Cytological behaviour of floral organs and in silico characterization of differentially expressed transcript-derived fragments associated with 'floral bud distortion' in soybean.

An attempt was made to understand the 'floral bud distortion' (FBD), an unexplored disorder prevailing in soybean. Cytological behaviour of floral reproductive organs and in silico characterization of differentially expressed transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) in symptomatic and asymptomatic soybean plants were carried out. Pollens in asymptomatic plants do not have defects in number, size, shape and function. However, in symptomatic plant, pollens were found nonviable, abnormal in shape and with reduced germination ability. Here, we employed a computational approach, exploring invaluable resources. The tissue-specific transcript profile of symptomatic and asymptomatic sources was compared to determine differentially expressed TDFs associated with FBD to improve its basic understanding. A total of 60 decamer primers produced 197 scorable amplicons, ranged 162-1130 bp, of which 171 were monomorphic and 26 were differentially regulated. Reproducible TDFs were sequenced and characterized for their homology analysis, annotation, protein-protein interaction, subcellular localization and their physical mapping. Homology-based annotation of TDFs in soybean revealed presence of two characterized and seven uncharacterized hits. Annotation of characterized sequences showed presence of genes, namely auxin response factor 9 (ARF9) and forkhead-associated (FHA) domain, which are directly involved in plant development through various pathways, such as hormonal regulation, plant morphology, embryogenesis and DNA repair.

Results of induction chemotherapy in children older than 18 months with stage-4 neuroblastoma treated with an adaptive-to-response modified N7 protocol (mN7)

Purpose. We report the response rate in children older than 18 months with stage 4 Neuroblastoma, using a modified dose-intensive, response-adaptive, induction mN7 protocol. Methods. From 2005 to 2012, 24 patients were treated with the mN7 protocol. Phase 1 included five MSKCC N7 cycles and surgery and two high-dose cyclophosphamide-topotecan (HD-CT) cycles for those who did not achieve complete remission (CR) and negative bone marrow (BM) minimal residual disease (MRD) status (CR+MRD-). Phase 2 consisted of myeloablative doses of topotecan, thiotepa and carboplatin plus hyperfractionated RT. Phase 3 included isotretinoin and 3F8 immunotherapy plus GM-CSF. BM MRD was monitored using GD2 synthase, PHOX2B and cyclin D1 mRNAs. Results. After 3 cycles, all patients showed BM complete histological clearance and 6 (25 %) were MRD-. Twenty of 21 s-look surgeries achieved macroscopic complete resection. After 5 cycles and surgery, 123I-MIBG scan was negative in 15 (62.5 %) cases, BM disease by histology was negative in 23 (96 %) and 10 (42 %) patients were MRD-. Twelve (50 %) pts were in CR, 2 in very good partial response (VGPR), 9 partial response (PR) and one had progressive disease. With 2 HD-CT extra cycles, 17 (71 %) pts achieved CR+MRD- status moving to phase 2. Overall and event-free survival at 3 years for the 17 patients who achieved CR+MRD- is 65 and 53 %, respectively, median follow-up 47 months. Seven (29 %) patients never achieved CR+MRD-. Univariate Cox regression analysis shows CR+MRD- status after mN7 induction as the only statistically significant prognostic factor to predict overall survival. Conclusions. mN7 induction regimen produced a CR+MRD- rate of 71 %. CR+MRD- status following induction was the only predictive marker of long-term survival (AU)

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Results of induction chemotherapy in children older than 18 months with stage-4 neuroblastoma treated with an adaptive-to-response modified N7 protocol (mN7).

PURPOSE: We report the response rate in children older than 18 months with stage 4 Neuroblastoma, using a modified dose-intensive, response-adaptive, induction mN7 protocol. METHODS: From 2005 to 2012, 24 patients were treated with the mN7 protocol. Phase 1 included five MSKCC N7 cycles and surgery and two high-dose cyclophosphamide-topotecan (HD-CT) cycles for those who did not achieve complete remission (CR) and negative bone marrow (BM) minimal residual disease (MRD) status (CR+MRD-). Phase 2 consisted of myeloablative doses of topotecan, thiotepa and carboplatin plus hyperfractionated RT. Phase 3 included isotretinoin and 3F8 immunotherapy plus GM-CSF. BM MRD was monitored using GD2 synthase, PHOX2B and cyclin D1 mRNAs. RESULTS: After 3 cycles, all patients showed BM complete histological clearance and 6 (25 %) were MRD-. Twenty of 21 s-look surgeries achieved macroscopic complete resection. After 5 cycles and surgery, (123)I-MIBG scan was negative in 15 (62.5 %) cases, BM disease by histology was negative in 23 (96 %) and 10 (42 %) patients were MRD-. Twelve (50 %) pts were in CR, 2 in very good partial response (VGPR), 9 partial response (PR) and one had progressive disease. With 2 HD-CT extra cycles, 17 (71 %) pts achieved CR+MRD- status moving to phase 2. Overall and event-free survival at 3 years for the 17 patients who achieved CR+MRD- is 65 and 53 %, respectively, median follow-up 47 months. Seven (29 %) patients never achieved CR+MRD-. Univariate Cox regression analysis shows CR+MRD- status after mN7 induction as the only statistically significant prognostic factor to predict overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: mN7 induction regimen produced a CR+MRD- rate of 71 %. CR+MRD- status following induction was the only predictive marker of long-term survival.