ABSTRACT
The FRUITFULL (FUL) gene belongs to the AP1/ FUL subfamily of the plant MADS-box family and has functions in regulating flowering time, floral meristem differentiation and fruit development. PfFUL gene sequence was derived from the perilla transcriptome data, and the basic physicochemical properties of PfFUL were analyzed by bioinformatics methods. Evolutionary relationships of PfFUL with other species of FUL were analyzed by phylogenetic tree. Plant expression vector 35S::PfFUL was constructed and used to transform wild type Col-0 and mutant ful-7 Arabidopsis to obtain overexpression 35S::PfFUL/ Col-0 and complemented mutation 35S::PfFUL / ful-7 plants respectively. Comparative phenotypic analysis was performed to preliminarily clarify the function of PfFUL gene in plant flowering and fruit development. The functions of the PfFUL gene during flowering and angular fruit development of the plants were initially clarified. The CDS of PfFUL gene is 738 bp and encodes 245 amino acids. Phylogenetic tree showed that the perilla PfFUL was closely related to Solanum lycopersicum, Salvia splendens and Salvia hispanica, but far related to Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum and Vitis vinifera. Compared to Col-0 and ful-7, the transgenic plants showed early flowering (P0. 05), and the amount of wrinkled seed was significantly reduced (P<0. 01). In addition, phenotypic observations revealed that the transgenic plants also exhibited increased internode length and narrowed and curled cauline leaves. In conclusion, this study confirmed that the PfFUL gene regulates early flowering and fruit development in plants and participates in nutritional growth.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the characteristics and diagnostic value of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating benign soft tissue lesions from malignant tumors affecting the masticator space (MS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Prior to managements, conventional MRI and DCE-MRI were performed in 53 patients who suffered from primary or secondary soft tissue lesions affecting the MS. The time to peak (TTP), relative maximum enhancement (RME) and relative washout ratio (RWO) were separately calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean TTP of benign and malignant lesions were (130.3 ± 13.2) and (69.6 ± 6.9) s, respectively. Mean RWO of benign and malignant lesions were (29.7 ± 5.5)% and (8.7 ± 2.1)%, respectively. Malignant lesions had a significantly shorter TTP(P = 0.001) and lower RWO (P = 0.003) than benign lesions. When TTP was less than 92.2 s and RWO less than or equal to 16.0%, malignant tumors were considered. DCE-MRI had a sensitivity of 72.3%, specificity of 93.5%, accuracy of 84.9%, positive predictive value of 88.9%, and negative predictive value of 82.9%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>As a non-invasive imaging technique, DCE-MRI is valuable to differentiate benign soft tissue lesions from malignant tumors affecting the MS.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Adenocarcinoma , Diagnosis , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Diagnosis , Contrast Media , Diagnosis, Differential , Head and Neck Neoplasms , Diagnosis , Inflammation , Diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Masticatory Muscles , Sarcoma , Diagnosis , Stomatognathic Diseases , Diagnosis , Stomatognathic System , Vascular Malformations , DiagnosisABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the possibility of using single-voxel (1)H MR spectroscopy to evaluate malignant soft tissue tumors of oral-maxillofacial region.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-two patients with oral-maxillofacial malignant tumors, examined by single-voxel (1)H MR spectroscopy at a 1.5 T MR unit before treatment and confirmed by histo-pathological examination, were retrospectively studied. The localization for (1)H MR spectroscopy was used with a point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) at echo time of 144 ms. Choline (Cho), one of tumor's metabolites, was considered as a criterion to assess the malignant tumors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 42 oral-maxillofacial malignant tumors, the Cho peak was identified in 37 lesions, including 15 of 17 squamous cell carcinomas, 9 of 12 salivary carcinomas, and 13 of 13 sarcomas and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Single-voxel (1)H MR spectroscopy might provide useful information for the assessment of malignant soft tissue tumors in the oral-maxillofacial region. Most malignant tumors in this study were characteristic of containing Cho metabolites. The Cho peak was more frequently recognized in the sarcomas and non-Hodgkin lymphomas than in the carcinomas.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Choline , Facial Neoplasms , Chemistry , Diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Mouth Neoplasms , Chemistry , DiagnosisABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the diagnostic value of the carotid artery invasion by the oral-maxillofacial and neck malignant tumors with computed tomography (CT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-three patients (55 tumors) of oral-maxillofacial and neck malignant tumors were examined with enhanced axial CT examination in pre-operation. The CT manifestations of all tumors were retrospectively corresponded with the surgical findings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Oral-maxillofacial and neck malignant tumors with abnormal common carotid artery (CCA) or internal carotid artery (ICA) manifestations were shown on CT as five types: type I, compression and deformation of CCA or ICA in six tumors; type II, displacement of CCA or ICA in 15 tumors; type III, the tumors encompass the carotid vessels more than 180 degrees in 8 tumors; type IV, the segmental deletion of fat or fascia planes between tumor and CCA/ICA in 25 tumors; and type V, ill-defined CCA/ICA wall in 12 tumors. Surgical findings recorded that 20 CCAs or ICAs were adhered by the oral-maxillofacial and neck malignant tumors. Of these 20 lesions, 14 malignant tumors (70%) with more than two abnormal changes of CCA or ICA were shown on CT images. The respective sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 30.0%, 100.0% and 74.5% for type I, 20.0%, 68.6%, 50.9% for type II, 22.2%, 100.0%, 49.1% for type III, 90.0%, 80.0% and 83.6% for type IV, and 45.0%, 88.6% and 72.7% for type V.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The main CT findings of maxillofacial and neck malignant tumors affecting the carotid artery are different. Comparatively, the signs of type I, type III and type IV may be valuable in evaluating CCA or ICA invasion, although the accurate diagnosis of the CCA or ICA involvement by the maxillofacial and neck malignant tumors remains difficult.</p>