[Chinese expert consensus on management of dyslipidemia in the elderly]

Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Statins delay the occurrence and development of ASCVD, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and death. Due to safety concerns, there exist insufficient use of lipid-lowering agents and a high withdrawal rate of the agents in the elderly. To promote the prevention and treatment of ASCVD, this expert consensus is issued and focuses on the management of dyslipidemia of Chinese elderly basing on the clinical evidence of the use of lipid-lowering drugs by the elderly, and the lipid management guidelines and expert consensus recommendations at home and abroad.

[Mental health survey of medical staff in a tertiary infectious disease hospital for COVID-19]

Objective: To investigate the mental health of clinical first-line medical staff in COVID-19 epidemic and provide theoretical basis for psychological intervention. Methods: The mental health status of the first-line medical staff was investigated by Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Self- rating Scale (PTSD-SS). From February 7 to 14, 2020, 246 medical staff participated in the treatment of COVID-19 were investigated using cluster sampling, and received 230 responses, with a recovery rate of 93.5%. Results: The incidence of anxiety in medical staff was 23.04% (53/230) , and the score of SAS was(42.91±10.89). Among them, the incidence of severe anxiety, moderate anxiety and mild anxiety were 2.17%(5/230) , 4.78%(11/230) and 16.09%(37/230) , respectively. The incidence of anxiety in female medical staff was higher than that in male [25.67%(48/187) vs 11.63%(5/43) , Z=-2.008, P=0.045], the score of SAS in female medical staff was higher than that in male [(43.78±11.12) vs (39.14±9.01) , t=-2.548, P=0.012]. The incidence of anxiety in nurses was higher than that in doctors[26.88% (43/160) vs 14.29% (10/70) , Z=-2.066, P=0.039], and the score of SAS in nurses was higher than that in doctors [ (44.84±10.42) vs (38.50±10.72) , t=-4.207, P<0.001]. The incidence of stress disorder in medical staff was 27.39% (63/230) , and the score of PTSD-SS was (42.92±17.88) . The score of PTSD-SS in female medical staff was higher than that in male[ (44.30±18.42) vs (36.91±13.95) , t=-2.472, P=0.014]. Conclusion: In COVID-19 epidemic , the incidence of anxiety and stress disorder is high among medical staff. Medical institutions should strengthen the training of psychological skills of medical staff. Special attention should be paid to the mental health of female nurses.

Determination of Clopidol Residues in Chicken Tissues by Liquid Chromatography: Collaborative Study

Eighteen laboratories participated in a collaborative study on the determination of clopidol residues in chicken muscle tissues by liquid chromatography. Of these, results from 16 laboratories which rigorously followed the method were subjected to statistical analysis. The method performance was assessed by all participants using 14 samples of chicken muscle fortified at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 mg/kg. In addition, 9 participants each reported results for 6 clopidol-incurred samples in chicken muscle. Test portions were extracted with acetonitrile, and the extracts were purified with alumina and anion exchange resin solid-phase extraction cartridges in sequence. Clopidol was separated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography and quantified at 270 nm. Average recoveries ranged from 81.8 to 85.4%, reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) ranged from 11.9 to 22.6%, and repeatability relative standard deviation (RSDr) ranged from 9.9 to 15.1%. For clopidol-incurred samples at concentrations of 0.100–0.687 mg/kg, the mean determination value range was 0.099–0.659 mg/kg; RSDR was 12.6–19.8%, RSDr was 3.1–8.5%; and HORRAT values were 0.7–1.1. The accuracy and precision of the method are in conformity with the requirements specified by AOAC INTERNATIONAL. The method was adopted Official First Action in April 2003.

[A preliminary study on the outcome of lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome by low-dose decitabine]

目的

评价小剂量地西他滨治疗较低危骨髓增生异常综合征（MDS）患者的初步疗效及安全性，探讨MDS相关基因突变的临床意义。

方法

纳入浙江省4所医院收治的62例较低危MDS患者，治疗分2组，地西他滨组（地西他滨12 mg·m⁻²·d⁻¹，连续5 d）和支持治疗组，检测与MDS预后相关的15项基因突变情况。比较两组患者的总体有效率（ORR）和无进展生存（PFS）时间，分析其与基因突变的相关性。

结果

62例患者中，可评估患者51例，其中地西他滨组24例，支持治疗组27例。与支持治疗组相比，地西他滨组的ORR（66.7%对29.6%，χ²=6.996，P=0.008）和中位PFS时间显著改善（未达到对13.7个月，P=0.037）。51例患者中20例（39.2%）检测到基因突变阳性，其中4例患者单纯SF3B1阳性，均在支持治疗组。与基因突变阴性患者相比，16例基因突变阳性（除单纯SF3B1阳性）患者中位PFS时间显著缩短（9.2个月对18.5个月，P=0.008），其中地西他滨组8例患者中6例有效，支持治疗组无一例（0/8）有效。地西他滨治疗期间主要不良反应为3~4级粒细胞减少（45.8%），3~4级感染发生率为33.3%（8/24）。

结论

该研究小系列患者的初步结果表明应用小剂量地西他滨治疗较低危MDS患者可能有效，对于基因突变患者也可获益，且患者耐受，值得临床试验进一步明确其临床意义。

[Occupational exposure investigation and protective measures in a tertiary infectious disease hospital]

Objective: To investigate the cause of occupational exposure among 136 nurses in a tertiary infectious disease hospital, and puts forward the prevention strategy. Methods: A total of 136 nurses exposed to occupational exposure between 2014 and 2016 were included in the study. Analysis was conducted from the years of work of nurses, exposure routes, and the pathogens. Results: The nurses suffer from the highest risk of occupational exposures (73.91%) .Nurses working for less than 5 years and interns are most likely to suffer occupational exposure (45.59% and 35.29% respectively) . Occupational exposure was mainly caused by needle injuries, in which infusion was the main route of occupational exposure (36.76%) . The improper treatment of needle pulling after infusion is the main link of needle puncture (36.76%) . Occupational exposure pathogens were mainly HBV (63.24%) . Conclusion: Nursing staff is the high-risk group of occupational exposure. Irregular operation, lack of awareness of protection, improper disposal after the needle withdrawal and poor safety assessment of the operating environment are the main causes of occupational exposure. It is suggested to strengthen the training of occupational safety and protection, enhance clinical nurses occupational safety protection consciousness, standardize medical operation, so as to prevent the occurrence of occupational exposure.

[Correlation analysis of serum calcium level and cognition in the patients with Parkinson's disease]

Objective: To investigate the relation between cognition and serum calcium in the patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), analyze the related factors of cognition, and evaluate the correlation of serum calcium with specific cognitive domains. Methods: A total of 77 patients with Parkinson's disease who was hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, from Dce 2013 to May 2015 were subjected to the cognitive, motor and depression function assessment, and the fasting blood calcium samples were collected from the PD patients and 75 normal control subjects. According to cognitive function, PD patients were divided into dementia group and without dementia group. Then the serum calcium levels of three groups and the related factors of the cognitive were analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results: (1) The level of serum calcium in PD group with dementia (2.21±0.09) mmol/L was significantly lower than the normal control group (2.30±0.09)mmol/L (P<0.001), and there was no difference between the level of serum calcium in PD group without dementia (2.27±0.13 mmol/L) and normal control group (P=0.144). The level of serum calcium in PD group with dementia was lower than PD group without dementia, and there was marked statistical significance (P=0.023). (2) In PD patients, the cognitive scores correlated with serum calcium levels, education, H-Y stages and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Ⅲ scores (P<0.05), but didn't with gender, age, disease duration, depression levels, Body Mass Index (BMI) and total equivalent levodopa doses (P>0.05). (3) In PD patients, serum calcium level correlated with the visuospatial and executive capability, calculation ability, language ability (P1=0.004; P2=0.027; P3=0.021). Conclusions: (1) There is correlation between the serum calcium and the cognitive impairment. Lower serum calcium level predicts worse cognitive scores. (2) In PD patients, the change of the cognitive function is affected by their education, H-Y stages and UPDRSⅢ scores. (3) The serum calcium level of PD patients closely relates to the cognitive domain of the visuospatial and executive capability, calculation ability, and language ability.

The superior aspect of the perirenal space: could it be depicted by dual-source CT in vivo in adults

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to observe whether the renal fascias could be effectively shown by dual-source CT (DSCT) and to explore the superior communication of the perirenal space (PS) in vivo in adults.

METHODS

275 cases were included in the normal group and 124 cases in the acute pancreatitis group in this study; all images obtained by DSCT were observed; the superior adherence of the renal fascias and the pattern of superior communication of the PS were judged; and the consistency between the two groups was compared.

RESULTS

The superior adherence of the renal fascias was reliably displayed in 57.8% of the normal group and 69.4% of the acute pancreatitis group, the anterior renal fascia (ARF) did not fuse with the posterior renal fascia superiorly. The left ARF fused with the posterior parietal peritoneum in 57.9% of the normal group and 45.3% of the pancreatitis group, where the left PS communicated with the subdiaphragmatic retroperitoneal space (SDRS). The left ARF fused with the peritoneum laterally and simultaneously with the inferior phrenic fascia medially in 42.1% and 54.7% of each group, respectively, where the left PS was open towards the SDRS laterally but sealed off from the SDRS medially. The right ARF fused with the peritoneum in all cases; and the right PS was open towards the bare area of the liver.

CONCLUSION

To some extent, DSCT can display renal fascia and its superior adherence and reflect the superior communication of the PS.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

This study was conducted in vivo in adults by high-resolution DSCT, and more samples could be provided.

First Report of Maize chlorotic mottle virus Infecting Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)

The experimental host range of Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) is restricted to the Gramineae (Poaceae) family with maize as a natural host. However, MCMV has never been found to infect sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) plants in fields. MCMV can cause corn lethal necrosis disease (CLND) resulting from synergistic interaction between this virus and Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV), Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), or Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) (1). MCMV was first found on maize plants in Yunnan Province in China in 2011 (2), and co-infection of MCMV and SCMV was reported on maize in Yunnan Province in China in 2013 (1). In January 2013, while surveying MCMV on maize in Yunnan Province, we found sugarcane planted near an MCMV-infected maize field with chlorotic and mosaic viral symptoms. Five symptomatic sugarcane plants were collected and screened for MCMV using a monoclonal antibody-based dot-ELISA (1). MCMV was detected in all five sugarcane samples using this assay. To further confirm the ELISA results, total RNA was isolated from sugarcane leaves using TRIzol reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) and assayed for MCMV by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR with primers M69F (ACAGGACACCGTTGCCGTTTAT) and M70R (CATGGGTGGGTCAAGGCTTACT) designed to amplify nt 3301 to 4282 of MCMV maize isolate YN2 (GenBank Accession No. JQ982468). The expected 982-bp amplicon was obtained from all five sugarcane samples confirming that the five sugarcane samples were infected with MCMV. Using purified total RNA as a template, RT-PCR was performed using SuperScript III Reverse Transcriptase (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) and Pfusion High-Fidelity DNA polymerase (New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA) with primers M10 (AGGTAATCTGCGGCAACAGACC, 1 to 22 nt) and M36 (GGGCCGGAAGAGAGGGGCATTAC, 4436 to 4414 nt). The sequence of the resulting cDNA amplicon (KF010583) indicated that the MCMV sugarcane isolate shares 99% sequence identity with the MCMV maize isolate YN2 from Yunnan Province in China. Attempts to mechanically transmit MCMV from sugarcane to maize were unsuccessful. However, quantitative real time RT-PCR result revealed that the virus titer in sugarcane plants was about 6 to 10 times lower than that in maize plants (data not shown). SCMV was also detected in the five MCMV-infected sugarcane samples by RT-PCR with primers W48F (GTGTGGAATGGTTCACTCAAAGCTG) and W49R (GGTGTTGCAATTGGTGTGTACACG), designed to amplify a 395-bp fragment of the SCMV Beijing isolate (AY042184). The sequence of the amplified products shared 98% identity with SCMV isolate JP2 (JF488065). Thus, we think chlorotic and mosaic symptoms on the sugarcane plant samples were caused by co-infection of MCMV and SCMV and the sugarcane plants harbor both viruses implicated in causing maize lethal necrosis. This study indicates that MCMV naturally infects sugarcane plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of MCMV infecting sugarcane plants. References: (1) J.-X. Wu et al. J. Zhejiang Univ-Sci B (Biomed & Biotechnol). 14:555, 2013. (2) L. Xie et al. J. Phytopathol. 159:191, 2011.

Hepatocytes transduced with human TERT gene acquire a prolonged lifespan in culture and retain permissiveness to hepatitis B virus

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be propagated in vitro in primary cultures of human hepatocytes and some stable hepatoma cell lines maintained under specific conditions. The lack of simple and non-neoplastic cell culture systems for HBV has hampered the analysis of virus life cycle and development of antiviral compounds. In this study, we succeeded in prolonging the lifespan of human hepatocytes in primary culture by transducing them with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene. The transgenic cells expressed hTERT constitutively and propagated HBV up to 5x105 DNA copies/ml for 28 days.

Dual delivery for stem cell differentiation using dexamethasone and bFGF in/on polymeric microspheres as a cell carrier for nucleus pulposus regeneration

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of the nanostructured 3D poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) constructs, which are loaded with dexamethasone (DEX) and growth factor embedded heparin/poly(L-lysine) nanoparticles via a layer-by-layer system, to serve as an effective scaffold for nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue engineering. Our results demonstrated that the microsphere constructs were capable of simultaneously releasing basic fibroblast growth factor and DEX with approximately zero order kinetics. The dual bead microspheres showed no cytotoxicity, and promoted the proliferation of the rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) by lactate dehydrogenase assay and CCK-8 assay. After 4 weeks of cultivation in vitro, the rMSCs-scaffold hybrids contained significantly higher levels of sulfated GAG/DNA and collagen type II than the control samples. Moreover, quantitative real time PCR analysis revealed that the expression of disc-matrix proteins including collagen type II, aggrecan, and versican in the rMSCs-scaffold hybrids was significantly higher than that in the control group, whereas the expression of osteogenic differentiation marker (collagen type I) was decreased. Taken together, these data indicate that Dex/bFGF PLGA microspheres could be used as a scaffold to improve the rMSCs growth and differentiating into NP like cells, and reduce the inflammatory response for IVD tissue engineering.

First Report of Pomegranate Wilt Caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata in Sichuan Province

During May of 2009, a new devastating disease was observed on pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) that caused losses estimated at 30% as surveyed by 10 orchards in Panzhihua-Xichang Region of Sichuan Province, Southwest China. Characteristic symptoms were yellow and wilting leaves. Initial symptoms only occurred on shoots, but later, leaves of the whole tree turned yellow and wilted, causing extensive defoliation and dieback and the xylem of the trunk turned brown to black with a star burst-like pattern. Finally, heavy infection resulted in the whole tree dying, causing severe yield losses. A fungus was consistently isolated from basal stems and roots of diseased plants. Single conidia were obtained and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 25 ± 1°C with a 12-h light/dark photoperiod. Mycelium was initially hyaline and then rapidly became dark greenish brown. Two types of endoconidia were produced in 5 days. Barrel-shaped conidia were hyaline, 1-celled, and measured 7.3 to 9.4 × 11.6 to 13.2 μm. Cylindrical conidia were hyaline, 1-celled, and measured 9.2 to 29.6 × 3.1 to 6.8 μm. Aleurioconidia were brownish, thick walled, near globose, and measured 8.7 to 18.1 × 8.2 to 10.7 μm. Perithecia were dark brown to black, globose, measured 90.8 to 149.8 μm in diameter, and had a long thin neck, 254.4 to 533.8 μm long, through which ascospores exuded. Ascospores were small, hyaline, hat shaped, measured 3.7 to 6.5 × 3.1 to 5.7 μm, and accumulated in a sticky matrix at the tip of the ascomal neck. The fungus was identified as Ceratocystis fimbriata (anamorph Chalara sp.) (1). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified with universal primers ITS4/ITS5 and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. HQ529711), and comparisons with GenBank showed 99% similarity with C. fimbriata on Colocasia esculenta from Brazil (Accession No. AM712448.1). Pathogenicity tests were conducted. Two-week-old seedlings of pomegranate cv. Qingpiruanzi, germinated in plastic containers in the greenhouse, were wounded with a needle to a depth of 0.5 mm at the base of the stem below the soil level and near the root system, and then inoculated by drenching the wounds with a spore suspension (10⁵ conidia per ml). Control plants were inoculated with sterile water. There were four replicates for each treatment. The treated plants were incubated at 25 ± 1°C with 80 to 95% relative humidity under a 12-h light/dark photoperiod in a greenhouse. All inoculated plants wilted within 25 days after inoculation and C. fimbriata was reisolated. All control plants remained healthily. To our knowledge, this is the first finding of pomegranate wilt caused by C. fimbriata in Sichuan Province. This pathogen may pose a serious threat to pomegranate production in Sichuan where it is a major fruit tree. This pathogen has been previously reported in India (3) and Yunnan Province, China (2), but is not known elsewhere. References: (1) C. J. B. Engelbrecht and T. C. Harrington. Mycologia 97:57, 2005. (2) Q. Huang et al. Plant Dis. 87:1150, 2003. (3) Y. M. Somasekhara. Plant Dis. 83:400, 1999.

The presence and expression of the hepatitis B virus in human oocytes and embryos

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to explore the potential for vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) from parents to offspring via human germ cells.

METHODS

For study samples, 250 oocytes from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seropositive women and 578 embryos from couples with at least one HBsAg seropositive partner were collected. HBV DNA in the nuclei of oocytes and embryos was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization; HBsAg expression was analysed using immunofluorescence; and serum HBV DNA levels were measured by real-time PCR. The HBV infection duration of the women and the serum HBsAg status of their mothers were also examined.

RESULTS

HBV DNA was present in 9.6% (24/250) of oocytes and 14.4% (83/578) of embryos. Rates of HBV DNA positive embryos were similar among couples in which the woman, man or both partners were HBsAg seropositive, 13.1% (57/436), 21.3% (16/75) and 14.9% (10/67), respectively. Rates of positivity in oocytes and embryos were significantly higher in a group with high serum levels HBV DNA than in a group with lower serum levels (P= 0.004 and P= 0.002, respectively). Higher rates of oocyte positivity were found for women whose mothers were HBV infected compared with those with uninfected mothers. Expression of HBsAg was observed in 8.7% (2/28) oocytes and 14.1% (10/71) embryos (P= 0.34).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of HBV DNA in human oocytes or embryos was related to the women's serum levels of HBV DNA and the infection status of their mothers. The HBV positive embryos were either maternally or paternally dependent. HBV infection may result in vertical transmission to the offspring via germ cells.

Sequence analysis of CP and HC-Pro genes of Turnip mosaic virus isolates from China

Fourteen isolates of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) were obtained from the leaves of diseased cruciferous plants in China. According host tests, the isolates were classified into B-host and BR-host group. The nucleotide sequences of the coat protein (CP) and helper component proteinase (HC-Pro) genes of the isolates were determined. The CP genes consisted of 864 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 288 amino acids. The HC-Pro genes comprised 1374 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 458 amino acids. The genes CP and HC-Pro of the 14 isolates shared nucleotide sequence identities ranging from 89.2 to 99.5% and 79.1 to 99.9%, respectively. Amino acid sequence identities of CP and HC-Pro proteins ranged from 95.1 to 100% and 94.8 to 99.8%, respectively. Phylogenetic tree based on the CP gene indicated that 13 of the 14 TuMV isolates belonged to the world-B group, while the remaining isolate ZJ1 belonged to the basal-BR group. The phylogenetic tree based on the HC-Pro gene was similar to that of CP gene with the exception of the isolate JX that clustered with the Asian-BR group. Our results were consistent with the previous results demonstrating that a majority of the isolates collected from Brassica spp. belonged to the world-B group.

Siegesbeckia yellow vein virus is a distinct begomovirus associated with a satellite DNA molecule

Leaf samples of Siegesbeckia glabrescens showing yellow vein, enation, and stunting symptoms were collected in Guangdong province, China. A specific 500-bp product was consistently detected in total DNA extracts, amplified with universal primers specific for members of the genus Begomovirus. Comparison of partial DNA sequences revealed that these virus isolates were identical, and therefore isolates GD13, GD24 and GD27 were selected for further sequence analysis. The complete nucleotide sequences of GD13, GD24 and GD27 were all found to be 2768 nucleotides (nts) long, with two open reading frames (ORFs) in the virion-sense strand and four ORFs in the complementary-sense strand, typical of the Old World begomoviruses. Sequence identities among the three isolates ranged from 99.7 to 99.8%. When compared with other reported sequences of begomoviruses, GD13 was most closely related to papaya leaf curl China virus (AJ876548), with a sequence identity of 76.8%. In addition, all isolates were found to be associated with DNAbeta molecules. The complete DNAbeta sequences of isolates GD13, GD24 and GD27 were determined. Sequence analysis showed that they had highest sequence identity with DNAbeta of Eupatorium yellow vein virus (AJ438938) (44.0, 43.9 and 45.6% identity). GD13, GD24 and GD27 are considered to be isolates of a distinct begomovirus species for which the name Siegesbeckia yellow vein virus (SgYVV) is proposed.

First Report of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus in China

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a devastating pathogen of tomato that causes significant yield losses in many tropical and subtropical regions (2). In China, however, there has as yet been no report of this virus, although other begomoviruses have been reported infecting tomato (1,3). A yellow mosaic disease was observed on tomato with 90% disease incidence during March 2006 in fields of Sunqiao, Shanghai Province, China. Triple-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TAS-ELISA) tests indicated that tomato plants were not infected by Tomato mosaic virus or Cucumber mosaic virus. Tomato plants were found to be infested with Bemisia tabaci, suggesting a begomovirus etiology. The disease agent was transmitted to tomato by whiteflies and produced yellow mosaic and stunting symptoms that were identical to those observed in the field. Total DNA was isolated from eight collected leaf samples. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed with begomovirus degenerate primers PA and PB (3), and an amplicon of the expected size (~500 bp) was obtained in all eight samples but not from healthy leaf samples. The PCR products from two samples (SH1 and SH2) were cloned and sequenced. All residues in the sequences were confirmed by comparison of duplicate clones. Alignment of the sequences showed that they shared 97.4% nucleotide sequence identity (GenBank Accession No. AM282874-75), suggesting that they were infected by an identical virus. Overlapping primers Full/F (5'-AGCCCAATACATTGGGCC ACGA-3') and Full/R (5'-CGTAAGTTTCCTCAACGGACTGC-3') were then designed to amplify the full length DNA-A of SH2. The sequence was determined to be 2,781 nucleotides long (GenBank Accession No. AM282874). A comparison with other begomoviruses shows SH2 DNA-A has the highest nucleotide sequence identity (99.8%) with TYLCV isolate Tosa from Japan (GenBank Accession No. AB192966). The above results indicate that the virus associated with yellow mosaic disease of tomato in Shanghai is an isolate of TYLCV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of TYLCV in China and the first report of a begomovirus in Shanghai. References: (1) X. F. Cui et al. J. Virol. 78:13966, 2004. (2) E. Moriones and J. Navas-Castillo. Virus Res. 71:123, 2000. (3) Z. H. Li et al. Arch. Virol. 149:1721, 2004.

p53 gene (Gendicine) and embolisation overcame recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation (TACE) has become the standard treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, this method is often unsuccessful. The p53 gene, which is present as a mutant form in many human tumours, is known to have broad spectrum antitumour effects when expressed normally. In this study, we report a 23 year old patient with recurrent HCC who was treated with the p53 gene (Gendicine) combining TACE, which resulted in a good clinical prognosis.

Molecular characterization of tomato-infecting begomoviruses in Yunnan, China

The importance of diseases of tomato caused by begomoviruses is increasing worldwide. Here, we report that several begomoviruses are associated with tomato leaf curl disease in Yunnan province, China. 14 tomato samples showing leaf curl symptoms were collected in three districts in Yunnan, and they fell into four groups according to their reaction with a panel of 16 monoclonal antibodies in TAS-ELISA. Comparison of partial DNA-A sequences amplified with degenerate primers confirmed the existence of several types of begomoviruses. The complete DNA-A sequences of 4 isolates (Y25, Y41, Y72, Y161), corresponding to the four groups, were determined. Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis revealed that they corresponded to four previously identified begomoviruses. Groups I, II and IV are most closely related to Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV), Tobacco curly shoot virus (TbCSV) and Tobacco leaf curl Yunnan virus (TbLCYNV), respectively, while Group III shows close relationships with Tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus (TYLCTHV). In addition, all isolates in Groups I and III were found to be associated with DNAbeta molecules, while satellite DNA was not found in virus isolates in Groups II and IV. The complete DNAbeta sequences of three isolates from Group III (Y72, Y77, Y79) were determined. Sequence analysis showed that Y72beta, Y77beta and Y79beta seem to be different from other characterised DNAbeta, sharing the highest nucleotide sequence identity with DNAbeta of TbCSV.

Molecular characterization of a new begomovirus infecting Senecio scandens in China

Three begomovirus isolates, G46, G83 and G84 from Senecio scandens showing yellow mosaic symptoms were collected from Guangxi Province, P.R. China. The isolates were detected by PCR using universal primers for begomoviruses. Comparison of partial DNA-A sequences (approximately 500 bp) of the isolates revealed their 98.7-99.1% identity. The isolate G46, chosen for complete DNA-A sequencing, consisted of 2746 nt and had a typical genomic organization of begomoviruses. The G46 DNA-A had the highest sequence identity (72.4%) with that of Ageratum leaf curl virus among begomoviruses. The molecular data suggest that the isolate G46 is a new begomovirus (species), for which the name Senecio yellow mosaic virus (Senecio yellow mosaic virus) is proposed.

Molecular characterization of squash leaf curl Yunnan virus, a new begomovirus and evidence for recombination

Virus isolate Y23V, obtained from squash showing leaf curl symptoms in Yunnan, China, was readily differentiated from four studied Chinese begomovirus isolates in reactions with a set of monoclonal antibodies raised against begomoviruses. The complete nucleotide sequence (2714 nts) of the DNA-A-like molecule of Y23V was determined. The DNA-A of Y23V is most closely related to that of tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus-[1] (TYLCTHV-[1]) (84% sequence identity). However, the AC1 and AC4 gene of Y23V DNA-A resembled to Pepper leaf curl virus from Bangladesh (PepLCBDV). The DNA-A of Y23V has three distinct regions: the region from 74-2071 nts is 95% identical to TYLCTHV-[1] excluding a 27 nt deletion; the following 386 nts are 91% identical to PepLCBDV and the rest of the DNA-A is not closely related to any reported begomovirus. Y23V, therefore, is considered to have arisen by recombination. The 84% sequence identity of Y23V with TYLCTHV-[1] allows Y23V to be considered as a distinct begomovirus species, for which the name squash leaf curl Yunnan virus (SLCYNV) is proposed.

Maize dwarf mosaic disease in different regions of China is caused by Sugarcane mosaic virus

Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) was detected in all 62 maize samples collected from eight maize-growing provinces in China showing dwarf mosaic symptoms by immunocapture reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV), Sorghum mosaic virus (SrMV) and Johnsongrass mosaic virus (JGMV), however, were not detected in any of the samples by RT-PCR. Eleven cDNA fragments of approximately 0.8 kilobases covering most of the coat protein (CP) gene of SCMV were sequenced and sequence analysis indicates that these eleven isolates share 98.1 to 100 % identity at the amino acid level. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis of the CP genes from the eleven Chinese isolates as well as 21 SCMV subgroup virus isolates indicate that the eleven Chinese virus isolates were closely related to SCMV with 97.0 to 98.1 % sequence identity at the amino acid level, while relatively lower sequence identity was found with MDWV, SrMV or JGMV. The results indicate that the Chinese isolates are members of the SCMV species, and thus, SCMV can be considered as the most common and important potyvirus infecting maize in China.

In vivo accumulation of Broad bean wilt virus 2 VP37 protein and its ability to bind single-stranded nucleic acid

The VP37 protein encoded by the RNA2 of Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2) was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The protein was purified and a polyclonal antibody specific for the protein was produced. Time course studies by Western blot assays in BBWV2-infected Chenopodium quinoa leaves showed that the VP37 protein was present in cells of the inoculated leaves by 12 h post inoculation and in cells of systemically-infected leaves by 2 days post inoculation. The protein was able to accumulate to a high level in infected leaves at the late infection stage. Gel retardation and UV cross-linking assays demonstrated that the VP37 protein bound preferentially single-stranded (ss) RNA and DNA in a non-sequence-specific manner. The VP37 protein-RNA complex was stable in solutions containing less than 400 mM NaCl, but became fully dissociated in the solutions containing 800 mM NaCl. Sequence analysis of the VP37 protein and its ability to bind ssRNA and ssDNA suggest that the protein may play a role similar to the movement proteins reported for other plant viruses.

A novel germline mutation of the PTEN gene in a patient with macrocephaly, ventricular dilatation, and features of VATER association

Mutations of the PTEN gene are associated with hamartoma-neoplasia syndromes. While germline mutations at this chromosome 10q22-23 locus have been observed in patients with Cowden syndrome (CS) and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRR), both of which phenotypes are associated with hamartomata and neoplasia, somatic mutation of PTEN has been established in a wide variety of sporadically occurring neoplasia. CS and BRR share some clinical features, specifically hamartomata and lipomatosis. Investigation of other clinically distinct syndromes associated with lipomatosis and overgrowth has established germline and germline mosaic PTEN mutations in several patients with Proteus syndrome. To this expanding array of clinically distinct phenotypes associated with PTEN mutations, we now report a novel heterozygous germline mutation, H61D, in a patient with features of VATER association with macrocephaly and ventriculomegaly.

Extensive characterization of genetic alterations in a series of human colorectal cancer cell lines

A number of genetic alterations have been described in colorectal cancers. They include allelic losses on specific chromosomal arms, mutations of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and mismatch repair genes, microsatellite instability in coding repeat sequences of target genes and methylation defects in gene promoters. Since these alterations have been reported by different groups on different tumors and cell lines, the complete repertoire of genetic alterations for any given tumor sample remains unknown. In the present study, we analysed a series of 22 colorectal cancer cell lines for 31 different genetic alterations. We found significant correlations between mutational profiles in these colorectal cell lines associated with differences in mismatch repair status. This panel of colon cancer cell lines is representative of the genetic heterogeneity occurring in sporadic colorectal carcinoma. Our results may prove to be very useful for understanding the different biological pathways involved in the development of colon cancer, and for groups studying cellular biology and pharmacology on the same cell lines.

Molecular characterization of a distinct begomovirus infecting tobacco in Yunnan, China

Virus isolate Y3V, obtained from tobacco showing leaf curl symptoms in Yunnan, China, had particles with the size and morphology typical of geminiviruses. In reactions with a set of monoclonal antibodies raised against begomoviruses, Y3V was readily differentiated from two previously studied Chinese Begomovirus isolates. The complete nucleotide sequence of a DNA-A-like molecule of Y3V was determined; it comprises 2744 nucleotides and has a typical Begomovirus genome organization. When compared with the DNA-A sequences of other begomoviruses, the total DNA-A of Y3V was most closely related to that of Ageratum yellow vein virus (AYVV) (85% sequence identity), but the Y3V intergenic region differed greatly from those of the other sequences (maximum 70% identity). In contrast, the deduced coat protein of Y3V is most like that of Tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus-[1] (TYLCTHV-[1]) (92% amino acid sequence identity). The molecular data show that the Yunnan isolate of Tobacco leaf curl virus is a distinct Begomovirus species, for which the name Tobacco leaf curl Yunnan virus (TLCYnV) is proposed.

Opposite association of two PPARG variants with cancer: overrepresentation of H449H in endometrial carcinoma cases and underrepresentation of P12A in renal cell carcinoma cases

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a nuclear hormone receptor that has been shown to regulate differentiation and cell growth. Studies of the differentiative effects of PPARgamma agonists on several cancer cell lines led to the hypothesis that dysfunction of PPARgamma contributes to tumorigenesis. These functional observations were strengthened by genetic evidence: somatic loss-of-function mutations in PPARG, encoding PPARgamma, in sporadic colorectal carcinomas and somatic translocation of PAX8 and PPARG in follicular thyroid carcinoma. Recently overrepresentation of the H449H variant was found in a cohort of American patients with glioblastoma multiforme. The glioblastoma multiforme data suggest that PPARG contributes common, low-penetrance alleles for cancer susceptibility. To test this hypothesis in a broader range of cancers we examined a series of carcinomas of the cervix, endometrium, ovary, prostate, and kidney for germline sequence variation in PPARG. In addition to the two common sequence variants, P12A and H449H, there were five other sequence variants. P12A alleles were underrepresented in renal cell carcinoma patients compared to country-of-origin race-matched controls (3.75% vs. 12.1%, P<0.04). In contrast, the H449H variant was overrepresented in individuals with endometrial carcinoma compared to controls (14.4% vs. 6.25%, P<0.02). These observations lend genetic evidence consistent with our hypothesis that PPARG serves as a common, low-penetrance susceptibility gene for cancers of several types, especially those epidemiologically associated with obesity and fat intake.

Molecular identification of latent precancers in histologically normal endometrium

Discovery of somatically mutated cells in human tissues has been less frequent than would be predicted by in vitro mutational rates. We analyzed the PTEN tumor suppressor gene as an early marker for endometrial carcinogenesis, and we show that 43% of histologically normal premenopausal endometria contain rare glands that fail to express PTEN protein because of mutation and/or deletion. These persist between menstrual cycles. Histopathology of PTEN-null glands is initially unremarkable, but with progression, they form distinctive high-density clusters. These data are consistent with a progression model in which initial mutation is not rate limiting.

Frequent loss of PTEN expression is linked to elevated phosphorylated Akt levels, but not associated with p27 and cyclin D1 expression, in primary epithelial ovarian carcinomas

PTEN (MMAC1/TEP1), a tumor suppressor gene on chromosome subband 10q23.3, is variably mutated and/or deleted in a variety of human cancers. Germline mutations in PTEN, which encode a dual-specificity phosphatase, have been implicated in at least two hamartoma tumor syndromes that exhibit some clinical overlap, Cowden syndrome and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome. Among several series of ovarian cancers, the frequency of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of markers flanking and within PTEN, is approximately 30 to 50%, and the somatic intragenic PTEN mutation frequency is <10%. In this study, we screened primary adenocarcinomas of the ovary for LOH of polymorphic markers within and flanking the PTEN gene and for intragenic mutations of the PTEN gene and compared them to PTEN expression using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, we sought to detect the expression of the presumed downstream targets of PTEN, such as P-Akt, p27, and cyclin D1 by immunohistochemistry. LOH at 10q23 was observed in 29 of 64 (45%) cases. Of the 117 samples, 6 somatic intragenic PTEN mutations, 1 germline mutation, and 1 novel polymorphism were found in 7 (6%) patients. Immunostaining of 49 ovarian cancer samples revealed that 13 (27%) were PTEN immunostain-negative, 25 (51%) had reduced staining, and the rest (22%) were PTEN expression-positive. Among the 44 informative tumors assessed for 10q23 LOH and PTEN immunostaining, there was an association between 10q23 LOH and decreased or absent staining (P = 0.0317). Of note, there were five (11%) tumors with neither mutation nor deletion that exhibited no PTEN expression and 10 (25%) others without mutation or deletion but had decreased PTEN expression. Among the 49 tumors available for immunohistochemistry, 28 (57%) showed P-Akt-positive staining, 24 (49%) had decreased p27 staining, and cyclin D1 was overexpressed in 35 (79%) cases. In general, P-Akt expression was inversely correlated with PTEN expression (P = 0.0083). These data suggest that disruption of PTEN by several mechanisms, allelic loss, intragenic mutation, or epigenetic silencing, all contribute to epithelial ovarian carcinogenesis, and that epigenetic silencing is a significant mechanism. The Akt pathway is prominently involved, but clearly not in all cases. Surprisingly, despite in vitro demonstration that p27 and cyclin D1 lies downstream of PTEN and Akt, there was no correlation between p27 and cyclin D1 expression and PTEN or P-Akt status. Thus, in vivo, although PTEN and Akt play a prominent role in ovarian carcinogenesis, p27 and cyclin D1 might not be the primary downstream targets. Alternatively, these observations could also suggest that pathways involving other than Akt, p27 and cyclin D1 that lie downstream of PTEN play roles in ovarian carcinogenesis.

Molecular characterization of a novel defective DNA isolated from tobacco tissues infected with tobacco leaf curl virus

Defective DNA of tobacco leaf curl virus (TLCV) was identified in TLCV-infected tobacco plants. The defective DNA was cloned and sequenced. The sequence showed it was about half the size of the TLCV DNA-A, and was derived from TLCV DNA-A by a large deletion. The defective DNA contained the intergenic region and part of the AC1 (Rep) gene of TLCV, and also novel open reading frames (ORFs). The immunotrapping tests showed the defective DNA was associated with geminate particles, suggesting it could be encapsidated in virus particles. It was transmitted, along with full-length DNA-A, to tobacco plants by grafting and whitefly (Bemisia tabaci).

Transient ectopic expression of PTEN in thyroid cancer cell lines induces cell cycle arrest and cell type-dependent cell death

The tumour suppressor gene PTEN/MMAC1/TEP1 has been implicated in a variety of human cancers and several inherited hamartoma tumour syndromes, including Cowden syndrome, which has a high risk of breast and thyroid cancer. We have previously reported that overexpression of PTEN in MCF-7 breast cancer cells induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In this study, we analysed PTEN status at both the structural and expression levels and explored PTEN's growth-suppressive effects on thyroid. We found that 1 of 10 thyroid cancer lines [follicular thyroid carcinoma FTC-133] had hemizygous deletion and a splice variant IVS4--19G-->A in the remaining allele. Four lines, including FTC-133, express PTEN mRNA at low levels. In general, PTEN protein levels correlated with mRNA levels, except for NPA87, which has low levels of transcript and relatively high levels of PTEN protein. Transient expression of PTEN in seven thyroid cancer cell lines resulted in G(1) arrest in two well differentiated papillary thyroid cancer lines (PTCs) and both G(1) arrest and cell death in the remaining five lines, including three FTCs, one poorly differentiated PTC and one undifferentiated thyroid cancer. The level of phosphorylated Akt was inversely correlated with the endogenous level of PTEN protein and overexpression of PTEN-blocked Akt phosphorylation in all cells analysed. Our results suggest that downregulation of PTEN expression at the mRNA level plays a role in PTEN inactivation in thyroid cancer and PTEN exerts its tumour-suppressive effect on thyroid cancer through the inhibition of cell cycle progression alone or both cell cycle progression and cell death.

Epigenetic PTEN silencing in malignant melanomas without PTEN mutation

A tumor suppressor gene at 10q 23.3, designated PTEN, encoding a dual specificity phosphatase with lipid and protein phosphatase activity, has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of a variety of human cancers. Germline mutations in PTEN cause Cowden syndrome (CS), which is characterized by multiple hamartomas and a high risk of breast and thyroid cancers. Frequent loss of heterozygosity at 10q is found in both early and advanced-stage sporadic melanomas; however, mutations or deletions in PTEN are detected mainly in melanoma cell lines. In this study, we examined PTEN expression in 34 unselected sporadic melanomas (4 primary melanomas, 30 metastases) using immunohistochemistry and correlated this with the results of structural studies of this gene. Immunostaining of 34 melanoma samples revealed no PTEN expression in 5 (15%) and low PTEN expression in 17 (50%), whereas the rest of the tumors (35%) had high levels of expression. Hemizygous deletion was found in 32% of the tumors but neither intragenic PTEN mutation nor biallelic deletion was found in any of the samples. Of the 5 melanomas showing no PTEN expression, 4 had no mutation or deletion of PTEN. Of the 13 tumors having weak PTEN immunoreactivity and informative loss of heterozygosity results, 6 had evidence of hemizygous allelic loss of PTEN while the remaining 7 had intact PTEN. These results strongly support PTEN as a major tumor suppressor on 10q involved in melanoma tumorigenesis and suggest an epigenetic mechanism of biallelic functional inactivation not previously observed in other cancers where PTEN might be involved.

Biallelic inactivating mutations and an occult germline mutation of PTEN in primary cervical carcinomas

A tumor suppressor gene on chromosome sub-band 10q23.3, PTEN, is frequently mutated or deleted in a variety of human cancers. Germline mutations in PTEN, that encodes a dual-specificity phosphatase, have been implicated in two hamartoma-tumor syndromes that exhibit some clinical overlap, Cowden syndrome and Bannayan-Zonana syndrome. Although cervical cancer is not a known component of these two syndromes, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of markers on chromosome arm 10q is frequently observed in cervical cancers. To determine the potential role that PTEN mutation may play in cervical tumorigenesis, we screened 20 primary cervical cancers for LOH of polymorphic markers within and flanking the PTEN gene, and for intragenic mutations in the entire coding region and exon-intron boundaries of the PTEN gene. LOH was observed in 7 of 19 (36.8%) cases. Further, one sample may have homozygous deletion. Three (15%) intragenic mutations were found: two were somatic missense mutations in exon 5, that encodes the phosphatase motif, and an occult germline intronic sequence variant in intron 7, that we show to be associated with aberrant splicing. All three samples with the mutations also had LOH of the wild-type allele. These data indicate that disruption of PTEN by allelic loss or mutation may contribute to tumorigenesis in cervical cancers. In cervical cancer, unlike some other human primary carcinomas, e.g., those of the breast and thyroid, biallelic structural PTEN defects seem necessary for carcinogenesis. Further, one in 20 unselected cervical carcinomas was found to have a germline PTEN mutation; it is unclear whether the patient with this mutation had Cowden disease or a related syndrome.

[A new flavonoid glycoside from Allium cepa L. var agrogatum Don]

AIM

To investigate the chemical constituents from the bulb stems of the Chinese medicinal plant Allium cepa L. var. agrogatum Don.

METHODS

The crude extracts of the bulb stem were purified by Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. IR, UV, MS, 1H, 13CNMR, 1H-1H COSY, 1H-13C COSY and HMBC spectra were used to determine the structure of the isolated constituents.

RESULTS

A new compound named quercetin 3'-methoxy-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(I), together with three known compounds kaempferol(II), quercetin 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(III) and quercetin 3,4'-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(IV) were isolated.

CONCLUSION

Quercetin 3'-methoxy-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(I) is a new compound, compounds II-IV were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Effects of ligand activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma in human prostate cancer

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a nuclear hormone receptor that plays a key role in the differentiation of adipocytes. Activation of this receptor in liposarcomas and breast and colon cancer cells also induces cell growth inhibition and differentiation. In the present study, we show that PPARgamma is expressed in human prostate adenocarcinomas and cell lines derived from these tumors. Activation of this receptor with specific ligands exerts an inhibitory effect on the growth of prostate cancer cell lines. Further, we show that prostate cancer and cell lines do not have intragenic mutations in the PPARgamma gene, although 40% of the informative tumors have hemizygous deletions of this gene. Based on our preclinical data, we conducted a phase II clinical study in patients with advanced prostate cancer using troglitazone, a PPARgamma ligand used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Forty-one men with histologically confirmed prostate cancer and no symptomatic metastatic disease were treated orally with troglitazone. An unexpectedly high incidence of prolonged stabilization of prostate-specific antigen was seen in patients treated with troglitazone. In addition, one patient had a dramatic decrease in serum prostate-specific antigen to nearly undetectable levels. These data suggest that PPARgamma may serve as a biological modifier in human prostate cancer and its therapeutic potential in this disease should be further investigated.

Resection of meningiomas with implantable microwave coagulation

Implantable microwave coagulation was used to perform resection on 62 patients that had intracranial meningiomas. When 20-60 W microwave power was applied for 15 s, the temperature at the center of the tumor tissue was 43-63 degrees C; 30 mm from the center, the temperature was under 40 degrees C. Histological changes in the center of the tumor showed coagulative necrosis, diminished nuclei, and obliterated blood vessels. The changes at 10-20 mm from the center of the tumor showed coagulative necrosis and degeneration and, 30-50 mm from the center of the tumor, showed normal cell morphology after microwave coagulation. The thermal field in brain tumor has an effective diameter of about 40 mm. No side effects on the normal brain tissues were observed. The amount of blood loss during the operation was minimal while the meningioma was coagulated, especially when the meningioma was located at the skull base or in the parasagittal or cerebral convexity region. After microwave coagulation, the entire tumor could easily be removed. Among the 62 surgically treated cases, gross total tumor excision was 85 percent. No postoperative complications occurred after microwave coagulation, and there was no operative mortality in the series. We believe that this new technique has the advantage of simplicity, less blood loss, and smooth postoperative procedures. Hemostatic effects during the operation are satisfactory, and blood transfusion can be reduced by 50-60 percent.