The CAZyome of Phytophthora spp.: a comprehensive analysis of the gene complement coding for carbohydrate-active enzymes in species of the genus Phytophthora.

BACKGROUND: Enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism include Carbohydrate esterases (CE), Glycoside hydrolases (GH), Glycosyl transferases (GT), and Polysaccharide lyases (PL), commonly referred to as carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). The CE, GH, and PL superfamilies are also known as cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDE) due to their role in the disintegration of the plant cell wall by bacterial and fungal pathogens. In Phytophthora infestans, penetration of the plant cells occurs through a specialized hyphal structure called appressorium; however, it is likely that members of the genus Phytophthora also use CWDE for invasive growth because hyphal forces are below the level of tensile strength exhibited by the plant cell wall. Because information regarding the frequency and distribution of CAZyme coding genes in Phytophthora is currently unknown, we have scanned the genomes of P. infestans, P. sojae, and P. ramorum for the presence of CAZyme-coding genes using a homology-based approach and compared the gene collinearity in the three genomes. In addition, we have tested the expression of several genes coding for CE in cultures grown in vitro. RESULTS: We have found that P. infestans, P. sojae and P. ramorum contain a total of 435, 379, and 310 CAZy homologs; in each genome, most homologs belong to the GH superfamily. Most GH and PL homologs code for enzymes that hydrolyze substances present in the pectin layer forming the middle lamella of the plant cells. In addition, a significant number of CE homologs catalyzing the deacetylation of compounds characteristic of the plant cell cuticle were found. In general, a high degree of gene location conservation was observed, as indicated by the presence of sequential orthologous pairs in the three genomes. Such collinearity was frequently observed among members of the GH superfamily. On the other hand, the CE and PL superfamilies showed less collinearity for some of their putative members. Quantitative PCR experiments revealed that all genes are expressed in P. infestans when this pathogen grown in vitro. However, the levels of expression vary considerably and are lower than the expression levels observed for the constitutive control. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we have identified a highly complex set of CAZy homologs in the genomes of P. infestans, P. sojae, and P. ramorum, a significant number of which could play roles critical for pathogenicity, by participating in the degradation of the plant cell wall.

A national analysis of the relationship between hospital volume, academic center status, and surgical outcomes for abdominal hysterectomy done for leiomyoma.

BACKGROUND: Volume-to-outcomes relationships have been established for high-risk surgical procedures. To determine whether hospital volume and academic center status affect surgical outcomes in a lower-risk procedure, morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy for leiomyoma were evaluated. STUDY DESIGN: Administrative data from the National Inpatient Sample were used to conduct a retrospective analysis of 172,344 individuals who had primary diagnoses of leiomyomata (ICD-9 diagnosis codes of 218.x in the first 2 positions) and who underwent abdominal hysterectomy (ICD-9 procedure codes 68.4 in the first 2 positions) from 1999 to 2003. Comparison was made between teaching hospitals versus nonteaching hospitals and annual case volume in quintiles. Morbidity was considered to be any postoperative condition that is not an expected outcome of hysterectomy and defined as instances in which a patient suffered hemorrhage, ureteral injury, bladder injury, intestinal injury, wound dehiscence, wound infection, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or required blood transfusion. RESULTS: A total of 37 deaths were observed. Mortality was not significantly related to hospital volume or academic medical center status. In contrast, morbidity was found to have a positive association with academic medical center status (odds ratio = 1.34; 95% CI, 1.23 to 1.45), although an inverse relationship between volume and morbidity was observed for extended length of stay (> 3 days) and blood transfusion outcomes in the first 3 (lowest) volume quintiles and for pulmonary embolism in the highest-volume quintile. No important association with volume was found for hemorrhage, ureteral injury, bladder injury, or intestinal injury. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike high-risk procedures, such as esophagectomy, pediatric cardiac surgery, and pancreaticoduodenectomy, mortality for abdominal hysterectomy done for benign indication does not improve with hospital volume or academic center status. The statistically significant positive association between academic medical center status and morbidity merits additional characterization to target areas for improvement.

Effects of utero-ovarian anastomoses on basal follicle-stimulating hormone level change after uterine artery embolization with tris-acryl gelatin microspheres.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of anastomoses between uterine and ovarian arteries on angiography and their impact on changes in basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level after uterine artery embolization (UAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive premenopausal women who underwent UAE for symptomatic uterine leiomyomata according to a uniform embolization technique with tris-acryl gelatin microspheres at a single institution were included in the study. Basal FSH levels before UAE and 6 months after UAE were compared for patients with and without anastomoses between uterine and ovarian arteries on angiography. RESULTS: Among 124 patients included in the study (mean age, 43.1+/-5.7 years), patent anastomoses between the uterine and ovarian arteries were detected by angiography in 55 patients (44.4%). Overall, 11.3% of 124 patients showed an increase in basal serum FSH level of greater than 20 mIU/mL after UAE. In patients with utero-ovarian anastomoses, 18.2% showed an increase of greater than 20 mIU/mL after UAE, compared with 5.8% of patients without such anastomoses (P=.03). Mean basal FSH increase after UAE in patients with anastomoses was 8.4+/-20.2 mIU/mL, compared with 2.7+/-10.6 mIU/mL in patients without anastomoses (P=.047). Among patients with anastomoses, the 50- to 54-year age group had the highest percentage of patients with an FSH increase greater than 20 mIU/mL (50.0%) after UAE, followed by patients in the 45- to 49-year age group (15.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Angiographically detected anastomoses between the uterine artery and the ovarian artery are not uncommon. UAE in patients with anastomoses is associated with a greater risk of significant increase of basal FSH level than in UAE in patients without anastomoses. The pathophysiologic processes resulting in change of FSH level may be a reflection of diminished ovarian function, but further study is warranted to delineate the precise mechanism.

Effects of utero-ovarian anastomoses on clinical outcomes and repeat intervention rates after uterine artery embolization.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of anastomoses between uterine and ovarian arteries on angiography and their association with clinical outcome after uterine artery embolization (UAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent UAE for symptomatic uterine leiomyomata according to a uniform embolization technique by a single operator at a single institution were included in the study. Patients' angiographic images, pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance (MR) images, and clinical symptom evaluations were reviewed. MR imaging was performed 6 months after UAE, and clinical evaluation with symptom severity score (SSS) measurement was performed at 6-month and yearly intervals afterward. Leiomyomata volume change, SSS, and repeat intervention rates were compared for patients with and without anastomoses between uterine and ovarian arteries on angiography. RESULTS: Of 288 consecutive patients in the study (mean age, 43.8 +/- 6.4 y), patent anastomoses between the uterine and ovarian arteries were detected in 116 patients (40.3%) by angiography. On follow-up, there was a mean leiomyomata volume reduction of 50.4% and an improvement in mean transformed SSS of 38.2 points. In patients with anastomoses, mean leiomyomata volume reduction was 49.5% and mean transformed SSS improvement was 38.1 points. In patients without anastomoses, mean leiomyomata volume reduction was 50.4% and mean transformed SSS improvement was 38.4 points. At a mean follow-up of 21.5 months, 16 patients (5.6%) elected to undergo further therapy for residual symptoms, including seven hysterectomies, four myomectomies, and five repeat UAE procedures. There were statistically significant differences in repeat intervention rates between the two groups: 14 patients with anastomoses (12.1%) underwent five hysterectomies, four myomectomies, and five repeat UAE procedures, whereas two patients without anastomoses (1.2%) elected to undergo hysterectomy (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Anastomoses between the uterine artery and ovarian artery were demonstrated on angiography in 40.3% of 288 consecutive patients studied. Although the overall repeat intervention rate after initial UAE is only 5.6%, UAE in patients with anastomoses is associated with a significantly higher incidence of repeat intervention than UAE in patients without anastomoses.