on ITP therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of ultrasound subgingival scaling combined with manual root planing for treatment of chronic periodontitis in elderly patients., Methods: Forty elderly patients with chronic periodontitis were randomly divided into test group for treatment with ultrasound and Gracey subgingival curette for subgingival scaling combined with manual root planing and control group treated with ultrasound subgingival curette scaling ( n =20). We compared plaque index (PLI), bleeding index (BI), probing depth (PD), and attachment loss (AL) between the two groups before and at 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the treatment., Results: After periodontal treatment, PLI, BI, PD and AL all decreased significantly in both groups compared with the levels before the treatment ( P < 0.05). The patients in the test group showed significantly more obvious decrease of PD and AL than those in the control group ( P < 0.05), but the reduction of PLI and BI was comparable between the two groups ( P >0.05)., Conclusions: Ultrasound subgingival scaling combined with manual root planing produces better therapeutic effect than ultrasonic subgingival scaling alone for treatment of chronic periodontitis in elderly patients.