Low-cost and efficient confocal imaging method for arabidopsis flower.

For an extensive period of time apical meristem (SAM) has been considered as a mysterious organ, due to its small, hidden and dynamic structure. Confocal imaging, combined with fluorescent reporters, enables researchers to unveil the mechanisms underlying cellular activities, such as gene expression, cell division, growth patterns and cell-cell communications. Recently, a series of protocols were developed for confocal imaging of inflorescence meristem (IM) and floral meristem (FM). However, the requirement of high configuration, such as the need of a water-dipping lens without coverslip and the specialized turrets associated with fixed-stage microscopes, impedes the wide adoption of these methods. We exploited an improved object slide and matching method aiming to decrease the configuration requirement. Following this protocol, various dry microscope lenses can be selected with flexibility for building 3D images of IM and FM.

Genetic relationship between IL-10 gene polymorphisms and the risk of clinical atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: We retrieved different reports containing different genetic effects of - 1082 A/G, - 819 T/C, and - 592 A/C polymorphisms within the IL-10 (interleukin-10) gene on the susceptibility to clinical atopic dermatitis. METHODS: Herein, we conducted a meta-analysis to comprehensively assess such a genetic relationship after collecting the available published evidence. STATA 12.0 software was used for the statistical analysis under the allelic, homozygotic, heterozygotic, dominant, recessive and carrier genetic models. RESULTS: By retrieving and screening database literature, a total of 16 eligible case-control studies were finally selected. For the IL-10 -1082 A/G polymorphism, we did not detect a significant difference between atopic dermatitis cases and population-based controls in the overall meta-analysis under the genetic models of allele G vs. A (P = 0.540), GG vs. AA (P = 0.853), AG vs AA (P = 0.265), AG + GG vs AA (P = 0.221), GG vs AA+AG (P = 0.540) and carrier G vs. A (P = 0.643). Moreover, a statistically non-significant association was observed in the most subgroup meta-analyses by the factors of ethnicity, country and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Likewise, the negative results were detected for the synthetic analysis of IL-10 -819 T/C and - 592 C/A polymorphisms. CONCLUSION: The current evidence does not support a strong genetic relationship between IL-10 -1082 A/G, - 819 T/C and - 592 A/C polymorphisms and the susceptibility to atopic dermatitis.

Identification of a Quality Marker (Q-Marker) of Danhong Injection by the Zebrafish Thrombosis Model.

Quality-marker (Q-marker) is an emerging concept to ensure the quality and batch-to-batch consistency of Chinese medicine (CM). However, significant difficulties remain in the identification of Q-markers due to the unclear relationship between complex chemical compositions and the pharmacological efficacy of CM. In the present study, we proposed a novel strategy to identify the potential Q-marker of danhong injection (DHI) by an in vivo zebrafish thrombosis model. The anti-thrombotic effects of DHI and its major constituents were evaluated by the zebrafish model of arachidonic acid (AA)-induced thrombosis. The results indicated that DHI can attenuate tail venous thrombus and recover the decrease of heart red blood cell (RBC) intensity in a dose-dependent manner. The result that DHI prevented the formulation of thrombosis in zebrafish was also validated in the zebrafish thrombosis model with green fluorescence protein (GFP)-labeled hemoglobin. The major components of DHI, namely danshen (DS) and honghua (HH), as well as the major chemical constituents of DHI, also exerted anti-thrombotic effects, among which rosmarinic acid (RA) and p-coumaric acid (pCA) showed moderate anti-thrombotic effects. This is the first time that pCA from HH has been found as an active compound exerting an anti-thrombotic effect in a dose-dependent manner, whose IC50 value is approximately 147 µg/mL. By analyzing 10 batches of normal DHI samples and five abnormal samples by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we found the contents of pCA and RA can be positively correlated to the anti-thrombotic effect of DHI, suggesting that pCA and RA could be potential Q-markers of DHI to ensure batch-to-batch consistency. Our findings illustrated that discovering major active compounds from CM by in vivo pharmacological models can be a useful approach to identifying Q-markers of CM, and in vivo pharmacological models can be a potential tool to evaluate batch-to-batch consistency of CMs.

Excision of apocrine glands with preservation of axillary superficial fascia for the treatment of axillary bromhidrosis.

BACKGROUND: Axillary bromhidrosis is a distressing problem, which has a strong negative effect on one's social life. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects and complications of the surgical modality for the treatment of axillary bromhidrosis. METHODS: One hundred fifteen patients with axillary bromhidrosis were treated. Two incisions were made transversely along the marked lines on the axillary crease. Subdermal undermining of the marked area with a depth of 0.3 to 0.5 cm and transverse detachment were performed, allowing the exposure of the skin flaps. Skin flaps were carefully separated from the skin. The apocrine glands, follicles, and fats were dissected, and the axillary superficial fascia was maintained. RESULTS: All patients achieved good results in terms of malodor elimination during the follow-up period. All patients reported reduction in axillary sweating. Postoperative complications were minor, including small hematoma (3 cases), delayed wound healing (5 cases), pressure blister (5 cases), and slightly wound scar (2 cases). No infection, skin necrosis, malodor, or recurrence was observed. One hundred eleven patients (96.5%) were very satisfied and 4 (3.5%) patients satisfied with the procedure, with none regretful. CONCLUSION: The procedure has the advantage of a high success rate in radical elimination of the malodor with minor complications.

Pseudomonas forestsoilum sp. nov. and P. tohonis biocontrol bacterial wilt by quenching 3-hydroxypalmitic acid methyl ester.

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum ranks the second top important bacterial plant disease worldwide. It is also the most important bacterial disease threatening the healthy development of Casuarina equisetifolia protection forest. 3-hydroxypalmitic acid methyl ester (3-OH PAME) functions as an important quorum sensing (QS) signal regulating the expression of virulence genes in R. solanacearum, and has been regarded as an ideal target for disease prevention and control. To screen native microorganisms capable of degrading 3-OH PAME, samples of C. equisetifolia branches and forest soil were collected and cultured in the medium containing 3-OH PAME as the sole carbon source. Bacteria with over 85% degradation rates of 3-OH PAME after 7-day incubation were further separated and purified. As a result, strain Q1-7 isolated from forest soil and strain Q4-3 isolated from C. equisetifolia branches were obtained and identified as Pseudomonas novel species Pseudomonas forestsoilum sp. nov. and P. tohonis, respectively, according to whole genome sequencing results. The degradation efficiencies of 3-OH PAME of strains Q1-7 and Q4-3 were 95.80% and 100.00% at 48 h, respectively. Both strains showed high esterase activities and inhibited R. solanacearum exopolysaccharide (EPS) and cellulase production. Application of strains Q1-7 and Q4-3 effectively protects C. equisetifolia, peanut and tomato plants from infection by R. solanacearum. Findings in this study provide potential resources for the prevention and control of bacterial wilt caused by R. solanacearum, as well as valuable materials for the identification of downstream quenching genes and the research and development of quenching enzymes for disease control.

Extramammary Paget's disease: analysis of 17 Chinese cases.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Extramammary Paget's Disease (EMPD) seems to be more common in Caucasians than Chinese. We report the clinical manifestations, management, and prognostic characteristics in 17 Chinese patients. METHODS: Medical records and biopsies of 17 patients who had been treated at a large university hospital in China between March 2005 and January 2012 were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 17 patients, 14 were men. They had lesions on the scrotum and the penis. Of the three women, two had vulvar and one had inguinal lesions. All patients underwent Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). Three men had metastasis to the inguinal lymph nodes and underwent an extensive local excision with inguinal lymphadenectomy. Eight patients who had positive excision margins received additional radiation therapy. The mean follow-up duration was 54 months (4-85 months). One patient had two recurrences. Three had metastasis to the inguinal lymph node. One had metastasis to the bone and concomitant prostate cancer. Two patients died of the disease. CONCLUSION: A striking difference in presentation of EMPD in Chinese compared with Caucasians is the male predominance and location on the penis and scrotum. Mohs micrographic surgery followed by radiotherapy is an effective treatment. Long-term follow-up suggests that the disease has a good prognosis when it does not metastasise.