Polymorphic microsatellite loci developed from the Hong Kong oyster (Crassostrea hongkongensis)

Forty polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed from Crassostrea hongkongensis using an enriched partial genomic library with magnetic beads. The polymorphism of these loci was assessed in 30 individuals from a wild population. The allele number of the polymorphic markers ranged from 2 to 13, with an average of 5.8 per locus. The polymorphism information content ranged from 0.032 to 0.891 and 37 loci presented a medium or high level of polymorphism. The observed and expected heterozygosity values ranged from 0.033 to 1.000 and 0.033 to 0.931, respectively. Of the 40 loci, 28 were found to conform to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), whereas the remaining 12 showed a significant departure from HWE. The availability of these markers will aid future genetic studies in C. hongkongensis.

Environmental context for the terminal Ediacaran biomineralization of animals

In terminal Ediacaran strata of South China, the onset of calcareous biomineralization is preserved in the paleontological transition from Conotubus to Cloudina in repetitious limestone facies of the Dengying Formation. Both fossils have similar size, funnel-in-funnel construction, and epibenthic lifestyle, but Cloudina is biomineralized, whereas Conotubus is not. To provide environmental context for this evolutionary milestone, we conducted a high-resolution elemental and stable isotope study of the richly fossiliferous Gaojiashan Member. Coincident with the first appearance of Cloudina is a significant positive carbonate carbon isotope excursion (up to +6‰) and an increase in the abundance and (34) S composition of pyrite. In contrast, δ(34) S values of carbonate-associated sulfate remain steady throughout the succession, resulting in anomalously large (>70‰) sulfur isotope fractionations in the lower half of the member. The fractionation trend likely relates to changes in microbial communities, with sulfur disproportionation involved in the lower interval, whereas microbial sulfate reduction was the principal metabolic pathway in the upper. We speculate that the coupled paleontological and biogeochemical anomalies may have coincided with an increase in terrestrial weathering fluxes of sulfate, alkalinity, and nutrients to the depositional basin, which stimulated primary productivity, the spread of an oxygen minimum zone, and the development of euxinic conditions in subtidal and basinal environments. Enhanced production and burial of organic matter is thus directly connected to the carbon isotope anomaly, and likely promoted pyritization as the main taphonomic pathway for Conotubus and other soft-bodied Ediacara biotas. Our studies suggest that the Ediacaran confluence of ecological pressures from predation and environmental pressures from an increase in seawater alkalinity set the stage for an unprecedented geobiological response: the evolutionary novelty of animal biomineralization.

[Prognostic factors analysis for the long-term survival in solitary large hepatocellular carcinoma patients after hepatectomy]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the prognostic factors that have affected the long-term survival of solitary large hepatocellular carcinoma (SLHCC) patients after hepatectomy.

METHODS

The clinical data of 215 SLHCC patients accepted hepatectomy in the Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from January 2004 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 182 males and 33 females aged from 24 to 69 years(median age was 46 years). Using a variety of statistical methods, including the Kaplan-Meier estimator and the Log-rank test, the impacts of an array of clinicopathologic factors, such as age, gender, liver cirrhosis, chronic viral hepatitis, the Child-Pugh grading, microvascular invasion, macrovascular invasion and TNM staging, on the overall survival and the disease-free survival of SLHCC patients after hepatectomy were analyzed.The prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses for the long-term survival of SLHCC patients after hepatectomy.

RESULTS

The whole group of patients with SLHCC showed 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of 88.1%, 60.2%, and 41.7%, respectively, and exhibited 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates of 80.1%, 49.4%, and 33.6%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates and disease-free survival rates of SLHCC patients with microvascular invasion were 82.0%, 45.1%, 29.0% and 69.6%, 36.1%, 23.5%, respectively. In addition, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates and disease-free survival rates of SLHCC patients with macrovascular invasion were 64.7%, 34.3%, 18.3% and 54.2%, 24.1%, 0, respectively. In contrast, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates and disease-free survival rates of SLHCC patients without vascular invasion were 95.0%, 72.3%, 51.8% and 90.1%, 60.9%, 42.9%, respectively. The results of univariate analysis indicated that liver cirrhosis, microvascular invasion, macrovascular invasion, TNM staging were hazardous factors for the overall survival of SLHCC patients(χ(2)=4.953, 8.835, 15.237, 19.789 respectively, all P<0.05); while microvascular invasion, macrovascular invasion, TNM staging were risk factors for the disease-free survival of SLHCC patients(χ(2)=12.974, 13.247, 24.516 respectively, all P<0.05). Furthermore, the multivariate analysis suggested that microvascular invasion, macrovascular invasion, TNM staging were the independent prognostic factors that have affected the overall survival and disease-free survival of SLHCC patients(all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Microvascular invasion, macrovascular invasion and TNM staging were the independent prognostic factors for the long-term survival of patients with SLHCC after hepatectomy.

Active vitamin D3, 1,25-(OH)2D3, protects against macrovasculopathy in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus

To investigate the protective effect of the active form of vitamin D3, 1,25-(OH)2D3, on macrovasculopathy in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, T2DM group, and treatment group. The T2DM model was established after 6 weeks by administering an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (30 mg/kg). 1,25-(OH)2D3 was administered by gavage to rats in the treatment group, and an equal volume of peanut oil was administered to rats in the T2DM group. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) cholesterols were measured in all rats. The morphology of the thoracic aorta was examined, and the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), endothelin (ET), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), CD54, and CD106 in the thoracic aorta was determined by immunohistochemistry. The expression of FPG, TG, TC, and LDL-C in rats from the T2DM and treatment groups was significantly elevated compared with rats from the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with that in control group, the expression of TNF-α, ET, eNOS, and CD106 was significantly upregulated in the T2DM group and the treatment group, while the expression of CD54 was increased only in the T2DM group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the levels of TNF-α, CD54, and CD106 in rats from the treatment group were lower than those in the T2DM group (P < 0.05). These data suggest that 1,25-(OH)2D3 may protect the macrovessels from injury in T2DM rats by inhibiting the expression of TNF-α, CD54, and CD106.

Transcription factor 7-like 1 dysregulates keratinocyte differentiation through upregulating lipocalin 2

Recent studies strongly suggested that transcription factor 7-like 1 (Tcf7l1, also known as Tcf3) is involved in the differentiation of several types of cells, and demonstrated that Tcf7l1 modulates keratinocytes physiologically through regulating lipocalin 2 (LCN2), a key regulator of cell differentiation. To reveal the potential role of Tcf7l1 in the dysregulation of keratinocyte differentiation, both Tcf7l1 and LCN2 were determined in a variety of skin disorders. The in vitro effect of Tcf7l1 on keratinocyte differentiation was studied by culturing SCC-13 cells, and the human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs) that were transfected with vectors for overexpressing human papillomavirus E6/E7 or Tcf7l1 genes. We found that both Tcf7l1 and LCN2 were highly expressed in those diseases characterized by defective keratinocyte differentiation (especially psoriasis vulgaris, condyloma acuminatum, squamous cell carcinoma, etc). Moreover, compared with control HFKs, SCC-13 cells and E6/E7-harboring HFKs expressed more Tcf7l1 and LCN2. Tcf7l1 siRNA transfection decreased LCN2 but increased involucrin and loricrin in HFKs under calcium stimuli. Conversely, Tcf7l1 overexpression in SCC-13 cells or vector-transfected HFKs induced lower involucrin and loricrin expression and less keratinocyte apoptosis, both of which, however, were partially abrogated by LCN2 siRNA or neutralizing anti-LCN2 antibody. Interestingly, the Tcf7l1 expression in HFKs correlated positively with the MMP-2 level, and the inhibition of MMP-2 decreased the LCN2 level and even attenuated the effect of Tcf7l1 on LCN2 expression. Therefore, Tcf7l1 dysregulates keratinocyte differentiation, possibly through upregulating the LCN2 pathway in an MMP-2 mediated manner. Elucidating the interaction between Tcf7l1 and LCN2 may help understand disordered cell differentiation in some skin diseases.

Engineered Protein Polymer-Gold Nanoparticle Hybrid Materials for Small Molecule Delivery

We have fabricated protein polymer-gold nanoparticle (P-GNP) nanocomposites that exhibit enhanced binding and delivery properties of the small hydrophobic molecule drug, curcumin, to the model breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. These hybrid biomaterials are constructed via in situ GNP templated-synthesis with genetically engineered histidine tags. The P-GNP nanocomposites exhibit enhanced small molecule loading, sustained release and increased uptake by MCF-7 cells. When compared to the proteins polymers alone, the P-GNPs demonstrate a greater than 7-fold increase in curcumin binding, a nearly 50% slower release profile and more than 2-fold increase in cellular uptake of curcumin. These results suggest that P-GNP nanocomposites serve as promising candidates for drug delivery vehicles.

Dicliptera Chinensis polysaccharides target TGF-β/Smad pathway and inhibit stellate cells activation in rats with dimethylnitrosamine-induced hepatic fibrosis

This study aims to study impact of Dicliptera chinensis polysaccharide (DCP) on hepatic fibrosis (HF) and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Liver fibrosis model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of dimethyl nitrosamines (DMN) in rat. Rats in treatment group were administrated with different concentrations of DCP (0, 100, 300 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome staining were used to assess histo-pathological change. α-SMA, TGF-β1 and pSmad 2/3 were assayed by immuno-histochemistry. HSC-T6 cells were stimulated by recombined rat TGF-β1 (1 ng/mL) to simulate an activating model in vitro and then interfered with DCP (concentration of 0, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 µg/ml). MTT assay was used to determine cell proliferation and western blotting was used to detect α-SMA and pSmad 2/3 expression. Results demonstrated that DCP alleviated DMN-induced liver fibrosis in rat and significantly down-regulated TGF-β1 expression, pSmad2/3 and α-SMA in liver tissue in a dose-dependent way. DCP inhibited proliferation and activation of TGF-β1-stimulated HSC-T6 in vitro and significantly down-regulated α-SMA and pSmad2/3 expression. In conclusion, this study revealed that DCP attenuates progression of liver fibrosis through suppressing TGF-β/Smad pathway. DCP is a potential botanical polysaccharide to management liver fibrosis.

Decrease of the insulin-like growth factor-1 bioavailability in spontaneously hypertensive rats with erectile dysfunction

We investigated the role of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in spontaneously hypertensive rats with erectile dysfunction. Firstly, we evaluated intracavernous pressure. The bioavailability of IGF-1 at both mRNA and protein levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot respectively. Then, cavernous cyclic guanosine monophosphate concentrations were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The cavernosal pressure was significantly decreased in the hypertensive and the propranolol treatment groups compared to the normal control group (P < 0.01). Cavernous IGF-1 bioavailability and the concentrations of cavernous cyclic guanosine monophosphate were both significantly decreased in the hypertensive and the propranolol treatment groups compared to the normal control group (P < 0.01). This study suggests that an obvious decrease in cavernous IGF-1 levels might play an important role in spontaneously hypertensive rats with erectile dysfunction.

Spontaneous renal hemorrhage caused by invasive mole: a case report

CASE

The authors report a case with spontaneous renal hemorrhage caused by invasive mole. The diagnosis was gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), with metastasis to brain, kidneys, and lungs at Stage IV. The patient was given etoposide-methotrexate-actinomycin D plus cyclophosphamide-vincristine (EMACO) treatment regimen for 11 times including three times with consolidation chemotherapies. Laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) + laparoscopic-assisted left renal excision + evacuation of the left perirenal hematoma were performed during the eighth chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Post-operational pathological examination revealed trophoblasts within the lesions present in uterine fundus and the residue images of a few trophoblasts present in the left renal mass.

Microbubble generation by piezotransducer for biological studies

Bubbles induced by blast waves or shocks are speculated to be the major cause of damages in biological cells in mild traumatic brain injuries. Microbubble collapse was found to induce noticeable cell detachment from the cell substrate, changes in focal adhesion and biomechanics. To better understand the bubble mechanism, we would like to construct a system, which allows us to clearly differentiate the impact of bubbles from that of shocks. Such a generator needs to be low profile in order to place under a microscope. A piezoelectric transducer system was designed to meet the need. The system uses either a flat or a spherical focusing piezoelectric transducer to produce microbubbles in a cuvette loaded with cell-culture medium. The transducer is placed on the side of the cuvette with its axis lining horizontally. A cover slip is placed on the top of the cuvette. The impact of the waves to the cells is minimized as the cover slip is parallel to the direction of the wave. Only bubbles from the medium reach the cover slip and interact with cells. The effect of bubbles therefore can be separated that of pressure waves. The bubbles collected on a cover slip range in size from 100 μm to 10 μm in radius, but the dominant size is 20-30 μm.

Metal-insulator transition in the quasi-one-dimensional transport of fractional quantum Hall states

We investigate edge state transmission in quantum point contacts (QPCs) in the fractional quantum-Hall regime, finding behavior reminiscent of a metal-insulator transition. The transition is suggested by an unusual behavior of the differential conductance in the fractional-quantum-Hall regime, and by the presence of a fixed point and universal scaling in the temperature dependence of the linear conductance. Noting that the 0.7 feature evolves continuously into a last fractional plateau at high magnetic fields, we suggest that this still unresolved feature may itself be viewed as a manifestation of a local, microscopic, metal-insulator transition.

The effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on pulmonary function during robotic cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on pulmonary function under the conditions of one-lung ventilation (OLV) and carbon dioxide pneumothorax in robotic cardiac surgery.

METHODS

Ninety-eight patients underwent robotic cardiac surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System, including 58 on-pump surgeries and 40 off-pump surgeries. Respiratory parameters and arterial blood gases were assessed at the following time points: 25 min after the induction of anesthesia under two-lung ventilation (T1), 25 min after OLV (T2), 25 min after the termination of CPB under OLV in the on-pump group or 25 min after the main surgery intervention in the off-pump group (T3) and 20 min before the end of surgery (T4). Dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn), alveolar-arterial PO2 difference (PA-aDO2), oxygenation index (OI) and artery-alveolar O2 pressure ratio (a/A) were calculated.

RESULTS

No significant differences in pulmonary function parameters between T2 and T3 were observed in the off-pump group. However, in the on-pump group, compared with those at T2, PETCO2, Ppeak, PaCO2 and PA-aDO2 at T3 were higher, whereas SpO2, Cdyn, PaO2, OI and a/A were lower (p<0.05). Comparisons between the two groups at T3 indicated that SpO2, Cdyn, PaO2, OI and a/A were higher, while Ppeak, PaCO2 and PA-aDO2 were lower in the off-pump group (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In robotic cardiac surgery under the conditions of OLV and carbon dioxide pneumothorax, CPB worsened pulmonary function and tolerance to OLV and carbon dioxide pneumothorax.

First Report of Meloidogyne graminicola Infecting Banana in China

Bananas (Musa spp.) are one of world's most popular fruits, and China is the third largest banana-producing country in the world. Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., are common pests of banana worldwide, but damage to this crop caused by M. graminicola has not been reported up to now. During a survey of root-knot nematode species infecting banana in Fujian Province, China, swollen, galled primary and secondary root samples of Musa nana cv. Tianbao (AAA) were collected from two commercial fields in Nanjing County in May 2013. The affected plants did not exhibit obvious above-ground symptoms. Seriously infected roots were malformed and dehiscent, with the tissue discolored and rotting. Examination of symptomatic roots revealed one to several females of Meloidogyne sp. within each gall, with egg masses that were often completely embedded within the gall without protruding through the root surface, and with second-stage juveniles (J2) hatched inside the galls. Population densities of this nematode ranged from 452 to 2,056 eggs and J2 per 5 g of fresh roots. Males were rarely observed. Morphological measurements of 25 females and 20 J2 matched the original description of M. graminicola (1). The perineal patterns of females were dorsoventrally ovoid, with low to moderately high and round dorsal arches and lacking obvious lateral lines; striae were smooth and some were broken by a few obvious irregular, zig-zag striae in the dorsal part of the pattern; phasmids were close together (13.1 to 19.7 μm). The J2 had long tapered tails (63.4 to 75.5 μm), with long narrow hyalines (13.1 to 19.9 μm) and marked clavate termini. DNA was extracted from one mature female. The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region was amplified with V5367/26S (TTGATTACGTCCCTGCCCTTT/TTTCACTCGCCGTTACTAAGG) (2) and the COII and IRNA mtDNA genes were amplified with C2F3/MRH106 (GGTCAATG TTCAGAAATTTGTGG/AATTTCTAAAGACTTTTCTTAGT) (3) and then sequenced. The sequences were subjected to a database search using BLAST to verify the identity. Sequences from the ITS region were 788 bp (GenBank Accession Nos. KM111531 and KM236560) and were 96.8 to 99.1% identical to the known sequences of M. graminicola in Genbank. Sequences from the mtDNA were 666 bp (KM111533 and KM236559) and showed 99.1 to 99.4% homology with the known sequences of M. graminicola (KJ139963 and HG529223). In glasshouse tests, banana plantlets (M. nana cv. Tianbao) about 20 cm high were transplanted in 25-cm-diameter pots and inoculated with 5,000 J2 of each collected population of M. graminicola replicated six times; a noninoculated control was included. After 15 weeks, all inoculated plants were stunted and chlorotic. Galling symptoms on roots were similar to those in the field, and dissection of galled root tissue revealed that different life stages of the nematode were present, with population densities ranging from 1,238 to 6,562 eggs and J2 per 5 g of fresh roots. The noninoculated control plants grew well and had no galling symptoms on the roots. These results confirmed the nematodes' pathogenicity on banana. On the basis of these results, the root-knot nematodes isolated from banana in Nanjing County were confirmed as M. graminicola. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a natural infection of banana with M. graminicola. References: (1) A.M. Golden and W. Birchfield. Plant Dis. Rep. 52:423, 1968. (2) T. C. Vrain et al. Fund. Appl. Nematol. 15:565, 1992. (3) J. Xu et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 110:309, 2004.