Age and spatial distribution of the world's oldest trees.

Extremely old trees have important roles in providing insights about historical climatic events and supporting cultural values. Yet there has been limited work on the global distribution and conservation of these trees. We extracted information on 197,855 tree cores at 4,854 sites, and combined it with other tree age data from a further 156 sites, to determine the age of the world's oldest trees and quantify the factors influencing their global distribution.

Biological Functions of Strigolactones and Their Crosstalk With Other Phytohormones.

Phytohormones are small chemicals critical for plant development and adaptation to a changing environment. Strigolactones (SLs), carotenoid-derived small signalling molecules and a class of phytohormones, regulate multiple developmental processes and respond to diverse environmental signals. SLs also coordinate adjustments in the balance of resource distribution by strategic modification of the plant development, allowing plants to adapt to nutrient deficiency.

Left atrial dysfunction may precede left atrial enlargement and abnormal left ventricular longitudinal function: a cardiac MR feature tracking study.

Background: The role of the dysfunction of left atrium in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular disease has been gradually recognized. We aim to compare the impact on left atrial (LA) function between patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hypertension (HTN) without LA enlargement using cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT), and if possible, explore the capability of LA function for providing clinical implication and predicting clinical adverse events in the early stage of cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Consecutive 60 HCM patients and 60 HTN patients with normal LA size among 1413 patients who underwent CMR were retrospectively analyzed as well as 60 controls.

Over-expression of miR-193a-3p regulates the apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells by targeting PAK3.

Although dysregulated expression of microRNAs (miRNA) has been investigated in colorectal cancer (CRC), MiR-193a-3p, as a tumor inhibitor, is less studied. To investigate the function and mechanism of miR-193a-3p in CRC, the potential function of miR-193a-3p in regulating PAK3 in CRC with a series of experimental assays including western blotting, qRT-PCR, bioinformatics analysis, a luciferase reporter assay, flow cytometry, Transwell assay, CCK8 assay and immunofluorescence were performed in this study. The results showed that miR-193a-3p was down-regulated in CRC tissues and cell lines, which was also correlated with tumor progression.

A prospective randomized study for the placement of flexible laryngeal airway mask with two-step jaw-thrust technique by both hands for adults.

Objective: A prospective, randomized, and controlled study was conducted to investigate the effect of two-step jaw-thrust technique on the placement of flexible laryngeal mask (FLMA) with both hands.

Methods: Between November 2019 and January 2020, 160 patients scheduled for functional endoscopic sinus surgery with general anesthesia were enrolled in this study and were divided into two groups (=80 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C) and test group (group T). After the induction of general anesthesia, the traditional method was applied to insert the flexible laryngeal airway mask in patients of group C, and the two-step jaw-thrust technique with both hands by the nurse was applied to help place the laryngeal mask in patients of group T.

State-of-the-art myocardial strain by CMR feature tracking: clinical applications and future perspectives.

Based on conventional cine sequences of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), feature tracking (FT) is an emerging tissue tracking technique that evaluates myocardial motion and deformation quantitatively by strain, strain rate, torsion, and dyssynchrony. It has been widely accepted in modern literature that strain analysis can offer incremental information in addition to classic global and segmental functional analysis. Furthermore, CMR-FT facilitates measurement of all cardiac chambers, including the relatively thin-walled atria and the right ventricle, which has been a difficult measurement to obtain with the reference standard technique of myocardial tagging.

Current and potential trends in the bioactive properties and health benefits of Sieb. Et Zucc: a comprehensive review for value maximization.

Sieb. Et Zucc () is an acidic fruit native to China (named Chinese Mei or greengage plum). It is currently cultivated in several Asian countries, including Japan ("Ume"), Korea (Maesil), and Vietnam (Mai or Mo).

A novel prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma based on 5 microRNAs related to vascular invasion.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is prevalent worldwide with a high mortality rate. Prognosis prediction is crucial for improving HCC patient outcomes, but effective tools are still lacking. Characteristics related to vascular invasion (VI), an important process involved in HCC recurrence and metastasis, may provide ideas on prognosis prediction.

Hsa_circ_0003945 promotes progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by mediating miR-34c-5p/LGR4/β-catenin axis activity.

Accumulating evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play essential roles in regulating cancer progression, but many circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. Dysregulated circRNAs in HCC were identified through bioinformatics analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus data sets. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Sanger sequencing, RNase R digestion and actinomycin D treatment were conducted to confirm the characterization of circRNAs.

When MXene (TiCT) meet Ti/PbO: An improved electrocatalytic activity and stability.

Stable electrode materials with high catalytic activity are urgently required for electrochemical degradation of refractory organic pollutants in wastewater treatment. Herein, high conductive MXene (TiCT) was firstly fabricated by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) as an interlayer for preparing a novel PbO electrode. The well-conducted TiCT interlayer significantly improved the electrochemical performance of the EPD-2.

Overexpression of sonic hedgehog enhances the osteogenesis in rat ectomesenchymal stem cells.

Ectoderm-derived mesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs) were used as potential seed cells for bone tissue engineering to treat bone defects due to their capability of rapid proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling was reported to play an important role in the development of bone tissue, but its role is not understood. The present study investigated the role of Shh molecule in osteogenic differentiation of rat EMSCs in vitro.

Cypermethrin inhibits Leydig cell development and function in pubertal rats.

Cypermethrin is a broad-spectrum pyrethroid insecticide that is widely used. It may induce adverse endocrine-disrupting effects on the male reproductive system. Whether cypermethrin can disrupt Leydig cell development and function in the late puberty remains elusive.

High serum soluble CD155 level predicts poor prognosis and correlates with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies with poor prognosis. There is no research about the clinical significance of serum soluble CD155 (sCD155) level for HCC. We aim to explore the prognostic and diagnostic value of sCD155 in HCC patients undergoing curative resection.

Melatonin protected against myocardial infarction injury in rats through a Sirt6-dependent antioxidant pathway.

Background: The Sirt6, one of the members of the sirtuin family, has been regarded as a key factor in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction (MI) through its antioxidant defense mechanisms. A previous study reported that melatonin is an antioxidant drug that can act as an agent for cardioprotection in cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, whether melatonin could protect against cardiac remodeling after myocardial injury via the Sirt6-dependent antioxidant pathway remains unknown.

Superior frontal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus connectivity mediates the relationship between neuroticism and thought suppression.

Thought suppression, which is defined as an effort "not to think about" a particular thought, is essential to maintain good mental health. Despite previous functional imaging studies on thought suppression and related functional activity, the neural basis of thought suppression in individual difference is still unclear. Many studies have focused on the relationship between neuroticism and thought suppression; however, the neural basis of this relationship is not well known.

Role and significance of water and acid washing on biochar for regulating methane production from waste activated sludge.

Methane recovered from anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge (WAS) can be used as the energy supplement of the wastewater treatment plant, benefiting to its carbon-neutral operation. In order to enhance methane production, biochar (BC) has been widely selected as conductive material to build direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) in anaerobic digestion of WAS. However, the role and significance of washing strategies, including water and acid washing, on BCs for regulating methane production have not been reported.

Left Ventricular Strain Measurements Derived from MR Feature Tracking: A Head-to-Head Comparison of a Higher Temporal Resolution Method With a Conventional Method.

Background: Magnetic resonance feature tracking (MR-FT) is an imaging technique that quantifies both global and regional myocardial strain. Currently, conventional MR-FT provides a superior signal and contrast-to-noise ratio but has a relatively low temporal resolution. A higher temporal resolution MR-FT technique may provide improved results.

Bilateral EABR stimulating mode testing bilateral CI patients refecting binaural integration:a preliminary study.

Objective: To analyze binaural integration, we used a new stimulation mode of the electrically evoked auditory brainstem response (EABR), to reflect bilaterally implanted cochlear function.

Design: EABR was tested using the following procedure: First, both ears were evaluated separately, with the contralateral speech processor closed (C), followed by another measurement with both processors open (O). Subsequently, the eV latencies and amplitudes were assessed.

A Noncanonical Hedgehog Signaling Exerts a Tumor-Promoting Effect on Pancreatic Cancer Cells Via Induction of Osteopontin Expression.

Sonic Hedgehog (Shh)-Gli1 signaling and osteopontin () play vital roles in pancreatic cancer. However, the precise mechanisms of both signals have not been fully clarified, and whether there is a correlation between them in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is unknown. This study aims to confirm the effect of on human PDAC and assess whether Hh signaling affects pancreatic cancer cells through upregulation of .

Induction of Intestinal Inflammation by Adoptive Transfer of CBir1 TCR Transgenic CD4+ T Cells to Immunodeficient Mice.

With the increase of incidence, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which are chronic diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, impose a considerable health and financial burden on individuals and society. Therefore, it is critical to investigate the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis and development of IBD. Here, a gut microbiota antigen-specific T cell transfer colitis model is described.

The role of Fas-FasL-FADD signaling pathway in arsenic-mediated neuronal apoptosis in vivo and in vitro.

The molecular mechanisms underlying arsenic-induced neurotoxicity have not been completely elucidated. Our study aimed to determine the role of the Fas-FasL-FADD signaling pathway in arsenic-mediated neuronal apoptosis. Pathological and molecular biological tests were performed on the cerebral cortex of arsenic-exposed rats and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance: From clinical uses to emerging techniques.

Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) account for approximately 50% of those with heart failure (HF) and have increased morbidity and mortality when compared to those with HF with reduced ejection fraction. Currently, the pathophysiology and diagnostic criteria for HFpEF remain unclear, contributing significantly to delays in creating a beneficial and tailored treatment that can improve the prognosis of HFpEF. A multitude of studies have exclusively tested and illustrated the diagnostic value of echocardiography imaging in HFpEF; however, a widely-accepted criterion to identify HFpEF using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has not been established.

EZH2 Inhibition Compromises α4-1BB-Mediated Antitumor Efficacy by Reducing the Survival and Effector Programming of CD8 T Cells.

Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) inhibitors (EZH2i) are approved to treat certain cancer types. Previous studies have suggested the potential to combine EZH2i with immune checkpoint blockade targeting coinhibitory receptors like PD-(L)1 and CTLA-4, but whether it can also enhance the activity of agents targeting costimulatory receptors is not known. Here, we explore the combination between EZH2i and an agonist antibody targeting the T cell costimulatory receptor 4-1BB (α4-1BB).