Advances in RNA-Silencing-Related Resistance against Viruses in Potato.

Potato is a major food crop that has the potential to feed the increasing global population. Potato is the fourth most important crop and a staple food for many people worldwide. The traditional breeding of potato poses many challenges because of its autotetraploid nature and its tendency toward inbreeding depression. Moreover, potato crops suffer considerable production losses because of infections caused by plant viruses. In this context, RNA silencing technology has been successfully applied in model and crop species. In this review, we describe the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms, including small-interfering RNA, microRNA, and artificial microRNA, which may be used to engineer resistance against potato viruses. We also explore the latest advances in the development of antiviral strategies to enhance resistance against potato virus X, potato virus Y, potato virus A, potato leafroll virus, and potato spindle tuber viroid. Furthermore, the challenges in RNAi that need to be overcome are described in this review. Altogether, this report would be insightful for the researchers attempting to understand the RNAi-mediated resistance against viruses in potato.

Delayed Initial Radioiodine Adjuvant Therapy Does Affect Biochemical Response in Intermediate- to High-Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

Background: There are no definite recommendations on the optimal time of initiating radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients in current relevant guidelines. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the timing of initiating radioiodine adjuvant therapy (RAT) and the clinical outcomes based on dynamic follow-ups and assessments in intermediate- to high-risk DTC patients. Methods: A total of 206 patients with intermediate- to high-risk DTC receiving RAT of 150 mCi were retrospectively reviewed. According to the time interval (TI: between thyroidectomy and initial RAT), the patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1: TI < 3 months (n=148), and Group 2: TI ≥ 3 months (n=58). The RAT therapy response was evaluated as excellent response (ER), indeterminate response (IDR), biochemical incomplete response (BIR), structural incomplete response (SIR). The univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to screen out factors associated with incomplete response (IR= BIR+SIR). Finally, the prognostic nomogram was used to explain IR rates as a valuable tool in clinical practice. Results: Response to initial RAT was significantly different between 2 groups during dynamic follow-ups (all P<0.05). Group 2 had significantly lower ER rates (37.9 vs 63.5, 52.0 vs 73.9, 64.4 vs 80.3, all P<0.05, respectively) and higher IR rates (39.7 vs 14.9, 36.0 vs 9.7, 12.2 vs 3.9, all P<0.05, respectively) than group 1 during dynamic follow-ups. By univariate and multivariate analyses, prolonged TI (HR: 6.67, 95%CI: 2.241-19.857, P=0.001), soft tissue invasion (HR: 7.35, 95%CI: 1.624-33.296, P=0.010), higher sTg (HR: 7.21, 95%CI: 1.991-26.075, P=0.003) were manifested to be independent risk factors for IR. The nomogram showed that soft tissue invasion, sTg, and TI were the top 3 contributors to the IR. Conclusions: Early RAT is associated with greater biochemical response but has no impact on SIR. Delayed initial RAT (≥3 months after thyroidectomy) related to IR in intermediate- to high-risk DTC.

The ethanol extract of honeysuckle stem modulates the innate immunity of Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis against Aeromonas hydrophila.

Honeysuckle stem had been used as feed additives to modulate immunity in breeding industry, which was limited in the aquaculture field. In this study, the immunomodulation of honeysuckle stem ethanol extract (designed as HSE) on Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis was detected. The crabs fed with HSE diets for 30 days had higher level of the total haemocyte count (HTC), lysozyme activity and PO activity (P < 0.05), and had no obvious affect on the phagocytic activity, NO and TNF-α level. When challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila (1.0 × 107 colony-forming units), HSE exhibited weak antibacterial activity against A. hydrophila and increased survival rate of crabs. The decreasing of THC and the increasing of TNF-α concentration, EsCaspase and EsLITAF mRNA expression level were all inhibited significantly by HSE treatment (P < 0.05), when the crabs were challenged by A. hydrophila. Moreover, the following immune parameters of crabs were enhanced by HSE treatment after A. hydrophila infection, including the rising of phagocytosis index and phagocytic rate of haemocyte, the rising of lysozyme, PO, NOS activities and nitric oxide concentration (P < 0.05). Therefore, it was concluded that HSE had great potential to develop into feed additive of crabs, which could enhance the innate immunity of Chinese mitten crabs E. sinensis effectively after A. hydrophila infection.

Influence of the first radioactive iodine ablation on peripheral complete blood count in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Radioactive iodine (RAI) is considered to be related with hematologic changes. This study aimed to evaluate influence of the first RAI ablation on peripheral complete blood count (CBC) in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).Data of CBC at baseline and 6 months after RAI were obtained in 385 patients with DTC with approximately 3700 MBq I (ranging 2220-7585 MBq). Further comparison was done in 196 patients with 1-month postablation data available. Routine blood examinations were performed to determine impact of RAI on white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin, platelet, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte in both sexes. Continuous variables were compared by paired t tests and independent samples t test, and categorical variables were compared by chi-square analysis. Data with repeated measurements were analyzed by analysis of variance.The first RAI after thyroidectomy was associated with mild, yet significant declines in WBC, platelet, and lymphocyte, which persisted for 6 months. One month after RAI, significant declines were found in all CBC, including RBC and hemoglobin (all P < 0.05). While CBC partly recovered 6 months after RAI, this follow-up CBC still demonstrated significant declines in WBC, platelet, and lymphocyte (all P < 0.05) without gender differences. Significant rises in RBC and hemoglobin in males and females were found. The decline of platelet in females was more obvious than in males at 3700 to 4440 MBq of RAI. On the contrary, the rises of RBC and hemoglobin in males were higher than in females. There were no significant complications during the follow-up.WBC and platelet decreased obviously 1 month after RAI. While they partly recovered 6 months after RAI, they were still lower than the baseline. However, RBC and hemoglobin transiently decreased at 1 month and then increased to levels even higher than baseline 6 months later. At 3700 to 4440 MBq of RAI, the decline of platelet in females was more obvious than in males. Yet, rises of RBC and hemoglobin in males were higher than in females. The risks associated with these changes are unlikely to outweigh the potential benefits of RAI in patients with DTC.

Different Radioiodine Dose for Remnant Thyroid Ablation in Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Remnant thyroid ablation is crucial in the management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. However, the optimal dose of radioactive I for ablation is still controversial. This study aimed to compare the success rate of different activities of I for postoperative remnant ablation in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and to determine the optimal dose. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sources were retrieved from the Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar until March 2014. All RCTs that assessed the efficacy of different doses of I for ablation were selected. After data extraction, statistics were performed by Review Manager 5.2 software. RESULTS: Seventeen RCTs were considered eligible, involving 3737 patients. The overall methodological quality of the studies was good. The rate of successful remnant ablation of low versus moderate I activities (risk ratio [RR], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80-1.00; P = 0.06) and moderate versus high I activities (RR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.89-1.00; P = 0.05) showed no significant differences. However, high I activities had 11% higher successful ablation rate than low activities with an RR of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.81-0.97; P = 0.008), which was significant. CONCLUSIONS: We summarized all available randomized evidence to demonstrate that high dose of I was significantly better than low dose to achieve successful remnant thyroid ablation.

Wenxin Keli versus Sotalol for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Caused by Hyperthyroidism: A Prospective, Open Label, and Randomized Study.

We aimed to compare effectiveness of Wenxin Keli (WK) and sotalol in assisting sinus rhythm (SR) restoration from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) caused by hyperthyroidism, as well as in maintaining SR. We randomly prescribed WK (18 g tid) or sotalol (80 mg bid) to 91 or 89 patients. Since it was not ethical not to give patients antiarrhythmia drugs, no control group was set. Antithyroid drugs were given to 90 patients (45 in WK group, 45 in sotalol group); (131)I was given to 90 patients (46 in WK group, 44 in sotalol group). Three months later, SR was obtained in 83/91 or 80/89 cases from WK or sotalol groups (P = 0.762). By another analysis, SR was obtained in 86/90 or 77/90 cases from (131)I or ATD groups (P = 0.022). Then, we randomly assigned the successfully SR-reverted patients into three groups: WK, sotalol, and control (no antiarrhythmia drug was given) groups. After twelve-month follow-up, PAF recurrence happened in 1/54, 2/54, and 9/55 cases, respectively. Log-Rank test showed significant higher PAF recurrent rate in control patients than either treatment (P = 0.06). We demonstrated the same efficacies of WK and sotalol to assist SR reversion from hyperthyroidism-caused PAF. We also showed that either drug could maintain SR in such patients.

Panax ginseng ginsenoside-Rg2 protects memory impairment via anti-apoptosis in a rat model with vascular dementia.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ginsenosides, the major active ingredients of Panax ginseng, produce a variety of pharmacological or physiological responses with effects on the central and peripheral nervous systems. AIM OF THE STUDY: In this report, we investigated the effects of ginsenoside Rg2 on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion induced impairment of neurological responses, memory and caudate-putamen neuronal apoptosis in a vascular dementia (VD) rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neurological evaluation was performed 24h after reperfusion and Y-maze memory performance was assessed at 48 h after reperfusion. Immunocytochemical techniques were employed to check the protein expression of BCL-2, BAX, heat shock protein 70 and P53, which are related with cell apoptosis. RESULTS: Neurological responses and memory ability of the ginsenoside Rg2 or nimodipine groups improved significantly compared with the VD group. The expression of BCL-2 and HSP70 were decreased, while BAX and P53 were increased in the VD model. The expression of BCL-2 and HSP70 proteins were increased, while BAX and P53 decreased after ginsenoside Rg2 (2.5, 5 and 10mg/kg) and nimodipine (50 microg/kg) treatment compared with the VD group. The study suggests that ginsenoside Rg2 improved neurological performance and memory ability of VD rats through mechanisms related to anti-apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: The capacity for ginsenoside Rg2 to modulate the expression of apoptotic related proteins suggests that ginsenoside Rg2 may represent a potential treatment strategy for vascular dementia or other ischemic insults.

[Study on extracting oil of radix Angelica sinensis with supercritical CO2].

OBJECTIVE: To study the extraction of angelica oil by SFE-CO2 (CO2 Supercritical Fluid Extraction). METHODS: Investigating the influence of the granule size of medical material, extraction temperature, extraction pressure, extraction time, releasing and separating condition on the extraction of angelica oil by the orthogonal design and other methods. RESULTS: The optimum extraction is as follows: the granule size of medical material, 40 mu; extraction temperature, 40 degrees C; extraction pressure, 25Mpa; extraction time, 2 hours; flow of CO2, 20 L/h; pressure of separation pot I, 8Mpa; temperature of separation pot I, 50 degrees C; pressure of separation pot II, 6Mpa; temperature of separation pot II, 50 degrees C. CONCLUSION: The optimum extraction has high extraction ratio of angelica oil. The optimum extraction is reasonable and practicable.