As the staple food for more than half of the world's population, rice requires elite varieties with superior quality and high yield to ensure food security. Agronomic traits, such as grain size, leaf angle, seed dormancy, and germination, will affect rice yield. Identification and cloning of key genes and elucidation of molecular mechanisms regulating these traits expedite rice breeding. The OVATE Family Proteins (OFPs), a unique family of transcription regulators, play critical roles in regulating grain or fruit size, plant morphology, and stress responses. Here, we have successfully identified OsOFP9, an uncharacterized OFP member in rice, and demonstrated its irreplaceable role in controlling several key agronomic traits. Mutation of OsOFP9 results in severe pre-harvest sprouting, promoted seed germination, smaller grains, and reduced leaf angle. Mechanistic studies revealed that the OsOFP9 mutation reduced abscisic acid (ABA) levels and increased gibberellin (GA) levels, thereby affecting the ABA/GA ratio and α-amylase activity. In addition, OsOFP9 directly interacts with GS9 and DLT, key transcriptional regulators involved in the BR signaling pathway controlling grain size and leaf angle, respectively. Functional assays showed that OsOFP9 inhibited the transcriptional activation activity of GS9, but enhanced the transcriptional repression activity of DLT. Genetic evidence showed that GS9 and DLT function downstream of OsOFP9, consistent with the results of the transcriptional activity assay. In conclusion, this study reveals the crucial role of OsOFP9 in regulating several important agronomic traits and elucidates its molecular mechanism in coordinating multiple plant hormones, thus providing valuable insights and genetic resources for improving rice yield.

Thermal ablation (TA) has harvested favorable outcomes in treating low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Preoperative assessment, intraoperative procedures and postoperative follow-up are all closely linked with the success and safety of TA on PTMC. However, many details in these aspects have not been systematically reviewed. This review firstly described the influence of preoperative assessment, especially for the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM), as well as the molecular testing on the selection of TA for PTMC. Besides, we also summarized the experiences in treating special PTMC cases by TA, like multifocal lesions, PTMC located in the isthmus or adjacent to the dorsal capsule. At last, we discussed the follow-up strategies, the influence of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level on the prognosis of PTMCs, and the management for recurrent cases. In conclusion, the procedures during the entire perioperative period should be standardized to improve the outcomes of TA in treating PTMC patients.

Thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is the main extrathyroidal manifestation of autoimmune thyroid diseases. It is also very difficult to manage the patients with severe orbital involvement. The high-dose glucocorticoid via the intravenous route is the first-line therapy for moderate-to-severe and active TAO, which is unsatisfied with the limited efficacy and adverse events. Orbital topical injection therapy can not only effectively improve the clinical symptoms and reduce the activity and severity, but also lower the incidence of adverse events compared with systemic administration. Therefore, it can be used as an adjuvant method in the treatment of TAO. Several drugs, including botulinum toxin type A, hyaluronic acid, somatostatin analogs, glucocorticoids, and new immunomodulatory agents, have been tried in orbital topical injection.

Amylose largely determines rice grain quality profiles. The process of rice amylose biosynthesis is mainly driven by the waxy (Wx) gene, which also affects the diversity of amylose content. The present study assessed the grain quality profiles, starch fine structure, and crystallinity characteristics of the near-isogenic lines Q11(Wxlv), NIL(Wxa), and NIL(Wxb) in the indica rice Q11 background containing different Wx alleles. Q11(Wxlv) rice contained a relatively higher amylose level but very soft gel consistency and low starch viscosity, compared with rice lines carrying Wxa and Wxb. In addition, starch fine structure analysis revealed a remarkable decrease in the relative area ratio of the short amylopectin fraction but an increased amylose fraction in Q11(Wxlv) rice. Chain length distribution analysis showed that Q11(Wxlv) rice contained less amylopectin short chains but more intermediate chains, which decreased the crystallinity and lamellar peak intensity, compared with those of NIL(Wxa) and NIL(Wxb) rice. Additionally, the starches in developing grains showed different accumulation profiles among the three rice lines. Moreover, significant differences in starch gelatinization and retrogradation characteristics were observed between near-isogenic lines, which were caused by variation in starch fine structure. These findings revealed the effects of Wxlv on rice grain quality and the fine structure of starch in indica rice.

Rice mutants with altered starch components and properties are important genetic resources for grain quality and starch structure analysis. Accordingly, in the present study, two mutants of the transcription factor OsbZIP09 were generated (osbzip09a and osbzip09b), and the rice grain quality and physicochemical starch properties of the mutant and wild-type lines were compared. The OsbZIP09 mutants exhibit a chalky grain owing to loosely packed, small, spherical starch granules in the ventral region of the endosperm. Furthermore, grain-quality profile analysis showed that OsbZIP09 deficiency leads to increased apparent amylose content but decreased gel consistency. Structural analysis of the mutant starches revealed that the mutant rice lines contain more amylopectin short chains and fewer intermediate chains, leading to lower crystallinity and lower gelatinization properties than those of the wild-type rice. Moreover, the OsbZIP09 mutants rice presented a significantly higher pasting curve and corresponding parameters than the wild-type rice. The results from this work strongly indicate that the transcription factor OsbZIP09 plays an important role in rice grain quality and starch fine structure modification, and extend our understanding of starch biosynthesis in rice endosperm.

We successfully identified a novel and unique OsbZIP transcription factor, OsbZIP09, whose mutants exhibited longer seeds and less severe pre-harvest sprouting than the wild type, but shared similar germination rate as the wild type under normal germination conditions. The expression of OsbZ IP09 was induced by abscisic acid（ABA） and declined as the germination process. As a nucleus-localized transcription factor, the conserved binding motif of OsbZIP09 was identified via DNA affinity purification sequencing technique. Further evidences indicated that OsbZIP09 directly enhanced the expression of ABA catabolism gene ABA8 ox1, thus reducing ABA accumulation. In addition, OsbZIP09 also directly bound to the promoter of LEA3 gene to inhibit its expression, thus further alleviating the suppressive effect of ABA on seed germination. These results demonstrated that OsbZIP09 likely functions as a brake of the ABA pathway to attenuate the inhibitory effect of ABA on rice seed germination via dual strategies.

Seed dormancy and germination are key events in plant development and are critical for crop production, and defects in seed germination or the inappropriate release of seed dormancy cause substantial losses in crop yields. Rice is the staple food for more than half of the world's population, and preharvest sprouting (PHS) is one of the most severe problems in rice production, due to a low level of seed dormancy, especially under warm and damp conditions. Therefore, PHS leads to yield loss and a decrease in rice quality and vitality. We reveal that mutation of OsbZIP09 inhibited rice PHS. Analysis of the expression of OsbZIP09 and its encoded protein sequence and structure indicated that OsbZIP09 is a typical bZIP transcription factor that contains conserved bZIP domains, and its expression is induced by ABA. Moreover, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) analyses were performed and 52 key direct targets of OsbZIP09 were identified, including OsLOX2 and Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) family genes, which are involved in controlling seed germination. Most of these key targets showed consistent changes in expression in response to abscisic acid (ABA) treatment and OsbZIP09 mutation. The data characterize a number of key target genes that are directly regulated by OsbZIP09 and contribute to revealing the molecular mechanism that underlies how OsbZIP09 controls rice seed germination.

甲状腺癌已经成为世界范围内的常见肿瘤,主要是分化型甲状腺癌( differentiated thyroid carcinoma, DTC) ,尤其是乳头状甲状腺癌( papillary thyroid carci-noma, PTC) ,其发病率总体随年龄上升而呈增高趋势.一般多认为年龄与甲状腺癌预后相关,年龄越大,预后越差.目前,老年人群的甲状腺癌管理未予足够重视.老年人群甲状腺癌的流行病学和临床特点都与普通成人有所不同,尤其是老年人基础疾病多,预后差,手术风险高,促甲状腺激素( thyroid stimulating hor-mone, TSH)抑制治疗的不良反应发生率高,这些都决定了老年人甲状腺癌管理的难度显著高于普通成人.管理老年甲状腺癌病人时,如何权衡治疗决策的利弊是临床难点.在指南与共识大量涌现的今天,关于老年甲状腺癌的规范性诊治,迄今尚无权威机构发布相关指导意见和建议.本文结合近年来的相关研究,分析老年甲状腺癌的流行病学和临床特点,总结其诊断与治疗,以期提升临床医师对老年甲状腺癌的规范性管理水平.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), and to observe the histopathological changes after MWA.MethodsMWA was performed under ultrasound guidance for 73 unifocal PTMC patients without clinically cervical or distant metastasis. The target ablation zone exceeded the tumor edge (judged by contrast-enhanced US) to avoid marginal residue and recurrence. Ultrasound evaluation was performed at 1 day, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment, and thyroid function evaluation at the first 6 months. Repeated fine needle aspiration cytology or core needle biopsy pathology was performed at 3 or 6 months after MWA to evaluate residual tumors. Any adverse event associated with MWA was evaluated.ResultsThe follow-up after MWA lasted 6 (6, 12) months. Tumor volume decreased significantly from 0.06 mm3 (0.04, 0.11 mm3) to 0.03 mm3 (0.00, 0.06 mm3) at 12 months after MWA (P< 0.001), with a median volume reduction ratio of 80.28% (-7.43, 100%) and 16 cases (21.92%) presenting complete remission. The largest diameter, volume and ablation energy were found to be different in patients with and without complete remission 12 months after MWA. On histopathological examinations, no atypical or malignant follicular cells were identified after thermal ablation. The most common pathological characteristics were fibroblastic proliferation (34/39, 87.18%) and chronic inflammation (32/39, 82.05%), followed by infarction (21/39, 53.85%). Five patients were transferred to thyroidectomy and 4 of them were confirmed with local recurrence and/or lymph node metastasis. Serum thyrotropin decreased transiently after MWA (P< 0.01) but normalized thereafter. No serious and permanent complications were reported.ConclusionsMWA is a safe and effective treatment for low-risk PTMC. Fibroblastic proliferation and chronic inflammation are the most common pathological changes after MWA of PTMC.

目的 回顾性比较两所不同等级医院对良、恶性甲状腺结节的诊疗方式.方法 收集南京中医药大学附属中西医结合医院(三甲医院,甲组,408例)和江苏省建湖县人民医院(三乙医院,乙组,155例)甲状腺结节患者术前诊断检查资料、手术方式及术后病理结果,采用美国放射学会甲状腺成像报告和数据系统(ACR-TIRADS)对所有结节进行分级,并计算总体ACR-TIRADS的诊断效能.结果 与甲组相比,乙组甲状腺癌患者年龄和结节直径较大(P＜0.01).甲组甲状腺癌患者的术前颈部CT检查和超声引导下细针穿刺细胞学检查实施率高于乙组(95.99％ vs.0和82.22％vs.5.56％) (P＜0.01).甲组对甲状腺良性结节处理和对甲状腺癌手术方式选择的合理率均高于乙组(88.51％ vs.41.71％和94.13％ vs.58.62％)(P＜0.01).ACR-TIRADS 4级诊断总体甲状腺癌的灵敏度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值和准确性分别为97.05％、68.78％、79.70％、94.86％和84.56％.结论 不同等级医院在甲状腺结节术前诊断和手术治疗方式上存在显著差异,应推动基层医院甲状腺结节规范化诊疗,提高甲状腺结节的管理水平.