Soil water content and nitrogen differentially correlate with multidimensional leaf traits of two temperate broadleaf species.

The variation and correlation of leaf economics and vein traits are crucial for predicting plant ecological strategies under different environmental changes. However, correlations between these two suites of traits and abiotic factors such as soil water and nitrogen content remain ambiguous. We measured leaf economics and vein traits as well as soil water and nitrogen content for two different shade-tolerant species (Betula platyphylla and Acer mono) in four mixed broadleaved-Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forests along a latitudinal gradient in Northeast China. We found that leaf economics traits and vein traits were decoupled in shade-intolerant species, Betula platphylla, but significantly coupled in a shade-tolerant species, A. mono. We found stronger correlations among leaf traits in the shade tolerant species than in the shade intolerant species. Furthermore, leaf economic traits were positively correlated with the soil water gradient for both species, whereas vein traits were positively correlated with soil water gradient for the shade intolerant species but negatively correlated in the shade tolerant species. Although economic traits were positively correlated with soil nitrogen gradient in shade intolerant species but not correlated in shade tolerant species, vein traits were negatively correlated with soil nitrogen gradient in shade tolerant species but not correlated in shade intolerant species. Our study provides evidence for distinct correlations between leaf economics and vein traits and local abiotic factors of species differing in light demands. We recommend that the ecological significance of shade tolerance be considered for species when evaluating ecosystem functions and predicting plant responses to environmental changes.

Cytokine and chemokine modification by Toll-like receptor polymorphisms is associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Toll-like receptors (TLR) play a pivotal role in sensing a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. A dysregulation of TLR signaling may increase the risk of developing chronic inflammatory diseases and cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of TLR2 R753Q, TLR4 D299G, and T399I polymorphisms with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to explore the effects of these polymorphisms on cytokine and chemokine expression in NPC biopsies. The genotypes of the three loci among 236 patients with NPC and 287 healthy controls were determined by PCR-RFLP. Cytokines and chemokines mRNA and protein in NPC biopsies were measured by real-time quantitative PCR and ELISA, respectively. Results showed that the combined CT/TT genotype of T399I was associated with increased NPC risk, with an odds ratio of 1.853 (95% confidence interval: 1.184-2.961). Also, individuals with the T allele of T399I showed a 1.842-fold increase in NPC risk compared to those with the T399I C allele (95% confidence interval: 1.213-3.015). Messenger RNA levels of interleukin (IL)-1α, tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-10 were significantly elevated in patients with T399I combined CT/TT genotype; IL-1α and IL-10 protein concentration significantly increased in NPC patients with T399I combined CT/TT genotype compared to those with the T399I CC genotype. Our data suggest that TLR4 T399I modify cytokines and chemokines patterns and play a role in the development of NPC.

MMP-9 polymorphisms are related to serum lipids levels but not associated with colorectal cancer susceptibility in Chinese population.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in cancer development and aggression. MMP-9 polymorphisms may affect MMPs expression and contribute to interindividual differences in susceptibility to a wide spectrum of cancers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of MMP-9 P574R and R668Q polymorphisms with colorectal cancer (CRC); and to explore the relationship among the polymorphisms and clinicopathologic parameters, serum tumor markers and lipids. The genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment lengthy polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Tumor markers were measured with the Electro ChemiL uminescence method. Lipids levels were analyzed using an automatic biochemistry analyzer. The both polymorphisms were not associated with the risk of CRC risk. The clinicopathologic parameters, tumor markers were not associated with MMP-9 polymorphisms. Total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly higher in patients with P574R PP genotype compared with patients with P574R PR combined RR genotypes (P = 0.043 and P = 0.038 respectively). Our data suggested that MMP-9 P574R and R668Q were not associated with CRC risk, but P574R affected serum LDL-C and TC levels in CRC patients.

Association of IL-1 polymorphisms and IL-1 serum levels with susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Previous studies demonstrated that the polymorphism of interleukin-1 (IL-1) produce alterations of the protein expression and may contribute to oncogenetic processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between IL-1A gene polymorphisms and NPC susceptibility and the influence of on IL-1α serum levels in cases versus controls. To test whether the genetic variants of IL-1A gene modify the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), we compared the -889C/T and rs3783553 polymorphisms between 248 patients with NPC and 296 healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Serum IL-1α levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The rs3783553 (TTCA insertion or deletion) polymorphism of the IL-1A gene was significantly associated with the susceptibility to NPC. The variant homozygote genotype +/+ was associated with a significantly reduced risk of NPC as compared with the wild homozygote -/- genotype, and the serum IL-1α levels were significantly lower in individuals with homozygous +/+ genotypes. No association was found between the -889C/T polymorphisms and risk of NPC, and no statistically significant differences were found between rs3783553 polymorphism and clinical pathology indices. The IL-1A rs3783553 polymorphism might contribute to a risk of developing NPC by affecting the serum IL-1α secretion in the Chinese population.

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas presenting with ascites misdiagnosed as pancreatic tuberculosis: a case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a rare pancreatic tumor that mainly affects young women. It is a low-grade malignant neoplasm, with an excellent prognosis after surgical treatment. We report herein a case of SPN presenting with ascites that was misdiagnosed as pancreatic tuberculosis (TB). CASE REPORT: A 16-year-old female initially presented with a large volume of ascites. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound and computed tomography found a heterogeneous lesion in the pancreatic body, which had slight contrast enhancement on the arterial phase. Analysis of ascites showed it was exudative. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) of the mass only revealed a few blood clots. The diagnosis was highly suggestive of a pancreatic TB. However, after 6 months of anti-TB therapy, the pancreatic lesion remained essentially unchanged. Subsequently, magnetic resonance imaging indicated a mixed solid and cystic lesion with a well-defined margin in the pancreatic body. Further EUS-FNA showed monomorphic neoplastic cells with papillary architecture and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the tumor cells were positive for ß-catenin, CD10, vimentin, cytokeratin, and synaptophysin. These findings were consistent with SPN. After distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy, postoperative pathology and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the diagnosis of SPN. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should consider the possibility of SPN for pancreatic heterogeneous masses. Multiple diagnostic imaging modalities and EUS-FNA may contribute to the preoperative diagnosis of this disease.

Effects of TGF-ß1 on the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Human Cervical Cancer Hela Cells In Vitro.

To investigate the effects of TGF-ß1 on the proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer Hela cells in vitro. Human cervical cancer Hela cells were cultured in vitro and divided into the experimental and control groups. In the experimental groups, Hela cells were stimulated with different concentrations of TGF-ß1 (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 ng/mL), while Hela cells cultured in serum-free medium without TGF-ß1 were used as controls. The CCK8 method was adopted to detect the effect of TGF-ß1 on Hela cell proliferation, and flow cytometry was used to determine cell apoptosis 72 h after TGF-ß1 treatment. Compared with the control group, the CCK-8 tests showed that different concentrations of TGF-ß1 had no obvious effect on Hela cell proliferation 24 h after treatment (P > 0.05). However, upon 48 or 72 h of treatment, TGF-ß1 significantly inhibited the proliferation of Hela cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The flow cytometry results indicated that TGF-ß1 influenced the apoptosis of human cervical cancer Hela cells in a dose-dependent manner after 72 h of treatment (P < 0.05). TGF-ß1 significantly inhibited the growth and induced the apoptosis of human cervical Hela cells in vitro.

Effects of mTOR-STAT3 on the migration and invasion abilities of hepatoma cell and mTOR-STAT3 expression in liver cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of mTOR-STAT3 pathway on the invasion and migration of hepatoma cell. METHODS: mTOR and STAT3 expression in the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 and normal liver cell line L02 were detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and western blotting. The migration and invasion abilities of cells and expression of STAT3 were detected by scratch adhesion test and transwell migration assays, after siRNA transfection blocking mTOR expression of HepG2 cells. RESULTS: The HepG2 cells expression is higher compared with normal cells L02 expression. Western blotting assay showed the mTOR expression was blocked, while STAT3 expression was also decreased, after the siRNA transfection of HepG2 cells. The migration (scratch adhesion test) and invasion (transwell assays) abilities of HepG2 cells which the mTOR expression was blocked by siRNA interference were significantly decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: mTORSTAT3 expression in hepatoma cells HepG2 was significantly higher than that in normal liver cells. mTOR blocking can reduce the expression of STAT3, which is also closely related to the invasion and metastasis of liver cancer cells.

Diagnosis and cure experience of hepatolithiasis-associated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in 66 patients.

BACKGROUND: The management of hepatolithiasis combined with intrahepatic cholangicarcinoma (IHHCC) remains a challenge due to poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to summarize our diagnosis and cure experience of IHHCC over the recent 10 years. METHODS: From January 1996 to January 2006, 66 patients with IHHCC were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 66 patients, 52 underwent surgical resection (radical resection in 38 and palliative in 14) and 8 patients abdominal exploration, while the other 6 cases received endoscopic retrograde biliary internal drainage and stent implantation. In this series, correct diagnosis of advanced stage was made during operation in 8 cases (8/60, 13.3%) and all of them (underwent unnecessary abdominal exploration, among them the positive rate of CA19-9 was 100%, and the positive rate of CEA was 87.6% (7/8), incidence rate of ascites was 100% and short-term significant weight loss was 100%, with median overall survival of only 4 months. CONCLUSION: Radical resection is mandatory for IHHCC patient to achieve long-term survival, the CT and MR imaging features of IHHCC being concentric enhancement. Patients with IHHCC have significant higher CA199 and significant higher CEA and short-term significant weight loss and ascites should be considered with advanced stage of IHHCC and unnecessary non-therapeutic laparotomies should be avoided.

[Landscape pattern in Northeast China based on moving window method].

Based on GIS technology and by using moving window method, the characteristics of landscape pattern in Northeast China in 2006 and the relationships between these characteristics and environmental factors such as precipitation, air temperature, altitude and human activities were studied. In the study area in 2006, forest land had the largest proportion, followed by the cultivated land, occupying 61.69% and 25.11% of the total respectively, and the landscape diversity had the characteristics of circle-zoning structure, which provided a buffer region for fragmented and sensitive regions, making the adverse ecological consequences be reduced to or restricted in a definite scale. The correlation coefficients of landscape indices with precipitation and air temperature were less than 0.4, and those with altitude were less than 0.07, illustrating that the heterogeneity of landscape pattern in study area was not dependent on single natural factors.

[Simulation on spatiotemporal dynamics of main prey populations of Panthera tigris in East Wanda Mountains].

By using landscape-level animal population simulator (LAPS), the spatiotemporal dynamics of the main prey populations of Panthera tigris from 1990 to 2009 in East Wanda Mountains were simulated, based on the different scenarios of accidental mortality and carrying capacity that could represent the influence of direct and indirect human disturbance. The effects of the accidental mortality and carrying capacity on the population dynamics were studied, and the spatiotemporal distribution of animal blocks was exhibited explicitly in the study area, with the individual density in different patches compared. The results showed that compared with carrying capacity, accidental mortality had more effects on prey populations, and the population density was significantly higher in shrubs than in broad-leaved forests. The conclusions made in this study could provide scientific basis for the conservation and management of P. tigris' s preys in East Wanda Mountains, while the quantitative validation of the conclusions still needs further investigation.

[An individual-based catchment scale forest dynamic model].

In this paper, an individual-based catchment scale forest dynamic model was developed, and applied to a 400 years simulation of a real catchment. The simulation included pretreatment of topographic data, running of modified MTCLIM, and simulation of forest dynamics. The development and validation processes of this model were described, and the details of the model, including the application of GIS and the parameterization of climate and physiological factors, were presented. The simulation results of a real catchment (139 hm2) in Wolong Reserve showed that this model could describe the physiological processes and spatial distribution of tree individuals, and realize the simulation of the spatial pattern and dynamics of forest in whole catchment.