De novo assembly of a near-complete genome of aquatic vegetable Zizania latifolia in the Yangtze River Basin.

The cultivated Zizania latifolia, an aquatic vegetable prevalent in the Yangtze River Basin, represents a unique plant-fungus complex whose domestication is associated with host-parasite co-evolution. In this study, we present a high-quality, chromosome-scale genome assembly of cultivated Z. latifolia.

Evolutionary roles of polyploidization-derived structural variations in the phenotypic diversification of Panax species.

Genomic structural variations (SVs) are widespread in plant and animal genomes and play important roles in phenotypic novelty and species adaptation. Frequent whole genome duplications followed by (re)diploidizations have resulted in high diversity of genome architecture among extant species. In this study, we identified abundant genomic SVs in the Panax genus that are hypothesized to have occurred through during the repeated polyploidizations/(re)diploidizations.

Phenotypic and transcriptomic responses of the shade-grown species Panax ginseng to variable light conditions.

Background And Aims: Elucidating how plant species respond to variable light conditions is important to understand the ecological adaptation to heterogeneous natural habitats. Plant performance and its underlying gene regulatory network have been well documented in sun-grown plants. However, the phenotypic and molecular responses of shade-grown plants under variable light conditions have remained largely unclear.

Bioinformatics Analysis of the MicroRNA-Metabolic Gene Regulatory Network in Neuropathic Pain and Prediction of Corresponding Potential Therapeutics.

Neuropathic pain (NP) involves metabolic processes that are regulated by metabolic genes and their non-coding regulator genes such as microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we aimed at exploring the key miRNA signatures regulating metabolic genes involved in NP pathogenesis. We downloaded NP-related data from public databases and identified differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs through differential gene expression analysis.

Left ventricular geometry transition in hypertensive patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) develops in response to hypertensive left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and is associated with increased cardiovascular events. Although the progression to systolic heart failure is a known consequence of LV hypertrophy and HFpEF, few data are available on the LV geometry change and frequency of deterioration to systolic dysfunction in this population.

Methods And Results: We evaluated the baseline and follow-up characteristics in 680 patients with LV hypertrophy and HFpEF in this prospective cohort study.

Concerted and birth-and-death evolution of 26S ribosomal DNA in Camellia L.

Background And Aims: The ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene family, encoding ribosomal RNA (rRNA), has long been regarded as an archetypal example illustrating the model of concerted evolution. However, controversy is arising, as rDNA in many eukaryotic species has been proved to be polymorphic. Here, a metagenomic strategy was applied to detect the intragenomic polymorphism as well as the evolutionary patterns of 26S rDNA across the genus Camellia.

High Genetic Diversity With Weak Phylogeographic Structure of the Invasive (Poaceae) in China.

Biological invasion represents a global issue of concern due to its large negative impacts on native ecosystems and society. Elucidating the evolutionary history and genetic basis underpinning invasiveness is critical to understanding how alien species invade and adapt to novel environments. Smooth cordgrass (, 2n = 6 = 62) is a notorious invasive species that causes heavily negative effects on native ecosystems worldwide.

Effects of parental genetic divergence on gene expression patterns in interspecific hybrids of Camellia.

Background: The merging of two divergent genomes during hybridization can result in the remodeling of parental gene expression in hybrids. A molecular basis underling expression change in hybrid is regulatory divergence, which may change with the parental genetic divergence. However, there still no unanimous conclusion for this hypothesis.

Acidic Preconditioning Protects Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Lung Injury Via Inhibiting the Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9.

Background: Acidic preconditioning (APC) has been demonstrated to protect against ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-induced lung injury, which could occur during lung transplantation or cardiopulmonary bypass. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying IR lung injury and APC protection are not completely understood. The key factors responsible for the protective effects of APC are not clear.

PPARγ agonist use and recurrence of atrial fibrillation after successful electrical cardioversion.

Inflammation is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) agonists have anti-inflammatory properties. We tested whether pioglitazone reduced AF recurrence after electrical cardioversion (EC) by modifying systemic inflammation. In this randomized and prospective trial, patients with persistent AF and type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomized into a pioglitazone group (n=48) or a control group (n=49) before EC.

Rapamycin Inhibits Cardiac Hypertrophy by Promoting Autophagy via the MEK/ERK/Beclin-1 Pathway.

Rapamycin, also known as sirolimus, is an antifungal agent and immunosuppressant drug used to prevent organ rejection in transplantation. However, little is known about the role of rapamycin in cardiac hypertrophy and the signaling pathways involved. Here, the effect of rapamycin was examined using phenylephrine (PE) induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro and in a rat model of aortic banding (AB) - induced hypertrophy in vivo.

Resveratrol-induced autophagy promotes survival and attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Resveratrol (RSV) has many biological effects, including antitumor and antiviral activities, and vascular protection. Recent studies have suggested that RSV exerts its antitumor effects through induction of autophagy by an unknown mechanism. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a wide spectrum antitumor drug, but its clinical application is limited by its cardiotoxicity.

New aspects of HERG K⁺ channel function depending upon cardiac spatial heterogeneity.

HERG K(+) channel, the genetic counterpart of rapid delayed rectifier K(+) current in cardiac cells, is responsible for many cases of inherited and drug-induced long QT syndromes. HERG has unusual biophysical properties distinct from those of other K(+) channels. While the conventional pulse protocols in patch-clamp studies have helped us elucidate these properties, their limitations in assessing HERG function have also been progressively noticed.

Connective tissue growth factor: a predictor of recurrence after catheter ablation in patients with nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: Although catheter ablation can effectively eliminate atrial fibrillation (AF), the progression of atrial remodeling increases the risk of recurrence. We, therefore, examined the possibility of determining the postablation prognosis of patients with AF using biomarkers of atrial structural remodeling and serum connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) level, and measured its changes after catheter ablation.

Methods: Subjects were 400 consecutive patients (308 with paroxysmal AF and 92 with nonparoxysmal AF [persistent and long-standing persistent AF]) who underwent catheter ablation for drug-resistant AF.

Beneficial effects of pioglitazone on atrial structural and electrical remodeling in vitro cellular models.

It has been demonstrated that atrial remodeling contributes toward atrial fibrillation (AF) maintenance and angiotensin II (AngII) is involved in the pathogenesis of atrial remodeling. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) agonists have been shown to inhibit atrial remodeling. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood.

Resveratrol attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in lymphoma nude mice by heme oxygenase-1 induction.

Doxorubicin (DOX) has been used in a variety of human malignancies for decades, in particular of lymphoma. But increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis has been implicated in its cardiotoxicity. Resveratrol (RES) generates cardiovascular protective effects by heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)-mediated mechanism.

[Study of bacteria-lysis abilities and growth conditions of 4 Bdellovibrio].

Bdellovibrio can lyse pathogenic bacteria and clean up waters. 4 strains of Bdellovibrio sp., designated Bh04-4, Bh04-41a, Bh04-A + and Bh04-1f, were isolated from seawaters used Bh04 as host bacterium.

Fitness estimation through performance comparison of F1 hybrids with their parental species Oryza rufipogon and O. sativa.

Background And Aims: Introgression of crop genes into populations of wild relatives has important implications for germplasm conservation as well as for the persistence of novel transgenes in wild populations. Studies of hybrid fitness can be used to evaluate the potential for introgression to occur following episodes of interspecific hybridization.

Methods: This study estimated relative fitness of interspecific hybrids through performance comparison of F(1) hybrids with their parental species, a cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) Minghui-63 and perennial common wild rice (O.

Gene flow from cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) to its weedy and wild relatives.

Background And Aims: Transgene escape through gene flow from genetically modified (GM) crops to their wild relative species may potentially cause environmental biosafety problems. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of gene flow between cultivated rice and two of its close relatives under field conditions.

Methods: Experiments were conducted at two sites in Korea and China to determine gene flow from cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.

Gene flow from cultivated rice to the wild species Oryza rufipogon under experimental field conditions.

•   Here, the gene flow from a cultivated rice variety (Minghui-63) to common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) was investigated to assess the biosafety risk associated with the environmental release of transgenic varieties. •   Four experimental designs differing in the spatial arrangement of the Minghui-63 and O. rufipogon plants were used in experiments conducted in an isolated rice field in Hunan Province, southern China, where O.