PurposeThe novel coronavirus COVID-19, has caused a worldwide pandemic, impairing several human organs and systems. Whether COVID-19 affects human thyroid function remains unknown.MethodsEighty-four hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (Hangzhou, China) were retrospectively enrolled in this study, among which 22 cases had complete records of thyroid hormones. In addition, 91 other patients with pneumonia and 807 healthy subjects were included as controls.ResultsWe found that levels of total triiodothyronine (TT3) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were lower in COVID-19 patients than healthy group (p < 0.001). Besides, TSH level in COVID-19 patients was obviously lower than non-COVID-19 patients (p < 0.001). Within the group of COVID-19, 61.9% (52/84) patients presented with thyroid function abnormalities and the proportion of thyroid dysfunction was higher in severe cases than mild/moderate cases (74.6 vs. 23.8%, p < 0.001). Patients with thyroid dysfunction tended to have longer viral nucleic acid cleaning time (14.1 ± 9.4 vs. 10.6 ± 8.3 days, p = 0.088). To note, thyroid dysfunction was also associated with decreased lymphocytes (p < 0.001) and increased CRP (p = 0.002). The correlation between TT3 and TSH level seemed to be positive rather than negative in the early stage, and gradually turned to be negatively related over time.ConclusionThyroid function abnormalities are common in COVID-19 patients, especially in severe cases. This might be partially explained by nonthyroidal illness syndrome.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most widely cultivated perennial forage legumes worldwide. Fall dormancy is an adaptive character related to the biomass production and winter survival in alfalfa. The physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms causing fall dormancy and the related genes have not been well studied. In this study, we sequenced two standard varieties of alfalfa (dormant and non-dormant) at two time points and generated approximately 160 million high quality paired-end sequence reads using sequencing by synthesis (SBS) technology. The de novo transcriptome assembly generated a set of 192,875 transcripts with an average length of 856 bp representing about 165.1 Mb of the alfalfa leaf transcriptome. After assembly, 111,062 (57.6%) transcripts were annotated against the NCBI non-redundant database. A total of 30,165 (15.6%) transcripts were mapped to 323 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. We also identified 41,973 simple sequence repeats, which can be used to generate markers for alfalfa, and 1,541 transcription factors were identified across 1,350 transcripts. Gene expression between dormant and non-dormant alfalfa at different time points were performed, and we identified several differentially expressed genes potentially related to fall dormancy. The Gene Ontology and pathways information were also identified. We sequenced and assembled the leaf transcriptome of alfalfa related to fall dormancy, and also identified some genes of interest involved in the fall dormancy mechanism. Thus, our research focused on studying fall dormancy in alfalfa through transcriptome sequencing. The sequencing and gene expression data generated in this study may be used further to elucidate the complete mechanisms governing fall dormancy in alfalfa.

Background: The novel coronavirus COVID-19, has caused a worldwide pandemic, impairing several human organs and systems. Whether COVID-19 affects human thyroid function remains unknown. Methods: 84 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (Hangzhou, China) were respectively enrolled in this study. In addition, 91 other patients with pneumonia and 807 healthy subjects were included as controls. Findings: We found that the levels of TT3 and TSH were lower in COVID-19 patients than control groups (p<0.001). Within the group of COVID-19 patients, 61.9% patients (52/84) presented with thyroid function abnormalities. We found a larger proportion of patients in severe condition exhibited thyroid dysfunction than mild/moderate cases (74.6% vs. 23.8%, p < 0.001). Patients with thyroid dysfunction tended to have increased interval time for negative conversion of viral nucleic acid (14.1 ± 9.4 vs. 10.6 ± 8.3 days, p = 0.088). To note, thyroid dysfunction was also associated with decreased lymphocytes (p < 0.001) and increased CRP (p = 0.002). In 7 patients with dynamic changes of thyroid function, we observed the levels of TT3 and TSH gradually increased and reached normal range without thyroid hormone replacement at Day 30 post-admission. The correlation between TT3 and TSH level seemed to be positive rather than negative in the early stage, and gradually turned to be negatively related over time. Interpretations: Thyroid function abnormalities are common in COVID-19 patients, especially in severe cases. This might be caused by virus attack and damage to the thyroid-pituitary axis. Therefore, more attention should be paid to thyroid function during treatment of COVID-19, and close follow-up is also needed after discharge.

Significant secretion of citrate from root apex of rice bean (Vigna umbellata) is delayed by several hours under aluminium (Al) stress. However, the molecular basis of regulation of VuMATE1, a gene encoding an Al-activated citrate transporter, remains unclear. In this study, we used suppression subtractive hybridization together with reverse northern blot analysis and qRT-PCR to identify genes with altered transcript levels in the root apex after treatment with low (5 μM) or high (25 μM) concentration of AlCl3 for a short time (4 h). We found that in addition to VuMATE1, 393 genes showed an early response to Al. Among functionally annotated genes, those related to 'metabolism and energy', 'signal transduction and transcription' and 'transport' was predominantly up-regulated, whereas those associated with 'protein translation, processing and degradation' was predominantly down-regulated. Comparative analysis of transcriptional profiles highlighted candidate genes associated with citrate secretion and revealed several new aspects of the molecular processes underlying Al toxicity and tolerance. Based on the data, it is proposed that metabolic changes represent adaptive mechanisms to Al stress, whereas inhibition of both cell elongation and cell division underlies Al-induced root growth inhibition.

Under the “new normal”, China is facing more severe carbon emissions reduction targets. This paper estimates the carbon emission data of various provinces in China from 2008 to 2014, constructs a revised gravity model, and analyzes the network structure and effects of carbon emissions in various provinces by using social network analysis (SNA) and quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) analysis methods. The conclusions show that there are obvious spatial correlations between China’s provinces and regions in terms of carbon emissions: Tianjin, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Guangdong are in the center of the carbon emission network, and play the role of “bridges”. Carbon emissions can be divided into four blocks: “bidirectional spillover block”, “net beneficial block”, “net spillover block” and “broker block”. The differences in the energy consumption, economic level and geographical location of the provinces have a significant impact on the spatial correlation relationship of carbon emissions. Finally, the improvement of the robustness of the overall network structure and the promotion of individual network centrality can significantly reduce the intensity of carbon emissions.

ADIPOQ gene polymorphisms have been indicated to be associated with hypertension; however, published studies have reported inconsistent results. Eligible studies were retrieved by searching the PubMed, Embase and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. The case group consisted of patients with hypertension, and the control group consisted of subjects with normal blood pressure. Based on eleven published articles, involving 4837 cases and 5618 controls, the pooled results from rs2241766 polymorphism showed increased risk in the allelic model (G VS T: OR = 1.16, 95%CI = 1.06–1.27), recessive model (GG VS GT + TT: OR = 1.34, 95%CI = 1.10–1.63), dominant model (GG + GT VS TT: OR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.02–1.30) and homozygote model (GG VS TT: OR = 1.38, 95%CI = 1.21–1.69). In addition, rs266729 polymorphism showed increased risk for hypertension in the recessive model (GG VS GC + CC: OR = 1.43, 95%CI = 1.02–2.01). In the Caucasian subgroup, rs1501299 polymorphism showed decreased risk of hypertension in the allelic model (T VS G: OR = 0.75, 95%CI = 0.58–0.97), dominant model (TT + TG VS GG: OR = 0.83, 95%CI = 0.71–0.98) and heterozygote model (TG VS GG: OR = 0.82, 95%CI = 0.68–0.99). The rs2241766 polymorphism was associated with a significant increase in hypertension risk based on our analysis. Moreover, an increased risk of rs266729 in hypertension patients was also detected. Our meta-analysis suggests that the rs1501299 polymorphism may play a protective role in hypertension in Caucasian subgroup; however, this finding requires further study.

BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of regulatory small RNAs (sRNAs) that regulate gene post-transcriptional expression in plants and animals. High-throughput sequencing technology is capable of identifying small RNAs in plant species. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most widely cultivated perennial forage legumes worldwide, and fall dormancy is an adaptive characteristic related to the biomass production and winter survival in alfalfa. Here, we applied high-throughput sRNA sequencing to identify some miRNAs that were responsive to fall dormancy in standard variety (Maverick and CUF101) of alfalfa.ResultsFour sRNA libraries were generated and sequenced from alfalfa leaves in two typical varieties at distinct seasons. Through integrative analysis, we identified 51 novel miRNA candidates of 206 families. Additionally, we identified 28 miRNAs associated with fall dormancy in standard variety (Maverick and CUF101), including 20 known miRNAs and eight novel miRNAs. Both high-throughput sequencing and RT-qPCR confirmed that eight known miRNA members were up-regulated and six known miRNA members were down-regulated in response to fall dormancy in standard variety (Maverick and CUF101). Among the 51 novel miRNA candidates, five miRNAs were up-regulated and three miRNAs were down-regulated in response to fall dormancy in standard variety (Maverick and CUF101), and five of them were confirmed by Northern blot analysis.ConclusionWe identified 20 known miRNAs and eight new miRNA candidates that were responsive to fall dormancy in standard variety (Maverick and CUF101) by high-throughput sequencing of small RNAs from Medicago sativa. Our data provide a useful resource for investigating miRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms of fall dormancy in alfalfa, and these findings are important for our understanding of the roles played by miRNAs in the response of plants to abiotic stress in general and fall dormancy in alfalfa.

ObjectiveMedullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is classified as either sporadic or inherited. This study was performed to analyze the risk factors for cervical lymph node metastases and predict the indication for prophylactic lateral neck dissection in patients with sporadic MTC.MethodsSixty-five patients with sporadic MTC were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate analysis with the chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were applied to identify the clinicopathological features (sex, age, tumor size, number of tumor foci, capsule or vascular invasion, and others) associated with cervical lymph node metastases.ResultsThe metastasis rates in the central and lateral compartments were 46.2% (30/65) and 40.0% (26/65), respectively. The incidence of cervical lymph node metastases was significantly higher in patients with a tumor size of >1 cm, tumor multifocality, and thyroid capsule invasion. Only thyroid capsule invasion was an independent predictive factor for central compartment metastases and lateral neck metastases. The possibility of central compartment metastases was significantly higher when the preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen concentration was >30 ng/mL (60.0% vs. 34.3%).ConclusionsMTC is associated with a high incidence of cervical lymph node metastases. Prophylactic lateral node dissection is necessary in patients with thyroid capsule invasion or a high serum carcinoembryonic antigen concentration.