[Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor: a clinicopathological analysis]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological, immunophenotypic, and genetic features of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). Methods: Twenty-three cases of MPNST were diagnosed at the Jiangsu Province Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University), China, between January 2012 and December 2022 and thus included in the study. EnVision immunostaining and next-generation sequencing (NGS) were used to examine their immunophenotypical characteristics and genomic aberrations, respectively. Results: There were 10 males and 13 females, with an age range of 11 to 79 years (median 36 years), including 14 cases of neurofibromatosis type I-associated MPNST and 9 cases of sporadic MPNST. The tumors were located in extremities (7 cases), trunk (4 cases), neck and shoulder (3 cases), chest cavity (3 cases), paraspinal area (2 cases), abdominal cavity (2 cases), retroperitoneum (1 case), and pelvic cavity (1 case). Morphologically, the tumors were composed of dense spindle cells arranged in fascicles. Periphery neurofibroma-like pattern was found in 73.9% (17/23) of the cases. Under low magnification, alternating hypercellular and hypocellular areas resembled marbled appearance. Under high power, the tumor cell nuclei were irregular, presenting with oval, conical, comma-like, bullet-like or wavy contour. In 7 cases, the tumor cells demonstrated marked cytological pleomorphism and rare giant tumor cells. The mitotic figures were commonly not less than 3/10 HPF, and geographic necrosis was often noted. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive for S-100 (14/23, 60.9%) and SOX10 (11/23, 47.8%). The loss of the CD34-positive fibroblastic network encountered in neurofibromas was observed in 14/17 of the MPNST cases. The loss of H3K27me3 expression was observed in 82.6% (19/23) of the cases. Moreover, SDHA and SDHB losses were presented in one case. NGS revealed that NF1 gene loss of function (germline or somatic) were found in all 5 cases tested. Furthermore, four cases accompanied with somatic mutations of SUZ12 gene and half of them had somatic mutations of TP53 gene, while one case with germline mutation in SDHA gene and somatic mutations in FAT1, BRAF, and KRAS genes. Available clinical follow-up was obtained in 19 cases and ranged from 1 to 67 months. Four patients died of the disease, all of whom had the clinical history of neurofibromatosis type Ⅰ. Conclusions: MPNST is difficult to be differentiated from a variety of spindle cell tumors due to its wide spectrum of histological morphology and complex genetic changes. H3K27me3 is a useful diagnostic marker, while the loss of CD34 positive fibroblastic network can also be a diagnostic feature of MPNST. NF1 gene inactivation mutations and complete loss of PRC2 activity are the common molecular diagnostic features, but other less commonly recurred genomic aberrations might also contribute to the MPNST pathogenesis.

Effect of enhanced UV-B radiation on growth and photosynthetic physiology of Iris tectorum maxim

Iris tectorum Maxim. is an important plant that plays a very crucial role in the ecological welfare of wetlands. In this study, the effects of different intensities of UV-B radiation on the growth, photosynthetic pigment content, chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, chloroplast ultrastructure, and gas exchange parameters of Iris tectorum Maxim. were studied. The results showed that enhanced UV-B radiation had a significant influence on the above-mentioned parameters of iris. Compared with the control, enhanced UV-B radiation caused certain damage to the leaf appearance. With the increasing intensity of radiation, the apparent damage degree became more serious. Enhanced UV-B radiation significantly decreased leaf chlorophyll contents, and the effect accumulated with the exposure time. Enhanced UV-B radiation increased Fo, significantly increased the non-photochemical quenching coefficient NPQ, reduced PSII and Qp, and significantly decreased the Fm, Fv/Fm, and Fv/Fo in leaves. The effect of UV-B radiation on PSII destruction of Iris tectorum Maxim. increased as the radiation intensity increased and the exposure time prolonged. The chloroplast structure was damaged under the enhanced UV-B radiation. More specifically, thylakoid lamellae were distorted, swelling and even blurred, and a large number of starch granules appeared. The effect of the high intensity of radiation on chloroplast ultrastructure was greater than that of lower intensity. Enhanced UV-B radiation reduced significantly the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate, and the degree of degradation increased with the increasing irradiation intensity. However, the intercellular CO₂ content increased, which suggests that the main reason for the decrease of photosynthetic rate was the non-stomatal factors.

Analysis of the Correlation Between the Ratio of Monocytes to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and in-Stent Restenosis in Patients with Premature Coronary Heart Disease

BACKGROUND

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and monocytes are associated with coronary artery disease, and the ratio of monocytes to high-density lipoprotein (MHR) is associated with long-term adverse outcomes and the recurrence of atrial fibrillation. Currently, the trend of coronary heart disease proned to young people is becoming prominent. However, the relationship between MHR and in-stent restenosis (ISR) in patients with premature coronary heart disease (PCHD) has not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to assess the relationship between MHR and ISR in patients with PCHD.

METHODS

We retrospectively included 257 patients (men ≤ 55 years old, women ≤ 65 years old) with PCHD who underwent drug-eluting stent implantation and follow-up coronary angiography at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2016 to September 2019. Patients were divided into ISR and non-ISR groups depending on their follow-up coronary angiography results. Relative clinical information was recorded and analyzed. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the optimum pre-procedural MHR cutoff value to predict ISR.

RESULTS

Logistic regression analysis showed that MHR, smoking history, and fibrinogen were independent risk factors for ISR in patients with PCHD. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of MHR was 0.750 (95% confidence interval, 0.695-0.820; P < .001), the cutoff value was 546.88, and the specificity and sensitivity were 65.2% and 78%, while the AUC of monocytes was 0.631 (95% confidence interval, 0.638-0.794; P < .001), the cutoff value was 590, and the specificity and sensitivity were 77.1% and 60.0%.

CONCLUSION

MHR is an independent risk factor for ISR in patients with PCHD and showed a certain predictive value.

Organoid culture of mouse fallopian tube epithelial stem cells with a thermo-reversible gelation polymer

In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) thermo-reversible gelation polymer (TGP) culture system was established for organoid culture of mouse fallopian tube (FT) epithelial stem cells (FTESCs) without cell isolation. FT tissues from 6- to 8-week-old ICR mice were digested with collagenase, and whole FT cells (FTCs) were inoculated into the TGP. After 6 days of culture, many spheres in the TGP formed. Some cells in the spheres were positive for 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), a marker of cell proliferation. Furthermore, all the spheres that formed in the TGP were also labelled for EpCAM and LGR5. Some cells in the spheres were stained for PAX8, a secretory cell marker, and fewer cells were labelled with TUBB4, a ciliated cell marker. These results indicate that the 3D TGP culture system is a useful tool for organoid culture of FTESCs in vitro.

Phosphorylcholine-Primed Dendritic Cells Aggravate the Development of Atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- Mice

Background: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease involving activation of adaptive and innate immune responses to antigens, including oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and phosphorylcholine (PC). Dendritic cells (DCs), which are antigen-presenting cells that activate T cells, are present in atherosclerotic lesions and are activated in immune organs. However, the mechanism by which PC promotes atherosclerosis is unclear.

Methods and Results: To evaluate whether PC promotes atherosclerosis via DCs, 2×10⁵ DCs activated by PC-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (DCs+PC-KLH) were injected into ApoE^−/− mice and the features of the plaques and the effects of the DCs on cellular and humoral immunity against PC-KLH were determined. Mice injected with DCs+PC-KLH had significantly larger atherosclerotic lesions than controls, with increased inflammation in the lesions and plaque instability. Furthermore, DCs+PC-KLH were characterized using flow cytometry after coculture of bone marrow-derived DCs and naïve T cells. DCs+PC-KLH showed an inflammatory phenotype, with increased CD86, CD40, and major histocompatibility complex Class II molecules (MHC-II), which promoted PC-specific T helper (Th) 1 and Th17 cell differentiation in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, 2 weeks after the administration of DCs+PC-KLH to mice, these mice produced PC- and oxLDL-specific IgG2a, compared with no production in the controls.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that DCs presenting PC promote specific immunity to PC, increase lesion inflammation, and accelerate atherosclerosis, which may explain how PC promotes atherosclerosis.

["See fine world" -copy experience and thinking of membrane anatomy in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy (D2+CME)]

Primary lesion removal and lymph node dissection are the main constituents of radical gastrectomy. However, the high recurrence rate after D2 radical gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer has not improved. Recently, studies have found that discrete tumor deposits in the mesogastrium may be an important factor affecting the prognosis of gastric cancer after surgery. With the development of laparoscopic equipment, the ever-expanding "submicroscopic vision" makes it possible to completely remove the mesogastrium. Professor Gong Jianping advocated "membrane anatomy" to optimize the concept of radical gastrectomy: D2- based complete mesenteric resection (CME), namely D2+CME procedure. To prevent the leakage of tumor cells into the surgical field, as histological barrier, the intact mesogastrium should be located. The essential difference between D2+CME and previous D2/D2+systematic mesogastrium excision (SME), en-bloc mesogastric excision (EME) is as follow: double-factor guiding (lymph nodes and discrete tumor deposits) vs. single factor guiding (lymph nodes only). After practicing dozens of radical gastrectomy (D2+CME) authors believe that its conceptual connotation (double factor guiding) and operational extension (above mesentery bed) cover D2. In D2+CME surgery, depending on the anatomical identification under the magnified field of view, the conformal space between gastric mesentery and mesenteric beds is unique operational plane with repeatability. These findings and considerations address one problem: where is the precise boundary of en bloc principle in radical gastrectomy? In author's opinion, with laparoscopy and "sub-microsurgery" progression and detection of discrete tumor deposit metastasis, survival benefit from definition of en bloc boundary in radical gastrectomy will be widely recognized. Meanwhile, D2+CME procedure is an appropriate way for study. Although the development of the "membrane anatomy" concept for gastric cancer still requires many further clinical and basic researches, it is reasonable to foresee that D2+CME surgery will guide a concept-optimized era for gastric cancer surgery.

[A study on the burden and causes of hospitalization and deaths in Shenzhen, between 1995 and 2014]

Objective: Data from the surveillance program was collected, to analyze the situation of hospitalization and cases of death with recorded causes, in Shenzhen, from 1995 to 2014. Situation of hospitalization and causes of deaths were studied in Shenzhen which had been a fast-developing city with growing number of immigrants so as to provide reference for decision-making on related prevention and control strategies. Methods: Data on hospitalizations and deaths collected from the surveillance program, were classified by both International Classification of Diseases (ICD)- 9 and ICD-10. A database was constructed with methods on related descriptive and trend analysis. Results: Around 6.3 million inpatients were seen in the past two decades in Shenzhen. The top five diseases for hospitalization were pregnancy childbirth and puerperium complications, respiratory diseases, injury and poisoning, digestive system diseases and circulatory system diseases, that accounting for 68.4% of all the hospitalization burden. The number of inpatients increased annually, with an 11 times increase during the past two decades. Proportions for pregnancy childbirth and puerperium complications, circulatory system diseases and urinary system diseases all showed increasing (χ(2)=53 806.94, 6 893.95 and 15 383.14, P<0.01), while proportions for injuries and poisoning, respiratory diseases, digestive system diseases showed a declining trend (χ(2)=131 480.09,1 711.84 and 11 367.66, P<0.01). Number of cumulative inpatient deaths exceeded 60 000, with the top five causes as malignant tumor, circulatory system diseases, injury and poisoning, respiratory system diseases and digestive system diseases, that accounting for 82.28% of all the inpatient deaths. Deaths due to circulatory system diseases, injury and poisoning increased and then decreased. Malignant tumor and respiratory diseases-induced deaths showed an increasing trend (χ(2)=1 546.48, 309.55, P<0.01), while induced deaths from disease of the other systems showed slight changes. The overall case fatality rate showed an annual decline (χ(2)=4 378.63, P<0.01), from 2.23% in 1995 to 0.74% in 2014, with mortality attribute to tumor, circulatory system disease decreased significantly. Conclusions: Shenzhen had been under an ageing transition, with relatively young population living in the city. Chronic diseases such as tumor gradually had become the major causes for heavy hospitalization burden on the population of Shenzhen.

[Advances in osteoradionecrosis of nasopharynx after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma]

Radiation therapy is the first choice for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, it is inevitable that nasopharyngeal mucosa and tissue will be damaged after radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which will cause corresponding complications. Nasopharyngeal osteonecrosis is a serious complication. Up to now, there are few reports about nasopharyngeal osteonecrosis, and the underlaying pathological mechanism remains unclear. The potential theories include radiotherapy damage, infection and trauma, but also the " three H" principle of hypoxic hypocellular hypovascular tissue, as well as the theory of radio induced fibrosis. It is controversial about the treatment of nasopharyngeal osteonecrosis. It takes comprehensive treatment, including local treatment, systemic treatment, surgical treatment and other treatments. Among them, local treatment as nasopharyngeal debridement usually is first choice. We reviewed the pathological mechanism and treatment methods of nasopharyngeal osteonecrosis, in order to provide a reference for better prevention and treatment of it.

[Contesting Remedies: The Debate on STD Treatment Therapies in the early PRC]

During the early years of the People's Republic of China, sexually transmitted diseases (STD) were almost eliminated nationwide for a period. In the STDs eradication campaign, "political correctness" became a ruling policy. During the prevention and treatment of the STDs, the choice of therapy depended on the "political correctness" policy rather than medical effectiveness. With this political background, three competing treatments of STDs emerged (especially for syphilis): penicillin treatment, arsenic and bismuth mixed and intermittent treatment, and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. The argument between treatments was a vivid microcosm of the love-hate political relationship between China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The traditional Chinese medicine treatments for syphilis were used as a tool by the authorities to prevent the national medical system becoming more and more westernized. The penicillin treatment, the winner of this battle, won because it catered to the political themes of the time, the "Great Leap Forward" . Overwhelming state power had a strong influence and control over the medical system and medical practice, with the initiative and independence of doctors being limited in an unprecedented fashion.

TAGLN2 is a candidate prognostic biomarker promoting tumorigenesis in human gliomas

Background

Transgelin-2 (TAGLN2) is a member of the calponin family of actin-bundling proteins that is involved in the regulation of cell morphology, motility, and cell transformation. Here, the clinical significance and potential function of TAGLN2 in malignant gliomas were investigated.

Methods

Molecular and clinical data was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Gene ontology and pathway analysis was used to predict potential functions of TAGLN2. RNA knockdown was performed using siRNA or lentiviral contructs in U87MG and U251 glioma cell lines. Cells were characterized in vitro or implanted in vivo to generate orthotopic xenografts in order to assess molecular status, cell proliferation/survival, and invasion by Western blotting, flow cytometry, and 3D tumor spheroid invasion assay, respectively.

Results

Increased TAGLN2 expression was associated with increasing tumor grade (P < 0.001), the mesenchymal molecular glioma subtype and worse prognosis in patients (P < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry performed with anti-TAGLN2 on an independent cohort of patients (n = 46) confirmed these results. Gene silencing of TAGLN2 in U87MG and U251 significantly inhibited invasion and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Western blot analysis revealed that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) molecular markers, such as N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and Snail, were regulated in a manner corresponding to suppression of the EMT phenotype in knockdown experiments. Finally, TAGLN2 was induced ~ 2 to 3-fold in U87MG and U251 cells by TGFβ2, which was also elevated in GBM and highly correlated with TAGLN2 mRNA levels (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that TAGLN2 exerts a role in promoting the development of human glioma. The regulation and function of TAGLN2 therefore renders it as a candidate molecular target for the treatment of GBM.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-017-0619-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

An anionic zeolite-like metal–organic framework (AZMOF) with a Moravia network for organic dye absorption through cation-exchange

We have synthesized a new anionic zeolite-like metal–organic framework (AZMOF) with a twisted partially augmentedthenet, known as the “Moravia” net which is able to selectively adsorb organic cationic dyes (BR, RB, CV and MB) through cation-exchange.

Tenggerimyces mesophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Nocardioidaceae

A novel aerobic actinomycete, designated strain I12A-02601T, was isolated from a desert soil crusts sample collected from the Shapotou region of Tengger Desert, north-west China. The substrate mycelia of this isolate were well-developed and branched, but not fragmented. The maturity aerial mycelia formed short chains of small, rod-shaped spores. The strain contained ll-diaminopimelic acid, dd-diaminopimelic acid, galactose, glucose, ribose and xylose in its whole-cell hydrolysates. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, N-acetylglucosamine-containing phospholipids, phosphatidylinositolmannoside and glycolipids. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10(H6) and MK-10(H8). The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 72.2 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequences comparison showed that strain I12A-02601T was most closely related to members of the family Nocardioidaceae, such as Actinopolymorpha alba YIM 48868T (93.3 % sequence similarity), Actinopolymorpha pittospori PIP 143T (93.2 %), and Flindersiella endophytica EUM 378T (93.2 %). In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain I12A-02601T formed a clade with the members of the genera Flindersiella, Thermasporomyces, and Actinopolymorpha in the family Nocardioidaceae. Combined data from this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, led to the conclusion that strain I12A-02601T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Nocardioidaceae, for which the name Tenggerimyces mesophilus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is I12A-02601T ( = CPCC 203544T = DSM 45829T = NBRC 109454T).

Inhibitory effect of schizophyllan on rat glioma cells

<p class="Abstract">The aim of this study was to examine the anticancer effects of schizophyllan (a -D-glucan) against the growth of rat CNS-1 glioma cells and preliminarily assess its effect on inducing apoptosis and blocking cell cycle. In order to evaluate its inhibitory effect, firstly MTT assay was conducted followed by annexin V/propidium iodide double staining or propidium iodide single staining, apoptosis and cell cycle using flow cytometry. All the experiments were carried in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Experimental results showed that treatment of 40 and 60 mg/L schizophyllan significantly increa-sed the apoptotic rate and blocked the cell cycle. In addition, increase in the proportion of cells in G0/G1 phase and decrease in the proportion of S-phase cells were also observed. Overall experimental studies suggest that schizo-phyllan can significantly inhibit the growth of rat CNS-1 glioma cells, in vitro and induced apoptosis and blocked the cell cycle.</p><p> </p>

Serotonin regulates osteoblast proliferation and function in vitro

The monoamine serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), a well-known neurotransmitter, also has important functions outside the central nervous system. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of 5-HT in the proliferation, differentiation, and function of osteoblasts in vitro. We treated rat primary calvarial osteoblasts with various concentrations of 5-HT (1 nM to 10 µM) and assessed the rate of osteoblast proliferation, expression levels of osteoblast-specific proteins and genes, and the ability to form mineralized nodules. Next, we detected which 5-HT receptor subtypes were expressed in rat osteoblasts at different stages of osteoblast differentiation. We found that 5-HT could inhibit osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization at low concentrations, but this inhibitory effect was mitigated at relatively high concentrations. Six of the 5-HT receptor subtypes (5-HT_1A, 5-HT_1B, 5-HT_1D, 5-HT_2A, 5-HT_2B, and 5-HT_2C) were found to exist in rat osteoblasts. Of these, 5-HT_2A and 5-HT_1B receptors had the highest expression levels, at both early and late stages of differentiation. Our results indicated that 5-HT can regulate osteoblast proliferation and function in vitro.

Williamsia sterculiae sp. nov., isolated from a Chinese medicinal plant

Two actinobacterial strains, CPCC 203464(T) and CPCC 203448, isolated from surface-sterilized stems of medicinal plants were subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. These two aerobic organisms formed pale yellow colonies on tryptic soy agar (TSA). Cells were Gram-stain-positive, non-acid-fast, non-motile, rod- or coccoid-like elements. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strains CPCC 203464(T) and CPCC 203448 were most closely related to the type strains of the species of the genus Williamsia. Chemotaxonomic properties such as containing meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall, arabinose, galactose and ribose being the whole-cell hydrolysate sugars, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) as the phospholipids, and C16 : 0, 10-methyl C18 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c, C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH as major fatty acids supported the affiliation of strains CPCC 203464(T) and CPCC 203448 to the genus Williamsia. The DNA-DNA hybridization values in combination with differentiating chemotaxonomic and physiological characteristics strongly suggested that these two isolates should be classified as representatives of a novel species of the genus Williamsia. The name Williamsia sterculiae sp. nov. is proposed, with strain CPCC 203464(T) ( = DSM 45741(T) = KCTC 29118(T)) as the type strain.

D2 lymphadenectomy can disseminate tumor cells into peritoneal cavity in patients with advanced gastric cancer

We sought to determine the dissemination of gastric cancer cells before and after radical D2 surgery and to determine the effectiveness of EIPL in preventing post-operative peritoneal metastasis. 64 patients were recruited with advanced gastric cancer for our final analysis. Complete curative gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy was performed on the 64 patients. Before surgery, peritoneal lavage fluid was collected for cytological analysis by cell smearing and immunohistochemistry to detect disseminated cancer cells (S1). Following tumor and lymph node resection, peritoneal lavage fluid was collected for cytological examination (S2). The patients were treated by extensive intra-operative peritoneal lavage (EIPL) with normal saline (n = 31) or distilled water (n = 33). The peritoneal lavage fluid was collected for cytological examination (S3). At S1 stage, 18 patients (28.1%) were positive for disseminated cancer cells in their abdominal fluid. After D2 lymphadenectomy, 34 patients (53.1%) had disseminated cancer cells in their abdominal fluid at stage S2, which indicated that the D2 lymphadenectomy caused in an additional 16 (16/46, 34.8%) patients positive for disseminated cancer cells. After EIPL with either normal saline or distilled water at the S3 stage), all the patients were negative for disseminated cancer cells in their abdominal fluid. A total of six patients died, and four patients had recurrencent cancer. These findings indicate that D2 lymphadenectomy can disseminate gastric cancer cells, and post-operative lavage of the abdominal cavity can eliminate cancer cell dissemination and decrease the risk of peritoneal metastasis.

Allonocardiopsis opalescens gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the suborder Streptosporangineae , from the surface-sterilized fruit of a medicinal plant

An endophytic actinomycete, designated strain I10A-01259T, was isolated from a surface-sterilized fruit of Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Maxim., a medicinal plant, which was collected from a suburb of Beijing, China. Whole-cell hydrolysates of the isolate contained galactose and meso-diaminopimelic acid. The predominant phospholipids were phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol; the menaquinones consisted mainly of MK-9, MK-11 and MK-12, with a minor amount of MK-10. The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain I10A-01259T was most closely related to Nocardiopsis arabia S186T (93.2 % sequence similarity), Thermobifida halotolerans YIM 90462T (93.0 %) and other strains of genera within the families Nocardiopsaceae and Thermomonosporaceae . On the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain I10A-01259T fell within the radius of the suborder Streptosporangineae , in which the strain formed a distinct lineage next to the genera of the families Nocardiopsaceae and Thermomonosporaceae . Based on the data from our polyphasic taxonomic study, a novel genus and species, Allonocardiopsis opalescens gen. nov., sp. nov., are proposed within the suborder Streptosporangineae . The type strain of Allonocardiopsis opalescens is strain I10A-01259T ( = CPCC 203428T  = DSM 45601T  = KCTC 19844T).

Nocardioides perillae sp. nov., isolated from surface-sterilized roots of Perilla frutescens

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped actinobacterium, designated strain I10A-01402(T), was isolated from surface-sterilized roots of a medicinal plant, Perilla frutescens, collected in a suburb of Beijing, China. Chemotaxonomically, the strain contained ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone. The phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. The major fatty acids were C17 : 1ω9c, C18 : 1ω9c, C17 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 70.4 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain I10A-01402(T) belonged to the genus Nocardioides. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate formed a robust cluster with Nocardioides ginsengisegetis Gsoil 485(T), N. koreensis MSL-09(T) and N. alkalitolerans KSL-1(T). On the basis of the evidence from our polyphasic taxonomic study, a novel species, Nocardioides perillae sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is I10A-01402(T) ( = CPCC 203382(T)  = DSM 24552(T)  = KCTC 29022(T)).

Description of Belnapia rosea sp. nov. and emended description of the genus Belnapia Reddy et al. 2006

A novel alphaproteobacterial strain, designated CPCC 100156T, was isolated from a forest soil sample collected from Hainan Island, South China, and subjected to taxonomic investigation using a polyphasic approach. The pink- to rosy-coloured colonies on TSA and YM agar were smooth and moist. Good growth occurred at 28–32 °C and at pH 7.0–7.5. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-9. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylcholine (PC), hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamine (OH-PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) and two unidentified aminolipids (AL1, AL2), with a minor amount of ninhydrin-positive phosphoglycolipid. (NPG). The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c /C18 : 1ω6c) (49.5 %), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c) (22.5 %), and C16 : 0 (14.0 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 70.3 mol%. The organism showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.37 % with Belnapia moabensis DSM 16746T. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate belonged to the family Acetobacteraceae and consistently formed a robust cluster with Belnapia moabensis DSM 16746T in the phylogenetic tree. The DNA–DNA hybridization value between the new isolate and Belnapia moabensis DSM 16746T was 45.6 %. On the basis of the taxonomic evidence, it is proposed that strain CPCC 100156T represents a novel species, for which the name Belnapia rosea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CPCC 100156T ( = DSM 23312T = CGMCC 1.10758T). The description of the genus Belnapia is emended accordingly.

Amycolatopsis xylanica sp. nov., isolated from soil

An actinomycete, designated CPCC 202699T, was isolated from soil in Qinghai province, China, and its taxonomic status was established. Strain CPCC 202699Tcontainedmeso-diaminopimelic acid in its peptidoglycan, arabinose and galactose as the diagnostic sugars in whole-cell hydrolysates, a phospholipid pattern consisting mainly of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine, MK-9(H4) as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C16 : 0(18.8 %), iso-C15 : 0(18.1 %), iso-C14 : 0(14.2 %), C16 : 1cis9 (10.9 %) and C17 : 1cis9 (10.3 %) as the major fatty acids. In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain CPCC 202699Tformed a separate branch within the genusAmycolatopsis. However, strain CPCC 202699Tshowed low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (<97.0 %) with type strains of species with validly published names in the genusAmycolatopsis. On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic differences from the closest phylogenetic neighbours of strain CPCC 202699T, a novel species,Amycolatopsis xylanicasp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is CPCC 202699T(=DSM 45285T=KCTC 19581T=CCM 7627T).

Agromyces flavus sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from soil

A gram-positive, non-motile strain, designated CPCC 202695(T), was isolated from a soil sample collected from the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, north-west China. Strain CPCC 202695(T) contained rhamnose, glucose and galactose in the cell wall as diagnostic sugars and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, alanine, glutamic acid and glycine in the peptidoglycan. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and two unknown glycolipids. MK-12 was the predominant menaquinone and anteiso-C(15 : 0) (34.2 %), iso-C(15 : 0) (19.8 %), iso-C(16 : 0) (12.7 %) and anteiso-C(17 : 0) (11.1 %) were the major fatty acids. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (94.2-97.1 %) between the isolate and the type strains of recognized species of the genus Agromyces indicated that strain CPCC 202695(T) was a member of the genus Agromyces. DNA-DNA relatedness clearly separated strain CPCC 202695(T) from its closest relatives. The phenotypic and genotypic data demonstrated that strain CPCC 202695(T) represents a novel species of the genus Agromyces, for which the name Agromyces flavus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CPCC 202695(T) ( = KCTC 19578(T)  = CCM 7623(T)).

[Clinical application of a digital method in mammographic image processing]

The authors describe digital processing of mammographic images based on simulation of the procedure performed by radiologists to analyse radiographs. Image processing allows automatically enhancing contrasts and expressing them as a range of different light intensities and colors. Minimum contrast differences that are difficult to perceive with the bare eye are thus highly enhanced. This processing of mammographic images has proved useful not only to detect discrete lesions, but also to differentiate benign and malignant lesions.