: The Key Regulator of Domesticated Pericarp Color in Bitter Gourd.

Pericarp color is a crucial commercial trait influencing consumer preferences for bitter gourds. However, until now, the gene responsible for this trait has remained unidentified. In this study, we identified a gene () controlling pericarp color via a genome-wide association study (GWAS) utilizing the resequencing data of 106 bitter gourd accessions.

Encodes a Homeobox Protein That Affects Leaf Margin Development in .

Leaf margin morphology is an important quality trait affecting the commodity and environmental adaptability of crops. is an ideal research material for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf lobe development. Here, we identified to be a promising gene underlying the QTL controlling leaf lobe formation in which was detected in our previous study.

Comparing high-dose dual therapy with bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for the initial eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection on Hainan Island: A randomized, multicenter clinical trial.

Background: Traditional bismuth-containing quadruple therapy, as a first-line eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), has several disadvantages, including drug side effects, low medication adherence, and high costs. Trials of high-dose dual treatment have demonstrated its advantages, which include good safety and adherence profiles.

A miR-340/SPP1 axis inhibits the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smads pathway.

Background: Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a common pathological complication of liver cirrhosis which affects human health. It is well established that microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the proliferation, activation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Objectives: To determine the function and molecular mechanism of miR-340-5p/secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) axis in HF and identify potential therapeutic targets.

MiR-22-3p and miR-29a-3p synergistically inhibit hepatic stellate cell activation by targeting AKT3.

Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a worldwide health problem for which there is no medically effective drug treatment at present, and which is characterized by activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. The HF model in cholestatic rats by ligating the common bile duct was induced and the differentially expressed miRNAs in the liver tissues were analyzed by microarray, which showed that miR-22-3p and miR-29a-3p were significantly downregulated in bile-duct ligation (BDL) rat liver compared with the sham control. The synergistic anti-HF activity and molecular mechanism of miR-22-3p and miR-29a-3p by targeting AKT serine/threonine kinase 3 (AKT3) in HSCs were explored.

The chromosome-scale assembly of endive (Cichorium endivia) genome provides insights into the sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis.

Endive (Cichorium endivia L.) is a leafy vegetable in the Asteraceae family. Sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) in endive leaves bring a bitter taste that varies between varieties.

Upregulation of Nei-Like DNA Glycosylase 3 Predicts Poor Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Accumulating evidence has suggested that Nei-like DNA glycosylase 3 (NEIL3) is associated with human tumors. However, there are few studies on the role of NEIL3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profile of NEIL3 and its clinical relevance in HCC.

The role of the urologist, BCG vaccine administration, and SARS-CoV-2: An overview.

Objectives: To summarize the available literature regarding bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) administration, severe acute respiratory syndrome conoravirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the resulting clinical condition coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in light of recent epidemiologic work suggesting decreased infection severity in BCG immunized populations while highlighting the potential role of the urologist in clinical trials and ongoing research efforts.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the available literature regarding COVID-19 and BCG vaccination. Specifically, the epidemiologic evidence for decreased COVID-19 morbidity in countries with BCG vaccination programs, current clinical trials for BCG vaccination to protect against COVID-19, potential mechanisms and rationale for this protection, and the role of the urologist and urology clinic in providing support and/or leading ongoing efforts.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Retains Clinically Relevant Viability for up to 72 Hours After Reconstitution: Potential Implications for Clinical Practice in Times of Shortage.

There have been repeated supply shortages of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the gold-standard immunotherapy for patients with high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Organizations have issued guidance on coping with this shortage, including administering split-dose BCG such that one vial may treat up to three patients. However, logistical implementation of this strategy in a real-world setting is hampered by the recommendation to use BCG within 2 h of reconstitution.

Upregulation of Excision Repair Cross-Complementation Group 6-Like (ERCC6L) Promotes Tumor Growth in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Excision repair cross-complementation group 6-like (ERCC6L) is overexpressed in some malignancies; however, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be further investigated.

Aims: In the present study, we explored the expression and function of ERCC6L in HCC.

Methods And Results: We investigated the expression of ERCC6L by microarray analysis, using the Cancer Genome Atlas database, and by HCC tissue microarray.

Lack of evidence for the presence of leprosy bacilli in red squirrels from North-West Europe.

Leprosy is a human infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis that can also occur in animals and even manifest as zoonosis. Recently, both mycobacteria were detected in red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from the British Isles. To further explore the presence of leprosy bacilli in North-West Europe, we screened Belgian and Dutch squirrels.

Thrombospondin-4 expression as a prognostic marker in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Aims: The extracellular calcium-binding protein family member thrombospondin-4 (THBS4) regulates cell migration, proliferation, attachment, adhesion, angiogenesis, neural development, tissue structure, organ development, pain signal transduction, and tumor growth. The aim of this study was to study THBS4 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and determine if it was a prognostic marker for this malignancy.

Methods: We used immunohistochemistry and tissue microarrays to evaluate THBS4 expression in 84 HCC and matched para-cancerous tissues.

Heat shock protein 70 protects mouse against post-infection irritable bowel syndrome via up-regulating intestinal γδ T cell's Th17 response.

Background: This study investigated the role of HSP70 in modulating intestinal γδ T cells' Th17 response in -induced PI-IBS mice model.

Methods: The intestinal HSP70's expression and mRNA level were measured by Western blot and RT-PCR. The intestinal γδ T cell's morphological changes were analyzed using immunofluorescence staining and confocal laser scanning microscope.

Pulmonary Legionellosis in Oncologic Patients: Findings on Chest CT.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report the computed tomography (CT) findings of non-pneumophila Legionella pneumonia and to compare these CT findings to those caused by Legionella pneumophila in oncologic patients.

Methods: Chest CT scans of 34 oncologic patients with culture-proven Legionella infection (16 L. pneumophila and 18 non-pneumophila Legionella) were retrospectively reviewed.

Preinduced intestinal HSP70 improves visceral hypersensitivity and abnormal intestinal motility in PI-IBS mouse model.

Objective: To investigate the impact of the preinduced intestinal heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) on the visceral hypersensitivity and abnormal intestinal motility in a post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) mouse model.

Methods: Eighty-four female C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to four groups: control group (n = 21) and induction + PI-IBS group (n = 21), PI-IBS group (n = 21) and induction group (n = 21). The mice in PI-IBS group were infected in vivo with Trichinella spiralis by oral administration.

The cardioprotection of the insulin-mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Apoptosis occurs frequently in myocardial infarction, oxidative stress injury, and ischemia/reperfusion injury, and plays a pivotal role in the development of heart diseases. Inhibition of apoptosis alone does not necessarily lead to meaningful rescue in terms of either cardiomyocyte survival or function. Activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway induced by insulin not only inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis but also substantially preserves and even improves regional and overall cardiac function.

Neuroprotective effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody on apoptosis following subarachnoid hemorrhage in a rat model.

Recent studies have emphasized the importance of apoptosis in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the subsequent early brain injury. However, the apoptotic pathways induced by SAH in different brain regions are not fully understood. We investigated gene expression levels of classical apoptosis-related molecules (caspase-3, bax, and bcl-2) following SAH in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats.

Dimethyl sulfoxide enhances effectiveness of skin antiseptics and reduces contamination rates of blood cultures.

Effective skin antisepsis is of central importance in the prevention of wound infections, colonization of medical devices, and nosocomial transmission of microorganisms. Current antiseptics have a suboptimal efficacy resulting in substantial infectious morbidity, mortality, and increased health care costs. Here, we introduce an in vitro method for antiseptic testing and a novel alcohol-based antiseptic containing 4 to 5% of the polar aprotic solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).

Hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants is the complex result of BK virus infection, preparative regimen intensity and donor type.

Background: Hemorrhagic cystitis is a common cause of morbidity after allogeneic stem cell transplantation, frequently associated with BK virus infection. We hypothesized that patients with positive BK viruria before unrelated or mismatched related donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have a higher incidence of hemorrhagic cystitis.

Design And Methods: To test this hypothesis, we prospectively studied 209 patients (median age 49 years, range 19-71) with hematologic malignancies who received bone marrow (n=78), peripheral blood (n=108) or umbilical cord blood (n=23) allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after myeloablative (n=110) or reduced intensity conditioning (n=99).

Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 mRNA is expressed in a significant proportion of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been associated with Richter transformation in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Methods: A direct isothermal mRNA amplification method was developed for detection of EBV latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) mRNA transcriptional activity in the peripheral blood of 135 chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients and 98 hematologically healthy control subjects.

Results: EBV LMP1 mRNA transcripts were found in 19 of 135 (14%) of the CLL cases, but only 1% of the healthy controls (P < .

Central venous catheter-related Streptomyces septic thrombosis.

Streptomyces species are part of the actinomycetes group. They have rarely been reported as a cause of invasive infection. We report a case of catheter-related Streptomyces bacteremia complicated by severe sepsis and septic thrombosis.

Candidemia in a tertiary care cancer center: in vitro susceptibility and its association with outcome of initial antifungal therapy.

Since the 1990s, changing trends have been documented in species distribution and susceptibility to bloodstream infections caused by Candida species in cancer patients. However, few data are available regarding the association between in vitro antifungal susceptibility and outcome of candidemia in this patient population. We therefore evaluated the association of in vitro antifungal susceptibility and other risk factors with failure of initial antifungal therapy in cancer patients with candidemia.