[Nutrition diagnosis and fertilization of Pinus armandii forest in the Qinling Mountains, China]. / ç§¦å²­åŽå±±æ¾è¥å »è¯Šæ–­ä¸Žæž—åœ°æ–½è‚¥.

We examined the contents of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in needle, litter, and soil of Pinus armandii forest on the southern slope of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi, China. We conducted nutrition diagnosis of P. armandii forest, analyzed nutrient limitation pattern, the fertilization types and amount to increase growth, to provide support for precision fertilization and scientific cultivation of big timber of P. armandii. The results showed that the proportion of big timber (DBH>26 cm) and individuals with the potential to grow into big timber (18 cm

Expression and clinical significance of lncRNA BC041954 in ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a highly lethal disease among all gynecologic malignant tumor types. Accumulating studies have indicated that certain long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve important roles in the development and progression of OC. In a previous study by our group, lncRNA BC041954 was identified as one of the most upregulated lncRNAs in OC. In the present study, the clinical significance of lncRNA BC041954 in OC was evaluated. The expression of BC041954 was detected in OC and non-tumor tissue (NT) samples using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Furthermore, the association between BC041954 and clinicopathological variables was analyzed using the Chi-square test. Survival was determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis. The prognostic significance of BC041954 was evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. MicroRNA (miRNA)-lncRNA and miRNA-mRNA pairs were used to construct the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA competing endogenous RNA network with an in-house Perl script. BC041954 expression was increased in 103 OC tissues as compared with that in NT tissues. Upregulated BC041954 expression was significantly associated with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and distant metastasis. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with high BC041954 expression had lower overall survival (OS). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, BC041954 was also identified as an independent poor prognostic factor for OS in patients with OC. The results suggested that overexpression of the lncRNA BC041954 is a poor prognostic indicator in patients with OC.

Indwelling Intrauterine Foley Balloon Catheter for Intraoperative and Postoperative Bleeding in Cesarean Scar Pregnancy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy, and a significant concern in the management of this condition is the control and prevention of bleeding. We aimed to determine the efficacy and value of an indwelling, intrauterine Foley balloon catheter in controlling and preventing intraoperative and postoperative bleeding in patients with CSP. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Between January 1, 2015 and May 31, 2017, 70 patients presented with CSP. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent uterine curettage under hysteroscopic guidance and ultrasound monitoring. Patients were then assigned to 2 groups: the study group, with an indwelling Foley balloon catheter placed in the uterine cavity during surgery and retained for 24 to 48 hours, and the control group, without catheter placement. Data were collected to compare the 2 groups in terms of intraoperative and postoperative complications, surgical time, and status of menstruation resumption. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The average daily volume of postoperative blood loss during the first 3 postoperative days in the study group was 23.1 mL compared with 31.5 mL observed in the control group (p = .041). Moreover, the study group had significantly shorter average duration of bleeding (p = .027) and fewer menstruation abnormalities than the control group. Uterine ultrasonography performed after resumption of menstruation showed that none of the enrolled patients had any intrauterine abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an indwelling, intrauterine Foley balloon catheter has positive results in the management of CSP.

Profile and validation of dysregulated long non­coding RNAs and mRNAs in ovarian cancer.

The dysregulation of long non­coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is associated with cancer development. The present study profiled differentially expressed lncRNAs in ovarian cancer (OC) versus normal ovarian tissues (NT) and investigated their potential functions in gene expression. OC tissues from 30 patients and NT specimens from 20 non­tumor patients were collected, and 5 cases of tumor and NT were subjected to lncRNA and mRNA microarray analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were performed. Reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT­qPCR) was used to verify microarray data in all 30 cases. There were 2,870 differentially expressed lncRNAs (795 upregulated and 2,075 downregulated) and 2,658 differentially expressed mRNAs (1,014 upregulated and 1,644 downregulated) in OC. A total of 4 upregulated and 4 downregulated lncRNAs were validated using RT­qPCR. The data demonstrated that, with the exception of ENST00000453838 and ENST00000505048, the lncRNAs were consistent with the microarray data. Another differentially expressed lncRNA (BC041954) was assessed using independent tissue samples, and results further supported the microarray data. Moreover, GO analysis showed that the upregulated genes were involved in the 'development of the cell anatomical structure' (GO: 0048856; P=5.46x10­6), 'embryo and system development' and 'multicellular organismal development' in biological processes. By contrast, the downregulated genes were involved in 'gene expression' (GO: 0010476; P=1.81x10­6), 'nitrogen compound metabolic process', 'kidney development' and the 'cellular nitrogen compound metabolic process'. These differentially expressed lncRNAs could be classified into four classes, namely, the enhancer lncRNA nearby coding gene, HOX cluster, long­intergenic non­coding RNAs (lincRNAs) nearby coding gene and Rinn lincRNAs. Coding­non­coding gene co­expression network analysis showed the interregulation of lncRNAs and mRNAs in OC development. In conclusion, dysregulated lncRNA and mRNA expression could promote OC development. Further study may validate a number as OC markers and provide novel insights into ovarian cancer biology.

A New 1,5-Dihydroxy-4-methoxyisoquinoline from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans.

A new isoquinoline, 1,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxyisoquinoline (1), was obtained from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans. Compound 1 showed moderate cytotoxicity on tumour cells with IC50 values ranging from 13 to 26 µm against five esophageal squamous cancer cells whereas low cytotoxicity against normal human esophageal epithelial cells. Isoquinoline ring oxidized at C(1), C(4), and C(5) can enhance its cytotoxicity. In addition, compound 1 showed potent inhibitory effect (inhibition rate > 50% at 13 µm) on cell migration in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. This article mainly studies the structure and activity of 1, and more modification of 1 as a potential anticancer agent.

Significance of imaging findings in the diagnosis of heterotopic spleen-an intrapancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS): Case report.

RATIONALE: Accessory spleen (Heterotopic/Ectopic) or splenunculus has been attributed to the failure of the fusion of splenic primordial buds-derived from dorsal mesentery (mesodermal mesenchymal in origin) during the 5th week of embryonic organogenesis or to an extreme degree of splenic lobulation with pinching off of the spleen tissue. The most common locations for accessory spleens are the hilum of the spleen followed by adjacent to the tail of the pancreas. The patients usually present with no clinical symptoms. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 49-year-old female undergoing a routine medical examination- Abdominal Ultrasound revealed a pancreatic mass. She was admitted into the hospital for 3 days and was put under observation. There are no specific findings during the physical examination or any related abnormalities in the laboratory investigations. DIAGNOSIS: Heterotopic spleen-an intrapancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS). INTERVENTIONS: Noncontrast CT of the abdomen demonstrated a soft tissue mass with a clear boundary in the tail of the pancreas. On contrast examination-the arterial phase, it was markedly enhanced, homogenous congruity similar to that of spleen; on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-T2WI with fat suppressed sequence, it demonstrated a regular round clear edged mass in the pancreatic tail. On Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI), a mass with a clear boundary was observed within the parenchyma of the pancreatic tail. The mass showed a high signal on noncontrast MRI, while on contrast examination, the mass showed a strengthening signal with homogenous enhancement as that of spleen. OUTCOMES: Heterotopic spleen presentation is a very rare asymptomatic clinical condition. During the routine medical examination - it presents mostly as a solitary benign round or oval mass with a clear boundary or as an ectopic focus, either in the pancreatic tail or adjacent to the pancreatic appendage, as an incidental finding. On Contrast CT, it shows as a homogeneously enhanced density- a strengthening mass lesion, in the pancreatic tail, similar to that of spleen. LESSONS: Our case emphasizes the importance of recognizing IPAS radiological characteristics and typical variations in its presentation in an asymptomatic patient that could help the personnel to differentiate it from other mass lesions. Thus, recognizing imaging findings on Plain CT, Contrast CT and MRI plays a key role to form a conclusive diagnosis of an accessory spleen, which has to be clinically associated. So, surgeons should consider IPAS as a differential for which unnecessary resection and an unintended surgical procedure can be avoided.

Two new isoquinoline alkaloids from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human glioma cancer U87 cells.

Two new isoquinoline alkaloids 1-2 and seven known compounds 3-9 were isolated from the ethanol extract of centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch. The structures were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D NMR, and HRESIMS. Compounds 1-2 exhibited good cytotoxicity with IC50 values ranging from 1.19 to 31.28µM against six human cancer cell lines and low cytotoxicity against human normal liver L-02 cell lines, suggesting that compounds 1-2 had high specific cytotoxicity on human cancer cell lines. Further analyses showed that compounds 1-2 inhibited U87 cells proliferation by arresting cell cycle progress at G0/G1 phase and inducing apoptosis through loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), activation of caspase 9/3 and down-regulation of the Bcl-2/Bax protein ratio. The results suggest that compounds 1-2 induce apoptosis in U87 cells through the mitochondria apoptosis pathway, and they deserve further research as potential anti-glioma cancer agents.