Search

Flooding caused or exacerbated by climate change has threatened plant growth and food production worldwide. The lack of knowledge on how crops respond and adapt to flooding stress imposes a major barrier to enhancing their productivity. Hence, understanding the flooding-responsive mechanisms of crops is indispensable for developing new flooding-tolerant varieties. Here, we examined the banana ( Musa acuminata cv. Berangan) responses to soil waterlogging for 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 24 days. After waterlogging stress, banana root samples were analyzed for their molecular and biochemical changes. We found that waterlogging treatment induced the formation of adventitious roots and aerenchyma with conspicuous gas spaces. In addition, the antioxidant activities, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde contents of the waterlogged bananas increased in response to waterlogging stress. To assess the initial response of bananas toward waterlogging stress, we analyzed the transcriptome changes of banana roots. A total of 3508 unigenes were differentially expressed under 1-day waterlogging conditions. These unigenes comprise abiotic stress-related transcription factors, such as ethylene response factors, basic helix-loop-helix, myeloblastosis, plant signal transduction, and carbohydrate metabolisms. The findings of the study provide insight into the complex molecular events of bananas in response to waterlogging stress, which could later help develop waterlogging resilient crops for the future climate.

Technological applications in agriculture have evolved substantially to increase crop yields and quality to meet global food demand. Conventional techniques, such as seed saving, selective breeding, and mutation breeding (variation breeding), have dramatically increased crop production, especially during the 'Green Revolution' in the 1990s. However, newer issues, such as limited arable lands, climate change, and ever-increasing food demand, pose challenges to agricultural production and threaten food security. In the following 'Gene Revolution' era, rapid innovations in the biotechnology field provide alternative strategies to further improve crop yield, quality, and resilience towards biotic and abiotic stresses. These innovations include the introduction of DNA recombinant technology and applications of genome editing techniques, such as transcription activator-like effector (TALEN), zinc-finger nucleases (ZFN), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR associated (CRISPR/Cas) systems. However, the acceptance and future of these modern tools rely on the regulatory frameworks governing their development and production in various countries. Herein, we examine the evolution of technological applications in agriculture, focusing on the motivations for their introduction, technical challenges, possible benefits and concerns, and regulatory frameworks governing genetically engineered product development and production.

Water deficit caused by drought is a significant threat to crop growth and production. Nitric oxide (NO), a water- and lipid-soluble free radical, plays an important role in cytoprotection. Apart from a few studies supporting the role of NO in drought responses, little is known about this pivotal molecular amendment in the regulation of abiotic stress signaling. In this review, we highlight the knowledge gaps in NO roles under drought stress and the technical challenges underlying NO detection and measurements, and we provide recommendations regarding potential avenues for future investigation. The modulation of NO production to alleviate abiotic stress disturbances in higher plants highlights the potential of genetic manipulation to influence NO metabolism as a tool with which plant fitness can be improved under adverse growth conditions.

Drought is one of the severe environmental stresses threatening agriculture around the globe. Nitric oxide plays diverse roles in plant growth and defensive responses. Despite a few studies supporting the role of nitric oxide in plants under drought responses, little is known about its pivotal molecular amendment in the regulation of stress signaling. In this study, a label-free nano-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry approach was used to determine the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress in banana roots. Plant treatment with SNP improved plant growth and reduced the percentage of yellow leaves. A total of 30 and 90 proteins were differentially identified in PEG+SNP against PEG and PEG+SNP against the control, respectively. The majority of proteins differing between them were related to carbohydrate and energy metabolisms. Antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase, decreased in SNP-treated banana roots compared to PEG-treated banana. These results suggest that the nitric oxide-induced osmotic stress tolerance could be associated with improved carbohydrate and energy metabolism capability in higher plants., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2021 Mohd Amnan et al.)

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is an ongoing global health concern due to its severe sporadic outbreaks in Asia, Africa and Europe, which poses a potential pandemic threat. The development of safe and cost-effective vaccine candidates for HPAI is considered the best strategy for managing the disease and addressing the pandemic preparedness. The most potential vaccine candidate is the antigenic determinant of influenza A virus, hemagglutinin (HA). The present research was aimed at developing optimized expression in Nicotiana benthamiana and protein purification process for HA from the Malaysian isolate of H5N1 as a vaccine antigen for HPAI H5N1. Expression of HA from the Malaysian isolate of HPAI in N. benthamiana was confirmed, and more soluble protein was expressed as truncated HA, the HA1 domain over the entire ectodomain of HA. Two different purification processes were evaluated for efficiency in terms of purity and yield. Due to the reduced yield, protein degradation and length of the 3-column purification process, the 2-column method was chosen for target purification. Purified HA1 was found immunogenic in mice inducing H5 HA-specific IgG and a hemagglutination inhibition antibody. This paper offers an alternative production system of a vaccine candidate against a locally circulating HPAI, which has a regional significance.

In the United States, the epidemic of obesity is readily apparent in women diagnosed with endometrial cancer, the most common gynecologic malignancy. Overall, the benefits of minimally invasive surgery and its oncologic outcomes are similar among laparoscopy and robotic approaches. However, in stratifying obese patients by BMI, more data is needed on morbidly obese patients and their candidacy for robotic surgery along with the technical challenges of staging procedures. Cost analysis studies targeted specifically to the obese and morbidly obese patient is needed to further justify efforts at promoting robotic surgery in this patient population.

Objective: We sought to compare robotic vs laparoscopic surgery in regards to patient reported postoperative pain and quality of life., Study Design: This was a prospective study of patients who presented for treatment of a new gynecologic disease requiring minimally invasive surgical intervention. All subjects were asked to take the validated Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form at 3 time points to assess pain and its effect on quality of life. Statistical analyses were performed using Pearson x(2) and Student's t test., Results: One hundred eleven were included in the analysis of which 56 patients underwent robotic assisted surgery and 55 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery. There was no difference in postoperative pain between conventional laparoscopy and robotic assisted surgery for gynecologic procedures. There was a statistically significant difference found at the delayed postoperative period when evaluating interference of sleep, favoring laparoscopy (ROB 2.0 vs LSC 1.0; P = .03). There were no differences found between the robotic and laparoscopic groups of patients receiving narcotics (56 vs 53, P = .24, respectively), route of administration of narcotics (47 vs 45, P > .99, respectively), or administration of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications (27 vs 21, P = .33, respectively)., Conclusion: Our results demonstrate no difference in postoperative pain between conventional laparoscopy and robotic assisted surgery for gynecologic procedures. Furthermore, pain did not appear to interfere consistently with any daily activity of living. Interference of sleep needs to be further evaluated after controlling for bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Our aim was to determine whether the use of routine cystoscopy increases lower urinary tract injury detection (bladder and/or ureter) after robotic surgery performed by gynecologic oncologists., Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who presented for robotic hysterectomy from 2009-2012 was performed at 2 separate academic medical centers, one that performed routine cystoscopy and one that did not. Statistical analysis was performed with t tests and χ2 tests., Results: We identified 140 cases without cystoscopy and 109 cases with routine cystoscopy. There were no intraoperative or postoperative urinary injuries detected in either group. There were no significant differences in age and body mass index. In the non-cystoscopy group, a larger specimen size (P<.001), less blood loss (P=.013), and a longer mean operative time were observed (P<.0001). In the routine cystoscopy group, more lymphadenectomies were performed with hysterectomy (P=.007) and more patients underwent hysterectomy for ovarian cancer (P=.0192). There were no differences in surgical indications or secondary procedures including bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, radical hysterectomy, ureterolysis, and pelvic organ prolapse-related procedures. The minimum follow-up period was 30 days in both groups., Conclusion: Routine use of cystoscopy did not appear to affect the detection rate of intraoperative lower urinary tract injury during robotic gynecologic surgery because this rate was zero in both groups. However, cystoscopy is relatively simple to perform and can be efficiently incorporated into robotic surgery to avoid the severe morbidity and possible litigation surrounding a urinary tract injury.

Introduction: The incidence of port-site metastasis following robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy is unknown., Presentation of Case: We present a case of a 78-year-old female diagnosed with an incidental grade 3 endometrial adenocarcinoma on a final hysterectomy specimen. She subsequently underwent a robotic staging surgery with a gynecologic oncologist where nodal pathology was found to be negative; her final stage was 1B. One year following diagnosis, she developed a recurrence on her abdominal wall at the former port-sites with concomitant vaginal cuff recurrence., Discussion: We hypothesize possible modes of metastasis and present limited published data to date on port site metastasis following robotic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer., Conclusion: This is the second reported case of port-site metastasis following robotic surgery for endometrial cancer., (Copyright © 2013 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the endometrium is a rare malignancy with an aggressive course. Although data is limited to case reports, the prognosis appears to be poor, similar to other type II uterine cancers. A total of 12 cases of LCNEC of the uterus have been published to date., Presentation of Case: A 71 year-old woman presented with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Endometrial biopsy was non-diagnostic for LCNEC. She underwent surgical debulking and staging of a 22cm endometrial tumor with omental metastasis and positive lymph nodes. Her final FIGO stage was IVB., Discussion: We summarize all prior case reports of LCNEC of the endometrium and discuss the definition, presentation, imaging and surgical management. The pathology with immunohistochemical review, adjuvant therapy and prognosis of LCNEC of the endometrium are also reviewed., Conclusion: Pathologic findings and immunohistochemistry are essential in making a diagnosis of LCNEC of the endometrium. Primary debulking and surgical staging is typically performed, but if a diagnosis of LCNEC can be made preoperatively with immunohistochemistry, surgeons should consider neoadjuvant chemotherapy due to its high grade histology and aggressive course. Otherwise adjuvant chemotherapy is usually given. Even with early stage disease, the prognosis seems poor. Due to the rarity of this aggressive malignancy, more data is needed to establish incidence., (Copyright © 2013 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Vaginal cuff dehiscence following robotic surgery is uncommon. Published reports of vaginal cuff dehiscence following robotic surgery are increasing, but the true incidence is unknown., Presentation of Case: Case 1. A 45 year old female had sexual intercourse and presented with a vaginal cuff dehiscence complicated by small bowel evisceration 4 months after RA-TLH. Case 2. A 44 year old female had sexual intercourse and presented with a vaginal cuff dehiscence with small bowel evisceration 6 weeks after RA-TLH., Discussion: We discuss the rate of vaginal cuff dehiscence by mode of hysterectomy, surgical and non-surgical risk factors that may contribute to vaginal cuff dehiscence, and proposed preventative methods at the time of RA-TLH to reduce this complication., Conclusion: Vaginal cuff dehiscence with associated evisceration of intraabdominal contents is a potentially severe complication of hysterectomy. We recommend counseling patients who undergo RA-TLH to abstain from vaginal intercourse for a minimum of 8-12 weeks., (Copyright © 2013 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Most grade 1 endometrioid endometrial cancers are confined to the uterus at the time of diagnosis and confer a good prognosis. Rarely will a grade 1 endometrioid endometrial carcinoma present with distant metastasis, especially to the bone. We present the case of a 56-year-old woman with postmenopausal bleeding and right hip pain due to metastatic grade 1 endometrioid uterine cancer invading into the right ischium. We discuss treatment options as well as provide a review of prior published reports on bony metastasis in grade 1 endometrioid endometrial cancers. To date, this case is one of 10 others which demonstrates that even a well-differentiated, low-grade endometrioid endometrial carcinoma can progress in a highly aggressive manner.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a bioactive phospholipid, stimulates survival, proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells through the activation of G-protein-coupled plasma membrane receptors. LPA and its receptors are aberrantly expressed in ovarian cancer, with high levels predominantly found in malignant ascites and in the plasma of ovarian cancer patients. LPA signals multiple intracellular pathways, such as Ras/MEKK1-MAPK and PI3K/Akt, to promote growth factors and protease expression, and induce angiogenesis and tumor cell invasion through the extracellular matrix and across the basement membrane. Only a small portion of this intricate lipid-signaling cascade has been characterized thus far. We believe that elucidation of this complex transduction network will provide further opportunities to understand the mechanism of ovarian carcinogenesis, invasion and metastasis.