ImmuneScore of eight-gene signature predicts prognosis and survival in patients with endometrial cancer.

Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) is a common gynecological cancer worldwide and the sixth most common female malignant tumor. A large number of studies conducted through database mining have identified many biomarkers that may be related to survival and prognosis. However, the predictive ability of single-gene biomarkers is not sufficiently accurate. In recent years, tumors have been shown to interact closely with their microenvironment, and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in the tumor microenvironment were associated with therapeutic effects. Furthermore, sequencing technology has evolved and allowed the identification of genetic signatures that may improve prediction results. The purpose of this research was to discover the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data to evaluate new genetic features that can predict the prognosis of EC. Methods: mRNA expression profiling was analyzed in patients with EC identified in the TCGA database (n = 530). Differentially expressed genes at different stages of EC were screened using the immune cell enrichment score (ImmuneScore). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses was applied to evaluate genes significantly related to overall survival and establish the prognostic risk parameter formula. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the logarithmic rank method were applied to verify the importance of risk parameters for the prognostic forecast. The accuracy of survival prediction was confirmed using the nomogram and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The mRNA expression of eight genes were measured by qRT-PCR. According to COX and HR values, NBAT1, a representative gene among 8 genes, was selected for CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay and transwell invasion assay to verify the effect on survival. Results: Eight related genes (NBAT1, GFRA4, PTPRT, DLX4, RANBP3L, UNQ6494, KLRB1, and PRAC1) were discovered to be significantly associated with the overall survival rate. According to these eight-gene signatures, 530 patients with EC were assigned to high- and low-risk subgroups. The prognostic capability of the eight-gene signature was not influenced by other elements. Conclusions: Eight related gene markers were identified using ImmuneScore, which could predict prognosis and survival in patients with EC. These findings provide a basis for understanding the application of biological information in tumors and identifying the poor prognosis of EC.

A new species of the extinct mid-Cretaceous genus Scydmobisetia Jaloszynski amp; Yamamoto (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae).

The extinct genus Scydmobisetia Jaloszynski Yamamoto comprises three species known from inclusions in the mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber. Another species, Scydmobisetia dentipes Jaloszynski Bai sp. n. is described from the same source. The holotype is a male showing a unique sub-basal tooth-like projection on the profemur.

First description of the male of Cretaconiopteryx grandis Liu amp; Lu, 2017 (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) from the Cretaceous Burmese amber.

The male of Cretaconiopteryx grandis Liu Lu, 2017, which is the only representative species of the extinct dustywing subfamily Cretaconiopteryginae, is described for the first time from the Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber. The male genitalia, well preserved in the examined specimen, show a number of plesiomorphic characters, which support the sister group relationship between Coniopterygidae and the rest of extant lacewing families.

Review of the fossil genus Largusoperla (Plecoptera: Perlidae): Annotated checklist, taxonomic identification, and description of a new species.

The fossil stonefly genus Largusoperla Chen et al., 2018 is reviewed. An annotated checklist including diagnostic characters and an updated identification key to all currently known species of this genus are provided. Generic characters of Largusoperla are summarized based on all available specimens and published descriptions. In addition, a new species of this genus, L. reni sp. nov. is described, illustrated, and compared with similar taxa.

Haematophagous biting midges of the extant genus Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) evolved during the mid-Cretaceous.

Four new fossil species of haematophagous biting midges of the genus Culicoides Latreille, from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber are described and illustrated: C. bojarskii Szadziewski Dominiak sp. nov., C. burmiticus Szadziewski Dominiak sp. nov., C. ellenbergeri Szadziewski Dominiak sp. nov. and C. myanmaricus Szadziewski Dominiak sp. nov. These extinct species are assigned to the new subgenus, Groganomyia Szadziewski Dominiak subgen. nov. which also includes an extant species that inhabits European mountains, Culicoides cameroni Campbell Pelham-Clinton, 1960, the type species. These very old (99 Ma) haematophagous biting midges of the extant genus Culicoides from Burmese amber supports the hypothesis that most groups of modern biting midges evolved during the mid-Cretaceous greenhouse climate.

First description of female of Haplosialodes liui Huang et al., 2016 (Megaloptera: Sialidae) from Cretaceous Burmese amber.

A female of the alderfly species, Haplosialodes liui Huang et al., 2016, from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is described for the first time. Systematic position of the genus Haplosialodes Huang et al., 2016 is briefly discussed.

First description of female of Haplosialodes liui Huang et al., 2016 (Megaloptera: Sialidae) from Cretaceous Burmese amber.

A female of the alderfly species, Haplosialodes liui Huang et al., 2016, from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is described for the first time. Systematic position of the genus Haplosialodes Huang et al., 2016 is briefly discussed.

Surgical management of isolated retroperitoneal Castleman's disease: A case report.

Castleman's disease (CD) is an uncommon, poorly understood lymphoproliferative disease. Retroperitoneal forms may present as either a unicentric or multicentric disease. The present study reports the case of a 36-year-old man who was referred to the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China), for a detailed examination of an abdominal mass. The abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography scans revealed a solid mass localized in the region between segment 1 of the liver and the pancreas. An endosonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy revealed chronic inflammation and lymphadenosis. The present study reports a rare case, in which the patient was treated with an exploratory laparotomy and resection. The retroperitoneal mass was pathologically diagnosed as CD of the hyaline vascular type. The patient was closely followed-up for 11 months and is presently free of disease. In conclusion, the possibility of unicentric CD should be considered when facing a solid hypervascular retroperitoneal mass. A complete surgical resection may successfully treat the disease without an unnecessarily extensive resection for the unicentric type.

Epidermal growth factor receptor expression and gene copy number analysis in gastric carcinoma samples from Chinese patients.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and gene copy number have been observed to be associated with a positive clinical response to EGFR inhibitors. The present study aimed to evaluate EGFR expression and gene copy number in samples of gastric carcinoma (GC) from Chinese patients. EGFR expression and gene copy number were detected using immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization, in tissue array slides containing 150 individual samples of GC tissue. The association between EGFR status, clinicopathological features and overall patient survival was analyzed. Out of the 150 cases of GC evaluated, 63 (42.00%) demonstrated weak EGFR expression and 20 (13.33%) demonstrated EGFR overexpression. EGFR expression was observed to be associated with tumor location (P<0.05). Out of 104 cases of GC, which produced a clear FISH signal, 6 (5.77%) exhibited EGFR gene amplification and 5 (4.80%) exhibited balanced polysomy. Patients exhibiting GC, who demonstrated weak EGFR expression, EGFR overexpression or increased EGFR gene copy number, possessed an unfavorable prognosis. Multivariate analysis revealed that EGFR expression, tumor/node/metastasis stage and tumor location were potential independent unfavorable prognostic factors for GC patients. In conclusion, EGFR overexpression, gene amplification and polysomy were observed in GC patients and were associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Evaluation of EGFR status may therefore facilitate the identification of a subset of GC patients sensitive to treatment with EGFR-targeted therapies.

Identification of small auxin-up RNA (SAUR) genes in Urticales plants: mulberry (Morus notabilis), hemp (Cannabis sativa) and ramie (Boehmeria nivea).

Small auxin-up RNA (SAUR) genes are important gene families in auxin signalling transduction and are commonly used as early auxin responsive markers. Till date, no SAUR gene is identified in Urticales plants despite of the published bioinformation of mulberry, hemp and ramie. In this study, we used Arabidopsis sequences as query to search against mulberry, hemp genomes and ramie transcriptome database. In total, we obtained 62, 56 and 71 SAUR genes in mulberry, hemp and ramie, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the Urticales specific expansion of SAUR genes. Expression analysis showed 15 randomly selected ramie SAUR genes that were diversely functioned in ramie tissues and revealed a series of IAA-responsive, drought-responsive and high temperature-responsive genes. Moreover, comparison of qRT-PCR data and previous RNA-Seq data suggested the reliability of our work. In this study, we first report the identification of SAUR genes in Urticales plants. These results will provide a foundation for their function validation in Urticales plant growth and development.

Inhibition of metoprolol metabolism by amino acids in perfused rat livers. Insights into the food effect?

A mixture of amino acids inhibits propranolol metabolism in perfused rat livers. To obtain mechanistic information about the interaction, a related but less tissue-bound drug, metoprolol, was used to determine Vmax and K(M) for parent drug and two metabolites in the presence and absence of amino acids. Six groups of 4 livers from 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were perfused in the single-pass mode at 3 ml/min/g liver for 130 min with oxygenated buffer containing 3.74, 4.49, 5.61, 7.48, 18.7, or 44.9 microM metoprolol. From 50 to 90 min, a balanced amino acid mixture was included in the buffer. Samples of liver effluent taken every 5 min were analyzed by HPLC for metoprolol and two metabolites, alpha-hydroxymetoprolol and O-demethylmetoprolol. Steady-state concentrations of drug determined before, during, and after amino acids were used to determine Vmax and apparent K(M) values by nonlinear curve-fitting under each condition. Amino acids reversibly reduced the Vmax values of metoprolol and both metabolites by approximately 50% without significantly affecting apparent K(M) values. As a result, large increases in availability occurred, especially at low metoprolol inlet concentrations (> 90%). Amino acids also increased oxygen consumption until the effluent buffer was almost depleted. Possible mechanisms influencing Vmax include direct inhibition of metabolic enzymes by amino acids or cosubstrate (NADPH or oxygen) limitation. Amino acid-mediated pericentral oxygen depletion in the hepatic sinusoids could result in inhibition of drug-metabolizing enzymes, and is consistent with a reduction of Vmax and oxygen depletion in the effluent buffer during amino acid coinfusion. We postulate that one or more of these mechanisms could contribute to the interaction between food and high first-pass drugs observed in humans.