Biosystematics studies on Elymus breviaristatus and Elymus sinosubmuticus (Poaceae: Triticeae)

BACKGROUND

Elymus breviaristatus and Elymus sinosubmuticus are perennial herbs, not only morphologically similar but also sympatric distribution. The genome composition of E. sinosubmuticus has not been reported, and the relationship between E. sinosubmuticus and E. breviaristatus is still controversial. We performed artificial hybridization, genomic in situ hybridization, and phylogenetic analyses to clarify whether the two taxa were the same species.

RESULTS

The high frequency bivalent (with an average of 20.62 bivalents per cell) at metaphase I of pollen mother cells of the artificial hybrids of E. breviaristatus (StYH) × E. sinosubmuticus was observed. It illustrated that E. sinosubmuticus was closely related to E. breviaristatus. Based on genomic in situ hybridization results, we confirmed that E. sinosubmuticus was an allohexaploid, and the genomic constitution was StYH. Phylogenetic analysis results also supported that this species contained St, Y, and H genomes. In their F₁ hybrids, pollen activity was 53.90%, and the seed setting rate was 22.46%. Those indicated that the relationship between E. sinosubmuticus and E. breviaristatus is intersubspecific rather than interspecific, and it is reasonable to treated E. sinosubmuticus as the subspecies of E. breviaristatus.

CONCLUSIONS

In all, the genomic constitutions of E. sinosubmuticus and E. breviaristatus were StYH, and they are species in the genus Campeiostachys. Because E. breviaristatus was treated as Campeistachys breviaristata, Elymus sinosubmuticus should be renamed Campeiostachys breviaristata (Keng) Y. H. Zhou, H. Q. Zhang et C. R. Yang subsp. sinosubmuticus (S. L. Chen) Y. H. Zhou, H. Q. Zhang et L. Tan.

[Analysis of the clinical confusion and controversy of esophagogastric junction tumor from basic anatomy]

There are still many controversies in the surgical treatment of esophagogastric junction tumors in terms of surgical approach, cleaning range, and resection scope. The reason is the confusion about the scope of the esophagogastric junction. The previous domestic and foreign anatomy descriptions of this part are not enough to solve the current problems. Based on a large number of basic anatomy and clinical operations, this article proposes that the esophagogastric junction may be wrapped by a complete and separate esophagogastric junction membrane with independent anatomy other than infracardiac bursa. The structure of the transitional tissue, mainly from the distribution of submucosal veins, explained the relationship and significance of tissue transitional changes and clinical operations, and made a reasonable analysis of the current controversy based on the anatomical characteristics, which is worthy of further investigation.

Modeling and improvement of a low-frequency micro-accelerometer

A sensitivity- and resolution-improving method for a low-frequency micro-vibration accelerometer is presented in this paper. A sensitivity model of the measurement system is derived and established. The key parameters that limit the sensitivity and the resolution of the accelerometer were identified through the sensitivity coefficient analysis method. The structural parameters and the signal process method were then optimized. Experimental results show that the sensitivity of the accelerometer has improved from 1.10 V/(m/s²) to 19.21 V/(m/s²), and the resolution has improved from 1.47 mm/s² to 0.21 mm/s². The lowest working frequency range has expanded from 1 Hz to 0.7 Hz. The presented method is effective and cheap and can be applied to other sensors.

[Transvesical single-site laparoscopic radical prostatectomy of 39 cases: technique and clinical outcomes]

Objectives: To present the surgical technique of transvesical single-site laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (TVSSLRP) and to evaluate its clinical efficacy. Methods: The clinical parameters of 39 patients who underwent transvesical single-site laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in Department of Urology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from November 2010 to June 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The age was (M(Q_R)) 64 (10) years (range 47 to 70 years). The median preoperative serum total prostate specific antigen (PSA) level was 7.9 (2.9) μg/L (range 4.2 to 9.8 μg/L). The clinical TNM stage comprised 24 cases of cT1c and 15 cases of cT2a. All the transrectal biopsy Gleason score ≤6. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) was (21.7±1.6) points (range 18 to 24 points). The surgical procedures were performed through single-site transvesical approach. The postoperative serum PSA was regularly detected. The continence status were recorded at 1^st month, 3^rd month and 6^th month after catheter removal, and the potencies were evaluated at 3^rd month, 6^th month and 12^th month postoperative, respectively. Results: All the operations were successfully performed and there was no intraoperative complication or conversion to standard laparoscopic approach. The operation duration was (105±26) minuetes, the estimated blood loss was (100±56) ml and no blood transfusion was required. The pathological TNM stage comprised 30 cases of pT2a and 9 cases of pT2b, the Gleason score all ≤6 and no patient had positive surgical margins. The duration of urinary catheterization was (11.6±1.4) days and hospital stay was (12.9±4.3) days. The continence rates were 84.6%, 97.4%, 100% at 1^st month, 3^rd month and 6^th month after catheter removal, respectively. The potency rates were 48.7%, 64.1%, 76.9% at 3^rd month, 6^th month and 12^th month postoperative, respectively, with an IIEF-5 score≥18. Two cases demonstrated biochemical recurrence and one case presented vesico-urethral stricture during an average follow-up of 39 months (range 12 to 60 months). Conclusions: TVSSLRP is suitable for low-risk organ-confined prostate cancer. It can provide satisfactory continence and potency recovery, less complications and good oncological results.

Activation of PPARγ is required for hydroxysafflor yellow A of Carthamus tinctorius to attenuate hepatic fibrosis induced by oxidative stress

Oxidative stress caused hepatic fibrosis by activating hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which were implemented by depressing PPARγ activation. Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) as a nature active ingredient with antioxidant capacity was able to effectively attenuate oxidative stress mediated injury. So it will be very interesting to study effect of HSYA on HSCs activation and liver fibrosis, and reveal the role of PPARγ·CCl4 and H2O2 were used to mimic oxidative stress mediated hepatic injury in vitro and in vivo respectively. The anti-fibrosis effects of HSYA were evaluated and its mechanisms were disclosed by applying western blot, histopathological analysis, flow cytometry, RT-PCR and ELISA. Our results showed that HSCs activation and proliferation could be induced by oxidative stress, and the expressive levels of TGF-β1 and TIMP-1, the serum levels of ALT, AST, HA, LN, III-C and IV-C were also enhanced by oxidative stress, which is correlated with liver fibrosis (p<0.05 or p<0.01). HSYA was able to effectively inhibit oxidative stress mediated hepatic injury by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, up regulating the expression of PPARγ and MMP-2, and down regulating the expression of TGF-β1 and TIMP-1, and reducing α-SMA level. The protective effect of HSYA can be significantly attenuated by GW9662 via blocking PPARγ (p<0.05 or p<0.01). Taken together, these results demonstrate that HSYA is able to significantly protect the liver from oxidative stress, which requires for HSYA to stimulate PPARγ activity, reduce cell proliferation and suppress ECM synthesis.

The development and characterization of an HEK293-derived cell line for use in an intratumoral cytokine delivery system

As part of ongoing work to develop a method of cytokine delivery for use as an intratumoral depot, we noted that HEK293 cells, encapsulated in alginate, died within 24-48 h after in vivo, intratumoral implantation. We hypothesized that the highly hypoxic and acidic conditions found inside the tumor was the cause of the cells' premature demise. Therefore, we set out to develop a cell line, derived from HEK293, that would survive these hostile conditions. The HEK293 line was selected in 0.3-0.5% oxygen conditions over several weeks, followed by a further 6-week period of culture in alternating hypoxic and normoxic conditions. The most rapidly growing clones were selected and grown in normoxic conditions for several weeks to ensure their stability. The clones were then compared to the original line in terms of cell proliferation in normoxia and hypoxia, colony-forming efficiency, and morphological characteristics. The resulting line was able to proliferate in the harshest of conditions and continues to release its biological payload after alginate microencapsulation.