Acer palmatum (A. palmatum), a deciduous shrub or small arbour which belongs to Acer of Aceraceae, is an excellent greening species as well as a beautiful ornamental plant. In this study, a ...high-quality chromosome-level reference genome for A. palmatum was constructed using Oxford Nanopore sequencing and Hi-C technology. The assembly genome was ∼745.78 Mb long with a contig N50 length of 3.20 Mb, and 95.30 % (710.71 Mb) of the assembly was anchored into 13 pseudochromosomes. A total of 28,559 protein-coding genes were obtained, ∼90.02 % (25,710) of which could be functionally annotated. The genomic evolutionary analysis revealed that A. palmatum is most closely related to A. yangbiense and A. truncatum, and underwent only an ancient gamma whole-genome duplication event. Despite lacking a recent independent WGD, 25,795 (90.32 %) genes of A. palmatum were duplicated, and the unique/expanded gene families were linked with genes involved in plant-pathogen interaction and several metabolic pathways, which might underpin adaptability. A combined genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analysis related to the biosynthesis of anthocyanin in leaves during the different season were characterized. The results indicate that the dark-purple colouration of the leaves in spring was caused by a high amount of anthocyanins, especially delphinidin and its derivatives; and the red colouration of the leaves in autumn by a high amount of cyanidin 3-O-glucoside. In conclusion, these valuable multi-omic resources offer important foundations to explore the molecular regulation mechanism in leaf colouration and also provide a platform for the scientific and efficient utilization of A. palmatum.
The seeds of Cercis chinensis Bunge are important for reproduction and propagation, but strong dormancy controls their germination. To elucidate the causes of seed dormancy in C. chinensis, we ...investigated the permeability of the hard seed coat and the contribution of the endosperm to physical dormancy, and we examined the effect of extracts from the seed coat and endosperm. In addition, the effectiveness of scarification methods to break seed dormancy was compared. Cercis chinensis seeds exhibited physical and physiological dormancy. The hard seed coat played an important role in limiting water uptake, and the endosperm acted as a physical barrier that restricted embryo development in imbibed seeds. Germination percentage of Chinese cabbage Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis (L.) Hanelt seeds was reduced from 98% (control) to 28.3% and 56.7% with a seed-coat extract and an endosperm extract, respectively. This demonstrated that both the seed coat and endosperm contained endogenous inhibitors, but the seed-coat extract resulted in stronger inhibition. Mechanical scarification, thermal scarification, and chemical scarification had positive effects on C. chinensis seed germination. Soaking non-scarified seeds in gibberellic acid (GA3) solution did not promote germination; however, treatment with exogenous GA3 following scarification significantly improved germination. The optimal method for promoting C. chinensis seed germination was soaking scarified seeds in 500 mg·L−1 GA3 for 24 h followed by cold stratification at 5 °C for 2 mo.
IntroductionChina’s one-child policy was replaced by a new universal two-child policy in 2015; however, few studies have addressed the intent to have a second child and resulting related ...issues.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional study on 11 991 Chinese women, 18–49 years of age, from 11 provinces in 2016–2017, in order to assess the intent for a second child among Chinese women of childbearing age and other related factors after the introduction of China’s new universal two-child policy.ResultsWe found that the overall prevalence of the intent to have a second child was 39.4% and that economic, childrearing, and health barriers affected fertility intent. Multivariate logistic regression models showed that the age range of 25–39 years (aOR 1.28–1.30), living in Eastern (aOR 1.28, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.50) or Central China (aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.78), living in a rural area (aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.47 to 1.78), being a farmer (aOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.88), having a higher household income (aOR 1.13, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.28), having a history of abortion (aOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.31), and already having one child (aOR 3.65 for girls, aOR 2.70 for boys) were associated with a greater intent to have a second child (all p<0.05). Conversely, economic, health, childrearing, and educational barriers were associated with a lower intent to have a second child (aOR 0.65–0.75).ConclusionFour in ten women of childbearing age demonstrated an intent for a second child. We maintain that fertility-related factors be given full consideration when promoting the two-child policy.
Inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernia repairs are the most common surgical procedure worldwide. However, studies on hernia disease burden are notably limited, in both developed and low-income and ...middle-income countries (LMICs). We investigated temporal trends in the incidence and prevalence of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernias at global, regional, and national levels in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019 using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 (GBD 2019).
Annual incident cases, prevalent cases, age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs), and age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPRs) of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernias between 1990 and 2019 were extracted from the GBD 2019 study and stratified by sex, age, and location. Percentage changes in incident cases and prevalent cases, and the estimated annual percentage changes of ASIRs and ASPRs were calculated to quantify the trends in the incidence and prevalence of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernias. Data analysis for the present study was conducted from 15 June 2022 to 15 July 2022.
Globally, there were 32.53 million 95% uncertainty interval (UI): 27.71-37.79 prevalent cases and 13.02 million (10.68-15.49) incident cases of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernias in 2019, which increased by 36.00% and 63.67%, respectively, compared with 1990. Eighty-six percent of the incident cases were males, the male-to-female ratio was 6 : 1, and most patients were aged 50-69 years. India (2.45 million), China (1.95 million), and Brazil (0.71 million) accounted for more than one-third (39%) of the incident cases worldwide. From 1990 to 2019, the ASIR and ASPR showed a decreasing trend worldwide, except in Central Sub-Saharan Africa, which had an increasing trend in ASIR and ASPR.
The global incident cases and prevalent cases of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernias increased substantially from 1990 to 2019, with a heavier burden observed in males, older adults, and in LMICs such as India and China. In addition, the ASIR and ASPR increased substantially in Central Sub-Saharan Africa. More efforts are warranted for hernia management to reduce the burden of inguinal, femoral, and abdominal hernias, such as by providing safe hernia surgical treatment for males, older adults, and LMICs.
Abstract
Background and Aims
Asymptomatic hyperuricemia (HU) is common among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) but the causative role of HU on CKD progression remains controversial. Two ...large multi-center randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the CKD-FIX and the PERL study, have now disproven a causal relation. On the other hand, a causative role of persistent HU exists with gouty arthritis but a rapid correction of HU with urate lowering therapy can also elicit acute gout attacks. This suggests a more complex role of HU in this context. Hence, we hypothesized that soluble uric acid (sUA) has immunomodulatory effects on leukocyte function during the immune response to monosodium urate (MSU) crystals.
Method
Alb-creERT2;Glut9lox/lox and Glut9lox/lox control mice were injected with tamoxifen and placed either on a chow or high-fat diet with inosine to induce HU with or without CKD. After two weeks, MSU crystals or vehicle were injected into air pouches or postcapillary venules in the cremaster muscle of transgenic mice. Leukocyte infiltration and the extent of inflammation were assessed by flow cytometry, intravital microscopy, ELISA, and colorimetric assays. Human blood neutrophils and CD14+ monocytes were isolated from CKD stage G2-4 (n=10) and CKD stage G5 (n=18) patients or healthy individuals (n=15). Neutrophil transwell migration assays were performed and the number of migrated human neutrophils towards chemoattractants determined by flow cytometry. Human blood CD14+ monocytes were treated with MSU crystals or lipopolysaccharide ex vivo, and the expression of inflammatory mediators determined by RT-PCR and flow cytometry.
Results
We found that the presence of HU impaired leukocyte recruitment into MSU crystal-injected air pouches of mice with or without CKD. Intravital microscopy revealed that HU specifically reduced leukocyte adhesion, extravasation, and leukocyte-related tissue inflammation. The CKD-mediated attenuation of MSU crystal-induced inflammation was fully reversible by treating HU with urate lowering therapy such as rasburicase. In blood neutrophils isolated from healthy individuals, sUA diminished β2 integrin activation and expression, and hence impaired neutrophil migration ex vivo. An impaired migratory capability was also observed in neutrophils from CKD stage G2-4 or G5D patients. Moreover, sUA attenuated Toll-like and TNFα receptor-induced human monocyte activation, a process depending on the intracellular uptake of sUA via the urate transporter SLC2A9 (GLUT9), the only urate transporter expressed by these immune cells.
Conclusion
We identify sUA as an endogenous modulator of innate immunity. HU modulates neutrophil migration by altering efficient β2 integrin activation and suppresses pattern recognition receptor-driven monocyte activation via SLC2A9 in gouty arthritis related or unrelated to CKD (see Figure). This process provides a molecular explanation for several previously unexplained clinical phenomena in the context of gouty arthritis and renal failure.
Figure: Schematic of the regulatory effects of HU on innate immunity during CKD. (A) During sterile inflammation like acute gouty arthritis, leukocytes migrate from the blood into the inflamed joint. For their migration, neutrophils require β2 integrin expression and activation. Once leukocytes enter the inflamed joint, they get activated by MSU crystals leading to neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and the release of pro-inflammatory mediators by monocytes. (B) In the setting of CKD, HU suppresses β2 integrin activation in neutrophils, and induces an unresponsiveness of monocytes following sUA uptake via SLC2A9, which results in impaired leukocyte recruitment. Therefore, the inflammatory response to MSU crystals is diminished due to a lower number of neutrophils that can form NETs and a suppressed SLC2A9-mediated inflammatory monocyte phenotype.
Ziziphus jujuba
is an important woody plant with high economic and medicinal value. Here, we analyzed and characterized the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of
Z. jujuba
, the first member of the ...Rhamnaceae family for which the chloroplast genome sequence has been reported. We also built a web browser for navigating the cp genome of
Z. jujuba
(
http://bio.njfu.edu.cn/gb2/gbrowse/Ziziphus_jujuba_cp/
). Sequence analysis showed that this cp genome is 161,466 bp long and has a typical quadripartite structure of large (LSC, 89,120 bp) and small (SSC, 19,348 bp) single-copy regions separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs, 26,499 bp). The sequence contained 112 unique genes, including 78 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNAs, and four ribosomal RNAs. The genome structure, gene order, GC content, and codon usage are similar to other typical angiosperm cp genomes. A total of 38 tandem repeats, two forward repeats, and three palindromic repeats were detected in the
Z. jujuba
cp genome. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) analysis revealed that most SSRs were AT-rich. The homopolymer regions in the cp genome of
Z. jujuba
were verified and manually corrected by Sanger sequencing. One-third of mononucleotide repeats were found to be erroneously sequenced by the 454 pyrosequencing, which resulted in sequences of 1–4 bases shorter than that by the Sanger sequencing. Analyzing the cp genome of
Z. jujuba
revealed that the IR contraction and expansion events resulted in
ycf1
and
rps19
pseudogenes. A phylogenetic analysis based on 64 protein-coding genes showed that
Z. jujuba
was closely related to members of the Elaeagnaceae family, which will be helpful for phylogenetic studies of other Rosales species. The complete cp genome sequence of
Z. jujuba
will facilitate population, phylogenetic, and cp genetic engineering studies of this economic plant.
The hard seed coat of Cercis chinensis Bunge is an important factor of its dormancy. A study of the characteristics of water absorption is vital for understanding seed dormancy and germination. This ...investigation found that soaking in water at an initial temperature of 80 °C for 5 min was optimal for breaking the hardness of C. chinensis seeds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dye-tracking, and blocking experiments were used to examine the major water entry sites and the relationship between water uptake and seed coat structure during C. chinensis seed imbibition. The SEM images showed that the seed coat consisted of three layers: epidermis, palisade, and sclereid. Special light line, vascular bundle, and counter-palisade layer structures were found in the side of the hilum. The blocking experiments showed that the hilar region was an important water absorption site because, if the region was not blocked, it showed the highest water absorption when imbibed for 3–12 h. However, all parts of the seed coat can absorb water if enough time is allowed after the seed coat hardness has been broken. The dye-tracking test showed that after 3 h water entered the seed only via the hilum fissure. Therefore, the hilum fissure acts as the initial site of water absorption. When more time was allowed, water moved more rapidly on the side with vascular bundles than on the opposite side.
Acer rubrum L. is one of the most prevalent ornamental species of the genus Acer, due to its straight and tall stems and beautiful leaf colors. For this study, the Oxford Nanopore platform and Hi-C ...technology were employed to obtain a chromosome-scale genome for A. rubrum. The genome size of A. rubrum was 1.69 Gb with an N50 of 549.44 Kb, and a total of 39 pseudochromosomes were generated with a 99.61% genome. The A. rubrum genome was predicted to have 64644 genes, of which 97.34% were functionally annotated. Genome annotation identified 67.14% as the transposable element (TE) repeat sequence, with long terminal repeats (LTR) being the richest (55.68%). Genome evolution analysis indicated that A. rubrum diverged from A. yangbiense ∼6.34 million years ago. We identified 13 genes related to pigment synthesis in A. rubrum leaves, where the expressions of four ArF3′H genes were consistent with the synthesis of cyanidin (a key pigment) in red leaves. Correlation analysis verified that the pigmentation of A. rubrum leaves was under the coordinated regulation of non-structural carbohydrates and hormones. The genomic sequence of A. rubrum will facilitate genomic breeding research for this species, while providing the valuable utilization of Aceraceae resources.
•The chromosome-scale genome of A. rubrum was obtained.•An advance in the determination of complex genomes in polyploid plants.•Regulatory among pigments, hormones, and carbohydrates in A. rubrum leaves.
Sodium glucose transporter (SGLT)‐2 inhibition has renoprotective effects in diabetic kidney disease. Whether similar effects can be achieved also in non‐diabetic kidney disease is speculative. ...Chronic kidney disease was induced in C57BL/6N mice by feeding an oxalate‐rich diet for 14 days, known to induce nephrocalcinosis‐related tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis without directly affecting the glomerular compartment. Empagliflozin treatment started from day 0 of oxalate feeding had no effect on the decline of glomerular filtration rate, crystal deposition, blood urea nitrogen or serum creatinine levels on day 7 and 14. Tissue morphometry of tubular injury and kidney mRNA levels of kidney injury molecule‐1 or tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐2 were comparable between empagliflozin‐ and vehicle‐treated mice with oxalate nephropathy on day 7 and 14. Similarly, empagliflozin did not affect markers of interstitial fibrosis, including silver, alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and collagen 1 staining, and mRNA levels of fibronectin‐1, collagen 1α1, fibroblast‐specific protein‐1, and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β2 on day 7 and 14. Thus, the specific renoprotective mechanisms‐of‐action of SGLT2 inhibition in diabetic kidney disease do not apply to chronic oxalosis, a non‐diabetic form of chronic kidney disease.
Sodium glucose transporter (SGLT)‐2 inhibition has renoprotective effects on diabetic kidney disease. Whether similar effects can be achieved also in non‐diabetic kidney disease is speculative. Our results imply that the specific renoprotective mechanisms‐of‐action of SGLT2 inhibition in diabetic kidney disease do not apply to chronic oxalosis as a non‐diabetic form of chronic kidney disease.
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