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Domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) fulfill various roles ranging from food and entertainment to religion and ornamentation. To survey its genetic diversity and trace the history of domestication, we investigated a total of 4938 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragments including 2843 previously published and 2095 de novo units from 2044 domestic chickens and 51 red junglefowl (Gallus gallus). To obtain the highest possible level of molecular resolution, 50 representative samples were further selected for total mtDNA genome sequencing. A fine-gained mtDNA phylogeny was investigated by defining haplogroups A-I and W-Z. Common haplogroups A-G were shared by domestic chickens and red junglefowl. Rare haplogroups H-I and W-Z were specific to domestic chickens and red junglefowl, respectively. We re-evaluated the global mtDNA profiles of chickens. The geographic distribution for each of major haplogroups was examined. Our results revealed new complexities of history in chicken domestication because in the phylogeny lineages from the red junglefowl were mingled with those of the domestic chickens. Several local domestication events in South Asia, Southwest China and Southeast Asia were identified. The assessment of chicken mtDNA data also facilitated our understanding about the Austronesian settlement in the Pacific.

Hsp70 proteins are implicated in resistance to chemotherapy in cancers, the detection of which is important for cancer treatment and prognosis. In this work, we report the study on the detection of specific intracellular target protein in fixed cells using GlcNAc-conjugated CdSeTe QDs. The QDs were coupled with Con A via a carbodiimide reaction and then were further assembled with GlcNAc by lectin-carbohydrate interaction between Con A and GlcNAc. The obtained QDs-Con A-GlcNAc conjugates have an emission wavelength at 650 nm that is close to the near-infrared (NIR) regions and a specific recognition for Hsp70. These results show that the QDs-Con A-GlcNAc probe can be a promising tool for direct localization of the Hsp70 protein.

In recent years, the number of sequences of diverse species submitted to GenBank has grown explosively and not infrequently the data contain errors. This problem is extensively recognized but not for invalid or incorrectly identified species, sample mixed-up, and contamination. DNA barcoding is a powerful tool for identifying and confirming species and one very important application involves forensics. In this study, we use DNA barcoding to detect erroneous sequences in GenBank by evaluating deep intraspecific and shallow interspecific divergences to discover possible taxonomic problems and other sources of error. We use the mitochondrial DNA gene encoding cytochrome b (Cytb) from turtles to test the utility of barcoding for pinpointing potential errors. This gene is widely used in phylogenetic studies of the speciose group. Intraspecific variation is usually less than 2.0% and in most cases it is less than 1.0%. In comparison, most species differ by more than 10.0% in our dataset. Overlapping intra- and interspecific percentages of variation mainly involve problematic identifications of species and outdated taxonomies. Further, we detect identical problems in Cytb from Insectivora and Chiroptera. Upon applying this strategy to 47,524 mammalian CoxI sequences, we resolve a suite of potentially problematic sequences. Our study reveals that erroneous sequences are not rare in GenBank and that the DNA barcoding can serve to confirm sequencing accuracy and discover problems such as misidentified species, inaccurate taxonomies, contamination, and potential errors in sequencing.

Herein we developed a new "smart" Gd-based MR contrast agent (i.e., 1) which is susceptive to furin, a protease overexpressed in tumor. Under the action of furin, 1 condenses to form dimers (1-Ds) and the latter self-assemble into gadolinium nanparticles (Gd-NPs). Relaxivity of 1-D is more than 2 folds of those of 1 and magnevist at 1.5 T, and 1.4 folds of that of 1 at 3 T. Intracellular condensation of 1 in furin-overexpressed MDA-MB-468 cells was proven with direct two-photon laser microscopy (TPLM) fluorescence imaging of the cells incubated with the europium analog of 1 (i.e., 2). Intracellular Gd-NPs of 1 were uncovered and characterized for the first time. MRI of MDA-MB-468 tumors showed that 1 has enhanced MR contrast within the tumors than that of its scrambled control 1-Scr.

The Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) is endemic to the extremely inhospitable high-altitude environment of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, a region that has a low partial pressure of oxygen and high ultraviolet radiation. Here we generate a draft genome of this artiodactyl and use it to detect the potential genetic bases of highland adaptation. Compared with other plain-dwelling mammals, the genome of the Tibetan antelope shows signals of adaptive evolution and gene-family expansion in genes associated with energy metabolism and oxygen transmission. Both the highland American pika, and the Tibetan antelope have signals of positive selection for genes involved in DNA repair and the production of ATPase. Genes associated with hypoxia seem to have experienced convergent evolution. Thus, our study suggests that common genetic mechanisms might have been utilized to enable high-altitude adaptation.

Aim: To investigate human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene amplification and protein expression in Chinese patients with resectable gastric cancer and the association with clinicopathological characteristics and survival., Methods: One hundred and ninety-seven gastric cancer patients who underwent curative surgery procedures were enrolled into this study. HER2 gene amplification and protein expression were examined using fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded gastric cancer samples from all patients. For scoring, Hofmann's HER2 gastric cancer scoring system was adopted. All cases showing IHC3+ or FISH positivity were defined as HER2 positive. Patient clinicopathological data and survival information were collected. Finally, χ² statistical analysis was performed to analyze the HER2 positivity rate amongst the subgroups with different clinicopathological characteristics including; gender, age, tumor location, Lauren classification, differentiation, TNM staging, depth of invasion, lymph node metastases and distant metastasis. The probability of survival for different subgroups with different clinicopathological characteristics was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival curves plotted using log rank inspection., Results: According to Hofmann's HER2 gastric cancer scoring criteria, 31 cases (15.74%) were identified as HER2 gene amplified and 19 cases (9.64%) were scored as strongly positive for HER2 membrane staining (3+), 25 cases (12.69%) were moderately positive (2+) and 153 cases (77.66%) were HER2 negative (0/1+). The concordance rate between IHC and FISH analyses was 88.83% (175/197). Thirty-six cases were defined as positive for HER2 gene amplification and/or protein expression, with 24 of these cases being eligible for Herceptin treatment according to United States recommendations, and 29 of these cases eligible according to EU recommendations. Highly consistent results were detected between IHC3+, IHC0/1 and FISH (73.68% and 95.42%), but low consistency was observed between IHC2+ and FISH (40.00%). The positivity rates in intestinal type and well-differentiated gastric cancer were higher than those in diffuse/mixed type and poorly-differentiated gastric cancer respectively (28.57% vs 13.43%, P = 0.0103; 37.25% vs 11.64%, P < 0.0001), but were not correlated with gender, age, tumor location or TNM stage, depth of invasion, lymph node metastases and distant metastasis. In poorly-differentiated gastric cancer patients, those without lymph node metastasis showed a higher HER2 positivity rate than those with lymph node metastasis (26.47% vs 7.14%, P = 0.0021). This association was not present in those patients with well-differentiated gastric cancer (28.57% vs 43.33%, P = 0.2832). Within our patient cohort, 26 cases were lost to follow-up. The median survival time for the remaining 171 patients was 18 mo. The median survival times of the HER2 positive and negative groups were 17 and 18.5 mo respectively. Overall survival was not significantly different between HER2-positive and negative groups (χ(2) = 0.9157, P = 0.3386), but in patients presenting well-differentiated tumors, the overall survival of the HER2-positive group was significantly worse than that of the HER2-negative group (P = 0.0123). In contrast, patients with poorly differentiated and diffuse/mixed subtype gastric cancers showed no significant differences in overall survival associated with HER2. Furthermore, the median survival time of the HER2 positive group did not show any statistically significant differences when compared to the subgroups of gender, age, tumor location, TNM classification, lymph node metastases and distant metastasis., Conclusion: Patients with intestinal type gastric cancer (GC), well-differentiated GC and poorly-differentiated GC without lymph node metastasis, may all represent suitable candidates for targeted therapy using Herceptin.

Since their divergence from the terrestrial artiodactyls, cetaceans have fully adapted to an aquatic lifestyle, which represents one of the most dramatic transformations in mammalian evolutionary history. Numerous morphological and physiological characters of cetaceans have been acquired in response to this drastic habitat transition, such as thickened blubber, echolocation, and ability to hold their breath for a long period of time. However, knowledge about the molecular basis underlying these adaptations is still limited. The sequence of the genome of Tursiops truncates provides an opportunity for a comparative genomic analyses to examine the molecular adaptation of this species. Here, we constructed 11,838 high-quality orthologous gene alignments culled from the dolphin and four other terrestrial mammalian genomes and screened for positive selection occurring in the dolphin lineage. In total, 368 (3.1%) of the genes were identified as having undergone positive selection by the branch-site model. Functional characterization of these genes showed that they are significantly enriched in the categories of lipid transport and localization, ATPase activity, sense perception of sound, and muscle contraction, areas that are potentially related to cetacean adaptations. In contrast, we did not find a similar pattern in the cow, a closely related species. We resequenced some of the positively selected sites (PSSs), within the positively selected genes, and showed that most of our identified PSSs (50/52) could be replicated. The results from this study should have important implications for our understanding of cetacean evolution and their adaptations to the aquatic environment.

Mitochondria are old organelles found in most eukaryotic cells. Due to its rapid mutation ratio, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been widely used as a DNA marker in molecular studies and has long been suggested to undergo neutral evolution or purifying selection. Mitochondria produces 95% of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) needed for locomotion, and heat for thermoregulation. Recent studies had found that mitochondria play critical roles in energy metabolism, and proved that functional constraints acting on mitochondria, due to energy metabolism and/or thermoregulation, influence the evolution of mtDNA. This review summarizes mitochondrial genome composition, evolution, and its applications in molecular evolution studies (reconstruction of species phylogenesis, the relationship between biological energy metabolism and mtDNA evolution, and the mtDNA codon reassignment influences the adaptation in different creatures).

An effective catalytic system that imparts high enantioselectivity has been disclosed for the synthesis of optically active alcohols, which may undergo further chemical transformations. The enantioselective alkylation of aldehydes with dialkylzincs to afford the corresponding optically active alcohols with excellent enantioselectvities has been achieved in the presence of 0.1-0.5 mol % of the camphor-derived chiral ligand (-)-2-exo-morpholinoisobornane-10-thiol (MITH) (1) at room temperature or at 0 °C., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Effects of highly hygroscopic sorbitol, citric acid, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose or polyvinylpolypyrrolidone, on the hydrolysis of simvastatin in tablets at 25°/90% RH were studied. The simvastatin tablets were prepared by direct powder compression. Simvastatin and its hydrolyte, simvastatin acid, were quantitatively analysed by high performance liquid chromotography. The hygroscopicity, water swelling ratio, water solubility and pH of the four hygroscopic excipients were investigated. During the investigation period, the weight gain of sorbitol or citric acid increased faster than that of polyvinylpolypyrrolidone or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose at 25°/90% RH, accordingly, the moisture sorption of the tablets containing citric acid or sorbitol (T-3 or T-6) were more than that of the tablets containing sodium carboxymethyl cellulose or polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (T-4 or T-5). The increase of simvastatin acid content with time at 25°/90% RH for the tablets was in the following order: T-6 < T-4 < T-3 < T-5. The effects of the four excipients on the hydrolysis of simvastatin in tablet were related to not only their hygroscopicity but also their other properties, such as moisture retention capacity and pH. Sorbitol as hygroscopic excipient in tablet can most effectively prevent the hydrolysis of simvastatin in tablet.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) and the Morris water maze (MWM) have played an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. The aim of this study was to determine whether (1)H-MRS and the MWM can detect for early AD in APP/PS1 transgenic (tg) mice. (1)H-MRS was performed in 20 tg mice and 15 wild-type mice at 3, 5 and 8 months of age. The concentration of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), glutamate (Glu), myo-inositol (mI), choline (Cho) and creatine (Cr) in the hippocampus were measured, and the NAA/Cr, Glu/Cr, mI/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios were quantified. Additionally, the spatial learning and memory of the mice were evaluated by MWM. The (1)H-MRS revealed that mI levels in tg mice were significantly higher at 3 months of age compared to wt mice, while the NAA and Glu levels in 5- and 8-month-old tg mice were significantly decreased (p<0.05). Additionally, significant cognitive changes only occurred at 8 months of age in APP/PS1 tg mice. These results indicated that metabolic changes preceded overt cognitive dysfunctions in early-stage AD, suggesting that (1)H-MRS is a more sensitive biomarker for assessing early AD., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rapid determination of biomass feedstock properties is of value for the production of biomass densification briquetting fuel with high quality. In the present study, visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy was employed to build prediction models of componential contents, i. e. moisture, ash, volatile matter and fixed-carbon, and calorific value of three selected species of agricultural biomass feedstock, i. e. pine wood, cedar wood, and cotton stalk. The partial least squares (PLS) cross validation results showed that compared with original reflection spectra, PLS regression models developed for first derivative spectra produced higher prediction accuracy with coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.97, 0.94 and 0.90, and residual prediction deviation (RPD) of 6.57, 4.00 and 3.01 for ash, volatile matter and moisture, respectively. Good prediction accuracy was achieved with R2 of 0.85 and RPD of 2.55 for fixed carbon, and R2 of 0.87 and RPD of 2.73 for calorific value. It is concluded that the Vis-NIR spectroscopy is promising as an alternative of traditional proximate analysis for rapid determination of componential contents and calorific value of agricultural biomass feedstock

Drug-loaded biodegradable films as a principal part of film-based stent were investigated for controlled drug delivery systems. In this study, solid dispersion technique, a pretreatment method of paclitaxel (PTX), was applied to prepare the PTX-loaded poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) films. Drug dissolution rates and characteristics of the poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)/PTX solid dispersions (SDs) and physical mixtures (PMs) were investigated to show that the PVP/PTX SDs were successfully prepared before being incorporated in biodegradable films. Afterwards, the effect of the application of SDs on improving drug release behavior, weightlessness, crystalline states, and surface and internal morphologies of the films were studied. It was found that, the films with SDs showed a higher drug release rate than the films with PMs or pure PTX. In addition, the content of PVP in the SDs also had impact on drug release behavior: the more PVP in SDs, the faster the drug was released. According to the drug release test and weightlessness study, the possible drug release mechanism was put forward for the films with SDs. The application of solid dispersion technique showed a remarkable effect on improving drug release behavior for film-based biodegradable stent drug delivery systems., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) from HLA-matched sibling donor (MSD allo-HSCT) for severe aplastic anemia (SAA)., Methods: The clinical data of 41 SAA patients received MSD allo-HSCT from May. 2003 to Aug. 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. 24 patients were male, 17 were female. Median age was 23 (5 - 43) years old. 28 patients had SAA-I, 9 had SAA-II, and 4 had post-hepatitis aplastic anemia. 17 patients received allogeneic bone marrow (BM) transplantation (allo-BMT), and 24 received allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation (allo-PBSCT). The conditioning regimens: 20 patients received cyclophosphamide (CY) + anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) + fludarabine (Flu), 21 received CY + ATG + Flu+ cytarabine (Ara-C) ± busulfan (Bu)/melphalan (Mel). Prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD): 25 patients received cyclosporine (CSA) plus short-term methotrexate (MTX), 16 received tacrolimus (FK506) plus short-term MTX. The median number of infused CD34(+) cells were 3.48 (2.39 - 4.80)×10(6)/kg in allo-BMT and 2.95 (1.27 - 5.98)×10(6)/kg in allo-PBSCT, respectively., Results: Hematopoietic reconstitution was observed in all 41 patients (100%). The median time of neutrophils (ANC) reached to 0.5×10(9)/L and platelets (PLT) reached to 20×10(9)/L were 14 (10 - 23) days and 19 (8 - 38) days, respectively. 12 patients developed acute GVHD (aGVHD), out of which 11 developed grade I-II aGVHD, and one developed grade IV. 2 patients occurred chronic GVHD (cGVHD), out of which one with local cGVHD and the other with extensive. 4 patients occurred graft rejection (GR), all of them recovered haemopoiesis and survived after donor PBSC infusion. 5 patients (12.2%) died, out of which one died of extensive cGVHD, and 4 died of invasive fungal infections (IFI). Median follow-up time was 23 (3 - 79) months. 36 patients survived. 5-year estimated overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), and transplant-related mortality (TRM) was (81.1 ± 9.0)%, (68.4 ± 11.0)%, and (18.9 ± 9.0)%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that lover OS had significant correlation with receiving PBSCT, occurrence of aGVHD, the number of infused CD34(+) cells no more than 2.5×10(6)/kg, the number of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion before transplant more than 30 U and occurrence of IFI after transplantation (P = 0.034, 0.001, 0.006, 0.000, 0.001, respectively). Occurrence of aGVHD had significant correlation with the disparity between donor and recipient ABO blood groups, the number of PLT transfusion more than 100 U, and the number of RBC transfusion more than 30 U before transplantation, the number of infused CD34(+) cells no more than 2.5× 10(6)/kg (P = 0.019, 0.038, 0.005, 0.005, respectively). The occurrence of GR had significant correlation with the number of PLT transfusion more than 100 U before transplantation (P = 0.038)., Conclusion: MSD allo-HSCT is an effective therapy for patients with SAA. Lower number of blood transfusion before transplantation, use of BMT, more number of infused CD34(+) cells can effectively prevent and treat aGVHD and IFI after transplantation, which may improve the efficacy of MSD allo-HSCT for SAA.

Objective: To assess the neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 against β-amyloid peptide (Aβ(25-35))-induced apoptosis in primarily cultured rat cortical neurons., Methods: Primarily cultured cortical neurons were obtained from embryonic (E18d) rat fetus and maintained in neurobasal medium for 7d. Primary neurons pretreated with 1 μmol/L, 10 μmol/L or 20 μmol/L Rg1 for 24 h were challenged with 10 μmol/L Aβ(25-35) for 72 h. Morphological changes of neurons were evaluated; mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was measured; with JC-1 staining and the expression of neural apoptosis-related proteins was detected by Western blot analysis., Results: Exposure to Aβ(25-35) for 72 h caused serious neural cell insults. A pretreatment with Rg1 significantly reduced Aβ(25-35)induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner, with a maximal effect (-90%) obtained at 20 μmol/L. The JC-1 staining results demonstrated the loss of ΔΨm after Aβ(25-35) treatment, while Rg1 maintained the normal level of ΔΨm. A series of mitochondrion-mediated apoptotic events happened after Aβ(25-35) treatment, such as decrease of Bcl-2/Bax, release of cytochrome C and activation of caspase 9 and caspase 3, which were all blocked by Rg1 pretreatment. Both estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI182, 780 and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist RU486 blocked the antiapoptotic effects of Rg1., Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg1 protects primary cultured rat cortical neurons from Aβ(25-35)-induced injury, which may be associated with mitochondrion-mediated antiapoptosis pathway.

The ability of bats and toothed whales to echolocate is a remarkable case of convergent evolution. Previous genetic studies have documented parallel evolution of nucleotide sequences in Prestin and KCNQ4, both of which are associated with voltage motility during the cochlear amplification of signals. Echolocation involves complex mechanisms. The most important factors include cochlear amplification, nerve transmission, and signal re-coding. Herein, we screen three genes that play different roles in this auditory system. Cadherin 23 (Cdh23) and its ligand, protocadherin 15 (Pcdh15), are essential for bundling motility in the sensory hair. Otoferlin (Otof) responds to nerve signal transmission in the auditory inner hair cell. Signals of parallel evolution occur in all three genes in the three groups of echolocators--two groups of bats (Yangochiroptera and Rhinolophoidea) plus the dolphin. Significant signals of positive selection also occur in Cdh23 in the Rhinolophoidea and dolphin, and Pcdh15 in Yangochiroptera. In addition, adult echolocating bats have higher levels of Otof expression in the auditory cortex than do their embryos and non-echolocation bats. Cdh23 and Pcdh15 encode the upper and lower parts of tip-links, and both genes show signals of convergent evolution and positive selection in echolocators, implying that they may co-evolve to optimize cochlear amplification. Convergent evolution and expression patterns of Otof suggest the potential role of nerve and brain in echolocation. Our synthesis of gene sequence and gene expression analyses reveals that positive selection, parallel evolution, and perhaps co-evolution and gene expression affect multiple hearing genes that play different roles in audition, including voltage and bundle motility in cochlear amplification, nerve transmission, and brain function., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The bi/tri-layered poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL)-based films co-loaded with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and paclitaxel (PTX) are presented for biodegradable film-based stent application. A gradient elution HPLC analytical method was used for simultaneous quantification of 5-FU and PTX. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to observe the microscopic architecture and morphologies, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed for analyzing the physical state of the components in the single layer film. Horizontal cells diffusion test results indicated that the multi-layered structure endowed the film with drug release in unidirectional pattern. The in vitro release results showed that drug release was dependent on the drug loading, the ratio of 5-FU/PTX, the composition of surface layer, as well as the addition of hydrophilic PEG. The cytotoxicity results indicated that the PCL-based films co-loaded with 5-FU and PTX could effectively inhibit the proliferation of Eca-109 cells. The in vivo drug release results showed that the in vivo drug release was highly correlative with the in vitro drug releases. This study provided PCL-based films co-loaded with 5-FU and PTX with great potential for anti-tumor stent application, due to their unidirectional and rate-tunable drug release characteristics and dual drug loading capacity., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A novel magnetically recoverable organic hydride compound was successfully constructed by using silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles as a support. An as-prepared magnetic organic hydride compound, BNAH (1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide), showed efficient activity in the catalytic reduction of α,β-epoxy ketones. After reaction, the magnetic nanoparticle-supported BNAH can be separated by simple magnetic separation which made the separation of the product easier., (© 2012 American Chemical Society)

Objective: To explore how NF-κB family members regulate maspin expression in prostate cancer cells., Methods: The expression of NF-κB subunits and maspin was detected by Western blot analysis in prostate cancer DU145, PC-3, and LNCaP cell lines. RNA interference was performed to analyze whether RelB- or RelA-deletion affectes cell death as well as the expression of NF-κB subunits and maspin. The impact of RelB-silencing in DU145 cells was investigated by flow cytometry. The regulation of RelB on maspin expression in the prostate cancer PC-3 cells was also examined via stable transfection of RelB expression plasmid., Results: RelA, p50, RelB, and p52 were constitutively expressed in androgen-independent prostate cancer DU145 and PC-3 cells, while RelB had the highest expression in DU145 cells. Low expression of maspin was detected in LNCaP and DU145 cells, but elevated expression in PC-3 cells. RelB-silencing in DU145 cells by siRNA interference upregulated the endogenous expression of maspin and induced cell apoptosis (13.3±4.2)%. Overexpression of RelB in PC-3 cells inhibited the endogenous expression of maspin. RelA-silecing had no significant influence on the endogenous expression of maspin., Conclusions: The classical and alternative NF-κB activitions are sustained in androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines. The expressions of RelB and maspin are inversely correlated in these cancer cells. The expression of RelB negatively regulates the endogenous expression of maspin, then interferes the cell survival. RelA is not involved in the regulation of maspin expression.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery for treating gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GIST)., Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 46 patients with gastric GIST undergoing laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery between June 2009 and June 2011 at the Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine., Results: There were 27 males and 19 females with the mean age of 58.5 years. Thirty-three patients received endoscopy-assisted wedge resection, and 13 cases received laparoscopy-assisted endoscopic resection. All the operations were successful. The mean operative time was (85.5±29.3) min, the mean blood loss was (31.4±12.2) ml, the mean post-operative gastrointestinal functional recovery time was (31.6±14.9) h, and the mean post-operative hospital stay was (5.1±2.9) d. No post-operative complication occurred. NIH risk assessment showed that 34 cases were very low risk and 12 low risk. No recurrence or metastasis was found during the follow-up ranging from 2 to 26 months(median, 12.6 months)., Conclusion: Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery for gastric GIST is both feasible and safe with minimal invasiveness, fast recovery and satisfactory short-term outcomes.

During a study of the diversity and phylogeny of rhizobia in the root nodules of Kummerowia striata grown in north-western China, four strains were classified in the genus Rhizobium on the basis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of three of these strains were identical and that of the other strain, which was the only one isolated in Yangling, differed from the others by just 1 bp. The16S rRNA gene sequences of the four strains showed a mean similarity of 99.3 % with the most closely related, recognized species, Rhizobium vitis. The corresponding recA and glnA gene sequences showed similarities with established species of Rhizobium of less than 86.5 % and less than 89.6 %, respectively. These low similarities indicated that the four strains represented a novel species of the genus Rhizobium. The strains were also found to be distinguishable from the closest related, established species (R. vitis) by rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting, analysis of cellular fatty acid profiles and from the results of a series of phenotypic tests. The level of DNA-DNA relatedness between the representative strain CCNWSX 0483(T) and Rhizobium vitis IAM 14140(T) was only 40.13 %. Therefore, a novel species, Rhizobium taibaishanense sp. nov., is proposed, with strain CCNWSX 0483(T) ( = ACCC 14971(T) = HAMBI 3214(T)) as the type strain. In nodulation and pathogenicity tests, none of the four strains of Rhizobium taibaishanense sp. nov. was able to induce any nodule or tumour formation on plants. As no amplicons were detected when DNA from the strains was run in PCR with primers for the detection of nodA, nifH and virC gene sequences, the strains probably do not carry sym or vir genes.

The light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding proteins (LHCB) are perhaps the most abundant membrane proteins in nature. It is reported here that the down-regulation or disruption of any member of the LHCB family, LHCB1, LHCB2, LHCB3, LHCB4, LHCB5, or LHCB6, reduces responsiveness of stomatal movement to ABA, and therefore results in a decrease in plant tolerance to drought stress in Arabidopsis thaliana. By contrast, over-expression of a LHCB member, LHCB6, enhances stomatal sensitivity to ABA. In addition, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis and a set of ABA-responsive genes are altered in the lhcb mutants. These data demonstrate that LHCBs play a positive role in guard cell signalling in response to ABA and suggest that they may be involved in ABA signalling partly by modulating ROS homeostasis.

Background: Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is a ubiquitous saprophytic fungus responsible for the majority of invasive mold infections in patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplantation or with persistent neutropenia. This study aimed to determine the role of E-cadherin for adhesion and endocytosis of A. fumigatus blastospores in the human epithelial cell line A549., Methods: A. fumigatus blastospores were incubated with the total protein of A549 to investigate the binding of E-cadherin and blastospores followed by an affinity purification procedure. After establishing the adhesion model, the adhesion and endocytosis of A. fumigatus blastospores by A549 cells were evaluated by down-regulating E-cadherin of A549 cells using blocking antibody or small interfering RNA (siRNA)., Results: E-cadherin was adhered to the surface of A. fumigatus blastospore. Adhesion and endocytosis of the blastospores were reduced by blocking or down-regulating E-cadherin in A549 cells., Conclusions: E-cadherin is a receptor for adhesion and endocytosis of A. fumigatus blastospores in epithelial cells. This may open a new approach to treat this fungal infection.

Coxsackievirus B(3)(CVB(3)) infection is the major cause of viral myocarditis, as well as dilated cardiomypathy. Rhubarb is one of the oldest and best-known traditional Chinese medicines. We initiated this study to determine the antiviral effect of an ethanol extract from the roots and rhizoma of Rheum palmatum (R. palmatum, one of the Chinese Rhubarbs), against CVB(3) in tissue culture cells and in a mouse model. The ethanol extract from R. palmatum showed significant inhibitory activity against CVB(3) on HEp-2 cells when added after infection, with IC(50) of 4 μg/ml, TI of 10. The medicated mouse serum still contained the pharmaceutical compound 24 h after intraperitoneal injection, and exhibited an antiviral effect on CVB(3)-infected cells, especially in the 0.3 and 0.5 g/kg/day treatment groups. Furthermore, the CVB(3)-infected mice were treated with the extract solution with dosages of 0.3 g/kg/day beginning 24 h post-CVB(3) exposures. The ethanol extract treated mice showed alleviated clinical signs, better survival rate, prolonged MTD and decreased viral titers compared to the virus control group. Our results indicate that the ethanol extract from R. palmatum has the anti-CVB(3) activity in vitro and in vivo and thus provides a re-evaluation of this old remedy with a broad therapeutic potential.

The molecular basis of the evolution of phenotypic characters is very complex and is poorly understood with few examples documenting the roles of multiple genes. Considering that a single gene cannot fully explain the convergence of phenotypic characters, we choose to study the convergent evolution of rod vision in two divergent bats from a network perspective. The Old World fruit bats (Pteropodidae) are non-echolocating and have binocular vision, whereas the sheath-tailed bats (Emballonuridae) are echolocating and have monocular vision; however, they both have relatively large eyes and rely more on rod vision to find food and navigate in the night. We found that the genes CRX, which plays an essential role in the differentiation of photoreceptor cells, SAG, which is involved in the desensitization of the photoactivated transduction cascade, and the photoreceptor gene RH, which is directly responsible for the perception of dim light, have undergone parallel sequence evolution in two divergent lineages of bats with larger eyes (Pteropodidae and Emballonuroidea). The multiple convergent events in the network of genes essential for rod vision is a rare phenomenon that illustrates the importance of investigating pathways and networks in the evolution of the molecular basis of phenotypic convergence.

For most mammals, running is their major locomotive style, however, cetaceans and bats are two mammalian groups that have independently developed new locomotive styles (swimming and flying) from their terrestrial ancestors. In this study, we used a genome-wide comparative analysis in an attempt to identify the selective imprint of the development of new locomotive styles by cetaceans and bats to adapt to their new ecological niches. We found that an elevated proportion of mitochondrion-associated genes show evidence of adaptive evolution in cetaceans and on the common ancestral lineage leading to bats, compared to other terrestrial mammals. This result is consistent with the fact that during the independent developments of swimming and flying in these two groups, the changes of energy metabolism ratios would be among the most important factors to overcome elevated energy demands. Furthermore, genes that show evidence of sequence convergence or parallel evolution in these two lineages were overrepresented in the categories of energy metabolism, muscle contraction, heart, and glucose metabolism, genes that perform functions which are essential for locomotion. In conclusion, our analyses showed that on the dolphin and bat lineages, genes associated with locomotion not only both show a greater propensity to adaptively evolve, but also show evidence of sequence convergence, which likely reflects a response to a common requirement during their development of these two drastic locomotive styles.

A novel Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima Bl.) mutant with extreme short catkins, here was named sck1 and has been characterized in the present study. This sck1 caused 6-fold shorter than wild-type catkins. Endogenous gibberellic acids markedly decreased in the mutant, and application of exogenous GA(3) could partially restore the sck1 phenotype to the wild-type phenotype. Paclobutrazol (PP(333)), an antagonist of GAs biosynthesis, could significantly inhibit the wild-type catkins growth, and lead to a short catkins phenotype similar to the sck1. In addition, compared to the wild-type catkins, the mRNA expression level of ent-kaurenoic acid oxidase (KAO), a gibberellin biosynthesis key gene, was significantly down-regulated (P<0.01) in the sck1. Importantly, transient over-expression of a normal CmKAO gene in short catkins also could partially restore the wild-type phenotype. Real-time PCR and semi-quantitative analysis showed that the mRNA expression level of KAO was significantly up-regulated. In addition, transient RNA interference of CmKAO in wild-type catkins led the mRNA expression level of KAO decrease significantly and inhibited the wild-type catkins elongation strongly. Taken together, our results suggest that the lower gibberellic acids content that is due to decreased CmKAO expression level may contribute to the generation of the extreme short male catkins, sck1.

A high-throughput (HT) paradigm generating LC-MS-UV-ELSD-based natural product libraries to discover compounds with new bioactivities and or molecular structures is presented. To validate this methodology, an extract of the Indo-Pacific marine sponge Cacospongia mycofijiensis was evaluated using assays involving cytoskeletal profiling, tumor cell lines, and parasites. Twelve known compounds were identified including latrunculins (1-4, 10), fijianolides (5, 8, 9), mycothiazole (11), aignopsanes (6, 7), and sacrotride A (13). Compounds 1-5 and 8-11 exhibited bioactivity not previously reported against the parasite T. brucei, while 11 showed selectivity for lymphoma (U937) tumor cell lines. Four new compounds were also discovered including aignopsanoic acid B (13), apo-latrunculin T (14), 20-methoxy-fijianolide A (15), and aignopsane ketal (16). Compounds 13 and 16 represent important derivatives of the aignopsane class, 14 exhibited inhibition of T. brucei without disrupting microfilament assembly, and 15 demonstrated modest microtubule-stabilizing effects. The use of removable well plate libraries to avoid false positives from extracts enriched with only one or two major metabolites is also discussed. Overall, these results highlight the advantages of applying modern methods in natural products-based research to accelerate the HT discovery of therapeutic leads and/or new molecular structures using LC-MS-UV-ELSD-based libraries.

Purpose: This study investigated the anti-tumour effects of the novel vascular disrupting agent plinabulin (NPI-2358) when given alone or combined with radiation., Materials and Methods: Foot implanted C3H mammary carcinomas or leg implanted KHT sarcomas were used, with plinabulin injected intraperitoneally. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) measurements were made with gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) on a 7-tesla magnet. Treatment response was assessed using regrowth delay (C3H tumours), clonogenic survival (KHT sarcomas) or histological estimates of necrosis for both models., Results: Plinabulin (7.5 mg/kg) significantly reduced the initial area under curve (IAUC) and the transfer constant (K(trans)) within 1 hour after injection, reaching a nadir at 3 h, but returning to normal within 24 h. A dose-dependent decrease in IAUC and K(trans), was seen at 3 h. No significant anti-tumour effects were observed in the C3H tumours until doses of 12.5 mg/kg were achieved, but started at 1.5 mg/kg in the KHT sarcoma. Irradiating tumours 1 h after injecting plinabulin enhanced response in both models., Conclusions: Plinabulin induced a time- and dose-dependent decrease in tumour perfusion. The KHT sarcoma was more sensitive than the C3H tumour to the anti-tumour effects of plinabulin, while radiation response was enhanced in both models.

Biodegradable film-based stents emerged as a promising medical platform for drug delivery to resolve stenosis encountered in physiological conduits (e.g. blood vessels, biliary and urethral tracts). Drug release kinetics significantly affects the pharmacological effects of a stent, thus it is desirable for a stent to possess highly adjustable drug release kinetics. In this study, a series of amphiphilic poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL) copolymers were used as additives to adjust 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) release from PCL films. The effects of the copolymer addition on drug release behavior, drug permeability, crystalline states, and surface and internal morphologies of the films were investigated. It was found that, the addition of PCL-PEG-PCL could accelerate 5-FU release. The release rate of 5-FU increased with increasing content of PCL-PEG-PCL in the film, but it decreased with the ratio of PCL blocks in the PCL-PEG-PCL copolymer. The diffusion test results showed that 5-FU diffused through the film containing PCL-PEG-PCL faster than it permeated through the pure PCL film, indicating that the addition of PCL-PEG-PCL can improve the permeability of 5-FU in PCL film. The addition of PCL-PEG-PCL copolymer showed high drug-release-regulating ability in the 5-FU-loaded PCL films., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Although the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) has been suggested to play a role in the ripening of non-climatic fruit, direct genetic/molecular evidence is lacking. In the present study, a strawberry gene homologous to the Arabidopsis ABA receptor gene PYR1, named FaPYR1, was isolated and characterized. The 627 bp cDNA includes an intact open reading frame that encodes a deduced protein of 208 amino acids, in which putative conserved domains were detected by homology analysis. Using tobacco rattle virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), the FaPYR1 gene was silenced in strawberry fruit. Down-regulation of the FaPYR1 gene not only significantly delayed fruit ripening, but also markedly altered ABA content, ABA sensitivity, and a set of ABA-responsive gene transcripts, including ABI1 and SnRK2. Furthermore, the loss of red colouring in FaPYR1 RNAi (RNA interference) fruits could not be rescued by exogenously applied ABA, which could promote the ripening of wild-type fruits. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the putative ABA receptor FaPYR1 acts as a positive regulator in strawberry fruit ripening. It was also revealed that the application of the VIGS technique in strawberry fruit could be used as a novel tool for studying strawberry fruit development.

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) has been suggested to play a role in fruit development, but supporting genetic evidence has been lacking. Here, we report that ABA promotes strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) fruit ripening. Using a newly established Tobacco rattle virus-induced gene silencing technique in strawberry fruit, the expression of a 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase gene (FaNCED1), which is key to ABA biosynthesis, was down-regulated, resulting in a significant decrease in ABA levels and uncolored fruits. Interestingly, a similar uncolored phenotype was observed in the transgenic RNA interference (RNAi) fruits, in which the expression of a putative ABA receptor gene encoding the magnesium chelatase H subunit (FaCHLH/ABAR) was down-regulated by virus-induced gene silencing. More importantly, the uncolored phenotype of the FaNCED1-down-regulated RNAi fruits could be rescued by exogenous ABA, but the ABA treatment could not reverse the uncolored phenotype of the FaCHLH/ABAR-down-regulated RNAi fruits. We observed that down-regulation of the FaCHLH/ABAR gene in the RNAi fruit altered both ABA levels and sugar content as well as a set of ABA- and/or sugar-responsive genes. Additionally, we showed that exogenous sugars, particularly sucrose, can significantly promote ripening while stimulating ABA accumulation. These data provide evidence that ABA is a signal molecule that promotes strawberry ripening and that the putative ABA receptor, FaCHLH/ABAR, is a positive regulator of ripening in response to ABA.

Objective: To compare short-term postoperative outcomes between antecolic and retrocolic laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass(LRYGB)., Methods: Forty obesity patients were admitted into The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University from March 2008 to July 2010. All patients were randomly assigned to undergo antecolic (group A, 20 cases) and retrocolic (group B, 20 cases) gastroenteric anastomosis. Short-term outcomes were compared., Results: LRYGB procedures were successfully performed in all the 40 patients. There were no significant differences between the two groups in estimated blood loss during surgery, time to flatus passage, time to resumption of oral intake, or length of postoperative hospital stay. The operation time was longer in group B than that in group A [(163.4±28.1) min vs.(131.8±22.7) min, P<0.05]. There were no patients developed internal hernia or anastomotic leakage in either group. Comparison of short-term gastrointestinal symptoms after surgery showed no statistical significance., Conclusions: Although retrocolic procedure may be closer to anatomical structure, antecolic and retrocolic anastomosis have comparable short-term outcomes after surgery. Further study is warranted to investigate long-term outcomes.

A trilayered Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-based film with a coating layer (CL), a drug-storing layer (DSL) loaded with antitumor drug 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and a backing layer (BL) are presented for film-based stent application in malignant stricture or stenosis. V-C diffusion cells were used to investigate the drug permeability of the CL, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for observing the microscopic architectures and morphologies. Drug release from the trilayered films exhibited a zero-order pattern, and the release process followed an 'outer-to-inner' pattern. The formation mechanism and influencing factors of the zero-order drug release pattern were in-depth elucidated, and factors affecting the drug release were also investigated. The reduction of initial drug loading in DSL slowed the drug release and diminished the zero-order release pattern. Drug permeability of the CL depended significantly on CL thickness, but not significantly on PCL molecular weight. Besides, the addition of PEG porogen in the CL accelerated the drug release by elevation of the drug permeability of CL, and the action mechanism of PEG was revealed by the PEG release test and SEM. The loading of 5-FU in the CL could lead to a two-phased release profile. This study revealed the potential of the trilayered film in controlled drug delivery to intraluminal tumor due to its highly tunable zero-order drug release., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To isolate stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) and identify their phenotypes and multi-lineage differentiation potential., Methods: Human pulp tissue from exfoliated deciduous teeth were dissected and digested to obtain the single cell suspension. The SHEDs selected by magnetic activated cell sorting system (MACS) were identified by examination of the cell morphology and growth in vitro and detection of the expressions of the cell markers. Osteogenic and adipogenic induction was performed to test the multi-lineage differentiation potential of the cells., Results: SHEDs were successfully isolated from human exfoliated deciduous teeth. SHEDs showed a lower growth rate than dental pulp cells and displayed high expressions of CD29 and CD105 but low expressions of CD34 and CD45 as shown by flow cytometry. Experiments of in vitro induction demonstrated a strong potential of the STRO-1+ SHEDs for osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation., Conclusion: Immunomagnetic bead selection can be used to isolate and purify SHEDs, and the STRO-1+ SHEDs show the characteristics of stem cells with multipotent differentiation potentials.

Rice stripe disease, caused by rice stripe virus (RSV), is one of the most serious diseases in temperate rice-growing areas. In the present study, we performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for RSV resistance using 98 backcross inbred lines derived from the cross between the highly resistant variety, Kasalath, and the highly susceptible variety, Nipponbare. Under artificial inoculation in the greenhouse, two QTLs for RSV resistance, designated qSTV7 and qSTV11(KAS), were detected on chromosomes 7 and 11 respectively, whereas only one QTL was detected in the same location of chromosome 11 under natural inoculation in the field. The stability of qSTV11(KAS) was validated using 39 established chromosome segment substitution lines. Fine mapping of qSTV11(KAS) was carried out using 372 BC(3)F(2:3) recombinants and 399 BC(3)F(3:4) lines selected from 7,018 BC(3)F(2) plants of the cross SL-234/Koshihikari. The qSTV11(KAS) was localized to a 39.2 kb region containing seven annotated genes. The most likely candidate gene, LOC&#95;Os11g30910, is predicted to encode a sulfotransferase domain-containing protein. The predicted protein encoded by the Kasalath allele differs from Nipponbare by a single amino acid substitution and the deletion of two amino acids within the sulfotransferase domain. Marker-resistance association analysis revealed that the markers L104-155 bp and R48-194 bp were highly correlated with RSV resistance in the 148 landrace varieties. These results provide a basis for the cloning of qSTV11(KAS), and the markers may be used for molecular breeding of RSV resistant rice varieties.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a vital phytohormone that regulates seed maturation and germination, seedling growth, and adaptation to environmental stresses. ABA functions through a complex network of signaling pathways, where the cell response is initiated by an ABA receptor which triggers downstream signaling cascades to induce the final physiological effects. Two classes of technologies may be used for the isolation of ABA receptors. One is the genetic screening for ABA receptor mutants, and another is the biochemical isolation of ABA-binding proteins that are putative ABA receptors. We implemented biochemical approaches, namely, the purification of ABA-binding proteins to identify a putative ABA receptor; this protein was further characterized by a combination of biochemical and reverse genetic approaches. The identified ABA receptor, called ABAR, mediates the responses of plants to ABA in seed germination, postgerminative growth, and stomatal movement. This protein is the H subunit (CHLH) of the magnesium protoporphyrin-IX chelatase (Mg-chelatase) that also plays a key role in both chlorophyll biosynthesis and plastid-to-nucleus signaling. Here, we describe the experimental procedures for the purification of ABA-binding proteins and the identification of the ABA-binding protein, ABAR/CHLH, as an ABA receptor.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint-catgut-embedding therapy combined conventional western medication on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at stable stage due to lung and kidney deficiency., Methods: The cases were randomized into observation group and control group, 30 cases in each one. In control group, the conventional western medication was administered. In observation group, on the basis of conventional western medication, the catgut-embedding therapy was applied at Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Feishu (BL 13), Shenshu (BL 23), Fenglong (ST 40) and Zusanli (ST 36). The total attack frequency of acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD), the attack frequency of AECOPD at moderate or above moderate stage and TCM syndrome score were compared before treatment and 6 months after treatment in two groups., Results: The total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in observation group and was 90.0% (27/30) in control group, indicating equivalent efficacy between two groups. 6 months after treatment, in two groups, the total attack frequency of AECOPD and the attack frequency of AECOPD at moderate or above moderate stage were reduced remarkably as compared with those before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The total attack frequency of AECOPD in observation group was reduced remarkably as compared with that in control group (P < 0.05). The scores of cough, expectoration and chest oppression as well as the total score of TCM syndrome were reduced remarkably after treatment in observation group (all P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Integrated therapy of acupoint-catgut-embedding and conventional medication has similar efficacy as simple medication. But, the combination of acupoint-catgut-embedding therapy and western medication can reduce the attack frequency of AECOPD and improve in cough, chest oppression and other symptoms in patients with COPD at stable stage effectively.

Aim: To investigate loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of chromosome 9p21 and the prognostic relevance of p16 expression in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)., Methods: Fifty-one GIST patients (30 men and 21 women; median age 59 years; range 29-80 years) treated surgically within a 10-year period were grouped by aggressive behavior risk (17 with very low and low, 14 intermediate, and 20 high risk). GISTs were characterized immunohistochemically and evaluated for LOH of 9p21 by microsatellite analysis at D9S1751, D9S1846, D9S942, and D9S1748. LOH of 9p21 and immunohistochemical expression of p16 protein encoded at 9p21 were correlated with clinicopathological parameters, and the prognostic significance of p16 alterations was evaluated., Results: Thirty-one (63.3%) cases showed LOH with at least one microsatellite marker. LOH frequency was 37.0% at D9S1751, 37.5% at D9S1846, 42.1% at D9S942, and 24.2% at D9S1748. There was a higher LOH frequency of D9S942 in high-risk than in non-high-risk tumors (P < 0.05, χ(2) = 4.47). Gender, age, tumor size and site were not correlated with allelic loss. Ninety percent (18/20) of the GIST patients in the high risk group showed LOH with at least one of the 9p21 markers, while 57.1% (8/14) in the intermediate risk group and 33.3% (5/15) in the very low and low risk groups, respectively (P < 0.05, χ(2) = 12.16). Eight (28.5%) of 31 patients with LOH and 1 (5.6%) of 18 patients without LOH died of the disease during the follow-up period. Loss of p16 protein expression occurred in 41.2%, but in 60% of the high risk group and 23.5% of the very low and low risk groups (P < 0.05, χ(2) = 4.98). p16 loss was associated with poor prognosis (P < 0.05, χ(2) = 4.18): the 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 84.8% and 70.8% for p16-negative and 100% and 92.0% for p16-positive patients, respectively., Conclusion: LOH at 9p21 appears to play an important role in GIST progression; decreased p16 expression in GIST is highly predictive of poor outcome.

Objective: To study the receptor for adhesion and endocytosis of Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC)., Methods: Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae were incubated with the total protein of HUVEC for investigating the binding of N-cadherin and the fungus. After the model of adhesion and endocytosis of Aspergillus fumigatus by HUVEC was established, the capacity of adhesion and endocytosis was evaluated with the presence of the antibody to N-cadherin., Results: N-cadherin sticked to the surface of Aspergillus fumigatus. Adhesion and endocytosis were inhibited with the presence of the antibody to N-cadherin., Conclusion: N-cadherin is a receptor for adhesion and endocytosis of Aspergillus fumigatus by HUVEC.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosome 9p21 and P16(INK4A)(CDKN2A) expression on the prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)., Methods: A total of 51 cases with GISTs were characterized by immunohistochemistry and evaluated for LOH at 9p21 by microsatellite analysis in 4 markers(D9S1751, D9S1846, D9S942 and D9S1748). Associations of LOH at 9p21 and P16(INK4A) expression encoded by CDKN2A with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in GISTs were analyzed., Results: The frequency of 9p21 LOH was 37.0% (10/27) at D9S1751, 37.5%(12/32) at D9S1846, 42.1%(16/38) at D9S942 and 24.2%(8/33) at D9S1748. The overall frequency of LOH at 9p21 was 63.3%(31/49). In 21 samples of 51 GISTs(41.2%), P16 expression was not detected. Loss of P16 expression was 60%(12/20) in high risk group and 23.5%(4/17) in very low and low risk groups(P<0.05). The 5-year overall survival rate of p16-negative patients was 70.8%, while in P16-positive patients it was 92.0%(P<0.05)., Conclusions: LOH at 9p21 is a frequent event in GIST. Loss of CDKN2A gene at 9p21 may contribute to the progression and malignant transformation of GIST. P16 expression in GIST is associated with prognosis.

Objective: To assess the value of galactomannan (GM) double-direct sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA)., Methods: A search in MEDLINE, EMbase, OVID, CBMdisc and CHKD from Jan. 1991 to Dec. 2008 was conducted to collect all articles about diagnostic tests of serum GM detection. Then the methodological quality was assessed by QUADAS-items, sources of heterogeneity investigated, pooled effect quantities evaluated, and meta-analysis studies, SROC curves, and subgroup analysis performed., Results: Thirty-six articles with a population of 4959 patients were included. The average prevalence of IA was 10%(532/4959). Our meta-analysis reported a median heterogeneity (I(2) = 48.6%, P < 0.05), with a pooled DOR value of 19.10 (95%CI 12.67 - 28.79), a pooled sensitivity of 0.66 (95%CI 0.61 - 0.70), a pooled specificity of 0.90 (95%CI 0.89 - 0.90), a pooled positive likelihood ratio of 5.48 (95%CI 4.27 - 7.02), a pooled negative likelihood ratio of 0.38 (95%CI 0.29 - 0.50), and an area under curve of SROC 0.88. The rate of underdiagnosis of serum GM detection was 34% (168/490) and the rate of misdiagnosis was 10% (466/4469). With a rise in the cut-off value the sensitivity of GM test decreased and specificity increased. Two consecutive positive tests decreased the sensitivity but increased the specificity. Age had no significant effect on the diagnosis by GM test. Both antifungal prophylaxis and antifungal therapy had no significant effect on sensitivity and specificity of GM test for IA diagnosis., Conclusion: Serum GM detection is an effective diagnostic tool for invasive aspergillosis in high-risk populations.

Objective: To evaluate the right ventricular functions of patients with acute organophosphate poisoning patient (AOPP) by measuring the velocities of tricuspid annular motion through Doppler tissue imaging (DTI)., Methods: Tissue Doppler velocity mode was employed to observe tricuspid annulus movement in 78 AOPP patients and 32 healthy adults. After tricuspid annular pulsed-wave rate of E/A were measured by traditional echocardiographic, the peak values of tricuspid annular early diastolic velocity (E(m)) and late diastolic velocity (A(m)) were analyzed by DTI., Results: E/A > E(m)/A(m) > 1 was observed in health control group as well as the mild-moderate AOPP; E(m)/A(m) < E/A < 1 was observed in the severe AOPP group. There was significant difference between two groups. The right ventricular E/A correlated positively with E(m)/A(m) (P < 0.001). Pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) correlated positively with right ventricular E/Em, Tei Index (P < 0.001) and negatively with right ventricular S(m), E(m) and E(m)/A(m) (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The right ventricle functions, in terms of contraction and relaxation, decrease in severe AOPP patients versus health control and mild-moderate groups. TDI is a useful tool to assess the right ventricle functions of AOPP patients.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in the treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM)., Methods: Twenty-one cases of obesity and 9 cases of type 2 DM received the LRYGB. Weigh changes, excess body weight lose rate (EWL%) and blood glucose level were measured after surgery and occurrence of complications was observed postoperatively., Results: LRYGB procedures in all the 30 cases were successfully performed with no conversion to open surgery. Average operation time was 168 minutes (110-270 mins), volume of blood loss during the surgery was 24.0 ml (10-75 ml). Twenty-one cases of simple obesity received follow-up from 2 months to 5 years. Body weight and BMI decreased significantly in one month [(85.1+/-10.1) kg vs (97.2+/-15.0) kg, 31.2+/-2.2 vs 35.3+/-3.5, both P<0.01] and to a minimal level in 2 to 3 years [(66.8+/-9.2) kg, 24.3+/-1.1], and then maintained at this level. EWL% was correspondingly higher (all P<0.05). Nine type 2 DM patients were followed up for 3 to 8 months, fasting blood glucose and blood glucose OGTT2 hours decreased significantly [(5.9+/-1.4) mmol/L vs (12.6+/-2.6) mmol/L, (7.8+/-1.4) mmol/L vs (17.8+/-4.1) mmol/L, both P<0.05], of whom 4 patients with obesity decreased in BMI significantly (P<0.05), and 5 patients without obesity had no significant changes in BMI (P>0.05). Five cases (16.7%) had postoperative complications, including 1 case of death due to acute fulminant pancreatitis, 1 case of mesenteric hiatal hernia with obstruction in line for reoperation, and the other 3 cases of healing by conservative therapy., Conclusions: Treatment of obesity and type 2 DM by LRYGB surgery is feasible with significant short term result. Long term outcome needs further observation.

Objective: To investigate the surgical approach, feasibility and effectiveness of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) surgery for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus., Methods: Seven obese patients with type 2 diabetes and 5 type 2 diabetic patients without obesity received LRYGB surgery. The changes of the body mass, fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2 h PBG), C peptide (C-P) and HbA1c% were observed postoperatively., Results: LRYGB procedures were successfully performed in all the 12 patients with no conversion to open surgery. The resolution rate was 85.7% in the obese group and 80% in the non-obese diabetic group., Conclusion: LRYGB surgery is feasible for treatment of type 2 diabetes with good short-term result, but the long-term outcome awaits further observation.

Bat flight poses intriguing questions about how flight independently developed in mammals. Flight is among the most energy-consuming activities. Thus, we deduced that changes in energy metabolism must be a primary factor in the origin of flight in bats. The respiratory chain of the mitochondrial produces 95% of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) needed for locomotion. Because the respiratory chain has a dual genetic foundation, with genes encoded by both the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, we examined both genomes to gain insights into the evolution of flight within mammals. Evidence for positive selection was detected in 23.08% of the mitochondrial-encoded and 4.90% of nuclear-encoded oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) genes, but in only 2.25% of the nuclear-encoded nonrespiratory genes that function in mitochondria or 1.005% of other nuclear genes in bats. To address the caveat that the two available bat genomes are of only draft quality, we resequenced 77 OXPHOS genes from four species of bats. The analysis of the resequenced gene data are in agreement with our conclusion that a significantly higher proportion of genes involved in energy metabolism, compared with background genes, show evidence of adaptive evolution specific on the common ancestral bat lineage. Both mitochondrial and nuclear-encoded OXPHOS genes display evidence of adaptive evolution along the common ancestral branch of bats, supporting our hypothesis that genes involved in energy metabolism were targets of natural selection and allowed adaptation to the huge change in energy demand that were required during the origin of flight.