Expression profiles of genes involved in fatty acid and lipid biosynthesis in developing seeds of Paeonia ostii.

BACKGROUND: Paeonia ostii seeds were identified as novel sources of edible plant oil with a high proportion of α-linolenic acid, a type of n-3 fatty acid with many health benefits. Due to the unreliability of seed oil content and quality, it is necessary to discover the mechanism underlying lipid biosynthesis in Paeonia ostii seeds. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the key genes involved in lipid biosynthesis in Paeonia ostii seeds by analyzing the relationship among the seed characteristics and the expression patterns of lipid genes in Paeonia ostii during seed development. METHODS: Preliminary research on Paeonia ostii seed development was carried out from 10 days after pollination until maturity, focusing on phenology, oil content and lipid profiles. In addition, we investigated the spatiotemporal expression of 36 lipid biosynthetic genes in Paeonia ostii by using quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: The results suggested that the development of Paeonia ostii seeds from pollination to maturity could be divided into three periods. The 36 lipid genes showed various spatiotemporal expression patterns and five gene groups with distinct temporal patterns during seed development were identified by clustering analysis of expression data. Furthermore, the relationships between gene expression and lipid/fatty acid accumulation and some candidate key lipid genes were discussed. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided the global patterns of fatty acid and lipid biosynthesis-related gene expression, which are critical to understanding the molecular basis of lipid biosynthesis and identifying the lipid accumulation rate-limiting genes during seed development.

[Clinical observation on effect of shenqi fanghou recipe in preventing and treating radiation injury in patients with head and neck tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of shenqi fanghou recipe (SFR) in preventing and treating radiation injury in patients with head and neck tumor. METHODS: One hundred and forty patients with head and neck tumor, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, carcinoma of tonsil or tongue, were randomly divided into 2 groups, 70 patients in the observed group were given modified SFR as adjuvant to radiotherapy, while 70 patients in the control group were treated with radiotherapy alone. The radiation reactions during radiotherapy and the condition of late stage radiation injury radiotherapy in patients in the 2 groups were observed. RESULTS: The degree of oropharyngeal mucosa reaction, dryness in mouth and radiation dermatitis in cervical region in the observed group was milder than those in the control group, and the radiation injury induced late stage sequelae, such as the degree of mouth-opening was better and the cervical muscular sclerosis was better in the observed group than in the control group, showing significant difference (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: SFR has definite effect in preventing and treating radiation reaction and late stage radiation injury in patients with head and neck tumor.