CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of Bsr-d1 enhances the blast resistance of rice in Northeast China.

KEY MESSAGE: The blast resistance allele of OsBsr-d1 does not exist in most japonica rice varieties of Jilin Province in China. The development of Bsr-d1 knockout mutants via CRISPR/Cas9 enhances broad-spectrum resistance to rice blast in Northeast China. Rice blast is a global disease that has a significant negative impact on rice yield and quality. Due to the complexity and variability of the physiological races of rice blast, controlling rice blast is challenging in agricultural production. Bsr-d1, a negative transcription factor that confers broad-spectrum resistance to rice blast, was identified in the indica rice cultivar Digu; however, its biological function in japonica rice varieties is still unclear. In this study, we analyzed the blast resistance allele of Bsr-d1 in a total of 256 japonica rice varieties from Jilin Province in Northeast China and found that this allele was not present in these varieties. Therefore, we generated Bsr-d1 knockout mutants via the CRISPR/Cas9 system using the japonica rice variety Jigeng88 (JG88) as a recipient variety. Compared with those of the wild-type JG88, the homozygous Bsr-d1 mutant lines KO#1 and KO#2 showed enhanced leaf blast resistance at the seedling stage to several Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae) races collected from Jilin Province in Northeast China. Physiological and biochemical indices revealed that the homozygous mutant lines produced more hydrogen peroxide than did JG88 plants when infected with M. oryzae. Comparative RNA-seq revealed that the DEGs were mainly involved in the synthesis of amide compounds, zinc finger proteins, transmembrane transporters, etc. In summary, our results indicate that the development of Bsr-d1 knockout mutants through CRISPR/Cas9 can enhance the broad-spectrum resistance of rice in Northeast China to rice blast. This study not only provides a theoretical basis for disease resistance breeding involving the Bsr-d1 gene in Northeast China, but also provides new germplasm resources for disease-resistance rice breeding.

Pooled analysis of the oncological outcomes in robotic gastrectomy versus laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

AIM: Robotic gastrectomy (RG) is more and more widely used in the treatment of gastric cancer. However, the long-term oncological outcomes of RG have not been well evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term oncological outcomes of RG and laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) in the treatment of gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Cochrane Library and EMBASE electronic databases were searched until August 2019. Eligible studies were analysed for comparison of oncological outcomes between RG and LG in patients with gastric cancer. RESULTS: Eleven retrospective comparative studies, which included 1347 (32.52%) patients in the RG group and 2795 (67.48%) patients in the LG group, were selected for the analysis. Meta-analysis of the 11 included studies showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the OS between the RG and LG groups (hazard ratios [HRs] = 0.97, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] = 0.80-1.19, P = 0.80). Six studies evaluated disease-free survival (DFS), and pooled analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in DFS between RG group and LG group (HR = 0.94, 95% CIs = 0.72-1.23, P = 0.65). According to the odds ratio (OR) analysis, there was no significant difference in 3-year OS, 5-year OS, 3-year DFS and 5-year DFS between the RG and LG groups. Nine articles reported the recurrence rate, and the meta-analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the RG and LG groups (OR = 0.88, 95% CIs = 0.69-1.12, P = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis indicated that the long-term oncological outcomes in the RG group were similar to that in the LG group.

Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy versus Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity: Results from a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) are 2 widely used procedures performed in bariatric surgery. However, their long-term weight loss effects have not been well compared. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term outcome of 2 procedures for treating morbid obesity. SETTING: The gastrointestinal surgery center, Eastern Hospital, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital. METHODS: Three electronic databases, PubMed, CNKI, and EMBASE, were searched ending in September 2018. Eligible studies were prospective randomized controlled trials. RESULTS: Of 15 randomized controlled trials studies, 1381 cases were included, 697 were randomly divided into the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy group and 684 to the LRYGB group. A statistically significant percent excess weight loss reduction in weighted mean difference was observed in LRYGB group at 5 years (weighted mean difference = -8.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -13.08 to -4.73, P < .0001), and at 3 years (weighted mean difference = -11.96, 95% CI = -17.62 to -6.30, P < .0001). However, there was not any statistically difference between the 2 procedures in <3 years. The total complication of the LSC group were less than that of the LRYGB groups (odds ratio = .52, 95%CI = .35-.76, P = .0007). This meta-analysis showed that the LRYGB procedure could reduce gastrointestinal reflux disease (odds ratio = .26, 95%CI = .11-.61, P = .002); however, no statistically significant differences were found in type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and sleep apnea. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis showed that significantly greater in percent excess weight loss after 5 years of LRYGB treatment; however, it seems to have a higher incidence of total complications.

The Role of Stents as Bridge to Surgery for Acute Left-Sided Obstructive Colorectal Cancer: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: The role of self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) as a bridge to surgery for acute left-sided obstructive colorectal cancer has remained controversial. OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of this approach, we performed a meta-analysis at the gastrointestinal surgery center of Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital (Eastern Hospital). METHODS: Two PubMed and science-direct electronic databases were searched up to December 30, 2017. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RESULTS: We selected 8 RCTs articles, which included 497 cases. The directly stoma rates were significantly lower in the stent group (odds ratio [OR] = 0.46, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] = 0.30-0.70, p = 0.0003). The successful primary anastomosis rates were significantly higher in the stent group (OR = 2.29, 95% CIs = 1.52-3.45, p < 0.0001). The post-procedural complication rates were significantly lower in the stent group (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.18-0.82, p = 0.01). However, tumor recurrence rates were significantly higher in the stent group (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.09-2.93, p = 0.02). Conclusions This meta-analysis confirms that SEMS placement could reduce direct stoma rate and increases the successful primary anastomosis rate; however, it was associated with a seemingly higher incidence of tumor recurrence.

Overexpression of a New Zinc Finger Protein Transcription Factor OsCTZFP8 Improves Cold Tolerance in Rice.

Cold stress is one of the most important abiotic stresses in rice. C2H2 zinc finger proteins play important roles in response to abiotic stresses in plants. In the present study, we isolated and functionally characterized a new C2H2 zinc finger protein transcription factor OsCTZFP8 in rice. OsCTZFP8 encodes a C2H2 zinc finger protein, which contains a typical zinc finger motif, as well as a potential nuclear localization signal (NLS) and a leucine-rich region (L-box). Expression of OsCTZFP8 was differentially induced by several abiotic stresses and was strongly induced by cold stress. Subcellular localization assay and yeast one-hybrid analysis revealed that OsCTZFP8 was a nuclear protein and has transactivation activity. To characterize the function of OsCTZFP8 in rice, the full-length cDNA of OsCTZFP8 was isolated and transgenic rice with overexpression of OsCTZFP8 driven by the maize ubiquitin promoter was generated using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Among 46 independent transgenic lines, 6 single-copy homozygous overexpressing lines were selected by Southern blot analysis and Basta resistance segregation assay in both T1 and T2 generations. Transgenic rice overexpressing OsCTZFP8 exhibited cold tolerant phenotypes with significantly higher pollen fertilities and seed setting rates than nontransgenic control plants. In addition, yield per plant of OsCTZFP8-expressing lines was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than that of nontransgenic control plants under cold treatments. These results demonstrate that OsCTZFP8 was a C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor that plays an important role in cold tolerance in rice.

Curcumin inhibits hypoxia-induced migration in K1 papillary thyroid cancer cells.

Curcumin, traditionally used as food and medicinal purposes, has recently been reported to have protective efficacy against hypoxia. Hypoxia is one of the important reactive factors in tumor metastasis, which is a key problem in clinical thyroid cancer therapy. In present study, we investigate the anti-metastatic effect of curcumin on the K1 papillary thyroid cancer cells as well as its potential mechanisms. The results show that curcumin effectively inhibits hypoxia-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) upregulation and significantly decreases the mRNA and protein expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in K1 cells. Curcumin also decreases the DNA binding ability of HIF-1α to hypoxia response element (HRE). Furthermore, curcumin enhances E-cadherin expression, inhibits metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) enzyme activity, and weakens K1 cells migration under hypoxic conditions. In summary, these results indicate that curcumin possesses a potent anti-metastatic effect and might be an effective tumoristatic agent for the treatment of aggressive papillary thyroid cancers.

Effect of berberine on expressions of uncoupling protein-2 mRNA and protein in hepatic tissue of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of berberine on uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) mRNA and protein expressions in the hepatic tissue of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats, and to explore the molecular mechanism. METHODS: To establish the NAFLD rat model; the rats were fed by high fat forage and were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, model group, berberine high-dose group (324 mg/kg), and berberine low-dose group (162 mg/kg). After treatment for 12 weeks, the expression of UCP2 mRNA in the liver tissue was analyzed by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-RTPCR). The expression level of UCP2 protein in the liver tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry. Total PCR). cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) contents in blood serum, and TG and TC contents in the liver were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer. The other is to observe the axungia degree of the liver. RESULTS: The expression of UCP2 mRNA and positive cell numbers in the liver tissue were dramatically increased in the model group (P<0.01). Lipid in the serum and hepatic tissues increased significantly, and the liver was fatty. But in the treatment groups, the expression levels of mRNA and UCP2 proteins were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01). Liver steatosis was improved. CONCLUSIONS: Berberine can down-regulate the expression levels of UCP2 mRNA and UCP2 proteins of hepatic tissue in NAFLD rats. It can promote the recovery of hepatocyte steatosis and improve lipid metabolism disorder in NAFLD rats. Berberine shows a potential therapeutic effect on NAFLD.

Curcumin protects mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2A cells against hydrogen-peroxide-induced oxidative stress.

Curcumin has been traditionally used in China and India for food and medicinal purposes. It has been shown to possess potent antioxidative activity both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, the neuroprotective effects and the potential mechanisms of curcumin against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2A cells were investigated. Treatment with curcumin at 20 and 25µg/mL for 1h prior to H2O2 exposure significantly attenuated cell viability loss, reduced apoptosis, suppressed the elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium levels, and stabilised mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, curcumin could block H2O2-mediated degradation of the protein IκBα and subsequent activation of nuclear factor κB, thus inhibiting the expression of its target gene cyclooxygenase 2. These results indicate that curcumin has potential protective effects against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in neuron cells, which might make curcumin a suitable therapeutic agent for prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress.