Genome-wide identification and expression profiling of the C2H2-type zinc finger protein transcription factor family in tobacco.

C2H2 zinc finger protein transcription factor family members have important biological functions in eukaryotes. They not only bind DNA and RNA, but also interact with proteins. In this study, 118 members of the tobacco C2H2 zinc finger protein transcription factor family were identified from the N. tabacum genome database by using Pfam, SMART and Blastp. The analyses of phylogenetic tree, physical and chemical properties, chromosomal mapping, gene structures, protein three-dimensional structures and tissue expression patterns were performed. The results suggested that the peptide length of different subfamily members is significantly different. Phylogenetic and motif analysis revealed that the C2H2 zinc finger protein transcription factor family members can be divided into 5 subfamilies and each member has at least one C2H2 motif. Genes of the family members are distributed across the 22 chromosomes. C2H2 zinc finger protein transcription factor family members are expressed in different tissues although some have higher expression levels in leaves and roots. This study will be helpful for further analysis of the C2H2 zinc finger family proteins in other plants.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the WRKY gene family in common tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.).

The coding products of WRKY gene family plays important roles in plant growth and development as well as in various stress responses. They have been identified in various plants, but only few in common tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). In this study, 164 putative WRKY proteins in the common tobacco genome were identified by using the conserved WRKY sequence (PF03106) from the Pfam database. Phylogenetic trees, functional domain analysis, chromosomal localization, subcellular localization and tissue expression patterns were analyzed with the bioinformatics softwares, including DNAMAN 5.0, Weblogo 3, MEGA 5.1, MG2C and MEME. First of all, phylogenetic trees divided all the candidate genes into three subfamilies: Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ, respectively, and subfamily Ⅱ could be further divided into five subgroups: group Ⅱ-a, -b, -c, -d and -e. Secondly, the WRKY regions contained a highly conserved heptapeptide stretch WRKYGQK followed by a zinc-finger motif. Most of the NtWRKY genes contained 2-5 exons and a highly conserved gene structure. Thirdly, 154 out of 164 NtWRKY genes were distributed with different densities on 24 chromosomes, and each subfamily with different patterns and frequency. The largest number of NtWRKY genes was found on chromosome VI, and only one on chromosome X. Fourthly, the majority of NtWRKY members located in the nucleus, with 74 percent of subfamily Ⅲ in the extracellular matrix. Lastly, the members in the same subfamily had different spatial and temporal expression profiles, with 11 NtWRKY genes in roots, stems and leaves expressed at various levels. The expression of genes NtWRKY26, NtWRKY30 and NtWRKY32 can be induced by Phytophthora nicotianae. Our research thus provides valuable information for NtWRKY gene cloning and functional characterization in common tobacco.

Prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of spinal osteosarcoma: Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database analysis.

Objective: Spinal osteosarcoma is a rare osseous neoplasm. The aim of this study is to make a comprehensive analysis of the demographic features, clinicopathologic characteristics and factors affecting prognosis of spinal osteosarcoma using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Methods: SEER data were reviewed to identify patients diagnosed with spinal osteosarcoma between 1975 and 2016 and determine their overall survival (OS) and disease-specifc survival (DSS). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox-regression proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier method. Results: A total of 668 patients (53.1% males) with spinal osteosarcoma were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 45.2 years, including 67.5% patients younger than 60 years. The median OS of these patients was 15 months, and the 5-year OS was 16.8%. Multivariate analysis showed that age ≥60 year (HR=2.271, p = 0.008), high grade (HR=1.323, p = 0.008), regional stage (HR=1.658, p = 0.017), metastasis stage (HR=3.045, p < 0.001) and no-surgery treatment (HR=1.761, p < 0.001) were adversely associated with OS; gender (HR=0.657, p = 0.044), tumor grade (HR=1.616, p = 0.006), tumor stage (HR=3.329, p = 0.011; HR=7.983, p < 0.001) and radiotherapy (HR=0.606, p = 0.031) were independent prognostic factors affecting DSS. Conclusion: Based on SEER data analysis, male, high tumor grade, regional stage, metastasis stage and radiotherapy are independent predictors of poor survival of patients with spinal osteosarcoma. The clinical treatment of spinal osteosarcoma still faces serious challenges. Future research should focus on the clinical impact and survival outcomes of the emerging targeted and immune therapies for the sake of improving the survival stalemate of spinal osteosarcoma.

DFT study of propane dehydrogenation on Pt catalyst: effects of step sites.

Self-consistent periodic slab calculations based on gradient-corrected density functional theory (DFT-GGA) have been conducted to examine the reaction network of propane dehydrogenation over close-packed Pt(111) and stepped Pt(211) surfaces. Selective C-H or C-C bond cleaving is investigated to gain a better understanding of the catalyst site requirements for propane dehydrogenation. The energy barriers for the dehydrogenation of propane to form propylene are calculated to be in the region of 0.65-0.75 eV and 0.25-0.35 eV on flat and stepped surfaces, respectively. Likewise, the activation of the side reactions such as the deep dehydrogenation and cracking of C(3) derivatives depends strongly on the step density, arising from the much lower energy barriers on Pt(211). Taking the activation energy difference between propylene dehydrogenation and propylene desorption as the descriptor, we find that while step sites play a crucial role in the activation of propane dehydrogenation, the selectivity towards propylene is substantially lowered in the presence of the coordinatively unsaturated surface Pt atoms. As the sole C(3) derivative which prefers the cleavage of the C-C bond to the C-H bond breaking, propyne is suggested to be the starting point for the C-C bond breaking which eventually gives rise to the formation of ethane, methane and coke. These findings provide a rational interpretation of the recent experimental observations that smaller Pt particles containing more step sites are much more active but less selective than larger particles in propane dehydrogenation.

Dimethano-lbis[N'-(3-pyridylmethyl-ene)benzohydrazide]sodium(I) iodide.

The molecule of the title compound, [Na(C(13)H(11)N(3)O)(2)(CH(3)OH)(2)]I, is non-planar, with the Na atom chelated by the O atoms and the N atoms of two N'-(3-pyridylmethyl-ene)benzohydrazide ligands and both O atoms of two methanol ligands. The asymmetric unit consists of one half-mol-ecule. The Na atom is located on a crystallographic centre of inversion. The six-coordinate Na atom adopts a distorted octa-hedral coordination. In the crystal structure, inter-molecular N-H⋯I and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into a two-dimensional network.

Clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of gastrointestinal stromal tumors in Chinese patients.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract, exhibiting wide variability in their biological behavior. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of GISTs in Chinese patients. All GIST cases (n=182) retrieved from the pathology database and the archived files in Shanghai Changzheng Hospital between January 2011 and December 2014 were reviewed. The clinical symptoms, preoperative investigations, treatments, pathological characteristics and follow-up data of these patients were reviewed, and univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed. A total of 73.1% of the GISTs were located in the stomach, and the most common three symptoms included abdominal pain (30.2%), dyspepsia (23.1%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (21.4%). Univariate analysis revealed that larger tumor size (P<0.001), higher mitotic rate (P<0.001), aggressive behavior (P<0.001), negative smooth muscle actin expression (P=0.009) and palliative resection (P<0.001) contributed toward poor overall survival (OS). In addition, non-gastric disease location (P<0.001), larger tumor size (P<0.001), higher mitotic rate (P=0.004), aggressive behavior (P<0.001) and palliative resection (P<0.001) were associated with poor relapse-free survival (RFS). Multivariate analysis indicated that mitotic rate [hazard ratio (HR=3.761, P=0.015)] and aggressive behavior (HR=3.916, P=0.010) were independent risk factors for OS, while non-gastric location (HR=4.740, P=0.002) and aggressive behavior (HR=4.009, P=0.004) were independent risk factors for RFS. The present study provided information on the clinicopathological characteristics and epidemiology of GISTs in the Chinese population. Non-gastric disease location, higher mitotic rate and tumor metastasis or local invasion prior to treatment were identified as predictors of a poor prognosis.

Molecular docking studies of Traditional Chinese Medicinal compounds against known protein targets to treat non-small cell lung carcinomas.

In silico drug design using virtual screening, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME)/Tox data analysis, automated docking and molecular dynamics simulations for the determination of lead compounds for further in vitro analysis is a cost effective strategy. The present study used this strategy to discover novel lead compounds from an in-house database of Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) compounds against epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein for targeting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). After virtual screening of an initial dataset of 2,242 TCM compounds, leads were identified based on binding energy and ADME/Tox data and subjected to automated docking followed by molecular dynamics simulation. Triptolide, a top compound identified by this vigorous in silico screening, was then tested in vitro on the H2347 cell line carrying wild-type EGFR, revealing an anti-proliferative potency similar to that of known drugs against NSCLC.

Effect of Joint Line Elevation after Posterior-stabilized and Cruciate-retaining Total Knee Arthroplasty on Clinical Function and Kinematics.

BACKGROUND: Joint line (JL) is a very important factor for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to restore. The objective of this study was to evaluate the early clinical and kinematic results of TKAs with posterior-stabilized (PS) or cruciate retaining (CR) implants in which the JL was elevated postoperatively. METHODS: Data were collected from patients who underwent TKA in our department between April 2011 and April 2014. The patients were divided into two groups based on the prosthesis they received (PS or CR). At 1-year postoperatively, clinical outcomes were evaluated by the American Knee Society (AKS) knee score, AKS function score, and patella score. In vivo kinematic analysis after TKA was performed on all patients and a previously validated three-dimensional to two-dimensional image registration technique was used to obtain the kinematic data. Anteroposterior (AP) translation of the medial and lateral femoral condyles, and axial rotation relative to the tibial plateau, were analyzed. The data were assessed using the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: At time of follow-up, there were differences in the AKS knee scores (P = 0.005), AKS function scores (P = 0.025), patella scores (P = 0.015), and postoperative range of motions (P = 0.004) between the PS group and the CR group. In the PS group, the magnitude of AP translation for the medial and lateral condyle was 4.9 ± 3.0 mm and 12.8 ± 3.3 mm, respectively. Axial rotation of the tibial component relative to the femoral component was 12.9 ± 4.5°. In the CR group, the magnitude of AP translation for the medial and lateral condyle was 4.3 ± 3.5 mm and 7.9 ± 4.2 mm, respectively. The axial rotation was 6.7 ± 5.9°. There were statistically different between PS group and CR group in kinematics postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that postoperative JL elevation had more adverse effects on the clinical and kinematic outcomes of CR TKAs than PS TKAs.