Significant Marker Research Articles

CSR Spending Deviation from Mandate in India

A clause in the Companies Act of 2013, mandates that companies allocate two percent of their revenues to the CSR initiatives. The goal of this research is to examine the reasons behind the CSR expenditure gap in India. Following our directions, the sample consisted of 200 respondents who filled out the survey. The survey concluded with a question designed to collect data on the proportion of a company's budget allocated to CSR initiatives. Colleagues participated in the pilot research, and their input was utilized to refine the questionnaire. One of the most significant markers of a company's connection with society is its level of (CSR), even though the CSR effect operations cannot always be quantified in terms of financial allocations. The results suggest that the inclusion of this provision is a sensible move on the part of regulators aiming to increase the social responsibility of businesses.

C-reactive protein/albumin ratio as a novel predictor for nutritional status of geriatric patients.

The C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) is a novel parameter that has been reported as a significant prognostic marker in some diseases. The purpose of the present research was to investigate the predictive value of this ratio with regard to nutritional status in geriatric patients. A total of 154 geriatric patients (age ≥65 years) who consecutively presented to the internal medicine outpatient clinic were included in this cross-sectional study. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was used as a reference to determine the nutritional status of the patients. Based on the MNA results, the patients were divided into two groups: normal nutrition and malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The median CAR of malnourished patients or those at risk of malnutrition was significantly higher than that of patients with normal nutritional status (p=.012). A significant negative correlation was also observed between the MNA score and the CAR (r=-0.196, p=.015). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the CAR was a significant predictor of malnourishment or the risk of malnutrition (p=.012). The CAR could predict which geriatric patients were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. CAR may be used as a new tool in the nutritional screening of geriatric patients.

Association Between Red Cell Distribution Width and Liver Injury after Cardiac and Aortic Aneurysm Surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass

This study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative red blood cell distribution width (RDW) levels and liver injury (LI) after cardiac surgery, to highlight RDW's usefulness in the early identification and intervention for patients at high risk of LI. A retrospective observational study. A university-affiliated teaching hospital and tertiary referral center. Adult patients who underwent cardiac and aortic aneurysm surgery at Changhai Hospital in 2021. Postoperative LI was defined by increased liver enzyme levels and/or hyperbilirubinemia, noted from the time of surgery to discharge. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the RDW-LI relationship, with stratified analyses based on age, gender, and anemia. Survival within 30 days was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method, with survival curve differences analyzed via the log-rank test. The study included 3 sets of sensitivity analyses. Postoperative LI was observed in 75 patients (10%). Multivariate regression analysis showed a significant association between high RDW levels and postoperative LI (adjusted odds ratio, 3.25; p = 0.033; 95% confidence intefal, 1.10-9.63), even after adjusting for all covariates. This association remained consistent across 3 sets of sensitivity analyses. Subgroup analysis showed men had a higher correlation with LI (p for interaction = 0.041). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated a significantly lower survival rate in the LI group (76%) compared with the non-LI group (99.6%; p < 0.001). Preoperative RDW levels are significantly associated with postoperative LI. RDW could serve as a significant useful marker for early detection and intervention in patients at high risk of LI, thereby potentially improving patient outcomes.

Hands, Fingers, Strings, and Bows

In this article, I draw on public-facing sources and my violinistic experience to show how attention to performance technique illustrates three different relationships between performance and analysis. In the Largo from J.S. Bach’s Sonata No. 3 for Solo Violin (BWV 1005), multiple-stop chords, string-based affordances, and bowings in turn correspond with, contradict, and create new analytical perspectives. I first collate definitions of interpretation and technique as they relate to performance. Interpretation is non-instrument-specific and deals with decoding and expressing musical meaning; technique is instrument-specific and deals with the granular mechanics of sound production. A multiple-stop intensity model shows that changes in a violinist’s multiple-stop-based effort correspond with significant cadential markers. At the local level, the violinistic “feel” of each quadruple stop aligns with expressive aspects of harmony and form. Heinrich Schenker’s performance recommendations for the Largo’s cadences, by contrast, conflict with a violinist’s experience of how the cadences intersect with instrumental affordances. Although the two perspectives may be reconcilable, actual performances support the instrument-grounded perspective. Finally, I draw on basic bowing motions to create an analytical technique of bowing reduction. My reduction of the Largo reveals a recurring bowing-based motive, which in turn elucidates the source of a performative tension I have experienced when playing the movement. This final example reminds us that technique and interpretation—just like performance and analysis—are inevitably entangled.

Identifying the physiological traits associated with DNA marker using genome wide association in wheat under heat stress

Heat stress poses a significant environmental challenge that profoundly impacts wheat productivity. It disrupts vital physiological processes such as photosynthesis, by impeding the functionality of the photosynthetic apparatus and compromising plasma membrane stability, thereby detrimentally affecting grain development in wheat. The scarcity of identified marker trait associations pertinent to thermotolerance presents a formidable obstacle in the development of marker-assisted selection strategies against heat stress. To address this, wheat accessions were systematically exposed to both normal and heat stress conditions and phenotypic data were collected on physiological traits including proline content, canopy temperature depression, cell membrane injury, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate (at vegetative and reproductive stage and ‘stay-green’. Principal component analysis elucidated the most significant contributors being proline content, transpiration rate, and canopy temperature depression, which exhibited a synergistic relationship with grain yield. Remarkably, cluster analysis delineated the wheat accessions into four discrete groups based on physiological attributes. Moreover, to explore the relationship between physiological traits and DNA markers, 158 wheat accessions were genotyped with 186 SSRs. Allelic frequency and polymorphic information content value were found to be highest on genome A (4.94 and 0.688), chromosome 1A (5.00 and 0.712), and marker Xgwm44 (13.0 and 0.916). Population structure, principal coordinate analysis and cluster analysis also partitioned the wheat accessions into four subpopulations based on genotypic data, highlighting their genetic homogeneity. Population diversity and presence of linkage disequilibrium established the suitability of population for association mapping. Additionally, linkage disequilibrium decay was most pronounced within a 15–20 cM region on chromosome 1A. Association mapping revealed highly significant marker trait associations at Bonferroni correction P < 0.00027. Markers Xwmc418 (located on chromosome 3D) and Xgwm233 (chromosome 7A) demonstrated associations with transpiration rate, while marker Xgwm494 (chromosome 3A) exhibited an association with photosynthetic rates at both vegetative and reproductive stages under heat stress conditions. Additionally, markers Xwmc201 (chromosome 6A) and Xcfa2129 (chromosome 1A) displayed robust associations with canopy temperature depression, while markers Xbarc163 (chromosome 4B) and Xbarc49 (chromosome 5A) were strongly associated with cell membrane injury at both stages. Notably, marker Xbarc49 (chromosome 5A) exhibited a significant association with the 'stay-green' trait under heat stress conditions. These results offers the potential utility in marker-assisted selection, gene pyramiding and genomic selection models to predict performance of wheat accession under heat stress conditions.

Uncovering Fusarium Species Associated with Fusarium Wilt in Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) and the Identification of Significant Marker–Trait Associations for Resistance in the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas’ Chickpea Collection Using SSR Markers

Enhancing plants’ resistance against FW is crucial for ensuring a sustainable global chickpea production. The present study focuses on the identification of fungal pathogens and the assessment of ninety-six chickpea samples for Fusarium wilt from the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)’s collection. Eight fungal isolates were recovered from the symptomatic chickpeas. Polyphasic identification was conducted by comparing the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α), and beta-tubulin (tub2). Among them, Neocosmospora solani, N. nelsonii, N. falciformis, N. brevis, Fusarium brachygibbosum, and F. gossypinum were identified. An analysis of the genetic diversity of chickpeas, using 69 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, revealed a total of 191 alleles across all markers, with, on average, each SSR marker detecting approximately 2.8 alleles. A STRUCTURE analysis delineated lines into two distinct sub-groups (K = 2). Association mapping, using the generalized linear model (GLM) and mixed linear model (MLM) approaches, identified six and five marker–trait associations (MTAs) for FW resistance, respectively. Notably, these TA42, TA125 (A) and TA125 (B), TA37, and TAASH MTAs, commonly found in both models, emerge as potential candidates for the targeted enhancement of FW resistance in chickpeas. To our knowledge, this study represents an inaugural report on the association mapping of genomic loci governing FW resistance in chickpeas from the ICARDA’s accessions.

Genome wide association study of antioxidant activity in pigeonpea germplasm

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) is a nutritious crop with antioxidant potential, making it valuable for health supplements and medicinal products. Pigeonpea seed coat possess a rich source of antioxidant properties, particularly in dark colour seed coat varieties. Recently, antioxidant-based drugs for the prevention and treatment of complex diseases have evoked a great deal of research interest in natural antioxidants. We resolved genomic regions by conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a high-throughput 62 K SNP “CcSNPnks” genic chip to identify SNP markers associated with antioxidant properties in 287 diverse panel of pigeonpea genotypes. Evaluated their antioxidant activity using a spectrophotometric technique based on ferric ion-reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) and calculated the gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per 100 g of extract. Significant differences in antioxidant activities were found among genotypes, ranging from 3.27 mg in ICPL-13271 to 16.85 mg in UP 9-I for ferric iron-reducing activity. The GWAS identified four distinct marker trait association (MTA) that exhibit a strong correlation with antioxidant properties. We identified significant marker trait associations with chr 2 (AX-165372487), chr 6 (AX-165348296) code for RGA1 protein, chr 10 (AX-165367685) codes for alkaline ceramidase (transcript variant), and chr 11 (AX-165411944) codes for (DL)-glycerol-3-phosphatase 2. The identified protein, RGA1, is involved in reducing ROS accumulation in response to stress by up-regulating the transcription of superoxide dismutases. It suppresses GA-induced vegetative growth and floral initiation. Rapidly degraded in response to GA and involved in fruit and flower development. Furthermore, the population structure analysis identified four distinct sub-populations with admixture types, effectively grouping all genotypes based on their ancestry. Our findings advance the understanding of the genetic underpinning antioxidant concentrations, holding potential for applications in crop breeding and aligning with consumer preferences. This study provides a cornerstone for future research into exploiting marker-assisted breeding to produce pigeonpea cultivars.

Negative association of atmospheric pollutants with semen quality: A cross-sectional study in Taiyuan, China

BackgroundIn recent decades, the quality of male semen has decreased worldwide. Air pollution has been linked to lower semen quality in several studies. However, the effects of atmospheric pollutants on different semen characteristics have not always been consistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the Air Quality Index (AQI) and six atmospheric pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3), semen quality, and their key exposure window periods. MethodsThis study included 1711 semen samples collected at the reproductive clinics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University in Taiyuan, Shanxi, China, from October 10, 2021, to September 30, 2022. We evaluated the association of AQI and six atmospheric pollutants with semen quality parameters throughout sperm development and three key exposure windows in men using single-pollutant models, double-pollutant models, and subgroup analyses of semen quality-eligible groups. ResultsBoth the single-pollutant model and subgroup analyses showed that PM, CO, and O3 levels were negatively correlated with total and progressive motility. At 70–90 d before semen collection, CO exposure and semen volume (β =-1.341, 95 % CI: −1.805, −0.877, P <0.001), total motility (β =-2.593, 95 % CI: −3.425, −1.761, P <0.001), and progressive motility (β =-4.658, 95 % CI: −5.556, −3.760, P <0.001) were negatively correlated. At 0–9 days before semen collection, CO was negatively correlated with normal morphology (β =-3.403, 95 % CI: −5.099, −1.708, P <0.001). Additionally, the AQI was adversely associated with total and progressive motility in subgroup analyses of the semen quality-eligible groups. ConclusionsDuring the entire sperm development process, multiple air pollutants were determined to have an adverse correlation with semen quality parameters. AQI was significant marker for the combined effects of various atmospheric pollutants on male reproductive health.

EMP3: A promising biomarker for tumor prognosis and targeted cancer therapy.

Epithelial membrane protein 3 (EMP3) belongs to the peripheral myelin protein 22 kDa (PMP22) gene family, characterized by four transmembrane domains and widespread expression across various human tissues and organs. Other members of the PMP22 family, including EMP1, EMP2, and PMP22, have been linked to various cancers, such as glioblastoma, laryngeal cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, gastric cancer, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer. However, few studies report on the function and relevance of EMP3 in tumorigenicity. Given the significant structural similarities among members of the PMP22 family, there are likely potential functional similarities as well. Previous studies have established the regulatory role of EMP3 in immune cells like T cells and macrophages. Additionally, EMP3 is found to be involved in critical signaling pathways, including HER-2/PI3K/Akt, MAPK/ERK, and TGF-beta/Smad. Furthermore, EMP3 is associated with cell cycle regulation, cellular proliferation, and apoptosis. Hence, it is likely that EMP3 participates in cancer development through these aforementioned pathways and mechanisms. This review aims to systematically examine and summarize the structure and function of EMP3 and its association to various cancers. EMP3 is expected to emerge as a significant biological marker for tumor prognosis and a potential target in cancer therapeutics.

Development and validation of a perivascular space segmentation method in multi-center datasets

BackgroundPerivascular spaces (PVS) visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are significant markers associated with various neurological diseases. Although quantitative analysis of PVS may enhance sensitivity and improve consistency across studies, the field lacks a universally validated method for analyzing images from multi-center studies. MethodsWe annotated PVS on multi-center 3D T1-weighted (T1w) images acquired using scanners from three major vendors (Siemens, General Electric, and Philips). A neural network, mcPVS-Net (multi-center PVS segmentation network), was trained using data from 40 subjects and then tested in a separate cohort of 15 subjects. We assessed segmentation accuracy against ground truth masks tailored for each scanner vendor. Additionally, we evaluated the agreement between segmented PVS volumes and visual scores for each scanner. We also explored correlations between PVS volumes and various clinical factors such as age, hypertension, and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in a larger sample of 1020 subjects. Furthermore, mcPVS-Net was applied to a new dataset comprising both T1w and T2-weighted (T2w) images from a United Imaging scanner to investigate if PVS volumes could discriminate between subjects with differing visual scores. We also compared the mcPVS-Net with a previously published method that segments PVS from T1 images. ResultsIn the test dataset, mcPVS-Net achieved a mean DICE coefficient of 0.80, with an average Precision of 0.81 and Recall of 0.79, indicating good specificity and sensitivity. The segmented PVS volumes were significantly associated with visual scores in both the basal ganglia (r = 0.541, p < 0.001) and white matter regions (r = 0.706, p < 0.001), and PVS volumes were significantly different among subjects with varying visual scores. Segmentation performance was consistent across different scanner vendors. PVS volumes exhibited significant associations with age, hypertension, and WMH. In the United Imaging scanner dataset, PVS volumes showed good associations with PVS visual scores evaluated on either T1w or T2w images. Compared to a previously published method, mcPVS-Net showed a higher accuracy and improved PVS segmentation in the basal ganglia region. ConclusionThe mcPVS-Net demonstrated good accuracy for segmenting PVS from 3D T1w images. It may serve as a useful tool for future PVS research.

Complex Assessment of the Functional State of the Urinary System in Preclinical Studies. Part 2. Markers of Nephrotoxicity (Review)

INTRODUCTION. The determination of nephrotoxicity markers is a useful and necessary step in the detection of renal injury in animal experiments; these markers help accurately localise organ damage. With multiple damaging agents, known nephrotoxicity mechanisms, and laboratory animal species, there is currently no widely accepted renal injury marker that meets all the prerequisites.AIM. This study aimed to collate literature data on nephrotoxicity markers, evaluate their prognostic significance, and formulate general recommendations for assessing urinary system function in preclinical studies.DISCUSSION. This article describes a comparative analysis of the nephrotoxicity markers recommended by regulatory authorities for monitoring drug-induced kidney injury. According to the results, the most commonly used and prognostically significant markers of acute kidney injury in preclinical studies are cystatin C, albumin, total protein, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin-2 (NGAL), and clusterin. Chronic kidney injury markers include the above, plus the glomerular filtration rate, creatinine, urea, and osteopontin. An electrolyte panel can be used for the differential diagnosis of pre-renal azotaemia and acute kidney injury. Potential limitations for the routine use of kidney injury markers in preclinical research include the high cost of their quantitative determination and the lack of information on the applicability of data obtained from different species of laboratory animals.CONCLUSIONS. Having compared the prognostic significance of common biomarkers, the authors provided general recommendations for a comprehensive preclinical assessment of urinary system function, including laboratory investigations, instrument-based tests, and necropsy. A preclinical study design should be based on the study aims, the species and number of animals used, and special considerations for the test article.

Identification of prostate cancer associated genes for diagnosis and prognosis: a modernized in silico approach.

Prostate cancer (PCa) ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Diagnosing PCa relies on molecular markers known as diagnostic biomarkers, while prognostic biomarkers are used to identify key proteins involved in PCa treatments. This study aims to gather PCa-associated genes and assess their potential as either diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for PCa. A corpus of 152,064 PCa-related data from PubMed, spanning from May 1936 to December 2020, was compiled. Additionally, 4199 genes associated with PCa terms were collected from the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. The PubMed corpus data was extracted using pubmed.mineR to identify PCa-associated genes. Network and pathway analyses were conducted using various tools, such as STRING, DAVID, KEGG, MCODE 2.0, cytoHubba app, CluePedia, and ClueGO app. Significant marker genes were identified using Random Forest, Support Vector Machines, Neural Network algorithms, and the Cox Proportional Hazard model. This study reports 3062 unique PCa-associated genes along with 2518 corresponding unique PMIDs. Diagnostic markers such as IL6, MAPK3, JUN, FOS, ACTB, MYC, and TGFB1 were identified, while prognostic markers like ACTB and HDAC1 were highlighted in PubMed. This suggests that the potential target genes provided by PubMed data outweigh those in the NCBI database.

Predictors of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma recurrence after surgical treatment

Purpose of the study. To study the CT semiotics of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) to determine the prognostic markers of recurrence. To analyze the association between CT characteristics of ICC and mutations in IDH1/2, MET, KRAS, BRAF, ERBB2, EGFR, FGFR genes. Materials and methods. We analyzed databases and diagnostic images of Vishnevsky National Medical Research Center of Surgery and Loginov Moscow Clinical Research Center for the period from April 2016 to January 2022 using the key queries «intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma», «liver», «hepatocellular carcinoma», «metastases», «radio genomics». 142 patients with liver neoplasms were identified, including 90 cases of ICC, 31 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and 21 cases of metastatic liver lesions, all morphologically verified (histologic and immunohistochemical analysis of biopsy material). Results. Associations between CT features and mutations of MET and IDH1/2 genes were determined. According to the results of statistical analysis all four CT-signs, such as bile duct dilatation, capsule retraction, presence of dropout foci and tissue volume changes, are correlated with the probability of recurrence (death) in patients with ICC. Conclusion. In a retrospective study, our results emphasize the potential prognostic significance of CT signs of ICC. We identified CT signs that allow differential diagnosis of ICC with hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer metastases. We also identified associations between CT signs of ICC and mutations of IDH1/2 and MET genes, which may allow us to non-invasively obtain data on clinically significant molecular markers of tumors to apply a personalized approach to patient treatment.

Exploring the prognostic value of BRMS1 + microglia based on single-cell anoikis regulator patterns in the immunologic microenvironment of GBM

BackgroundAnoikis is a specialized form of programmed cell death induced by the loss of cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Acquisition of anoikis resistance is a significant marker for cancer cell invasion, metastasis, therapy resistance, and recurrence. Although current research has identified multiple factors that regulate anoikis resistance, the pathological mechanisms of anoikis-mediated tumor microenvironment (TME) in glioblastoma (GBM) remain largely unexplored.MethodsUtilizing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data and employing non-negative matrix factorization (NMF), we identified and characterized TME cell clusters with distinct anoikis-associated gene signatures. Prognostic and therapeutic response analyses were conducted using TCGA and CGGA datasets to assess the clinical significance of different TME cell clusters. The spatial relationship between BRMS1 + microglia and tumor cells was inferred from spatial transcriptome RNA sequencing (stRNA-seq) data. To simulate the tumor immune microenvironment, co-culture experiments were performed with microglia (HMC3) and GBM cells (U118/U251), and microglia were transfected with a BRMS1 overexpression lentivirus. Western blot or ELISA were used to detect BRMS1, M2 macrophage-specific markers, PI3K/AKT signaling proteins, and apoptosis-related proteins. The proliferation and apoptosis capabilities of tumor cells were evaluated using CCK-8, colony formation, and apoptosis assays, while the invasive and migratory abilities of tumor cells were assessed using Transwell assays.ResultsNMF-based analysis successfully identified CD8 + T cell and microglia cell clusters with distinct gene signature characteristics. Trajectory analysis, cell communication, and gene regulatory network analyses collectively indicated that anoikis-mediated TME cell clusters can influence tumor cell development through various mechanisms. Notably, BRMS1 + AP-Mic exhibited an M2 macrophage phenotype and had significant cell communication with malignant cells. Moreover, high expression of BRMS1 + AP-Mic in TCGA and CGGA datasets was associated with poorer survival outcomes, indicating its detrimental impact on immunotherapy. Upregulation of BRMS1 in microglia may lead to M2 macrophage polarization, activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through SPP1/CD44-mediated cell interactions, inhibit tumor cell apoptosis, and promote tumor proliferation and invasion.ConclusionThis pioneering study used NMF-based analysis to reveal the important predictive value of anoikis-regulated TME in GBM for prognosis and immunotherapeutic response. BRMS1 + microglial cells provide a new perspective for a deeper understanding of the immunosuppressive microenvironment of GBM and could serve as a potential therapeutic target in the future.

Primary intestinal T-cell and natural killer-cell lymphomas: Clinicopathologic and prognostic features of 79 cases in South China.

Primary intestinal T-cell and natural killer-cell lymphomas (PITNKLs) are aggressive and make pathologic diagnoses in biopsy specimens challenging. We analyzed different subtypes' clinicopathologic features and treatment outcomes. Seventy-nine PITNKL cases were characterized by clinical, morphologic, and immunohistochemical features. Among 79 cases of PITNKLs from 2008 to 2017 in our institution, 40 (50.63%) were extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL); 32 (40.51%) monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL); 6 (7.59%) intestinal T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified; and 1 (1.27%) indolent T-cell lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract. Small intestine (n = 47) was the most common site. Monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma showed distinctive clinicopathologic features from other subtypes with high expression (96.88%) of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) and PD-L1 (87.5%) and the poorest prognosis (P < .001). CD30 was highly expressed in ENKTL (9/17, 57.94%) and irrelevant to prognosis (P > .05). Cases of PITNKL are biologically heterogeneous; most have a dismal prognosis. SYK and PD-L1 expression might be a significant marker for MEITL and helps differential diagnosis.

Decoding the genetic basis of ear‐related traits in maize (Zea mays L.) using linkage mapping, association mapping and genomic prediction

AbstractAs important yield components, the genetic analysis of ear‐related traits could provide a theoretical basis for maize breeding. Here, we reported the comprehensive genetic architecture of five ear‐related traits using 150 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) populations derived from the cross between Xu178 and K12. Besides, two sets of association populations were used to dissect genetic loci of five traits by genome‐wide association study (GWAS). A total of 32 QTLs of ear‐related traits were detected in the linkage mapping. Based on the mixed linear model (MLM), a total of 117 significant SNP markers of ear‐related traits were detected. Furthermore, a combined GWAS and linkage mapping analysis revealed 51 significant SNP markers fell within the confidence interval of QTLs. A total of seven co‐located significant SNP markers among different traits were found. Finally, six important candidate genes related to grain development were screened out. In addition, through haplotype analysis, two favourable haplotypes were found on chromosome 4, which could increase row number per ear (RNE), kernel number per row (KNR) and grain yield per plant (GYP) to a certain extent. Compared with the random model, the prediction accuracy of genomic prediction (GP) was improved in different degrees by considering the significant SNP markers as fixed effects. The stable genetic QTLs, candidate genes and favourable haplotypes found in this study are valuable resources, which will provide theoretical reference for high‐yield breeding of maize. Taken together, the research results also highlight the benefits of integrating GWAS with GP to further improve the accuracy of GP.

Abnormal Histopathological Expression of Klotho, Ferroptosis, and Circadian Clock Regulators in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Prognostic Implications and Correlation Analyses.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely lethal tumor with increasing incidence, presenting numerous clinical challenges. The histopathological examination of novel, unexplored biomarkers offers a promising avenue for research, with significant translational potential for improving patient outcomes. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic significance of ferroptosis markers (TFRC, ALOX-5, ACSL-4, and GPX-4), circadian clock regulators (CLOCK, BMAL1, PER1, PER2), and KLOTHO in a retrospective cohort of 41 patients deceased by PDAC. Immunohistochemical techniques (IHC) and multiple statistical analyses (Kaplan-Meier curves, correlograms, and multinomial linear regression models) were performed. Our findings reveal that ferroptosis markers are directly associated with PDAC mortality, while circadian regulators and KLOTHO are inversely associated. Notably, TFRC emerged as the strongest risk marker associated with mortality (HR = 35.905), whereas CLOCK was identified as the most significant protective marker (HR = 0.01832). Correlation analyses indicate that ferroptosis markers are positively correlated with each other, as are circadian regulators, which also positively correlate with KLOTHO expression. In contrast, KLOTHO and circadian regulators exhibit inverse correlations with ferroptosis markers. Among the clinical variables examined, only the presence of chronic pathologies showed an association with the expression patterns of several proteins studied. These findings underscore the complexity of PDAC pathogenesis and highlight the need for further research into the specific molecular mechanisms driving disease progression.

Production of a monoclonal antibody specific to the IgM heavy chain of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer Bloch, 1790) and its application in assessing health status following vaccination and challenges with Flavobacterium covae and Streptococcus iniae

Immunoglobulin M (IgM) shows potential as a significant immunological marker in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer), accentuating the importance of developing specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for immunological studies. In this study, we investigated the antigenicity of the IgM heavy chain (IgMH), particularly the Cμ3 region of IgMH (IgMHCμ3), and synthesized a peptide for anti-IgMHCμ3 mAb production. The synthesized peptide was used to generate a specific mAb in rabbits. The produced mAb demonstrated high specificity and affinity for Asian seabass IgMH, as confirmed through indirect ELISA, Western blot analysis, indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFAT) and flow cytometry analysis. In addition, an indirect ELISA was developed and optimized to measure anti-Flavobacterium covae and anti-Streptococcus iniae antibody titers in Asian seabass serum. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) was subsequently used to assess the health status of Asian seabass post-vaccination and challenge with these pathogens, demonstrating its potential as a valuable tool for immunological studies and health assessments in Asian seabass. Vaccination and postchallenge fish exhibited a pronounced increase in specific antibodies and total serum IgM and IgM+ cell populations. Thus, this study establishes a foundational platform for using the anti-IgMHCμ3 mAb as an essential tool for evaluating and understanding the immune responses and health status of Asian seabass, especially in the context of bacterial infections and vaccinations, and paves the way for more studies in fish immunology.

UBTD1 is a potential prognostic biomarker in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complex malignancy with poorly understood molecular mechanisms, necessitating the identification of genetic markers. Although Ubiquitin domain-containing protein 1 (UBTD1) has received significant attention in the study of human cancers, its specific role in CRC is yet to be fully clarified. This study sought to examine how UBTD1 expression was associated with various clinical and pathological characteristics of CRC, and to determine its prognostic significance and biological function, utilizing data from clinical samples and large-scale databases. Notably, UBTD1 expression was found to be upregulated in CRC, resulting in decreased survival rates and unfavorable clinical characteristics such as advanced T, N, and pathological stages. The findings of the multivariate Cox regression analysis illustrated that UBTD1 expression upregulation is a significant independent marker of unfavorable outcomes in CRC patients. An examination of the functional enrichment of UBTD1 and the genes it co-expresses indicated that it could serve as an oncogene by modulating the expression of genes implicated in crucial tumorigenesis pathways and functions. Additionally, immune cell infiltration analysis suggested a link between UBTD1 levels and various immune cells, particularly macrophages. In conclusion, the use of UBTD1 as a biomarker for both the prognosis and diagnosis of CRC has promising prospects for further investigation and therapeutic approaches.

Advancements in prognostic markers and predictive models for intracerebral hemorrhage: from serum biomarkers to artificial intelligence models.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe form of stroke with high morbidity and mortality, accounting for 10-15% of all strokes globally. Recent advancements in prognostic biomarkers and predictive models have shown promise in enhancing the prediction and management of ICH outcomes. Serum sestrin2, a stress-responsive protein, has been identified as a significant prognostic marker, correlating with severity indicators such as NIHSS scores and hematoma volume. Its levels predict early neurological deterioration and poor prognosis, offering predictive capabilities comparable to traditional measures. Furthermore, a deep learning-based AI model demonstrated superior performance in predicting early hematoma enlargement, with higher sensitivity and specificity than conventional methods. Additionally, long-term outcome prediction models using CT radiomics and machine learning have achieved high accuracy, particularly with the Random Forest algorithm. These advancements underscore the potential of integrating novel biomarkers and advanced computational techniques to improve prognostication and management of ICH, aiming to enhance patient care and survival rates. The incorporation of serum sestrin2, AI, and machine learning in predictive models represents a significant step forward in the clinical management of ICH, offering new avenues for research and clinical application.