Expression of APOB, ADFP and FATP1 and their correlation with fat deposition in Yunnan's top six famous chicken breeds

1. Adipose differentiation related protein (ADFP), fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1) and apolipoprotein B (APOB) are suspected to play an important role in determining intramuscular fat and in overall meat quality. 2. Yunnan's top six famous chicken breeds (the Daweishan Mini, Yanjin Black-bone, Chahua, Wuding, Wuliangshan Black-bone and Piao chicken) are known for the high quality of their meat, but little is known about their expression of these three genes. 3. The present study aimed to examine the ADFP, FATP1 and APOB genes in different tissues of these six breeds at different development stages. The subcutaneous fat from the back midline and front, abdominal fat, liver and muscle tissue was sampled at 28, 49, 70, 91 and 112 days. The expression of ADFP, FATP1 and APOB was measured by real-time PCR. 4. The results showed that the expression of the three genes differed depending on age, tissue types and breeds. However, the expression of the three genes correlated with fat traits. In conclusion, the expression of the ADFP, FATP1 and APOB genes is associated with the fat traits of Yunnan's top six chicken breeds. These results could help with molecular marker screening and marker-assisted breeding to improve the quality of poultry for meat production.

Canadian Patients' Preferences in Topical Psoriasis Care: Insights From the PROPEL Surveys

BACKGROUND

Patients with psoriasis of all severities employ topical treatment, either alone or in combination. Promoting Patient Engagement at the Leading Edge of Topical Psoriasis Treatment (PROPEL) surveyed Canadian dermatologists and their patients about their attitudes toward topical care.

OBJECTIVES

To identify gaps between patients and dermatologists regarding the burden of psoriasis, the burden of treatment, and priorities for topical care to Canadian patients with psoriasis.

METHODS

Two parallel surveys explored patient attitudes toward psoriasis and their experience with topical care, as expressed by patients or as perceived by their dermatologists. A third survey, addressed to patients, included additional questions regarding treatment adherence to current topical treatment regimens.

RESULTS

PROPEL dermatologists underestimated the burden associated with psoriatic itch. Otherwise, they were well aligned with patients' views, including their preference for maintaining topical care of their psoriasis over other treatment modalities, the nature of good psoriasis control, and desirable features of topical medications. Despite holding generally positive views of topical therapy, many patients self-identified as poorly adherent.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term adherence to psoriasis topical care remains a challenge. Formulations with improved acceptability might help patients maintain good adherence.

Gene expression profiles for a prognostic immunoscore in gastric cancer

Background

Increasing evidence has indicated an association between immune infiltration in gastric cancer and clinical outcome. However, reliable prognostic signatures, based on systematic assessments of the immune landscape inferred from bulk tumour transcriptomes, have not been established. The aim was to develop an immune signature, based on the cellular composition of the immune infiltrate inferred from bulk tumour transcriptomes, to improve the prognostic predictions of gastric cancer.

Methods

Twenty‐two types of immune cell fraction were estimated based on large public gastric cancer cohorts from the Gene Expression Omnibus using CIBERSORT. An immunoscore based on the fraction of immune cell types was then constructed using a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression model.

Results

Using the LASSO model, an immunoscore was established consisting of 11 types of immune cell fraction. In the training cohort (490 patients), significant differences were found between high‐ and low‐immunoscore groups in overall survival across and within subpopulations with an identical TNM stage. Multivariable analysis revealed that the immunoscore was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio 1·92, 95 per cent c.i. 1·54 to 2·40). The prognostic value of the immunoscore was also confirmed in the validation (210) and entire (700) cohorts.

Conclusion

The proposed immunoscore represents a promising signature for estimating overall survival in patients with gastric cancer.

Immunoscore predicts prognosis

Abstract P4-09-05: Withdrawn

This abstract was withdrawn by the authors.

My experience in an oral and maxillofacial post as a profoundly deaf dental core trainee

This article reviews my experience as a profoundly deaf dental core trainee (DCT) in oral and maxillofacial surgery at Wythenshawe Hospital - working on call, carrying out daily clinics and assisting in theatre. A novel set of challenges presented, such as understanding conversations on the phone and minimising interference from background noise. Support was sought from Occupational Health, Access to Work and FM Hearing Systems, who provided practical advice and technological solutions. This year has improved my confidence and who I am as a person, and as a dentist. Plus, due to my newfound technical support I am able to hear a lot better on the phone now. It is hoped this article this will provide a useful insight for employers on how to support employees with hearing difficulties, and inspire future candidates.

Fibroma of Tendon Sheath of the Hand: Clinical and Pathological Study

Presented are seven cases of the rare tumour known as fibroma of tendon sheath of the hand. Diagnosis was uncertain before surgery. When the lesions were removed, they resembled schwannomas. Immunohistochemistry helped distinguish these tumours from giant cell tumours of the flexor sheath and schwannomas. The authors recommend that fibroma of the tendon sheath be included in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue neoplasms of the hand.

Multiple Keratoacanthomas Arising Post-UVB Therapy

Background:

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is known to be an important etiologic agent in the development of skin cancer. Keratoacanthoma is an unusual, well-described cutaneous neoplasm that resembes squamous cell carcinoma but spontaneously resolves. Rarely, multiple keratoacanthomas may develop. Objective We present a case of multiple keratoacanthomas in a patient with psoriasis who had received UVB phototherapy. These lesions were hyperkeratotic papules, many of which spontaneously resolved and demonstrated the histologic characteristics of keratoacanthoma.

Conclusion:

We believe that UV radiation is the most likely etiologic factor in this patient's development of multiple keratoacanthomas. We wish to bring to the attention of clinicians this unusual adverse effect of UV treatment.

Antioxidant activities of orange peel extract in ghee (butter oil) stored at different storage temperatures

Antioxidant activities of butylatedhydroxyanisole (BHA) and orange peel powder extract in ghee stored at different storage temperatures (T1:6 ± 2 °C; T2: 32 ± 2 °C; T3:60 ± 2 °C) were evaluated during storage period of 21 days. Peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), radical scavenging activity (RSA) and free fatty acids (FFA) of ghee samples were analyzed during the study. PV, TBA and FFA of ghee samples increased significantly while radical scavenging activity (RSA) of ghee samples decreased significantly at accelerated temperature (T3) as compared to the temperatures at T1 and T2. Effect of storage temperature on development of peroxides and TBA of ghee samples was significantly higher than the effect of treatment and storage period while treatment had more significant effect on the change in FFA and RSA as compared to storage temperature and storage period. Ghee incorporated with orange peel extract (OPE) showed stronger activity in quenching DPPH radicals and least development of PV, TBA and FFA than ghee incorporated with BHA and control. The study revealed that orange peel could be a good natural source of antioxidants which can be used in fat rich food products like ghee to retard oxidative deterioration.

[Differential gene expression in incompatible interaction between Lilium regale Wilson and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lilii revealed by combined SSH and microarray analysis]

Fusarium wilt, caused by a soilborne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lilii, is the major disease of lily (Lilium L.). In order to isolate the genes differentially expressed in a resistant reaction to F. oxysporum in L. regale Wilson, a cDNA library was constructed with L. regale root during F. oxysporum infection using the suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH), and a total of 585 unique expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were obtained. Furthermore, the gene expression profiles in the incompatible interaction between L. regale and F. oxysporum were revealed by oligonucleotide microarray analysis of 585 unique ESTs comparison to the compatible interaction between a susceptible Lilium Oriental Hybrid 'Siberia' and F. oxysporum. The result of expression profile analysis indicated that the genes encoding pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), antioxidative stress enzymes, secondary metabolism enzymes, transcription factors, signal transduction proteins as well as a large number of unknown genes were involved in early defense response of L. regale to F. oxysporum infection. Moreover, the following quantitative reverse transcription PCR (QRT-PCR) analysis confirmed reliability of the oligonucleotide microarray data. In the present study, isolation of differentially expressed genes in L. regale during response to F. oxysporum helped to uncover the molecular mechanism associated with the resistance of L. regale against F. oxysporum.