Ectopic expression of two CAULIFLOWER genes from mango caused early flowering in Arabidopsis.

APETALA1 (AP1), CAULIFLOWER (CAL) and FRUITFULL (FUL) were homologous genes with redundant functions in the process of flower transformation and floral development in Arabidopsis. Two CALs genes, MiCAL1 and MiCAL2, were cloned from mango (Mangifera indica L.). Their full-length sequences contained 717 bp and 714 bp, encoding 239 and 238 amino acids, respectively. Both the MiCAL1 and MiCAL2 proteins contained typical MADS-box and K-box domains and therefore belonged to the CAL-like protein family. MiCAL1 and MiCAL2 were expressed in all tissues at the inflorescence elongation stage and flowering stage, with the highest expression in the leaves at the flowering stage. They had similar expression patterns during flower development, with the highest expression levels in leaves during flower differentiation and the lowest expression levels during fruit development. Overexpression of MiCAL1 and MiCAL2 resulted in significantly earlier flowering in Arabidopsis. Overexpression of MiCAL1 resulted in terminal flowers with normal flower organs, while overexpression of MiCAL2 induced partially variation in floral organs but had no effect on inflorescences. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) experiments showed that MiCAL1 and MiCAL2 can interact with several flower-related proteins as well as stress response proteins, such as SEP1, SVP1, SVP2, SOC1G and Di19-4. These results suggest that these two MiCALs genes may have an important influence on mango flowering.

Overexpression of four MiTFL1 genes from mango delays the flowering time in transgenic Arabidopsis.

BACKGROUND: TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) belongs to the phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) family, which is involved in inflorescence meristem development and represses flowering in several plant species. In the present study, four TFL1 genes were cloned from the mango (Mangifera indica L.) variety 'SiJiMi' and named MiTFL1-1, MiTFL1-2, MiTFL1-3 and MiTFL1-4. RESULTS: Sequence analysis showed that the encoded MiTFL1 proteins contained a conserved PEBP domain and belonged to the TFL1 group. Expression analysis showed that the MiTFL1 genes were expressed in not only vegetative organs but also reproductive organs and that the expression levels were related to floral development. Overexpression of the four MiTFL1 genes delayed flowering in transgenic Arabidopsis. Additionally, MiTFL1-1 and MiTFL1-3 changed the flower morphology in some transgenic plants. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) analysis showed that several stress-related proteins interacted with MiTFL1 proteins. CONCLUSIONS: The four MiTFL1 genes exhibited a similar expression pattern, and overexpression in Arabidopsis resulted in delayed flowering. Additionally, MiTFL1-1 and MiTFL1-3 overexpression affected floral organ development. Furthermore, the MiTFL1 proteins could interact with bHLH and 14-3-3 proteins. These results indicate that the MiTFL1 genes may play an important role in the flowering process in mango.

Isolation and functional characterization of three MiFTs genes from mango.

FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) is a key integrator of environmental signals and internal cues and plays a central role in the photoperiod response mechanism in Arabidopsis. However, the function of FTs in Mangifera indica L. is unknown. In this study, we identified three MiFTs genes from mango and characterized their role in flowering regulation. The open reading frames of MiFT1, MiFT2, and MiFT3 are 540, 516, and 588 bp in length and encode 180, 172, and 196 amino acids, respectively; the genes belong to the PEBP family. MiFTs share the conserved exon/intron structure of FTs. The nucleotide sequence of MiFT1 is 90% identical to that of MiFT2 and 82% identical to that of MiFT3; MiFT2 and MiFT3 share 81% homology with each other. According to expression analysis, MiFTs were detected at different expression levels in all tested tissues. The expression levels of the three MiFTs were significantly different in leaves during flower development, and MiFT1 expression increased sharply in leaves and was significantly higher than that of the other two MiFTs during flower bud development. All three MiFTs showed daily cycles. Ectopic expression of the three MiFTs in transgenic Arabidopsis resulted in an earlier flowering genotype under long-day conditions, and MiFT1 had the strongest effect in promoting flowering. Additionally, overexpression of three MiFTs in Arabidopsis upregulated the expression levels of several flowering-related genes. Our results suggest that the three MiFTs have positive roles in promoting flowering and suggest that MiFT1 may acts as a key regulator in the flowering pathway.

Prognostic role of the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and albumin for 30-day mortality in patients with postoperative acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and albumin for 30-day mortality in patients with postoperative acute pulmonary embolism (PAPE). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 101 patients with PAPE admitted from September 1, 2012, to March 31, 2019. The characteristics, surgical information, admission examination data and mortality within 30 days after PAPE were obtained from our electronic medical recording system and follow-up. The associations between the NLR, PLR, and other predictors and 30-day mortality were analyzed with univariate and multivariate analyses. Then, the nomogram including the independent predictors was established and evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients died within 30 days, corresponding to a 30-day mortality rate of 23.8%. The results of the multivariate analysis indicated that both the NLR and albumin were independent predictors for 30-day mortality in patients with PAPE. The probability of death increased by approximately 17.1% (OR = 1.171, 95% CI: 1.073-1.277, P = 0.000) with a one-unit increase in the NLR, and the probability of death decreased by approximately 15.4% (OR = 0.846, 95% CI: 0.762c-0.939, P = 0.002) with a one-unit increase in albumin. The area under the curve of the nomogram was 0.888 (95% CI: 0.812-0.964). CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that an elevated NLR and decreased albumin were related to poor prognosis in patients with PAPE. The NLR and albumin were independent prognostic factors for PAPE.

[Influence of dexamethasone on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of dexamethasone on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: In a prospective trial, 280 female (18-60 years) breast cancer patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy with neoadjuvent chemotherapy were randomized to two groups: one with dexamethasone (Group D) and one without dexamethasone (Group C, n=140). In each group, anesthesia was maintained with volatile anesthesia or total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA): TIVA (propofol) without dexamethasone (Subgroup CP); volatile anesthesia (sevoflurane) without dexamethasone (Subgroup CS); TIVA with 10 mg dexamethasone intravenously before anesthetic induction (Subgroup DP); volatile anesthesia with 10 mg dexamethasone intravenously before anesthetic induction (Subgroup DS). A standard general anesthetic technique was used. All the patients received 8 mg of ondansetron intravenously 30 minutes before the end of surgical procedures. The incidence of PONV during the 24-hour postoperative period was recorded. A Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine relevant factors for PONV. The tested factors were: age, body mass index (BMI), duration of surgery, postoperative pain, history of motion sickness/PONV, with or without dexamethasone and anesthetic regimen. RESULTS: There was a significant lower incidence of PONV in the patients who received dexamethasone than in those who received placebo during the 24-hour postoperative period (11.4% vs. 20.7%, P=0.034). In the early postoperative period (0-2 h) dexamethasone reduced the incidence of PONV ( 1.4%vs.6.4%, P=0.031), but in the late postoperative period (2-24 h) the difference of the incidence was insignificantly (10.7% vs. 17.9%, P=0.088). No differences were found between TIVA and volatile anesthesia in the 24-hour postoperative period. Dexamethasone was effective to prevent PONV(OR=0.447, P=0.030), and history of PONV or motion sickness was the risk factor of PONV (OR=15.730, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone prevents PONV effectively in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and TIVA cannot decrease the incidence of PONV in the 24-hour postoperative period in those patients.

Median effective effect-site concentration of intravenous anesthetics for loss of consciousness in neoadjuvant chemotherapy patients.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, increasing numbers of patients are accepting neoadjuvant chemotherapy before their operation in order to get a better prognosis. But chemotherapy has many side-effects. We have observed that patients who accepted neoadjuvant chemotherapy are more sensitive to anesthetics. The aim of this study was to determine the median effective dose (EC(50)) of intravenous anesthetics for neoadjuvant chemotherapy patients to lose consciousness during target-controlled infusion. METHODS: Two hundred and forty breast cancer patients undergoing elective operations were assigned to six groups according to treatment received before their operation and the use of intravenous anesthetics during anesthesia; non-adjuvant chemotherapy + propofol group (group NP, n = 40), Taxol + propofol group (group TP, n = 40), adriamycin + cyclophosphamide + 5-Fu + propofol group (group CP, n = 40), non-adjuvant chemotherapy + etomidate group (group NE, n = 40), taxol + etomidate group (group TE, n = 40), adriamycin + cyclophosphamide + 5-Fu + etomidate group (group CE, n = 40). We set the beginning effect-site concentration (Ce) of propofol as 3.0 µg/ml and etomidate as 0.2 µg/ml. The concentration was increased by steps until the patient was asleep, (OAAS class I-II), then gave fentanyl 3 µg/kg and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg and intubated three minutes later. The patients' age, height, and weight were recorded. BIS was recorded before induction, at the initial effect-site concentration and at loss of consciousness. The effect-site concentration was recorded when patient lost consciousness. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups in general conditions before treatment; such as BIS of consciousness, age, sex and body mass index. The EC(50) of propofol in the NP, TP and CP groups was 4.11 µg/ml (95%CI: 3.96 - 4.26), 2.94 µg/ml (95%CI: 3.36 - 3.47) and 2.91 µg/ml (95%CI: 3.35 - 3.86), respectively. The EC50 of etomidate in the NE, TE and CE groups was 0.61 µg/ml (95%CI: 0.55 - 0.67), 0.38 µg/ml (95%CI: 0.33 - 0.44), and 0.35 µg/ml (95%CI: 0.34 - 0.36), respectively. There was no significant difference of BIS level before induction or in BIS50 level in any group when patients lost consciousness. CONCLUSIONS: The EC(50) of intravenous anesthetics to cause loss of consciousness in neoadjuvant chemotherapy groups is lower than in the control group. There was no significant difference of BIS level at which patients lost consciousness.

[Mechanism of the preventing of endotracheal intubation response with esmolol-the relationship between the plasma catecholamine level and bispectral index].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the relationship between the level of catecholamine in plasma with bispectral index during endotracheal intubation with propofol anesthesia in order to investigate the mechanism of the preventing of endotracheal intubation response with esmolol. METHODS: Thirty patients were randomly allocated into two groups: control group (n=15) and esmolol group (n=15). The patients received esmolol 1amg/kg followed by 250 microg/(kgdmin) in esmolol group and saline in control group. Two minutes later, the patients received propofol 2amg/kg for induction. Bispectral index (BIS), systolic pressure (SP), diostolic pressure (DP), and heart rate (HR) were measured before endotracheal intubation and 3amin after intubation, at the same time 8a mL arteral blood was taken for the measurement of the concentrations of norephinephrine(NE) and ephinephrine(E) in plasma. RESULTS: The level of BIS(63.53+/-3.11), NE(2.016+/-0.681)and E(0.578+/-0.072)in control group 3 min after endotracheal intubation were increased significantly than those before intubation (P<0.05), but there were no significant change in the level of BIS, NE and E in esmolol group 3amin after endotracheal intubation . There were significant differences in the concentrations of NE(2.016+/-0.681)and E(0.578+/-0.072) in plasma 3 min after intubation between the two groups (P< 0.05) and there were also significant differences in BIS(63.53+/-3.11) and DeltaBIS(20.93+/-4.57)3 min after intubation between the two groups(P<0.01). SP( 148+/-20)and HR(89+/-180) in control group were increased after intubation than those before intubation (P<0.05) . There were no significant differences in SP, DP and HR in esmolol group after intubation than those before intubation. CONCLUSION: Esmolol can reduce the plasma concentrations of NE and E through preventing periopheal sympathetic nerve response to intubation and can reduce BIS arousal reactions after endotracheal intubation.