Deciphering the landscape and evolutionary trajectory of NLR immune receptors in Dioscorea alata.

Dioscorea alata, a key tuber crop for global food security, is threatened by anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. However, identification of functional resistance genes against C. gloeosporioides in D.

Evolutionary and immune-activating character analyses of NLR genes in algae suggest the ancient origin of plant intracellular immune receptors.

Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins are crucial intracellular immune receptors in plants, responsible for detecting invading pathogens and initiating defense responses. While previous studies on the evolution and function of NLR genes were mainly limited to land plants, the evolutionary trajectory and immune-activating character of NLR genes in algae remain less explored. In this study, genome-wide NLR gene analysis was conducted on 44 chlorophyte species across seven classes and seven charophyte species across five classes.

Competitive adsorption of microRNA-532-3p by circular RNA SOD2 activates Thioredoxin Interacting Protein/NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 pathway and promotes pyroptosis of non-alcoholic fatty hepatocytes.

Objective: There is a growing body of evidence indicating that pyroptosis, a programmed cell death mechanism, plays a crucial role in the exacerbation of inflammation and fibrosis in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Circular RNAs (circRNAs), functioning as vital regulators within NAFLD, have been shown to mediate the process of cell pyroptosis. This study aims to elucidate the roles and mechanisms of circRNAs in NAFLD.

Lung nodule false positive reduction using a central attention convolutional neural network on imbalanced data.

Computer-aided detection systems for lung nodules play an important role in the early diagnosis and treatment process. False positive reduction is a significant component in pulmonary nodule detection. To address the visual similarities between nodules and false positives in CT images and the problem of two-class imbalanced learning, we propose a central attention convolutional neural network on imbalanced data (CACNNID) to distinguish nodules from a large number of false positive candidates.

The RNAome landscape of tomato during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis reveals an evolving RNA layer symbiotic regulatory network.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) is an ancient plant-fungus relationship that is widely distributed in terrestrial plants. The formation of symbiotic structures and bidirectional nutrient exchange requires the regulation of numerous genes. However, the landscape of RNAome during plant AMS involving different types of regulatory RNA is poorly understood.

General Synthesis of Tube-like Nanostructured Perovskite Oxides with Tunable Transition Metal-Oxygen Covalency for Efficient Water Electrooxidation in Neutral Media.

Hydrogen production from water electrolysis in neutral-pH electrolytes can not only avoid the corrosion and safety issues and expand the catalyst option but also potentially integrate with artificial photosynthesis and bioelectrocatalysis. However, heterogeneous catalysts that can efficiently negotiate the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in neutral solutions are considerably lacking. Herein, we report a template-assisted strategy for the synthesis of 13 kinds of tube-like nanostructured perovskite oxides (TNPOs) with markedly high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface areas.

Comparative Analysis of HSF Genes From and its Triticeae Relatives Reveal Ancient and Recent Gene Expansions.

Plants have evolved sophisticated systems to cope with the environmental stresses, with the heat shock factor (HSF) family proteins composing an integral part of the transcriptional regulation system. Understanding the evolutionary history and functional diversity of HSFs will facilitate improving tolerance of crops to adverse environmental conditions. In this study, genome-wide analysis of identified 31 HSF genes.

Clean and Affordable Hydrogen Fuel from Alkaline Water Splitting: Past, Recent Progress, and Future Prospects.

Hydrogen economy has emerged as a very promising alternative to the current hydrocarbon economy, which involves the process of harvesting renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen and then further utilization of clean hydrogen fuel. The production of hydrogen by water electrolysis is an essential prerequisite of the hydrogen economy with zero carbon emission. Among various water electrolysis technologies, alkaline water splitting has been commercialized for more than 100 years, representing the most mature and economic technology.

Efficacy of a Chinese herbal formula on hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background: No guideline recommends antiviral therapy for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels and a high hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA viral load.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a Chinese herbal formula as a therapeutic option for chronic HBV infection.

Methods: In total, 395 patients (30-65 years old) with confirmed HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B infection and persistently normal alanine aminotransferase were randomized to receive either Chinese herbal formula or placebo for 96 wk.

Clinicopathological features and prognostic validity of the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th staging systems in colonic neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of colonic neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) and to validate the prognostic value of the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th staging systems.

Methods: A total of 167 and 1248 patients with colonic NENs from 12 medical centers across China and from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry in the United States, respectively, were reviewed. Patients were staged according to the ENETS and AJCC 8th staging systems.

Performance of risk stratification systems for gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A multicenter study.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumor type in the gastrointestinal system. Presently, various classification systems to prognosticate GISTs have been proposed.

Aim: To evaluate the application value of four different risk stratification systems for GISTs.

Surgical approach for Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction: transthoracic or transabdominal? -a single-center retrospective study.

Background: The surgical approach (transthoracic or transabdominal) for patients with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) still remains controversial.

Methods: Data of patients with Siewert type II AEG were collected in the Guangdong General Hospital from 2004 to 2014 and we compared their clinicopathological outcome and prognosis in regard to the transthoracic (TT) and transabdominal (TA) approach.

Results: A total of 158 patients with Siewert type II AEG were analyzed and our results demonstrated that their overall medium survival was 52 months.

Clinical and histopathological features of chronic hepatitis B virus infected patients with high HBV-DNA viral load and normal alanine aminotransferase level: A multicentre-based study in China.

Background: The aim of this study is to reveal the clinical and histopathological features of HBsAg-positive and HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B infected patients with high level of HBV DNA, from 17 hospitals and medical centres in China, with alanine aminotransferase levels within the lower region of normal range versus those with levels within the upper region of normal range and to investigate the clinical risk factors for the requirement of treatment through the examination of liver biopsy.

Methods: Liver biopsy was performed on high level of HBV DNA of 455 patients with HBsAg-positive and HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B infection and persistently normal alanine aminotransferase level. Liver necroinflammation and fibrosis were graded per the Knodell histological activity index and Ishak's fibrosis score, respectively.

A novel nomogram individually predicting disease-specific survival after D2 gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer.

Background: Few studies have shown nomograms that may predict disease-specific survival (DSS) probability after curative D2 gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer (AGC), particularly among Chinese patients. This study sought to develop an elaborative nomogram that predicts long-term DSS for AGC in Chinese patients.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 6753 AGC patients undergoing D2 gastrectomy between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2012 from three large medical hospitals in China.

AQP8 inhibits colorectal cancer growth and metastasis by down-regulating PI3K/AKT signaling and PCDH7 expression.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant cancers and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in worldwide. Although the monoclonal antibody therapy is prescribed for CRC, the metastasis resistant to therapy is the major cause of death of patients with CRC, which indicating the urgent demands for new therapeutic targets discovery. Aquaporin 8 (AQP8) has been identified alter expressed in several cancers including breast cancer, lung cancer and prostatic carcinoma.

Advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor patients benefit from palliative surgery after tyrosine kinase inhibitors therapy.

The role of palliative surgery is controversial in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) after tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) therapy.We evaluated safety and clinical outcomes in a single institution series of advanced GIST patients from January 2002 to December 2008.One hundred and fifty-six patients had been recruited, including 87 patients underwent surgical resection and 69 patients kept on TKIs treatment.

Shugan Xiaozhi Decoction Attenuates Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis by Enhancing PPAR and L-FABP Expressions in High-Fat-Fed Rats.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Shugan Xiaozhi decoction (SX) on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) induced by high-fat diet in rats. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, namely, control, model, fenofibrate, and three different dosage of SX (10, 20, and 40 g/kg/day, p.o.

Time distribution of recurrence risk of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma with complete resection (R0) in a Chinese population.

Objectives: We aimed to clarify the correlation between clinic-pathological characteristics and the distribution of recurrence probability during follow-up of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients with complete resection analysis by hazard function, and to try to provide evidence-based data for optimal timing for adjuvant therapy.

Methods: A single-institution, retrospective study was conducted on 553 Chinese patients with OSCC who underwent R0 resection between January 2005 and October 2007. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and hazard function was used to analyse the annual recurrence hazard.

Ectopic expression of B and T lymphocyte attenuator in gastric cancer: a potential independent prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer.

It has been confirmed that B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA; also known as CD272) is a novel co--inhibitory molecule that exhibits a critical role in restraining cell-mediated antitumor immunity. The present study aimed to investigate the expression and prognostic significance of BTLA in gastric adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed to investigate BTLA expression in gastric cancer tissues and normal mucosal tissues.

Time-varying pattern of postoperative recurrence risk of early-stage (T1a-T2bN0M0) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): results of a single-center study of 994 Chinese patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the time-varying pattern of recurrence risk of early-stage (T1a-T2bN0M0) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after surgery using the hazard function and identify patients who might benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 994 patients with early-stage NSCLC who underwent radical surgical resection between January 1999 and October 2009. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the annual recurrence hazard was estimated using the hazard function.

Comparison of endoscopic ultrasonography and multislice spiral computed tomography for the preoperative staging of gastric cancer - results of a single institution study of 610 Chinese patients.

Background: This study compared the performance of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in the preoperative staging of gastric cancer.

Methodology/principal Findings: A total of 610 patients participated in this study, all of whom had undergone surgical resection, had confirmed gastric cancer and were evaluated with EUS and MSCT. Tumor staging was evaluated using the Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging and Japanese classification.

Clinicopathologic significance of putative stem cell marker, CD44 and CD133, in human gastric carcinoma.

Background And Objectives: CD44 and CD133 have been reported as putative stem cell markers. However, the clinicopathologic significance of CD44 and CD133 expression in patients with gastric carcinoma (GC) has not been clearly elucidated.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to investigate the CD44 and CD133 expression in gastric carcinomas and normal mucosal tissues.

Time-varying pattern of recurrence risk for gastric cancer patients.

This study analyzed the time-varying pattern of the recurrence risk for gastric cancer after surgery. A total of 1,222 gastric patients undergoing D2 resection surgery were studied retrospectively. The annual recurrence hazard curve for all of the populations showed one early peak and a late rise within 10 years after the surgery.