Quantifying Light Response of Leaf-Scale Water-Use Efficiency and Its Interrelationships With Photosynthesis and Stomatal Conductance in C3 and C4 Species.

Light intensity (I) is the most dynamic and significant environmental variable affecting photosynthesis (A n), stomatal conductance (g s), transpiration (T r), and water-use efficiency (WUE). Currently, studies characterizing leaf-scale WUE-I responses are rare and key questions have not been answered. In particular, (1) What shape does the response function take? (2) Are there maximum intrinsic (WUEi; WUEi-max) and instantaneous WUE (WUEinst; WUEinst-max) at the corresponding saturation irradiances (I i-sat and I inst-sat)? This study developed WUEi-I and WUEinst-I models sharing the same non-asymptotic function with previously published A n-I and g s-I models. Observation-modeling intercomparison was conducted for field-grown plants of soybean (C3) and grain amaranth (C4) to assess the robustness of our models versus the non-rectangular hyperbola models (NH models). Both types of models can reproduce WUE-I curves well over light-limited range. However, at light-saturated range, NH models overestimated WUEi-max and WUEinst-max and cannot return I i-sat and I inst-sat due to its asymptotic function. Moreover, NH models cannot describe the down-regulation of WUE induced by high light, on which our models described well. The results showed that WUEi and WUEinst increased rapidly within low range of I, driven by uncoupled photosynthesis and stomatal responsiveness. Initial response rapidity of WUEi was higher than WUEinst because the greatest increase of A n and T r occurred at low g s. C4 species showed higher WUEi-max and WUEinst-max than C3 species-at similar I i-sat and I inst-sat. Our intercomparison highlighted larger discrepancy between WUEi-I and WUEinst-I responses in C3 than C4 species, quantitatively characterizing an important advantage of C4 photosynthetic pathway-higher A n gain but lower T r cost per unit of g s change. Our models can accurately return the wealth of key quantities defining species-specific WUE-I responses-besides A n-I and g s-I responses. The key advantage is its robustness in characterizing these entangled responses over a wide I range from light-limited to light-inhibitory light intensities, through adopting the same analytical framework and the explicit and consistent definitions on these responses. Our models are of significance for physiologists and modelers-and also for breeders screening for genotypes concurrently achieving maximized photosynthesis and optimized WUE.

Integrative analysis of the inverse expression patterns in pancreas development and cancer progression.

BACKGROUND: As the malignant tumor, pancreatic cancer with a meager 5-years survival rate has been widely concerning. However, the molecular mechanisms that result in malignant transformation of pancreatic cells remain elusive. AIM: To investigate the gene expression profiles in normal or malignant transformed pancreas development. METHODS: MaSigPro and ANOVA were performed on two pancreas development datasets downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Six pancreatic cancer datasets collected from TCGA database were used to establish differentially expressed genes related to pancreas development and pancreatic cancer. Moreover, gene clusters with highly similar interpretation patterns between pancreas development and pancreatic cancer progression were established by self-organizing map and singular value decomposition. Additionally, the hypergeometric test was performed to compare the corresponding interpretation patterns. Abnormal regions of metabolic pathway were analyzed using the Sub-pathway-GM method. RESULTS: This study established the continuously upregulated and downregulated genes at different stages in pancreas development and progression of pancreatic cancer. Through analysis of the differentially expressed genes, we established the inverse and consistent direction development-cancer pattern associations. Based on the application of the Subpathway-GM analysis, we established 17 significant metabolic sub-pathways that were closely associated with pancreatic cancer. Of note, the most significant metabolites sub-pathway was related to glycerophospholipid metabolism. CONCLUSION: The inverse and consistent direction development-cancer pattern associations were established. There was a significant correlation in the inverse patterns, but not consistent direction patterns.

PACE4 regulates apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer Panc­1 cells via the mitochondrial signaling pathway.

Previous studies have demonstrated the overexpression of paired basic amino acid cleaving enzyme 4 (PACE4) mRNA in prostate cancer tissues. This overexpression is correlated with higher circulating protein levels in certain patients, however, the role of PACE4 in apoptosis and the potential molecular mechanisms of pancreatic cancer remain to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect and potential molecular mechanisms of PACE4 on apoptosis in the Panc­1 pancreatic cancer cell line. Cell proliferation was assessed using a Cell Counting Kit­8 assay. Apoptotic nuclear shrinkage was monitored using Hoechst 33258 staining. Caspase­3/7 activities were measured using a colorimetric caspase­glo 3/7 assay. Alterations in protein expression were monitored using Western blot analysis. The results indicated that PACE4 small interfering (si)RNA inhibited cell proliferation and activated caspase­3/7 activities. In addition, PACE4 siRNA significantly increased apoptosis via the activation of caspase­3 and the downregulation of anti­apoptotic proteins, X­linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein and phosphorylated­Akt. In addition, the results showed deregulation of the B cell lymphoma­2 (Bcl­2)-associated X protein/Bcl­2 ratio which led to the release of cytochrome c following PACE4 siRNA transfection. In conclusion, PACE4 siRNA may exert antitumor activity through the mitochondrial pathway and is expected to be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Waterborne exposure to bisphenol F causes thyroid endocrine disruption in zebrafish larvae.

While bisphenol F (BPF) has been frequently detected in various environmental compartments, limited information is available on its effect on thyroid endocrine system. In the present study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were exposed to 0.2, 2, 20, and 200 µg/L of BPF from 2 h post-fertilization (hpf) to 144 hpf. The whole-body content of thyroid hormones, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and transcription of genes belonging to the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis were investigated. BPF exposure resulted in alterations of both T3 and T4 contents, increased the ratios of T3/T4, demonstrating thyroid endocrine disruption. Moreover, TSH content was significantly induced in a concentration-dependent manner after exposure to BPF. The increased gene transcription of dio2 might assist to degrade increased T3 contents. Treatment with BPF also significantly increased transcription of genes involved in thyroid hormone regulation (crh) and synthesis (nis and tg) as a compensatory mechanism for the decrease of T4 contents. However, the gene encoding protein involved in TH transport (ttr) was transcriptionally significantly down-regulated after exposure to BPF. Taken together, these results suggest that BPF alters the transcription of genes involved in the HPT axis as well as changes whole-body contents of thyroid hormones and TSH in zebrafish embryos/larvae, thus causing an endocrine disruption of the thyroid system.

[Analysis of drug resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii and its related factors in ICU].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate drug resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii and its related factors in intensive care unit (ICU), and to provide clinical basis for prevention and treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted. Clinical data was collected from 1 050 patients in ICU of Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2011 to June 2013. The risk factors of nosocomial infection were analyzed with univariate analysis. The independent risk factor was sieved from the risk factors with P<0.05 with unconditional logistic regression analysis to analyze the related factors and drug resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii in ICU. RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen patients suffering from nosocomial infection of Acinetobacter baumannii were found, and its incidence rate was 10.76%. There were 96 cases of infection of multi-drug resistant, extensive-drug resistant and pan-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, accounting for 84.96%. Acinetobacter baumannii detection rate was 79.65% in sputum, 10.62% in urine, 4.42% in wound secretion, 3.54% in blood, and 1.77% in other drainage discharges, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that mechanical ventilation, ICU stay time≥7 days, coma [Glasgow coma score (GCS)<8], usage of broad-spectrum antibiotics were risk factors of nosocomial infection of Acinetobacter baumannii. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the independent risk factors of nosocomial infection caused by Acinetobacter baumannii in ICU were mechanical ventilation [odds ratio (OR)= 2.957, 95%confidence interval (95%CI) 1.106-6.253, P=0.023], ICU stay time≥7 days (OR=2.991, 95%CI 1.135-6.544, P=0.022), coma (GCS<8,OR=2.894, 95%CI 1.803-7.462, P=0.010), and usage of broad-spectrum antibiotics (OR=3.054, 95%CI 1.009-6.550, P=0.004). Rate of resistance to polymyxin B was the lowest (6.19%), and it was followed by tobramycin and tigecycline, 11.50% and 28.32%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Acinetobacter baumannii in ICU was conditional pathogenic bacteria with high infection rate, and the lower respiratory tract was the main site of infestation. The related factors include mechanical ventilation, ICU stay time, coma, usage of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Its antimicrobial resistance rate was high. Comprehensive measures, including environmental isolation, strict bed unit disinfection, enforcement of hand disinfection, strengthening the effort to shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation, reduction of ICU length of stay, enhancement of drainage of mucus, excretions, and other body fluids, and rational use of antibiotics should be encouraged in order to reduce Acinetobacter baumannii in ICU.

Med19 promotes gastric cancer progression and cellular growth.

Med19 was a member of the Mediator complex which forms the bridge between transcriptional activators and RNA polymerase II. We aim to investigate the functional role of Med19 in the progression of human gastric carcinoma. The correlation between Med19 expression and clinicopathologic features in 60 gastric carcinoma specimens was analyzed by using immunohistochemistry. Recombinant lentivirus expressing Med19 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was constructed and infected into human gastric carcinoma SGC7901 and MGC803 cells. MTT, colony formation and cell cycle analysis were used to study the effect of Med19 shRNA on gastric cancer cell proliferation. Expression of Med19 was associated with tumor size, cancer cell differentiation, and TNM stages (P<0.05). Downregulation of Med19 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and colony-formation capacity, and induced G1 phase cell-cycle arrest. Collectively, Med19 functions in promoting cellular growth and may be a useful therapeutic target in malignant gastric carcinoma.

[Clinical analysis of the treatment:transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with sorafenib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To provide more evidence sources to the standard treatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, the writer analyze patients' time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) after patients receiving transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with sorafenib as a treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); observe the healing effect embolization combined with anti-angiogenic treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma; and also analyze treatment of security. METHODS: There are 36 patients, 33 male and 3 female had been Pathologically or clinical diagnosis. After receiving Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) therapy, in the following 3 to 7 days, this group of patients continuously take sorafenib (brand name: Nexavar) (per tablet 200 mg), 2 tablets each time, 2 times a day. Every 4 to 8 weeks is called as one period of treatment. Referring to RECIST Evaluation, the writers mainly observe patients' tumor progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS), record adverse events. Using life table method to analyze survival rate, using Kaplan-Meier method to analyze all the survival curves. RESULTS: Till March, 2010, 14 of 36 evaluable patients died and 22 survive; the median time to tumor progression (mTTP) to 8.62 months (95%CI: 6.51-10.24 months); the median survival time (mOS) of 12.41 months (95%CI: 9.57-14.80 months). The overall survival rate to observation period is 61.1%; 36 patients had been studied, 22 survive. Among the survivals, there is no CR cases, and 1 case PR, 15 patients SD, 6 patients PD; disease control rate (DCR) (CR + PR + SD) is 44.4%. The side effects of taking Sorafenib mainly are hand-foot skin reaction, diarrhea, fatigue and loss of appetite. These side effects can be markedly eased after symptomatic treatment. CONCLUSION: Combined with sorafenib treatment may give patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma a longer longevity and keep the disease in a steady state. This therapy can be added into the treatments to patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The side effects of taking Sorafenib (Nexavar) could be stand.