[Pathological analysis and treatments of neck infection induced by congenital pyriform sinus fistula]

Objective:To identify the pathogenic bacteria of CPSF and their resistance to antibiotics,and guide the rational use of antibiotics therapy.Method:One hundred and thirty cases of deep neck infection whose imaging finding depicted patients with suspected as CPSF were enrolled in the study from January 2010 to June 2017.Specimens were collected from abscesses or other inflammatory lesions from all patients through a small incision or the external orifice on the skin of the neck.Result:A total of 108 strains of pathogens have been isolated from 88 patients (positive rate: 67.7%), among which the gram-positive bacteria accounted for 56.5%, gram-negative bacteria accounted for 43.5%. Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus (22.2%) were the most common pathogens among young patients (≤14 years old) (17.7%);Klebsiellapneumoniae (15.7%) were the most common pathogens among the patients over 14 years old. Separation of pathogenic bacteria have maintained a low resistance to most antibiotics. G+ bacteria is totally sensitive to quinupristin/dalfopristin and vancomycin; G-bacteria is totally sensitive to cefoperazone/Batan, piperacillin/tazobactam,imipenem.Conclusion:Most of pathogens come from upper respiratory tract in CPSF cases, and are mostly sensitive to βlactamase.

Sulfur-Mediated-Alleviation of Aluminum-Toxicity in Citrus grandis Seedlings

Limited data are available on the sulfur (S)-mediated-alleviation of aluminum (Al)-toxicity in higher plants. Citrus grandis seedlings were irrigated for 18 weeks with 0.5 mM MgSO₄ or 0.5 mM MgSO₄ + 0.5 mM Na₂SO₄, and 0 (-Al) or 1 mM AlCl₃·6H₂O (+Al, Al-toxicity). Under Al-toxicity, S decreased the level of Al in leaves; increased the relative water content (RWC) of roots and leaves, the contents of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) per plant, the dry weights (DW) of roots and shoots, the ratios of root DW/shoot DW, and the Al-induced secretion of citrate from root; and alleviated the Al-induced inhibition of photosynthesis via mitigating the Al-induced decrease of electron transport capacity resulting from the impaired photosynthetic electron transport chain. In addition to decreasing the Al-stimulated H₂O₂ production, the S-induced upregulation of both S metabolism-related enzymes and antioxidant enzymes also contributed to the S-mediated-alleviation of oxidative damage in Al-treated roots and leaves. Decreased transport of Al from roots to shoots and relatively little accumulation of Al in leaves, and increased leaf and root RWC and P, Ca, and Mg contents per plant might also play a role in the S-mediated-alleviation of Al-toxicity.

[Modified rhytidectomy incision and modified Blair incision contrast research in superficial parotid gland tumor resection]

Objective:Evaluate the application value of modified rhytidectomy incision in superficial parotid gland tumor resection.Method:Seventy-one patients with tumor in the superficial parotid were included in this study from January 2012 to January 2015. They all accepted superficial parotidectomy or subtotal superficial parotidectomy. Thirty-six cases used modified rhytidectomy incision and 35 cases used modified blair incision. The data of operative field exposure, operating time, bleeding, the rate of complication, score of patients's satisfaction were recorded and compared between the two groups.Result:There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the operative field exposure, operating time and bleeding (P > 0.05). No difference was found between the two groups in the rate of facioplegia, while the rate of insensible earlobe in the modified rhytidectomy incision group was significantly lower than the modified blair incision group (P < 0.05). The score of patient's satisfaction in the modified rhytidectomy incision group was significantly higher than the other group (P < 0.05).Conclusion:The modified rhytidectomy incision provides good exposure and has the advantage of less complication and better cosmetic outcome. It is worthy of wide clinical application.

Long-term manganese-toxicity-induced alterations of physiology and leaf protein profiles in two Citrus species differing in manganese-tolerance

Manganese (Mn)-intolerant 'Sour pummelo' (Citrus grandis) and Mn-tolerant 'Xuegan' (Citrus sinensis) seedlings were irrigated for 17 weeks with 2 (control) or 600μM (Mn-toxicity or -excess) MnSO₄. C. sinensis had higher Mn-tolerance than C. grandis, as indicated by the higher photosynthesis rates in Mn-excess C. sinensis leaves. Under Mn-toxicity, Mn levels were similar between C. sinensis and C. grandis roots, but lower in C. sinensis leaves than in C. grandis leaves. This might be responsible for C. sinensis Mn-tolerance. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis, we identified more differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in Mn-excess C. grandis than in Mn-excess C. sinensis leaves, which agrees with the higher Mn levels in Mn-excess C. grandis leaves. DAPs were mainly related to carbohydrate and energy metabolism, stress response, and protein and amino acid metabolism. DAPs involved in the cytoskeleton and signal transduction were found only in Mn-excess C. grandis leaves. We isolated more photosynthesis-related proteins with decreased abundances in Mn-excess C. grandis leaves than in Mn-excess C. sinensis leaves, which might account for the larger decrease in photosynthesis rates in C. grandis leaves. The abundances of proteins involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and photorespiration were increased in Mn-excess C. grandis leaves, while only proteins involved in ROS detoxification were increased in Mn-excess C. sinensis leaves. This agrees with the increased requirement for dissipating the excess absorbed light energy, which was higher in Mn-excess C. grandis leaves than Mn-excess C. sinensis leaves because Mn-toxicity inhibited photosynthesis to a greater degree in C. grandis leaves.

Magnesium-deficiency-induced alterations of gas exchange, major metabolites and key enzymes differ among roots, and lower and upper leaves of Citrus sinensis seedlings

Magnesium (Mg)-deficiency is a widespread problem adversely affecting the quality and yield of crops, including citrus. 'Xuegan' [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] seedlings were irrigated every other day with nutrient solution at an Mg concentration of 0 mM (Mg-deficiency) or 1 mM (Mg-sufficiency) for 16 weeks. Thereafter, biomass, leaf mass per area, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), pigments in the upper and lower leaves, Mg, gas exchange, organic acids, nonstructural carbohydrates, total soluble proteins, amino acids, phenolics and anthocyanins, and key enzymes related to organic acid, amino acid and phenolic metabolisms in the roots, and upper and lower leaves were assayed in order to test the hypothesis that Mg-deficiency-induced alterations of gas exchange, major metabolites and key enzymes may differ among the roots, and upper and lower leaves. Magnesium-deficiency affected the most measured parameters more in the lower than in the upper leaves except for the nonstructural carbohydrates, but the variation trends were similar between the two. Despite increased accumulation of nonstructural carbohydrates, the lower CO2 assimilation in the Mg-deficient leaves was not caused by the feedback inhibition mechanism via sugar accumulation. Both dark respiration and organic acid metabolism were elevated in the Mg-deficient lower leaves to 'consume' the excess carbohydrates, and inhibited in the Mg-deficient roots with less accumulation of nonstructural carbohydrates to keep the balance of net carbon. More total phenolics and fewer anthocyanins were accumulated in the Mg-deficient lower leaves, whereas the accumulation of both total phenolics and anthocyanins was reduced in the Mg-deficient roots. Interestingly, amino acid biosynthesis was repressed in the Mg-deficient roots and lower leaves, thus lowering the level of total free amino acids in these roots and leaves. To conclude, great differences existed in the Mg-deficiency-induced alterations of gas exchange, major metabolites and key enzymes among the roots, and upper and lower leaves.

MicroRNA-mediated responses to long-term magnesium-deficiency in Citrus sinensis roots revealed by Illumina sequencing

Background

Magnesium (Mg)-deficiency occurs most frequently in strongly acidic, sandy soils. Citrus are grown mainly on acidic and strong acidic soils. Mg-deficiency causes poor fruit quality and low fruit yield in some Citrus orchards. For the first time, we investigated Mg-deficiency-responsive miRNAs in ‘Xuegan’ (Citrus sinensis) roots using Illumina sequencing in order to obtain some miRNAs presumably responsible for Citrus Mg-deficiency tolerance.

Results

We obtained 101 (69) miRNAs with increased (decreased) expression from Mg-starved roots. Our results suggested that the adaptation of Citrus roots to Mg-deficiency was related to the several aspects: (a) inhibiting root respiration and related gene expression via inducing miR158 and miR2919; (b) enhancing antioxidant system by down-regulating related miRNAs (miR780, miR6190, miR1044, miR5261 and miR1151) and the adaptation to low-phosphorus (miR6190); (c) activating transport-related genes by altering the expression of miR6190, miR6485, miR1044, miR5029 and miR3437; (d) elevating protein ubiquitination due to decreased expression levels of miR1044, miR5261, miR1151 and miR5029; (e) maintaining root growth by regulating miR5261, miR6485 and miR158 expression; and (f) triggering DNA repair (transcription regulation) by regulating miR5176 and miR6485 (miR6028, miR6190, miR6485, miR5621, miR160 and miR7708) expression. Mg-deficiency-responsive miRNAs involved in root signal transduction also had functions in Citrus Mg-deficiency tolerance.

Conclusions

We obtained several novel Mg-deficiency-responsive miRNAs (i.e., miR5261, miR158, miR6190, miR6485, miR1151 and miR1044) possibly contributing to Mg-deficiency tolerance. These results revealed some novel clues on the miRNA-mediated adaptation to nutrient deficiencies in higher plants.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3999-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

[Investigation of the Necrophagous Flies in Beijing]

OBJECTIVES

To explore the number of necrophagous flies and seasonal distribution of common necrophagous flies at present in Beijing.

METHODS

The specimens of necrophagous flies were collected by the methods of animal carcass, trapping and feeding. And the specimens were observed and counted after the classification and preservation.

RESULTS

The necrophagous flies in Beijing belonged to 4 families, 9 subfamilies, 21 genera and 46 species, and 12 species of them were the first records in Beijing. The necrophagous flies had the characteristics of regional and seasonal distribution.

CONCLUSIONS

The data of seasonal distribution of necrophagous flies and common necrophagous flies in Beijing can provide reference for related research.

Filariasis in axillary lymph node

A case of adult filarial worms detected in an axillary lymph node of an asymptomatic patient. A 64 year-old Indian female underwent a mammogram and was incidentally found to have punctate microcalcifications in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast with left axillary lymphadenopathy. She has underlying hypertension and diabetes mellitus on oral medications. She has no family history of breast malignancy. Fine needle aspiration of the left axillary lymph node was suggestive of reactive lympha-denitis. Histopathological examination of excisional biopsy of left breast lump showed fibrocystic disease; no evidence of malignancy was detected whereas excisional biopsy of left axillary lymph node showed reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, featuring variably sized lymphoid follicles with intact mantle zone. No expansion of marginal zone was noted. Occasional pigment-laden macrophages were seen. One of the lymph node showed presence of calcified serpinginous tubular bodies, in keeping with non viable parasite organisms with intact outlines of the structures. There were no eosinophilic infiltrates. The possibility of filarial infestation was suspected. Histopathological sample was sent for further identification and confirmed the presence of adult filarial worm.

Root Adaptive Responses to Aluminum-Treatment Revealed by RNA-Seq in Two Citrus Species With Different Aluminum-Tolerance

Seedlings of aluminum (Al)-tolerant Citrus sinensis and Al-intolerant Citrus grandis were fertigated daily with nutrient solution containing 0 and 1.0 mM AlCl3●6H2O for 18 weeks. The Al-induced decreases of biomass and root total soluble proteins only occurred in C. grandis, demonstrating that C. sinensis had higher Al-tolerance than C. grandis. Under Al-treatment, C. sinensis roots secreted more citrate and malate than C. grandis ones; less Al was accumulated in C. sinenis than in C. grandis leaves. The Al-induced reduction of phosphorus was lesser in C. sinensis roots and leaves than in C. grandis ones, whereas the Al-induced increase of sulfur was greater in C. sinensis roots and leaves. Using RNA-seq, we isolated 1905 and 2670 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from Al-treated C. sinensis than C. grandis roots, respectively. Among these DEGs, only 649 DEGs were shared by the two species. Further analysis suggested that the following several aspects conferred C. sinensis higher Al-tolerance: (a) Al-treated C. sinensis seedlings had a higher external Al detoxification capacity via enhanced Al-induced secretion of organic acid anions, a higher antioxidant capacity and a more efficient chelation system in roots; (b) Al-treated C. sinensis seedlings displayed a higher level of sulfur in roots and leaves possibly due to increased uptake and decreased export of sulfur and a higher capacity to maintain the cellular phosphorus homeostasis by enhancing phosphorus acquisition and utilization; (c) Cell wall and cytoskeleton metabolism, energy and carbohydrate metabolism and signal transduction displayed higher adaptative responses to Al in C. sinensis than in C. grandis roots; (d) More upregulated than downregulated genes related to fatty acid and amino acid metabolisms were isolated from Al-treated C. sinensis roots, but the reverse was the case for Al-treated C. grandis roots. These results provide a platform for further investigating the roles of genes possibly responsible for citrus Al-tolerance.

Effects of Low pH on Photosynthesis, Related Physiological Parameters, and Nutrient Profiles of Citrus

Seedlings of "Xuegan" (Citrus sinensis) and "Sour pummelo" (Citrus grandis) were irrigated daily with a nutrient solution at a pH of 2.5, 3, 4, 5, or 6 for 9 months. Thereafter, the following responses were investigated: seedling growth; root, stem, and leaf concentrations of nutrient elements; leaf gas exchange, pigment concentration, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity and chlorophyll a fluorescence; relative water content, total soluble protein level, H2O2 production and electrolyte leakage in roots and leaves. This was done (a) to determine how low pH affects photosynthesis, related physiological parameters, and mineral nutrient profiles; and (b) to understand the mechanisms by which low pH may cause a decrease in leaf CO2 assimilation. The pH 2.5 greatly inhibited seedling growth, and many physiological parameters were altered only at pH 2.5; pH 3 slightly inhibited seedling growth; pH 4 had almost no influence on seedling growth; and seedling growth and many physiological parameters reached their maximum at pH 5. No seedlings died at any given pH. These results demonstrate that citrus survival is insensitive to low pH. H+-toxicity may directly damage citrus roots, thus affecting the uptake of mineral nutrients and water. H+-toxicity and a decreased uptake of nutrients (i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) and water were likely responsible for the low pH-induced inhibition of growth. Leaf CO2 assimilation was inhibited only at pH 2.5. The combinations of an impaired photosynthetic electron transport chain, increased production of reactive oxygen species, and decreased uptake of nutrients and water might account for the pH 2.5-induced decrease in CO2 assimilation. Mottled bleached leaves only occurred in the pH 2.5-treated C. grandis seedlings. Furthermore, the pH 2.5-induced alterations of leaf CO2 assimilation, water-use efficiency, chlorophylls, polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence (OJIP) transients and many fluorescence parameters, root and leaf total soluble proteins, H2O2 production, and electrolyte leakage were all slightly greater in C. grandis than in C. sinensis seedlings. Hence, C. sinensis was slightly more tolerant to low pH than C. grandis. In conclusion, our findings provide novel insight into the causes of low pH-induced inhibition of seedling growth and leaf CO2 assimilation.

Effects of High Toxic Boron Concentration on Protein Profiles in Roots of Two Citrus Species Differing in Boron-Tolerance Revealed by a 2-DE Based MS Approach

Citrus are sensitive to boron (B)-toxicity. In China, B-toxicity occurs in some citrus orchards. So far, limited data are available on B-toxicity-responsive proteins in higher plants. Thirteen-week-old seedlings of "Sour pummelo" (Citrus grandis) and "Xuegan" (Citrus sinensis) was fertilized every other day until dripping with nutrient solution containing 10 μM (control) or 400 μM (B-toxicity) H₃BO₃ for 15 weeks. The typical B-toxic symptom only occurred in 400 μM B-treated C. grandis leaves, and that B-toxicity decreased root dry weight more in C. grandis seedlings than in C. sinensis ones, demonstrating that C. sinensis was more tolerant to B-toxicity than C. grandis. Using a 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) based MS approach, we identified 27 up- and four down-accumulated, and 28 up- and 13 down-accumulated proteins in B-toxic C. sinensis and C. grandis roots, respectively. Most of these proteins were isolated only from B-toxic C. sinensis or C. grandis roots, only nine B-toxicity-responsive proteins were shared by the two citrus species. Great differences existed in B-toxicity-induced alterations of protein profiles between C. sinensis and C. grandis roots. More proteins related to detoxification were up-accumulated in B-toxic C. grandis roots than in B-toxic C. sinensis roots to meet the increased requirement for the detoxification of the more reactive oxygen species and other toxic compounds such as aldehydes in the former. For the first time, we demonstrated that the active methyl cycle was induced and repressed in B-toxic C. sinensis and C. grandis roots, respectively, and that C. sinensis roots had a better capacity to keep cell wall and cytoskeleton integrity than C. grandis roots in response to B-toxicity, which might be responsible for the higher B-tolerance of C. sinensis. In addition, proteins involved in nucleic acid metabolism, biological regulation and signal transduction might play a role in the higher B-tolerance of C. sinensis.

[Fourth branchial cleft deformity with skin orifice: a series of 10 cases]

Objective: To report rare cases of congenital neck cutaneous sinus with an orifice near the sternoclavicular joint and to investigate their origins and managements. Methods: A total of ten patients with congenital neck cutaneous sinus having an orifice near the sternoclavicular joint treated in the Guangdong General Hospital from January 2010 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: There four boys and six girls, aging from 11 months to 96 months with an average of 33.4 months, and they had a common feature showing a congenital cutaneous sinus with an orifice near sternoclavicular joint. Discharge of pus from the orifice or abscess formation was commonly seen soon after infection. With bacteriological study, staphylococcus aureus was positive in five cases and klebsiella pneumonia in a case. Another orifice of fistula/sinus was not depicted in pyriform with barium swallow X-ray in five cases Ultrasound studies of three cases demonstrated anechoic (i.e., nearly black) and solid-cystic lesion near sternoclavicular joint with posterior acoustic enhancement. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed isointensity of the lesion on T1 and T2 weighted images with heterogeneous enhancement and a close relationship with sternoclavicular joint. All patients underwent laryngoscopic examination, which showed no orifice of sinus in pyriform at same side. Surgical resection of fistula/sinus was performed in all cases. The lengths of the fistula varied from 5 mm to 22 mm with an average of 11 mm. Postoperative pathological examination showed all specimens were accordance with fistula. No complications were noticed. Recurrence was not observed in the cases by following-up of 6 months to 70 months (median: 33 months). Conclusion: Congenital neck cutaneous sinus with orifice near the sternoclavicular joint maybe a special clinical phenotype of the fourth branchial cleft sinus with skin orifice in cervicothoracic junction. Differential diagnoses between low cervical diseases are required. The curative treatment is a complete excision during inflammatory quiescent period.

[The selective anterior neck dissection for treating children's recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts]

Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of selective anterior neck dissection on the treatment of children's recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts. Method: The clinical data of 28 patients with recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts were retrospectively analyzed. In accordance with the embryologic and anatomic features of thyroglossal duct cysts, different types of selective neck dissection were applied. Enbloc resection principles were applied to extirpate thyroglossal duct cysts,scarrings and inflammatory granuloma during the operation. Result:All the wounds of 28 patients healed primarily without significant complications including dysphagia, paragammacism, injury of hypoglossal nerve and superior laryngeal nerve. No recurrences were found in all 28 cases with a follow-up period of 24 to 72 months(average 46 months). Conclusion:Selective anterior neck dissection is a safe and effective surgical procedure for the radical treatment of children's recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts.

[The selective anterior neck dissection for treating children's recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts]

Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of selective anterior neck dissection on the treatment of children's recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts. Method: The clinical data of 28 patients with recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts were retrospectively analyzed. In accordance with the embryologic and anatomic features of thyroglossal duct cysts, different types of selective neck dissection were applied. Enbloc resection principles were applied to extirpate thyroglossal duct cysts,scarrings and inflammatory granuloma during the operation. Result:All the wounds of 28 patients healed primarily without significant complications including dysphagia, paragammacism, injury of hypoglossal nerve and superior laryngeal nerve. No recurrences were found in all 28 cases with a follow-up period of 24 to 72 months(average 46 months). Conclusion:Selective anterior neck dissection is a safe and effective surgical procedure for the radical treatment of children's recurrent thyroglossal duct cysts.

[Progress in surgery treatment of congenital pyriform sinus fistula]

Congenital pyriform sinus fistula(CPSF) is a rare brancial cleft deformity in neck, characterized by acute suppurative thyroiditis, recurrent cervical abscesses and cellulitis. At present, surgical treatment of CPSF include traditional surgery and endoscopic cauterization. In the past,en block resection of the fistula by surgery is the only cure method. The late 90, relatively safe and effective endoscopic and minimally invasive aesthetic surgery is applied in treatment of CPSF, and was recommended as the preferred treatment for congenital pyriform sinus fistula. From the long term efficacy, which method is more dominant, yet to be elegant. Through the analysis of embryo principles and anatomy of CPSF,we introduce and summarize the indications, complications and prevention in conventional surgical treatment and endoscopic cauterization, and briefly descript the factors influencing the efficacy of the treatment of CPSF.

[Manifestation of first branchial anomaly:56 cases reportrhinitis]

Objective:To sum up and conclude manifestation of congenital first branchial anomaly(CFBCA).Method:The clinical data of 56 patients from 2005 to 2015 in our hospital were retrospective reviewed.Result:Manifestation:mass without pain(26.8%),repeated sore and discharge(71.4%),otological symptom(external auditory discharge､hearing loss,28.6%).Eleven cases bacterial sample showed positive result,and most of them show pseudomonas aeruginosa and staphylococcus aureus.Auricular endoscopy typically performed stricture of external auditory canal,cholesteatoma samples accumulated in ear canal,fistula at the conjunction of the bone and cartilage and tympanic membranous attachment.Typical performance of CT(MRI)was that there were cystic,lobulated or tubular abnormal shadow related with ear canal in Pochet's triangle area whose cyst wall or pipe wall could been enhanced in enhanced CT(MRI) scans,and part of that could be connected with skin.The statistical difference between type Oslen and Work and clinical characteristics(P<0.01),and the relationship between type Oslen and Work(P<0.01).Most of Work Ⅰ were cyst type,and these two type often had no infected symptom.Most of them were young patients.Most of Work Ⅱ were sinus and fistula type ,and these two type often had infected symptom.Most of them were teenagers.Part of patients of type Work Ⅱ showed tympanic membranous attachment.Conclusion:CFBCA was rare,and it is more common in young patients and often in left part.It always performed as mass without pain､repeated sore and discharge､external auditory discharge.Most of Work Ⅰ were cyst type,and these two type often had no infected symptom and most of them were young patients .Most of Work Ⅱ were sinus and fistula type,and these two type often had infected symptom and most of them were teenagers.Auricular endoscopy,CT,MRI could help make diagnose.Doctors clinical need to differentiate it with related diseases according to different manifestations.

[Phenotypic characteristics of LAP(+) CD4(+) T lymphocytes in colorectal cancer tissues]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the phenotypic characteristics of LAP(+) CD4(+) T lymphocytes and investigate their molecular mechanisms in colorectal cancer (CRC) microenvironment.

METHODS

Fifty colorectal cancer patients treated in our two hospitals from January 2014 to May 2014 were included in this study. Their tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues, peripheral blood samples, and peripheral blood samples of 25 healthy donors (HD) were collected to isolate the lymphocytes. The different expressions of CCR7, CD45RA, Foxp3, CTLA-4, CCR4 and CCR5 in LAP(+) CD4(+) T and LAP(-)CD4(+) T lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTS

The FCM assay detected that the percentage of LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells in peripheral blood of the CRC patients were significantly higher than that of HD [(9.44±3.18)% versus (1.49±1.00)%, P<0.001]. In addition, significantly more LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells were also recruited into tumor tissue than those in the tumor-adjacent normal tissue [(11.76±3.74)% versus (3.87±1.64)%, P<0.001]. LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells in the tumor-adjacent normal tissue and peripheral blood of both HDs and CRC patients mainly displayed a central memory phenotype. However, effector memory lymphocytes were predominant in the tumor tissue.In the tumor tissue, the expression of Foxp3 in the LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells was (3.87±1.12)%, significantly lower than that in the LAP(-)CD4(+) T cells (16.70±2.61)%, (P<0.001); the expression of CTLA-4 in the LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells was (36.36±19.14)%, significantly higher than the (19.60±8.91)% in the LAP(-)CD4(+) T cells (P<0.001); the expression of CCR4 in the LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells was (37.72±11.14)%, significantly higher than the (30.06±9.14)% in the LAP(-)CD4(+) T cells (P<0.001); and the expression of CCR5 in the LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells was (18.86±7.10)%, significantly higher than the (13.92±3.31)% in the LAP(-)CD4(+) T cells (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

LAP(+) CD4(+) T cells with low expression of Foxp3 and high expressions of CTLA-4, CCR4 and CCR5 are tend to be enriched and accumulated in the tumor tissue. The unique phenotypic characteristics make these cells a distinct subset of lymphocytes, apparently different from the traditional CD4(+) CD25(+) Treg cells.

Alterations of physiology and gene expression due to long-term magnesium-deficiency differ between leaves and roots of Citrus reticulata

Seedlings of Ponkan (Citrus reticulata) were irrigated with nutrient solution containing 0 (Mg-deficiency) or 1mM MgSO4 (control) every two day for 16 weeks. Thereafter, we examined magnesium (Mg)-deficiency-induced changes in leaf and root gas exchange, total soluble proteins and gene expression. Mg-deficiency lowered leaf CO2 assimilation, and increased leaf dark respiration. However, Mg-deficient roots had lower respiration. Total soluble protein level was not significantly altered by Mg-deficiency in roots, but was lower in Mg-deficient leaves than in controls. Using cDNA-AFLP, we obtained 70 and 71 differentially expressed genes from leaves and roots. These genes mainly functioned in signal transduction, stress response, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, cell transport, cell wall and cytoskeleton metabolism, nucleic acid, and protein metabolisms. Lipid metabolism (Ca(2+) signals)-related Mg-deficiency-responsive genes were isolated only from roots (leaves). Although little difference existed in the number of Mg-deficiency-responsive genes between them both, most of these genes only presented in Mg-deficient leaves or roots, and only four genes were shared by them both. Our data clearly demonstrated that Mg-deficiency-induced alterations of physiology and gene expression greatly differed between leaves and roots. In addition, we focused our discussion on the causes for photosynthetic decline in Mg-deficient leaves and the responses of roots to Mg-deficiency.

Identification of novel DYNC2H1 mutations associated with short rib-polydactyly syndrome type III using next-generation panel sequencing

Short rib-polydactyly syndrome type III (SRPS3) is a perinatal lethal skeletal disorder with polydactyly and multisystem organ abnormalities. While ultrasound of the fetus can detect skeletal abnormalities characteristic of SRPS3, the syndrome is often difficult to diagnose before birth. As SRPS3 is an autosomal recessive disorder, identification of the gene mutations involved could lead to the development of prenatal genetic testing as an accurate method of diagnosis. In this study, we describe genetic screening approaches to identify potential abnormalities associated with SRPS3. Karyotype analysis, array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), and next-generation panel sequencing were each performed on a fetus showing signs of the disorder, as well as on the mother and father. Karyotype and aCGH results revealed no abnormalities. However, next-generation panel sequencing identified novel mutations in the DYNC2H1 gene. The fetus was compound heterozygous for both a missense mutation c.8313A > T and a frameshift mutation c.10711_10714delTTTA in the DYNC2H1 gene, which were inherited from the mother and father, respectively. These variants were further confirmed using Sanger sequencing and have not been previously reported. Our study indicates the utility of using next-generation panel sequencing in screening for novel disease-associated mutations.

Illumina microRNA profiles reveal the involvement of miR397a in Citrus adaptation to long-term boron toxicity via modulating secondary cell-wall biosynthesis

The mechanisms underlying tolerance to B-toxicity in plants are still controversial. Our previous studies indicated that B-toxicity is mainly limited to leaves in Citrus and that alternations of cell-wall structure in vascular bundles are involved in tolerance to B-toxicity. Here, miRNAs and their expression patterns were first identified in B-treated Citrus sinensis (tolerant) and C. grandis (intolerant) leaves via high-throughput sequencing. Candidate miRNAs were then verified with molecular and anatomical approaches. The results showed that 51 miRNAs in C. grandis and 20 miRNAs in C. sinensis were differentially expressed after B-toxic treatment. MiR395a and miR397a were the most significantly up-regulated miRNAs in B-toxic C. grandis leaves, but both were down-regulated in B-toxic C. sinensis leaves. Four auxin response factor genes and two laccase (LAC) genes were confirmed through 5′-RACE to be real targets of miR160a and miR397a, respectively. Up-regulation of LAC4 resulted in secondary deposition of cell-wall polysaccharides in vessel elements of C. sinensis, whereas down-regulation of both LAC17 and LAC4, led to poorly developed vessel elements in C. grandis. Our findings demonstrated that miR397a plays a pivotal role in woody Citrus tolerance to B-toxicity by targeting LAC17 and LAC4, both of which are responsible for secondary cell-wall synthesis.

MicroRNA Regulatory Mechanisms on Citrus sinensis leaves to Magnesium-Deficiency

Magnesium (Mg)-deficiency, which affects crop productivity and quality, widespreadly exists in many agricultural crops, including citrus. However, very limited data are available on Mg-deficiency-responsive microRNAs (miRNAs) in higher plants. Using Illumina sequencing, we isolated 75 (73 known and 2 novel) up- and 71 (64 known and 7 novel) down-regulated miRNAs from Mg-deficient Citrus sinensis leaves. In addition to the remarkable metabolic flexibility as indicated by the great alteration of miRNA expression, the adaptive responses of leaf miRNAs to Mg-deficiency might also involve the following several aspects: (a) up-regulating stress-related genes by down-regulating miR164, miR7812, miR5742, miR3946, and miR5158; (b) enhancing cell transport due to decreased expression of miR3946 and miR5158 and increased expression of miR395, miR1077, miR1160, and miR8019; (c) activating lipid metabolism-related genes by repressing miR158, miR5256, and miR3946; (d) inducing cell wall-related gene expansin 8A by repressing miR779; and (e) down-regulating the expression of genes involved in the maintenance of S, K and Cu by up-regulating miR395 and miR6426. To conclude, we isolated some new known miRNAs (i.e., miR7812, miR8019, miR6218, miR1533, miR6426, miR5256, miR5742, miR5561, miR5158, and miR5818) responsive to nutrient deficiencies and found some candidate miRNAs that might contribute to Mg-deficiency tolerance. Therefore, our results not only provide novel information about the responses of plant to Mg-deficiency, but also are useful for obtaining the key miRNAs for plant Mg-deficiency tolerance.

Long-Term Boron-Excess-Induced Alterations of Gene Profiles in Roots of Two Citrus Species Differing in Boron-Tolerance Revealed by cDNA-AFLP

Boron (B) toxicity is observed in some citrus orchards in China. However, limited data are available on the molecular mechanisms of citrus B-toxicity and B-tolerance. Using cDNA-AFLP, we identified 20 up- and 52 down-regulated genes, and 44 up- and 66 down-regulated genes from excess B-treated Citrus sinensis and Citrus grandis roots, respectively, thereby demonstrating that gene expression profiles were more affected in the latter. In addition, phosphorus and total soluble protein concentrations were lowered only in excess B-treated C. grandis roots. Apparently, C. sinensis had higher B-tolerance than C. grandis. Our results suggested that the following several aspects were responsible for the difference in the B-tolerance between the two citrus species including: (a) B-excess induced Root Hair Defective 3 expression in C. sinensis roots, and repressed villin4 expression in C. grandis roots; accordingly, root growth was less inhibited by B-excess in the former; (b) antioxidant systems were impaired in excess B-treated C. grandis roots, hence accelerating root senescence; (c) genes related to Ca(2+) signals were inhibited (induced) by B-excess in C. grandis (C. sinensis) roots. B-excess-responsive genes related to energy (i.e., alternative oxidase and cytochrome P450), lipid (i.e., Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 9 and citrus dioxygenase), and nucleic acid (i.e., HDA19, histone 4, and ribonucleotide reductase RNR1 like protein) metabolisms also possibly accounted for the difference in the B-tolerance between the two citrus species. These data increased our understanding of the mechanisms on citrus B-toxicity and B-tolerance at transcriptional level.

Root iTRAQ protein profile analysis of two Citrus species differing in aluminum-tolerance in response to long-term aluminum-toxicity

BACKGROUND

Limited information is available on aluminum (Al)-toxicity-responsive proteins in woody plant roots. Seedlings of 'Xuegan' (Citrus sinensis) and 'Sour pummelo' (Citrus grandis) were treated for 18 weeks with nutrient solution containing 0 (control) or 1.2 mM AlCl3 · 6H2O (+Al). Thereafter, we investigated Citrus root protein profiles using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ). The aims of this work were to determine the molecular mechanisms of plants to deal with Al-toxicity and to identify differentially expressed proteins involved in Al-tolerance.

RESULTS

C. sinensis was more tolerant to Al-toxicity than C. grandis. We isolated 347 differentially expressed proteins from + Al Citrus roots. Among these proteins, 202 (96) proteins only presented in C. sinensis (C. grandis), and 49 proteins were shared by the two species. Of the 49 overlapping proteins, 45 proteins were regulated in the same direction upon Al exposure in the both species. These proteins were classified into following categories: sulfur metabolism, stress and defense response, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism, protein metabolism, cell transport, biological regulation and signal transduction, cell wall and cytoskeleton metabolism, and jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis. The higher Al-tolerance of C. sinensis may be related to several factors, including: (a) activation of sulfur metabolism; (b) greatly improving the total ability of antioxidation and detoxification; (c) up-regulation of carbohydrate and energy metabolism; (d) enhancing cell transport; (e) decreased (increased) abundances of proteins involved in protein synthesis (proteiolysis); (f) keeping a better balance between protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation; and (g) increasing JA biosynthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that metabolic flexibility was more remarkable in C. sinenis than in C. grandis roots, thus improving the Al-tolerance of C. sinensis. This provided the most integrated view of the adaptive responses occurring in Al-toxicity roots.

Boron-deficiency-responsive microRNAs and their targets in Citrus sinensis leaves

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs play important roles in the adaptive responses of plants to nutrient deficiencies. Most research, however, has focused on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) deficiencies, limited data are available on the differential expression of miRNAs and their target genes in response to deficiencies of other nutrient elements. In this study, we identified the known and novel miRNAs as well as the boron (B)-deficiency-responsive miRNAs from citrus leaves in order to obtain the potential miRNAs related to the tolerance of citrus to B-deficiency.

METHODS

Seedlings of 'Xuegan' [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] were supplied every other day with B-deficient (0 μM H3BO3) or -sufficient (10 μM H3BO3) nutrient solution for 15 weeks. Thereafter, we sequenced two small RNA libraries from B-deficient and -sufficient (control) citrus leaves, respectively, using Illumina sequencing.

RESULTS

Ninety one (83 known and 8 novel) up- and 81 (75 known and 6 novel) down-regulated miRNAs were isolated from B-deficient leaves. The great alteration of miRNA expression might contribute to the tolerance of citrus to B-deficiency. The adaptive responses of miRNAs to B-deficiency might related to several aspects: (a) attenuation of plant growth and development by repressing auxin signaling due to decreased TIR1 level and ARF-mediated gene expression by altering the expression of miR393, miR160 and miR3946; (b) maintaining leaf phenotype and enhancing the stress tolerance by up-regulating NACs targeted by miR159, miR782, miR3946 and miR7539; (c) activation of the stress responses and antioxidant system through down-regulating the expression of miR164, miR6260, miR5929, miR6214, miR3946 and miR3446; (d) decreasing the expression of major facilitator superfamily protein genes targeted by miR5037, thus lowering B export from plants. Also, B-deficiency-induced down-regulation of miR408 might play a role in plant tolerance to B-deficiency by regulating Cu homeostasis and enhancing superoxide dismutase activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals some novel responses of citrus to B-deficiency, which increase our understanding of the adaptive mechanisms of citrus to B-deficiency at the miRNA (post-transcriptional) level.

Leaf cDNA-AFLP analysis reveals novel mechanisms for boron-induced alleviation of aluminum-toxicity in Citrus grandis seedlings

Little information is available on the molecular mechanisms of boron (B)-induced alleviation of aluminum (Al)-toxicity. 'Sour pummelo' (Citrus grandis) seedlings were irrigated for 18 weeks with nutrient solution containing different concentrations of B (2.5 or 20μM H3BO3) and Al (0 or 1.2mM AlCl3·6H2O). B alleviated Al-induced inhibition in plant growth accompanied by lower leaf Al. We used cDNA-AFLP to isolate 127 differentially expressed genes from leaves subjected to B and Al interactions. These genes were related to signal transduction, transport, cell wall modification, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism, amino acid and protein metabolism, lipid metabolism and stress responses. The ameliorative mechanisms of B on Al-toxicity might be related to: (a) triggering multiple signal transduction pathways; (b) improving the expression levels of genes related to transport; (c) activating genes involved in energy production; and (d) increasing amino acid accumulation and protein degradation. Also, genes involved in nucleic acid metabolism, cell wall modification and stress responses might play a role in B-induced alleviation of Al-toxicity. To conclude, our findings reveal some novel mechanisms on B-induced alleviation of Al-toxicity at the transcriptional level in C. grandis leaves.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis data in support of leaf comparative proteomics of two citrus species differing in boron-tolerance

Here, we provide the data from a comparative proteomics approach used to investigate the response of boron (B)-tolerant 'Xuegan' (Citrus sinensis) and B-intolerant 'Sour pummelo' (Citrus grandis) leaves to B-toxicity. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) technique, we identified 50 and 45 protein species with a fold change of more than 1.5 and a P-value of less than 0.05 from B-toxic C. sinensis and C. grandis leaves. These B-toxicity-responsive protein species were mainly involved in carbohydrate and energy metabolism, antioxidation and detoxification, stress responses, coenzyme biosynthesis, protein and amino acid metabolism, signal transduction, cell transport, cytoskeleton, nucleotide metabolism, and cell cycle and DNA processing. A detailed analysis of this data may be obtained from Sang et al. (J. Proteomics 114 (2015))[1].

An investigation of boron-toxicity in leaves of two citrus species differing in boron-tolerance using comparative proteomics

Limited data are available on boron (B)-toxicity-responsive proteins in plants. We first applied 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) to compare the effects of B-toxicity on leaf protein profiles in B-tolerant Citrus sinensis and B-intolerant Citrus grandis seedlings, and identified 27 (20) protein species with increased abundances and 23 (25) protein species with decreased abundances from the former (latter). Generally speaking, B-toxicity increased the abundances of protein species involved in antioxidation and detoxification, proteolysis, cell transport, and decreased the abundances of protein species involved in protein biosynthesis in the two citrus species. The higher B-tolerance of C. sinensis might include following several aspects: (a) protein species related to photosynthesis and energy metabolism in C. sinensis leaves were more adaptive to B-toxicity than in C. grandis ones, which was responsible for the higher photosynthesis and for the better maintenance of energy homeostasis in the former; and (b) the increased requirement for detoxification of reactive oxygen species and cytotoxic compounds due to decreased photosynthesis was less in B-toxic C. sinensis leaves than in B-toxic C. grandis ones. B-toxicity-responsive protein species involved in coenzyme biosynthesis differed between the two species, which might also contribute to the higher B-tolerance of C. sinensis.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

B-toxicity occurs in many regions all over the world, especially in arid and semiarid regions due to the raising of B-rich water tables with high B accumulated in topsoil. In China, B-toxicity often occurs in some citrus orchards. However, the mechanisms of citrus B-tolerance are still not fully understood. Here, we first used 2-DE to identify some new B-toxicity-responsive-proteins involved in carbohydrate and energy metabolism, antioxidation and detoxification, signal transduction and nucleotide metabolism. Our results showed that proteins involved in photosynthesis and energy metabolism displayed more adaptive to B-toxicity in B-tolerant C. sinensis than in B-intolerant C. grandis, which might play a key role in citrus B-tolerance. Therefore, our results reveal some new mechanisms on plant B-response and tolerance.

Proteomic analysis of Citrus sinensis roots and leaves in response to long-term magnesium-deficiency

BACKGROUND

Magnesium (Mg)-deficiency is frequently observed in Citrus plantations and is responsible for the loss of productivity and poor fruit quality. Knowledge on the effects of Mg-deficiency on upstream targets is scarce. Seedlings of 'Xuegan' [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] were irrigated with Mg-deficient (0 mM MgSO4) or Mg-sufficient (1 mM MgSO4) nutrient solution for 16 weeks. Thereafter, we first investigated the proteomic responses of C. sinensis roots and leaves to Mg-deficiency using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) in order to (a) enrich our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of plants to deal with Mg-deficiency and (b) understand the molecular mechanisms by which Mg-deficiency lead to a decrease in photosynthesis.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine upregulated and 31 downregulated protein spots were isolated in Mg-deficient leaves, while only 19 upregulated and 12 downregulated protein spots in Mg-deficient roots. Many Mg-deficiency-responsive proteins were involved in carbohydrate and energy metabolism, followed by protein metabolism, stress responses, nucleic acid metabolism, cell wall and cytoskeleton metabolism, lipid metabolism and cell transport. The larger changes in leaf proteome versus root one in response to Mg-deficiency was further supported by our observation that total soluble protein concentration was decreased by Mg-deficiency in leaves, but unaffected in roots. Mg-deficiency had decreased levels of proteins [i.e. ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco), rubisco activase, oxygen evolving enhancer protein 1, photosynthetic electron transfer-like protein, ferredoxin-NADP reductase (FNR), aldolase] involved in photosynthesis, thus decreasing leaf photosynthesis. To cope with Mg-deficiency, C. sinensis leaves and roots might respond adaptively to Mg-deficiency through: improving leaf respiration and lowering root respiration, but increasing (decreasing) the levels of proteins related to ATP synthase in roots (leaves); enhancing the levels of proteins involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and other stress-responsive proteins; accelerating proteolytic cleavage of proteins by proteases, protein transport and amino acid metabolism; and upregulating the levels of proteins involved in cell wall and cytoskeleton metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that proteomics were more affected by long-term Mg-deficiency in leaves than in roots, and that the adaptive responses differed between roots and leaves when exposed to long-term Mg-deficiency. Mg-deficiency decreased the levels of many proteins involved in photosynthesis, thus decreasing leaf photosynthesis.

Mechanisms on boron-induced alleviation of aluminum-toxicity in Citrus grandis seedlings at a transcriptional level revealed by cDNA-AFLP analysis

The physiological and biochemical mechanisms on boron (B)-induced alleviation of aluminum (B)-toxicity in plants have been examined in some details, but our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes is very limited. In this study, we first used the cDNA-AFLP to investigate the gene expression patterns in Citrus grandis roots responsive to B and Al interactions, and isolated 100 differentially expressed genes. Results showed that genes related to detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and aldehydes (i.e., glutathione S-transferase zeta class-like isoform X1, thioredoxin M-type 4, and 2-alkenal reductase (NADP+-dependent)-like), metabolism (i.e., carboxylesterases and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase-like 4-like, nicotianamine aminotransferase A-like isoform X3, thiosulfate sulfurtransferase 18-like isoform X1, and FNR, root isozyme 2), cell transport (i.e., non-specific lipid-transfer protein-like protein At2g13820-like and major facilitator superfamily protein), Ca signal and hormone (i.e., calcium-binding protein CML19-like and IAA-amino acid hydrolase ILR1-like 4-like), gene regulation (i.e., Gag-pol polyprotein) and cell wall modification (i.e., glycosyl hydrolase family 10 protein) might play a role in B-induced alleviation of Al-toxicity. Our results are useful not only for our understanding of molecular processes associated with B-induced alleviation of Al-toxicity, but also for obtaining key molecular genes to enhance Al-tolerance of plants in the future.

Analysis of household data on influenza epidemic with Bayesian hierarchical model

Data used for modelling the household transmission of infectious diseases, such as influenza, have inherent multilevel structures and correlated property, which make the widely used conventional infectious disease transmission models (including the Greenwood model and the Reed-Frost model) not directly applicable within the context of a household (due to the crowded domestic condition or socioeconomic status of the household). Thus, at the household level, the effects resulting from individual-level factors, such as vaccination, may be confounded or modified in some way. We proposed the Bayesian hierarchical random-effects (random intercepts and random slopes) model under the context of generalised linear model to capture heterogeneity and variation on the individual, generation, and household levels. It was applied to empirical surveillance data on the influenza epidemic in Taiwan. The parameters of interest were estimated by using the Markov chain Monte Carlo method in conjunction with the Bayesian directed acyclic graphical models. Comparisons between models were made using the deviance information criterion. Based on the result of the random-slope Bayesian hierarchical method under the context of the Reed-Frost transmission model, the regression coefficient regarding the protective effect of vaccination varied statistically significantly from household to household. The result of such a heterogeneity was robust to the use of different prior distributions (including non-informative, sceptical, and enthusiastic ones). By integrating out the uncertainty of the parameters of the posterior distribution, the predictive distribution was computed to forecast the number of influenza cases allowing for random-household effect.

Long-term boron-deficiency-responsive genes revealed by cDNA-AFLP differ between Citrus sinensis roots and leaves

Seedlings of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck were supplied with boron (B)-deficient (without H3BO3) or -sufficient (10 μM H3BO3) nutrient solution for 15 weeks. We identified 54 (38) and 38 (45) up (down)-regulated cDNA-AFLP bands (transcript-derived fragments, TDFs) from B-deficient leaves and roots, respectively. These TDFs were mainly involved in protein and amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism, cell transport, signal transduction, and stress response and defense. The majority of the differentially expressed TDFs were isolated only from B-deficient roots or leaves, only seven TDFs with the same GenBank ID were isolated from the both. In addition, ATP biosynthesis-related TDFs were induced in B-deficient roots, but unaffected in B-deficient leaves. Most of the differentially expressed TDFs associated with signal transduction and stress defense were down-regulated in roots, but up-regulated in leaves. TDFs related to protein ubiquitination and proteolysis were induced in B-deficient leaves except for one TDF, while only two down-regulated TDFs associated with ubiquitination were detected in B-deficient roots. Thus, many differences existed in long-term B-deficiency-responsive genes between roots and leaves. In conclusion, our findings provided a global picture of the differential responses occurring in B-deficient roots and leaves and revealed new insight into the different adaptive mechanisms of C. sinensis roots and leaves to B-deficiency at the transcriptional level.

Autism spectrum disorders: a qualitative study of attitudes toward prenatal genetic testing and termination decisions of affected pregnancies

In the United States, prenatal genetic testing (PGT) for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is currently available via clinical genetic services. Such testing may inform parents about their unborn child's risk for ASD, prepare parents for the birth of an affected infant, and allow them to arrange for early interventions. Although PGT for autism has potential benefits, the associated ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) should be considered. This first qualitative study employed a hypothetical scenario to explore the attitudes toward PGT and termination decisions of 42 parents of children with ASD. Over half of the participants expressed willingness to undergo PGT for autism. Reasons included better preparation for birth, early and better treatment, termination of affected pregnancy, contribution to research, and curiosity. Of the 31 parents who were either willing or unsure about undergoing the PGT, approximately three-fourths would continue their hypothetical affected pregnancies. Explanations included preparation for birth of the child, bonding or acceptance of existing ASD-affected children, apprehensions about test limitations, and religious concerns. Parents who reported they would terminate the affected pregnancy in this hypothetical situation were primarily Asians. This study contributes to the growing understanding of the ELSI aspects of PGT in clinical practice.

cDNA-AFLP analysis reveals the adaptive responses of citrus to long-term boron-toxicity

BACKGROUND

Boron (B)-toxicity is an important disorder in agricultural regions across the world. Seedlings of 'Sour pummelo' (Citrus grandis) and 'Xuegan' (Citrus sinensis) were fertigated every other day until drip with 10 μM (control) or 400 μM (B-toxic) H3BO3 in a complete nutrient solution for 15 weeks. The aims of this study were to elucidate the adaptive mechanisms of citrus plants to B-toxicity and to identify B-tolerant genes.

RESULTS

B-toxicity-induced changes in seedlings growth, leaf CO2 assimilation, pigments, total soluble protein, malondialdehyde (MDA) and phosphorus were less pronounced in C. sinensis than in C. grandis. B concentration was higher in B-toxic C. sinensis leaves than in B-toxic C. grandis ones. Here we successfully used cDNA-AFLP to isolate 67 up-regulated and 65 down-regulated transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) from B-toxic C. grandis leaves, whilst only 31 up-regulated and 37 down-regulated TDFs from B-toxic C. sinensis ones, demonstrating that gene expression is less affected in B-toxic C. sinensis leaves than in B-toxic C. grandis ones. These differentially expressed TDFs were related to signal transduction, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism, protein and amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, cell wall and cytoskeleton modification, stress responses and cell transport. The higher B-tolerance of C. sinensis might be related to the findings that B-toxic C. sinensis leaves had higher expression levels of genes involved in photosynthesis, which might contribute to the higher photosyntheis and light utilization and less excess light energy, and in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging compared to B-toxic C. grandis leaves, thus preventing them from photo-oxidative damage. In addition, B-toxicity-induced alteration in the expression levels of genes encoding inorganic pyrophosphatase 1, AT4G01850 and methionine synthase differed between the two species, which might play a role in the B-tolerance of C. sinensis.

CONCLUSIONS

C. sinensis leaves could tolerate higher level of B than C. grandis ones, thus improving the B-tolerance of C. sinensis plants. Our findings reveal some novel mechanisms on the tolerance of plants to B-toxicity at the gene expression level.

Autism spectrum disorders: perceptions of genetic etiology and recurrence risk among Taiwanese parents of affected children

In Taiwan, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are an emerging public health concern. The ongoing scientific progress for understanding the genetic etiology of ASD makes it increasingly important to examine how parents of children with ASD perceive the causes and recurrence risk of having another child with ASD. These perceptions may influence their family planning, attitudes toward genetic services, and willingness to take their children for ASD genetic testing. However, previous studies addressing this issue were conducted primarily in Western countries. As culture might shape an individual's views of genetic/genomic disorders, this first-of-its-kind study examined the perceptions of the genetic etiology for ASD and the recurrence risk among Taiwanese parents of children affected with ASD. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted among 39 parents having at least one child with ASD. Although the majority of participants believed that ASD has a genetic link, less than half perceived genetic factors as the cause of their own child's ASD. Moreover, most participants articulated their recurrence risk incorrectly. Some parents were concerned about their doctors' limited genomic competencies. To provide parents with better education, counseling, and support for making reproductive decisions, ASD-related genomic education among Taiwanese physicians is needed.

Effects of boron deficiency on major metabolites, key enzymes and gas exchange in leaves and roots of Citrus sinensis seedlings

Boron (B) deficiency is a widespread problem in many crops, including Citrus. The effects of B-deficiency on gas exchange, carbohydrates, organic acids, amino acids, total soluble proteins and phenolics, and the activities of key enzymes involved in organic acid and amino acid metabolism in 'Xuegan' [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] leaves and roots were investigated. Boron-deficient leaves displayed excessive accumulation of nonstructural carbohydrates and much lower CO2 assimilation, demonstrating feedback inhibition of photosynthesis. Dark respiration, concentrations of most organic acids [i.e., malate, citrate, oxaloacetate (OAA), pyruvate and phosphoenolpyruvate] and activities of enzymes [i.e., phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), NAD-malate dehydrogenase, NAD-malic enzyme (NAD-ME), NADP-ME, pyruvate kinase (PK), phosphoenolpyruvate phosphatase (PEPP), citrate synthase (CS), aconitase (ACO), NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP-IDH) and hexokinase] involved in glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and the anapleurotic reaction were higher in B-deficient leaves than in controls. Also, total free amino acid (TFAA) concentration and related enzyme [i.e., NADH-dependent glutamate 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (NADH-GOGAT) and glutamate OAA transaminase (GOT)] activities were enhanced in B-deficient leaves. By contrast, respiration, concentrations of nonstructural carbohydrates and three organic acids (malate, citrate and pyruvate), and activities of most enzymes [i.e., PEPC, NADP-ME, PK, PEPP, CS, ACO, NAD-isocitrate dehydrogenase, NADP-IDH and hexokinase] involved in glycolysis, the TCA cycle and the anapleurotic reaction, as well as concentration of TFAA and activities of related enzymes (i.e., nitrate reductase, NADH-GOGAT, glutamate pyruvate transaminase and glutamine synthetase) were lower in B-deficient roots than in controls. Interestingly, leaf and root concentration of total phenolics increased, whereas that of total soluble protein decreased, in response to B-deficiency. In conclusion, respiration, organic acid (i.e., glycolysis and the TCA cycle) metabolism, the anapleurotic pathway and amino acid biosynthesis were upregulated in B-deficient leaves with excessive accumulation of carbohydrates to 'consume' the excessive carbon available, but downregulated in B-deficient roots with less accumulation of carbohydrates to maintain the net carbon balance.

Identification of boron-deficiency-responsive microRNAs in Citrus sinensis roots by Illumina sequencing

BACKGROUND

Boron (B)-deficiency is a widespread problem in many crops, including Citrus. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in nutrient deficiencies. However, little is known on B-deficiency-responsive miRNAs in plants. In this study, we first identified miRNAs and their expression pattern in B-deficient Citrus sinensis roots by Illumina sequencing in order to identify miRNAs that might be involved in the tolerance of plants to B-deficiency.

RESULTS

We isolated 52 (40 known and 12 novel) up-regulated and 82 (72 known and 10 novel) down-regulated miRNAs from B-deficient roots, demonstrating remarkable metabolic flexibility of roots, which might contribute to the tolerance of plants to B-deficiency. A model for the possible roles of miRNAs in the tolerance of roots to B-deficiency was proposed. miRNAs might regulate the adaptations of roots to B-deficiency through following several aspects: (a) inactivating reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling and scavenging through up-regulating miR474 and down-regulating miR782 and miR843; (b) increasing lateral root number by lowering miR5023 expression and maintaining a certain phenotype favorable for B-deficiency-tolerance by increasing miR394 expression; (c) enhancing cell transport by decreasing the transcripts of miR830, miR5266 and miR3465; (d) improving osmoprotection (miR474) and regulating other metabolic reactions (miR5023 and miR821). Other miRNAs such as miR472 and miR2118 in roots increased in response to B-deficiency, thus decreasing the expression of their target genes, which are involved in disease resistance, and hence, the disease resistance of roots.

CONCLUSIONS

Our work demonstrates the possible roles of miRNAs and related mechanisms in the response of plant roots to B-deficiency.

Leaf cDNA-AFLP analysis of two citrus species differing in manganese tolerance in response to long-term manganese-toxicity

Background

Very little is known about manganese (Mn)-toxicity-responsive genes in citrus plants. Seedlings of ‘Xuegan’ (Citrus sinensis) and ‘Sour pummelo’ (Citrus grandis) were irrigated for 17 weeks with nutrient solution containing 2 μM (control) or 600 μM (Mn-toxicity) MnSO₄. The objectives of this study were to understand the mechanisms of citrus Mn-tolerance and to identify differentially expressed genes, which might be involved in Mn-tolerance.

Results

Under Mn-toxicity, the majority of Mn in seedlings was retained in the roots; C. sinensis seedlings accumulated more Mn in roots and less Mn in shoots (leaves) than C. grandis ones and Mn concentration was lower in Mn-toxicity C. sinensis leaves compared to Mn-toxicity C. grandis ones. Mn-toxicity affected C. grandis seedling growth, leaf CO₂ assimilation, total soluble concentration, phosphorus (P) and magenisum (Mg) more than C. sinensis. Using cDNA-AFLP, we isolated 42 up-regulated and 80 down-regulated genes in Mn-toxicity C. grandis leaves. They were grouped into the following functional categories: biological regulation and signal transduction, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism, protein metabolism, lipid metabolism, cell wall metabolism, stress responses and cell transport. However, only 7 up-regulated and 8 down-regulated genes were identified in Mn-toxicity C. sinensis ones. The responses of C. grandis leaves to Mn-toxicity might include following several aspects: (1) accelerating leaf senescence; (2) activating the metabolic pathway related to ATPase synthesis and reducing power production; (3) decreasing cell transport; (4) inhibiting protein and nucleic acid metabolisms; (5) impairing the formation of cell wall; and (6) triggering multiple signal transduction pathways. We also identified many new Mn-toxicity-responsive genes involved in biological and signal transduction, carbohydrate and protein metabolisms, stress responses and cell transport.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that C. sinensis was more tolerant to Mn-toxicity than C. grandis, and that Mn-toxicity affected gene expression far less in C. sinensis leaves. This might be associated with more Mn accumulation in roots and less Mn accumulation in leaves of Mn-toxicity C. sinensis seedlings than those of C. grandis seedlings. Our findings increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the responses of plants to Mn-toxicity.

Genomics education for health educators in Texas: the Family Health History Training Program

AIMS

This paper describes the development and pilot-testing of The Family Health History Training Program for Health Educators (FHHTP). Although in recent years professional organizations have urged the health promotion workforce to adopt genomics-related competencies, training opportunities designed specifically for health educators (HEs) remain scarce. Designed by a team of HEs, the FHHTP aims at preparing HEs in the state of Texas, USA, to use a family health history as a genomic health promotion tool.

METHODS

In this report, we describe (a) the program's empirical and theoretical grounding, (b) its components, and (c) pilot-testing of the 2 main components (Web-based and workshop trainings). The FHHTP addresses the training needs expressed by HEs and anchors itself in a theoretical model previously tested with 1,607 US-based HEs. The model draws from Social Cognitive Theory, the Theory of Planned Behavior, and Diffusion of Innovations theory. The program comprises 6 elements; the Web-based training and the training workshops are the focus of this paper.

RESULTS

Pilot data indicate participants' knowledge and intention improved significantly (p < 0.05) at post-test and remained significantly higher at the 3-month follow-up. Attitudes, self-efficacy, behavior, knowledge/awareness, and intention also exhibited improvement in scores over time.

CONCLUSION

We conclude, therefore, that the FHHTP can contribute significantly to the adoption of genomic competencies by Texas HEs. This report describes how the first-of-its-kind genomics training for HEs in the USA - FHHTP - was developed and pilot-tested with HEs in Texas.

iTRAQ protein profile analysis of Citrus sinensis roots in response to long-term boron-deficiency

Seedlings of Citrus sinensis were fertilized with boron (B)-deficient (0μM H3BO3) or -sufficient (10μM H3BO3) nutrient solution for 15weeks. Thereafter, iTRAQ analysis was employed to compare the abundances of proteins from B-deficient and -sufficient roots. In B-deficient roots, 164 up-regulated and 225 down-regulated proteins were identified. These proteins were grouped into the following functional categories: protein metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism, stress responses, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, cell transport, cell wall and cytoskeleton metabolism, biological regulation and signal transduction, and lipid metabolism. The adaptive responses of roots to B-deficiency might include following several aspects: (a) decreasing root respiration; (b) improving the total ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS); and (c) enhancing cell transport. The differentially expressed proteins identified by iTRAQ are much larger than those detected using 2D gel electrophoresis, and many novel B-deficiency-responsive proteins involved in cell transport, biological regulation and signal transduction, stress responses and other metabolic processes were identified in this work. Our results indicate remarkable metabolic flexibility of citrus roots, which may contribute to the survival of B-deficient plants. This represents the most comprehensive analysis of protein profiles in response to B-deficiency.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

In this study, we identified many new proteins involved in cell transport, biological regulation and signal transduction, stress responses and other metabolic processes that were not previously known to be associated with root B-deficiency responses. Therefore, our manuscript represents the most comprehensive analysis of protein profiles in response to B-deficiency and provides new information about the plant response to B-deficiency. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Translational Plant Proteomics.

Roles of organic acid anion secretion in aluminium tolerance of higher plants

Approximately 30% of the world's total land area and over 50% of the world's potential arable lands are acidic. Furthermore, the acidity of the soils is gradually increasing as a result of the environmental problems including some farming practices and acid rain. At mildly acidic or neutral soils, aluminium (Al) occurs primarily as insoluble deposits and is essentially biologically inactive. However, in many acidic soils throughout the tropics and subtropics, Al toxicity is a major factor limiting crop productivity. The Al-induced secretion of organic acid (OA) anions, mainly citrate, oxalate, and malate, from roots is the best documented mechanism of Al tolerance in higher plants. Increasing evidence shows that the Al-induced secretion of OA anions may be related to the following several factors, including (a) anion channels or transporters, (b) internal concentrations of OA anions in plant tissues, (d) temperature, (e) root plasma membrane (PM) H(+)-ATPase, (f) magnesium (Mg), and (e) phosphorus (P). Genetically modified plants and cells with higher Al tolerance by overexpressing genes for the secretion and the biosynthesis of OA anions have been obtained. In addition, some aspects needed to be further studied are also discussed.

Response characteristics of Scirpus trioueter and its rhizosphere to pyrene contaminated soils at different growth stages

Scirpus triqueter (Triangular club-rush), a typical wetland species, is used to study the response characteristics to pyrene. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the growth parameters (height, diameter, shoot number, total volume, underground biomass, above-ground biomass and total biomass), and enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) of S. triqueter. The characteristics of soil enzymes (catalase and polyphenol oxidase) and microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) were also assessed after pyrene treatment. Elevated pyrene concentration (80 mgkg(-1)) in the soil reduced the shoot number and biomass significantly, especially at the early growth stage. In root tissue, the enzyme catalase was activated at 80 mgkg(-1) of pyrene. Compared to roots, shoots had higher enzyme activities. Catalase activities in the rhizosphere increased throughout the growth period of S. triqueter. Polyphenol oxidase activities in the rhizosphere were higher than those in the bulk soil and unplanted soil. The populations of bacteria (total bacteria, pyrene-tolerant bacteria, and actinomyces) and fungi decreased under the stress of high pyrene concentration, while that of pyrene-tolerant bacteria increased with the increasing pyrene concentration. The presence of pyrene did not benefit the growth of S. triqueter. S. triqueter and soil enzymes varied within the growth stages. The presence of S. triqueter could improve the activity of soil enzymes and facilitate the propagation of microorganisms which could help eliminate pyrene contamination.

Differential expression of genes involved in alternative glycolytic pathways, phosphorus scavenging and recycling in response to aluminum and phosphorus interactions in Citrus roots

The objective was to determine the possible links between the expression levels of genes involved in alternative glycolytic pathways, phosphorus (P) scavenging and recycling and Citrus tolerance to aluminum (Al) and/or P-deficiency. 'Xuegan' (Citrus sinensis) and 'Sour pummelo' (Citrus grandis) seedlings were irrigated for 18 weeks with nutrient solution containing 0 and 1.2 mM AlCl(3)·6H(2)O × 0, 50 and 200 μM KH(2)PO(4). C. sinensis displayed more tolerant to Al and P-deficiency than C. grandis. Under Al stress, C. sinensis accumulated more Al in roots and less Al in shoots than C. grandis. P concentration was higher in C. sinensis shoots and roots than in C. grandis ones. C. sinensis roots secreted more malate and citrate than C. grandis ones when exposed to Al. Al-induced-secretion of malate and citrate by excised roots from Al-treated seedlings decreased with increasing P supply. Al-induced-secretion of malate and citrate from roots and Al precipitation by P in roots might be responsible for Al-tolerance of C. sinensis. qRT-PCR analysis showed that Al-activated malate transporter (ALMT1), ATP-dependent phosphofructokinase (ATP-PFK), pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase (PPi-PFK), tonoplast adenosine-triphosphatase subunit A (V-ATPase A), tonoplast pyrophosphatase (V-PPiase), pyruvate kinase (PK), acid phosphatase (APase), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), malic enzyme (ME) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) genes might contribute to the tolerance of Citrus to Al and/or P-deficiency, but any single gene could not explain the differences between the two species. Citrus tolerance to Al and/or P-deficiency might be caused by the coordinated regulation of gene expression involved in alternative glycolytic pathways, P scavenging and recycling.

Root release and metabolism of organic acids in tea plants in response to phosphorus supply

Self-rooted, 10-month-old, uniform tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze cv. Huangguanyin] plants were supplied for 17 weeks with 0, 40, 80, 160, 400, or 1000μM phosphorus (P) to investigate the effects of P supply on root citrate and malate release, the concentrations of malate and citrate and the activities of acid-metabolizing enzymes in leaves and roots. Root malate release and accumulation was induced by both 0 and 40μM P, while root citrate release and accumulation was induced only by 0μM P. Phosphorus-deficiency-induced malate and citrate release coincided with higher concentrations of root malate and citrate. The higher concentrations of malate and citrate were accompanied by increased activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), phosphoenolpyruvate phosphatase (PEPP), citrate synthase (CS) and NAD-malic enzyme (NAD-ME) and decreased activities of pyruvate kinase (PK), NADP-ME and NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP-IDH) in roots. In contrast to roots, malate accumulated in the leaves only in response to 0μM P, and no change was observed in citrate levels. The P-deficiency-induced leaf malate accumulation coincided with increased activities of NADP-ME, NAD-ME and PK. Overall, the P-deficiency-induced changes in organic acid (OA) metabolism differed between roots and leaves. The high tolerance of tea plants to P-deficiency might be involved in two major processes: (a) increasing the availability of P by inducing root release of OA anions; and (b) improving the ability to use P efficiently by inducing bypass enzymes involved in tissue P economy.

Mechanisms of aluminum-tolerance in two species of citrus: secretion of organic acid anions and immobilization of aluminum by phosphorus in roots

'Sour pummelo' (Citrus grandis) and 'Xuegan' (C. sinensis) seedlings were irrigated for 18 weeks with nutrient solution containing 0 (-Al) and 1.2 mM AlCl₃ · 6H₂O (+Al) x 0, 50 and 200 μM KH₂PO₄. C. sinensis was more tolerant to aluminum (Al) than C. grandis. Phosphorus (P) alleviated the toxic effects of Al on seedlings. Under Al stress, P increased root Al, but decreased shoot Al; C. sinensis accumulated more Al in roots and less Al in shoots than C. grandis. Al decreased root and shoot P. P content was higher in C. sinensis than in C. grandis seedlings. C. sinensis roots secreted more malate and citrate than C. grandis ones in response to Al. Al-induced-secretion of malate and citrate from +Al excised roots was higher than from -Al ones, while Al-preculture did not increase root malate and citrate. Al-induced-secretion of malate and citrate from +Al excised roots decreased with increasing P supply. To conclude, P can alleviate Al-toxicity through increasing immobilization of Al in roots and P level in seedlings rather than through increasing organic acid (OA) anion secretion. The higher Al-tolerance of C. sinensis may involve secretion of OA anions and precipitation of Al by P in roots.

Prognostic significance of triple negative breast cancer at tumor size 1 cm and smaller

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognostic significance of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with a tumor size ≤ 1 cm.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with primary operable breast cancer with a tumor size ≤ 1 cm were enrolled at Changhua Christian Hospital and National Cheng-Kung University Hospital. Tumors negative for ER, PR, and HER-2 were classified as TNBCs and compared with tumors with any receptor positivity (non-TNBC) for disease-free survival (DFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS).

RESULTS

From 1995 to 2006, a total of 377 patients with tumor size ≤ 1 cm were enrolled. Compared with non-TNBC patients, TNBC patients with a tumor size ≤ 1 cm as a whole or in a lymph node-positive subgroup were not associated with a poorer 5-year DFS and CSS. In lymph node-negative patients (pT1a-bN0M0), TNBC was associated with a poorer 5-year CSS but not DFS. Compared with the hormone receptor-positive, HER-2-negative subgroup, TNBC was associated with poorer DFS and CSS. In the multivariate Cox regression hazard analysis, lymph node invasion was the most important cause of disease recurrence and cancer-specific death.

CONCLUSION

TNBC is very likely an independent risk factor in small (≤1 cm) node-negative invasive breast cancer. With tumors 1 cm and smaller, lymph node invasion was the single most important prognostic factor.