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Hybridization generates biodiversity, and wide hybridization plays a pivotal role in enhancing and broadening the useful attributes of crops. The hybridization barrier between wheat and rice, the two most important cereals, was recently overcome by in vitro production of allopolyploid wheat-rice hybrid zygotes, which can develop and grow into mature plants. In the study, genomic sequences and compositions of the possible hybrid plants were investigated through short- and long-read sequencing analyses and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-based visualization. The possible hybrid possessed whole wheat nuclear and cytoplasmic DNAs and rice mitochondrial (mt) DNA, along with variable retention rates of rice mtDNA ranging from 11% to 47%. The rice mtDNA retained in the wheat cybrid, termed Oryzawheat, can be transmitted across generations. In addition to mitochondrial hybridization, translocation of rice chromosome 1 into wheat chromosome 6A was detected in a F1 hybrid individual. OryzaWheat can provide a new horizon for utilizing inter-subfamily genetic resources among wheat and rice belonging to different subfamilies, Pooideae and Ehrhartoideae, respectively.
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BACKGROUND: Tumor-Stroma Ratio (TSR) has been recognized as a valuable prognostic indicator in various solid tumors. This study aimed to examine the clinicopathological relevance of TSR in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) using artificial intelligence (AI)-based parameterization of the stromal landscape and validate TSR scores generated by our AI model versus human-assessed. METHODS: 112 MCC cases with Whole Slide Images (WSIs) were collected from four different institutions. WSIs were first partitioned into 128x128-pixel "mini-patches" then classified by a novel framework, termed Pre-TumOr And STroma (Pre-TOAST) and TOAST, whose output equaled the probability of the mini-patch representing tumor cells rather than stroma. Hierarchical random samplings of 50 mini-patches per region were performed throughout 50 regions per slide. TSR and Tumor-Stromal Landscape (TSL) parameters were estimated by the maximum-likelihood algorithm. RESULTS: Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves showed the areas under the curve (AUCs) of Pre-TOAST in discriminating classed of interest (COI) including tumor cells, collagenous stroma, and lymphocytes from non-classes of interest (non-COI) including hemorrhage, space, and necrosis were 1.00. AUCs of TOAST in differentiating tumor cells from related stroma were 0.93. MCC stroma was categorized into TSR-high (TSR≥50%) and TSR-low (TSR<50%) using both AI- and human pathology-based methods. AI-based TSR-high subgroup exhibited notably shorter Metastasis-Free Survival (MFS) with a statistical significance of p=0.029. Interestingly, pathologist-determined TSR subgroups lacked statistical significance in Recurrence-Free Survival (RFS), MFS, and Overall Survival (OS) (p>0.05). Density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) analysis identified two distinct Tumor-Stroma Landscape (TSL) clusters: TSL1 and TSL2. TSL2 showed significantly shorter RFS (p=0.045) and markedly reduced MFS (p<0.001) compared to TSL1. CONCLUSION: TSL classification appears to offer better prognostic discrimination than traditional TSR evaluation in MCC. TSL can be reliably calculated using an AI-based classification framework and predict various prognostic features of MCC.
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Nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (NSRP) for prostate cancer (PC) enables better postoperative recovery of continence and potency but may increase the risk of positive surgical margins. This study aimed to investigate preoperative predictive factors for extracapsular extension (ECE) of PC to select patients for NSRP. We retrospectively evaluated 288 patients with PC (576 lobes) diagnosed with 12-core transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) who underwent laparoscopic or robot-assisted radical prostatectomy at our institution. Surgical specimens and preoperative parameters (prostate-specific antigen, prostate volume, biopsy and MRI findings, preoperative therapy) were analyzed. Of 576 prostate lobes, the incidence Ipsilateral ECE was identified in 97 (16.8%) lobes. The higher number of unilateral positive biopsy cores, the highest Gleason score 8 or more and positive unilateral findings on MRI are significant higher in prostate sides with ECE in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, positive unilateral MRI findings (odds ratio [OR], 2.86; p < 0.001) and unilateral biopsy positive core ≥ 3 (OR, 3.73; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of unilateral ECE. The detection rate of unilateral ECE in those cases with two factors (side-specific positive biopsy core 2 or less and side-specific MRI findings negative) was 7.1% (19/269). Patients with fewer unilateral positive biopsy cores and negative unilateral MRI findings might be good candidates for NSRP.
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OBJECTIVE: In preclinical studies, high-throughput positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, known as simultaneous multiple animal scanning, can reduce the time spent on animal experiments, the cost of PET tracers, and the risk of synthesis of PET tracers. It is well known that the image quality acquired by high-throughput imaging depends on the PET system. Herein, we investigated the influence of large field of view (FOV) PET scanner on high-throughput imaging. METHODS: We investigated the influence of scanning four objects using a small animal PET scanner with a large FOV. We compared the image quality acquired by four objects scanned with the one acquired by one object scanned using phantoms and animals. We assessed the image quality with uniformity, recovery coefficient (RC), and spillover ratio (SOR), which are indicators of image noise, spatial resolution, and quantitative precision, respectively. For the phantom study, we used the NEMA NU 4-2008 image quality phantom and evaluated uniformity, RC, and SOR, and for the animal study, we used Wistar rats and evaluated the spillover in the heart and kidney. RESULTS: In the phantom study, four phantoms had little effect on imaging quality, especially SOR compared with that for one phantom. In the animal study as well, four rats had little effect on spillover from the heart muscle and kidney cortex compared with that for one rat. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that an animal PET scanner with a large FOV was suitable for high-throughput imaging. Thus, the large FOV PET scanner can support drug discovery and bridging research through rapid pharmacological and pathological evaluation.
Subject(s)
Phantoms, Imaging , Positron-Emission Tomography , Rats, Wistar , Animals , Positron-Emission Tomography/instrumentation , Positron-Emission Tomography/methods , Rats , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods , Male , Kidney/diagnostic imaging , Heart/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyoses (ARCI) is a genetically heterogeneous condition that can be caused by pathogenic variants in at least 12 genes, including ABCA12. ARCI mainly consists of congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (CIE), lamellar ichthyosis (LI) and harlequin ichthyosis (HI). The objective was to determine previously unreported pathogenic variants in ABCA12 and to update genotype-phenotype correlations for patients with pathogenic ABCA12 variants. Pathogenic variants in ABCA12 were detected using Sanger sequencing or a combination of Sanger sequencing and whole-exome sequencing. To verify the pathogenicity of a previously unreported large deletion and intron variant, cDNA analysis was performed using total RNA extracted from hair roots. Genetic analyses were performed on the patients with CIE, LI, HI and non-congenital ichthyosis with unusual phenotypes (NIUP), and 11 previously unreported ABCA12 variants were identified. Sequencing of cDNA confirmed the aberrant splicing of the variant ABCA12 in the patients with the previously unreported large deletion and intron variant. Our findings expand the phenotype spectrum of ichthyosis patients with ABCA12 pathogenic variants. The present missense variants in ABCA12 are considered to be heterogenous in pathogenicity, and they lead to varying disease severities in patients with ARCI and non-congenital ichthyosis with unusual phenotypes (NIUP).
Subject(s)
Ichthyosiform Erythroderma, Congenital , Ichthyosis, Lamellar , Ichthyosis , Humans , Ichthyosis, Lamellar/genetics , Ichthyosis, Lamellar/pathology , DNA, Complementary , Genes, Recessive , Mutation , Ichthyosis/genetics , Ichthyosiform Erythroderma, Congenital/genetics , Genetic Association Studies , ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/geneticsABSTRACT
Bone is the most common metastatic site in prostate cancer (PCa). Although the extent of disease (EOD) grade is used for evaluating burden of bone metastasis, the accuracy of bone metastasis classification needs improvement. Bone scan index (BSI) was developed as a quantitative tool to enhance the interpretability and clinical relevance of the bone scan. This study aimed to explore the role of BSI using BONENAVI® software in determining the prognosis and treatment efficacy in castration-sensitive PCa (mCSPC) patients with bone metastasis. We retrospectively reviewed 61 mCSPC patients with bone metastasis who had received primary androgen deprivation therapy (PADT) at our institution. All patients received PADT with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist or surgical castration accompanied by first-generation antiandrogen, bicalutamide. Bone scans were performed with 99[m]Tc-MDP. BSI (%) was divided into two groups (ï¼1.0 and â§1.0), and BSI response rates(change at 0 months to after 6 months) were determined using thresholds of 45% decline. Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) -free survival (CRPC-FS) and Overall survival (OS) rates were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The median follow-up was 41. 9 months. Overall, 16 patients (26. 2%) died. Multivariate analysis on pretreatment factors revealed that hemoglobin (Pï¼0.03) and BSI (Pï¼0.04) were independent prognostic factors for OS. The 5-year OS rates in patients with low BSI and high BSI were 84.6% and 39.2%, respectively (Pï¼0.02). In 40 patients who had a bone scan before and after PADT, OS rates in patients with a good response (â§45%) were significantly higher than those with a poor response (ï¼45%) (Pï¼0.001). Nadir PSA titers within 6 months after the start of treatment (Pï¼0.005), Hb (Pï¼0.003), and BSI change (Pï¼0.014) were independent prognostic factors for OS. In mCSPC patients with bone metastases, BSI at diagnosis was an important predictor of CRPC progression and OS as a pre-treatment factor, and BSI change rate and PSA nadir as post-treatment factors.
Subject(s)
Bone Neoplasms , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant , Male , Humans , Androgen Antagonists/therapeutic use , Prostate-Specific Antigen , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/diagnostic imaging , Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy , Retrospective Studies , Prognosis , Treatment Outcome , Bone Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Bone Neoplasms/drug therapyABSTRACT
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ABSTRACT
Genome-editing tools such as the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system have become essential tools for increasing the efficiency and accuracy of plant breeding. Using such genome-editing tools on maize, one of the most important cereal crops of the world, will greatly benefit the agriculture and the mankind. Conventional genome-editing methods typically used for maize involve insertion of a Cas9-guide RNA expression cassette and a selectable marker in the genome DNA; however, using such methods, it is essential to eliminate the inserted DNA cassettes to avoid legislative concerns on gene-modified organisms. Another major hurdle for establishing an efficient and broadly applicable DNA-free genome-editing system for maize is presented by recalcitrant genotypes/cultivars, since cell/tissue culture and its subsequent regeneration into plantlets are crucial for producing transgenic and/or genome-edited maize. In this study, to establish a DNA-free genome-editing system for recalcitrant maize genotypes/cultivars, Cas9-gRNA ribonucleoproteins were directly delivered into zygotes isolated from the pollinated flowers of the maize-B73 cultivar. The zygotes successfully developed and were regenerated into genome-edited plantlets by co-culture with phytosulfokine, a peptide phytohormone. The method developed herein made it possible to obtain DNA- and selectable-marker-free genome-edited recalcitrant maize genotypes/cultivars with high efficiency. This method can advance the molecular breeding of maize and other important cereals, regardless of their recalcitrant characteristics.
Subject(s)
CRISPR-Cas Systems , Gene Editing , Genome, Plant , Zea mays , Zea mays/genetics , Gene Editing/methods , Plants, Genetically Modified , Zygote/metabolism , Plant Breeding/methods , RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics , DNA, Plant/geneticsSubject(s)
Psoriasis , Humans , Acute Disease , Causality , Chronic Disease , Psoriasis/epidemiology , Psoriasis/genetics , Pyrin/geneticsABSTRACT
Feeder cells and the synthetic auxin 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in a culture medium promote mitosis and cell division in cultured cells. These are also added to nutrient medium for the cultivation of highly active in mitosis and dividing zygotes, produced in vitro or isolated from pollinated ovaries. In the study, an in vitro fertilization (IVF) system was used to study the precise effects of feeder cells and 2,4-D on the growth and development of rice (Oryza sativa L.) zygote. The elimination of 2,4-D from the culture medium did not affect the early developmental profiles of the zygotes, but decreased the division rates of multicellular embryos. The omission of feeder cells resulted in defective karyogamy, fusion between male and female nuclei, and the subsequent first division of the cultured zygotes. The culture of zygotes in a conditioned medium corrected developmental disorders. Proteome analyses of the conditioned medium revealed the presence of abundant hydrolases possibly released from the feeder cells. Exogenously applied α-amylase ameliorated karyogamy and promoted zygote development. It is suggested that hydrolytic enzymes, including α-amylase, released from feeder cells may be involved in the progression of zygotic development.
Subject(s)
Oryza , Zygote , Culture Media, Conditioned/pharmacology , Mitosis , Fertilization in Vitro , Cells, Cultured , alpha-Amylases , 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic AcidABSTRACT
Morphological response of cells to environment involves concerted rearrangements of microtubules and actin microfilaments. A mutant of WAVE-DAMPENED2-LIKE5 (WDL5), which encodes an ethylene-regulated microtubule-associated protein belonging to the WVD2/WDL family in Arabidopsis thaliana, shows attenuation in the temporal root growth reduction in response to mechanical stress. We found that a T-DNA knockout of WDL6, the closest homolog of WDL5, oppositely shows an enhancement of the response. To know the functional relationship between WDL5 and WDL6, we attempted to generate the double mutant by crosses but failed in isolation. Close examination of gametophytes in plants that are homozygous for one and heterozygous for the other revealed that these plants produce pollen grains with a reduced rate of germination and tube growth. Reciprocal cross experiments of these plants with the wild type confirmed that the double mutation is not inherited paternally. These results suggest a critical and cooperative function of WDL5 and WDL6 in pollen tube growth.
Subject(s)
Arabidopsis Proteins , Arabidopsis , Arabidopsis/metabolism , Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics , Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism , Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics , Microtubule-Associated Proteins/metabolism , Pollen Tube/metabolism , Pollen/metabolism , Mutation/genetics , GerminationABSTRACT
FCCP (carbonyl cyanide-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone) is known to inhibit oxidative phosphorylation as a protonophore, dissipating the proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. To understand the toxicity of FCCP, 3-day, 2- and 4-week repeated oral dose studies were performed in male rats. In the 3-day and 2-week repeated dose toxicity studies, observations included salivation, increased body temperature, and dead and moribund animals. Increased liver weight was observed in conjunction with hydropic degeneration and centrilobular necrosis of hepatocytes. In addition, pathological changes were observed in the pancreas, testis, epididymal duct, stomach and parotid gland. Electron microscopic examination revealed mitochondrial pleomorphism in the hepatocytes. Swelling of mitochondria was observed in the alpha cells and beta cells of the pancreas. Dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies and loss of secretory granules were also noted in the beta cells of the pancreas. FCCP was also compared with three other mUncouplers (DNP, OPC-163493 and tolcapone) with regard to in vitro mitochondrial uncoupling (mUncoupling) activities. FCCP produced the peak ΔOCR (oxygen consumption rate) at the lowest concentration (0.4 µM), followed by OPC-163493, tolcapone, and DNP, based on peak values in ascending order of concentration (2.5, 10, and 50 µM, respectively). Considering the relationship between the mUncoupling activity and toxicity profile of the four mUncouplers, there is no parallel relationship between the in vitro mUncoupling activity and the degree of in vivo toxicity. These findings may contribute to the efficient development of new mitochondrial uncoupler candidates. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43188-023-00189-x.
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Somaclonal variation was studied by whole-genome sequencing in rice plants (Oryza sativa L., 'Nipponbare') regenerated from the zygotes, mature embryos, and immature embryos of a single mother plant. The mother plant and its seed-propagated progeny were also sequenced. A total of 338 variants of the mother plant sequence were detected in the progeny, and mean values ranged from 9.0 of the seed-propagated plants to 37.4 of regenerants from mature embryos. The natural mutation rate of 1.2 × 10-8 calculated using the variants in the seed-propagated plants was consistent with the values reported previously. The ratio of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) among the variants in the seed-propagated plants was 91.1%, which is higher than 56.1% previously reported, and not significantly different from those in the regenerants. Overall, the ratio of transitions to transversions of SNVs was lower in the regenerants as shown previously. Plants regenerated from mature embryos had significantly more variants than different progeny types. Therefore, using zygotes and immature embryos can reduce somaclonal variation during the genetic manipulation of rice.
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A pseudoaneurysm of the profunda femoris artery (PFA) is a rare disease induced by femoral trauma, proximal femoral fracture, or iatrogenic causes associated with orthopaedic surgery. Recently, transcatheter arterial embolism was reported as an effective treatment for profunda femoris artery pseudoaneurysm. This report presents the case of an 85-year-old male who underwent artificial head replacement for a left femoral neck fracture and was hospitalized with a peri-stem fracture four years later. Conservative treatment was conducted with a brace, though the swelling and pain in his left thigh increased one week after his hospital admission. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) led to a diagnosis of a left profunda femoris artery pseudoaneurysm, and the patient underwent emergency transcatheter arterial embolism and surgical hematoma removal. Since the emergency surgery, the patient's course has been good, and he has been undergoing rehabilitation.
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INTRODUCTION: We report two cases of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with celiac artery (CA) or superior mesenteric artery (SMA) stenosis using skeletonized gastroepiploic artery (GEA) grafts. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 77-year-old man (case 1) and a 49-year-old man (case 2) underwent off-pump CABG for unstable angina. Preoperative ultrasonography revealed CA or SMA stenosis; therefore, we chose a free GEA composite with an internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft instead of an in-situ GEA graft. The patients were ultimately discharged uneventfully. DISCUSSION: GEA graft are remarkably reliable; however, their frequency of use seems to have decreased. In some cases, before GEA harvesting, echocardiogram shows accelerated peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the CA or SMA suggesting vascular stenosis, which prompts relinquishing GEA use. Therefore, free GEA grafts and composite of ITA graft were chosen recently. CONCLUSION: Free GEA grafts are especially advantageous for patients with peripheral artery disease who are unsuitable for saphenous vein harvesting. Free GEA grafting could be an alternative modality to avoid aortic clamping in patients with severe atherosclerotic lesions. The routine use of echocardiogram to evaluate blood flow in the CA and SMA should be advocated, as it often shows accelerated PSV (greater than 150 cm/s), which suggests vascular stenosis.
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In this study we have examined the feasibility of a program based on the health belief model (HBM), for its effectiveness in improving lifestyle-related diseases in patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD), which are often complicated with physical conditions. In this model, we attempted to enable patients to identify a "threat" and to find "balance between benefits and disadvantages". Subjects were carefully selected from among psychiatric patients by excluding any bias. Thus, the enrolled patients were 30 adult men and women with lifestyle-related diseases, or those with a body mass index (BMI) of over 24. Of these 30 subjects, 15 were randomly assigned to the intervention group and 10 the control group, since 5 subjects in the control voluntarily left from the study. Comparison of the intervention and control groups revealed significant improvement (p < 0.05) in HDL cholesterol in the intervention group. However, there were no significant changes in other variables. These findings support the usefulness and efficacy of HMB-based nutritional interventions for preventing lifestyle-related disorders among psychiatric patients. Further evaluation is needed with a larger sample size and a longer intervention period. This HMB-based intervention could be useful for the general population as well.