Insecticidal activity, Chemical Constituents of Trachyspermum ammi, Withania coagulans and Murraya koenigii ethanloic extracts against Bemisia tabaci / Atividade inseticida, constituintes químicos de extratos etanloicos de Trachyspermum ammi, Withania coagulans e Murraya koenigii contra Bemisia tabaci

Whitefly is one of the most widespread agricultural pests in the world. Essential oils might be used to control this insect in an environmentally responsible way. The fumigant, repellent, and anti-oviposition activity of ethanol-extracted essential oils of Trachyspermum ammi, Withania coagulans, and Murraya koenigii against Bemisia tabaci was investigated in this study. In the experiment, three essential oil concentrations (2.5 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL, and 10 mg/mL) were used. Trachyspermum ammi had the highest percentage of whitefly death in laboratory experiments due to its fumigant toxicity; the same tendency was found in contact toxicity and repellent effect. Mortality percent rises as the concentration of essential oil increases with bioassay time. As the concentration of essential oil grows with bioassay time, so does the mortality rate. The most adult whiteflies escaped from the treated plants' greenhouse due to the highest essential oil concentration. The greatest repellency was found with Trachyspermum ammi essential oil at 10 mg/mL. The essential oil had the greatest anti-oviposition efficacy against whiteflies. Trachyspermum ammi possessed the most potent anti-oviposition deterrent, followed by Withania coagulans in second place. Murraya koenigii finished third with moderate anti-oviposition, which affects the number of eggs produced in comparison to the control. As a consequence, these three oils might be used as an effective and environmentally acceptable bio-insecticide to control B. tabaci.

A mosca-branca é uma das pragas agrícolas mais difundidas no mundo. Os óleos essenciais podem ser usados ​​para controlar esse inseto de forma ambientalmente responsável. A atividade fumigante, repelente e antioviposição de óleos essenciais extraídos com etanol de Trachyspermum ammi, Withania coagulans e Murraya koenigii contra Bemisia tabaci foi investigada neste estudo. No experimento, foram utilizadas três concentrações de óleo essencial (2,5 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL e 10 mg/mL). Trachyspermum ammi teve a maior porcentagem de morte de mosca-branca em experimentos de laboratório devido à sua toxicidade fumigante; a mesma tendência foi encontrada na toxicidade de contato e efeito repelente. A porcentagem de mortalidade aumenta à medida que a concentração de óleo essencial aumenta com o tempo do bioensaio. À medida que a concentração de óleo essencial cresce com o tempo de bioensaio, o mesmo acontece com a taxa de mortalidade. A maioria das moscas-brancas adultas escapou da estufa das plantas tratadas devido à maior concentração de óleo essencial. A maior repelência foi encontrada com óleo essencial de Trachyspermum ammi a 10 mg/mL. O óleo essencial apresentou a maior eficácia antioviposição contra moscas-brancas. Trachyspermum ammi teve o mais potente impedimento antioviposição, seguido por Withania coagulans em segundo lugar. Murraya koenigii terminou em terceiro com antioviposição moderada, o que afeta o número de ovos produzidos em relação ao controle. Como consequência, esses três óleos podem ser usados ​​como um bioinseticida eficaz e ambientalmente aceitável para controlar B. tabaci.

Insecticidal activity, Chemical Constituents of Trachyspermum ammi, Withania coagulans and Murraya koenigii ethanloic extracts against Bemisia tabaci.

Whitefly is one of the most widespread agricultural pests in the world. Essential oils might be used to control this insect in an environmentally responsible way. The fumigant, repellent, and anti-oviposition activity of ethanol-extracted essential oils of Trachyspermum ammi, Withania coagulans, and Murraya koenigii against Bemisia tabaci was investigated in this study. In the experiment, three essential oil concentrations (2.5 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL, and 10 mg/mL) were used. Trachyspermum ammi had the highest percentage of whitefly death in laboratory experiments due to its fumigant toxicity; the same tendency was found in contact toxicity and repellent effect. Mortality percent rises as the concentration of essential oil increases with bioassay time. As the concentration of essential oil grows with bioassay time, so does the mortality rate. The most adult whiteflies escaped from the treated plants' greenhouse due to the highest essential oil concentration. The greatest repellency was found with Trachyspermum ammi essential oil at 10 mg/mL. The essential oil had the greatest anti-oviposition efficacy against whiteflies. Trachyspermum ammi possessed the most potent anti-oviposition deterrent, followed by Withania coagulans in second place. Murraya koenigii finished third with moderate anti-oviposition, which affects the number of eggs produced in comparison to the control. As a consequence, these three oils might be used as an effective and environmentally acceptable bio-insecticide to control B. tabaci.

Identification of a novel cancer microbiome signature for predicting prognosis of human breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Prognosis of breast cancer (BC) patients differs considerably and identifying reliable prognostic biomarker(s) is imperative. With evidence that the microbiome plays a critical role in the response to cancer therapies, we aimed to identify a cancer microbiome signature for predicting the prognosis of BC patients. METHODS: The TCGA BC microbiome data (TCGA-BRCA-microbiome) was downloaded from cBioPortal. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to examine association of microbial abundance with overall survival (OS) and to identify a microbial signature for creating a prognostic scoring model. The performance of the scoring model was assessed by the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Nomograms using the microbial signature, clinical factors, and molecular subtypes were established to predict OS and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Among 1406 genera, the abundances of 94 genera were significantly associated with BC patient OS in TCGA-BRCA-microbiome dataset. From that set we identified a 15-microbe prognostic signature and developed a 15-microbial abundance prognostic scoring (MAPS) model. Patients in low-risk group significantly prolong OS and PFS as compared to those in high-risk group. The time-dependent ROC curves with MAPS showed good predictive efficacy both in OS and PFS. Moreover, MAPS is an independent prognostic factor for OS and PFS over clinical factors and PAM50-based molecular subtypes and superior to the previously published 12-gene signature. The integration of MAPS into nomograms significantly improved prognosis prediction. CONCLUSION: MAPS was successfully established to have independent prognostic value, and our study provides a new avenue for developing prognostic biomarkers by microbiome profiling.

CDKN2A inhibits cell proliferation and invasion in cervical cancer through LDHA-mediated AKT/mTOR pathway.

PURPOSE: The current study aims to explore the effects of CDKN2A on cell proliferation and cycle, and investigate the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Expression of CDKN2A in cervical cancer cell lines was evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. Apoptotic rate was detected by Annexin V assay. MTT assay, Transwell assay and cell cycle assay kit were applied to examine the effect of CDKN2A on cell viability, invasion and cell cycle. Co-immunoprecipitation and western blotting were devoted to explore the mechanism by which CDKN2A contributes to cell function. RESULTS: CDKN2A was expressed at a low level in cervical cancer cell lines. Overexpression of CDKN2A inhibited cell proliferation and invasion, and caused cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. CDKN2A mediates the AKT-mTOR signaling pathway by suppressing lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA). Taken together, our data revealed that CDKN2A can be applied as a therapeutic target for the treatment of cervical cancer in future. CONCLUSIONS: CDKN2A inhibits cell proliferation and invasion in cervical cancer through LDHA-mediated AKT-mTOR pathway.

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.

Differentiating origins of outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias: a comparison of three different electrocardiographic algorithms.

Our objective is to evaluate the accuracy of three algorithms in differentiating the origins of outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias (OTVAs). This study involved 110 consecutive patients with OTVAs for whom a standard 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG) showed typical left bundle branch block morphology with an inferior axis. All the ECG tracings were retrospectively analyzed using the following three recently published ECG algorithms: 1) the transitional zone (TZ) index, 2) the V2 transition ratio, and 3) V2 R wave duration and R/S wave amplitude indices. Considering all patients, the V2 transition ratio had the highest sensitivity (92.3%), while the R wave duration and R/S wave amplitude indices in V2 had the highest specificity (93.9%). The latter finding had a maximal area under the ROC curve of 0.925. In patients with left ventricular (LV) rotation, the V2 transition ratio had the highest sensitivity (94.1%), while the R wave duration and R/S wave amplitude indices in V2 had the highest specificity (87.5%). The former finding had a maximal area under the ROC curve of 0.892. All three published ECG algorithms are effective in differentiating the origin of OTVAs, while the V2 transition ratio, and the V2 R wave duration and R/S wave amplitude indices are the most sensitive and specific algorithms, respectively. Amongst all of the patients, the V2 R wave duration and R/S wave amplitude algorithm had the maximal area under the ROC curve, but in patients with LV rotation the V2 transition ratio algorithm had the maximum area under the ROC curve.

Differentiating origins of outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias: a comparison of three different electrocardiographic algorithms

Our objective is to evaluate the accuracy of three algorithms in differentiating the origins of outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias (OTVAs). This study involved 110 consecutive patients with OTVAs for whom a standard 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG) showed typical left bundle branch block morphology with an inferior axis. All the ECG tracings were retrospectively analyzed using the following three recently published ECG algorithms: 1) the transitional zone (TZ) index, 2) the V2 transition ratio, and 3) V2 R wave duration and R/S wave amplitude indices. Considering all patients, the V2 transition ratio had the highest sensitivity (92.3%), while the R wave duration and R/S wave amplitude indices in V2 had the highest specificity (93.9%). The latter finding had a maximal area under the ROC curve of 0.925. In patients with left ventricular (LV) rotation, the V2 transition ratio had the highest sensitivity (94.1%), while the R wave duration and R/S wave amplitude indices in V2 had the highest specificity (87.5%). The former finding had a maximal area under the ROC curve of 0.892. All three published ECG algorithms are effective in differentiating the origin of OTVAs, while the V2 transition ratio, and the V2 R wave duration and R/S wave amplitude indices are the most sensitive and specific algorithms, respectively. Amongst all of the patients, the V2 R wave duration and R/S wave amplitude algorithm had the maximal area under the ROC curve, but in patients with LV rotation the V2 transition ratio algorithm had the maximum area under the ROC curve.

Regulating effect of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in pituitary adenoma invasion.

Pituitary adenomas can cause endocrine disorder and organ damage, with some aggressive ones leading to a high postoperative recurrence rate. The occurrence and development of these type of tumors is closely related with matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and endogenous specific tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMPs). In this study, the relationship between pituitary adenoma invasion and the changes in MMP-8 and TIMP-1 expressions is analyzed. Specimens from sixty patients with pituitary adenoma were collected in our hospital after surgery, including thirty cases of invasive pituitary adenomas and thirty cases of noninvasive pituitary adenomas. Western blotting and real-time PCR were used to detect MMP-8/TIMP-1 protein and mRNA levels, respectively, in the two types of pituitary adenomas, while ELISA was used to detect both compounds' levels in the patient's serum. Compared with noninvasive pituitary adenomas, MMP-8 was significantly overexpressed in invasive pituitary adenomas, while TIMP-1 was obviously lower (P < 0.05 for both). Moreover, MMP-8 mRNA expression in invasive pituitary adenomas was significantly higher than in noninvasive pituitary adenomas, while TIMP-1 mRNA expression was markedly lower (P < 0.05 for both). Finally, MMP-8 expression in the serum is upregulated in patients with invasive pituitary adenomas relative to the noninvasive ones, and the expression of TIMP-1 significantly reduced (P < 0.05 for both). These results show that increased MMP-8 and decreased TIMP-1 expressions are closely related to the invasive pituitary adenoma, and can be helpful for the evaluation.

Expression of IL-21 in rats with inflammatory bowel disease.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of interleukin (IL)-21 in rats with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Fifty adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: DSS, in which IBD was induced by giving the rats 7% DSS for seven days in their water, and a water control. Blood samples were collected and the concentration of IL-21 in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Colon tissue of rats was examined by immunohistochemical staining. Rats in the DSS group were lethargic, with matte coat color and decreasing body weight. In the DSS group, brown loss stool appeared after four days, and blood appeared in the stool along with dark red hematocele in the intestinal cavity after ten days. Rats in the control group were active and body weight increased regularly. Their stool was black and granular and the color of the intestinal canal was pink. The original body weight of all rats in both groups was similar but seven days after induction of IBD, the weight of the DSS rats dropped significantly compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Serum IL-21 levels were 1.37 ± 0.43 pg/mL in the control group and 3.86 ± 1.27 pg/mL in the DSS group (P < 0.05). More IL-21 positive cells were detected in the intestinal mucosal epithelial cell layer and the lamina propria of the submucosa in the DSS group than in the control group. In conclusion, IL-21 is involved in the pathological process of IBD.

Molecular genetic analysis of heterosis in interspecific hybrids of Argopecten purpuratus x A. irradians irradians.

Argopecten purpuratus and Argopecten irradians irradians hybridization was successfully performed and the hybrid offspring displayed apparent heterosis in growth traits. To better understand the genetic basis of heterosis, the genomic composition and genetic variation of the hybrids were analyzed with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Seven of eight universal SSR primers displayed polymorphism in the hybrids and their parental groups, and hybrids inherited both parental geno-types at each locus. Using five primer combinations in AFLP analysis, 433 loci were amplified in the hybrids and their parental groups. The frequency of polymorphisms was 88.22%. F1 hybrids inherited 88.11 and 92.88% of AFLP bands from their parents. Some loci did not follow Mendelian Law, including 48 loci in parents that were lost, and 11 new loci that were amplified in the hybrids. The parameters of Nei's gene diversity, Shannon's Information index, genetic distance, and molecular variance between groups were calculated. The genetic differentiation between two hybrid groups (0.253) was smaller than that between hybrids and their parents (0.554 to 0.645), and was especially smaller than that between two parental groups (0.769). The high genetic similarity (0.9347) and low genetic differentiation (0.2531) between two hybrid groups suggests that these hybrid groups were genetically very close. Heterozygosities of hybrid groups were higher than those of parental groups, indicating that the hybrids had increased genetic diversity.

Effectiveness of bacterial infection-related cytokine profile (BIRCP) determination for monitoring pathogen infections in children with hemopathy in the bone marrow inhibition phase.

Serum cytokine profiles were analyzed before and after infection in children with hemopathy in the bone marrow inhibition phase to explore the utility of cytokine variations for detecting infections. Serum Th1/Th2 cytokine levels, including tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and interferon, were quantitatively determined by cytometric bead array technology in 480 cases (230 children) of children with hemopathy in the bone marrow inhibition phase with signs of infection, such as fever, and without, to establish baseline and affected levels for comparison with healthy control children. We used the cytokine profile of infected, blood culture-positive children to establish a bacterial infection-related cytokine profile (BIRCP) for predicting infections by pathogens in blood culture-negative children. Overall, 82.9% of children with Gram-negative bacterial infections were accompanied by marked increases of IL-6 and IL-10 levels [>10 times (means ± SD)], whereas only a mild increase of IL-6 levels occurred in Gram-positive bacteria-infected children [>2 times (means ± SD)] and only a mild increase of IFN-γ levels occurred in fungal culture-positive children [>2 times (means ± SD)]. Gram-positive bacterial and fungal infections did not cause a marked increase in IL-6 or IL- 10 levels. The effective rate (86.05%, N = 43) of infectious cases predicted by BIRCP was significantly higher than that obtained using traditional methods for selecting antibiotics based on clinical indications (65.45%, N = 55, P < 0.05). In summary, BIRCP can be used to predict the infections by pathogens in children with hemopathy and to select appropriate antibiotics.

Positional cloning of a gene for Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, a disorder of cytoplasmic organelles.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is an often-fatal autosomal recessive disease in which albinism, bleeding, and lysosomal storage result from defects of diverse cytoplasmic organelles: melanosomes, platelet dense bodies, and lysosomes. HPS is the most common single-gene disorder in Puerto Rico, with an incidence of 1 in 1,800. We have identified the HPS gene by positional cloning, and found homozygous frameshifts in this gene in Puerto Rican, Swiss, Irish and Japanese HPS patients. The HPS polypeptide is a novel transmembrane protein that is likely to be a component of multiple cytoplasmic organelles and that is apparently crucial for their normal development and function. The different clinical phenotypes associated with the different HPS frameshifts we observed suggests that differentially truncated HPS polypeptides may have somewhat different consequences for subcellular function.

Vaginal hysterectomy with and without morcellation: the University of New Mexico hospital's experience.

OBJECTIVE: To compare intraoperative and postoperative complications of vaginal hysterectomy with and without morcellation. METHODS: Between August 1990 and January 1995, 345 women underwent vaginal hysterectomy without laparoscopic assistance at the University of New Mexico and associated hospitals. Medical records available for 340 of these women were reviewed for demographic data, perioperative complications, change in hematocrit, duration of procedure, hospital stay, and uterine size and weight. Some of the records were incomplete with respect to uterine size, uterine weight and hospital stay. The subjects were divided into two groups, 281 who had vaginal hysterectomies without morcellation and 59 who had vaginal hysterectomies with morcellation. The perioperative courses of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Although women undergoing morcellation were significantly older (mean 44 versus 41 years, P = .004), there were no statistically significant differences in other surgical or anesthetic risk factors, including parity, obesity, hormonal status, and preexisting medical disease. Mean uterine weight was significantly greater in those undergoing morcellation (222 versus 110 g, P < .001). Morcellation significantly increased the duration of the procedure (mean 140 versus 168 minutes, P = .004) but did not increase the duration of hospitalization or rate of perioperative complications (18.6 versus 17.4%, odds ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 0.49-2.35). CONCLUSION: Uterine morcellation at the time of vaginal hysterectomy is safe and facilitates the vaginal removal of moderately enlarged and well-supported uteri without increasing perioperative morbidity.