Screening of novel serum biomarkers for gastric cancer in coastal populations using a protein microarray.

Gastric cancer (GC) has high rates of morbidity and mortality, and this phenomenon is particularly evident in coastal regions where local dietary habits favor the consumption of pickled foods such as salted fish and vegetables. In addition, the diagnosis rate of GC remains low due to the lack of diagnostic serum biomarkers. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to identify potential serum GC biomarkers for use in clinical practice. To identify candidate biomarkers of GC, 88 serum samples were first screened using a high-throughput protein microarray to measure the levels of 640 proteins. Then, 333 samples were used to validate the potential biomarkers using a custom antibody chip. ELISA, western blot, and immunohistochemistry were then used to verify the expression of the target proteins. Finally, logistic regression was performed to select serum proteins for the diagnostic model. As a result, five specific differentially expressed proteins, TGFß RIII, LAG-3, carboxypeptidase A2, Decorin and ANGPTL3, were found to have the ability to distinguish GC. Logistic regression analysis showed that the combination of carboxypeptidase A2 and TGFß RIII had superior potential for diagnosing GC (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.801). The results suggested that these five proteins alone and the combination of carboxypeptidase A2 and TGFß RIII may be used as serum markers for the diagnosis of GC.

Transcription factor OsbZIP49 controls tiller angle and plant architecture through the induction of indole-3-acetic acid-amido synthetases in rice.

Tiller angle is an important determinant of plant architecture in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Auxins play a critical role in determining plant architecture; however, the underlying metabolic and signaling mechanisms are still largely unknown. In this study, we have identified a member of the bZIP family of TGA class transcription factors, OsbZIP49, that participates in the regulation of plant architecture and is specifically expressed in gravity-sensing tissues, including the shoot base, nodes and lamina joints. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsbZIP49 displayed a tiller-spreading phenotype with reduced plant height and internode lengths. In contrast, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of OsbZIP49 resulted in a compact architecture. Follow-up studies indicated that the effects of OsbZIP49 on tiller angles are mediated through changes in shoot gravitropic responses. Additionally, we provide evidence that OsbZIP49 activates the expression of indole-3-acetic acid-amido synthetases OsGH3-2 and OsGH3-13 by directly binding to TGACG motifs located within the promoters of both genes. Increased GH3-catalyzed conjugation of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in rice transformants overexpressing OsbZIP49 resulted in the increased accumulation of IAA-Asp and IAA-Glu, and a reduction in local free auxin, tryptamine and IAA-Glc levels. Exogenous IAA or naphthylacetic acid (NAA) partially restored shoot gravitropic responses in OsbZIP49-overexpressing plants. Knockout of OsbZIP49 led to reduced expression of both OsGH3-2 and OsGH3-13 within the shoot base, and increased accumulation of IAA and increased OsIAA20 expression levels were observed in transformants following gravistimulation. Taken together, the present results reveal the role transcription factor OsbZIP49 plays in determining plant architecture, primarily due to its influence on local auxin homeostasis.

Expression of CCL-18 and CX3CL1 in Serum, and Their Potential Roles as Two Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Chronic cor Pulmonale (COPD&CCP): a Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: CC chemokine ligand-18 (CCL-18) and CX3 chemokine ligand 1 (CX3CL1) are key factors of vascular and tissue injury in chronic respiratory diseases. Here, we investigated the value of CCL-18 and CX3CL1 in diagnosis and prognosis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic cor pulmonale (COPD&CCP). METHODS: First, we investigated the expression profile of CCL-18 and CX3CL1 in serum of COPD&CCP patients. Then the relationship of the level of CCL-18 and CX3CL1 with clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed. Subsequently, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of CCL-18 and CX3CL1 to discriminate COPD&CCP. The prognostic value and therapy outcome were also evaluated. RESULTS: Compared to healthy subjects, the level of CCL-18 (8.01 ± 2.01 ng/mL) and CX3CL1 (2,096.11 ± 306.09 ng/mL) was significantly increased in COPD&CCP patients (p < 0.05). The upregulation of CCL-18 and CX3CL1 was significantly correlated with clinicopathological characteristics including CRP, IL-6, FIB, NT-proBNP, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PASP, LVEF, and T wave anomaly. The combination of CCL-18 and CX3CL1 showed high precision for discriminating COPD&CCP with high AUC values (0.828), sensitivity (66.1%), and specificity (92.5%). Furthermore, CCL-18 and CX3CL1 acted as independent factors which lead to poor clinical benefits and indicated poor prognosis of COPD&CCP patients. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results indicated that CCL-18 and CX3CL1 could act as suitable biomarkers in prognosis and prognostic evaluation of COPD&CCP.

The roles of jasmonate signalling in nitrogen uptake and allocation in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Herbivore damage by chewing insects activates jasmonate (JA) signalling that can elicit systemic defense responses in rice. Few details are known, however, concerning the mechanism, whereby JA signalling modulates nutrient status in rice in response to herbivory. (15 NH4 )2 SO4 labelling experiments, proteomic surveys, and RT-qPCR analyses were used to identify the roles of JA signalling in nitrogen (N) uptake and allocation in rice plants. Exogenous applications of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) to rice seedlings led to significantly reduced N uptake in roots and reduced translocation of recently-absorbed 15 N from roots to leaves, likely occurring as a result of down-regulation of glutamine synthetase cytosolic isozyme 1-2 and ferredoxin-nitrite reductase. Shoot MeJA treatment resulted in a remobilization of endogenous unlabelled 14 N from leaves to roots, and root MeJA treatment also increased 14 N accumulation in roots but did not affect 14 N accumulation in leaves of rice. Additionally, proteomic and RT-qPCR experiments showed that JA-mediated plastid disassembly and dehydrogenases GDH2 up-regulation contribute to N release in leaves to support production of defensive proteins/compounds under N-limited condition. Collectively, our results indicate that JA signalling mediates large-scale systemic changes in N uptake and allocation in rice plants.

B-Cell Lymphoma Associated with COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report.

PURPOSE: Most common publications are related to COVID-19 diagnosis in hematological malignancy patients. However, here we report a case involving a patient diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma while undergoing treatment for COVID-19, including the changes in major clinical symptoms and medical examinations, then explain the probable causes of the case. CASE PRESENTATION: A 74-year-old woman with a previous history of oesophageal cancer was admitted to the hospital after having cough and sputum for 15 days. Despite the COVID-19 symptoms, this patient did not have a fever at the time of the onset. Results of routine blood tests were normal at first but then declined with persistent fever, and A whole-body C.T. examination ruled out the possibility of tumor-metastasis-related fever. This patient had no hepatosplenomegaly or regional lymphadenopathy, and there was no concrete evidence of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis or lymphoma until bone marrow biopsy results confirmed the latter. CONCLUSION: We describe an uncommon case of COVID-19 who was finally diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma. An awareness of persistent fever and declined routine blood tests caused by hematological malignancies instead of COVID-19 itself can aid in providing appropriate guidelines for management and treatment.

Evaluation of tracer kinetic parameters in cervical cancer using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI as biomarkers in terms of biological relevance, diagnostic performance and inter-center variability.

Objectives: This study assessed the clinical value of parameters derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI with respect to correlation with angiogenesis and proliferation of cervical cancer, performance of diagnosis and reproducibility of DCE-MRI parameters across MRI scanners. Materials and Methods: A total of 113 patients with cervical carcinoma from two centers were included in this retrospective study. The DCE data were centralized and processed using five tracer kinetic models (TKMs) (Tofts, Ex-Tofts, ATH, SC, and DP), yielding the following parameters: volume transfer constant (Ktrans), extravascular extracellular volume (Ve), fractional volume of vascular space (Vp), blood flow (Fp), and permeability surface area product (PS). CD34 counts and Ki-67 PI (proliferation index) of cervical cancer and normal cervix tissue were obtained using immunohistochemical staining in Center 1. Results: CD34 count and Ki-67 PI in cervical cancer were significantly higher than in normal cervix tissue (p<0.05). Parameter Ve from each TKM was significantly smaller in cervical cancer tissue than in normal cervix tissue (p<0.05), indicating the higher proliferation of cervical cancer cells. Ve of each TKM attained the largest AUC to diagnose cervical cancer. The distributions of DCE parameters for both cervical cancer and normal cervix tissue were not significantly different between two centers (P>0.05). Conclusion: Parameter Ve was similar to the expression of Ki-67 in revealing the proliferation of tissue cells, attained good performance in diagnosis of cervical cancer, and demonstrated consistent findings on measured values across centers.

Effects of boron, silicon and their interactions on cadmium accumulation and toxicity in rice plants.

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal for both animals and plants. Rice consumption is a major source of Cd intake for human. Minimization of Cd accumulation in rice is key to reduce Cd hazard to human. Here we showed alleviating effects of boron (B), silicon (Si) and their mixture on Cd accumulation and toxicity in hydroponically-cultured rice plants. Cd treatment (100 µM) led to Cd accumulation in roots and shoots, as well as significant reduction in plant growth. However, amendment of either B or Si significantly alleviated Cd accumulation and toxicity. Moreover, simultaneous supply of B and Si showed better alleviating effect. However, addition of B and Si alleviated Cd-induced oxidative stress in Cd-treated plants as reflected by reduced MDA, H2O2 and O2-, as well as increased activities of major antioxidant enzymes. Cd exposure induced the expression of Cd transporter genes of OsHMA2, OsHMA3, OsNramp1 and OsNramp5. In contrast, simultaneous supplement of B and Si in Cd-treated plants compromised the gene expression. Our results show that both B and Si alleviate Cd accumulation and toxicity by improving oxidative stress and suppressing Cd uptake and transport, and the two elements display joint effect.