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OBJECTIVE The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) vs. radiotherapy (RT, alone or combined with CT) on the prognosis of patients with high-risk, early-stage (stage I and stage II) endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. METHODS This single-center retrospective clinical study was conducted in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology between 2010 and 2019. In the present study, endometrioid endometrial carcinoma patients, who underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by postoperative adjuvant CT or RT (alone or combined with CT), and were diagnosed with stage IA grade 2/3 with lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), and stage IB with two or more uterine risks, including old age, histological grade 2 or 3, LVSI and stage II, were included. According to the postoperative adjuvant therapy, all eligible patients were divided into two groups: CT group and RT (RT±CT) group. The primary objective was to investigate overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between the CT and RT groups. Grade 3 or worse adverse events were also presented in the present study. RESULTS A total of 145 eligible patients were included. Among these patients, 97 patients underwent adjuvant CT and 48 patients underwent adjuvant RT (RT±CT). The median follow-up was 47.2 months, and the five-year OS rate was 92.7% in the CT group and 88.6 % in the RT group [hazard ratio (HR): 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.22-2.99). The 5-year DFS rate for the two groups was 85.7% and 80.2%, respectively (HR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.33-2.05). The cumulative incidence of local-regional disease recurrence at 60 months of follow-up was 6.2% in the CT group and 6.3% in the RT group (HR=1.11; 95%CI: 0.28-4.35). The cumulative incidence of distant recurrence at 60 months of follow-up was 5.2% in the CT group and 10.4% in the RT group (HR=0.65; 95%CI: 0.19-2.24). Both groups of patients were well-tolerant, and the only grade 3 or worse adverse events were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSION There was no difference in efficacy for adjuvant CT or adjuvant RT (RT±CT) in high-risk, early-stage endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. CT exhibited a trend of reducing the distant relapse, although there was no significant difference, when compared with adjuvant RT (RT±CT).

In the burgeoning microbiome field, powerful sequencing approaches and accompanied bioanalytical methods have made tremendous contributions to the discoveries of breakthroughs, which favor to unravel the intimate interplay between gut microbiota and human health. The proper preservation of samples before being processed is essential to guarantee the authenticity and reliability of microbiome studies. Hence, the development of preservation methods is extremely important to hold samples eligible for the consequent analysis, especially population cohort-based investigations or those spanning species or geography, which frequently facing difficulties in suppling freezing conditions. Although there are several commercial products available, the exploration of cost-efficient and ready-to-use preservation methods are still in a large demand. Here, we performed shotgun metagenomic sequencing and demonstrated that microbial consortia in human fecal samples were substantially preserved within a temporary storage of 4 h, independent of the storage temperature. We also verified a previous reported self-made preservation buffer (PB buffer) could not only preserve fecal microbiota at room temperature up to 4 weeks but also enable samples to endure a high temperature condition which mimics temperature variations in summer logistics. Moreover, PB buffer exhibited suitability for human saliva as well. Collectively, PB buffer may be a valuable choice to stabilize samples if neither freezing facilities nor liquid nitrogen is available.

Zircon is probably the most important mineral used in the dating formation of high-pressure (HP) and ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks. The origin of zircon, i.e., magmatic or metamorphic, is commonly assessed by its external morphology, internal structure, mineral inclusions, Th/U ratios and trace element composition. In this study, we present an unusual case of metamorphic zircon from the Qiangtang eclogite, north-central Tibet. The zircon grains contain numerous eclogite-facies mineral inclusions, including omphacite, phengite, garnet and rutile; hence, they are clearly of metamorphic origin. However, they display features similar to common magmatic zircon, including euhedral crystal habit, high Th/U ratios and enriched heavy rare earth elements pattern. We suggest that these zircon grains formed from a different reservoir from that for garnet where no trace elements was present and trace element equilibrium between zircon and garnet was achieved. U–Pb dating of zircon gave an age of 232–237 Ma for the eclogite, and that of rutile yielded a slightly younger age of ca. 217 Ma. These ages are consistent with the reported Lu–Hf mineral isochron and phengite Ar–Ar ages. The zircon U–Pb and mineral Lu–Hf isochron ages are interpreted as the time of the peak eclogite-facies metamorphism, whereas the rutile U–Pb and phengite Ar–Ar ages represent the time of exhumation to the middle crust. Thus, the distinction between metamorphic and magmatic zircons cannot be made using only Th/U ratios and heavy REE compositions for HP–UHP metamorphic rocks of oceanic derivation.

Well-characterized matrix-matched natural mineral references of known age are an important prerequisite for SIMS (secondary ion mass spectrometry) U–Th–Pb dating. We have characterized RW-1, a 44 g yellowish-brown single monazite specimen from a Norwegian pegmatite as an excellent hi-Th reference material for secondary ion mass spectrometric U–Th–Pb dating. A total of 206 secondary ion mass spectrometric analyses over six analytical sessions were performed on different monazite fragments of RW-1. The analyses resulted in 207Pb-based common lead corrected 206Pb/238U ages and Th–Pb ages with overall 2 % (2 SD = standard deviation) variations, indicating the good U–Th–Pb system homogeneity. The homogeneity of Th content of 11.8 ± 1.0 wt% (2 SD) and Th/U of 42 ± 3 (2 SD) make this crystal also a good compositional reference material. We used the combined ID–TIMS(Pb)/ID–MC–ICP–MS(U) technique (i.e. isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry for Pb, and isotope dilution multi-collector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry for U) to determine U–Pb ages of the monazite samples studied. The mean 207Pb/235U age of 904.15 ± 0.26 Ma (95 % confidence level) is recommended as the best estimate crystallization age for RW-1 monazite. Considering that the most commonly distributed U–Pb monazite reference materials have rather low ThO2, we suggest that this RW-1 monazite with its ThO2 of 13.5 wt% is a suitable reference material providing investigators more confidence when dating high-Th monazite unknowns.

Autophagy-induced cancer cell death has become a novel strategy for the development of cancer therapeutic drugs. Numerous studies have indicated that green tea polyphenols induce both autophagy and apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. Here, we synthesized a series of green tea polyphenol analogues, among which JP8 was shown to potently activate autophagy. JP8 treatment had a stronger effect on apoptosis in B16-F10 melanoma cells than that in normal AML-12 hepatocytes. JP8 selectively resulted in reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in B16-F10 cells, and this effect was associated with corresponding increases in key components of the ER stress-mediated apoptosis pathway. Pharmacological inhibition of ROS by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) attenuated JP8-induced autophagy and apoptosis, indicating an upstream role of ROS in JP8-induced autophagy. An in vivo study showed that JP8 had significant antitumor effects in a B16-F10 xenograft mouse model. Our results indicate that JP8 is a novel anticancer candidate with both autophagy and ROS induction activities.

To reveal the molecular mechanisms that led to the red/green color mutation of pear between the cultivar ‘Early red Doyenne du Comice’ and its green variant strain, the full-length cDNA of the seven anthocyanin biosynthesis genes (PAL, CHS, CHI, DFR, F3H, ANS, UFGT) was cloned in both cultivars. The accession number has been submitted to National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) as KC460392, KC460393, KC460394, KC460395, KC460396, KC460397, and KC460398, respectively. However, there was no sequence difference between the color mutants, which means that the skin color change was not caused by mutation of any of these genes. Meanwhile, the expression levels of these seven genes were examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results showed that most of the structural genes were up-regulated in the red-skinned cultivar during fruit development, but the CHI and UFGT genes were highly expressed only at an early stage. The expression levels of the transcription factors MYB10, bHLH, and WD40 were also investigated by qRT-PCR, and the MYB10 gene was found to be expressed at significantly higher levels in the red variety than in the green mutant at the early stage, while the expression levels of bHLH and WD40 were higher at a later stage. These data indicate that the expression difference of structural genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway led to the skin color change of the mutant. However, MYB10, bHLH, and WD40 do not appear to be the key transcription factors that regulate the biosynthesis of anthocyanin and determine the red/green color mutant.

Many species in the families of Rosaceae, Solanaceae, and Scrophulariaceae exhibit gametophytic self-incompatibility, a phenomenon controlled by two polymorphic genes at the S-locus, style-S (S-RNase) and pollen-S (SFB). Sequences of both genes show high levels of diversity, characteristic of genes involved in recognition of self-incompatibility systems in plants. In this study, S 24 -RNase and SFB 24 alleles were cloned from Prunus armeniaca cv. Chuanzhihong (Chinese apricot). Sequence comparisons of deduced amino acid sequences revealed that the P. armeniaca S 24 -haplotype has different SFB alleles, but shares a single S-RNase allele with P. armeniaca S 4 -haplotype. Moreover, P. armeniaca S 24 -RNase haplotype has a single and three different alleles with S 1 -RNase of P. tenella (dwarf almond) and S 1 -RNase of P. mira (smooth pit peach), respectively. The functionalities of SFB 24 and SFB 4 have been evaluated by pollen tube growth and controlled field tests of P. tenella and P. mira. Genetic analysis of the two intercrosses showed that progenies segregated 1:1 into two S-genotype classes, which is consistent with the expected ratio for semi-compatibility. These findings imply that the allelic function of the S 24 -haplotype is identical to that of the S 4 -haplotype in a self-incompatibility reaction. Thus, these two Prunus S-haplotypes are in fact two neutral variants of the same S-haplotype. The evolution of the S-allele is also discussed in terms of both functions and differences between S 24 - and S 4 -haplotypes in Prunus.

Fruit skin color is an important parameter of outer quality and plays an important role in attracting customers. In many plants, it is the result of coordinative regulation of anthocyanin pathway genes. In our study, the differential expression of cDNA library in a pair of pear mutant with red and green color was investigated to find candidate genes which might regulate the anthocyanin biosynthesis and control the coloration of pear. We constructed a cDNA library using the cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism approach to analyze the transcriptional differences between the original cultivar “Early red Doyenne du Comice” with high anthocyanin content in the peel and its green color mutant with comparatively low anthocyanin content. Altogether, 47 transcript-derived fragments, putatively involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, primary metabolism, stress, and defense responses, were identified. The relationships of differentially expressed genes and coloration were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR with fruit skin samples at different developmental stages. A gene putatively involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis was found and named as PyMADS18. Its sequence is similar to genes reported in the literature as regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis. The expression results indicate that PyMADS18 is likely to be involved in anthocyanin accumulation and regulation of anthocyanin synthesis in early fruit development of pear.

This study identified eight S-haplotype-specific F-box genes (SFB alleles) and one S-haplotype-specific F-box-like gene (SFB-like gene) from genomic DNA by PCR combined with cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence markers in Prunus pseudocerasus and Prunus speciosa. The unknown sequences of C-termini were obtained by thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR. The whole nucleotide sequences of these genes were submitted to the EMBL/GenBank database. The SFBs shared typical structural features with SFBs from other Prunus species exhibiting gametophytic self-incompatibility. The deduced amino acid identity ranged from 77.1% to 82.4% among the four PpsSFBs and from 70.4% to 80.2% among the four PspeSFBs. The typical structural features were also detected in the PpsFB, but the sequence polymorphism was lower. The nucleotide identities ranged from 71.3% to 90.3% among the eight introns of the SFBs, the length of these introns varied from 95 to 121 bp and showed few polymorphisms. The distance between these SFBs and the corresponding S-RNases (S-ribonucleases) varied from 33 to 956 bp. Moreover, sequence analysis showed that interspecific amino acid identities in comparison with some other Prunus species were often higher than intraspecific identities, similar to S-RNase alleles. In addition, a similarity comparison found that the deduced amino acid identities among SFB alleles were higher than among S-RNase alleles, and the similarity data showed that the relationships among SFB alleles differed among S-RNase alleles, suggesting that the S-RNase and SFB alleles were separated but correlated during the coevolutionary process.