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Interactions of platelets with circulating cells and vessel walls are implicated in various inflammatory processes. In certain circumstances, the hemostatic and inflammatory functions of platelets may overlap. Platelet–lymphocyte/leukocyte interactions can effectively regulate chronic inflammatory conditions. Platelet extracellular vesicles play a prominent role in thrombosis. In this review, we provide an overview of the molecules associated with platelet–cell interaction and the role of platelet extracellular vesicles in cardiovascular disorders and coronavirus disease 2019, which has posed a significant threat to global health due to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. In addition to recruiting leukocytes to resolve inflammation associated with inflammatory diseases, such as coronavirus disease 2019, nutrients may also play a significant role in human metabolism.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have emerged as a prognostic marker in endometrial cancer (EC). However, the role of TILs in EC with distinct histology grades and molecular types (such as mismatch repair [MMR] deficiency) has not yet been made clear. We retrospectively included 237 patients with primary EC who underwent a standard staging operation of laparoscopic or laparotomy total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for analyses. An independent pathologist who was blind to the study patients’ information reviewed the pathologic slides to assess TILs according to the method introduced by the International Immuno-Oncology Biomarkers Working Group in 2017. The outcomes of interest included both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The Kaplan–Meier method was used to determine the curves of PFS and OS according to TILs, and also in the relevant subgroups (low-grade vs. high-grade, MMR-proficient vs. MMR-deficient). After a median follow-up duration of 1.82 years, 18 patients had experienced either disease progression or death. Overall, TILs (+) were not associated with PFS or OS. We did observe, however, that TILs (+) were associated with a better PFS (p = 0.045) in patients with high-grade EC, but not in those with low-grade tumors (p = 0.733). The effect of TILs on PFS was not observed in patients with MMR-proficient (p = 0.347) or MMR-deficient (p = 0.168) EC. TILs were associated with a better PFS in patients with high-grade EC. Our results suggest that TILs may be a potential prognostic marker in these patients.

Treatment of bulky cervical cancer is associated with both high adverse effects and local recurrence rates with traditional box method radiotherapy. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has been adopted for the treatment of cervical cancer in order to deliver more precise radiation doses to the target region. We retrospectively enrolled a total of 98 patients with cervical cancer ≥4 cm who completed IMRT and point A-based brachytherapy treatment. The median follow-up time of the cohort was 6.84 years, with the 5-year OS and DFS being 66.33% and 75.12%, respectively. In addition, 7.14% of patients experienced local recurrence, 12.24% had distant recurrence, 6.12% had both local and distant recurrence, and 3.06% had persistent disease. In the univariate analysis, lymph node metastasis, higher creatinine levels, higher initial CA-125 and receiving chemotherapy other than cisplatin were all associated with a worse PFS. A tumor size ≥6 cm was associated with an increased incidence of higher grade of acute diarrhea. Grade 3 late radiation proctitis and cystitis developed in 11.22% and 13.27% of patients, respectively. The local recurrence rates and overall efficiencies were not inferior to other studies involving traditional pelvic external beam radiation therapy with concurrent chemotherapy. The safety and efficacy of IMRT for bulky cervical cancer were acceptable.

To investigate the pattern of chloroplast genome variation in Triticeae, we comprehensively analyzed the indels in protein-coding genes and intergenic sequence, gene loss/pseudonization, intron variation, expansion/contraction in inverted repeat regions, and the relationship between sequence characteristics and chloroplast genome size in 34 monogenomic Triticeae plants. Ancestral genome reconstruction suggests that major length variations occurred in four-stem branches of monogenomic Triticeae followed by independent changes in each genus. It was shown that the chloroplast genome sizes of monogenomic Triticeae were highly variable. The chloroplast genome of Pseudoroegneria, Dasypyrum, Lophopyrum, Thinopyrum, Eremopyrum, Agropyron, Australopyrum, and Henradia in Triticeae had evolved toward size reduction largely because of pseudogenes elimination events and length deletion fragments in intergenic. The Aegilops/Triticum complex, Taeniatherum, Secale, Crithopsis, Herteranthelium, and Hordeum in Triticeae had a larger chloroplast genome size. The large size variation in major lineages and their subclades are most likely consequences of adaptive processes since these variations were significantly correlated with divergence time and historical climatic changes. We also found that several intergenic regions, such as petN–trnC and psbE–petL containing unique genetic information, which can be used as important tools to identify the maternal relationship among Triticeae species. Our results contribute to the novel knowledge of plastid genome evolution in Triticeae.

Opisthopappus is a major wild source of Asteraceae with good cold and drought resistance. Two species of this genus (Opisthopappus taihangensis and Opisthopappus longilobus) have been employed as model systems to address the evolutionary history of perennial herb biomes in the Taihang Mountains of China. However, further studies on the adaptive divergence processes of these two species are currently impeded by the lack of genomic resources. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved, a comparative analysis of these two species was conducted. Among the identified transcription factors, the bHLH members were most prevalent, which exhibited significantly different expression levels in the terpenoid metabolic pathway. O. longilobus revealed a higher expression than did O. taihangensis in terms of terpenes biosynthesis and metabolism, particularly regarding monoterpenoids and diterpenoids. Analyses of the positive selection genes (PSGs) identified from O. taihangensis and O. longilobus, 1203 genes were found that related to adaptative divergence, which were under rapid evolution and/or have signs of positive selection. Different PSG expressions occurred primarily in the mitochondrial electron transport, starch degradation, secondary metabolism, as well as nucleotide synthesis and S-metabolism pathway processes. Two PSGs were obviously differentially expressed in terpenes biosynthesis that might result in the fragrances divergence between O. longilobus and O. taihangensis, which would provide insights as to how the two species adapted to different environments, characterized by sub-humid warm temperate and temperate continental monsoon climates. The comparative analysis for these two species of Opisthopappus not only revealed how the divergence occurred from molecular perspective, but also provided novel insights into how differential adaptations occurred in Taihang Mountains.

Esteya vermicola is a potential biological agent of the pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, due to its high infectivity. However, knowledge of E. vermicola colonization in the host pine tree is less known. To reveal the distribution pattern of E. vermicola inside the pine tree and the interactions between fungus and PWN, biocontrol tests were conducted on 10 years old Pinus densiflora. A green fluorescence protein (GFP)‐tagged E. vermicola was used to observe the fungal hyphae. Real‐time TaqMan PCR quantification was applied to quantify the fungal hyphae in host tree. The results suggest that inoculation with the fungus significantly improved the survival rate of tested trees. Besides, the number of PWN extracted from fungal inoculated tested trees significantly decreased. Moreover, the fungal hyphae and lunate conidia grown in tested trees were observed with the GFP‐tagged E. vermicola. The real‐time quantification of E. vermicola illustrated the differential distribution of E. vermicola in wilted, wilting and healthy pine trees. Additionally, the promotion of fungal hyphal dispersion by B. xylophilus was found in the pine trees artificially infected with PWN. This study reveals the distribution of E. vermicola and PWN during biocontrol of pine wilt disease and provides direct evidence of the effectiveness of this fungus to control PWN. The migration of PWN infected by E. vermicola was supposed to improve the fungal extension in host pine tree.

Background As the causal agent of pine wilt disease, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a serious pathogen of forest pine trees. Esteya vermicola is a nematophagous fungus of B. xylophilus and exhibits great potential as a biological control agent. However, the in vivo infection mechanism of E. vermicola on B. xylophilus is unclear. Experiments were conducted to study the colonization of host plant and infection of B. xylophilus by E. vermicola inside pine tree xylem. Results A green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged E. vermicola transformant was constructed as a biomarker to study the in vivo colonization and infection of B. xylophilus in pine trees. The in vitro infection of B. xylophilus by E. vermicola was observed through GFP expression. The bacilloid conidia produced by trophic hyphae in the body of the nematode are described. Additionally, the monitoring of in vivo colonization by GFP-tagged E. vermicola showed the germination and hyphal extension of this fungus after inoculation. Moreover, B. xylophilus infected by this biocontrol agent were extracted from healthy seedlings and observed in the xylem of trees that were wilting due to pine wilt disease. Conclusion Evidence of fungal colonization and infection of B. xylophilus by E. vermicola is provided to improve our understanding of the in vivo infection mechanisms used by this nematophagous fungus against B. xylophilus. The infection of B. xylophilus by E. vermicola was inferred to begin with the implantation of propagules, and this inference will require future investigation. The colonization of Esteya vermicola in host pine tree xylem and the in vivo infection of pinewood nematode by E. vermicola were investigated using the green fluorescence protein transformant. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Table S5. Results of demographic statistics of P. shangchengensis based on mtDNA data. (DOCX 18 kb)

Table S1. Details on the primers for amplified the ND2 gene, Cyt b gene and twelve microsatellite loci of P. shangchengensis. (DOCX 19 kb)

Table S4. Multiple runs for inferring the number of populations of P. shangchengensis with Geneland. Bold indicates the highest average posterior probability. (DOCX 16 kb)

Table S2. Prior and hyperpriors used in Msvar based on microsatellite data. (DOCX 17 kb)

Table S6. Results from Principal Components Analysis on environmental variables used in comparison of environments among occurrence localities for P. shangchengensis and the relative contribution of each variable to the niche model. (DOCX 16 kb)

Table S3. Results of hierarchical AMOVA based on mtDNA and microsatellites. Groups are set as JTX and KHJ, MW and TTZ, BYM and KJY. (DOCX 17 kb)

Uterine sarcoma is a very aggressive and highly lethal disease. Even after a comprehensive staging surgery or en block cytoreduction surgery followed by multimodality therapy (often chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy), many patients relapse or present with distant metastases, and finally die of diseases. The worst outcome of uterine sarcomas is partly because of their rarity, unknown etiology, and highly divergent genetic aberration. Uterine sarcomas are often classified into four distinct subtypes, including uterine leiomyosarcoma, low-grade uterine endometrial stromal sarcoma, high-grade uterine endometrial stromal sarcoma, and undifferentiated uterine sarcoma. Currently, evidence from tumor biology found that these tumors showed alternation and/or mutation of genomes and the intracellular signal pathway. In addition, some preclinical studies showed promising results for targeting receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, various kinds of growth factor pathways, Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, transforming growth factor β/bone morphogenetic protein signal pathway, aurora kinase A, MDM2 proto-oncogene, histone deacetylases, sex hormone receptors, certain types of oncoproteins, and/or loss of tumor suppressor genes. The current review is attempted to summarize the recurrent advance of targeted therapy for uterine sarcomas.

Endometrial stromal tumors are rare uterine tumors (

Objective: To study clinical factors predicting the absence of endocervical/transformation zone (EC/TZ) components of conventional cervical Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. Materials and methods: The medical charts of patients who received Pap smears between March 2006 and August 2006 in the hospital were reviewed. The results of their Pap smears were retrieved while their demographic and clinical information were obtained from the medical charts. After excluding 378 cases with incomplete demographic data and 1397 cases with a history of pelvic irradiation, pelvic malignancy, and hysterectomy, 5662 cases were enrolled for data analysis. The relationship between clinical parameters and the absence of EC/TZ component was analyzed by Pearson Chi-square tests with Yates continuity correction and binary logistic regression tests. Results: The incidence of satisfactory but absence of EC/TZ component was 8.7% (491/5662). Pregnancy increased the absence of EC/TZ component [odds ratio (OR}: 2.84, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.14–3.77, p

Uterine sarcomas account for 3–7% of all uterine cancers. Because of their rarity, unknown etiology, and highly divergent genetic aberration, there is a lack of consensus on risk factors for occurrence and predictive poor outcomes as well as optimal therapeutic choices. Tumor types according to the World Health Organization classification include leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stroma sarcoma, and undifferentiated sarcoma. Staging is done using the 2014 Federation International Gynecology and Obstetrics and 2010 American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor, lymph node, and metastases systems. Tumor grade can be classified based on the French Federation of Cancer Centers Sarcoma Group system or the Broder’s system that incorporates tumor differentiation, mitotic count, and tumor necrosis. This review is a series of articles discussing uterine sarcoma, and this is Part I, which focuses on one of the subtypes of uterine sarcomas—uterine leiomyosarcoma. The clinical characteristics, diagnosis, outcome, and recent advances are summarized in this article.

Single- and low- copy genes are less likely subject to concerted evolution, thus making themselves ideal tools for studying the origin and evolution of polyploid taxa. Based on the sequences of a single-copy nuclear gene encoding plastid acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acc-1), a total of 47 accessions Triticum and Aegilops representing diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid were used to estimate the origin of Triticum petropavlovskyi. Phylogenetic analysis was performed based on the intron, intron + sy and exon data sets sequence using maximum likelihood, neighbor-joining and median-joining networks. The A and B genome sequences from Acc-1 loci show that T. petropavlovskyi shares the highest averaged sequence identity with T. polonicum from Xinjiang and exotic landraces of T. aestivum, and reveals specific progenitor-descendant relationships. The D genome sequences of the Acc-1 genes from T. petropavlovskyi are identical to the sequences of the D genome orthologs in T. aestivum, while the relationship of T. petropavlovskyi and Ae. tauschii are most distant. Our findings do not suggest the probability of an independent allopolyploidization event and a single mutation in T. aestivum in the origin of T. petropavlovskyi, but indicate a greater degree of gene flow between T. aestivum and T. polonicum leading to origin of T. petropavlovskyi. It is most likely that T. petropavlovskyi was originated from T. polonicum from Xinjiang to exotic landraces of T. aestivum via a spontaneous introgression or breeding effort.

The absorption, fluorescence, and transient absorption spectra of Tetra(alpha-amino) zinc phthalocyanine, ZnPc(alpha-NH2)4, have been measured in polar solvents and compared with that of ZnPc(alpha-R)4 (R = H, NO2, OCH(CH3)2). While the latter three showed the typical photophysics of phthalocyanines, ZnPc(alpha-NH2)4 exhibits distinct spectral properties, a very low fluorescence quantum yield and a relatively long fluorescence lifetime. These observations are explained by the substantial charge transfer characters in the absorption and fluorescence spectra of ZnPc(alpha-NH2)4. NMR indicates that intramolecular H-bonding makes atoms in NH2 actually coplanar with other elements of ZnPc(alpha-NH2)4. The local excited state is non emissive and the weak emission is assigned to its charge transfer state. The transient absorption bands from laser flash photolysis located at 630 nm, 645 nm is assigned to the mono-charge transfer state, while that at 545 nm is assigned to the di-charge transfer state.

The genetic diversity of 17 populations of Clintonia udensis Trautv. et Mey. was studied by using 15 intersimple sequence repeat primers. The results revealed a relatively high genetic diversity, with percentage of polymorphic \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcommand\sfdefault{wncyss} \renewcommand\encodingdefault{OT2} \normalfont \selectfont} \DeclareTextFontCommand{\textcyr}{\cyr} \pagestyle{empty} \DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6} \begin{document} \landscape $\mathrm{bands}\,=98.8\% $ \end{document} , Shannon’s information \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepa...

Surface modifications were performed on the tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) substrates for optoelectronic devices, using the different processing techniques. The effects of modification methods on the surface properties of ITO substrates were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometer, standard goniometry and four-probe meter, respectively. The surface free energy as the sum of the dispersion and polar components was evaluated from the measured contact angles using the Owens-Wendt approach. Experimental results demonstrate that except the optical transmittance of the ITO, the surface properties including the stoichiometry, morphology, wettability and sheet resistance of the ITO substrates strongly depend on the modification methods. Compared with the other treatments, the oxygen plasma treatment increases the oxygen concentration and decreases the carbon concentration, reduces the surface roughness and the sheet resistance, and enhances the surface free energy and the polarity, and thereby more effectively improves the surface properties of ITO substrates.

The genus Dipteronia Oliv. endemic to central and southern China consists of two species, Dipteronia sinensis Oliv. and Dipteronia dyeriana Henry, both of them are rare and endangered. AFLP markers were used to characterize the genetic diversity and geographical differentiation of the genus. Eight out of 32 PstI + 3/MseI + 3 selective primer combinations screened were applied to the analysis on 142 individuals of 17 D. sinensis and 4 D. dyeriana populations, respectively. A total of 324 fragments with 316 polymorphic were amplified. The proportion of polymorphic loci (PPB) was 97.53%. The Nei's gene diversity in D. sinensis and D. dyeriana was 0.3319 and 0.3047, respectively. About 43.6% (GST = 0.4356) of the genetic variation occurred among the populations, indicating a relatively high genetic differentiation among the populations. Cluster analysis grouped the 21 populations into two groups according to their species delimitation. The populations of D. sinensis were further divided into three subgroups corresponding to their geographical distributions. Correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation (p

Endometriosis, defined by the presence of viable extrauterine endometrial glands and stroma, can grow or bleed cyclically, and possesses characteristics including a destructive, invasive, and metastatic nature. Since endometriosis may result in pelvic inflammation, adhesion, chronic pain, and infertility, and can progress to biologically malignant tumors, it is a long-term major health issue in women of reproductive age. In this review, we analyze the Taiwan domestic research addressing associations between endometriosis and other diseases. Concerning malignant tumors, we identified four studies on the links between endometriosis and ovarian cancer, one on breast cancer, two on endometrial cancer, one on colorectal cancer, and one on other malignancies, as well as one on associations between endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome, one on links with migraine headache, three on links with pelvic inflammatory diseases, four on links with infertility, four on links with obesity, four on links with chronic liver disease, four on links with rheumatoid arthritis, four on links with chronic renal disease, five on links with diabetes mellitus, and five on links with cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc.). The data available to date support that women with endometriosis might be at risk of some chronic illnesses and certain malignancies, although we consider the evidence for some comorbidities to be of low quality, for example, the association between colon cancer and adenomyosis/endometriosis. We still believe that the risk of comorbidity might be higher in women with endometriosis than that we supposed before. More research is needed to determine whether women with endometriosis are really at risk of these comorbidities.

Leymus aemulis was hybridized with Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski (2n = 14), P. huashanlca Keng (2n = 14), and L. multicaulis (Kar. & Kir.) Tzvel. (2n = 28). The hybrid plant of L. aemulis × P. juncea died at a young stage. Chromosome pairing at metaphase-I in the L. aemulis × P. huashanica hybrid indicated that one L. aemulis genome was closely homologous with the P. huashanica genome. Chromosome pairing at metaphase-I in the L. multicaulis × L. aemulis provide the evidence that L. aemulis also has the NX genomes found in L. multicaulis. Structural variation of genomes did not occur between L. aemulis and L. multicaulis; however, their genomes have sufficiently differentiated to ensure their integrity as distinct species.

Objective We describe the serial computed tomography (CT) findings of extensive hepatic infarction and successful plasma exchange therapy in a severe preeclamptic woman with postpartum HELLP syndrome. Case Report A 38 year-old woman presented with elevated blood pressure of 140–180/90–120 mmHg and 3+ proteinuria at 28 weeks of gestation. Two days after admission, the patient suddenly complained of severe epigastric pain and headache. Her blood pressure rose sharply to 195/120 mmHg. A 980 g female was delivered by emergency cesarean section. Following delivery, the patient's clinical condition and laboratory values deteriorated, with progressive liver insufficiency (peak AST level = 4246 IU/L, ALT = 3685 IU/L, LDH = 6237 IU/L, platelets = 72,000/mm 3 ). Two consecutive plasma exchanges (PEX) were undertaken on the 3 rd and 4 th postpartum day. A contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen performed 8 days postpartum showed geographically wedge-shaped areas of low attenuation, with a mottled appearance in the right hepatic lobe. Shortly thereafter, the patient recovered and all laboratory parameters gradually normalized 3 weeks after delivery. Follow-up CT-scan of the liver 2 months postpartum showed no evidence of infarction, with complete recovery. Conclusion We recommend that severely ill patients with HELLP syndrome having epigastric pain should undergo CT imaging of the liver. A trial of postpartum PEX therapy should be considered for treatment of the HELLP syndrome complicated with hepatic infarction, which is recalcitrant to conventional medical management, and fails to abate within 72–96 hours of delivery.

PURPOSE Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory disease that can affect the eye, resulting in ocular pathologies, including blepharitis, keratitis, and uveitis; however, the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the ocular manifestations of AD are not well understood. METHODS In the present study, we characterized the ocular pathologies that develop in the Stat6VT mouse model of AD. We examined the cytokine profile of the eyelid lesions, measured the behavioral response, and documented the treatment response to topical steroids. RESULTS Our results show that Stat6VT mice spontaneously developed blepharitis, keratitis, and uveitis similar to that observed in patients with AD. Histologic findings of allergic inflammation in affected eyelids in this model include the presence of a lymphocyte-predominant infiltrate and tissue eosinophilia in the dermis. Gene expression analysis of affected eyelid tissue by quantitative PCR revealed increased amounts of mRNAs for the Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. In addition, increased eyelid scratching was seen in Stat6VT mice with blepharitis. Topical treatment with the corticosteroid clobetasol reduced eyelid inflammation, tissue eosinophilia, and Th2 cytokine expression. CONCLUSIONS The development of AD-like ocular pathologies in this model supports the idea that in humans, AD-associated disease of the eye may be driven by Th2-mediated inflammation and demonstrates that the Stat6VT mouse may be a useful system in which to further investigate pathogenesis of and treatment strategies for blepharitis and other ocular diseases that develop in association with AD.

Intergeneric hybridizations were made betweenT. elongatum, and twoPsathyrostachys and fiveLeymus species. The seed set obtained onT. elongatum ×Leymus hybrids ranged from 5.65% to 20.00%, depending onLeymus species. The seed set obtained onT. elongatum ×Psathyrostachys hybrids ranged from 16.07% to 19.70%. Meiotic pairing at metaphase-I in JN diploid hybrids ofT. elongatum ×Psathyrostachys species revealed a very low level homology between the basic J and N genomes, and further demonstrated that the two genomes are quite diverged. Chromosome pairing in theT. elongatum ×Leymus secalinus hybrid averaged 15.19 univalents + 2.62 rod bivalents + 0.26 ring bivalents + 0.02 trivalents, suggesting that the partial Je chromosomes ofT. elongatum has homology withLeymus secalinus genomes.L. secalinus might have 3–4 chromosomes originating from Je genome.

The morphology and meiotic behaviour of pollen mother cells were studied in hybrids involvingLeymus multicaulis (2n = 28) ×Psathyrostachys huashanica (2n = 14),L. multicaulis ×P. juncea (2n = 14), andL. secalinus (2n = 28) ×L. multicaulis. Chromosome pairing was almost identical in theL. multicaulis ×P. huashanica, andL. multicaulis ×P. juncea hybrids, in which it averaged 7.30 univalents + 6.69 bivalents + 0.096 trivalents and 7.48 univalents + 6.75 bivalents, respectively. The meiotic pairing in the two hybrids indicated that oneL. multicaulis genome was closely homologous with theP. huashanica andP. juncea genomes. BothP. huashanica andP. juncea are possibly donors of oneL. multicaulis genome. Chromosome pairing in theL. secalinus ×L. multicaulis hybrid averaged 4.49 univalents + 11.71 bivalents + 0.02 trivalents, indicating that the genomes ofL. multicaulis andL. secalinus are to some degree homologous. However, they are sufficiently differentiated to insure species distinctness.

Oculocerebral renal syndrome of Lowe (OCRL or Lowe syndrome), a severe X-linked congenital disorder characterized by congenital cataracts and glaucoma, mental retardation and kidney dysfunction, is caused by mutations in the OCRL gene. OCRL is a phosphoinositide 5-phosphatase that interacts with small GTPases and is involved in intracellular trafficking. Despite extensive studies, it is unclear how OCRL mutations result in a myriad of phenotypes found in Lowe syndrome. Our results show that OCRL localizes to the primary cilium of retinal pigment epithelial cells, fibroblasts and kidney tubular cells. Lowe syndrome-associated mutations in OCRL result in shortened cilia and this phenotype can be rescued by the introduction of wild-type OCRL; in vivo, knockdown of ocrl in zebrafish embryos results in defective cilia formation in Kupffer vesicles and cilia-dependent phenotypes. Cumulatively, our data provide evidence for a role of OCRL in cilia maintenance and suggest the involvement of ciliary dysfunction in the manifestation of Lowe syndrome. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press.

The F1 intergeneric hybrids of Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng with Roegneria ciliaris (Trin.) Nevski was made and cytologically studied. Chromatin transfer through conjugation tube or conjugation opening before, during and after meiosis was observed in these hybrids. Consequently, unusual nuclear behaviors frequently observed include coenocytism, cell size variation and abnomal chromosome or nuclei number, non-synchronous or multipolar division, and delayed chromatin condensation. In addition, cytomixis was observed in early stages of micro-sporogenesis. These events could lead to spontaneous chromosome number doubling and, in turn, the origin of alloautoploid species.

An 1. 06 microm Nd : YAG laser beam (energy: -500 mJ/pulse, pulse width: 10 ns, repetition rate: 30 Hz) was focused by a conical lens, and a column of laser-induced air plasmas (LIAP) came into being. The LIAP column, about 8 cm of long and 5 cm in maximal diameter, was studied by spectra measurement. The spectra of the LIAP column at different position were measured in the directions both perpendicular and parallel to the laser propagation respectively. From these data, the electron densities of the LIAP were evaluated. The experimental results indicate that the LIAP formed in an olivary shape, i. e. , symmetrical in the vertical direction but unsymmetrical in the horizontal direction, and the maximal electron density is about 10(18) cm(-3). The spatial distributions of atoms, molecules and ions in different states in the LIAP were also discussed, and provide clues for discovering the microstructure of LIAP.

A novel genic male sterile (GMS) line in Brassica napus L., which was identified in 1999, was found to be controlled by a monogenic dominant gene, which we have designated as MDGMS. The microspores of the MDGMS abort before the degradation of the tapetal cell layer. The F1 fertility from any fertile lines crossed with MDGMS segregated and the ratio was close to 1:1. Bulked segregation analysis (BSA) was employed to identify random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to the Ms gene in MDGMS. Among 880 random 10-mer oligonucleotide primers screened against the bulk DNA of sterile and fertile, one primer S243 (5'-CTATGCCGAC-3') gave a repeatable 1500-bp DNA polymorphic segment S243(1500) between the two bulks. Analysis of individual plants of each bulks and other types of GMS and cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) lines suggest that the RAPD marker S243(1500) is closely linked to the MDGMS locus in rapeseed. This RAPD marker has been converted into sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker to aid identification of male-fertility genotypes in segregating progenies of MDGMS in marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding programs.