Land masses and oceanic currents drive population structure of Heritiera littoralis,a widespread mangrove in the Indo‐West Pacific

Phylogeographic forces driving evolution of sea‐dispersed plants are often influenced by regional and species characteristics, although not yet deciphered at a large spatial scale for many taxa like the mangrove species Heritiera littoralis. This study aimed to assess geographic distribution of genetic variation of this widespread mangrove in the Indo‐West Pacific region and identify the phylogeographic factors influencing its present‐day distribution. Analysis of five chloroplast DNA fragments’ sequences from 37 populations revealed low genetic diversity at the population level and strong genetic structure of H. littoralis in this region. The estimated divergence times between the major genetic lineages indicated that glacial level changes during the Pleistocene epoch induced strong genetic differentiation across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In comparison to the strong genetic break imposed by the Sunda Shelf toward splitting the lineages of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the genetic differentiation between Indo‐Malesia and Australasia was not so prominent. Long‐distance dispersal ability of H. littoralis propagules helped the species to attain transoceanic distribution not only across South East Asia and Australia, but also across the Indian Ocean to East Africa. However, oceanic circulation pattern in the South China Sea was found to act as a barrier creating further intraoceanic genetic differentiation. Overall, phylogeographic analysis in this study revealed that glacial vicariance had profound influence on population differentiation in H. littoralis and caused low genetic diversity except for the refugia populations near the equator which might have persisted through glacial maxima. With increasing loss of suitable habitats due to anthropogenic activities, these findings therefore emphasize the urgent need for conservation actions for all populations throughout the distribution range of H. littoralis.     

Assessment of risk factors for postoperative cognitive dysfunction after coronary artery bypass surgery: a single-center retrospective cohort study

Aim: To find out risk factors for postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to provide basis for clinical prevention of POCD. A total of 88 patients who underwent CABG were surveyed with Telephone Questionnaire (TICS-M) for their cognitive impairment after 3, 7, 21, 90, 180 days post-surgery. The occurrence of POCD was diagnosed by Neuropsychological Battery which included Vocabular Learning Test (VLT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Trail Making Test (TMT) and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). The preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative risk factors were assessed by the χ² or t test. Multivariate analysis was used to study the correlation between the risk factors and the occurrence of POCD. Age, aortic plaque, carotid artery stenosis, cerebrovascular disease, anesthesia time, the rate of decline in intraoperative hemoglobin concentration (ΔHb) and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score on postoperative day 2 had statistically significant (P<0.05) influence on the occurrence of POCD. Aortic plaque, carotid artery stenosis, anesthesia time and SIRS score (odds ratio (OR) value > 1, P<0.05) are the risk factors for POCD. The incidence of day-21 and -180 POCD was approximately 26.1 and 22.7%, respectively.     

The C‐degron pathway eliminates mislocalized proteins and products of deubiquitinating enzymes

Protein termini are determinants of protein stability. Proteins bearing degradation signals, or degrons, at their amino‐ or carboxyl‐termini are eliminated by the N‐ or C‐degron pathways, respectively. We aimed to elucidate the function of C‐degron pathways and to unveil how normal proteomes are exempt from C‐degron pathway‐mediated destruction. Our data reveal that C‐degron pathways remove mislocalized cellular proteins and cleavage products of deubiquitinating enzymes. Furthermore, the C‐degron and N‐degron pathways cooperate in protein removal. Proteome analysis revealed a shortfall in normal proteins targeted by C‐degron pathways, but not of defective proteins, suggesting proteolysis‐based immunity as a constraint for protein evolution/selection. Our work highlights the importance of protein termini for protein quality surveillance, and the relationship between the functional proteome and protein degradation pathways.     

健康与凋萎病杨梅树体及根围菌群的差异

凋萎病是制约杨梅产业发展的严重病害。为了有效防控凋萎病,本研究分析了杨梅健康和感染凋萎病树体各部位及根表土和根围土中细菌和真菌群落的丰富度与多样性的差异。结果表明: 与健康树相比,病树根围土、根表土、根、枝干、枝皮和叶片的细菌和真菌丰富度均发生了显著变化,其中,根表土细菌和枝皮内真菌的丰富度和多样性均显著降低,而枝皮内细菌和根表土的真菌丰富度和多样性均显著升高。病树各部位及根表、根围土细菌和真菌的优势菌相对丰度在门、纲和属水平上发生了明显的变化,在病树枝干、根和根表土中的假单胞菌属及根表土、根围土中的镰刀菌属的相对丰度明显降低,病树根表土及根围土中青霉菌属的相对丰度明显增加。与凋萎病菌同属的拟盘多毛孢菌在病树根内显著减少,而在其他位置均大量增殖,其相对丰度与多数相对丰度较高的真菌呈正相关。本研究结果将为开发杨梅凋萎病的生态改良、培育健康树体和生物防治技术提供有效的理论依据。     

中国基层医疗机构手癣和足癣诊治现状调查

目的了解基层医生有关手癣、足癣的诊治现状,分析影响因素,制定有针对性的措施。方法通过网络平台对全国19个省市的基层医生进行问卷调查。结果共回收完整问卷729份。结果显示:①约20%的基层医生对手、足癣的发病因素方面存在认识不足,约50%的基层医生对受侵犯皮肤的组织定位存在误区。②基层医生对手、足癣鉴别诊断的重要性重视不够,真菌镜检设备使用率不足一半。③基层医生能正确选用外用抗真菌药,硝酸咪康唑乳膏使用率超过80%。④仍有10.70%的基层医生推荐使用外用糖皮质激素治疗手、足癣。结论基层医生在手、足癣的规范诊疗方面仍有待提高。     

家蝇Phormicin A多克隆抗体的制备及效价检测

家蝇Phormicin作为防御素家族的成员,是一类具有广普抗菌活性的抗菌肽.本研究采用原核表达法表达并纯化获得了家蝇PhormicinA蛋白.将家蝇Phormicin A原核表达蛋白与完全佐剂和不完全佐剂乳化混匀,先后免疫新西兰白兔获得其多克隆抗体.通过原核表达蛋白中和吸附实验,以及Western blot实验验证了抗体的特异性.进一步用金黄色葡萄球菌刺激家蝇三龄幼虫样品,进行内源性验证并测定抗体的效价.结果 显示,该多克隆抗体既可以识别家蝇Phormicin A原核表达蛋白,也可以识别金黄色葡萄球菌刺激家蝇三龄幼虫产生的内源性Phormicin A蛋白.本研究为进一步探索Phormicin在家蝇天然免疫和防御中的机制等后续工作打下基础.     

A botanical medicine dragon’s blood exhibited clinical antithrombosis efficacy similar to low molecular weight heparin

Deep vein thrombosis(DVT) is a common complication following traumatic fracture with a 0.5%–1% annual incidence. Low molecular weight heparin(LMWH) is the most commonly used anticoagulation drug for DVT prevention, but treatment with LMWH is invasive. Our aim is to compare the antithrombotic effect of dragon's blood, an oral botanical anticoagulant medicine approved by the Chinese FDA, with LMWH in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery and to explore the molecular mechanisms of anticoagulation treatment. Our study recruited patients and divided them into LMWH and dragon's blood treatment group. Coagulation index tests, Doppler ultrasound and m RNA sequencing were performed before and after anticoagulation therapy. There was no significant difference in postoperative DVT incidence between the two groups(23.1% versus 15.4%,P=0.694). D-dimer(D-D) and fibrinogen degradation product(FDP) showed significant reductions in both groups after anticoagulation treatments. We identified SLC4 A1, PROS1, PRKAR2 B and seven other genes as being differentially expressed during anticoagulation therapy in both groups. Genes correlated with coagulation indexes were also identified. Dragon's blood and LMWH showed similar effects on DVT and produced similar gene expression changes in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, indicating that dragon's blood is a more convenient antithrombosis medicine(oral) than LMWH(hypodermic injection).