P3H4 and PLOD1 expression associates with poor prognosis in bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: The prolyl 3-hydroxylase family member 4 gene (P3H4) is involved in the development of human cancers. The association of P3H4 with bladder cancer (BC) prognosis is unclear. This study aimed to analyze the association of P3H4 with BC prognosis. METHODS: RNA-Seq data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas project and BC microarray datasets (GSE13507, GSE31684, and GSE32548) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We analyzed the differences in P3H4 expression levels between BC tumors and non-tumor tissues and between samples with different clinical information. The association of P3H4 and P3H4-related genes with BC prognosis and the possibility of using P3H4 expression as a prognostic biomarker in BC patients were also analyzed. RevMan was used to perform the meta-analysis. RESULTS: P3H4 was upregulated in BC tissues compared with the adjacent non-tumor tissues (p = 4.06e-08). Univariate Cox regression analysis and meta-analysis showed that high P3H4 expression level contributed to a poor BC prognosis (Hazard ratio, HR = 1.348, 95% CI 1.140-1.594, p = 4.89e-04; meta-analysis: HR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.10-1.91; p = 9.00e-03). Among the genes related to P3H4, the PLOD1 gene was closely associated with P3H4 expression (r = 0.620, p = 2.49e-44). Also, a meta-analysis showed that PLOD1 expression was associated with a poor prognosis in BC patients (HR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.31-2.38; p = 2.00e-04). CONCLUSIONS: The P3H4 and PLOD1 genes might be used as reliable prognostic biomarkers for BC.

Effect of pre-emulsified sesame oil on physical-chemical and rheological properties of pork batters

Abstract Physical-chemical and rheological properties of pork batters as affected by replacing pork back-fat with pre-emulsified sesame oil were investigated. Replacement of pork back-fat with pre-emulsified sesame oil, improved L* value, moisture and protein content, hardness, cohesiveness, and chewiness, declined a* value, fat content and energy, but not affect cooking yield. When used pre-emulsified sesame oil to replace pork back-fat 50%, the sample had the highest L* value and texture. According to the results of dynamic rheological, replaced pork back-fat by pre-emulsified sesame oil increased the storage modulus (G') values at 80 °C, and formed firm gel. The result of Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) shown that the batters with pre-emulsified sesame oil had higher water holding capacity than the control. Overall, the batters with pre-emulsified sesame oil enabled lowering of fat and energy contents, making the pork batter had better texture.

Genome of Plant Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Illuminates Genomic Basis for High-Altitude Adaptation in the Central Andes.

Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp, 2n = 8x = 64), belonging to the Brassicaceae family, is an economic plant cultivated in the central Andes sierra in Peru (4000-4500 m). Considering that the rapid uplift of the central Andes occurred 5-10 million years ago (Ma), an evolutionary question arises regarding how plants such as maca acquire high-altitude adaptation within a short geological period. Here, we report the high-quality genome assembly of maca, in which two closely spaced maca-specific whole-genome duplications (WGDs; ∼6.7 Ma) were identified. Comparative genomic analysis between maca and closely related Brassicaceae species revealed expansions of maca genes and gene families involved in abiotic stress response, hormone signaling pathway, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis via WGDs. The retention and subsequent functional divergence of many duplicated genes may account for the morphological and physiological changes (i.e., small leaf shape and self-fertility) in maca in a high-altitude environment. In addition, some duplicated maca genes were identified with functions in morphological adaptation (i.e., LEAF CURLING RESPONSIVENESS) and abiotic stress response (i.e., GLYCINE-RICH RNA-BINDING PROTEINS and DNA-DAMAGE-REPAIR/TOLERATION 2) under positive selection. Collectively, the maca genome provides useful information to understand the important roles of WGDs in the high-altitude adaptation of plants in the Andes.

Growth of in vitro Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum in chemically defined media amended with gallic acid.

Gallic acid was artificially added to the media to grow Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.niveum to investigate its effect on the pathogenic fungus. Results indicate that gallic acid inhibited the growth of F. oxysporum f.sp.niveum. The colony diameter, the conidia germinating rate and the conidia yield were reduced by 5.7-22.9%%, 35.8-55.6% and 38.9-62.2% respectively. However, the virulence factors by the fungus were stimulated. The activity of pectinase, proteinase and cellulase increased by 12.3-627.8%, 11.8-41.2% and 0.5-325.0% respectively, while the activity of amylase increased slightly. The results suggest that gallic acid repressed growth but facilitated the relative pathogenicity of invading pathogens.

Growth of in vitro Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum in chemically defined media amended with gallic acid

Gallic acid was artificially added to the media to grow Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.niveum to investigate its effect on the pathogenic fungus. Results indicate that gallic acid inhibited the growth of F. oxysporum f.sp.niveum. The colony diameter, the conidia germinating rate and the conidia yield were reduced by 5.7-22.9 percent percent, 35.8-55.6 percent and 38.9-62.2 percent respectively. However, the virulence factors by the fungus were stimulated. The activity of pectinase, proteinase and cellulase increased by 12.3-627.8 percent, 11.8-41.2 percent and 0.5-325.0 percent respectively, while the activity of amylase increased slightly. The results suggest that gallic acid repressed growth but facilitated the relative pathogenicity of invading pathogens.