Long noncoding RNA AFAP1-AS1 promoted osteosarcoma proliferation and invasion via upregulating BDNF

OBJECTIVE

Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have got much attention for their role in tumor progression. LncRNA AFAP1-AS1 was studied in this research to identify how it affects the development and proliferation of osteosarcoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The mRNA expression of AFAP1-AS1 in osteosarcoma cells and tissue samples was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Moreover, cell proliferation assay and Matrigel assay were performed. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism was explored by using qRT-PCR and Western blot assay.

RESULTS

The expression level of AFAP1-AS1 was higher in osteosarcoma samples than that in adjacent tissues. In addition, the proliferation and invasion were inhibited after AFAP1-AS1 was downregulated in vitro. Besides, the mRNA and protein expression levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were reduced after downregulation of AFAP1-AS1. Furthermore, the expression level of BDNF was positively related to the expression of AFAP1-AS1 in osteosarcoma tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

AFAP1-AS1 could enhance the proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells by upregulating BDNF, which might be a potential therapeutic target in osteosarcoma.

Long noncoding RNA GAS5 enhanced by curcumin relieves poststroke depression by targeting miR-10b/BDNF in rats

The treatment for post-stroke depression (PSD) is mainly based on a therapeutic strategy combining anti-stroke and anti-depressant drugs. In the present study, the therapeutic effect of curcumin on rats with PSD was detected by open field tests and tail suspension tests, as well as the examination of corticosterone and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) levels in the serum and neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and dopamine (DA) levels in the hippocampus. Curcumin notably alleviated depression compared to the controls. Furthermore, long noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) enhanced by curcumin contributed to activation of the BDNF/Trkβ signaling pathway to promote the expression of synaptic-related proteins. GAS5 was demonstrated to function as a sponge of miR-10b. GAS5 upregulation by curcumin could reduce miR-10b to compromise the BDNF mRNA levels. Taken together, these results revealed a novel mechanism of curcumin on PSD through the GAS5/miR-10b/BDNF regulatory axis.

The phoma-like dilemma

Species of Didymellaceae have a cosmopolitan distribution and are geographically widespread, occurring in diverse ecosystems. The family includes several important plant pathogenic fungi associated with fruit, leaf, stem and root diseases on a wide variety of hosts, as well as endophytic, saprobic and clinically relevant species. The Didymellaceae was recently revised based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses of ex-type strains subjected to DNA sequencing of partial gene data of the LSU, ITS, rpb2 and tub2 loci. Several poly- and paraphyletic genera, including Ascochyta, Didymella and Phoma were redefined, along with the introduction of new genera. In the present study, a global collection of 1 124 Didymellaceae strains from 92 countries, 121 plant families and 55 other substrates, including air, coral, human tissues, house dust, fungi, insects, soil, and water were examined via multi-locus phylogenetic analyses and detailed morphological comparisons, representing the broadest sampling of Didymellaceae to date. Among these, 97 isolates representing seven new genera, 40 new species and 21 new combinations were newly introduced in Didymellaceae. In addition, six epitypes and six neotypes were designated to stabilise the taxonomy and use of older names. A robust, multi-locus reference phylogenetic tree of Didymellaceae was generated. In addition, rpb2 was revealed as the most effective locus for the identification of Didymellaceae at species level, and is proposed as a secondary DNA marker for the family.

POF (paclitaxel/oxaliplatin/5-FU/leucovorin) versus SOX/CAPOX/FOLFOX as a postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for curatively resected stage III gastric cancer: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial, FNF-014 trial

TPS4647

Background: Postoperative chemotherapy (S-1, CAPOX, or Docetaxel/S-1) is a standard treatment for stage II/III gastric cancer in Asia. With regard to single agent or doublet, the need for improvement has consistently been pointed out because of the relatively poor outcome for patients with stage III gastric cancer. Triplet (FLOT) has shown significant survival benefits in perioperative setting. POF, our regiment similar to FLOT, demonstrated priority to doublet (FOLFOX) in advanced setting (2019 ASCO-GI). We conducted a randomized, multicenter, phase III study to compare triplet to doublet regimens for patients with stage III gastric cancer. Methods: This is currently enrolling patients (n = 544) with pathologic stage III gastric cancer after D2 lymph node dissection. Patients are randomized 1:1 and stratified by tumor stage (IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC, AJCC 8th) into POF or SOX/CAPOX/FOLFOX (chosen by the clinicians). SOX: oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 on day 1, oral S-1 80mg/m2 divided by two on days 1 to 14 every 21 days for 8 cycles. CAPOX: oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 on day 1, oral capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1 to 14 every 21 days for 8 cycles. FOLFOX: oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, levo-leucovorin 200 mg/m2, and 5-FU 400 mg/m2 bolus on day 1, then 5-FU 2400 mg/m2 continuous infusion over 46 hours, every 14 days for 12 cycles. Three doublets were chosen by the clinicians. POF: paclitaxel 135 mg/m2, followed by FOLFOX omitted 5-FU bolus, every 14 days for 12 cycles. Eligibility criteria: patients aged 18-70 years, primary histologically proven gastric adenocarcinoma (including adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction) of stage III with no evidence of metastatic disease, R0 resection with D2 lymph node dissection, good performance status (ECOG PS ≤1). Subjects must be able to take orally, and without other concomitant medical conditions that required treatment, initially treated with curative surgery followed by chemotherapy within 42 days. Life expectancy estimated more than 6 months. Adequate organ function. All patients provided written informed consent prior to treatment. Key exclusion criteria: patients with other primary malignancies, gastrointestinal bleeding. The primary end point is 3-year disease-free survival. Secondary end points are 3-year overall survival, 5-year overall survival, 5-year disease-free survival, and adverse events. Clinical trial information: NCT03788226 .

New and Interesting Fungi. 3

Seven new genera, 26 new species, 10 new combinations, two epitypes, one new name, and 20 interesting new host and / or geographical records are introduced in this study. New genera are: Italiofungus (based on Italiofungus phillyreae) on leaves of Phillyrea latifolia (Italy); Neolamproconium (based on Neolamproconium silvestre) on branch of Tilia sp. (Ukraine); Neosorocybe (based on Neosorocybe pini) on trunk of Pinus sylvestris (Ukraine); Nothoseptoria (based on Nothoseptoria caraganae) on leaves of Caragana arborescens (Russia); Pruniphilomyces (based on Pruniphilomyces circumscissus) on Prunus cerasus (Russia); Vesiculozygosporium (based on Vesiculozygosporium echinosporum) on leaves of Muntingia calabura (Malaysia); Longiseptatispora (based on Longiseptatispora curvata) on leaves of Lonicera tatarica (Russia). New species are: Barrmaelia serenoae on leaf of Serenoa repens (USA); Chaetopsina gautengina on leaves of unidentified grass (South Africa); Chloridium pini on fallen trunk of Pinus sylvestris (Ukraine); Cadophora fallopiae on stems of Reynoutria sachalinensis (Poland); Coleophoma eucalyptigena on leaf litter of Eucalyptus sp. (Spain); Cylindrium corymbiae on leaves of Corymbia maculata (Australia); Diaporthe tarchonanthi on leaves of Tarchonanthus littoralis (South Africa); Elsinoe eucalyptorum on leaves of Eucalyptus propinqua (Australia); Exophiala quercina on dead wood of Quercus sp., (Germany); Fusarium californicum on cambium of budwood of Prunus dulcis (USA); Hypomyces gamsii on wood of Alnus glutinosa (Ukraine); Kalmusia araucariae on leaves of Araucaria bidwillii (USA); Lectera sambuci on leaves of Sambucus nigra (Russia); Melanomma populicola on fallen twig of Populus canadensis (Netherlands), Neocladosporium syringae on branches of Syringa vulgarishorus (Ukraine); Paraconiothyrium iridis on leaves of Iris pseudacorus (Ukraine); Pararoussoella quercina on branch of Quercus robur (Ukraine); Phialemonium pulveris from bore dust of deathwatch beetle (France); Polyscytalum pinicola on needles of Pinus tecunumanii (Malaysia); Acervuloseptoria fraxini on Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Russia); Roussoella arundinacea on culms of Arundo donax (Spain); Sphaerulina neoaceris on leaves of Acer negundo (Russia); Sphaerulina salicicola on leaves of Salix fragilis (Russia); Trichomerium syzygii on leaves of Syzygium cordatum (South Africa); Uzbekistanica vitis-viniferae on dead stem of Vitis vinifera (Ukraine); Vermiculariopsiella eucalyptigena on leaves of Eucalyptus sp. (Australia).

[Application of endoscopic resection of benign tumor in infratemporal fossa]

Objective: To explore the application of endoscopy and clinical effect of endoscopic resection of benign tumor in infratemporal fossa. Methods: The clinical data of 11 patients with benign tumors in infratemporal fossa admitted to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Skull Base Surgery of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2016 to September 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 6 males and 5 females, with the age ranging from 11 to 63 years old. The main clinical manifestations were pharyngeal foreign body sensation, submaxillary pain, maxillofacial numbness and tongue numbness. Imaging examination showed that the tumor was round and had a clear boundary with the surrounding tissue. All the patients underwent endoscopic surgery. Appropriate surgical approach was selected according to the location of the tumor and its relationship with the internal carotid artery. The endoscopic surgical approaches included trans-oropharyngeal approach in 7 cases, trans-lateral pterygomandibular raphe approach in 1 case and trans-medial pterygomandibular raphe approach in 3 cases. The pathological results, prognosis, complications and relapse of patients were summarized through descriptive statistics. Results: The tumors were completely resected under endoscope in all patients, and there was no significant complication occurred after surgery. The average pain VAS score was 3.1 after surgery and average hospital stay was 5.9 d. The postoperative pathological diagnoses consisted of 6 cases of pleomorphic adenoma, 4 cases of neurilemmoma and 1 case of basal cell adenoma. All patients were followed up regularly from 6 to 39 months without recurrence of tumor. Conclusion: Endoscopic resection of benign tumors in infratemporal fossa has the advantages of minimal damage, rapid recovery, few complications, and definite curative effect, which can be used as an important alternative for surgical treatment of benign tumors.

Evaluation of 11C-NR2B-SMe and Its Enantiomers as PET Radioligands for Imaging the NR2B Subunit Within the NMDA Receptor Complex in Rats

[S-methyl-¹¹C](±)-7-methoxy-3-(4-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)butyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepin-1-ol (¹¹C-NR2B-SMe) and its enantiomers were synthesized as candidates for imaging the NR2B subunit within the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor with PET. Methods: Brains were scanned with PET for 90 min after intravenous injection of one of the candidate radioligands into rats. To detect any NR2B-specific binding of radioligand in brain, various preblocking or displacing agents were evaluated for their impact on the PET brain imaging data. Radiometabolites from brain and other tissues were measured ex vivo and in vitro. Results: Each radioligand gave high early whole-brain uptake of radioactivity, followed by a brief fast decline and then a slow final decline. ¹¹C-(S)-NR2B-SMe was studied extensively. Ex vivo measurements showed that radioactivity in rat brain at 30 min after radioligand injection was virtually unchanged radioligand. Only less lipophilic radiometabolites appeared in plasma. High-affinity NR2B ligands, Ro-25-6981, ifenprodil, and CO101244, showed increasing preblocking of whole-brain radioactivity retention with increasing dose (0.01-3.00 mg/kg, intravenously). Five σ₁ antagonists (FTC146, BD1407, F3, F4, and NE100) and 4 σ₁ agonists ((+)-pentazocine, (±)-PPCC, PRE-084, and (+)-SKF10047) were ineffective preblocking agents, except FTC146 and F4 at a high dose. Two potent σ₁ receptor agonists, TC1 and SA4503, showed dose-dependent preblocking effects in the presence or absence of pharmacologic σ₁ receptor blockade with FTC146. Conclusion: ¹¹C-(S)-NR2B-SMe has adequate NR2B-specific PET signal in rat brain to warrant further evaluation in higher species. TC1 and SA4503 likely have off-target binding to NR2B in vivo.

P1709 Left atrial strain: a novel prognostic marker in patients with chronic kidney disease

Funding Acknowledgements

Nil

Background and objectives

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events that are underestimated by traditional risk stratification algorithms. We sought to determine clinical and echocardiographic predictors of adverse outcomes in CKD patients.

Methods

Stage 3 and 4 CKD patients without previous cardiac disease underwent a comprehensive transthoracic and stress echocardiogram, with left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) strain analysis. Participants were followed for the primary end point of a composite of all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The secondary end point was a composite of cardiovascular death and MACE.

Results

243 patients (male 63%; mean age 59.2 ± 14.4 years) were followed for a median of 3.9 ± 2.7 years. 69 patients met the primary endpoint and 58 the secondary end point. Age (p < 0.01), history of diabetes mellitus (p < 0.01), indexed LV mass(LVMI) (p < 0.01), LV global longitudinal strain(GLS) (p < 0.01), indexed LA volume(LAVI) (p < 0.01), E/e’ ratio (p < 0.01) and LA strain (LAs) (p < 0.01) were independent predictors of death and MACE. On Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, LAs (p < 0.01) was the only independent predictor for the primary end point in a model accounting for age, diabetes mellitus, LVMI, LVGLS, E/e’ and LAVI. LAs remained an independent predictor for the secondary end point.

Conclusions

LAs is an independent predictor of death and MACE in CKD patients, in whom the predominant cardiac abnormality is diastolic impairment. LAs is a prognostic biomarker, reflecting alterations in diastolic function in CKD.

Abstract P1709 Figure. Kaplan Meier curve of LAs

Fungal Planet description sheets: 951-1041

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antarctica, Apenidiella antarctica from permafrost, Cladosporium fildesense from an unidentified marine sponge. Argentina, Geastrum wrightii on humus in mixed forest. Australia, Golovinomyces glandulariae on Glandularia aristigera, Neoanungitea eucalyptorum on leaves of Eucalyptus grandis, Teratosphaeria corymbiicola on leaves of Corymbia ficifolia, Xylaria eucalypti on leaves of Eucalyptus radiata. Brazil, Bovista psammophila on soil, Fusarium awaxy on rotten stalks of Zea mays, Geastrum lanuginosum on leaf litter covered soil, Hermetothecium mikaniae-micranthae (incl. Hermetothecium gen. nov.) on Mikania micrantha, Penicillium reconvexovelosoi in soil, Stagonosporopsis vannaccii from pod of Glycine max. British Virgin Isles, Lactifluus guanensis on soil. Canada, Sorocybe oblongispora on resin of Picea rubens. Chile, Colletotrichum roseum on leaves of Lapageria rosea. China, Setophoma caverna from carbonatite in Karst cave. Colombia, Lareunionomyces eucalypticola on leaves of Eucalyptus grandis. Costa Rica, Psathyrella pivae on wood. Cyprus, Clavulina iris on calcareous substrate. France, Chromosera ambigua and Clavulina iris var. occidentalis on soil. French West Indies, Helminthosphaeria hispidissima on dead wood. Guatemala, Talaromyces guatemalensis in soil. Malaysia, Neotracylla pini (incl. Tracyllales ord. nov. and Neotracylla gen. nov.) and Vermiculariopsiella pini on needles of Pinus tecunumanii. New Zealand, Neoconiothyrium viticola on stems of Vitis vinifera, Parafenestella pittospori on Pittosporum tenuifolium, Pilidium novae-zelandiae on Phoenix sp. Pakistan, Russula quercus-floribundae on forest floor. Portugal, Trichoderma aestuarinum from saline water. Russia, Pluteus liliputianus on fallen branch of deciduous tree, Pluteus spurius on decaying deciduous wood or soil. South Africa, Alloconiothyrium encephalarti, Phyllosticta encephalarticola and Neothyrostroma encephalarti (incl. Neothyrostroma gen. nov.) on leaves of Encephalartos sp., Chalara eucalypticola on leaf spots of Eucalyptus grandis × urophylla, Clypeosphaeria oleae on leaves of Olea capensis, Cylindrocladiella postalofficium on leaf litter of Sideroxylon inerme, Cylindromonium eugeniicola (incl. Cylindromonium gen. nov.) on leaf litter of Eugenia capensis, Cyphellophora goniomatis on leaves of Gonioma kamassi, Nothodactylaria nephrolepidis (incl. Nothodactylaria gen. nov. and Nothodactylariaceae fam. nov.) on leaves of Nephrolepis exaltata, Falcocladium eucalypti and Gyrothrix eucalypti on leaves of Eucalyptus sp., Gyrothrix oleae on leaves of Olea capensis subsp. macrocarpa, Harzia metrosideri on leaf litter of Metrosideros sp., Hippopotamyces phragmitis (incl. Hippopotamyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Phragmites australis, Lectera philenopterae on Philenoptera violacea, Leptosillia mayteni on leaves of Maytenus heterophylla, Lithohypha aloicola and Neoplatysporoides aloes on leaves of Aloe sp., Millesimomyces rhoicissi (incl. Millesimomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Rhoicissus digitata, Neodevriesia strelitziicola on leaf litter of Strelitzia nicolai, Neokirramyces syzygii (incl. Neokirramyces gen. nov.) on leaf spots of Syzygium sp., Nothoramichloridium perseae (incl. Nothoramichloridium gen. nov. and Anungitiomycetaceae fam. nov.) on leaves of Persea americana, Paramycosphaerella watsoniae on leaf spots of Watsonia sp., Penicillium cuddlyae from dog food, Podocarpomyces knysnanus (incl. Podocarpomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Podocarpus falcatus, Pseudocercospora heteropyxidicola on leaf spots of Heteropyxis natalensis, Pseudopenidiella podocarpi, Scolecobasidium podocarpi and Ceramothyrium podocarpicola on leaves of Podocarpus latifolius, Scolecobasidium blechni on leaves of Blechnum capense, Stomiopeltis syzygii on leaves of Syzygium chordatum, Strelitziomyces knysnanus (incl. Strelitziomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Strelitzia alba, Talaromyces clemensii from rotting wood in goldmine, Verrucocladosporium visseri on Carpobrotus edulis. Spain, Boletopsis mediterraneensis on soil, Calycina cortegadensisi on a living twig of Castanea sativa, Emmonsiellopsis tuberculata in fluvial sediments, Mollisia cortegadensis on dead attached twig of Quercus robur, Psathyrella ovispora on soil, Pseudobeltrania lauri on leaf litter of Laurus azorica, Terfezia dunensis in soil, Tuber lucentum in soil, Venturia submersa on submerged plant debris. Thailand, Cordyceps jakajanicola on cicada nymph, Cordyceps kuiburiensis on spider, Distoseptispora caricis on leaves of Carex sp., Ophiocordyceps khonkaenensis on cicada nymph. USA, Cytosporella juncicola and Davidiellomyces juncicola on culms of Juncus effusus, Monochaetia massachusettsianum from air sample, Neohelicomyces melaleucae and Periconia neobrittanica on leaves of Melaleuca styphelioides × lanceolata, Pseudocamarosporium eucalypti on leaves of Eucalyptus sp., Pseudogymnoascus lindneri from sediment in a mine, Pseudogymnoascus turneri from sediment in a railroad tunnel, Pulchroboletus sclerotiorum on soil, Zygosporium pseudomasonii on leaf of Serenoa repens. Vietnam, Boletus candidissimus and Veloporphyrellus vulpinus on soil. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.

Expression level of proteoglycan, collagen and type II collagen in osteoarthritis rat model is promoted and degradation of cartilage is prevented by glucosamine methyl ester

OBJECTIVE

In the current study, the effect of glucosamine methyl ester on cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis rat model was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into 5 groups of 8 animals each. Osteoarthritis was induced in 4 groups using medial parapatellar incision followed by anterior cruciate ligament transection and meniscectomy. Normal and model osteoarthritis groups were given normal saline. The three treatment groups received 2, 5 and 10 mg/kg doses of glucosamine methyl ester daily for one month.

RESULTS

Microscopic examination of the knee cartilage showed a significant reduction in degeneration score in the treatment groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed inhibition of interleukin-1β expression and nitric oxide generation on treatment with glucosamine methyl ester. Expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-3 and -13 in the treatment groups were significantly lower compared to the model osteoarthritis group. Polymerase chain reaction revealed an increased expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 on treatment of rats with glucosamine methyl ester. In the osteoarthritis rats treated with various doses of glucosamine methyl ester staining, the level of toluidine blue and Masson's trichrome increased. In addition, the level of type II collagen was also higher in the rats of treatment group. The level of proteoglycan, collagen and type II collagen in OA rats treated with 10 mg/kg doses was ~3.2- (p<0.01), 2.4- (p<0.02), and 3.6- (p<0.05) fold, respectively higher compared to the untreated animals.

CONCLUSIONS

Glucosamine methyl ester, therefore, prevents degeneration of cartilage in osteoarthritis rats. It exhibits its effect by promoting proteoglycan, collagen, type II collagen, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1, and decreasing matrix metalloproteinase. Therefore, glucosamine methyl ester exhibits therapeutic effect against osteoarthritis.

Liberibacter crescens Is a Cultured Surrogate for Functional Genomics of Uncultured Pathogenic 'Candidatus Liberibacter' spp. and Is Naturally Competent for Transformation

'Candidatus Liberibacter' spp. are uncultured insect endosymbionts and phloem-limited bacterial plant pathogens associated with diseases ranging from severe to nearly asymptomatic. 'Ca. L. asiaticus', causal agent of Huanglongbing or citrus "greening," and 'Ca. L. solanacearum', causal agent of potato zebra chip disease, respectively threaten citrus and potato production worldwide. Research on both pathogens has been stymied by the inability to culture these agents and to reinoculate into any host. Only a single isolate of a single species of Liberibacter, Liberibacter crescens, has been axenically cultured. L. crescens strain BT-1 is genetically tractable to standard molecular manipulation techniques and has been developed as a surrogate model for functional studies of genes, regulatory elements, promoters, and secreted effectors derived from the uncultured pathogenic Liberibacters. Detailed, step-by-step, and highly reproducible protocols for axenic culture, transformation, and targeted gene knockouts of L. crescens are described. In the course of developing these protocols, we found that L. crescens is also naturally competent for direct uptake and homology-guided chromosomal integration of both linear and circular plasmid DNA. The efficiency of natural transformation was about an order of magnitude higher using circular plasmid DNA compared with linearized fragments. Natural transformation using a replicative plasmid was obtained at a rate of approximately 900 transformants per microgram of plasmid, whereas electroporation using the same plasmid resulted in 6 × 10⁴ transformants. Homology-guided marker interruptions using either natural uptake or electroporation of nonreplicative plasmids yielded 10 to 12 transformation events per microgram of DNA, whereas similar interruptions using linear fragments via natural uptake yielded up to 34 transformation events per microgram of DNA.

Genera of phytopathogenic fungi: GOPHY 3

This paper represents the third contribution in the Genera of Phytopathogenic Fungi (GOPHY) series. The series provides morphological descriptions, information about the pathology, distribution, hosts and disease symptoms for the treated genera, as well as primary and secondary DNA barcodes for the currently accepted species included in these. This third paper in the GOPHY series treats 21 genera of phytopathogenic fungi and their relatives including: Allophoma, Alternaria, Brunneosphaerella, Elsinoe, Exserohilum, Neosetophoma, Neostagonospora, Nothophoma, Parastagonospora, Phaeosphaeriopsis, Pleiocarpon, Pyrenophora, Ramichloridium, Seifertia, Seiridium, Septoriella, Setophoma, Stagonosporopsis, Stemphylium, Tubakia and Zasmidium. This study includes three new genera, 42 new species, 23 new combinations, four new names, and three typifications of older names.

[Relationship between selenium and the risk for oral cancer: a case-control study]

Objective: To explore the relationship between selenium and the risk for oral cancer. Methods: We performed a case-control study in 325 cases of newly diagnosed primary oral cancer from the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University and 650 controls from the same hospital and community. Unconditional logistic regression and stratification analyses were used to explore the association between selenium and oral cancer. Adjusted OR and corresponding 95%CI were calculated. The analyses on multiple interactions between selenium and smoking or drinking status, and fruit or fish intake frequencies were conducted. Results: The level of serum selenium was 112.42 (80.98-145.06) μg/L in the case group, which was lower than 164.85 (144.44-188.53) μg/L in control group, the difference was statistical significant (P<0.01). There was a negative correlation between serum selenium level and the risk for oral cancer regardless of smoking and drinking status, and fruits and fish intake frequencies (P<0.05). There were multiple interactions between serum selenium level and smoking or drinking status, and fruit and fish intakes. Conclusions: The high level of serum selenium is a protective factor for the incidence of oral cancer, and serum selenium has multiple interactions with smoking or drinking status, and fruit and fish intakes. Therefore, reducing tobacco use and alcohol consumption and increasing the intakes of fruit and fish can reduce the risk for oral cancer to some extent.

[Clinicopathologic features and prognostic analyses of locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma patients after initial surgery]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinicopathologic features and potential prognostic predictors of locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma patients after initial surgery.

METHODS

Authors retrospectively analyzed data extracted from 81 patients who were treated for postoperative locally recurrence of renal cell carcinoma from January 2006 to June 2016 in the Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital. Postoperative locally recurrence of renal cell carcinoma was defined as disease recurring in the remnant kidney, renal fossa, adjacent abdomen, ipsilateral adrenal and retroperitoneal lymph nodes.

RESULTS

In the study, 81 patients were finally included, of whom 43 were initially treated in our hospital and 38 were initially treat in other centers. Partial nephrectomy (PN) was performed for 38 cases (26 in our hospital and 12 in other hospitals) as initial treatment and radical nephrectomy (RN) was conducted for the remnant 43 cases (17 in our hospital and 26 in other hospitals). Overall median recurrence time was 26 months (range: 3-164 months), in which 26 months (range: 3-55 months) for PN cases and 30 months (range: 4-164 months) for RN cases (P=0.009). Sixty-nine patients had single site recurrence, including remnant kidney (n=29), renal fossa (n=20), abdomen (n=4), ipsilateral lymph nodes (n=5), ipsilateral adrenal (n=11), while 12 patients had multiple sites recurrence. Seventy-eight patients were managed by complete surgical resection, while three patients were managed by radiofrequency ablation. Postoperative pathological diagnoses included clear cell carcinoma (n=72), papillary renal cell carcinoma (n=8, 7 cases with type 1, 1 case with type 2) and Xp11 translocation/TFE3 gene fusion renal cell carcinoma (n=1). Complete pathologic information of the initial surgery could be extracted from 43 patients who were initially treated in our hospital. Seventeen patients with initial radical nephrectomy were staged as T1a (n=4), T1b (n=2), T2a (n=1), T3a (n=8), and T3b (n=2). Twenty-six patients with initial partial nephrectomy were staged as T1a (n=18), T1b (n=7), and T3a (n=1). For PN cohort, the patients with T1a stage disease had longer median recurrence time than those with beyond T1a stage disease, and the difference was significant (29 months vs. 18 months, P=0.041). At the end of the follow-up, 58 patients were alive, 4 died and 19 lost the follow-up. Overall, 3-year and 5-year disease free survival rates were 81.9%, and 53.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The present research reported a large-scale single central experience of locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma. The recurrence time of the PN group is shorter than that of the RN group. For patients after PN surgery, median recurrence time is longer for patients with T1a stage tumor when compared with those with stage beyond T1a. Patients can obtain relative long-term survival after complete secondary surgery resection.

Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti complex from China

The Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC) is shown to encompass 33 phylogenetic species, across a wide range of habitats/hosts around the world. Here, 77 pathogenic and endophytic FIESC strains collected from China were studied to investigate the phylogenetic relationships within FIESC, based on a polyphasic approach combining morphological characters, multi-locus phylogeny and distribution patterns. The importance of standardised cultural methods to the identification and classification of taxa in the FIESC is highlighted. Morphological features of macroconidia, including the shape, size and septum number, were considered as diagnostic characters within the FIESC. A multi-locus dataset encompassing the 5.8S nuclear ribosomal gene with the two flanking internal transcribed spacers (ITS), translation elongation factor (EF-1α), calmodulin (CAM), partial RNA polymerase largest subunit (RPB1) and partial RNA polymerase second largest subunit (RPB2), was generated to distinguish species within the FIESC. Nine novel species were identified and described. The RPB2 locus is demonstrated to be a primary barcode with high success rate in amplification, and to have the best species delimitation compared to the other four tested loci.

Association of high copy number instability (CNI) score with prognosis in patients with gastric cancer after surgical resection

e15552

Background: As the fifth most common malignancies and the third leading cause of cancer death in the world, gastric cancer (GC) is often diagnosed in locally advanced or metastatic stage and, therefore, has a poor prognosis. Copy number instability (CNI) score, interpreted as the general measure of genomic instability, was reported as a prognosis predictor of some types of cancer, but its role in prognosis of GC patients remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate its prognostic value in patients with GC after surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: The present study included 120 patients who had received gastrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy with stage II-IV GC. Follow-up was available for them. DNA was extracted from primary formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor specimens and matched blood samples. Genomic profiles were analyzed by using a designed panel (1408 genes) based on next generation sequencing (NGS). Results: The most frequently mutated genes were TP53 (49%), PIK3CA (8%), RNF43 (6%) ERBB3 (6%) and APC (6%), and the most frequently amplified genes were TRPS1 (41%), COL1A2 (31%), CSMD3 (29%), ZFHX4 (29%), NAV3 (23%). CNI score was negatively correlated with OS, the CNI-high group had markedly shorter OS than CNI-low group ( p= 0.0093). In addition, there were statistically significant differences in OS between different clinical staging ( p= 0.0468). Moreover, the Cox proportional hazard model showed that CNI score was an independent prognosis factor in GC. Conclusions: The current study indicates that CNI score in primary tumor tissue is an independent predictive prognostic biomarker for GC.

Setophoma spp. on Camellia sinensis

During our investigation of Camellia sinensis diseases (2013–2018), a new leaf spot disease was found in seven provinces of China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Tibet and Yunnan), occurring on both arboreal and terraced tea plants. The leaf spots were round to irregular, brown to dark brown, with grey or tangerine margins. Multi-locus (LSU, ITS, gapdh, tef-1α, tub2) phylogenetic analyses combined with morphological observations revealed four new species belonging to the genus Setophoma, i.e.S. antiqua, S. longinqua, S. yingyisheniae and S. yunnanensis. Of these four species, S. yingyisheniae was found to be present on diseased terraced tea plants in six of the seven sampled provinces (excluding Yunnan). The other three species only occurred on arboreal tea plants in Yunnan Province. In addition to the four species isolated from diseased leaves, S. endophytica sp. nov. was isolated from healthy leaves of terraced tea plants.