Haplotype-resolved genomes of octoploid species in Phyllanthaceae family reveal a critical role for polyploidization and hybridization in speciation

The Phyllanthaceae family comprises a diverse range of plants with medicinal, edible, and ornamental value, extensively cultivated worldwide. Polyploid species commonly occur in Phyllanthaceae. Due to the rather complex genomes and evolutionary histories, their speciation process has been still lacking in research. In this study, we generated chromosome-scale haplotype-resolved genomes of two octoploid species (Phyllanthus emblica and Sauropus spatulifolius) in Phyllanthaceae family. Combined with our previously reported one tetraploid (Sauropus androgynus) and one diploid species (Phyllanthus cochinchinensis) from the same family, we explored their speciation history. The three polyploid species were all identified as allopolyploids with subgenome A/B. Each of their two distinct subgenome groups from various species was uncovered to independently share a common diploid ancestor (Ancestor-AA and Ancestor-BB). Via different evolutionary routes, comprising various scenarios of bifurcating divergence, allopolyploidization (hybrid polyploidization), and autopolyploidization, they finally evolved to the current tetraploid S. androgynus, and octoploid S. spatulifolius and P. emblica, respectively. We further discuss the variations in copy number of alleles and the potential impacts within the two octoploids. In addition, we also investigated the fluctuation of metabolites with medical values and identified the key factor in its biosynthesis process in octoploids species. Our study reconstructed the evolutionary history of these Phyllanthaceae species, highlighting the critical roles of polyploidization and hybridization in their speciation processes. The high-quality genomes of the two octoploid species provide valuable genomic resources for further research of evolution and functional genomics.

Evaluation of force pain thresholds to ensure collision safety in worker-robot collaborative operations

With the growing demand for robots in the industrial field, robot-related technologies with various functions have been introduced. One notable development is the implementation of robots that operate in collaboration with human workers to share tasks, without the need of any physical barriers such as safety fences. The realization of such collaborative operations in practice necessitates the assurance of safety if humans and robots collide. Thus, it is important to establish criteria for such collision scenarios to ensure robot safety and prevent injuries. Collision safety must be ensured in both pinching (quasi-static contact) and impact (transient contact) situations. To this end, we measured the force pain thresholds associated with impacts and evaluated the biomechanical limitations. This measurements were obtained through clinical trials involving physical collisions between human subjects and a device designed for generating impacts, and the force pain thresholds associated with transient collisions between humans and robots were analyzed. Specifically, the force pain threshold was measured at two different locations on the bodies of 37 adults aged 19-32 years, using two impactors with different shapes. The force pain threshold was compared with the results of other relevant studies. The results can help identify biomechanical limitations in a precise and reliable manner to ensure the safety of robots in collaborative applications.

The value of T2-weighted MRI contrast ratio combined with DWI in evaluating the pathological grade of solid lung adenocarcinoma

AIM

To assess the predictive value of T2-weighted (T2W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in combination with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for determining the pathological grading of solid lung adenocarcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical and imaging data from 153 cases of solid lung adenocarcinoma (82 men, 71 women, mean age 63.2 years) confirmed at histopathology in The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2017 to May 2022 were analysed retrospectively. Adenocarcinomas were classified into low-grade (G1 and G2) and high-grade (G3) groups following the 2020 pathological grading system proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. The T2-weighted contrast ratio (T2CR), calculated as the T2 signal intensity of the lung mass/nodule divided by the T2 signal intensity of the right rhomboid muscle was utilised. Two experienced radiologists reviewed the MRI images independently, measured the T2CR, and obtained apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare general characteristics (sex, age, maximum diameter), T2CR, and ADC values between the low-grade and high-grade groups. The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test determined differences in T2CR and ADC values among the five adenocarcinoma subtypes. Receiver characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, along with area under the curve (AUC) calculation, assessed the effectiveness of each parameter in distinguishing the pathological grade of lung adenocarcinoma. A Z-test was used to compare the AUC values.

RESULTS

Among the 153 patients with adenocarcinoma, 103 had low-grade adenocarcinoma, and 50 had high-grade adenocarcinoma. The agreement between T2CR and ADC observers was good (0.948 and 0.929, respectively). None of the parameters followed a normal distribution (p<0.05). The ADC value was lower in the high-grade adenocarcinoma group compared to the low-grade adenocarcinoma group (p=0.004), while the T2CR value was higher in the high-grade group (p=0.011). Statistically significant differences were observed in maximum diameter and gender between the two groups (p<0.001 and p=0.005, respectively), while no significant differences were noted in age (p=0.980). Among the five adenocarcinoma subtypes, only the lepidic and micropapillary subtypes displayed statistical differences in ADC values (p=0.047), with the remaining subtypes showing no statistical differences (p>0.05). The AUC values for distinguishing high-grade adenocarcinoma from low-grade adenocarcinoma were 0.645 for ADC and 0.627 for T2CR. Combining T2CR, ADC, sex, and maximum diameter resulted in an AUC of 0.778, sensitivity of 70%, and specificity of 75%. This combination significantly improved diagnostic efficiency compared to T2CR and ADC alone (p=0.008, z = 2.624; p=0.007, z = 2.679).

CONCLUSION

The MRI quantitative parameters are useful for distinguishing the pathological grades of solid lung adenocarcinoma, offering valuable insights for precise lung cancer treatment.

Heat-induced SUMOylation differentially affects bacterial effectors in plant cells

Bacterial pathogens deliver effectors into host cells to suppress immunity. How host cells target these effectors is critical in pathogen-host interactions. SUMOylation, an important type of posttranslational modification in eukaryotic cells, plays a critical role in immunity, but its effect on bacterial effectors remains unclear in plant cells. In this study, using bioinformatic and biochemical approaches, we found that at least 16 effectors from the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 are SUMOylated by the enzyme cascade from Arabidopsis thaliana. Mutation of SUMOylation sites on the effector HopB1 enhances its function in the induction of plant cell death via stability attenuation of a plant receptor kinase BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1)-ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE 1. By contrast, SUMOylation is essential for the function of another effector, HopG1, in the inhibition of mitochondria activity and jasmonic acid signaling. SUMOylation of both HopB1 and HopG1 is increased by heat treatment, and this modification modulates the functions of these 2 effectors in different ways in the regulation of plant survival rates, gene expression, and bacterial infection under high temperatures. Therefore, the current work on the SUMOylation of effectors in plant cells improves our understanding of the function of dynamic protein modifications in plant-pathogen interactions in response to environmental conditions.

S-acylation of a non-secreted peptide controls plant immunity via secreted-peptide signal activation

Small peptides modulate multiple processes in plant cells, but their regulation by post-translational modification remains unclear. ROT4 (ROTUNDIFOLIA4) belongs to a family of Arabidopsis non-secreted small peptides, but knowledge on its molecular function and how it is regulated is limited. Here, we find that ROT4 is S-acylated in plant cells. S-acylation is an important form of protein lipidation, yet so far it has not been reported to regulate small peptides in plants. We show that this modification is essential for the plasma membrane association of ROT4. Overexpression of S-acylated ROT4 results in a dramatic increase in immune gene expression. S-acylation of ROT4 enhances its interaction with BSK5 (BRASSINOSTEROID-SIGNALING KINASE 5) to block the association between BSK5 and PEPR1 (PEP RECEPTOR1), a receptor kinase for secreted plant elicitor peptides (PEPs), thereby activating immune signaling. Phenotype analysis indicates that S-acylation is necessary for ROT4 functions in pathogen resistance, PEP response, and the regulation of development. Collectively, our work reveals an important role for S-acylation in the cross-talk of non-secreted and secreted peptide signaling in plant immunity.

[Expert consensus on the biobank development of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases and storage codes of related biological samples from craniofacial and oral region]

The biological samples of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases are extremely precious. Collecting and preserving these biological samples are helpful to elucidate the mechanisms and improve the level of diagnose and treatment of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases. The standardized construction of biobanks for oral genetic diseases and rare diseases is important for achieving these goals. At present, there is very little information on the construction of these biobanks, and the standards or suggestions for the classification and coding of biological samples from oral and maxillofacial sources, and this is not conducive to the standardization and information construction of biobanks for special oral diseases. This consensus summarizes the background, necessity, principles, and key points of constructing the biobank for oral genetic diseases and rare diseases. On the base of the group standard "Classification and Coding for Human Biomaterial" (GB/T 39768-2021) issued by the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Biological Samples, we suggest 76 new coding numbers for different of biological samples from oral and maxillofacial sources. We hope the consensus may promote the standardization, and smartization on the biobank construction as well as the overall research level of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases in China.

[Measurement and analysis of the crown conical degree of maxillary incisors in patients with congenital tooth agenesis caused by different gene mutations]

Objective: To measure the crown conical degree of the remaining maxillary incisors in patients with congenital tooth agenesis, and to analyze the influence of different gene mutations on the crown conical degree of patients. Methods: Whole exome sequencing was performed on 85 patients with congenital tooth agenesis (50 males, 35 females, median age 19 years old) who visited the Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from January 2019 to January 2023. The pathogenic gene was identified. The width of the crowns of the maxillary central and lateral incisors at the incisal 1/3 and gingival 1/3 were measured on the panoramic radiograph, and the ratio was defined as the crown conical degree. The smaller the ratio is, the more likely is the crown to be peg shaped teeth. The control group was matched by age and gender with 85 other patients with intact maxillary permanent incisors who were treated in the Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from January 2019 to January 2023. The conical degree of the tooth agenesis group was compared with the control group by t-test, and the differences in the crown conical degree in different gene mutation groups were compared using one-way analysis of variance, and the multiple comparisons among gene groups were carried out using the LSD method. Results: Among the 85 tooth agenesis patients, the numbers of patients in each gene mutation group were 20 in ectodysplasin A (EDA) group, 8 in ectodysplasin A receptor (EDAR) group, 15 in wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 10A (WNT10A) group, 16 in paired box 9 (PAX9) group, 10 in Msh homeobox 1 (MSX1) group, 10 in low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein 6 (LRP6) group, and 6 in bone morphogenetic protein4 (BMP4) group. The number of missing teeth were 1-27, median number 15 among the tooth agenesis patients. There was no significant difference in the conical degree between the left and right homonymous teeth in the congenital tooth agenesis group and the control group (P>0.05). The crown conical degree of maxillary central incisor and lateral incisor in the congenital missing teeth group (0.95±0.24, 0.90±0.22) was significantly smaller than that in the control group (1.12±0.09, 1.13±0.09) (t=-8.50, P<0.001; t=-11.47, P<0.001). In WNT10A mutants, the conical degree of lateral incisors (0.89±0.18) was less than that of central incisors (1.07±0.15)(t=3.68, P<0.001). The conical degree of central incisors and lateral incisors (0.70±0.23, 0.57±0.15) of EDA mutants was significantly lower than that in patients with other gene mutations (P>0.05). Conclusions: Compared with the normal control group, the remaining maxillary central and lateral incisors of the seven gene mutation groups of patients with congenital tooth agenesis all had different degrees of conical crown. Among them, the crown conical degree of maxillary central and lateral incisors of the EDA mutation was the most severe, and the WNT10A mutation affected the maxillary lateral incisors more specifically.

[Development and validation of prognostic nomogram for malignant pleural mesothelioma]

Objective: To development the prognostic nomogram for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Methods: Two hundred and ten patients pathologically confirmed as MPM were enrolled in this retrospective study from 2007 to 2020 in the People's Hospital of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, the First and Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, and divided into training (n=112) and test (n=98) sets according to the admission time. The observation factors included demography, symptoms, history, clinical score and stage, blood cell and biochemistry, tumor markers, pathology and treatment. The Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze the prognostic factors of 112 patients in the training set. According to the results of multivariate Cox regression analysis, the prognostic prediction nomogram was established. C-Index and calibration curve were used to evaluate the model's discrimination and consistency in raining and test sets, respectively. Patients were stratified according to the median risk score of nomogram in the training set. Log rank test was performed to compare the survival differences between the high and low risk groups in the two sets. Results: The median overall survival (OS) of 210 MPM patients was 384 days (IQR=472 days), and the 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rates were 75.7%, 52.6%, 19.7%, and 13.0%, respectively. Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that residence (HR=2.127, 95% CI: 1.154-3.920), serum albumin (HR=1.583, 95% CI: 1.017-2.464), clinical stage (stage Ⅳ: HR=3.073, 95% CI: 1.366-6.910) and the chemotherapy (HR=0.476, 95% CI: 0.292-0.777) were independent prognostic factors for MPM patients. The C-index of the nomogram established based on the results of Cox multivariate regression analysis in the training and test sets were 0.662 and 0.613, respectively. Calibration curves for both the training and test sets showed moderate consistency between the predicted and actual survival probabilities of MPM patients at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. The low-risk group had better outcomes than the high-risk group in both training (P=0.001) and test (P=0.003) sets. Conclusion: The survival prediction nomogram established based on routine clinical indicators of MPM patients provides a reliable tool for prognostic prediction and risk stratification.

SUMOylation facilitates the assembly of a Nuclear Factor-Y complex to enhance thermotolerance in Arabidopsis

Heat stress (HS) has serious negative effects on plant development and has become a major threat to agriculture. A rapid transcriptional regulatory cascade has evolved in plants in response to HS. Nuclear Factor-Y (NF-Y) complexes are critical for this mechanism, but how NF-Y complexes are regulated remains unclear. In this study, we identified NF-YC10 (NF-Y subunit C10), a central regulator of the HS response in Arabidopsis thaliana, as a substrate of SUMOylation, an important post-translational modification. Biochemical analysis showed that the SUMO ligase SIZ1 (SAP AND MIZ1 DOMAIN-CONTAINING LIGASE1) interacts with NF-YC10 and enhances its SUMOylation during HS. The SUMOylation of NF-YC10 facilitates its interaction with and the nuclear translocation of NF-YB3, in which the SUMO interaction motif (SIM) is essential for its efficient association with NF-YC10. Further functional analysis indicated that the SUMOylation of NF-YC10 and the SIM of NF-YB3 are critical for HS-responsive gene expression and plant thermotolerance. These findings uncover a role for the SIZ1-mediated SUMOylation of NF-YC10 in NF-Y complex assembly under HS, providing new insights into the role of a post-translational modification in regulating transcription during abiotic stress responses in plants.

The chromosome-scale assembly of the Salvia rosmarinus genome provides insight into carnosic acid biosynthesis

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is considered a sacred plant because of its special fragrance and is commonly used in cooking and traditional medicine. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-level assembly of the S. rosmarinus genome of 1.11 Gb in size; the genome has a scaffold N50 value of 95.5 Mb and contains 40 701 protein-coding genes. In contrast to other diploid Labiataceae, an independent whole-genome duplication event occurred in S. rosmarinus at approximately 15 million years ago. Transcriptomic comparison of two S. rosmarinus cultivars with contrasting carnosic acid (CA) content revealed 842 genes significantly positively associated with CA biosynthesis in S. rosmarinus. Many of these genes have been reported to be involved in CA biosynthesis previously, such as genes involved in the mevalonate/methylerythritol phosphate pathways and CYP71-coding genes. Based on the genomes and these genes, we propose a model of CA biosynthesis in S. rosmarinus. Further, comparative genome analysis of the congeneric species revealed the species-specific evolution of CA biosynthesis genes. The genes encoding diterpene synthase and the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) family of CA synthesis-associated genes form a biosynthetic gene cluster (CPSs-KSLs-CYP76AHs) responsible for the synthesis of leaf and root diterpenoids, which are located on S. rosmarinus chromosomes 1 and 2, respectively. Such clustering is also observed in other sage (Salvia) plants, thus suggesting that genes involved in diterpenoid synthesis are conserved in the Labiataceae family. These findings provide new insights into the synthesis of aromatic terpenoids and their regulation.

[Sero-epidemiological characteristics of the hepatitis D virus infection among hepatitis B virus infected-patients at a single center in Xinjiang region]

Objective: To investigate the sero-epidemiological characteristics of the hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection among hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients in Xinjiang region. Methods: A single-center cross-sectional analysis method was used to select 264 cases of hepatitis B virus infection who were hospitalized in the Center for Infectious Diseases and Liver Diseases of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from August 2021 to January 2022. All patients were tested for HDV Ag, HDV IgM, HDV IgG, and HDV RNA. The infection status of hepatitis D virus was analyzed by grouping according to their clinical type, HBV viral load, and HBsAg level. A paired t-test was used for data with measurement data conforming to normal distribution. A paired rank sum test was used for data that did not conform to normal distribution before and after treatment. Results: A total of 36 cases (13.64%) and 26 cases (9.85%) were positive for HDV serological markers and HDV RNA. According to clinical type grouping, the positive rates of HDV serum markers in patients with chronic hepatitis B, hepatitis B-related cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure were 13.46%, 12.43%, and 20.83%, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference among the three groups (χ²=0.86, P=0.649). The positive rates of HDV RNA were 11.54%, 8.11%, and 20.83%, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference among the three groups (χ²=4.015, P=0.134). According to HBV viral load grouping, the positive rates of HDV serum markers among patients with viral loads <20, 20-2 000, and >2 000 IU/ml were 17.15%, 7.81%, and 6.67%, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant among the three groups (χ²=4.846, P=0.089). The positive rates of HDV RNA were 9.47%, 10.94%, and 10%, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant among the three groups (χ²=0.113, P=0.945). According to HBsAg level grouping, the positive rates of HDV serum markers in HBsAg<0.05, 0.05~250, and >250 IU/ml were 14.29%, 16.67%, and 10.85%, respectively, and there was no statistically significance between the three groups (χ²=1.745, P=0.418). The positive rates of HDV RNA were 4.76%, 8.77%, and 11.63%, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference among the three groups (χ²=1.221, P=0.543). Clinical outcome, disease course, HBV DNA, serological markers of viral hepatitis, routine blood test, biochemical indicators, coagulation function, and other laboratory indicators were compared between HDV serum marker and/or nucleic acid positive and negative patients, and there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusion: The positive rate of HDV serological markers and HDV RNA is 13.64% and 9.85%, respectively, at a single center in the Xinjiang region, and there is still a high HDV infection rate among the HBV-infected patients with low levels of viral load and HBsAg.

A diRNA-protein scaffold module mediates SMC5/6 recruitment in plant DNA repair

In eukaryotes, the STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE OF CHROMOSOME 5/6 (SMC5/6) complex is critical to maintaining chromosomal structures around double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA damage repair. However, the recruitment mechanism of this conserved complex at DSBs remains unclear. In this study, using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model, we found that SMC5/6 localization at DSBs is dependent on the protein scaffold containing INVOLVED IN DE NOVO 2 (IDN2), CELL DIVISION CYCLE 5 (CDC5), and ALTERATION/DEFICIENCY IN ACTIVATION 2B (ADA2b), whose recruitment is further mediated by DNA-damage-induced RNAs (diRNAs) generated from DNA regions around DSBs. The physical interactions of protein components including SMC5-ADA2b, ADA2b-CDC5, and CDC5-IDN2 result in formation of the protein scaffold. Further analysis indicated that the DSB localization of IDN2 requires its RNA-binding activity and ARGONAUTE 2 (AGO2), indicating a role for the AGO2-diRNA complex in this process. Given that most of the components in the scaffold are conserved, the mechanism presented here, which connects SMC5/6 recruitment and small RNAs, will improve our understanding of DNA repair mechanisms in eukaryotes.

ABA INSENSITIVE 5 confers geminivirus resistance via suppression of the viral promoter activity in plants

Geminiviruses are a large group of plant viruses that have been a serious threat to worldwide agriculture. Transcription of the virus-encoded genes is necessary for geminiviruses to complete their life cycle, but the host proteins which directly target geminivirus promoters for suppression of viral gene transcription remain to be identified. Using Beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV) which causes severe plant symptoms as a system, we performed a yeast one-hybrid screening and identified ABA INSENSITIVE 5 (ABI5), a critical transcription factor in Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling transduction, as an interactor with the viral promoter. Further data showed that an ABA-responsive element in the viral promoter is necessary for its interaction with ABI5 and symptom development. Overexpression of ABI5 suppresses the transcription activity of the viral promoter and BSCTV infection in Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis; whilst depletion of ABI5 enhances the infection of BSCTV in Arabidopsis. Taken together, our study uncovered the function of ABI5 in the plant-virus interaction and will provide us with a new strategy to protect crops from geminivirus infection.

MRI-based radiomics analysis in differentiating solid non-small-cell from small-cell lung carcinoma: a pilot study

AIM

To investigate the ability of a T2-weighted (W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics signature to differentiate solid non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) from small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present retrospective study enrolled 152 eligible patients (NSCLC = 125, SCLC = 27). All patients underwent MRI using a 3 T scanner and radiomics features were extracted from T2W MRI. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression model was used to identify the optimal radiomics features for the construction of a radiomics model to differentiate solid NSCLC from SCLC. Threefold cross validation repeated 10 times was used for model training and evaluation. The conventional MRI morphology features of the lesions were also evaluated. The performance of the conventional MRI morphological features, and the radiomics signature model and nomogram model (combining radiomics signature with conventional MRI morphological features) was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

Five optimal features were chosen to build a radiomics signature. There was no significant difference in age, gender, and the largest diameter. The radiomics signature and conventional MRI morphological features (only pleural indentation and lymph node enlargement) were independent predictive factors for differentiating solid NSCLC from SCLC. The area under the ROC curves (AUCs) for MRI morphological features, and the radiomics model, and nomogram model was 0.69, 0.85, and 0.90 (ROC), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The T2W MRI-based radiomics signature is a potential non-invasive approach for distinguishing solid NSCLC from SCLC.

Importation of chloroplast proteins under heat stress is facilitated by their SUMO conjugations

Chloroplasts are hypersensitive to heat stress (HS). SUMOylation, a critical post-translational modification, is conservatively involved in HS responses. However, the functional connection between SUMOylation and chloroplasts under HS remains to be studied. The bioinformatics, biochemistry, and cell biology analyses were used to detect the SUMOylation statuses of Arabidopsis nuclear-encoded chloroplast proteins and the effect of SUMOylation on subcellular localization of these proteins under HS. PSBR, a subunit of photosystem II, was used as an example for a detailed investigation of functional mechanisms. After a global SUMOylation site prediction of nuclear-encoded chloroplast proteins, biochemical data showed that most of the selected candidates are modified by SUMO3 in the cytoplasm. The chloroplast localization of these SUMOylation targets under long-term HS is partially maintained by the SUMO ligase AtSIZ1. The HS-induced SUMOylation on PSBR contributes to the maintenance of its chloroplast localization, which is dependent on its chloroplast importation efficiency correlated to phosphorylation. The complementation analysis provided evidence that SUMOylation is essential for the physiological function of PSBR under HS. Our study illustrated a general regulatory mechanism of SUMOylation in maintaining the chloroplast protein importation during HS and provided hints for further investigation on protein modifications associated with plant organelles under stress conditions.

Clinical outcomes of keratinized mucosa augmentation in jaws reconstructed with fibula or iliac bone flaps

This prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the treatment outcomes of keratinized mucosa augmentation (KMA) on the buccal and palatal/lingual sides of implants in jaws reconstructed after oncological surgery. Forty-two implants in 12 patients whose jaws had been reconstructed with a fibula or iliac bone flap were included. KMA was performed at 3 months after implant placement; this included an apically displaced partial-thickness flap and a free gingival graft (FGG) around the implants to increase the keratinized mucosa width (KMW). Patients were followed up for at least 6 months post-surgery. KMW, shrinkage, and patient pain and discomfort measured on a visual analogue scale were analysed. A histological analysis was performed of tissue epithelium from two patients. The results showed that KMW was >2 mm on both the buccal and palatal/lingual sides during follow-up. Before surgery, histological analysis showed epithelium with no epithelial spikes; normal keratinized epithelial spikes were observed at 8 weeks after KMA. Greater KMW was observed around implants in reconstructed maxillae than around those in reconstructed mandibles (P < 0.001). Patients felt more pain at the donor site than at the recipient site during the first 3 days post-surgery. KMA with FGG was predictable in reconstructed jaws and may help maintain the long-term stability of implants.

LINC00174 triggers the malignant development of breast cancer by negatively regulating miR-1827 level

OBJECTIVE

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are extensively involved in tumor development. In-depth researches on cancer-associated lncRNAs provide a theoretical basis for developing prognostic hallmarks and individualized therapeutic targets in breast cancer (BCa). This study aims to detect expression characteristics of LINC00174 in BCa and its biological role in regulating BCa cell phenotypes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

LINC00174 levels in BCa and adjacent normal tissues were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The influence of LINC00174 on pathological indicators of BCa was analyzed. In MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells with LINC00174 knockdown, proliferative and migratory abilities were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation and transwell assay, respectively. At last, molecular mechanisms of LINC00174 and its downstream gene miR-1827 in regulating BCa development were explored by Luciferase assay and rescue experiments.

RESULTS

LINC00174 was upregulated in BCa tissues than adjacent normal ones. High level of LINC00174 predicted advanced tumor staging, high metastasis rate and poor prognosis in BCa. Knockdown of LINC00174 attenuated proliferative and migratory abilities in BCa cells. MiR-1827 was the target gene binding LINC00174, showing a negative correlation between each other. Silence of miR-1827 abolished the regulatory effects of LINC00174 on proliferative and migratory abilities in BCa cells.

CONCLUSIONS

LINC00174 is upregulated in BCa samples. It is closely linked to tumor staging, metastasis and prognosis in BCa. By negatively regulating miR-1827 level, LINC00174 aggravates the malignant development of BCa.

Machine learning from quantitative coronary computed tomography angiography predicts ischemia and impaired myocardial blood flow

Background

Atherosclerotic plaque characteristics influence the hemodynamic consequences of coronary lesions. This study sought to assess the performance of a machine learning (ML) score integrating coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-based quantitative plaque features for the prediction of ischemia by invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) and impaired myocardial blood flow (MBF) by [15O]H2O positron emission tomography (PET).

Methods

This post-hoc analysis of the PACIFIC (Prospective Comparison of Cardiac PET/CT, SPECT/CT Perfusion Imaging and CT Coronary Angiography With Invasive Coronary Angiography) trial included 208 patients with suspected coronary artery disease who underwent CCTA, [15O]H2O PET, and 3-vessel invasive FFR. Plaque quantification from CCTA was performed using semiautomated software. A boosted ensemble ML algorithm (XGBoost) trained on data from the NXT (Analysis of Coronary Blood Flow using CT Angiography: Next Steps) trial was used to develop a ML score for the prediction of per-vessel ischemia (invasive FFR ≤0.80). The performance of the ML score was evaluated in 551 vessels from the PACIFIC trial for external validation. Thereafter, we assessed the discriminative ability of the ML score for per-vessel impaired hyperemic MBF (≤2.30 mL/min/g).

Results

In total, 138 (25.0%) vessels had ischemia and 195 (35.4%) vessels had impaired hyperemic MBF. CCTA-derived quantitative percent diameter stenosis and low-density noncalcified plaque (LDNCP) volume were higher in ischemic vessels compared with non-ischemic vessels (60.8% vs. 19.9%; and 42.3 mm3 vs. 9.1 mm3; both p&lt;0.001). The ML score demonstrated a significantly higher area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) for predicting ischemia (0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89–0.94) compared with visual stenosis grade (0.84, 95% CI 0.80–0.87; p&lt;0.001). Overall, quantitative percent diameter stenosis and LDNCP volume had greatest feature importance for ML, followed by percent area stenosis, minimum luminal diameter, and contrast density drop (Figure 1). An individualized explanation of ML ischemia prediction is shown in Figure 2. When applied for impaired MBF discrimination, the ML score exhibited an AUC of 0.82 (95% CI 0.78–0.85) and was superior to visual stenosis grade (AUC 0.76, 95% CI 0.72–0.80; p=0.03).

Conclusions

An externally validated ML score integrating CCTA-based quantitative plaque features accurately predicts FFR-defined ischemia and abnormal MBF by PET, outperforming standard visual CCTA interpretation.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, United States Performance of the ML scoreIndividual explanation of ML prediction

[Trajectories of body mass index Z-score and risk of high blood pressure in late adolescence in Suzhou children]

Objective: To identify age and gender standardized body mass index among children and adolescents and explore their associations with high blood pressure (HBP) in late adolescence. Methods: The current study was based on the Health Promotion Program for Children and Adolescents, school-based surveillance successively conducted from 2012 to 2019 in Suzhou, China. A total of 11 812 children and adolescents aged 16-18 years, who had ≥4 examination records during 2012-2018 and were also involved in a surveillance program in 2019, were included. Latent class growth mixture modeling was used to identify the BMI-Z trajectories in different genders, and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between different BMI-Z trajectories and risk of HBP in late adolescence. Results: Six distinct BMI-Z trajectories were determined for both genders:thin, slightly thin,standard, declining, overweight, and obese. Compared with the regular group, the obesity group had 94.0% (OR=1.94, 95%CI: 1.43-2.63) and 107.0% (OR=2.07, 95%CI: 1.33-3.22) increased risk of developing HBP in late adolescence in boys and girls, respectively. However, a neutral association was found between the descending group and HBP in late adolescence. Conclusions: Persistent obesity in children may increase the risk of HBP in their late adolescence. If an obese child restores normal weight before late adolescence, the risk of HBP may reduce.

SUMOylation: A critical transcription modulator in plant cells

Gene transcription is critical for various cellular processes and is precisely controlled at multiple levels, and posttranslational modification (PTM) is a fast and powerful way to regulate transcription factors (TFs). SUMOylation, which conjugates small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) molecules to protein substrates, is a crucial PTM that modulates the activity, stability, subcellular localization, and partner interactions of TFs in plant cells. Here, we summarize the mechanisms of SUMOylation in the regulation of transcription in plant development and stress responses. We also discuss the crosstalk between SUMOylation and other PTMs, as well as the potential functions of SUMOylation in the regulation of transcription-associated complexes on plant chromatin. This summary and perspective will improve understanding of the molecular mechanism of PTMs in plant transcription regulation.

Effect of radiomics from different virtual monochromatic images in dual-energy spectral CT on the WHO/ISUP classification of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

AIM

To investigate the effect of radiomics obtained from different virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) in dual-energy spectral computed tomography (CT) on the World Health Organization/International Association for Urological Pathology (WHO/ISUP) classification of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study of 99 ccRCC patients who underwent contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT was undertaken. ccRCC was confirmed at surgery or biopsy and graded according to the WHO/ISUP pathological grading criteria as low grade (n=68, grade I and II) or high grade (n=31, grade III and IV). Radiomics risk scores (RRSs) for differentiating high and low grades of ccRCC were constructed from 11 sets of VMI in (40-140 keV, 10 keV interval) the cortical phase. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn and the area under the curves (AUCs) was calculated to evaluate the discriminatory power of RRS for each VMI. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to evaluate the goodness-of-fit of each model and the decision curve was used to analyse its net benefit to patients.

RESULTS

The AUC values for distinguishing low-from high-grade ccRCC with RRS of 40-140 keV VMIs were all >0.920. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the p-values of RRS of VMIs were >0.05, suggesting good fits. In the decision curve analysis, RRS from the 40-140 keV VMIs had similar decision curves and provided better net benefits than considering all patients either as high-grade or low-grade.

CONCLUSIONS

The RRS obtained from multiple VMIs in dual-energy spectral CT have high diagnostic efficiencies for distinguishing between low- and high-grade ccRCC with no significant differences between different VMIs.

[Research progress in studies on tooth development based on diphyodont mammals]

For decades, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern tooth development have been extensively investigated. However, most of the studies are based on mice, whose teeth are quite different from human teeth in morphological and developmental aspects. Mice are not the ideal model for understanding the development of permanent teeth as they have only one set of dentition. Thus, using of diphyodont mammals is a better model to study the deciduous and permanent tooth development and to understand the process of tooth replacement. Several diphyodont mammal models have been established including minipig, ferret, house shrew and rabbit. Studies based on the diphyodont mammals have characterized the morphological changes involved in tooth replacement and molecular mechanisms of tooth replacement. However, few developmental stages were studied on ferret due to the presence of seasonal estrus and the difficulty to obtain ferret embryos at the correct stage. The house shrew is limited as a model because their deciduous tooth germs become vestigial in the embryonic period. The main disadvantage of the rabbit is an incomplete dentition with the lack of canines. Compared to the above mentioned animal models, the miniature pig has proven to be a valuable animal model for diphyodont development due to its dentition similarities, including the morphology, number and size of teeth, to human's, and particularly its heterodont dentition consisting of incisors, canines, premolars and molars. The present article reviews the current knowledge on the development of the primary and successional teeth in minipig modle and briefly summarizes the studies based on other diphyodont mammal models.

Natural killer cell-derived exosome-entrapped paclitaxel can enhance its anti-tumor effect

OBJECTIVE

To study the effectiveness of natural killer cell-derived exosome (NK-Exos)-entrapped paclitaxel (PTX-NK-Exos) in enhancing its anti-tumor effect.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The NK-Exos were isolated through ultra-high-speed centrifugation, and the PTX-NK-Exos system was constructed via electroporation. The morphology, particle size, Zeta potential and entrapment rate of PTX-NK-Exos were evaluated using transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Western blotting and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. The uptake of Exos in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells was observed under a laser confocal microscope. Moreover, the effect of PTX-NK-Exos on MCF-7 cell viability was determined through methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, flow cytometry and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. The effects of PTX-NK-Exos on messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein expressions of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and Caspase-3 in MCF-7 cells were detected using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTS

The NK-Exos were successfully isolated via ultra-high-speed centrifugation, and they had uniform particle size and high expression of markers for Exos. MCF-7 cells could take up Exos. The PTX-NK-Exos drug delivery system was successfully prepared using electroporation. In PTX group and NK-Exos group, the proliferation of MCF-7 cells declined, the nuclear apoptosis was evident and the apoptosis rate of MCF-7 cells rose compared with those in Control group. In PTX group and PTX-NK-Exos group, the migration of MCF-7 cells declined compared with that in Control group. According to the results of qRT-PCR and Western blotting, PTX-NK-Exos exerted an anti-tumor effect through inducing the up-regulation of Bax and Caspase-3 in the apoptotic signaling pathway in tumor cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Exos isolated through ultra-high-speed centrifugation can be used to prepare the PTX-NK-Exos drug delivery system through electroporation. Drug-loaded Exos can effectively inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of tumor cells, thereby exerting an anti-tumor effect.

LINC00511 can promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of esophageal cancer cells through regulating microRNA-150-5p

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of LINC00511 in esophageal cancer (ECa), and to explore its underlying mechanism through in vitro cell experiments.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

LINC00511 expression in ECa was analyzed by GEPIA database and verified by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The bioinformatics website was used to analyze the miRNAs that can bind to LINC00511, and the regulatory relationship between them was verified through Luciferase assay, qPCR as well as Western blotting analysis. Then, the impacts of LINC00511 and microRNA-150-5p on the proliferation or invasiveness of ECa cell lines Kyse30 and ECA109 were investigated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) test and transwell experiment, respectively. Meanwhile, cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Analysis results of the GEPIA database revealed that LINC00511 had a significant high expression in ECa tissue samples in comparison with normal control ones, which is consistent with qPCR results. Meanwhile, a significant negative correlation was found between LINC00511 and microRNA-150-5p. In brief, LINC00511 was able to bind to microRNA-150-5p and inhibited its expression. Besides, overexpression of LINC00511 enhanced ECa cell proliferation and migration, accelerated cell cycle, and suppressed cell apoptosis, while transfection with microRNA-150-5p mimics caused the opposite effects.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows for the first time that LINC00511 modulates the progression of ECa by binding to microRNA-150-5p.

Chromatin-associated SUMOylation controls the transcriptional switch between plant development and heat stress responses

The post-translational protein modification known as SUMOylation has conserved roles in the heat stress responses of various species. The functional connection between the global regulation of gene expression and chromatin-associated SUMOylation in plant cells is unknown. Here, we uncovered a genome-wide relationship between chromatin-associated SUMOylation and transcriptional switches in Arabidopsis thaliana grown at room temperature, exposed to heat stress, and exposed to heat stress followed by recovery. The small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-associated chromatin sites, characterized by whole-genome ChIP-seq, were generally associated with active chromatin markers. In response to heat stress, chromatin-associated SUMO signals increased at promoter-transcriptional start site regions and decreased in gene bodies. RNA-seq analysis supported the role of chromatin-associated SUMOylation in transcriptional activation during rapid responses to high temperature. Changes in SUMO signals on chromatin were associated with the upregulation of heat-responsive genes and the downregulation of growth-related genes. Disruption of the SUMO ligase gene SIZ1 abolished SUMO signals on chromatin and attenuated rapid transcriptional responses to heat stress. The SUMO signal peaks were enriched in DNA elements recognized by distinct groups of transcription factors under different temperature conditions. These observations provide evidence that chromatin-associated SUMOylation regulates the transcriptional switch between development and heat stress response in plant cells.

Lrp6 Dynamic Expression in Tooth Development and Mutations in Oligodontia

Genes associated with the WNT pathway play an important role in the etiology of tooth agenesis. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 encoding gene (LRP6) is a recently defined gene that is associated with autosomal dominant inherited tooth agenesis. Here, we aimed to identify novel LRP6 mutations in patients with tooth agenesis and investigate the significance of Lrp6 during tooth development. Using whole-exome sequencing, we identified 4 novel LRP6 heterozygous mutations (c.2292G>A, c.195dup, c.1095dup, and c.1681C>T) in 4 of 77 oligodontia patients. Notably, a patient who carried a nonsense LRP6 mutation (c.2292G>A; p.W764*) presented a hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia phenotype. Preliminary functional studies, including bioinformatics analysis and TOP-/FOP-flash reporter assays, demonstrated that the activation of WNT/β-catenin signaling was compromised as a consequence of LRP6 mutations. RNAscope in situ hybridization revealed dynamic and special changes of Lrp6 expression during murine tooth development from E11.5 to E16.5. It was noteworthy that Lrp6 was specifically expressed in the epithelium at E11.5 to E13.5 but was expressed in both dental epithelium and dental papilla from E14.5 and persisted in both tissues at later stages. Our study broadens the mutation spectrum of human tooth agenesis and is the first to identify a LRP6 mutation in patients with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and reveal the dynamic expression pattern of Lrp6 during tooth development. Information from this study is conducive to understanding the functional significance of Lrp6 on the biological process of tooth development.

The change of serum serotonin levels between acute coronary syndrome and chronic stable angina undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Background

Activated platelets release serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) causing vasoconstriction and aggregation of platelets in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). It can lead to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We investigated the serial changes of serotonin level in patients with ACS and chronic stable angina (CSA) treated with PCI.

Methods

From July 2009 to April 2010, 123 consecutive patients who have undergone PCI for either ACS (n=63) or CSA (n=60) were enrolled. After the loading dose of aspirin 300mg and clopidogrel 600mg before PCI, maintenance once daily dose of 100mg and 75mg have been given from the day after PCI in all patients. Serum serotonin level (SERO) were serially measured at baseline, pre-, post-PCI, 90 min, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours to compare between ACS and CSA groups. All demographic, biochemical variables, and clinical events were also collected for comparison in each group.

Results

SERO at post-PCI (55.2±120.0 vs 20.1±24.0, p=0.03) and peak level (94.0±170.9 vs 38.8±72.3, p=0.02) were significantly higher in ACS group. SERO after 90 min (34.4±66.1 vs 28.7±38.2, p=0.8), 6 hours (23.9±38.3 vs 10.1±10.0, p=0.34), 24 hours (55.8±108.5 vs 37.2±88.2, p=0.39) and 48 hours (43.5±122.9 vs 25.2±65.5, p=0.53) tended to be higher in ACS group than CSA group without statistical significance. SERO rebounded at 24 hours post-PCI and dropped at 48 hours.

Conclusions

SERO was more elevated in patients with ACS than those with CSA undergoing PCI, suggesting the need for more potent and sustained platelet inhibition particularly in ACS patients. SERO might be considered as a substitute marker of platelet activation. Triple antiplatelet therapy including selective serotonin receptor antagonist on top of aspirin and clopidogrel could be as an option for ACS patients undergoing PCI

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Other. Main funding source(s): Hallym University Research Fund 2017 (HURF-2017-84)

MiRNA-93-5p promotes the biological progression of gastric cancer cells via Hippo signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the influence of microRNA-93-5p (miRNA-93-5p) on biological behaviors of gastric cancer (GC) cells and its regulatory effect on Hippo pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SGC-7901 and HGC-27 cells were used for establishing miRNA-93-5p overexpression and downregulation model through transfection of miRNA-93-5p mimics or inhibitor, respectively. Relative levels of genes in Hippo pathway were determined in GC cells transfected with miRNA-93-5p mimics or inhibitor by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Regulatory effects of miRNA-93-5p on proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities of GC cells were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation and transwell assay, respectively.

RESULTS

MiRNA-93-5p was markedly upregulated by transfection of miRNA-93-5p mimics into SGC-7901 cells, which was downregulated by transfection of miRNA-93-5p inhibitor into HGC-27 cells. Overexpression of miRNA-93-5p accelerated GC cells to proliferate, migrate and invade. Meanwhile, miRNA-93-5p overexpression in GC cells upregulated downstream genes in Hippo pathway, including CDX2, FOXM1 and CTGF.

CONCLUSIONS

MiRNA-93-5p enhances proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities of GC cells by activating Hippo pathway, which may serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for GC.

Replacing true unenhanced imaging in renal carcinoma with virtual unenhanced images in dual-energy spectral CT: a feasibility study

AIM

To investigate the clinical value of virtual unenhanced (VNC) spectral computed tomography (CT) images to replace the conventional true unenhanced spectral CT images (TNC) in diagnosing renal carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-six cases of renal carcinoma confirmed by histopathology underwent conventional plain CT and contrast-enhanced spectral CT at arterial phase (AP) and venous phase (VP). VNC images were generated on an AW4.6 workstation. The CT attenuation, image noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and signal-noise-ratio (SNR) of the renal lesions and normal kidneys, long and short axis diameters of the lesion were measured from the three image sets and analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Two radiologists evaluated image quality subjectively using a five-point score, and lesion signature using a three-point score. Image quality scores were compared statistically and tested for consistency.

RESULTS

The two reviewers had good agreement for subjective evaluation (Kappa>0.70) and there was no difference in the quality of the scores among the three image groups. The lesion signature scores were all above the acceptable level. The CNR and SNR values in VNC were significantly higher than in TNC (p<0.05). VNC images had lower renal noise than in TNC (p<0.05). There was no difference in the long and short axis diameters of the lesion among the three image groups. VNC had higher CT attenuation values for the lesion and kidney than TNC (p<0.05), but the differences were <5 HU.

CONCLUSION

VNC images in spectral CT may be used to replace the conventional plain CT to reduce imaging duration and radiation dose in diagnosing renal carcinoma.

LncRNA NEAT1 regulates pulmonary fibrosis through miR-9-5p and TGF-β signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic lung disease with complex pathogenesis and poor prognosis. Studies had demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in the development of fibrosis. We explored the roles of NEAT1 in PF progression in this study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

PF tissues and TGF-β1-induced cells were analyzed for the function of NEAT1 in PF progression. qRT-PCR or Western blot was applied to detect NEAT1, miR‑9-5p or protein expressions. PF mice model assay was used to detect the effects of NEAT1 on PF in vivo. Luciferase reporter assay was applied to confirm target relationship between NEAT1 and miR‑9-5p. Correlation of NEAT1 and miR-9-5p was analyzed by Spearman's method.

RESULTS

We observed that NEAT1 was significantly upregulated while miR-9-5p was downregulated in PF tissues and TGF-β1-induced cells. A negative correlation was exhibited of NEAT1 and miR-9-5p expression in PF tissues. Protein level of p-Smad2 was increased in TGF-β1 induced cells. Furthermore, NEAT1 knockdown increased E-cadherin expression, while decreased N-cadherin, Vimentin, Collagen I, Collagen III and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expressions in TGF-β1-induced cells. Moreover, NEAT1 could directly target miR-9-5p to regulate the PF induced by TGF-β1. The miR-9-5p overexpression inhibited TGF-β1 and p-Smad2 expression, while NEAT1 overexpression attenuated this effect. In addition, NEAT1 inhibition enhanced E-cadherin expression, and reduced TGF-β1, p-Smad2, N-cadherin, Collagen I, Collagen III, α-SMA and Vimentin expression after BLM treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our findings showed that NEAT1 knockdown attenuated PF via the regulatory of miR-9-5p and TGF-β signaling to repress EMT and might provide new therapeutic targets for PF patients.

Efficient radiation releasing in device-level glass ceramics driven by a blue laser

Ce³⁺ doped M₃Al₅O₁₂ (MAG, M=Lu, Y) glass ceramics (GCs) have been proved to be shapeable phosphors for white lighting driven by a 453 nm laser. Quantitative characterization reflects that the net emission powers of 4 wt% LuAG-doped GC and 4 wt% YAG-doped GC are 59.99 mW and 66.22 mW at the pump power of 117.63 mW, and the quantum yields reach up to 71.1% and 78.0%, respectively. Miniaturization of devices can be achieved for LuAG/YAG-GCs by optimizing sample size and phosphor concentration with maintaining fluorescence intensity of the samples. Presupposed color coordinate trace reveals that the high-brightness white fluorescence can be realized when the appropriate intensity ratio is determined between residual laser and sample emission. The tunable white fluorescence and the efficient radiation releasing illustrate that LuAG/YAG-GCs are potential candidates for application in solid-state laser illumination.