Data on small cardamom transcriptome associated with capsule rot disease.

Small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton, also known as the 'Queen of Spices' is a rhizomatous herbaceous monocot from the family Zingiberaceae. In the present study, using HiSeq™ 2000 RNA sequencing technology, transcriptome sequencing was performed for both control and disease stressed small cardamom leaf tissues. RNA-seq generated 46,931,637 (101 base) and 31,682,496 (101 base) raw reads and totally 9.93GB and 6.63GB of sequence data for cardamom control and stressed samples respectively. The raw data were submitted to NCBI SRA database of under the accession numbers SRX2512359 and SRX2512358 for the control and diseased samples respectively. The raw reads were quality filtered and assembled using TRINITY de novo assembler which created 1,11,495 (control) and 91,096 (diseased) contigs with N50 values 3013 (control) and 2729 (stressed). The data was further used to identify significantly differentially expressed unigenes between control and stressed samples. Assembled unigenes were further annotated and evaluated in silico to predict the function using publicly available databases and gene annotation tools.

[Clinical treatment experience of thyroid cancer with heart disease].

Objective: To explore the perioperative clinical treatment of thyroid cancer patients with heart disease. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 39 thyroid cancer patients with heart disease admitted to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital,Capital Medical University from April 2014 to February 2018,including 25 males and 14 females, the age ranged from 59 to 75 years,with an average age of 67.3±6.2 years. Perioperative clinical monitoring indicators included cardiac ultrasound left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), degree of vascular stenosis revealed by coronary CT, hypersensitive troponin I (TNI), b-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), fibrinogen degradation products,and coagulation indexes. This panel of patients comprised 26 cases with 50% ≤ LVEF<60%,10 cases with 40% ≤ LVEF<50%, 3 cases with 36% ≤ LVEF<40%, 27 cases with 0≤BNP<100 ng/L, 7 cases with 100≤BNP<400 ng/L, and 5 cases with 400≤BNP<700 ng/L. Coronary CT showed no coronary artery stenosis>75%. The vascular graft was patent and the coronary artery after stenting was unobstructed. For 3 patients with LVEF<40% and 5 patients with BNP>400 ng/L,cardiotonic,diuretic,and nutritional myocardial therapy were used for 1 week. SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results: All 39 patients successfully completed the operation under general anesthesia,including 32 cases of total thyroidectomy,7 cases of glandular lobe and isthmic resection,and 40 cases of lateral neck dissection. One patient developed heart failure three days after surgery and was discharged after two weeks of treatment. No other cardiac related events,cerebrovascular and pulmonary thrombosis occurred during the perioperative period. The anesthesia preparation time was significant different between the group with 0≤BNP<100 ng/L and 50%≤LVEF<60% and the group with 0≤BNP<100 ng/L and 36%≤LVEF<50%. Conclusions: Multi-indicators were utilized to adequately assess cardiac function before surgery. According to the results of cardiac ultrasound and coronary CT examination, the corresponding treatment should be conducted to improve the cardiac function. After the perioperative risk assessment and management of thyroid cancer patients with heart disease,standardized thyroid cancer surgery can be performed safely.

[Preliminary experience of transoral robotic surgery in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumors with da Vinci surgical system].

Objective:The purpose of this study was to summarize preliminary clinical experience of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumors with da Vinci surgical system.Method:Twelve patients were reviewed who were diagnosed with laryngeal (n=7) and hypopharyngeal tumors (n=5) and treated with TORS in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from July 1, 2016 to January 31, 2018.Result:Ten cases were male and two cases were female. The median age was 58 years old (ranging from 30 to 81 years). The robotic surgeries were performed successfully on all of the 12 patients. The average surgical time was 31.7 min. The average blood loss was 12.3 ml. The average recovery time for oral intake was 4.6 day. All surgical resection margins were free of carcinoma. Eight cases received neck dissection and 7 cases received adjuvant radiotherapy. There were no perioperative complications. There was no local recurrence, metastasis or death except 1 regional recurrence with a follow-up of 3 to 20 months.Conclusion:TORS is a feasible, safe, minimally invasive, and effective surgical procedure in selected laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumors.

[Exploration of feasibility and safety of transoral robotic surgery in pharyngolaryngeal tumors].

Objective: To investigate the indication, feasibility, and safety of da Vinci robotic surgical system in pharyngolaryngeal tumor resection. Methods: Thirty patients were diagnosed with pharyngolaryngeal tumors and treated with a transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from June 1, 2016 through November 30, 2017. Inclusion criteria included lesions of the oropharynx (n=13), parapharyngeal space (n=7), larynx (n=6) and hypopharynx (n=4). Twenty cases were males and ten cases were females. The median age was 56 years old (ranging from 30 to 81 years). Results: The robotic surgeries were performed successfully on 30 patients. One patient (3.3%) underwent TORS combined with a neck incision. The mean operative time was 40.7 min. The mean blood loss was 15.8 ml. The mean recovery time for oral intake was 5.3 days. The mean hospital stay was 9 days. None of the patients underwent tracheotomy or mandible split. Postoperative pathological examination showed that 18 cases (60.0%) were malignant and 1 case (5.6%) had positive surgical margin. Sixteen cases received neck dissection. No serious complications occurred during or after the operation. There was no local recurrence, metastasis or death except for regional recurrences in 2 cases (11.1%) with a follow-up of 1 to 18 months(median 13 months). Conclusion: Transoral robotic surgery is a feasible, safe and effective surgical procedure with clear operation field, rapid surgical access, minimally invasive surgery, lesser hemorrhage, good cosmetic effect and fast recovery.

Copy number variation identification and analysis of the chicken genome using a 60K SNP BeadChip.

Copy number variation (CNV) is an important source of genetic variation in organisms and a main factor that affects phenotypic variation. A comprehensive study of chicken CNV can provide valuable information on genetic diversity and facilitate future analyses of associations between CNV and economically important traits in chickens. In the present study, an F2 full-sib chicken population (554 individuals), established from a cross between Xinghua and White Recessive Rock chickens, was used to explore CNV in the chicken genome. Genotyping was performed using a chicken 60K SNP BeadChip. A total of 1,875 CNV were detected with the PennCNV algorithm, and the average number of CNV was 3.42 per individual. The CNV were distributed across 383 independent CNV regions (CNVR) and covered 41 megabases (3.97%) of the chicken genome. Seven CNVR in 108 individuals were validated by quantitative real-time PCR, and 81 of these individuals (75%) also were detected with the PennCNV algorithm. In total, 274 CNVR (71.54%) identified in the current study were previously reported. Of these, 147 (38.38%) were reported in at least 2 studies. Additionally, 109 of the CNVR (28.46%) discovered here are novel. A total of 709 genes within or overlapping with the CNVR was retrieved. Out of the 2,742 quantitative trait loci (QTL) collected in the chicken QTL database, 43 QTL had confidence intervals overlapping with the CNVR, and 32 CNVR encompassed one or more functional genes. The functional genes located in the CNVR are likely to be the QTG that are associated with underlying economic traits. This study considerably expands our insight into the structural variation in the genome of chickens and provides an important resource for genomic variation, especially for genomic structural variation related to economic traits in chickens.

Phosphorylation Alters Oestrogen Receptor ß-Mediated Transcription in Neurones.

Nuclear steroid hormone receptors are ubiquitously expressed transcription factors whose activity can be altered by post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation. The consequences of post-translational modifications have been described for several members of the nuclear steroid hormone receptor superfamily; however, little is known about the effects of oestrogen receptor (ER)ß phosphorylation in the brain. Moreover, to our knowledge, the presence of phosphorylated ERß has not been detected in the brain of any species to date. Oestrogen receptor ß is highly expressed in several regions of the brain and in vitro studies have demonstrated that it can be phosphorylated at two serine residues (S87 and S105) in the N-terminal AF-1 region. The present study aimed to determine whether phosphorylated ERß is detectable in the hippocampus of aged female rats, as well as the functional consequences of ERß S87 and S105 phosphorylation on transcriptional activity in neuronal cells. First, we used a novel PhosTag(™) approach to detect phosphorylated forms of ERß in the dorsal hippocampus of aged female rats. The data obtained demonstrated abundant forms of phosphorylated ERß in the dorsal hippocampus, suggesting that this post-translational modification might be an important regulator of ERß function. To assess the functional consequences of ERß phosphorylation in neuronal cells, we created phospho-mimetic (S87E, S105E) and phospho-null (S87A, S105A) ERß receptors that were transiently transfected in a hippocampal-derived cell line. Collectively, our results showed that phosphorylation of S87 and S105 altered both ligand-independent and ligand-dependent ERß transcriptional regulation. Overall, these data demonstrate that phosphorylated forms of ERß are present in the brain of aged female rats and that phosphorylation of ERß could differentially alter ERß-mediated gene expression.

Doped nanocrystalline ZnO powders for non-linear resistor applications by spray pyrolysis method.

Homogeneous and doped nanocrystalline ZnO powders (30-200 nm) were synthesized by spray pyrolysis technique. The spray pyrolysed powders were calcined in the temperature range of 500-750 degrees C. Formation of insulating pyrochlore phase started from 700 degrees C during the calcination itself. The calcined powders were compacted and sintered at different temperatures ranging from 900-1200 degrees C for 0.5-4 h. The densification behavior was found to be dependent on calcination temperature of the nanopowder. The resulting discs were found to have density (5.34-5.62 g/cc) in the range of 96-99% of theoretical density. The breakdown voltage value obtained for the nanopowder based non-linear resistor is 10.3 kV/cm with low leakage current density of 0.7 microA/cm2 and coefficient of nonlinearity as high as 193. The activation energy for grain growth of the doped ZnO nanopowder powders is 449.4 +/- 15 kJ/mol.

Designer insulins regimens in clinical practice--pilot multicenter Indian study.

BACKGROUND: Newer insulin analogues viz., premix insulin analogue (biphasic insulin aspart) and insulin glargine are now available in India. A multicenter all-India study was done to document the patient profile and responses to these analogues in routine clinical practice. METHODS: The study was conducted prospectively at 4 diabetes care clinics in different regions of India and collected data on the use of either of the two regimens A. Premix insulin analogue given twice-daily B. Basal-bolus analogue regimen (insulin aspart with every meal and insulin glargine once-a-day at bedtime). The centers collected all data at 3 time-points--baseline, 4 weeks later and end of 12 weeks. The study measures were FPG (fasting plasma glucose), PPPG (postprandial plasma glucose), HbA1c and insulin dose. FPG and PPPG were recorded at each of the three time points. HbA1c was recorded at baseline and end of study. Safety was assessed based on reported adverse drug reactions and occurrence of hypoglycaemias. RESULTS: Data of 145 patients was available for analysis (n=114 on premix insulin analogue and n=31 on basal-bolus analogue regimen). Baseline demography was comparable in the two groups. Both the regimens lowered all blood glucose parameters including HbA1c significantly as compared to baseline. However, the premix insulin analogue fared better than the basal-bolus regimen in lowering HbA1c (1.58 vs. 1.16% respectively; p<0.05). Also 41% more patients in the premix group could achieve target HbA1c of < 7% at the end of study. The mean insulin dose was lower with the premix analogue group at the end of 12 weeks. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of change in body weight. No major hypoglycaemias were reported and the percentage of patients experiencing a minor episode was lower with the premix analogue than the basal-bolus regimen both at 4 and 12 weeks (11.4 vs. 35.48%; 16.7 vs. 58.06% respectively). No adverse drug reactions were reported throughout the study. CONCLUSION: We conclude that both premix analogue administered twice a day and four times a day basal bolus regimen appear to be a convenient, safe and effective way of initiating insulin therapy in people with type-2 diabetes. The premix analogues achieves target better than the basal bolus regimen as has better compliance.

An in vivo pilot study characterizing the new CYP2A6*7, *8, and *10 alleles.

We developed genotyping assays for CYP2A6*7 (Ile471Thr) and CYP2A6*8 (Arg485Leu). We found higher allelic frequencies in Japanese and Chinese versus Caucasians and identified an allele in which both substitutions occur together (CYP2A6*10). We created a homology model for predicting the impact of allelic variants on enzymatic activity and subsequently tested this in vivo in a pilot kinetic study. Consistent with our homology model predictions, we found (i) that CYP2A6*7 produces an enzyme that has decreased (not inactive) activity for metabolizing nicotine and coumarin; (ii) that CYP2A6*8 is unlikely to affect catalytic activity in vivo; and (iii) that having both substitutions together on an allele (CYP2A6*10) dramatically reduces function and may be fully inactive for some substrates. In conclusion, this study identifies, at relatively high frequency in Asians, an allele with decreased activity (may be substrate selective), a fully functional allele, and an allele containing both substitutions in which function is dramatically reduced.

Genetic study of the tribal populations of Andhra Pradesh, south India.

Regional variation in the genetic constitution and genetic differentiation of three tribal populations (Koya, Lambadi, and Chenchu) of Andhra Pradesh, South India, was examined from the data of 27 polymorphic loci (9 blood groups, 13 red cell enzymes, and 5 serum proteins). Significant heterogeneity was observed among the three tribal groups at several loci (ABO, RH, P, ADA, PGM, ACP, ESD, PGD, GPT, HP, C3, and BF). Pairwise comparisons also showed significant genetic differences between the Koya and the Chenchu at seven loci, between the Koya and the Lambadi at nine loci, and between the Chenchu and the Lambadi at seven loci. Gene differentiation among the three tribes was sufficient to allow an overall excess of heterozygosity. The FIS estimates of each tribe showed positive values, but a great number of alleles showed negative FIS values, supporting varying degrees of gene flow and admixture with neighboring populations. The genetic differentiation and affinity of 14 tribal populations of Andhra Pradesh were further examined using published and unpublished data on 11 polymorphic genetic systems. Despite the genetic distinctions between two Chenchu samples and Koya and Koya-related tribes (Koya Dora and Konda Dora), geographic proximity seems to be an important determinant of affinity of the tribal populations of Andhra Pradesh. The extent of genetic diversity is high compared with previous reports from this state. No evidence from the present data indicates that selection had any appreciable effect on local differentiation, but the present analysis suggests that differences are more likely to be maintained by genetic drift, admixture, and inbreeding.

Loss of resistance to murine hepatitis virus strain 3 infection after treatment with corticosteroids is associated with induction of macrophage procoagulant activity.

Activation of the immune coagulation system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of liver injury following infection of inbred mice with murine hepatitis virus strain 3 (MHV-3). Following MHV-3 infection, macrophages isolated from MHV-3-susceptible and -semisusceptible inbred strains of mice express increased procoagulant activity (PCA), whereas macrophages from resistant strains express no increase in PCA over basal levels. The PCA induced by MHV-3 is a prothrombinase, encoded by the gene Fgl-2, which encodes a fibrinogen-like protein (musfiblp). In this study, MHV-3-resistant A/J mice treated with methylprednisolone prior to infection with MHV-3 developed elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase in serum and died within 10 days of infection, with histological findings of fulminant hepatitis. In vitro, macrophages isolated from A/J mice and pretreated with methylprednisolone produced a marked increase in functional PCA following infection with MHV-3. The PCA was shown to be a prothrombinase by its ability to cleave 125I-prothrombin. Northern blot analysis of RNA transcripts from these macrophages demonstrated increased transcription of the Fgl-2 gene relative to that in macrophages which had not been pretreated with methylprednisolone prior to MHV-3 infection. Methylprednisolone pretreatment of MHV-3-infected macrophages stabilized the Fgl-2 mRNA. Thus, loss of resistance to MHV-3 secondary to methylprednisolone therapy is associated with increased transcription and stability of Fgl-2 mRNA resulting in expression of the Fgl-2 gene product, musfiblp. These results provide further insight into mechanisms of PCA regulation in response to MHV-3 infection in inbred strains of mice.

Treatment of resistant A/J mice with methylprednisolone (MP) results in loss of resistance to murine hepatitis strain 3 (MHV-3) and induction of macrophage procoagulant activity (PCA).

BALB/cJ mice die of fulminant hepatitis within 7 days of exposure to murine hepatitis virus strain 3 (MHV-3) whereas A/J mice are fully resistant to the lethal effects of MHV-3 infection. Previous studies have implicated macrophage activation with production of a unique macrophage prothrombinase (PCA) and lymphocyte cytokine secretion in the pathogenesis of MHV-3 susceptibility and have demonstrated that immunosuppression induces susceptibility in resistant mice. This study was undertaken to determine whether macrophages, derived from resistant A/J mice and treated in vitro with methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MP), elaborated PCA following MHV-3 exposure and whether therapy with MP altered resistance of A/J mice to MHV-3 infection in vivo. Macrophages, incubated with MP in vitro, expressed dose dependent increases in PCA following infection with MHV-3. No induction of PCA occurred in macrophages treated with MHV-3 or MP alone. Analysis of mRNA transcripts for mouse fibrinogen like protein (musfiblp), the MHV-3 specific prothrombinase, in macrophages which were incubated with MP prior to exposure to MHV-3 demonstrated significantly increased mRNA levels as compared to macrophages not incubated with MP prior to MHV-3 exposure. In vivo, A/J mice treated for 3 days with 500 mg/kg/day of MP prior to infection with MHV-3 demonstrated extensive hepatocyte necrosis and fibrin deposition in hepatic sinusoids on histological examination of liver tissue, elevated serum transaminases and 100% mortality within 10 days of infection. These results therefore provide further support for the role of increased PCA in the pathogenesis of MHV-3 related liver necrosis.

Outbreak of human anthrax in Ramabhadrapuram village of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh.

Thirty human anthrax cases were reported from Ramabhadrapuram village of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh during November-December, 1989. These cases occurred following an epizootic of anthrax among cattle and sheep of the village and ingestion of contaminated meat by the villagers. The overall attack rate was 24.39 per cent with a case fatality of 16.67 per cent. All age groups and both sexes were affected. Ten cases were of cutaneous form with typical black eschar formation which were confirmed bacteriologically. Fever and headache were common systemic manifestations. They responded well to penicillins and there was no mortality. The possibility of human to human spread is suggested. The twenty cases of internal anthrax comprised intestinal, septicemic, peritonitis, meningeal and pulmonary forms. Sub-clinical forms also occurred. Fever, abdominal pain, ascites, anorexia and vomiting were notable features. Diagnosis was made clinically and also on epidemiological basis. All deaths during this outbreak occurred in women with internal anthrax, the case fatality rate for the latter being 25 per cent. Prophylactic administration of penicillin was done for individuals at risk.

Growth inhibition of Escherichia coli by E colicin plasmids.

Plasmids were isolated from E colicinogenic strains and transformed into prototrophic Escherichia coli K 12 strain DB364. Screening of E colicinogenic transformants for growth on defined medium revealed an apparent amino acid auxotrophy mediated by E4 and, to a lesser extent, E7 colicin plasmids. The auxotrophy was further investigated in E4 colicinogenic strains. From such auxotrophic transformants, denoted Pmi+ (plasmid-mediated inhibition of growth), Pmi- variants were obtained at a frequency of 3 X 10(-4) per bacterium. Plasmid loss was not detected among Pmi- clones. Isolation of E4 colicin plasmids from Pmi- clones and retransformation of strain DB364 with these plasmids showed that 40% of the plasmids were unable to inhibit growth of DB364 and were inferred to have alterations in an E4 colicin plasmid gene termed pmi. All such plasmids were indistinguishable from native E4 colicin plasmids, with respect to colicin immunity, colicin production and excretion, and sensitivity to lysis by mitomycin C. Experiments examining the nutritional basis of the plasmid-mediated auxotrophy indicated that at least seven amino acids, isoleucine, leucine, valine, arginine, methionine, serine and glycine, were involved in the auxotrophy. However, supplementation with only these seven amino acids did not completely restore growth. Assays of the activities of enzymes involved in amino acid biosynthesis in colicinogenic and non-colicinogenic strains under repressing and derepressing growth conditions suggested that E4 colicin plasmids did not repress synthesis of the implicated amino acids.

Studies on RNA ligase activity in the brain and liver cells of mouse.

RNA ligase in eukaryotic mammalian cells was studied by using mouse brain and liver cell extracts as enzyme sources and Oligo A as substrates. RNA ligase activity was determined by measuring the formation of alkaline phosphate-resistant product from 5'-32P-terminated Oligoribonucleotides. Under appropriate conditions, the activity of this enzyme in brain and liver cells may vary between 16-49 mU/ml. The joining way between donor and acceptor is 5'-P----3'-OH. Further studies were carried out by using synthetic UpCpU and 32pNp as substrates and crude enzyme preparations from extracts of cell nuclei of brain and liver as enzyme sources. RNA ligase activity was examined by homochromatography and autoradiography. A clear joining product was demonstrated and then isolated from the reaction mixture by DEAE-Sephadex A25 column chromatography. The eluted fractions were identified by DEAE-cellulose thin layer chromatography. The joining product was hydrolyzed either with KOH or with alkaline phosphatase, the autoradiographic spot of the product disappeared. In this case the joining way between donor and acceptor is 3'-P----5'-OH instead of 5'P----3'-OH. All this indicated that in extracts of mouse brain and liver cells most probably exists some other kind of RNA ligase, which differs from the T4 RNA ligase in the joining way.

HLA antigen frequency in the Koya tribe of Andhra Pradesh, India.

The frequencies of HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens were studied in a tribal population of Koya from Andhra Pradesh in southern India. No other well-defined tribal population has been studied with which the present results may be compared. However, the HLA profile of Koya showed distinct differences from the general HLA distribution in India in the frequency of a large number of antigens both at the A and B loci. This study indicates the distinctiveness of this tribal population and suggests the potential importance of the study of HLA frequencies in tribal groups of India.

Cultural control of the root nematodes Pratylenchus indicus in rice through crop rotations.

Pratylenchus indicus nematodes cause damage to the roots of rice plants, which may lead to considerable yield reductions. In field trials with six different rice-based rotations it was tested whether the inclusion of other crops into the rotation can influence the population of Pratylenchus indicus. Investigation of soil samples and roots showed that rice, safflower, and tobacco increased the nematodes, whereas fallowing or growing Phaseolus radiatus L. decreased them.