Prognostic roles of mRNA expression of notch receptors in non-small cell lung cancer.

Notch signalling is aberrantly activated in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nevertheless, the prognostic roles of mRNA expression of four Notch receptors in NSCLC patients remain elusive. In this report, we reported the prognostic roles of Notch receptors in a total of 1,926 NSCLC patients through "The Kaplan-Meier plotter" (KM plotter) database which is capable to assess the effect of 22,277 genes on survival of NSCLC patients. We found that mRNA high expression level of Notch1 was associated with better overall survival (OS) for all NSCLC patients, hazard ratio (HR) 0.78 (0.69-0.89), p=0.00019, better OS in adenocarcinoma (Ade) patients, HR 0.59 (0.46-0.75), p=1.5e-05, as well as in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients, HR 0.78 (0.62-0.99), p=0.044. mRNA high expression levels of Notch2 and Notch3 were associated with worsen OS for all NSCLC patients, as well as in Ade, but not in SCC patients. mRNA high expression level of Notch4 was not found to be associated with to OS for all NSCLC patients. In addition, mRNA high expression levels of Notch2, Notch3, but Notch4 are significantly associated with the NSCLC patients who have different smoking status. Our results indicate that mRNA expression of Notch receptors may have distinct prognostic values in NSCLC patients. These results will benefit for developing tools to accurately predict the prognosis of NSCLC patients.

Association between Retinoic acid receptor-ß hypermethylation and NSCLC risk: a meta-analysis and literature review.

Emerging evidence indicates that Retinoic acid receptor-ß (RARß) is a tumor suppressor in many types of tumor. However, whether or not RARß is a risk factor and is correlated to clinicopathological characteristics of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. In this report, we performed a meta-analysis to determine the effects of RARß hypermethylation on the incidence of NSCLC and clinicopathological characteristics in human NSCLC patients. Final valuation and analysis of 1780 cancer patients from 16 eligible studies was performed. RARß hypermethylation was found to be significantly higher in NSCLC than in normal lung tissue, the pooled OR from 7 studies including 646 NSCLC and 580 normal lung tissues, OR = 6.05, 95% CI = 3.56-10.25, p<0.00001. RARß hypermethylation was significantly higher in adenocarcinoma (AC) compared to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), pooled OR is 0.68 (95% CI = 0.52-0.89, p = 0.005). RARß hypermethylation was also found to occur significantly higher in smoker (n = 232) than non-smoker (n = 213) (OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.54-3.93, p = 0.0002). Our results indicate that RARß hypermethylation correlates well with an increased risk in NSCLC patients. RARß geneinactivation caused by RARß methylation contributes the NSCLC tumorigenesis and may serve as a potential risk factor, diagnostic marker and drug target of NSCLC.

An early biomarker and potential therapeutic target of RUNX 3 hypermethylation in breast cancer, a system review and meta-analysis.

Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) methylation plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of breast cancer (BC). However, the association between RUNX3 hypermethylation and significance of BC remains under investigation. The purpose of this study is to perform a meta-analysis and literature review to evaluate the clinicopathological significance of RUNX3 hypermethylation in BC. A comprehensive literature search was performed in Medline, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library Database, CNKI and Google scholar. A total of 10 studies and 747 patients were included for the meta-analysis. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were evaluated and summarized respectively. RUNX3 hypermethylation was significantly correlated with the risk of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), OR was 50.37, p < 0.00001 and 22.66, p < 0.00001 respectively. Interestingly, the frequency of RUNX3 hypermethylation increased in estrogen receptor (ER) positive BC, OR was 12.12, p = 0.005. High RUNX3 mRNA expression was strongly associated with better relapse-free survival (RFS) in BC patients. In summary, RUNX3 methylation could be a promising early biomarker for the diagnosis of BC. High RUNX3 mRNA expression is correlated to better RFS in BC patients. RUNX3 could be a potential therapeutic target for the development of personalized therapy.

[Effects of light condition on structure and photosynthetic characteristics of leaves in 'Hanfu' apple].

By using microscope technique and gas exchange method, the effects of light conditions on structure and photosynthetic characteristics of the leaves were studied with potted and fielded 'Hanfu' apple as materials. The results showed that the palisade tissue, spongy tissue and the total leaf thickness of 'Hanfu' apple was declined under the weak light environment, the palisade tissue were declined by 34.5% (pot) and 25.0% (field), and the total leaf thickness were declined by 27.1% (pot) and 18.3% (field). The light compensation point (LCP) of the field shading leaves was lowest (30.8 +/- 1.3 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1)), the saturation point (LSP) in full light was 22.7% (pot) and 48.2% (field) higher than in shading, respectively. The adaptability of the potted 'Hanfu' apple leaves built under different light conditions had different resistivity after exposing to high light, the startup time of maximum photosynthetic rates (15.4 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1) in full light and 12.7 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1) in shading) were different, which was 23 min and 33 min, respectively. Long-time shading impacted on the quality and photosynthetic capacity of 'Hanfu' apple leaves.

[Effects of different organic matter mulching on water content, temperature, and available nutrients of apple orchard soil in a cold region].

The effects of different organic matter covers on soil physical-chemical properties were investigated in a 'Hanfu' apple orchard located in a cold region. Four treatments were applied (weed mulching, rice straw mulching, corn straw mulching, and crushed branches mulching), and physical-chemical properties, including orchard soil moisture and nutrient contents, were compared among treatment groups and between organic matter-treated and untreated plots. The results showed that soil water content increased in the plots treated with organic matter mulching, especially in the arid season. Cover with organic matter mulch slowed the rate of soil temperature increase in spring, which was harmful to the early growth of fruit trees. Organic matter mulching treatments decreased the peak temperature of orchard soil in the summer and increased the minimum soil temperature in the fall. pH was increased in soils treated with organic matter mulching, especially in the corn straw mulching treatment, which occurred as a response to alleviating soil acidification to achieve near-neutral soil conditions. The soil organic matter increased to varying extents among treatment groups, with the highest increase observed in the weed mulching treatment. Overall, mulching increased alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium in the soil, but the alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen content in the rice straw mulching treatment was lower than that of the control.

[Effects of high temperature on leaf photosynthetic characteristics and photosystem II photochemical activity of kernel-used apricot].

In order to explore the photosynthetic adaption mechanisms of kernel-used apricot under high temperature stress, gas exchange technique and chlorophyll fluorescence transient technique (JIP-test) were adopted to study the leaf photosynthetic characteristics and photosystem II (PS II) photochemical activity of 4 year-old 'Chaoren' (Armeniaca vulgaris x sibirica) growing on Horqin sandy land at 25 degrees C, 30 degrees C, 40 degrees C, and 50 degrees C. Within a definite temperature range, and as the temperature increased, the 'Chaoren' could enhance its leaf photosynthetic pigments content and ratio to maintain the light absorption, transfer, and conversion, and thereby, to ensure the function of photosynthetic apparatus. However, when the temperature exceeded the physiological adjustment threshold of leaves, the chlorophyll began to be decomposed, net photosynthetic rate (Pn) declined obviously, and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) increased, indicating that the decline in photosynthesis was limited by mesophyll factor. At 40 degrees C, the density of PS II reaction centers per excited cross-section (RC/CS0) dropped distinctly; and at 50 degrees C, the K phase (Wk) and J phase (Vj) in the O-J-I-P chlorophyll fluorescence transients increased distinctly, indicating that high temperature damaged the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), donor sides, and PS II reaction centers. In addition, the minimum chlorophyll fluorescence (F0) at 50 degrees C increased significantly by 1.26 times, compared with the control, and the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and performance index (PI(ABS)) reduced to 37.9% and 10.3% of the control, respectively. High temperature injured the function of the donor and acceptor sides in the PS II of photosynthetic apparatus, leading to the decrease of photosynthetic efficiency, and being one of the main mechanisms for the damage of photosynthetic apparatus in kernel-used apricot leaves under high temperature stress.

Clinical and genetic study of a novel mutation in the REEP1 gene.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the gene mutation associated with clinical phenotype from a Chinese kindred with autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia (ADHSP). METHOD: To perform linkage analysis and mutation detection. For two affected individual of the family, clinical analysis, electrophysiological examination, and MRI of brain and spinal cord were also performed. RESULT: A novel splice-site mutation (REEP1 c417+1g>a) was identified. Central motor conduction time to the first metatarsal interosseus and anterior tibial muscles were clearly prolonged. Thoracic cord atrophy was found from T1 to T10. CONCLUSION: Our study supports that mutations in REEP1 cause ADHSP and demonstrates genetic heterogeneity in ADHSP. Synapse

A novel mutation in EXT2 gene in a Chinese family with hereditary multiple exostoses.

Hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) is an autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by the presence of bony outgrowths on the long bones. In this report, we describe a Chinese family with HME. Linkage analysis and mutation detection were performed. Linkage with the EXT2 was established in this family. A novel mutation, EXT2 c239-244delG, was identified. Mutation analysis in a family with HME allows for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

Clinical and genetic study of SPG6 mutation in a Chinese family with hereditary spastic paraplegia.

Mutations in the NIPA1 gene cause autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia (ADHSP). To date, little is known about the relationship between genotype-phenotype correlation. In order to examine the gene mutation associated with the genotype-phenotype of Chinese kindred with ADHSP, linkage analysis and mutation detection were performed. For affected family members, clinical analysis, electrophysiological examination and MRI of the brain and spinal cord were also performed. Every effected patient had a c316 (G106R) mutation in the NIPA1 gene. Neurophysiological examination revealed decreased amplitude of compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) from the tibial and peroneal motor nerves in most patients. Sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) from the tibialis nerve was not elicited in most patients. Central motor conduction time (CMCT) to the abductor pollicis brevis muscle (APB), first metatarsal interosseus muscle (FMI) and anterior tibial muscle (AT) were either absent or clearly prolonged in all patients. Spinal cord MRI showed different levels of atrophy in every affected individual. These lesions present an increased spot or patch signal on transverse axis T2WI and an intense signal of continual longitudinal strip on the anteroposterior axis. Our study supports that mutations in the NIPA1 gene cause ADHSP and further demonstrates genotype-phenotype correlations in SPG6.

[Microbial flora in Cerasus sachalinensis rhizosphere].

By using selected culture media, the microbes in Cerasus sachalinensis rhizosphere were isolated, identified and classified, with their community structure and dynamic changes at different growth stages of C. sachalinensis studied. The bacteria isolated were belonged to 15 genera, among which, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Flavobacterium were the dominant ones. Flavus and Albosporus were the two dominant genera in seven groups of Actinomyces, and Mucor, Aspergillus and Penicillium were the main genera of fungi. The microbial flora varied with C. sachalinensis growth stage, being the richest at defoliation stage and the least at budding stage.

A novel mutation in the EXT2 gene identified in two unrelated Chinese families with hereditary multiple exostoses.

Hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by benign bone tumors. In this report, we describe two unrelated Chinese families with HME. Linkage analysis and mutation detection was performed. Clinical analysis was also performed for some affected individual in both families. Linkage with the EXT2 was established in both families. A novel mutation, c505 G > T, was identified in both families. Further allelic heterogeneity of EXT2 was demonstrated by the intrafamilial and interfamilial variability in clinical phenotype.