Comparison of overall survival and quality of life between patients undergoing anal reconstruction and patients undergoing traditional lower abdominal stoma after radical resection.

BACKGROUND: Miles procedure is often necessary for patients with low rectal carcinoma. However, this operation often affects the quality of life of patients, to evaluate the advantages of improved operation (anal reconstruction), the quality of life and survival between patients undergoing anal reconstruction and patients undergoing traditional lower abdominal stoma after radical resection were analyzed. METHODS: The clinical data of 43 patients with low situated rectal carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. 23 patients with left lower abdominal stoma after radical resection (Miles procedure) were divided into group A, and 20 patients with reconstruction of the anus in situ after radical resection were in group B. All patients were investigated by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR38 questionnaire, the clinical data are recorded. Independent sample T test was used to analyze the difference in quality of life between group A and group B at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, and Kaplan-Meier was used to compare the difference in overall survival between group A and group B. RESULTS: The results of T test showed that there were statistical significance in global health status and physical functioning between group A and group B at 3 and 6 months, but no statistical significance at 12 months (P = 0.024, P = 0.019, P = 0.115 for global health status; P = 0.004, P = 0.006, P = 0.065 for physical functioning, respectively). Emotional functioning and social functioning were also statistically significant between group A and group B at 3, 6, and 12 months (P = 0.041, P = 0.040, P = 0.034 for Emotional functioning; P = 0.020, P = 0.009, P = 0.032 for social functioning, respectively). This study also found that there was no statistical significance in body image and sexual functioning between group A and group B at 3 months, but there was statistical significance at 6 and 12 months(P = 0.098, P = 0.035, P = 0.045 for body image; P = 0.110, P = 0.048, P = 0.047 for sexual functioning, respectively). There were statistically significant about sexual enjoyment and defecation problems at 3, 6, and 12 months (P = 0.023, P = 0.028, P = 0.050 for sexual enjoyment; P = 0.013, P = 0.011, P = 0.050 for defecation problems, respectively).The results of Kaplan-Meier showed that the overall survival (OS) between group A and group B was not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.600, P = 0.439). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in survival time between group A and group B, but compared with the patients with left lower abdominal stoma(group A), the quality of life was better in patients with reconstruction of the anus in situ (group B). It is significant to improve the traditional lower abdominal stoma operation.

Evaluation of Aphis glycines as an Alternative Host for Supporting Aphelinus albipodus Against Myzus persicae on Capsicum annuum cv. Ox Horn and Hejiao 13.

Bank plant systems provide effective biological control for pests infesting commercially important crops. Aphids cause physical damage to crops by feeding on the leaves, as well as transmitting damaging viral diseases. To develop a bank plant system to control aphids that damage vegetable crops, we initially reared the parasitoid Aphelinus albipodus (Hayat and Fatima) on the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines (Matsumura) reared on the soybean plant, Glycine max (L.) that was elected as the alternate host. Parasitoid adults that emerged from A. glycines were allowed to parasitize second instar nymphs of the aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) which were reared on sweet pepper and chili pepper leaves. The results showed that A. albipodus females feeding and parasitizing M. persicae nymphs reared on sweet pepper lived for 18.9 days, with an average fecundity of 337.3 progenies/female, while females feeding and parasitizing on M. persicae nymphs reared on chili pepper lived for 18.8 days, with an average fecundity of 356.2 progenies/female. There were no significant difference in the development time and reproduction of A. albipodus individuals parasitizing M. persicae nymphs reared on sweet pepper and chili pepper plants. The intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R 0), net aphid killing rate (Z 0), and finite aphid killing rate (θ) of A. albipodus parasitizing sweet pepper and chili pepper M. persicae was 0.2258 days-1, 171.7 progeny adults, 222.6 aphids, and 0.4048 and 0.2295 days-1, 191.8 progeny adults, 243.3 aphids, and 0.4021, respectively. Our results suggested that A. glycines could serve as an effective alternative host for supporting A. albipodus against M. persicae infesting sweet pepper and chili pepper.

Correlation between polymorphisms in the glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1 and susceptibility to asthma in a Chinese population from the Henan Province.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between four single nucleotide polymorphisms in NR3C1 (Tth111I, BclI, ER22/23EK, and N363S), which encode the glucocorticoid receptor, and asthma susceptibility in patients from the Henan Province of China. Three hundred and twenty-eight patients with asthma and 60 healthy volunteers were recruited to this study. The target SNPs were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-high resolution melting and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The frequencies of the AA (8.84%) and GG (30.79%) genotypes of Tth111I were higher, and that of the AG genotype was lower (60.37%), in the asthma patients compared to that seen in healthy controls (5.00, 26.67, and 68.33%, respectively). On the other hand, asthma patients showed higher frequencies of the AA genotype (78.05%) of N363S, and lower frequencies of the AG and GG genotypes (15.55 and 6.40%), compared to healthy volunteers (71.67, 18.33, and 10.00%, respectively). Neither of these differences were found to be statistically significant. Moreover, we observed no significant differences in the genotype or allele frequencies of the BclI and ER22/23EK SNPs between the patient and control groups. In conclusion, SNPs in NR3C1 were not significantly associated with asthma in patients from the Henan Province. Patients showed higher frequencies of the AA and GG genotypes of Tth111I and the AA genotype of the N363S SNP compared to healthy volunteers, although these differences were not significant.

Rare Seagull Cooing Murmur from Acute Aortic Dissection.

Acute aortic dissection is a rare but potentially fatal disease. The early recognition of this disease is important for timely treatment. Some signs and symptoms, such as past history of hypertension, tearing pain and pulselessness, can provide valuable clues to the diagnosis of this disease. In this case study, the mechanism of a seagull murmur from aortic dissection is first described. This information is potentially useful for the differential diagnosis of dissection.

Cloning and stress response analysis of the PeDREB2A and PeDREB1A genes in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis).

Moso bamboo is a large woody bamboo with the highest ecological, economic, and cultural value among all bamboos in Asia. However, environmental stress influences its growth and development and limits its geographic distribution. Therefore, improving its resistance to environmental stress is extremely important. Dehydration responsive element binding (DREB) transcription factors perform an important role in the regulation of stress-related genes, enhancing the resistance of plants to abiotic stress. In the current study, two novel DREB genes, PeDREB2A and PeDREB1A (Gene ID No. PH01000046G1730 and PH01000668G0350), were isolated from moso bamboo and the sequences were identified and characterized (coding sequence lengths were 795 and 825 bp, respectively). The PeDREB2A and PeDREB1A proteins were estimated to have typical AP2/ERF domains, molecular weights of 28.96 and 28.84 kDa, and isoelectric points of 9.47 and 5.34, respectively. RT-PCR analysis revealed that PeDREB2A and PeDREB1A were tissue-specific genes, expressed in leaves, young stems, and roots, with similar expression levels in leaves and young stems. qRT-PCR analysis of leaves demonstrated that PeDREB2A transcription levels rapidly accumulate following exposure to drought and salt stress, peaking at 12 and 0.5 h, respectively, but only low expression levels were observed under cold stress. PeDREB1A exhibited a strong response to cold stress, reaching a peak in expression 3 h after exposure, but demonstrated only a slight response to drought and salt stress. In roots, PeDREB2A was down-regulated, and PeDREB1A was initially upregulated but then declined, under stress conditions. Two plant expression vectors, pCAMBIA2300- CaMV35S-PeDREB2A and pCAMBIA2300-CaMV35S-PeDREB1A were also successfully constructed.

Xiayuxue decoction reduces renal injury by promoting macrophage apoptosis in hepatic cirrhotic rats.

Renal pathological changes in cirrhotic rat have not been extensively reported. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Xiayuxue decoction (XYXD) could attenuate renal injury induced by bile duct ligation (BDL), with special focus on the mechanisms promoting renal macrophage apoptosis. The rats were treated with BDL for 5 weeks and administered 0.36 g/kg XYXD intragastrically from day 1 of initiating BDL. Renal tissue was monitored by hematoxylin-eosin and Sirius red staining. Macrophage infiltration and proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor and chemokine ligand 2 were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Macrophage apoptosis was detected by double immunofluorescence staining. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and glomerulus diameter increased significantly after a 5-week BDL treatment in XYXD (BDL-XYXD) rats. CD68 and pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA increased in the kidneys of control (BDL-water) rats. Fluorescence microscopy analysis showed that XYXD promoted apoptosis in renal CD68+ macrophages. Collogen1 (Col 1), pro-fibrogenic cytokines, and α-smooth muscle actin in kidneys of BDL-water rats increased significantly compared to the sham group. XYXD inhibited Col 1 and pro-fibrotic factors in BDL-XYXD rats. Our results demonstrated that XYXD significantly reduced renal injury by, at least in part, promoting macrophage apoptosis in rats with damaged renal histopathology due to BDL-induced cirrhosis.

Genetic relationships analysis of olive cultivars grown in China.

The olive tree is an iconic tree of the Mediterranean, and is used extensively to produce high-quality olive oil. Although the China olive industry has just begun to be valued, there were also existed mislabeling and synonyms in introduced cultivars. The aim of this study was to analyze genetic similarities among olive cultivars in China using SSR and ISSR techniques. Thirty-two samples were collected from Xichang. Five of these cultivars were issued from a Chinese breeding program. Genomic DNA samples were extracted from young leaves and PCR was used to generate SSR and ISSR markers. A total of 107 polymorphic bands were detected on thirteen SSR loci, with an average of eight alleles per locus. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.785 (DCA03) to 0.990 (GAPU47), and the expected heterozygosity varied between 0.782 (DCA03) and 0.940 (GAPU103A). The discrimination power ranged from 0.57 to 0.83, while the polymorphism information content values ranged from 0.768 (DCA03) to 0.934 (GAPU103A). Nine ISSR primers generated 85 reproducible bands of which 78 (91.8%) were polymorphic. Based on our data, genetic similarity between cultivars ranged from 0.57 to 0.83. Cluster analysis revealed that 32 cultivars were clustered into six groups, which supports similar morphology such as use, oil content and fruit weight but not similar geographical origins. Our data also allow the identification of unknown cultivars and cases of synonyms.

Allelopathy of the invasive plant Bidens frondosa on the seed germination of Geum japonicum var. chinense.

Five gradient concentrations (0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.10 g/mL) of leaching liquors from the roots, stems, and leaves of the invasive plant Bidens frondosa were used as conditioning fluid to examine its influence on seed germination conditions of the native plant Geum japonicum var. chinense in Huangshan. All leaching liquors of organs suppressed the seed germination of Geum japonicum var. chinense and reduced the final germination percentage and rate, and increased the germination inhibition rate, with a bimodal dependence on concentration. The leaching liquor inhibited the seed germination significantly at the concentration of 0.02 g/mL respectively. The seed germination was also inhibited as the concentration reached to 0.04 g/mL and beyond. Hence the allelopathic effects of the organs were significantly enhanced respectively. This phenomenon represented the presence of allelopathy substances in the root, stem and leaf of Bidens frondosa.

Regulatory effect of iron regulatory protein-2 on iron metabolism in lung cancer.

Iron metabolism plays an important role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. This study aimed to investigate the effect of gene silencing of iron regulatory protein-2 (IRP2) on mRNA and protein expression of transferrin (Tf), transferrin receptor (TfR), and ferritin (Fn) in A549 lung cancer cells. A549 cells were cultured and divided into a liposome control group, a liposome + oligonucleotide (SCODN) control group, and a Lipofectamine + antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) group. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect mRNA and protein expression of Tf, TfR, and Fn. We found no significant change in Tf mRNA expression among the 3 groups (P = 0.078). TfR and Fn mRNA expressions in the ASODN group notably decreased compared to the liposome and SCODN groups (P < 0.01). IRP2 and TfR protein expressions in the ASODN group were significantly lower than in the liposome or SCODN groups (P < 0.05), whereas no significant change in Tf protein expression was observed between the 3 groups (P = 0.088). Fn protein expression in the ASODN group was significantly higher than in the liposome or SCODN group (P < 0.05). IRP2 can regulate the expression of TfR and Fn by changing its own protein expression and thereby regulate iron metabolism.

In vitro induction of tetraploid garlic with trifluralin.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is propagated asexually. Since sexual cross breeding is almost impossible, means for effective breeding are not currently available and the available production cultivars are seriously aged and degenerated. A possible alternative for breeding is chemical induction. Trifluralin, a type of herbicide, has been reported to provoke chromosome doubling. However, this chemical had not been tested on garlic. We tested various trifluralin concentrations and treatment durations for efficiency in the induction of tetraploid garlic. A clove base of garlic with a stem cv. Gailiang was used as the ex-plant to induce calluses on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium; the calluses were then inoculated onto MS medium containing different levels of trifluralin and cultured to induce chromosome number variation in vitro. Garlic calluses were effectively induced via the ex-plant and both shoots and roots differentiated well on MS medium containing 6-benzylaminopurine at 3.0 mg/L and indole-3-acetic acid at 0.1 mg/L. However, increases in trifluralin concentration and treatment duration reduced the survival rate and differentiation rate of calluses. Garlic callus cultured for 15 days on medium containing 100 µM trifluralin gave the highest rate of chromosome doubling. Through observation of chromosome number in the root apical cells and the morphology of guard cells on the leaf epidermis of the regenerated plantlets, it was clear that chromosome number variation was induced and tetraploids were produced in vitro by trifluralin treatment.

Cytomixis and meiotic abnormalities during microsporogenesis are responsible for male sterility and chromosome variations in Houttuynia cordata.

Houttuynia cordata (Saururaceae) is a leaf vegetable and a medicinal herb througout much of Asia. Cytomixis and meiotic abnormalities during microsporogenesis were found in two populations of H. cordata with different ploidy levels (2n = 38, 96). Cytomixis occurred in pollen mother cells during meiosis at high frequencies and with variable degrees of chromatin/chromosome transfer. Meiotic abnormalities, such as chromosome laggards, asymmetric segregation and polyads, also prevailed in pollen mother cells at metaphase of the first division and later stages. They were caused by cytomixis and resulted in very low pollen viability and male sterility. Pollen mother cells from the population with 2n = 38 showed only simultaneous cytokinesis, but most pollen mother cells from the population with 2n = 96 showed successive cytokinesis; a minority underwent simultaneous cytokinesis. Cytomixis and irregular meiotic divisions appear to be the origin of the intraspecific polyploidy in this species, which has large variations in chromosome numbers.