Arabidopsis RAB8A, RAB8B and RAB8D Proteins Interact with Several RTNLB Proteins and are Involved in the Agrobacterium tumefaciens Infection Process.

Arabidopsis thaliana small GTP-binding proteins, AtRAB8s, associate with the endomembrane system and modulate tubulovesicular trafficking between compartments of the biosynthetic and endocytic pathways. There are five members in Arabidopsis, namely AtRAB8A-8E. Yeast two-hybrid assays, bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays and glutathione-S-transferase pull-down assays showed that RAB8A, 8B and 8D interacted with several membrane-associated reticulon-like (AtRTNLB) proteins in yeast, plant cells and in vitro. Furthermore, RAB8A, 8B and 8D proteins showed interactions with the Agrobacterium tumefaciens virulence protein, VirB2, a component of a type IV secretion system (T4SS). A. tumefaciens uses a T4SS to transfer T-DNA and Virulence proteins to plants, which causes crown gall disease in plants. The Arabidopsis rab8A, rab8B and rab8D single mutants showed decreased levels of Agrobacterium-mediated root and seedling transformation, while the RAB8A, 8B and 8D overexpression transgenic Arabidopsis plants were hypersusceptible to A. tumefaciens and Pseudomonas syringae infections. RAB8A-8E transcripts accumulated differently in roots, rosette leaves, cauline leaves, inflorescence and flowers of wild-type plants. In summary, RAB8A, 8B and 8D interacted with several RTNLB proteins and participated in A. tumefaciens and P. syringae infection processes.

Anterior scalene plane block at the superior trunk level relieves referred shoulder pain after liver radiofrequency ablation: a technical report.

We report the first case of using an anterior scalene plane block at the superior trunk level achieving phrenic nerve blockade to treat intolerable referred shoulder pain after liver Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of a diaphragm-abutting liver tumor despite prevention with a full-dose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The anterior scalene plane block rapidly alleviated pain without significant complications.

Propofol-based intravenous anesthesia is associated with better survival than desflurane anesthesia in pancreatic cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Previous researches have shown that anesthetic techniques can influence the patient outcomes of cancer surgery. Here, we studied the relationship between type of anesthetic and patient outcomes following elective, open pancreatic cancer surgery. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who received elective, open pancreatic cancer surgery between January 2005 and July 2018. Patients were grouped according to the anesthesia they received, namely desflurane or propofol. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted, and survival curves were presented from the date of surgery to death. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to compare hazard ratios for death after propensity matching. Subgroup analyses were performed for all-cause mortality, cancer-specific mortality, and disease progression. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients (56 deaths, 82.0%) under desflurane anesthesia, and 72 patients (43 deaths, 60.0%) under propofol anesthesia were included. Fifty-eight patients remained in each group after propensity matching. The propofol anesthesia was associated with improved survival (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.99; P = 0.047) in the matched analysis. Subgroup analyses showed significantly better cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.40-0.97; P = 0.037) in the propofol group. Additionally, patients under propofol had less postoperative recurrence, but not fewer postoperative metastases formation, than those under desflurane (hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-0.90; P = 0.028) in the matched analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In a limited sample size, we observed that propofol anesthesia was associated with improved survival in open pancreatic cancer surgery compared with desflurane anesthesia. Further investigations are needed to inspect the influences of propofol anesthesia on patient outcomes of pancreatic cancer surgery.

Correction: Huang, F.-C., et al. Arabidopsis RETICULON-LIKE3 (RTNLB3) and RTNLB8 Participate in Agrobacterium-Mediated Plant Transformation. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 638.

The authors would like to make a correction to their published paper [...].

Arabidopsis RETICULON-LIKE3 (RTNLB3) and RTNLB8 Participate in Agrobacterium-Mediated Plant Transformation.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens can genetically transform various eukaryotic cells because of the presence of a resident tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid. During infection, a defined region of the Ti plasmid, transfer DNA (T-DNA), is transferred from bacteria into plant cells and causes plant cells to abnormally synthesize auxin and cytokinin, which results in crown gall disease. T-DNA and several virulence (Vir) proteins are secreted through a type IV secretion system (T4SS) composed of T-pilus and a transmembrane protein complex. Three members of Arabidopsis reticulon-like B (RTNLB) proteins, RTNLB1, 2, and 4, interact with VirB2, the major component of T-pilus. Here, we have identified that other RTNLB proteins, RTNLB3 and 8, interact with VirB2 in vitro. Root-based A. tumefaciens transformation assays with Arabidopsis rtnlb3, or rtnlb5-10 single mutants showed that the rtnlb8 mutant was resistant to A. tumefaciens infection. In addition, rtnlb3 and rtnlb8 mutants showed reduced transient transformation efficiency in seedlings. RTNLB3- or 8 overexpression transgenic plants showed increased susceptibility to A. tumefaciens and Pseudomonas syringae infection. RTNLB1-4 and 8 transcript levels differed in roots, rosette leaves, cauline leaves, inflorescence, flowers, and siliques of wild-type plants. Taken together, RTNLB3 and 8 may participate in A. tumefaciens infection but may have different roles in plants.

Association between Chronic Kidney Disease and Risk of Cataract: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have established a relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cataract, but the relationship between the severity of renal impairment and risk of cataract is uncertain. This study investigates the relationship between the severity of renal disease and cataract in a nationwide sample from Taiwan. METHODS: The cohort from 1-million National Health Insurance beneficiaries from Taiwan was retrospectively analyzed. All adult beneficiaries were followed from January 1, 2005 until December 31, 2013, to identify patients who underwent cataract surgeries. On the basis of the ambulatory care records, those diagnosed with CKD (ICD-9-CM code: 585) during the follow-up period were enrolled as CKD patients after careful evaluation. Each patient with CKD was age- and gender-matched with 4 individuals who did not have CKD. Cox regression models were applied to compare the hazard of cataract surgery in individuals with and without CKD. Subgroup analysis was used to compare patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with age- and gender-matched non-CKD individuals. ESRD was defined by CKD patients who need regular renal replacement therapy. The same method was applied to evaluate hazard ratios (HRs). RESULTS: After age and gender matching, there were 11,881 patients in the CKD group and 47,524 in the non-CKD group. After control for possible confounding, the adjusted HR (aHR) of cataract was 1.84 (95% CI 1.73-1.95) for the CKD group. Subgroup analysis of patients with ESRD (n = 3,209) and non-CKD individuals (n = 12,836), with matching done on the basis of age and gender, indicated an aHR of cataract was 2.33 (95% CI 2.10-2.59) for the ESRD group. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates a relationship between CKD and cataract, and suggests that the risk for cataract increases with the severity of renal impairment.

Overexpression of the HspL Promotes Agrobacterium tumefaciens Virulence in Arabidopsis Under Heat Shock Conditions.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens transfers a specific DNA fragment from the resident tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid and effector virulence (Vir) proteins to plant cells during infection. A. tumefaciens VirB1-11 and VirD4 proteins assemble as the type IV secretion system (T4SS), which mediates transfer of the T-DNA and effector Vir protein into plant cells, thus resulting in crown gall disease in plants. Previous studies revealed that an α-crystallin-type, small heat-shock protein (HspL) is a more effective VirB8 chaperone than three other small heat-shock proteins (HspC, HspAT1, and HspAT2). Additionally, HspL contributes to efficient T4SS-mediated DNA transfer and tumorigenesis under room-temperature growth. In this study, we aimed to characterize the impact of HspL on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation efficiency under heat-shock treatment. During heat shock, transient transformation efficiency and VirB8 protein accumulation were lower in the hspL deletion mutant than in the wild type. Overexpression of HspL in A. tumefaciens enhanced the transient transformation efficiency in root explants of both susceptible and recalcitrant Arabidopsis ecotypes. In addition, the reduced transient transformation efficiency during heat stress was recovered by overexpression of HspL in A. tumefaciens. HspL may help maintain VirB8 homeostasis and elevate Agrobacterium-mediated transformation efficiency under both heat-shock and nonheat-shock growth.

Relationship between central corneal thickness, refractive error, corneal curvature, anterior chamber depth and axial length.

BACKGROUND: To determine the relationship between central corneal thickness (CCT), refractive error, corneal curvature, anterior chamber depth and axial length in normal Taiwanese Chinese adults. METHODS: Five hundred normal Taiwanese Chinese patients aged 40-80 years were recruited for the study. Measurement procedures included CCT, refractive error, corneal curvature, anterior chamber depth and axial length. Exclusion criteria were previous ocular surgery, glaucoma, trauma history, external eye disease, and previous contact lens use. The relationships among parameters were tested using Pearson's correlation and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The median CCT was 555 +/- 27 mum for males and 553 +/- 30 mum for females. Eyes with more myopic refractive error tended to have greater axial length (r = -0.645, p < 0.001). Eyes with axial elongation tended to have flatter cornea (r = -0.502, p < 0.001) and deeper anterior chamber (r = 0.651, p < 0.001). There were no significant correlations between the CCT and refractive error (r = -0.034, p = 0.445), corneal curvature (r = 0.013, p = 0.770), anterior chamber depth (r = 0.023, p = 0.614) and axial length (r = -0.053, p = 0.223). CONCLUSION: CCT was not associated with refractive error, corneal curvature, anterior chamber depth and axial length. CCT is an independent factor unrelated to other ocular parameters.

Uveitis with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis in Chinese--a study of 60 patients in a uveitis clinic over a period of 20 years.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical features of uveitis with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis in Chinese patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of uveitis patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis who consecutively visited the uveitis clinic of Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 1986 to 2005. Medical records were reviewed to obtain demographic data, initial symptoms, biopsy sites, pulmonary conditions detected by chest X-ray and manifestations of uveitis. From 2002 onwards, patients also received chest computed tomography (CT). RESULTS: A total of 60 uveitis patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis were identified. Forty-four patients (73%) were found in the last 4 years. Female predominance with a male-to-female ratio of 1:6.5 was found. The most common initial symptom was uveitis in 41 patients (68%). The most common positive biopsy sites were mediastinal lymph nodes, lung, conjunctiva and skin. Twenty (90.9%) of 22 patients with chest X-ray stage 0 showed >or= stage 1 on CT. The mean age at uveitis onset was 47.7+/-14.7 years (range, 21-76 years), with no gender difference (p=0.913). A peak incidence was found in the 6th decade of life. There was bilateral eye involvement in 54 patients (90%). Frequency of the manifestations of uveitis showed isolated anterior uveitis in 2 patients (3.3%), isolated posterior uveitis in 8 patients (13.3%), intermediate and posterior uveitis (i.e. anterior uveitis sparing) in 16 patients (26.7%), and panuveitis in 34 patients (56.7%). CONCLUSION: A marked increase was noted since 2002. One of the causes is the performance of chest CT. Chest CT is useful to discover mediastinal lymphadenopathy and other lesions suggestive of sarcoidosis, as well as to help guide tissue confirmation in patients with peculiar uveitis features indicative of sarcoidosis. Female predominance and peak incidence of uveitis onset in the 6th decade of life were found. The posterior segment was the most common localization of uveitis in biopsy-proven sarcoidosis in Chinese.