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Arecaceae is a species-rich clade of Arecales, while also being regarded as a morphologically diverse angiosperm family with numerous species having significant economic, medicinal, and ornamental value. Although in-depth studies focused on the chloroplast structure of Arecaceae, as well as inferring phylogenetic relationships using gene fragments, have been reported in recent years, a comprehensive analysis of the chloroplast structure of Arecaceae is still needed. Here we perform a comprehensive analysis of the structural features of the chloroplast genome of Arecaceae, compare the variability of gene sequences, infer phylogenetic relationships, estimate species divergence times, and reconstruct ancestral morphological traits. In this study, 74 chloroplast genomes of Arecaceae were obtained, covering five subfamilies. The results show that all chloroplast genomes possess a typical tetrad structure ranging in size between 153,806-160,122 bp, with a total of 130-137 genes, including 76-82 protein-coding genes, 29-32 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. Additionally, the total GC content was between 36.9-37.7%. Analysis of the SC/IR boundary indicated that the IR region underwent expansion or contraction. Phylogenetic relationships indicate that all five subfamilies in Arecaceae are monophyletic and that Ceroxyloideae and Arecoideae are sister groups (BS/PP = 100/1). The results of molecular dating indicate that the age of the crown group of Arecaceae is likely to be 96.60 [84.90-107.60] Ma, while the age of the stem group is 102.40 [93.44-111.17] Ma. Reconstruction of ancestral traits indicate that the ancestral characteristics of the family include monoecious plants, one seed, six stamens, and a smooth pericarp.

Phyllagathi hainanensis (Merr. et Chun) C. Chen is a small shrubs of Melastomataceae. It is only distributed in Hainan provinces of China. The complete chloroplast genome of P. hainanensis is reported in this study. The complete chloroplast genome of P. hainanensis is 156,123 bp in length with a typical quadripartite structure, consisting of a large single-copy region (LSC, 85,497 bp), a single-copy region (SSC, 17,076 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs, 26,775 bp). There are 129 genes annotated, including 37 transfer RNA genes, 8 ribosomal RNA genes, and 84 proteincoding genes. The complete plastome sequence of P. hainanensis will provide a useful resource for phylogenetic studies in Melastomataceae.

Scorpiothyrsus erythrotrichus belongs to Melastomataceae. Here, we present its complete plastome. To our knowledge, this is the first reported complete chloroplast genome of S. erythrotrichus. The complete plastome of S. erythrotrichus is 160,731 bp in length with a typical quadripartite structure, consisting of four regions: large single-copy (LSC) region (85,483 bp), small single-copy (SSC) region (17,007 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (IRs, 26,780 bp). It contains 128 genes (79 coding genes, four rRNAs, and 30 tRNAs). The overall GC content is 36.9% and in the LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 34.70%, 30.40%, and 42.50%, respectively. Our study contributes to the molecular phylogenetic studies of Scorpiothyrsus and Melastomataceae.

The present study was designed to research on RNA interference hepatitis B virus x gene approach to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. Previously, we constructed and identified shRNA eukaryotic expression vectors (pshRNA-X220) specific to HBx gene, pshRNA-MOCK (control); and established HCC cell lines with stable expression shRNA eukaryotic vector targeting HBx gene—21543 cell lines (MHCC97-H of expressing shRNA against HBx), HK3 cell lines (MHCC97-H by transfected with pshRNA-MOCK). We examined the expression of HBx gene after RNA interference by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and assessed the effect of HBx knocked down on cell growth by proliferation assay using kit-8 (CCK8). As well as, we analyzed cell cycle distribution by flowcytometry and examined cell apoptosis using TUNEL assay. The HBx mRNA expression level is reduced, and cells growth was significantly stopped in 21543 cell lines. Cells with HBx knockdown were more sensitive to 5-fluorouracil/cisplatin. RNA interfering HBx induced an obvious time and dose-dependent inhibitory in comparison with the control cells. Meanwhile, RNA interferenced targeting HBx, in combination with chemotherapy can effectively induce apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and restricts cell proliferation.

In a community-based study, the relationship between age and human prostate size was investigated in a population of men between the ages of 40 and 70 years to determine the normal prostate increase curve equation. One thousand male volunteers were randomly recruited from the Shanghai community, and the length, width, height, volume of the transition zone （TZ） and the whole prostates were measured by transrectal ultrasound （TRUS）. Each volunteer was evaluated bythe International Prostate Symptom Score （IPSS）. Among those who completed the examination, the mean prostate parameters were all positively associated with increased age. There were statistically significant differences between each age group （P〈O.05）. The mean transition zone volume （TZV） had a higher increase rate with age than the mean total prostate volume （TPV）, indicating that the enlargement of the TZ contributed the most to the increase in TPV. While all prostate parameters were positively correlated with the IPSS, the strongest correlation was associated with the TZ length （TZL） and TZV. The growth curve equations for prostate width, height and length were also positively associated with increasing

Background Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) is associated with the development of adverse pulmonary and non-pulmonary outcomes in very premature infants. Various modes of non-invasive respiratory support are increasingly being used to decrease the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The aim of this trial is to compare the effect of non-invasive high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (NHFOV) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) as a primary non-invasive ventilation support mode. Methods/design In this multi-center randomized controlled trial, 300 preterm infants born at a gestational age of 26 6/7 to 33 6/7 weeks with a diagnosis of RDS will be randomized to NHFOV or NCPAP as a primary mode of non-invasive respiratory support. The study will be conducted in 18 tertiary neonatal intensive care units in China. The primary outcome is the need for IMV during the first 7 days after enrollment in preterm infants randomized to the two groups. The prespecified secondary outcomes include days of hospitalization, days on non-invasive respiratory support, days on IMV, days on supplemental oxygen, mortality, need for a surfactant, severe retinopathy of prematurity requiring laser treatment or surgery, patent ductus arteriosus needing ligation, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, abdominal distention, air leak syndromes, intraventricular hemorrhage (≥ grade 3), spontaneous intestinal perforation, necrotizing enterocolitis (≥II stage), and nasal trauma. Other secondary outcomes include Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 18–24 months of corrected age. Discussion In recent decades, several observational studies have compared the effects of NHFOV and NCPAP in neonates as a rescue mode or during weaning from IMV. To our knowledge, this will be the first multi-center prospective, randomized controlled trial to evaluate NHFOV as a primary mode in preterm infants with RDS in China or any other part of the world. Our trial may help to establish guidelines for NHFOV in preterm infants with RDS to minimize the need for IMV, and to decrease the significant pulmonary and non-pulmonary morbidities associated with IMV. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03099694 . Registered on 4 April 2017.

In this study, we investigated the essential criteria for late-onset hypogonadism （LOH） syndrome based on the presence of symptoms associated with low testosterone levels in Han Chinese men. Blood tests for total testosterone （TT） and sex hormone-binding globulin （SHBG） were performed, and the aging male symptoms （AMS） questionnaire was conducted in a randomly selected cohort composed of 944 Chinese men aged 40 to 79 years from nine urban communities. Three sexual symptoms （decreased ability/frequency of sexual activity, decreased number of morning erections, and decreased libido） were confirmed to be related to the total and free testosterone levels. The thresholds for TT were approximately 12.55 nmol l^-1 for a decreased ability/frequency to perform sex, 12.55 nmol l^-1 for decreased frequency of morning erections, and 14.35 nmol l^-1 for decreased sexual desire. The calculated free testosterone （CFT） thresholds for these three sexual symptoms were 281.14, 264.90, and 287.21 pmol l^-1, respectively. TT 〈13.21 nmol l^-1 （OR =1.4, 95%Ch 1.0-1.9, P= 0.037） or CFT 〈268.89 pmol l^-1 （OR - 1.5, 95%Ch 1.1-20, P=0.020） was associated with an increase in the aforementioned three sexual symptoms. The prevalence of LOH was 9.1% under the criteria, including all three sexual symptoms with TT levels 〈13.21 nmol l^-1 and CFT levels 〈268.89 pmol l^-1. Our results may improve the diagnostic accuracy of LOH in older men.

The South China mainland and nearby islands are biodiversity hotspots. Section Nintooa, widely distributed across mainland China, Vietnam, and Hainan Island, exhibits a typical disjunct distribution pattern. However, the origins of the flora of Hainan Island and the phylogenetic relationships within Section Nintooa remain contentious. In this study, we collected 81 samples encompassing all recognized species of Section Nintooa, along with samples from other sections of Lonicera. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships using 491 orthologous nuclear genes and complete plastomes generated by target enrichment and genome skimming sequencing. Our nuclear gene-based species and concatenated trees support the monophyly of Section Nintooa. The species tree indicates that the Vietnamese and Hainan populations form sister clades. However, the plastome results indicate that Section Nintooa is polyphyletic, with subsection Volubilis forming a monophyletic group and subsection Calcaratae forming a sister clade with other members of subgenus Chamaecerasus. Our hybridization network analysis reveals extensive gene flow within Section Nintooa, whereas subsection Calcaratae shows no gene flow with subsection Volubilis, leaving the origin of Calcaratae unclear. Lonicera species from Hainan Island exhibit unstable phylogenetic positions and underwent a rapid radiation during the Miocene. Biogeographical results indicate that populations from Vietnam and Hainan both originated from mainland China. Overall, our findings enhance the understanding of the evolutionary diversification history of Lonicera.

The genus Lonicera L. is widely distributed and is well-known for its high species richness and morphological diversity. Previous studies have suggested that many sections of Lonicera are not monophyletic and phylogenetic relationships within the genus are still poorly known. In this study, we sampled 37 accessions of Lonicera, covering four sections of subgenus Chamaecerasus plus six outgroup taxa to recover the main clades of Lonicera based on sequences of nuclear loci generated by target enrichment and cpDNA from genome skimming. We found extensive cytonuclear discordance across the subgenus. Both nuclear and plastid phylogenetic analyses supported subgenus Chamaecerasus sister to subgenus Lonicera. Within subgenus Chamaecerasus, sections Isika and Niatoon were polyphyletic. Based on the nuclear and chloroplast phylogenies we propose to merge Lonicera korolkowii into section Coeloxylosteum and Lonicera caerulea into section Nintooa. In addition, Lonicera is estimated to have originated in the late Miocene (19.84 Ma). The stem age of section Nintooa was estimated to be 17.97 Ma (95% HPD: 13.31- 22.89). The stem age of subgenus Lonicera was estimated to be 16.35 Ma (95% HPD: 9.33- 45.15). Ancestral area reconstruction analyses indicate that Lonicera originated in the Qinghai Tibet Plateau (QTP) and Asia, with subsequent dispersal into other areas. The aridification of the Asian interior possibly promoted the rapid radiation of Lonicera within this region, and the uplift of the QTP appears to have triggered the dispersal and recent rapid diversification of the genus in the QTP and adjacent regions. Overall, this study provides new insights into the taxonomically complex lineages of Lonicera at the section level and the process of speciation.

Abelia (Caprifoliaceae) is a small genus with five species, including one man-made hybrid and several natural hybrids. The genus has a discontinuous distribution in mainland China, Taiwan Island, and the Ryukyu islands, providing a model system to explore mechanisms of species dispersal in the East Asian flora. However, the current phylogenetic relationships within Abelia remain uncertain. In this study, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships within Abelia using nuclear loci generated by target enrichment and plastomes from genome skimming. Divergence time estimation, ancestral area reconstruction, and ecological niche modelling (ENM) were used to examine the diversification history of Abelia. We found extensive cytonuclear discordance across the genus. By integrating lines of evidence from molecular phylogenies, divergence times, and morphology, we propose to merge A. macrotera var. zabelioides into A. uniflora. Network analyses suggested that there have been widespread and multiple hybridization events among Abelia species. These hybridization events may have contributed to the speciation mechanism and resulted in a high observed morphological diversity. The diversification of Abelia began in the early Eocene, followed by A. chinensis var. ionandra colonizing the island of Taiwan in the Middle Miocene. The ENM results suggested an expansion of climatically suitable areas during the Last Glacial Maximum and range contraction during the Last Interglacial. Disjunction between the Himalayan-Hengduan Mountain region (HHM) and the island of Taiwan is most likely the consequence of topographic isolation and postglacial contraction. We used genomic data to reconstruct the phylogeny of Abelia and found a clear pattern of reticulate evolution in the group. In addition, our results support shrinkage of postglacial range and the heterogeneity of the terrain have led to the disjunction of the mainland China-Taiwan island. This study provides important new insights into the speciation process and taxonomy of Abelia.