[The outcomes of operation for 237 patients with Ebstein anomaly]

Objective: To evaluate the early and long-term outcomes cardiac surgery of patients with Ebstein anomaly. Methods: The clinic data of 237 patients with Ebstein anomaly received surgical procedures from March 2004 to December 2017 at Department of Cardiac Surgery, First Hospital of Tsinghua University was analyzed retrospectively. There were 105 male and 132 female patients with age of (19.4±16.7) years (ranging from 3 months to 64 years). The surgical procedures include anatomical repair in 188 patients, one and a half ventricle repair in 37 patients, tricuspid valve repair in 4 patients, tricuspid valve replacement in 10 patients, and Fontan procedure in 3 patients (total cavopulmonary connection in 2 patients; Glenn procedure in 1 patient). Results: The early mortality was 2.1% (n=5). One case of atrioventricular (0.4%) newly occurred. There were 228 patients available to follow-up. The range of follow-up duration was 3 to 168 months. Late survival was 99.1% (2 cases of late death) at 10 years. Three patients received reoperation (1.3%), including tricuspid valve repair of 1 patient and one and a half ventricle repair of 2 patients). Indication of tricuspid valve regurgitation improved from 3.6±0.3 to 1.5±0.4. Survival rate at 5 and 10 years was 98.6% and 98.2%, respectively. Conclusions: The principle of the techniques is to reconstruct the tricuspid valve and right ventricle anatomically. For most cases, the anatomical repair was demonstrated with low mortality, less complications and excellent durability at long-term follow-up. If the tricuspid valve is severely hypoplastic, one and a half ventricle repair and valve replacement may be alternatie.

Post-targeting strategy for ready-to-use targeted nanodelivery post cargo loading

Based on boronate formation, this study reports a post-targeting methodology capable of readily installing versatile targeting modules onto a cargo-loaded nanoplatform in aqueous mediums. This permits the targeted nanodelivery of broad-spectrum therapeutics (drug/gene) in a ready-to-use manner while overcoming the PEGylation-dilemma that frequently occurs in conventional targeting approaches.

Analysis of differential gene expression during floral bud abortion in radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Radish floral bud abortion (FBA) is an adverse biological phenomenon that occurs during reproduction. Although FBA occurs frequently, its mechanism remains unknown. To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying FBA, we detected gene expression differences between aborted and normal buds of radish using cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). A total of 221 differentially expressed transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) were detected by 256 cDNA-AFLP primer combinations, of which 114 were upregulated and 107 were downregulated in the aborted buds. A total of 54 TDFs were cloned and sequenced. A BLAST search revealed that all TDFs have homologous sequences and 29 of these corresponded to known genes, whose functions were mainly related to metabolism, stimulus response, transcriptional regulation, and transportation. Expressions of 6 TDFs with different functions were further analyzed by real-time PCR yielding expression profiling results consistent with the cDNA-AFLP analysis. Our results indicated that radish FBA is related to abnormalities in various physiological and biochemical plant processes.

A vacuolar processing enzyme RsVPE1 gene of radish is involved in floral bud abortion under heat stress

Radish floral bud abortion (FBA) is an adverse biological phenomenon that occurs during reproduction. Although FBA is a frequent occurrence, its molecular mechanism remains unknown. A transcript-derived fragment (TDF72), which was obtained by cDNA amplified fragment length polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP), was up-regulated in the aborted buds and exhibited 89% sequence homology with the AtγVPE gene. In this study, TDF72 was used to clarify the role of VPE in FBA by isolation of the VPE gene RsVPE1 from radish flower buds. The full-length genomic DNA was 2346 bp including nine exons and eight introns. The full-length cDNA was 1825 bp, containing a complete open reading frame (ORF) of 1470 bp, which encoded a predicted protein containing 489 amino acid residues, with a calculated molecular mass of 53.735 kDa. Expression analysis demonstrated that RsVPE1 was expressed in all tested organs of radish at different levels. Highest expression was detected in aborted flower buds, suggesting that RsVPE1 has a role in FBA. In order to analyze the role of RsVPE1 in FBA, RsVPE1 was overexpressed in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Aborted flower buds appeared in transgenic plants subjected to heat stress. In addition, RsVPE1 expression in the transgenic plants reached a maximum when subjected to heat stress for 24 h and increased by 2.1-fold to 2.8-fold in three homozygous transgenic lines. These results indicated that RsVPE1 led to FBA when its expression levels exceeded a particular threshold, and provided evidence for the involvement of RsVPE1 in promoting FBA under heat stress.

Role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in cigarette smoke-induced mucus hypersecretion in a rat model

BACKGROUND

Airway mucus hypersecretion is an important pathophysiological feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is closely associated with cigarette smoking. However, the signal transduction pathway from the cell surface to the nucleus through which cigarette smoke causes upregulation of mucin gene expression is not well known. This study was designed to investigate the role of extracellular signal-regulated Kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) in airway mucus hypersecretion induced by cigarette smoke in rats.

METHODS

A rat model of airway mucus hypersecretion was induced by exposure to cigarette smoke for 4 weeks.Rats exposed to inhalation of cigarette smoke or normal saline were given an intraperitoneal injection of U0126, a specific MEK1 kinase inhibitor, at doses of 0.25 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg for 14 days. Expression of MUC5AC mRNA and protein, ERK 1/2 and phosphorylated-ERK 1/2 (p-ERK 1/2) were detected by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.

RESULTS

Cigarette smoke significantly increased airway goblet cells metaplasia, induced the overexpression of MUC5AC mRNA and protein in bronchial epithelia, and increased the ratio of p-ERK 1/2 and ERK 1/2. U0126 significantly attentuated the expression of MUC5AC mRNA and protein induced by cigarette smoke (P < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between the ratio of p-ERK1/2 to ERK1/2 and the expression of MUC5AC mRNA and protein (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Inhibition of ERK 1/2 by U0126 decreased the ratio of p-ERK 1/2 to ERK 1/2 and expression of MUC5AC mRNA and protein. ERK 1/2 may play an essential role in cigarette smoke-induced mucus hypersecretion in vivo.

[Association between interleukin-8 in lung tissues and stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of interleukin (IL)-8 in lung tissues from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its association with stages of COPD.

METHODS

The levels of mRNA and protein of IL-8 were measured with semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with mild COPD (n=21), patients with advanced COPD (n=15), and controls (n=15). The correlations between IL-8 levels and stages of COPD, lung function (FEV1/ FVC%, FEV1% pred) and cigarette smoking were analyzed with Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTS

The levels of IL-8 mRNA and protein in the lung tissues of COPD patients were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The patients with advanced COPD had higher levels of IL-8 mRNA and protein than the patients with mild COPD (P<0.05). The COPD patients who smoked had higher levels of IL-8 mRNA and protein than those who did not smoke (P<0.05). But no significant differences in the levels of IL-8 mRNA and protein were found between smokers and and nonsmokers who did not have COPD (P>0.05). Increased expression of IL-8 in patients with COPD was positively correlated with stages of COPD (r=0.81, P<0.05); negatively correlated with lung function (FEV1/FVC%, FEV1% pred) (r=-0.62, -0.56, P<0.05), and positively correlated with volumes of cigarette smoking (r=0.53, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

IL-8 is associated with stages of COPD, which may serve as an indication for clinical progress. Cigarette smoking increases IL-8 expression in the lung tissues of COPD patients.

RNA Fingerprinting of the Differential Expression Fragments Related to Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Chinese Cabbage

In order to investigate the differential expression of the genes related to cytoplasmic male sterility in Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. Penkinsis), a modified RNA fingerprinting technique was developed to compare the difference in the total RNA from flower bud of Chinese cabbage among cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) lines, maintainer lines and F1 hybrids. Four stably differential fragments S47-412, S93-622, S176-343 and S199-904 were amplified, cloned and sequenced with primers selected from 186 random primers. Based on the nucleotide sequence of the four differential fragments, four pairs of specific primers were designed to validate the differential fragments. The validation showed S47-412 and S93-622 were false positives and S176-343 and S199-904 were confirmed by PCR with the specific primers. Sequence analysis revealed that both of two differential fragments had strong homology with the nucleotide sequence of orf224/atp6 site of Polima CMS and the nucleotide sequence of S176-343 and S199-904 had a superposed region. All these indicate that the two fragments probably have strong relationship with cytoplasmic male sterility in Chinese cabbage.

Solubility of phosphorus and heavy metals in potting media amended with yard waste-biosolids compost

The potential risk of surface and ground water contamination by phosphorus (P) and heavy metals leached from compost-based containerized media has become an environmental concern. Solubility and fractionation of P and heavy metals were evaluated in media containing 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% compost derived from biosolids and yard trimmings for potential impacts on the environment. As compost proportion in peat-based media increased from 0 to 100%, concentrations of total P, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Mn in the media increased whereas concentrations of total Co and Cr decreased. Except for Cu, all heavy metals in the water-soluble fraction decreased with increasing compost proportion in the media, because of higher Fe, Al, and Ca concentrations and pH values of the composts than the peat. When the media pH is controlled and maintained at normal range of plant growth (5.5-6.5), leaching of the heavy metals is minimal. Incorporation of compost to the peat-based media also decreased the proportion of total P that was water-soluble. However, concentrations of bioavailable inorganic phosphorus (NaHCO3-IP), readily mineralizable organic phosphorus (NaHCO3-OP), potentially bioavailable inorganic phosphorus (NaOH-IP), and potentially bioavailable organic phosphorus (NaOH-OP) were still higher in the media amended with compost because of higher total P concentration in the compost. Further study is needed to verify if less or no topdressing of chemical P fertilizer should be applied to the compost-amended media to minimize P effect on the environment when compost-amended potting media are used for nursery or greenhouse crop production systems.

Accumulation and partitioning of phosphorus and heavy metals in a sandy soil under long-term vegetable crop production

Increased inputs of phosphorus (P) and heavy metals to agricultural soils have caused considerable concern. Information on accumulation and chemical forms of the elements in soils is needed as a guide for the judicious application of agricultural chemicals and organic manures. The focus of this study was to assess accumulation of P and heavy metals among various fractions of a sandy soil with a 25 year history of vegetable crop production and primarily inorganic fertilization. The results demonstrated that long-term vegetable production practices changed concentrations and partitioning of P and heavy metals in the soil. Phosphorus, Cu, Zn, and Mn were significantly accumulated and moved downward along the soil profile. Most of the total Cr in the vegetable soil accumulated in the upper 0-15 cm. However, there was no significant accumulation and transport of Cd, Co, Mo, Ni, and Pb in the vegetable soil. Major P fractions in the vegetable soil were NaHCO3-P, followed by HCl-P and residual P. Copper, Zn, and Mn accumulated predominantly in the CaCO3 fraction or oxide fraction, whereas Cr accumulated mainly in the organically bound fraction, indicating that P, Cu, Zn, and Mn in the vegetable soil have greater mobility potential. Compared with adjacent forest soil, the vegetable soil had a lower percentage of P, Cu, Zn, and Mn in the residual fractions, and a higher percentage of P, Cu, Zn, and Mn in the CaCO3 fractions or organically bound fraction.

Difference of lead, copper and zinc concentrations between interiors and exteriors of peds in some contaminated soils

Solute transport of elements in soils depends on the soil structural and hydraulic properties, and it is controlled by sorption and diffusion, which both limit the mobility and distribution of elements in soils. This study was conducted to compare lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations between ped exteriors and interiors of some contaminated soils. The results show that the differences of the heavy metals between exteriors and interiors decreased in the order clayey soil, clayey loam soil, loam soil. For same soils, the differences decreased from Pb to Cu to Zn. The differences in readily extractable concentrations of the three metals between ped exteriors and interiors were much larger than the differences in their total metals, this may indicate that extractable metals were more recently deposited. The higher Pb and Cu concentrations in the ped exteriors than interiors may additionally be explained by anthropogenic input, movement and downward through preferential flow.

Release potential of phosphorus in Florida sandy soils in relation to phosphorus fractions and adsorption capacity

Information on P release potential in relation to labile P and P fractions in sandy soils is limited. In this study, P release potential was determined by leaching, and labile P, soil P fractionation, and P adsorption capacity were measured in the laboratory using 96 Florida sandy soil samples to evaluate the relationship between P release in water and soil P status. The sandy soils had a very low P adsorption capacity. The adsorption maximum, as calculated from the Langmuir equation, averaged 40.4 mg P kg(-1). More than 10% of the soil P was water soluble, indicating a high risk of P leaching from soil to water. Successive leaching using deionized water released, on average, 7.7% of total P (144.5 mg kg(-1)) in different soils, whereas labile P recovered by successive water extraction accounted for 39.2% of the total P. Variation in release potential among the different soils could be explained more by the difference in amounts of extractable P than the adsorption capacity. Total amounts of P released by successive leaching were significantly correlated with all labile P indices measured by different methods and all soil P fractions except for residual P. The correlation coefficients (r) were 0.97** for water-soluble P, 0.96** for 0.01 M CaCl2-P, 0.94** for Olsen P, 0.86** for Mehlich 1-P, 0.77*** for Mehlich 3-P, and 0.64*** for Bray 1-P. There were no obvious turning points in the relationships between Olsen-P, water-soluble P, or CaCl2-P and the amounts of P released from the sandy soils. The release of P from the sandy soils appeared to be controlled by a precipitation-dissolution reaction rather than a P sorption-desorption process. Furthermore, the sequential extraction of soils using deionized water indicated that P released was not limited to the labile P (H2O-P, NaHCO3-IP) and potentially labile P (NaOH-P) pools, but also from the HCl-P, indicating that all of P fractions except for residual P in the sandy soils can contribute to P release.