Endometrial carcinoma: diffusion-weighted imaging diagnostic accuracy and correlation with Ki-67 expression

AIM

To evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the detection of endometrial carcinoma and to correlate the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value with Ki-67 expression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-two patients with invasive cancer who underwent pelvic MRI were prospectively evaluated using DWI with b-values of 0 and 1000 s/mm^2.The ADC values from standard DWI were measured. The expression of Ki-67 in histological specimens was analysed using immunohistochemistry. The ADC values of endometrial carcinoma and normal endometrial parenchyma were compared. Relationships between ADC values and Ki-67 expression were determined using Wilcoxon's signed rank test and the Kruskal-Wallis test.

RESULTS

Endometrial carcinoma was detected at DWI as a hyperintense area in 92.3% (48/52) of patients. There was a significant difference in the mean ADC values between endometrial carcinoma and normal endometrial parenchyma (1.39±0.27×10^-3 versus 0.93±0.21×10^-3 mm²/s, p<0.001). The mean ADC values of grade 1 patients were significantly higher than those of grade 3 patients (1.01±0.16×10^-3 versus 0.83±0.21×10^-3 mm²/s, p<0.05). The mean ADC values of stage IB patients were significantly lower than those of stage IA patients (0.86±0.16×10^-3 versus 1.04±0.21×10^-3 mm²/s, p<0.01). The mean ADC values of high Ki-67 expression patients were significantly lower than those of low Ki-67 expression patients (0.82±0.12×10^-3 versus 1.16±0.12×10^-3 mm²/s, p<0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between the mean ADC value and Ki-67 expression (r=-0.82, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The ADC value was a helpful parameter for detecting the tumour grade, stage, and proliferation of endometrial carcinoma, and may further improve patient prognosis and contribute to the development of more effective treatment programmes.

[Clinical characteristics and surgical effect observation of congenital aniridia combined with cataract]

Objective: To analyze the clinical manifestations, surgical approaches and postoperative prognosis for the cases of congenital aniridia combined with cataract. Methods: In this retrospective case series, 26 patients diagnosed with congenital aniridia combined with cataract were collected from Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from February 2002 to August 2016. The Clinical data were collected to analyze the clinical features, surgical approaches and postoperative prognosis. T-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Twenty-six bilateral congenital aniridia patients were included in the case series, with 50% male cases. The average age for the first visit was (8.72±8.06) years old. Hereditary patients constitutes 30.8% (8/26) of the total number. The proportions for bilateral and unilateral cataracts were 88.5% (23/26) and 11.5% (3/26) respectively, and 49 eyes suffering from both congenital aniridia and cataract were therefore included in the final analysis. The most common morphology cataract subtypes were lamellar cataract (24.5%, 12/49), posterior subcapsular cataract (22.4%, 11/49), and total cataract (18.4%,9/49). The observed ocular comorbidities included nystagmus (36.7%, 18/49), vitreous opacity (28.6%, 14/49), foveal hypoplasia (20.4%, 10/49), ametropia (12.2%, 6/49), exotropia (12.2%, 6/49), congenital glaucoma (12.2%, 6/49), esotropia (4.1%, 2/49), congenital ptosis (4.1%, 2/49), lens ectopia (4.1%, 2/49), scleral staphyloma (2.0%, 1/49) and pigmentary degeneration of retina (2.0%, 1/49). 30.6% (15/49) eyes were performed the cataract extraction surgery. The percentage of postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for ≥0.1 and ≥0.3 were 93.3% (14/15) and 20.0% (3/15) respectively. Evaluated ocular pressure (33.3%, 5/15), severe posterior capsular opacification (PCO) (13.3%, 2/15) and choroidal hemorrhage combined with choroidal detachment (6.7%, 1/15) were detected as the postoperative complications. Followed by cataract extraction, 80.0% (12/15) eyes were sequentially performed the intraocular lens implantation, while, 20.0% (3/12) eyes remained aphakia due to ocular comorbidities. Conclusions: Congenital aniridia combined with cataract are rare diseases, calling for the precious retrospective researches. This disorder tended to affect both eyes and occurred hereditary. The clinical courses of the cases presented progressive features. Ocular comorbidities were the crucial factors to influence the surgical approaches and postoperative prognosis. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 821-827).

[Study on HIV-1 subtype among elderly male clients and female sex workers of low-cost venues in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China]

Objective: To understand HIV-1 subtype characteristics and transmission clusters in elderly male clients and female sex workers (FSWs) of low-cost commercial sex venues in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted in FSWs and elderly male clients (≥50 years) of low-cost commercial sex venues in 4 cities and 9 counties in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region by convenient sampling in 2012. The blood sample was collected from each case for HIV-1 antibody detection. The pol gene fragments were amplified and sequenced from viral RNA template extracted from plasma samples. The phylogenetic tree was constructed and the subtypes were identified. Results: A total of 4 048 elderly male clients and 784 FSWs were surveyed, and 116 HIV-1 infections were detected, the positive rate was 2.5% (103/4 048) in the clients and 1.7% (13/784) in FSWs. The gene amplification and sequencing of HIV-1 detected in 84 blood samples indicated that 53 pol gene sequences were successfully determined (48 blood samples from elderly male clients and 5 blood samples from FSWs). Among 53 pol sequences, 48(90.6% ), 4(7.5% ), and 1(1.9% ) sequences were identified as CRF01_AE, CRF08_BC, and CRF07_BC, respectively. Two transmission clusters were identified among CRF01_AE, including 4 sub-clusters. One transmission cluster was identified among CRF08_BC. The transmission cluster or sub-cluster were from the infected individuals at same low-cost commercial sex venue, or different low-cost commercial sex venues in the same town, or same place, or adjacent villages and towns. Conclusions: CRF01_AE was the predominant HIV-1 subtype among elderly male clients and FSWs of low-cost commercial sex venues in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, circulating in same venue or adjacent villages and towns. The HIV-1 positive male clients and FSWs might play an important role in the spread of the strains.

[Expression of long noncoding RNA STCAT3 in gastric cancer tissues and its effect on malignant phenotype of gastric cancer cells]

Objective: To detect the expression of long noncoding RNA(lncRNA)stomach cancer-associated transcript-3(STCAT3) in gastric cancer tissues, adjacent tissues, human gastric cancer cell lines and normal gastric epithelial cell lines, and to investigate the relationship between STCAT3 expression and clinicopathological features and malignant phenotype of gastric cancer. Methods: Quantitative fluorescent real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to detect the lncRNA STCAT3 expression levels in gastric cancer tissues, paired adjacent non-tumorous tissues, in order to explore the relationship between STCAT3 expression and clinicopathological features of gastric cancer. lncRNA STCAT3 low-expressing and high-expressing gastric cancer cell lines were transfected with expression plasmid to simulate gain-of-function, or interference plasmid to achieve loss-of-function. Cell proliferation was measured with CCK-8 and colony formation assay, cell migration with scratch assay, and cell invasion with Transwell migration assay. human gastric tumor were also transplanted to nude mice to detect the effect of lncRNA STCAT3 on tumorigenesis. Results: The expression of lncRNA STCAT3 was generally up-regulated in gastric cancer tissues compared with the adjacent tissues(12.55±0.16 vs 6.52±0.14), with median expression level in gastric cancer tissues being 6.03 higher (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the expression level of lncRNA STCAT3 in gastric cancer tissues was not correlated with age or gender (both P>0.05), while positively correlated with TNM stage (P<0.05). Interference of lncRNA STCAT3 expression in BGC-823 cells was found associated with significantly suppressed colony formation, proliferation, invasion, and migration (all P<0.05). Over-expression of lncRNA STCAT3 in AGS cells were also founded could promote the gastric cancer cells' proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion (all P<0.05). Conclusions: lncRNA STCAT3 may participate in the proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer cells, indicating that dysregulation of STCAT3 expression may play a role in occurrence and development of gastric cancer. lncRNA STCAT3 has the potential to be the biomarker of gastric cancer progression and target in treatment. The underlying mechanism is yet to be further studied.

[Hydroxyfasudi attenuates lipopolysaccharide induced endothelial dysfunction via suppressing the expression of Rho-associated coiled-coil protein kinase 1, connexin 43 and caveolin 1]

Objective: To investigate the effect and mechanism of hydroxyfasudi (HF), a specific Rho kinase inhibitor, on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)induced endothelial dysfunction. Methods: A total of 24 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group(n=6), HF group(n=6), LPS group(n=6) and LPS + HF group(n=6) with random number table method. There was no special treatment in control group. HF (30 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally in HF group. LPS (1 mg/kg) were injected intravenously in LPS group. In LPS+ HF group, HF (30 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally, followed by intravenous LPS injection (1 mg/kg) 30 minutes later. All rats were sacrificed after 8 hours, and aortic tissue was extracted. RT-PCR was performed to detect mRNA levels of Rho-associated coiled-coil protein kinase (ROCK)1, connexin (Cx)43 and caveolin (Cav)1. The protein levers of ROCK1, Cx43 and Cav-1 were assessed by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining respectively. Results: (1) RT-PCR experiments showed that mRNA levels of ROCK1(2.67±0.03 vs. 1.00±0.04), Cx43(1.73±0.03 vs. 1.00±0.08), and Cav1(1.85±0.04 vs. 1.0±0.03) in LPS group were significantly higher than in control group(all P<0.05). mRNA levels of ROCK1(0.38±0.02), Cx43(0.58±0.02), and Cav1(0.27±0.01) in LPS + HF group were significantly lower than in LPS group(all P<0.05). (2)Western blot analysis showed that protein levels of ROCK1(3.46±0.82 vs. 2.19±0.56), Cx43(0.33±0.09 vs.0.11±0.06), and Cav1(3.45±0.74 vs. 2.25±0.91) in LPS group were significantly higher than in control group(all P<0.05). Protein levels of ROCK1(1.09±0.52), Cx43(0.01±0.06), and Cav1(2.06±0.40) in LPS + HF group were significantly lower than in LPS group(all P<0.05). (3) Immunohistochemical staining showed that protein levels of ROCK1(84.1±0.953.7±2.9), Cx43(99.1±2.1 vs. 46.2±0.8), and Cav1(167.0±6.4 vs. 84.9±1.0) in LPS group were significantly higher than in control group(all P<0.05). Protein levels of ROCK1(30.4±0.6), Cx43(21.4±1.3), and Cav1(55.8±2.8) in LPS + HF group were significantly lower than in LPS group(all P<0.05). Conclusion: HF attenuates LPS induced endothelial dysfunction probably via suppressing the expression of ROCK1, Cx43 and Cav1.

[Prognostic factors for inability to walk independently in patients with multiple system atrophy]

Objective: To explore the prognostic factors for inability to walk independently in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). Methods: A total of 123 patients with clinically confirmed MSA admitted to Navy General Hospital and Dongfang Hospital affiliated to the Second Clinical Medical College of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, from February 2013 to February 2016, were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical data and all records were collected and all subjects were followed up by a telephone call in February 2016. The second milestone of activities of daily living scale (ADL), defined as inability to walk independently, was taken as the primary outcome. Eight possible prognostic factors were investigated and the survival analysis was performed with Cox proportional hazards model regression. Results: Of all the MSA patients, 74 subjects were men and 49 were women with a sex radio of 1.51∶1(M∶F). Seventy cases were diagnosed with MSA-cerebellar type (MSA-C) and 53 with MSA-Parkinson type (MSA-P) (C∶P=1.32∶1). Mean age at the onset of first symptom was (53±8) years old. All patients had severe autonomic nervous dysfunction. At the last follow-up, 56 cases (45.5%) were unable to walk independently. The median survival time from the onset of MSA to inability to walk independently was 73 months. The age of onset ≥ 55 years (HR=1.969, 95%CI 1.095-3.542, P=0.024) and the interval time from disease onset to combined motor and autonomic involvement≤3 years (HR=2.308, 95%CI 1.158-4.600, P=0.017) were independent prognostic factors for inability to walk independently, while gender, MSA clinical subtypes, initial symptoms, alcohol intake, smoking and toxic exposure were not indicators for independent walking (P>0.05). Conclusions: The prognostic factors for inability to walk independently in patients with MSA are the age of onset ≥55 years and the interval time from disease onset to combined motor and autonomic involvement≤3 years. Although factors including gender, MSA clinical subtypes, initial symptoms, alcohol intake, smoking and toxic exposure are not the predictive factors for inability to walk independently in our MSA patients, their roles in the prognosis of MSA still need further investigation.

[Effect of ulinastatin on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, P-selectin, and thrombin-antithrombin complex in young rats with sepsis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of ulinastatin (UTI) for early drug intervention on the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), P-selectin, and thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) in young rats with sepsis.

METHODS

A total of 120 male rats aged 4 weeks were randomly divided into normal control group, sham-operation group, sepsis group, low-dose UTI group (50 000 U/kg), and high-dose UTI group (200 000 U/kg), with 24 rats in each group. Modified cecal ligation and puncture was performed to establish a rat model of sepsis, and the rats in the low- and high-dose UTI groups were given caudal vein injection of UTI after model establishment. ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of TNF-α, P-selectin, and TAT at 6, 12, and 24 hours after model establishment.

RESULTS

The sepsis group had significant increases in the serum levels of TNF-α, P-selectin, and TAT at 6 hours, and the serum levels of TNF-α and TAT continued to increase by 24 hours (P<0.05); P-selectin reached the peak at 12 hours and decreased slightly at 24 hours (P<0.05). The UTI groups had similar change patterns in the levels of P-selectin and TAT as the sepsis group. The UTI groups had significant increases in the level of TNF-α at 6 hours, but gradually decreased over time. The changes in serum levels of TNF-α, P-selectin, and TAT in the UTI groups were significantly smaller than in the sepsis group (P<0.05). The high-dose UTI group had significantly smaller changes in serum levels of TNF-α, P-selectin, and TAT than the low-dose UTI group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Early intervention with UTI can significantly improve coagulation function and inhibit the production of TNF-α, P-selectin, and TAT in young rats with sepsis. High-dose UTI has a significantly greater effect than low-dose UTI.

[Effect of ulinastatin on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, P-selectin, and thrombin-antithrombin complex in young rats with sepsis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of ulinastatin (UTI) for early drug intervention on the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), P-selectin, and thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) in young rats with sepsis.

METHODS

A total of 120 male rats aged 4 weeks were randomly divided into normal control group, sham-operation group, sepsis group, low-dose UTI group (50 000 U/kg), and high-dose UTI group (200 000 U/kg), with 24 rats in each group. Modified cecal ligation and puncture was performed to establish a rat model of sepsis, and the rats in the low- and high-dose UTI groups were given caudal vein injection of UTI after model establishment. ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of TNF-α, P-selectin, and TAT at 6, 12, and 24 hours after model establishment.

RESULTS

The sepsis group had significant increases in the serum levels of TNF-α, P-selectin, and TAT at 6 hours, and the serum levels of TNF-α and TAT continued to increase by 24 hours (P<0.05); P-selectin reached the peak at 12 hours and decreased slightly at 24 hours (P<0.05). The UTI groups had similar change patterns in the levels of P-selectin and TAT as the sepsis group. The UTI groups had significant increases in the level of TNF-α at 6 hours, but gradually decreased over time. The changes in serum levels of TNF-α, P-selectin, and TAT in the UTI groups were significantly smaller than in the sepsis group (P<0.05). The high-dose UTI group had significantly smaller changes in serum levels of TNF-α, P-selectin, and TAT than the low-dose UTI group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Early intervention with UTI can significantly improve coagulation function and inhibit the production of TNF-α, P-selectin, and TAT in young rats with sepsis. High-dose UTI has a significantly greater effect than low-dose UTI.

[Effect of leptin on expression of calpain-1 and Bcl-2 and apoptosis in myocardial tissue of neonatal rats after asphyxia]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of leptin on the expression of calcium-activated neutral protease 1 (calpain-1) and B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and apoptosis in the myocardial tissue of neonatal rats after asphyxia.

METHODS

A total of 48 neonatal rats were randomly and equally divided into normal control group, asphyxia group, leptin treatment groups, and calpain-1 inhibitor (CAI-1) group. The neonatal rat model of asphyxia under normal atmospheric condition was established in all groups except the control group. For the leptin treatment groups, rats received 20, 80, and 160 μg/kg leptin by intraperitoneal injection immediately after model establishment, respectively. For the CAI-1 group, rats received 10 mg/kg CAI-1 by intraperitoneal injection immediately after model establishment. For all the groups, the myocardial tissue was collected at 2 hours after model establishment. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of calpain-1 and Bcl-2. The TUNEL method was used to evaluate apoptosis of myocardial cells.

RESULTS

The expression of calpain-1 and Bcl-2 and apoptosis index (AI) were significantly higher in the asphyxia group than in the normal control group (P˂0.05). The leptin treatment groups and the CAI-1 group had significantly lower expression of calpain-1, significantly lower AI, and significantly higher expression of Bcl-2 than the asphyxia group (P˂0.05). The CAI-1 group had the largest changes in all the indices compared with the asphyxia group. However, there were no significant differences in all indices between the 160 μg/kg leptin treatment group and the CAI-1 group. After asphyxia, the expression of calpain-1 was positively correlated with AI, while the expression of Bcl-2 was negatively correlated with AI and the expression of calpain-1 (P˂0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Leptin reduces apoptosis of myocardial cells in asphyxiated neonatal rats by the inhibition of calpain-1 activation and upregulation of Bcl-2 expression.

Fas-FasL expression and myocardial cell apoptosis in patients with viral myocarditis

The aim of the current study was to investigate Fas and FasL expression and myocardial cell apoptosis in viral myocarditis patients. Human heart specimens were selected from patients who were autopsied between February 2012 and February 2015; of these, 25 patients were diagnosed with viral myocarditis. Another 15 cases with no diagnosis of myocarditis were selected for the control group. All tissue specimens were divided into two parts, one for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis and the other for immunohistochemical and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) analyses. In situ detection of apoptosis was performed by the TUNEL method, which revealed that myocardial cells from the viral myocarditis group exhibited significant apoptosis, whereas no apoptotic cells were observed in the control group. The number of cells staining positive for Fas and FasL protein in the viral myocarditis group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). There was also a correlation between Fas and FasL protein expression levels and scores (r = 0.92, P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of Fas and FasL was significantly higher in the viral myocarditis group than in the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the Fas-FasL system may be involved in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis. Furthermore, cytotoxic T lymphocytes may mediate cardiac muscle cells apoptosis via Fas-FasL signaling, and thus participate in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis.

[Aluminuminduced impairment in primary cultured rat choroid plexus epithelial cells]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impairment in primary cultured rat choroid plexus epithelial cells (CPECs)induced by aluminum.

METHODS

The choroid plexus isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats 14 days old was cut into pieces and digested by trypsin in the sterile area. The obtained single cells were cultured in DMEM with 1% epidermal growth factor and 20% fetal calf serum. Five days later, immunohistochemistry with anti-transthyretin antibody was used to identify the purity of cultured cells. The well-grown cells were treated with aluminum lactate at different concentrations (0, 100, 400, and 1 600 μmol/L for control, lowdose, mediumdose, and highdose groups). Fortyeight hours later, the cell viability, apoptotic rate, level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD)were measured in each group to evaluate the impairment in primary cultured rat CPECs by aluminum.

RESULTS

More than 95% of the cultured cells were identified as CPECs. The medium-and high-dose groups had significantly lower cell viability than the control group(86.74%±4.03% vs 100%, P<0.01; 81.90%±9.17% vs 100%, P<0.01). The high-dose group had significantly lower cell viability than the lowdose group (81.90%±9.17% vs 92.92%±8.81%, P<0.01). The medium-and high-dose groups had significantly higher apoptotic rates than the control group (7.26%±0.99% vs 1.29%±0.03%, P<0.01; 22.25%±1.55% vs 1.29%±0.03%, P<0.01)and the low-dose group (7.26%±0.99% vs 1.68%±0.27%, P<0.01; 22.25%±1.55% vs 1.68%±0.27%, P<0.01). The high-dose group had a significantly higher apoptotic rate than the medium-dose group (22.25%±1.55% vs 7.26%±0.99%, P<0.01). The mediumand high-dose groups had significantly higher fluorescence intensity of ROS than the control group (22.23%±0.41% vs 17.24%±0.09%, P<0.05; 25.10%±1.13% vs 17.24%±0.09%, P<0.05)and the lowdose group (22.23%±0.41% vs 18.31%±0.21%, P<0.05; 25.10%±1.13% vs 18.31%±0.21%, P<0.05). The highdose group had significantly higher fluorescence intensity of ROS than the mediumdose group (25.10%±1.13% vs 22.23%±0.41%, P< 0.05). The low-, medium-and high-dose groups had significantly lower SOD activity than the control group[(28.65±0.74)U/g Hb vs (37.35±1.05)U/g Hb, P<0.05; (22.75±1.94)U/g Hb vs (37.35±1.05)U/g Hb, P<0.05; (13.29±0.64)U/g Hb vs(37.35±1.05)U/g Hb, P<0.05]. The medium-and high-dose groups had significantly lower SOD activity than the low-dose group[(22.75±1.94)U/g Hb vs(28.65±0.74)U/g Hb, P<0.05; (13.29±0.64)U/g Hb vs (28.65±0.74)U/g Hb, P<0.05], while the high-dose group had had significantly lower SOD activity than the medium-dose group[(13.29±0.64)U/g Hb vs (22.75±1.94)U/g Hb, P<0.05]. There were no significant differences in cell viability, apoptotic rate, level of ROS, or activity of SOD between any other two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Aluminum lactate may induce impairment in primary cultured rat CPECs. It reduces the cell viability, elevates the apoptotic rate, and causes oxidative stress.

[Effects of subchronic aluminum lactate exposure on learning and memory and transportation of Aβ in blood-cerebrospinal fluid in rats]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of aluminum lactate exposure on learning and memory and the transportation of amyloid-beta peptides(Aβ) in cerebrospinal fluid in rats.

METHODS

A total of 80 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into solvent control(distilled water) group and low-, medium-, and high-dose aluminum poisoning groups(10, 30, and 90 mg/kg aluminum lactate), with 20 rats in each group, and the poisoning procedure was performed by gavage for 2 months. The Morris water maze test was used to test the rats' learning and memory, Western blot was used to measure the expression level of low-density lipoprotein receptor protein-1(LRP-1) in rats' choroid plexus, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure the content of Aβ in the cerebrospinal fluid and plasma.

RESULTS

The Morris water maze test showed that in the place navigation test, with the increasing training time, the escape latency was significantly shortened in each group and showed significant differences between any two groups(P<0.05). In the spatial probe test, the time spent in target quadrant in the medium-and high-dose groups was 11.52±1.56 s and 10.43±5.27 s, respectively, which was significantly shorter than that in the control group and the low-dose group(15.81±3.01 s and 13.91±2.17 s)(P<0.05). The numbers of platform crossings in the medium-and high-dose groups were 2.64±1.39 and 1.50±0.76, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group and the low-dose group(4.29±0.914 and 3.56±1.38)(P<0.05). The results of ELISA showed that the medium-and high-dose groups had significant increases in the content of Aβ1-42 in cerebrospinal fluid(320.35±84.82 pg/ml and 327.68±67.51 pg/ml), which was significantly higher than that in the control group(203.46±74.36 pg/ml) (P<0.05). The content of Aβ1-42 in plasma showed no significant difference between any two groups(P>0.05), and that of Aβ1-40 in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma also showed no significant difference between any two groups(P>0.05). The results of Western blot showed that the high-dose group had significantly lower protein expression of LRP-1 than the control group and the low-and medium-dose groups(0.57±0.21 vs 1.00±0.00/0.79±0.15/0.95±0.24, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Subchronic aluminum exposure may reduce learning and memory in rats, and the accumulation of Aβ in cerebrospinal fluid may be related to the reduced protein expression of LRP-1 in the choroid plexus, suggesting that aluminum affects learning and memory in rats through reducing the protein expression of LRP-1, influencing the transportation of Aβ, and leading to the accumulation of Aβ.

Characterization of a New Anastomosis Group (AG-W) of Binucleate Rhizoctonia, Causal Agent for Potato Stem Canker

Two binucleate Rhizoctonia (BNR) isolates were recovered from potato cankered stems in Heilongjiang Province, northeastern China. Their cultural appearance on potato dextrose agar remained whitish as the cultures aged. White monilioid cells formed in the fluffy aerial hyphae, whereas no sclerotia appeared during the incubation. The two isolates could anastomose with each other, but they failed to anastomose with reference strains of BNR from AG-A to AG-Q, and AG-U. Analyses of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA (rDNA-ITS) regions confirmed that these two isolates differed from the reference strains. The phylogenetic tree based on the sequences of rDNA-ITS regions showed that they were located in a distinct clade from other BNR AGs. These collective results suggested that the isolates recovered from potato in this study belonged to a new BNR AG designated as AG-W. Pathogenicity tests under glasshouse conditions revealed that both isolates were able to cause brown, dry, and slightly sunken lesions on potato subterranean stems. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the AG-W causing potato disease in China as well as worldwide.

Effects of modified Shoutaiwai recipe on integrin β3 and leukemia-inhibitory factor in endometrium of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation mice during the implantation window

We investigated the effects of a modified Shoutaiwai recipe on integrin β3 and leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF) in the endometrium of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) mice during the implantation window. Seventy non-pregnant mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: a traditional medicine (TCM) treatment group (N = 30), an aspirin treatment (N = 30) group, and a control group (N = 10). After the model was successfully established, mice in the drug treatment groups and the control group were respectively treated with the modified Shoutaiwai recipe, aspirin, or 0.9% physiological saline. During the implantation window of mice, the middle segment of the mouse uterus was recovered, and integrin β3 and LIF expressions in the endometrium were respectively detected using an immunohistological two-step method and reverse transcription-PCR. Expressions of integrin β3 and LIF in the endometrium of mice in the TCM treatment group were significantly increased compared to aspirin-treated and control mice, and those of aspirin-treated mice were increased compared to the control group. Our modified Shoutaiwai recipe may improve the endometrial receptivity of COH mice by increasing the expression of integrin β3 and LIF in the endometrium during the implantation window.

Renal tumor-derived exosomes inhibit hepaCAM expression of renal carcinoma cells in a p-AKT-dependent manner

HepaCAM mediates cancer cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. Our previous studies showed the effects of hepaCAM on the inhibition of renal carcinoma cell proliferation. To further investigate the reason for the low expression of hepaCAM in renal carcinoma and the corresponding molecular mechanisms, we detected renal carcinoma OS-RC-2 cell lines containing high expression of hepaCAM; and hepaCAM and p-AKT were also detected in these cells. Exosomes were isolated and purified from the supernatant liquid of OS-RC-2 cells. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and flow cytometry analysis were conducted to determine the effect of exosomes on the proliferation and cycle distribution of OS-RC-2 cells. OS-RC-2 cells (high expression of hepaCAM) were treated with exosomes or plus MK-2206 (AKT inhibitor); and hepaCAM, AKT and p-AKT were detected in these cells by western blot analysis. The correlation between hepaCAM and p-AKT was analysed by immunohistochemical method. Results showed that hepaCAM re-expression in OS-RC-2 cell lines resulted in significant weakening of proliferation ability and more prominent G0/G1 population as well as reduction of p-AKT protein. The increase in proliferation caused by exosomes was followed by hepaCAM downregulation and p-AKT upregulation in OS-RC-2 cells (high expression of hepaCAM). By comparison, the promotion of proliferation caused by exosomes was weakened and hepaCAM expression changed after MK-2206 treatment; however, this change was not significant. HepaCAM was negatively correlated with p-AKT protein in renal cell carcinoma tissues. Therefore, renal tumor-derived exosomes may be an important factor resulting in the low expression of hepaCAM by upregulating p-AKT in renal carcinoma.

Circulating cell-free DNA in serum as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognostic prediction of colorectal cancer

Background:

To verify whether the concentrations and integrity index of circulating cell-free DNA (ccf-DNA) in serum may be clinically useful for the diagnosis and progression monitoring of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

Methods:

Serum samples were collected from 104 with primary CRC, 85 with operated CRC, 16 with recurrent/metastatic CRC, 63 patients with intestinal polyps and 110 normal controls. Long (247 bp) and short (115 bp) DNA fragments in serum were detected by real-time quantitative PCR by amplifying the ALU repeats (ALU-qPCR). Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level was detected by ARCHITECT assay.

Results:

The median absolute serum ALU115 and ALU247/115 in primary CRC group was significantly higher than those in intestinal polyp and normal control groups (both P<0.0001), in recurrent/metastatic CRC was significantly higher compared with primary CRC (P=0.0021, P=0.0018) or operated CRC (P<0.0001, respectively) and during follow-up, ALU115 and ALU247/115 were increased before surgery and decreased significantly after surgery.

Conclusions:

Combined detection of ALU115, ALU247/115 and CEA could improve the diagnostic efficiency for CRC. Serum DNA concentrations and integrity index may be valuable in early complementary diagnosis and monitoring of progression and prognosis of CRC.

First Report of Sugar Beet Rhizoctonia Crown and Root Rot Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-2-2IIIB in Shanxi Province of China

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is grown worldwide as the second largest sugar crop. Sugar beet crown and root rot is an economically serious disease mainly caused by Rhizoctonia solani (teleomorph Thanatephorus cucumeris) AG 2-2 and AG 4 (1). In July 2010, at the 25- to 27-leaf stage, symptoms typically associated with crown and root rot, including dark brown to black lesions at the base of the petioles or circular to oval dark lesions (up to 10.0 mm in diameter) at the taproot, were observed on 15% of sugar beet plants collected from three sites in Shanxi Province, northern China. Pieces of internal root tissues cut from the margins between symptomatic and healthy-appearing tissue were disinfected with 0.5% NaOCl for 2 min, rinsed three times with sterile water, then placed on water ager (WA) for incubation at 25°C in the dark. After 2 days, single hyphal tips of three Rhizoctonia-like isolates (designated SX-RSD1, SX-RSD2, and SX-RSD3) were transferred to potato dextrose ager (PDA). Colonies of all isolates were brown and developed dark brown sclerotia (0.5 to 1.0 mm diameter) on the media surface after 4 and 7 days, respectively. Mycelia were branched at right angles with septa near the branches and slight constrictions at the bases of the branches were present. Average hyphal diameters of the three isolates were 8.1, 7.3, and 7.6 μm, respectively. Hyphal cells were determined to be multinucleate (4 to 9 nuclei per cell) by staining with 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) (2). Anastomosis groups were determined by pairing with reference strains (kindly provided by N. Kondo, Hokkaido University, Japan) (2), and all three isolates anastomosed with R. solani AG-2-2IIIB. All three isolates grew well on PDA at 35°C, which separates AG-2-2IIIB from AG-2-2 IV. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified from genomic DNA of these isolates with primers ITS1 (5'-TCCGATGGTGAACCTGCGG-3')/ITS4 (5'-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3'). Sequences (GenBank Accession Nos. KC413984, KC413985, and KC413986) were over 99% identical to those of 19 R. solani AG-2-2 IIIB isolates (e.g., FJ492146.3; strain F510). Therefore, based on the molecular characteristics and the anastomosis assay, these three isolates were identified as R. solani AG-2-2IIIB. To determine the pathogenicity of the isolates, wheat seeds were autoclaved twice for 60 min at 121°C on consecutive days and inoculated with each isolate (3). Subsequently, wheat seeds (three seeds per plant) were placed around 8-week-old sugar beet (cv. HI0305) plants at 2 cm intervals to each root and 10 mm deep in soil. Plants were grown at 25 to 27°C for 7 days in a glasshouse. All inoculated plants developed symptoms of root rot, whereas control plants inoculated with sterilized wheat seeds remained healthy. R. solani AG-2-2IIIB was consistently re-isolated from the symptomatic root tissue and was confirmed by both morphological and molecular characteristics described above, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of R. solani AG-2-2IIIB on sugar beet in Shanxi Province of China. R. solani AG2-2IIIB has been reported to be pathogenic on wheat in China (4), which is often grown in rotation with sugar beet. This rotation could increase the risk of soilborne infection to either crop by R. solani AG2-2IIIB. References: (1) R. M. Harveson et al. Compendium of Beet Diseases and Pests, American Phytopathological Society. St. Paul, MN. 2009. (2) W. C. Kronland and M. E. Stanghellini. Phytopathology. 78:820, 1988. (3) M. J. Lehtonen et al. Plant Pathol. 57:141, 2008. (4) D. Z. Yu et al., Hubei Agric. Sci. 3:39, 2000.

[Effects of erythropoietin on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins in neonatal rats with asphyxia]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-related proteins, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), in neonatal rats with asphyxia.

METHODS

A total of 120 newborn Sprague-Dawley rats (7 days old) were randomly divided into sham-operated (n=40), asphyxia (n=40) and EPO-treated asphyxia groups (n=40). A neonatal rat model of normobaric asphyxia was established in the asphyxia and EPO-treated asphyxia groups. The rats in the EPO-treated asphyxia group received intraperitoneal injection of recombinant human erythropoietin (500 U/mL) immediately after the model was established, while the other two groups received the same volume of normal saline (0.9%). Heart blood and myocardial tissue samples were collected from 8 rats in each group at 2, 6, 12, 24 or 48 hours after the model was established. Serum creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were measured; cardiomyocyte apoptosis was evaluated, and expression of myocardial GRP78 and CHOP was measured.

RESULTS

Compared with the sham-operated and EPO-treated asphyxia groups, the asphyxia group had significantly increased serum CK and LDH levels, number of apoptotic cells, and expression of myocardial GRP78 and CHOP at each time point (P<0.01), and all the indices were significantly higher in the EPO-treated asphyxia group than in the sham-operated group (P<0.01). At 24 hours after asphyxia, the expression of myocardial CHOP was positively correlated with the myocardial apoptosis index (r=0.944, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

EPO exerts a protective effect on the myocardium of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic injury by regulating ERS-related proteins GRP78 and CHOP and reducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

First Report of Potato Stem Canker Caused by Binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-A in Jilin Province, China

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) stem canker caused by Rhizoctonia solani occurs in potato-growing regions all over the world and can result in severe losses in crop yield and quality. In late July 2011, potato subterraneous stems with stem cankers composed of brownish, sunken lesions were observed at 15% incidence in seven sites in Jilin Province, northeast China. Samples were collected, and stem pieces (each 5 mm long) taken from the margins of the healthy and diseased tissues were surface-disinfested with 0.5% NaOCl for 2 min, rinsed with sterilized water, dried, then placed on potato dextrose agar at 25°C in the dark. Three (designated JL-3, JL-5-1, and JL-6) of seven Rhizoctonia isolates that developed from single hyphal tip transfers were identified preliminarily as binucleate Rhizoctonia (BNR) isolates (teleomorph Ceratobasidium Rogers). The colonies were white or light gray with fluffy aerial hyphae and no sclerotia after 14 days in culture. Hyphal cells were binucleate when stained with 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. Average hyphal diameters (mean ± standard deviation) of isolates JL-3, JL-5-1, and JL-6 were 4.8 ± 0.5 μm (range 4.1 to 5.6 μm), 4.4 ± 0.4 μm (range 3.9 to 5.2 μm), and 4.5 ± 0.3 μm (range 4.0 to 5.0 μm), respectively. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA was amplified from genomic DNA with primers ITS1 and ITS4 and sequenced. BLASTn analysis indicated that the resulting sequences (GenBank Accession Nos. JX885459, JX885460, and JX885461 for JL-3, JL-5-1, and JL-6, respectively) were 100% identical to that of a Ceratobasidium sp. AG-A isolate CHR08-10 (HQ270171). So the three isolates were identified as BNR AG-A based on morphological and molecular characteristics. To determine pathogenicity of the BNR isolates, potato seed tubers (cv. Favorita), each with 3- to 5-mm-long sprouts, were inoculated with wheat seeds (sterilized by autoclaving twice at 121°C for 1 h with a 24-h interval between autoclavings) colonized with each isolate (1). One sprouted potato tuber was planted in a plastic pot with a single colonized wheat seed placed 10 mm above the uppermost sprout tip in a sand/sawdust mixture (1:2 v/v). Plants were incubated in a glasshouse at 25 to 27°C, and assessed after 21 days. The test was performed on 20 plants/isolate and the experiment was repeated. The incidence of plants inoculated with JL-3, JL-5-1, and JL-6 that developed stem canker symptoms averaged 11.1, 23.5, and 28.6%, respectively, whereas all control plants inoculated with sterilized wheat seeds remained asymptomatic. Rhizoctonia spp. were not reisolated from the control plants, whereas BNR isolates were reisolated consistently from symptomatic stems of the inoculated plants, and the identity confirmed by morphological and molecular characteristics as described above, fulfilling Koch's postulates. BNR AG-A has been reported to be pathogenic on soybean (Glycine max), pea (Pisum sativum), snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and pak choi (Brassica chinensis) in China (4). Isolates of R. solani AG-3 are most often associated with potato stem canker (2), although unidentified BNR isolates were reported to cause mild symptoms on potato sprouts in Finland (1), and small lesions on potato roots and stems in the United Kingdom (3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of BNR AG-A causing potato stem canker in Jilin Province, one of the main potato-producing areas of China. References: (1) M. J. Lehtonen et al. Plant Pathol. 57:141, 2008. (2) L. Tsror. J. Phytopatology 158:649, 2010. (3) J. W. Woodhall et al. New Dis. Rep. 23:31, 2011. (4) G. H. Yang et al. J. Phytopathology 153:333, 2005.

First Report of Alternaria Blight of Potato Caused by Alternaria tenuissima in China

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is grown worldwide as a major food crop. Potato early blight is an important disease caused by Alternaria solani (4). In 2011, diseased potato leaves with blight symptoms were collected from 21 sites (incidence averaged 60% for about 2,000 ha of potato fields examined) in Gansu Province, northwest China. Small pieces of tissue taken from the margin between healthy and diseased tissues were surface-disinfected in 0.3% NaOCl for 2 min, rinsed with sterilized, distilled water, then placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25°C in the dark. Two of 24 Alternaria isolates from single-spore cultures were identified preliminarily as A. tenuissima, and the remaining isolates as A. solani or A. alternata, based on morphological traits. Colony appearance on potato carrot agar (PCA) was loosely cottony under a day/night cycle of 8 h fluorescent light/16 h dark at 22°C for 7 days (3). The isolates were characterized by formation of unbranched conidial chains up to 12 conidia in length, with one or two lateral branches forming occasionally. Conidia were typically ovoid to obclavate, and ranged from 20.4 to 42.4 × 7.7 to 13.2 μm. Transverse septa and longitudinal septa of conidia varied from 1 to 6 and 0 to 2, respectively. Short conidiophores arose singly and were 15.1 to 76.8 μm long by 2.4 to 6.2 μm wide. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA and partial coding sequence of a histone gene were amplified from genomic DNA of the two A. tenuissima isolates using the ITS1/ITS4 and H3-1a/H3-1b primers (2), respectively. The ITS sequences of the two isolates (GenBank Accession Nos. JX495165 and JX495166) were 100% identical to those of A. tenuissima strains sdau 07-100 and BL08-3 (GQ871507 and AB470887), as well as to other Alternaria species, but the partial histone gene sequences (JX495167 and JX495168) were 99% identical to those of A. tenuissima isolates CR27, MA1, MA6, and CN-L-01 (AF404622, AF404633, AF404634, and EF371552, respectively) with less similarity to those of other Alternaria spp. Therefore, the isolates were identified as A. tenuissima based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Pathogenicity tests were conducted by inoculating detached leaves (30 per isolate) from 45-day-old plants of potato cv. Favorita with 20 μl drops (one drop per leaf) of a conidial suspension containing 10⁶ conidia/ml in sterilized, distilled water. Thirty control leaves were inoculated similarly with sterilized, distilled water. Inoculated leaves were incubated in chambers at 25°C and 90% RH with a 12-h photoperiod/day. After 7 days, symptoms on the inoculated leaves were similar to those naturally occurring on the original plants, and the two cultures were reisolated consistently from those leaves, and the species identity was confirmed by morphological and molecular characteristics, fulfilling Koch's postulates. The control leaves remained asymptomatic and Alternaria was not isolated from those leaves. Alternaria blight of potato caused by A. tenuissima was previously detected in Iran (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. tenuissima causing blight on potatoes in China. References: (1) S. T. Ardestani et al. Iran. J. Plant Pathol. 45:83, 2010. (2) N. L. Glass and G. C. Donaldson. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 61:1323, 1995. (3) E. G. Simmons. Alternaria. An Identification Manual. CBS Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands, 2007. (4) J. E. van der Waals et al. Plant Dis. 88:959, 2004.

First Report of Potato Stem Canker Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG4 HGII in Gansu Province, China

Black scurf and stem canker on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is an important disease throughout the world. Isolates of R. solani AG3 are the principal cause of these diseases on potato (2). In August 2011, at the tuber bulking growth stage, symptoms typically associated stem canker, including dark brown stem lesions, were observed on 20% of potato plants collected from 23 locations (about 2,000 ha) in Gansu Province, northwest China. Stem pieces (each 5 mm long) taken from the margins of the healthy and diseased tissues were surface-disinfected with 0.5% NaOCl for 2 min, rinsed with sterilized water, dried, then placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25°C in the dark. Twenty-nine fungal isolates taken from single hyphal tips were identified as R. solani based on morphological traits, including mycelium branched at right angles with a septum near the branch and a slight constriction at the branch base. Hyphal cells were determined to be multinucleate (4 to 10 nuclei/cell) when stained with 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Anastomosis groups were determined by pairing with reference strains (kindly provided by N. Kondo, Hokkaido University, Japan), and three isolates (designed GS-15, GS-24, and GS-25) anastomosed with isolates of R. solani AG4. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified from genomic DNA of each of the three isolates with primers ITS1 and ITS4. The resulting sequences (GenBank Accession Nos. JX843818, JX843819, and JX843820) were 100% identical to those of >10 R. solani AG4 HGII isolates (e.g., HQ629873.1; isolate ND13). Therefore, based on the anastomosis assay and molecular characteristics, the three isolates were identified as R. solani AG4 HGII. To determine pathogenicity of the AG4 HGII isolates, potato seed tubers (cv. Favorita) with 3 to 5 mm long sprouts were inoculated with wheat seeds (sterilized by autoclaving twice at 121°C for 1 h with a 24 h interval between autoclavings) colonized with each isolate (1). One sprouted tuber was planted in a sterilized plastic pot (1 liter) with a single colonized wheat seed placed 10 mm above the uppermost sprout tip in a sand/sawdust mixture (1:2 v/v, with dry heat sterilization at 161°C for 4 h before use). Plants were incubated in a glasshouse maintained at 25 to 27°C. The test was performed on 20 plants for each isolate, and the experiment was repeated. After 3 weeks, control plants inoculated with sterilized wheat seeds remained asymptomatic, and no Rhizoctonia spp. were isolated from these plants, whereas all inoculated plants showed symptoms of stem canker. R. solani AG4 HGII was reisolated consistently from symptomatic stems, and the identity of the reisolates confirmed by the morphological and molecular characteristics mentioned above, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Potato stem canker caused by R. solani AG4 HGII was reported previously in the United States (3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of R. solani AG4 HGII causing stem canker on potato in Gansu Province, the main potato-producing area of China. R. solani AG4 HGII can cause sheath blight on corn in China (4), which is commonly grown in rotation with potato. This rotation could increase the risk of soilborne infection to either crop by R. solani AG4 HGII. References: (1) M. J. Lehtonen et al. Plant Pathol. 57:141, 2008. (2) L. Tsror. J. Phytopathol. 158:649, 2010. (3) J. W. Woodhall et al. Plant Dis. 96:1701, 2012. (4) X. Zhou et al. J. Shenyang Agric. Univ. 43:33, 2012.

Reduced lesions in chickens with Clostridium perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis by Lactobacillus fermentum 1.20291

Previous studies have demonstrated that Lactobacillus has anti-inflammatory properties, but the protective functions of Lactobacillus and mechanisms of inhibition of necrotic enteritis (NE) in the intestines of chickens have not been fully clarified. In the present study, we selected a probiotic strain, Lactobacillus fermentum 1.2029, which has good adhesive ability and a high survival rate in low pH and bile salts. The objective of this study was to examine the anti-inflammatory properties of L. fermentum 1.2029 against NE in chickens. Two hundred forty 1-d-old male Arbor Acres broilers were blocked into 3 experimental groups as follows: (I) nonchallenge control group, (II) Clostridium perfringens challenge group, and (III) C. perfringens challenge + L. fermentum 1.2029 group. Lactobacillus fermentum 1.2029 (1.0 mL/d, 10(8) cfu/mL) was orally administered daily to group III during the course of the experiment, and all uninfected control chickens were inoculated accordingly with the same volume of PBS. Clostridium perfringens (0.5 mL on d 1 and 1.0 mL on d 14 to 21, 10(8) cfu/mL) was administered to chickens in group II. At 28 d, scoring of gross NE lesions was performed. Ileal segments of approximately 2 cm from 24 chickens in each experimental group were collected and fixed in 4% (wt/vol) neutral-buffered formalin solution for histological scoring. Ileal mucosa samples were also collected for mRNA analysis by real-time PCR. The results showed that L. fermentum 1.2029 reduced the severity of NE lesions in chickens. Histological scores revealed that L. fermentum 1.2029 also reduced the inflammation damage of NE in chickens. Changes in cytokines and Toll-like receptors (TLR) were determined, and L. fermentum 1.2029 was found to increase interleukin-10 levels and reduce interferon-γ and TLR2 levels in NE-infected chickens. The results showed that L. fermentum 1.2029 was able to regulate the intestinal mucosal immune response and ameliorate inflammation by changing expression levels of cytokines and TLR.

First Report of Sugar Beet Seedling Damping-Off Caused by Binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-A in China

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is grown worldwide and produces one-third of the world's sugar supply. Sugar beet seedling Rhizoctonia damping-off is an important disease mainly caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-2, AG-4, and AG-5 (2). In 2010, diseased sugar beet seedlings with about 20% incidence affected by damping-off, which showed dark brown lesions on the stems just below the soil surface and portions of the roots, were collected from nurseries in three locations in Heilongjiang province, northeast China. Root fragments taken from the margins of healthy tissues and lesions on roots were surface disinfected with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for 2 min, rinsed with sterile water, then placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 25°C in the dark. Three (designed HLJ-RAA1, HLJ-RAB1, HLJ-RAB2) of nine Rhizoctonia isolates were obtained from diseased tissues and preliminarily identified as binucleate Rhizoctonia (BNR) anamorph (teleomorph Ceratobasidium Rogers) species-like. Fungal colonies were white with large amounts of floccose, aerial hyphae. Hyphal cells were determined to be binucleate when stained with 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) (1). No sclerotia were produced after 14 days on PDA. Average hyphal diameter of the three isolates were 4.2, 4.3, and 4.8 μm, respectively. Further, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified from the genomic DNA extracted from hyphae by bead beating in 2% CTAB solution using stainless steel beads with primers ITS1 and ITS4. The ITS sequences (GenBank Accession Nos. JX073668, JX073669, and JX073670) were over 99% identical to those of more than 50 Ceratobasidium sp. AG-A isolates (e.g., GenBank Accession No. JQ688054.1; strain HY-15). Therefore, based on morphological and molecular characteristics, these isolates were identified to be BNR AG-A. To determine the pathogenicity of the isolates, sugar beet (cv. HI0305) seedlings were inoculated with wheat seeds colonized with each of the isolated Rhizoctonia strains (one seed per seedling), and grew in pots under greenhouse conditions (3). After 3 weeks, some inoculated plants showed damping-off as observed in the nurseries, whereas noninoculated control plants (sterile wheat seeds only) remained healthy. Disease incidence from the trials averaged 53.3%, 70%, and 53.3% for the isolates HLJ-RAA1, HLJ-RAB1, and HLJ-RAB2, respectively. The three BNR cultures of the pathogens were consistently reisolated from symptomatic roots, and their identities confirmed by morphological and molecular characteristics as described above, fulfilling Koch's postulates. BNR AG-A was previously reported to be pathogenic to soybean, pea, snap bean, and pak choy in China (4). However, to our knowledge, this is the first report of BNR AG-A causing sugar beet seedling damping-off in China. Sugar beet is often grown in crop rotation with soya bean and such a rotation could increase the risk of soilborne infection to either crop by BNR AG-A. References: (1) W. C. Kronland and M. E. Stanghellini. Phytopathology 78:820, 1988. (2) E. O'Sullivan and J. A. Kavanagh. Plant Pathol. 40:128, 1991. (3) C. E. Windels and D. J. Nabben. Phytopathology 79:83, 1989. (4) G. H. Yang et al. J. Phytopathol. 153:333, 2005.

BLyS expression and JNK activation may form a feedback loop to promote survival and proliferation of multiple myeloma cells

B-Lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), a member of tumor necrosis factor superfamily, is a potent co-activator of B cells in vitro, and in vivo induces B cell proliferation and immunoglobulin secretion. Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable malignancy of terminally differentiated B cells (plasma cells). Previous studies have well ascertained that BLyS plays an important contributory role in the pathogenesis and propagation of multiple myeloma by virtue of its ability to promote B cell survival, expansion, and differentiation. However, the intracellular signaling of BLyS in human MM cells remains undefined. This study was designed to see whether there was interaction between MAPK signaling pathway and BLyS expression. It was found that the active protein p-JNK was expressed in KM3, U266 and PBMCs of MM patients, and that the expression of BLyS could be changed by JNK pathway activator and inhibitor. In addition, recombinant BLyS activated JNK pathway, while BLyS siRNA treatment inhibited the activation of JNK pathway. The level of BLyS expression and the activation of JNK pathway were positively correlated. These findings suggest that JNK activation and BLyS expression in MM cells may form a positive feedback loop that promotes the survival and proliferation of MM cells, and these may shed some light on the pathogenesis and treatment of MM.