SummaryCanker caused by ascomycetous Valsa species are among the most destructive diseases of woody plants worldwide. These pathogens are distinct from other pathogens because they only effectively attack tree bark in the field. To unravel the potential adaptation mechanism of bark colonization, we examined the genomes of Valsa mali and Valsa pyri that preferentially infect apple and pear, respectively.We reported the 44.7 and 35.7 Mb genomes of V. mali and V. pyri, respectively. We also identified the potential genomic determinants of wood colonization by comparing them with related cereal pathogens.Both genomes encode a plethora of pathogenicity-related genes involved in plant cell wall degradation and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. In order to adapt to the nutrient limitation and low pH environment in bark, they seem to employ membrane transporters associated with nitrogen uptake and secrete proteases predominantly with acidic pH optima. Remarkably, both Valsa genomes are especially suited for pectin decomposition, but are limited in lignocellulose and cutin degradation. Besides many similarities, the two genomes show distinct variations in many secondary metabolism gene clusters.Our results show a potential adaptation of Valsa canker pathogens to colonize woody bark. Secondary metabolism gene clusters are probably responsible for this host specificity.

Patients exposed to a surgical safety checklist experience better postoperative outcomes, but this could simply reflect wider quality of care in hospitals where checklist use is routine.

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Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is an emergency disease requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. the incidence of iSSnHL in the Western countries' population was estimated to 5-20 per 100,000 inhabitants. The etiology of ISSNHL remains unknown. Its pathogenesis is most often suggested to be due to a disturbed microcirculation and infection. previous studies have reported that comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and hyperfibrinogenemia are risk factors of ISSNHL. This study aimed at investigating the clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters and comorbidities of patients with iSSnHL. our study suggests that the annual incidence of iSSnHL in China mainland is 19 per 100 000. The clinical characteristics and prevalence of comorbidities of ISSNHL patients are different according to age distribution and hearing results. Moreover, the patients with vertigo, hypertension, DM and high TG suffered more often from severe hearing loss compared with the counterparts. this indicates that the cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (hypertension and hyperlipidemia) appeared to be closely associated with the occurrence and severity of iSSnHL.

This study shows that LRP4-Ab is a pathogenic antibody in MG. LRP4-MG seems to be characterized by mild disease severity and favorable therapeutic effect in contrast with other types of MG. Muscle Nerve 56: 938-942, 2017.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) occasionally develop in patients with tumor in relation to aquaporin-4 IgG (AQP4-IgG), representing a new paraneoplastic phenomenon. We reported three patients with paraneoplastic NMOSD and provided a comprehensive review of the literature. A total of 34 cases with paraneoplastic NMOSD were identified from our own case database (n = 3) and the previous literature (n = 31). The median age at NMOSD-related symptom onset was 50.5 years, and 91% of the cases were female. 11 (32%) cases had breast carcinoma. In 15 (44%) cases, NMOSD-related symptoms preceded tumor detection [median, 4 (range 1-180) months], and in 19 (56%) cases, symptoms followed tumor detection [median, 12 (range 3-180) months]. 5/14 (36%) cases had hiccups and vomiting as the initial symptoms, with the involvement of medulla oblongata. In 10/14 (71%) cases, cervical spinal cord was involved. In contrast to idiopathic NMO, NMOSD is more likely to be paraneoplastic than in patients aged over 50 years at the onset of symptoms, especially for female patients. Breast carcinoma is the most common tumor associated with paraneoplastic NMOSD, accounting for nearly a third of all types of tumors. Paraneoplastic NMOSD usually involves medulla oblongata and cervical spinal cord. We recommend adding AQP4-IgG as an onconeural antibody, but its clinical utility warrants further investigations.

Velvet protein family members are important fungal-specific regulators which are involved in conidial development, secondary metabolism and virulence. To gain a broader insight into the physiological functions of the velvet protein family of Valsa mali, which causes a highly destructive canker disease on apple, we conducted a functional analysis of two velvet protein family members (VmVeA and VmVelB) via a gene replacement strategy. Deletion mutants of VmVeA and VmVelB showed increased melanin production, conidiation and sensitivity to abiotic stresses, but exhibited reduced virulence on detached apple leaves and twigs. Further studies demonstrated that the regulation of conidiation by VmVeA and VmVelB was positively correlated with the melanin synthesis transcription factor VmCmr1. More importantly, transcript levels of pectinase genes were shown to be decreased in deletion mutants compared with those of the wild-type during infection. However, the expression of other cell wall-degrading enzyme genes, including cellulase, hemi-cellulase and ligninase genes, was not affected in the deletion mutants. Furthermore, the determination of pectinase activity and immunogold labelling of pectin demonstrated that the capacity for pectin degradation was attenuated as a result of deletions of VmVeA and VmVelB. Finally, the interaction of VmVeA with VmVelB was identified through co-immunoprecipitation assays. VmVeA and VmVelB play critical roles in conidiation and virulence, probably via the regulation of the melanin synthesis transcription factor VmCmr1 and their effect on pectinase gene expression in V. mali, respectively.

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