Correlation between expression of S100A4 and VEGF-C, and lymph node metastasis and prognosis in gastric carcinoma

This semiquantitative immunohistochemical study investigated the clinical significance of S100A4 and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) protein expression in gastric carcinoma. Correlations between S100A4 and VEGF-C immunoreactivity and clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated using 108 gastric carcinoma specimens and 20 specimens of tissue adjacent to gastric carcinoma. S100A4 and VEGF-C expression in carcinoma was higher than that in adjacent tissues. S100A4 expression was significantly related to tumour size and lymph node metastasis, whereas VEGF-C expression was associated with invasion depth, lymph node metastasis and tumour, node, metastasis (TNM) stage. A significant correlation was found between S100A4 and VEGF-C expression. Patients expressing S100A4 or VEGF-C showed no significant reduction in 5-year survival rate compared with those not expressing these proteins. Sex, age, tumour size, invasion depth, lymph node involvement, TNM stage, S100A4 expression and VEGF-C expression had a common effect on carcinoma prognosis but none was an independent prognostic factor.

Antigen-specific T-regulatory cells can extend skin graft survival time in mice

This study investigated the effects of donor antigen-specific CD4(+)CD25(+) T-regulatory cells (Tregs) on skin allografts in mice. An allogeneic skin transplant model was established using donor C57BL/6 or DBA and recipient BALB/c mice. Recipients were divided into 4 groups: control group without intervention (CON; C57BL/6 to BALB/c), rapamycin gavage group (RAP; C57BL/6 to BALB/c), CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs-treated group (TRE; C57BL/6 to BALB/c), in which recipients received transfusions of CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs stimulated with C57BL/6-derived immature dendritic cells, and the third-party donor group (DBA; DBA to BALB/c) in which recipients received transfusions of BALB/c CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs stimulated with C57BL/6-derived immature dendritic cells. Mean (SD) survival time of the skin allografts in the TRE group was 17.0 (3.4) days, significantly longer than in the other groups: CON, 6.9 (1.9) days; RAP, 10.3 (3.0) days; and DBA, 10.8 (3.6) days. The TRE group demonstrated a significantly greater expression of transforming growth factor-β and interleukin (IL)-10. Donor antigen-specific CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs effectively extend skin allograft survival in mice.

First Record of the Cereal Cyst Nematode Heterodera filipjevi in China

Cereal cyst nematode (CCN) is now recognized as a widespread and often damaging parasite of wheat in China. Only Heterodera avenae has been reported in China (4). However, molecular analysis of four samples from Beijing and one from Shanxi Province indicated genetic differences from H. avenae and other named species (3). Here we report the detection of H. filipjevi at a site in Henan Province that was not included in any previous study or report. The infested crop was rainfed winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) cv. Wenmai 19 in a field near Banpopu Village in Xuchang County (34.0447°N, 113.7415°E) with a long-established maize-wheat semiannual crop rotation. During the winter growing season, the crop was patchy with uneven growth and cyst nematode females were observed on the roots. In June 2009, soil was collected and mature cysts were extracted for morphological and molecular identification. Cysts were also kept at 4°C for 2 months and then incubated in shallow water at 15°C for a month to obtain second-stage juveniles (J2). Measurements (range; mean ± sd) of 10 cysts were body length including neck (569 to 786 μm; 699 ± 56), body width (403 to 600 μm; 523 ± 55), length:width ratio (1.3 to 1.5; 1.3 ± 0.1), neck length (61 to 125 μm; 106 ± 19) and width (49 to 83 μm; 69 ± 13), fenestra length (52 to 59 μm; 57 ± 2.9) and width (24.5 to 34.4; 27.9 ± 3.5), underbridge (64 to 101 μm; 85 ± 10), and vulval slit (7.4 to 10.0 μm; 9.6 ± 1.0). Lemon-shaped cysts were brown with a surface zigzag pattern. The vulval cone was bifenestrate with horseshoe-shaped semifenestra, with heavy underbridge and many bullae. The J2 (n = 22) measurements were body length (496 to 590 μm; 552 ± 24), body width (20.0 to 23.8; 21.5 ± 0.9), stylet (22.8 to 25.3; 24.0 ± 1.0) with anchor-shaped basal knobs, tail (47 to 64; 61.6 ± 4.4), and hyaline tail terminus (32 to 43; 40.2 ± 3.0). The J2 had up to four lateral lines, but the inner two were often the only lines clearly visible, and the shape of the stylet knobs, tail, and tail terminus were consistent with H. filipjevi. All morphological data and characters were consistent with H. filipjevi (1). Specimens have been lodged with the Australian National Insect Collection. DNA from single cysts was extracted to amplify the internal transcribed spacer region of rDNA by PCR with forward primer TW81 (5'-GTTTCCGTAGGTGAACCTGC-3') and reverse primer AB28 (5'-ATATGCTTAAGTTCAGCGGGT-3') (2). The PCR product was sequenced (Genbank Accession No. HM027892) and digested by restriction enzymes (AluI, CfoI, HaeI, HinfI, PstI, RsaI, TaqI, and Tru9I) to obtain restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles (2). Profiles for the Xuchang population consistently matched those published for H. filipjevi and were distinct from those of H. avenae and other species (3). Phylogenic analysis of the sequence further indicated conspecificity with H. filipjevi. These morphological and molecular data confirmed that the specimens from Xuchang were H. filipjevi, which represents the first detection of H. filipjevi in China, and extends the known distribution of the species from Europe, North America, South Asia, and West Asia to East Asia. This finding adds complexity to the management of CCN in China, especially for control by host resistance, which now must consider both species and pathotype diversity. References: (1) Z. A. Handoo. J. Nematol. 34:250, 2002. (2) S. A. Subbotin et al. Nematology 2:153, 2000. (3) S. A. Subbotin et al. Nematology 5:515, 2003. (4) H. X. Yuan et al. Australas. Plant Pathol. 39:107, 2010.

In situ thin film growth stresses during chemical ordering

The in situ growth stress and postgrowth stress relaxation during the L1(0) chemical ordering of Fe0.54Pt0.46 thin films have been characterized. The compressive stress is reduced with an increase in order parameter. The postgrowth stress relaxation rate increased with the order parameter and is rationalized in terms of an increase in the interfacial energy contribution at the grain boundaries because of chemical order. Density functional theory calculations were performed to quantify possible diffusion pathways and binding energies for Fe and Pt that may mitigate surface migration.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of the genome organization of the 6-banded armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus)

Xenarthra, as the probable earliest offshoot of the placental tree, represents a key taxon for understanding mammalian phylogeny. To gain further insight into the chromosomal evolution and genome organization of the xenarthrans, we have established the first genome-wide comparative chromosome map between human and the 6-banded armadillo (Euphractussexcinctus, 2n = 58), a basal species on the Xenarthra branch, by reciprocal cross-species chromosome painting. In total, 22 human autosomal paints revealed 41 homologous segments in the euchromatic genome of E. sexcinctus. Our results provide further support for the notion that the 2 human homologous segmental associations, i.e. HSA 2/8 and 7a/10p, could constitute the synapomorphies that unite the xenarthrans. Moreover, we propose that the putative ancestral Xenarthra karyotype closely resemble the 2n = 54 karyotype of the E. sexcinctus, consisting of the equivalents of HSA1p, 1q, 2a, 2b, 2c/8c, 3/21, 4a, 4b/8b, 5, 6a, 6b, 7a/10p, 7b/16p, 8a, 9, 10q, 11, 12a/22a, 12b/22b, 13, 14/15, 16q/19q, 17, 18, 19p, 20, and X. In addition, we have analysed the C-banding patterns of E. sexcinctus, and cloned, FISHmapped and sequenced 7 novel repetitive DNA segments, providing further information on the complexity of genome architecture of E. sexcinctus.

Comparative In Vivo Study on the Desensitizing Efficacy of Dentin Desensitizers and One-bottle Self-etching Adhesives

Dentin desensitizers and one-bottle self-etching adhesives can significantly reduce dentin hypersensitivity. Clinical desensitizing effectiveness depends on the individual dentin desensitizers/adhesives used.