Transcriptomic, Hormonomic and Metabolomic Analyses Highlighted the Common Modules Related to Photosynthesis, Sugar Metabolism and Cell Division in Parthenocarpic Tomato Fruits during Early Fruit Set.

Parthenocarpy, the pollination-independent fruit set, can raise the productivity of the fruit set even under adverse factors during the reproductive phase. The application of plant hormones stimulates parthenocarpy, but artificial hormones incur extra financial and labour costs to farmers and can induce the formation of deformed fruit. This study examines the performance of parthenocarpic mutants having no transcription factors of SlIAA9 and SlTAP3 and sldella that do not have the protein-coding gene, SlDELLA, in tomato (cv. Micro-Tom). At 0 day after the flowering (DAF) stage and DAFs after pollination, the sliaa9 mutant demonstrated increased pistil development compared to the other two mutants and wild type (WT). In contrast to WT and the other mutants, the sliaa9 mutant with pollination efficiently stimulated the build-up of auxin and GAs after flowering. Alterations in both transcript and metabolite profiles existed for WT with and without pollination, while the three mutants without pollination demonstrated the comparable metabolomic status of pollinated WT. Network analysis showed key modules linked to photosynthesis, sugar metabolism and cell proliferation. Equivalent modules were noticed in the famous parthenocarpic cultivars 'Severianin', particularly for emasculated samples. Our discovery indicates that controlling the genes and metabolites proffers future breeding policies for tomatoes.

Comparative co-expression network analysis extracts the SlHSP70 gene affecting to shoot elongation of tomato.

Tomato is one of vegetables crops that has the highest value in the world. Thus, researchers are continually improving the agronomical traits of tomato fruits. Auxins and gibberellins regulate plant growth and development. Aux/indole-3-acetic acid 9 (SlIAA9) and the gene encoding the DELLA protein (SlDELLA) are well-known genes that regulate plant growth and development, including fruit set and enlargement by cell division and cell expansion. The absence of tomato SlIAA9 and SlDELLA results in abnormal shoot growth and leaf shape and giving rise to parthenocarpy. To investigate the key regulators that exist up- or downstream of SlIAA9 and SlDELLA signaling pathways for tomato growth and development, we performed gene co-expression network analysis by using publicly available microarray data to extract genes that are directly connected to the SlIAA9 and SlDELLA nodes, respectively. Consequently, we chose a gene in the group of heat-shock protein (HSP)70s that was connected with the SlIAA9 node and SlDELLA node in each co-expression network. To validate the extent of effect of SlHSP70-1 on tomato growth and development, overexpressing lines of the target gene were generated. We found that overexpression of the targeted SlHSP70-1 resulted in internode elongation, but the overexpressing lines did not show abnormal leaf shape, fruit set, or fruit size when compared with that of the wild type. Our study suggests that the targeted SlHSP70-1 is likely to function in shoot growth, like SlIAA9 and SlDELLA, but it does not contribute to parthenocarpy as well as fruit set. Our study also shows that only a single SlHSP70 out of 25 homologous genes could change the shoot length.

Tissue plasminogen activator in chronic subdural hematomas as a predictor of recurrence.

OBJECT: Chronic subdural hematomas (CSDHs) recur in 7 to 18% of cases. The present study was conducted to determine whether serum or lesion concentrations of coagulofibrinolytic and angiogenic factors, which have been reported to be potential markers of CSDH development, might predict such recurrences. METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients (mean age 71.5 years) with CSDHs (74 affected sides) were studied. Samples of serum in preoperative peripheral venous blood and of hematomas (obtained during surgery) were collected and analyzed. The CSDH recurred in six (8.1%) of the 74 affected sides in six patients. None of the values of the coagulative factors or tests in serum showed significant variation between cases with and those without recurrence. Among coagulofibrinolytic factors, tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) in hematomas demonstrated significantly greater levels in recurrent than in nonrecurrent cases; a similar tendency was noted for alpha2-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complex in hematomas. Both factors were greater in the lesions than in the serum. Among the angiogenic factors, levels of hepatic growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hematomas were significantly greater than in serum, whereas those of basic fibroblast growth factor were rather lower. Note that comparisons between recurrent and nonrecurrent cases revealed no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Patients harboring CSDHs with high TPA concentrations on sampling at the initial surgery have a relatively high probability of recurrence and require follow up with computerized tomography scanning. Angiogenic factors, such as HGF and VEGF, might be candidate markers of CSDH enlargement but are not useful as predictors of recurrence.

[Unruptured cerebral aneurysms; the features of cases undetected with MR angiography].

With the development of MRI and MRA, many unruptured aneurysms have been detected and treated. Nevertheless, not a few false-positive and false-negative cases are found. We investigate aneurysms that were suspected after screening MRA at the neurosurgical outpatient clinic and the features of aneurysms detected not with MRA but with DSA were studied. Seventy-six patients (85 aneurysms) were suspected due to screening MRA and DSA was performed in 64 (71 aneurysms) of them. Correct diagnosis of cerebral aneurysms with MRA was obtained in 44 patients (45 aneurysms, 63.4%), while false-negative cases were found in 17 patients (plus 20 aneurysms) and false-positive cases in 7 patients (10 aneurysms). The accuracy was 97.2% in ACA, 93% in MCA, 94.4% in VA-BA, and 78.9% in IC, while the sensitivity 100%, 88.2%, 81.8%, 64.7% and the specificity 96.5%, 94.4%, 96.7%, 91.9%, respectively. The features of aneurysms correctly diagnosed with MRA were relatively large ACA, including AcoA, MCA and VA-BA aneurysms, whereas the features of aneurysms undetected with MRA were small IC aneurysms (1-3mm in diameter), especially at the C2-3 portion. These aneurysms at the C2-3 portion or at unusual portions tended to be difficult to detect even with 3D-CTA. Though most of the aneurysms detected with DSA but not with MRA tended to be small and not interventionally treated in the present study, we should pay attention to the fact that these aneurysms are overlooked despite the possibility that they may become enlarged or rupture. Though ruptured aneurysms were surgically treated with only MRA or 3D-CTA without conventional angiography in these days, we recommend the examination of the unruptured cases, which are usually asymptomatic and not hasty, with precise inspection by target MIP, high-performance 3D-CTA or DSA.

Clinical evaluation of shunt implantations using Sophy programmable pressure valves: comparison with Codman-Hakim programmable valves.

We describe our experience with Sophy programmable valve shunts, compared with Codman-Hakim programmable shunts in cases with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). A total of 147 consecutive patients underwent 204 shunt implantations (102 Sophy valves, 51 Codman-Hakim valves, 51 nonprogrammable valves). Of these, 23 Sophy and 25 Codman-Hakim valves respectively were implanted into patients with NPH after SAH. Comparison of reprogramming rate and frequency in cases with NPH after SAH between Sophy and Codman-Hakim valves revealed similar reprogramming rates (65.2 vs. 64.0%) but a higher frequency with the former (1.70 vs. 1.08 times/person). The mean difference between initial and final pressure was 65.3+/-45.8mmH(2)O in cases with Sophy valves, and 25.0+/-14.1mmH(2)O with Codman-Hakim valves. The average period which was required to determine the final pressures with Sophy and Codman-Hakim valves were 56.5+/-45.0 days and 43.3+/-45.7 days, respectively. Total incidence of complications of Sophy and Codman-Hakim valve shunt systems in cases with NPH after SAH were 26.1% (6/23) and 16% (4/25), respectively. Total instances requiring shunt revision with Sophy valves in cases of NPH after SAH were 6 of 23 (26.1%), while for Codman-Hakim valves the figure was 2 of 25 (8.0%). Sophy, as well as Codman-Hakim programmable valve shunts, allow alteration of opening pressure after the implantation according to patients' conditions, which may contribute to reduction of revision. Similar reprogramming rates but lower frequency, and smaller difference between initial and final pressure in Codman-Hakim valves may be ascribed to finer pressure ranges and ease of reprogramming, which facilitates earlier reprogramming and decisions regarding final optimal opening pressure.

Primidone-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy in a patient with cerebral astrocytoma.

A case of a patient with astrocytoma who showed somnolence and asterixis one month after tumour resection is presented. Although primidone had been prescribed preoperatively for five years and the same dose was maintained after the operation, the serum concentration of the primidone metabolite phenobarbital was elevated and she demonstrated hyperammonemic encephalopathy, which disappeared on withdrawal of the drug. A description of this seldom reported phenomenon during primidone therapy is given, with reference to valproate cases.

Comparison of thallium-201 uptake and retention indices for evaluation of brain lesions with SPECT.

Thallium-201 chloride single photon emission computed tomography ((201)TlCl SPECT) has been applied extensively for studies of human tumors. To assess which indices for (201)TlCl SPECT are most useful for diagnosing brain lesions, a total of 82 patients (98 images) with intracranial abnormalities were investigated. Seventy-six cases with abnormal (201)Tl uptake were evaluated in terms of six different (201)Tl uptake and retention indices: (1) average early (201)Tl uptake = Av.Le/Av.Be; (2) maximum early (201)Tl uptake = Mx.Le/Av.Be; (3)(201) Tl retention A = Av.Ld/Av.Le; (4) (201)Tl retention B = Mx.Ld/Mx.Le; (5) (201)Tl retention C = (Av.Ld/Av.Bd)/(Av.Le/Av.Be); (6) (201)Tl retention D = (Mx.Ld/Av.Bd)/(Mx.Le/Av.Be), where Av.Le and Mx.Le are average and maximum early counts for lesions, Av.Be and Av.Bd are average early and delayed counts for contralateral normal brains, and Av.Ld and Mx.Ld are average and maximum delayed counts for lesions. Comparison of patients with benign and malignant lesions did not demonstrate significant differences with any of the indices. However, low (I-II) and high (III-IV) grade astrocytomas varied in their average and maximum early (201)Tl uptake indices (both P = 0.0026). For patients with and without meningiomas, P values for indices of maximum early(201) Tl uptake and (201)Tl retention A and B were 0.0338, 0.0005, 0.0002, respectively. While comparison of patients with metastatic brain tumors and gliomas again showed no significant differences between the groups, the presence or absence of calcification was associated with significant variation in all the indices. With (201)TlCl-SPECT imaging, the average and maximum early (201)Tl uptake indices are appropriate for the assessment of tumor viability or malignancy, while (201)Tl retention indices (A,B) are useful for tumor differentiation, especially with meningiomas. Choice of suitable indices should enhance the utility of (201)TlCl-SPECT imaging in pre- and postoperative evaluation of intracranial lesions.