Challenges and solutions to biodiversity conservation in arid lands.

The strategic goals of the United Nations and the Aichi Targets for biodiversity conservation have not been met. Instead, biodiversity has continued to rapidly decrease, especially in developing countries. Setting a new global biodiversity framework requires clarifying future priorities and strategies to bridge challenges and provide representative solutions. Hyper-arid, arid, and semi-arid lands (herein, arid lands) form about one third of the Earth's terrestrial surface. Arid lands contain unique biological and cultural diversity, and biodiversity loss in arid lands can have a disproportionate impact on these ecosystems due to low redundancy and a high risk of trophic cascades. They contain unique biological and cultural diversity and host many endemic species, including wild relatives of key crop plants. Yet extensive agriculture, unsustainable use, and global climate change are causing an irrecoverable damage to arid lands, with far-reaching consequences to the species, ground-water resources, ecosystem productivity, and ultimately the communities' dependant on these systems. However, adequate research and effective policies to protect arid land biodiversity and sustainability are lacking because a large proportion of arid areas are in developing countries, and the unique diversity in these systems is frequently overlooked. Developing new priorities for global arid lands and mechanisms to prevent unsustainable development must become part of public discourse and form the basis for conservation efforts. The current situation demands the combined efforts of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and local communities to adopt a socio-ecological approach for achieving sustainable development (SDGs) in arid lands. Applying these initiatives globally is imperative to conserve arid lands biodiversity and the critical ecological services they provide for future generations. This perspective provides a framework for conserving biodiversity in arid lands for all stakeholders that will have a tangible impact on sustainable development, nature, and human well-being.

New morphological and DNA evidence supports the existence of Calligonum jeminaicum Z. M. Mao (Calligoneae, Polygonaceae) in China.

Calligonum jeminaicum Z. M. Mao, a species regarded as endemic to China, was thought to be nonexistent owing to a lack of scientific records. The similarity of C. jeminaicum to C. mongolicum Turcz. warranted an investigation into the taxonomical relationship between these species. In this study, a naturally occurring population of C. jeminaicum was discovered and the taxonomical relationships of this species with C. mongolicum were resolved. Morphological traits, including fruit and flower characteristics, as well as nuclear (ETS, ITS) and chloroplast (psbA-trnH, ycf6-psbM, rpl32-trnL, rbcL, and trnL-F) DNA sequence data were studied to confirm the taxonomic status of C. jeminaicum. The nrDNA data (ITS1-2 and ETS) from C. jeminaicum reflected variability from the whole C. mongolicum complex, showing distinctive haplotypes in the Calligonum sect. Medusa Sosk. & Alexandr. The cpDNA data supplied similar evidence, showing unique branching in Bayesian and ML tree analyses. The specific status of C. jeminaicum is confirmed based on both morphological and molecular analyses. Here we present a revised description of C. jeminaicum along with its DNA barcode and discuss suggestions for the conservation of this species. Based on current evidence, this species was evaluated as Critically Endangered (CR) according to the IUCN criteria.

Phylogeography and conservation genetics of the endangered Tugarinovia mongolica (Asteraceae) from Inner Mongolia, Northwest China.

Tugarinovia (Family Asteraceae) is a monotypic genus. It's sole species, Tugarinovia mongolica Iljin, is distributed in the northern part of Inner Mongolia, with one additional variety, Tugarinovia mongolica var ovatifolia, which is distributed in the southern part of Inner Mongolia. The species has a limited geographical range and declining populations. To understand the phylogeographic structure of T. mongolica, we sequenced two chloroplast DNA regions (psbA-trnH and psbK-psbI) from 219 individuals of 16 populations, and investigated the genetic variation and phylogeographic patterns of T. mongolica. The results identified a total of 17 (H1-H17) chloroplast haplotypes. There were no haplotypes shared between the northern (T. mongolica) and southern groups (T. mongolica var. ovatifolia), and they formed two distinct lineages. The regional split was also supported by AMOVA and BEAST analyses. AMOVA showed the main variation that occurred between the two geographic groups. The time of divergence of the two groups can be dated to the early Pleistocene epoch, when climate fluctuations most likely resulted in the allopatric divergence of T. mongolica. The formation of the desert blocked genetic flow and enhanced the divergence of the northern and southern groups. Our results indicate that the genetic differences between T. mongolica and T. mongolica var. ovatifolia are consistent with previously proposed morphological differences. We speculate that the dry, cold climate and the expansion of the desert during the Quaternary resulted in the currently observed distribution of extant populations of T. mongolica. In the northern group, the populations Chuanjinsumu, Wuliji and Yingen displayed the highest genetic diversity and should be given priority protection. The southern group showed a higher genetic drift (FST = 1, GST = 1), and the inbreeding load (HS = 0) required protection for each population. Our results propose that the protection of T. mongolica should be implemented through in situ and ex situ conservation practices to increase the effective population size and genetic diversity.

Intraspecific divergences and phylogeography of Panzerina lanata (Lamiaceae) in northwest China.

Climatic fluctuations during the Quaternary significantly affect many species in their intraspecific divergence and population structure across northwest China. In order to investigate the impact of climate change on herbaceous plants, we studied Panzerina lanata (Lamiaceae), a widely distributed species. Sequences of two chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) intergenic spacers (trnH-psbA and rpoB-trnC) and a nuclear ribosomal region (nrDNA, ITS) were generated from 27 populations of Panzerina lanata and resulted in the identification of seven chloroplast haplotypes and thirty-two nuclear haplotypes. We applied AMOVA, neutrality test and mismatch distribution analysis to estimate genetic differentiation and demographic characteristics. The divergence times of the seven cpDNA haplotypes were estimated using BEAST. Our results revealed high levels of genetic diversity (cpDNA: Hcp = 0.6691, H T = 0.673; nrDNA: Hnr = 0.5668, H T = 0.577). High level of genetic differentiation (G ST = 0.950) among populations was observed in the cpDNA sequences, while the genetic differentiation values (G ST = 0.348) were low in nuclear sequences. AMOVA results revealed major genetic variation among the three groups: northern, central, and eastern group. However, the genetic differentiation in ITS data was not found. The species distribution modeling and demographic analysis indicated that P. lanata had not experienced recent range expansion. The occurrence of divergence between seven cpDNA haplotypes, probably during Pleistocene, coincides with aridification and expansion of the desert across northwest China that resulted in species diversification and habitat fragmentation. In addition, we discovered that the deserts and the Helan Mountains acted as effective geographic barriers that promoting the intraspecific diversity of P. lanata.

Evolutionary response to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau uplift: phylogeny and biogeography of Ammopiptanthus and tribe Thermopsideae (Fabaceae).

Previous works resolved diverse phylogenetic positions for genera of the Fabaceae tribe Thermopsideae, without a thoroughly biogeography study. Based on sequence data from nuclear ITS and four cpDNA regions (matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA, trnL-trnF) mainly sourced from GenBank, the phylogeny of tribe Thermopsideae was inferred. Our analyses support the genera of Thermopsideae, with the exclusion of Pickeringia, being merged into a monophyletic Sophoreae. Genera of Sophoreae were assigned into the Thermopsoid clade and Sophoroid clade. Monophyly of Anagyris, Baptisia and Piptanthus were supported in the Thermopsoid clade. However, the genera Thermopsis and Sophora were resolved to be polyphyly, which require comprehensive taxonomic revisions. Interestingly, Ammopiptanthus, consisting of A. mongolicus and A. nanus, nested within the Sophoroid clade, with Salweenia as its sister. Ammopiptanthus and Salweenia have a disjunct distribution in the deserts of northwestern China and the Hengduan Mountains, respectively. Divergence age was estimated based on the ITS phylogenetic analysis. Emergence of the common ancestor of Ammopiptanthus and Salweenia, divergence between these two genera and the split of Ammopiptanthus species occurred at approximately 26.96 Ma, 4.74 Ma and 2.04 Ma, respectively, which may be in response to the second, third and fourth main uplifts of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, respectively.

Reproductive biology and variation of nuclear ribosomal ITS and ETS sequences in the Calligonum mongolicum complex (Polygonaceae).

To explore the biosystematics of the Calligonum mongolicum complex (Polygonaceae), the flowering phenological period, breeding and pollination characters and seed set of the complex (Calligonum Mongolicum Turze, Calligonum chinense A. Los., Calligonum gobicum A. Los., Calligonum pumilum A. Los. and Calligonum zaidamense A. Los.) were documented in the Turpan Eremophyte Botanical Garden, China. The sequences of the nuclear ribosomal ITS and ETS region were employed to differentiate the Calligonum mongolicum complex and other species in sect. Medusae. The results showed species of the Calligonum mongolicum complex occupied overlapping flowering periods and had consistent pollination agents. Their breeding systems are all self-compatible, tend to be out-crossing and they interbreed amongst each other (out-crossing index, OCI = 4).The crosses within and amongst species had high seed sets (44 - 65%). Phylogenetic analyses of Calligonum sect. Medusae and the network analysis of nrDNA (ITS and ETS) in the complex suggest interbreeding amongst "species" within the complex and provide evidence for taxonomically merging the five species in the complex. The detected hybridisation, occurring within the complex, suggests the need to improve traditional methods of ex situ plant conservation in botanical gardens for maintaining genetic diversity of Calligonum within and amongst species from different geographic areas.

Evolution of morphological and climatic adaptations in Veronica L. (Plantaginaceae).

Perennials and annuals apply different strategies to adapt to the adverse environment, based on 'tolerance' and 'avoidance', respectively. To understand lifespan evolution and its impact on plant adaptability, we carried out a comparative study of perennials and annuals in the genus Veronica from a phylogenetic perspective. The results showed that ancestors of the genus Veronicawere likely to be perennial plants. Annual life history of Veronica has evolved multiple times and subtrees with more annual species have a higher substitution rate. Annuals can adapt to more xeric habitats than perennials. This indicates that annuals are more drought-resistant than their perennial relatives. Due to adaptation to similar selective pressures, parallel evolution occurs in morphological characters among annual species of Veronica.

Molecular Biogeography of Tribe Thermopsideae (Leguminosae): A Madrean-Tethyan Disjunction Pattern with an African Origin of Core Genistoides.

Thermopsideae has 45 species and exhibits a series of interesting biogeographical distribution patterns, such as Madrean-Tethyan disjunction and East Asia-North America disjunction, with a center of endemism in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (QTP) and Central Asia. Phylogenetic analysis in this paper employed maximum likelihood using ITS, rps16, psbA-trnH, and trnL-F sequence data; biogeographical approaches included BEAST molecular dating and Bayesian dispersal and vicariance analysis (S-DIVA). The results indicate that the core genistoides most likely originated in Africa during the Eocene to Oligocene, ca. 55-30 Ma, and dispersed eastward to Central Asia at ca. 33.47 Ma. The origin of Thermopsideae is inferred as Central Asian and dated to ca. 28.81 Ma. Ammopiptanthus is revealed to be a relic. Birth of the ancestor of Thermopsideae coincided with shrinkage of the Paratethys Sea at ca. 30 Ma in the Oligocene. The Himalayan motion of QTP uplift of ca. 20 Ma most likely drove the diversification between Central Asia and North America. Divergences in East Asia, Central Asia, the Mediterranean, and so forth, within Eurasia, except for Ammopiptanthus, are shown to be dispersals from the QTP. The onset of adaptive radiation at the center of the tribe, with diversification of most species in Thermopsis and Piptanthus at ca. 4-0.85 Ma in Tibet and adjacent regions, seems to have resulted from intense northern QTP uplift during the latter Miocene to Pleistocene.

Influence of environmental variability on phylogenetic diversity and trait diversity within Calligonum communities.

Since phylogenetic data provide the evolutionary history of the species and traits are the result of adaptation to the environmental conditions, joint analysis of these two aspects and ecological data may illuminate that how ecological processes affect the evolution of species and assembly of communities. In this study, we compared the community structure of sibling communities in order to illuminate the influence of environmental variability. We chose different Calligonum communities as research subjects which grow in active sand dunes and stabilized sand fields. Our results show that species which co-occurred in C. rubicundum community have greater phylogenetic evenness compared to species in other communities where co-occurring plants had similar traits. Soil variability might legitimately explain this result. Based on the similarity between the pattern of trait diversity and the pattern of phylogenetic diversity, we inferred that the evolution of traits is conservative and species of all but C. rubicundum communities are under more intense selection pressure.

Effect of VEGF-targeted antisense gene therapy on retinoblastoma cell line SO-RB50 in vitro and in vivo.

AIM: To evaluate the possibility of generation 4 polyamidoamine (G4PAMAM) dendrimers acting as the delivery system of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (VEGFASODN), and to investigate the anti-tumor effect of G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN complex on the cultured cells and the mouse tumor xenograft model. METHODS: The transfection efficiency was assessed by Flow cytometry (FCM). Thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to determine the relative growth rate (RGR) of the cells after transfection. Then a mouse tumor xenograft model of human retinoblastoma was established. Different interventions were given to the mice by intratumoral injection and the tumor growth was monitored. The expression of VEGF mRNA was detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), the expression of VEGF protein was determined by western blot analysis, and the microvessel density (MVD) was measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. RESULTS: G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN exhibited a high transfection rate in vitro, and the transfection rates of different doses of G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN groups increased with higher doses. This effect was accompanied by a dose-depended reduction in cell viability. The tumor growth in the tumor-bearing athymic mice was significantly inhibited in the G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN group. The expressions of VEGF mRNA and protein were obviously inhibited in the G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN group (P<0.05), and the MVD of the G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN group was lower than that of the other groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: VEGFASODN can be delivered into the cultured and transplanted retinoblastoma cells efficiently by G4PAMAM, suppress the expressions of VEGF mRNA and protein, and reduce the MVD of tumor tissues. The G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN complex has antitumor properties in vitro and in vivo.

Data analysis of low dose multislice helical CT scan in orbital trauma.

AIM: To explore the optimal low dose of MSCT in orbital trauma examination. METHODS: Sixty transverse images of the fracture layer were selected. Low-dose images acquired at 30, 70, 100, 140, 170, and 200 milliampere (mA) were simulated by adding noise to the image space using software. After assessing the images according to the conditions of image quality and fracture, we found the optimal tube current that met diagnostic requirements and then applied it to clinical use. The CT Dose Index volume (CTDIvol), dose length product (DLP) and effective dose (ED) were recorded. The image quality was classified as good, fairly good, ordinary, poor, or very poor according to image level, noise, anatomic structure and whether the diagnostic requirements were met or not. The rank-sum test was used to perform statistical analysis on the ranked data. The Chi-square test was used for the numerical data. RESULTS: Under the scan conditions of a conventional dose of 300 mA, 60 cases of orbital fracture, 38 cases of orbital emphysema, 25 cases of ocular damage, and 3 cases of intraorbital foreign body were demonstrated in the images of the 60 orbital trauma patients. Among the low dose simulated images, the image quality difference of the different doses was of statistical significance (χ(2)=15.678, P=0.016). When the dose was lowered to 70 mA, the above mentioned clinical signs were still clear and diagnostic, however the image quality assessment results indicated that 2 cases were good, 16 cases were fairly good, and 42 cases were ordinary, poor or very poor. When the simulated dose tube current was 100mA, the image quality assessment results were 18 cases good, 34 cases fairly good, and 8 cases ordinary, poor and very poor; compared with the conventional dose, there was no statistical significance (P>0.05). When using a 100 mA tube current to examine 40 cases of orbital trauma patients in the clinic, the acquired image quality was 10 cases good, 26 cases fairly good and 4 cases ordinary, without any cases of poor or very poor. The CTDIvol, DLP and ED were 20.72mGy, 124.97 mGy·cm and 0.26mSv, respectively, while the CTDIvol, DLP and ED were 62.53mGy, 375.18 mGy•GTtl and 0.86mSv, respectively, when using a conventional dose of 300 mA. Compared with the tube current of 100 mA for scanning, the ED declined 70%. CONCLUSION: When conducting an MSCT scan for orbital trauma, the acquired images using the 100 mA tube current can meet the clinical diagnostic requirements, and the radiation dose to the patients can be decreased.

Comparison of five Calligonum species in Tarim Basin based on morphological and molecular data.

Five Calligonum species endemic to the Tarim Basin - C. roborowskii, C. kuerlese, C. juoqiangense,C. yengisaricum, and C. taklimakanense - were compared using 14 morphological characteristics and nrDNA ITS and cpDNA trnL-F molecular data. Intraspecific and interspecific morphological variation was uncovered, with variation between species significant for most characteristics. Based on Euclidean distances, C. roborowskii and C. kuerlese were the most similar, and C. yengisaricum and C. kuerlese were the most divergent. There was very little variation in the molecular sequence data: although several variable sites were present in ITS and trnL-F regions, none of them were parsimony informative. Results of morphological and molecular analyses suggest that the various morphological characteristics of the studied Calligonum species are strongly shaped by environmental factors, with the observed intraspecific and interspecific morphological variation a product of the spatial isolation and extreme drought of the Tarim Basin.

Development of biomedical publications on ametropia research in PubMed from 1845 to 2010: a bibliometric analysis.

AIM: We have carried out a bibliometric analysis on the development of ametropia literature to determine its growth rule and tendency, and to provide the basis for the problems related to ametropia research. METHODS: Literatures that contained the descriptors of ametropia in title or paper published before Nov. 10, 2010 in PubMed databases (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Pubmed) were selected. As bibliometric indicators of ametropia, biomedical journals referring to ophthalmology by ISSN were calculated. The principal bibliometric indicators: Price's and Bradford's laws were applied on the increase or dispersion of scientific literature, the participation index of languages and the journals. By means of manual coding, literatures were classified according to documents study and statistical analysis. RESULTS: The literatures cited in ametropia, astigmatism, myopia and hypermetropia had accumulated to 26475, which consists of Review (n=1560), Randomized Controlled Trial (n=776), Practice Guideline (n=10), Meta-Analysis (n=23), Letter (n=1222), Editorial (n=328), Clinical Trial (n=1726) and Others (n=20830), and Humans (n=23073), Animals(n=1434) and others (n=1968). 1136 literatures were included in PubMed Central, 22384 in MEDLINE and 2955 in others. The ametropia literatures rose every 5 years which of the ametropia-year cumulated amount of the literatures had three periods: before 1900, slowly increasing from 1901 to 1950, rapidly rising from 1951 to 2010 (increased approximate exponentiation exponent). Sixty kinds of languages listed in PubMed databases, of which English is dominant for aborting to ametropia research documents before 2010 (77.32%, 20471/26475). The document languages of top eight account for 95.58% (English, German, French, Japanese, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Chinese), and others for 4.42% (1171/26475). The SCI database includes 48 ophthalmologic journals and the impact factor of 39 journals is ≥1 on Thomson-Reuters in 2010. Of 48 ophthalmologic journals, there were 14785 documents (55.85%) of ametropia, astigmatism, myopia, and hypermetropia. Others were without exception. CONCLUSION: The bibliometric analysis results show that ametropia literature are increased progressively, approximate exponentiation exponent during 1951-2010. In addition, ametropia research has become more popular since nearly half century.

Epidemiology and Rb1 gene of retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma (Rb) is the most common eye cancer in children and it can be inherited. Rb is quite rare and originators from the neural retina with a significant genetic component in etiology, which occurs in approximately 1 in every 20 0000 births. In children with the heritable genetic form of Rb, there is a mutation on chromosome 13, called the retinoblastoma 1 (Rb1) gene. Early diagnosis and intervention is critical to the successful treatment of the Rb. The Rb1 gene is the first cloned tumor suppressor gene. As a negative regulator of the cell cycle, Rb1 gene could maintain a balance between cell growth and development through binding to transcription factors and regulating the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. Thus, it is involved in cell cycle, cell senescence, growth arrest, apoptosis and differentiation. We summarized the recent advances on the epidemiology and Rb1 gene of Rb in this review.

Bibliometric analysis on retinoblastoma literatures in PubMed during 1929 to 2010.

AIM: To determine the growth rule and tendency of retinoblastoma (Rb) literature, and to provide the basis for research of diagnosis, treatment and on Rb. METHODS: Bibliometric analyses were carried out on Rb literatures which contain the descriptors of Rb in their titles or texts from 1929 to 2010 in PubMed database (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Pubmed). The biomedical journals referring to Rb by using bibliometric indicators were calculated. The principal bibliometric indicators, i.e., Price's and Bradford's laws to the increase or distribution of scientific literature, the participation index of languages and the journals were applied. By means of manual coding, Rb documents were classified according to documents studied and to statistical analysis. RESULTS: During 1929-2010, there were 16162 literatures in the PubMed database including the word Rb. According to the literature type, it includes Review (n=2026), Randomized Controlled Trial (n=7), Practice guideline (n=3), meta-analysis (n=4), letter (n=215), editorial (n=98), clinical trial (n=115) and others (n=13694). By the statistical analysis, its equation is near power index (y=3.0477x(2.6088), R(2)=0.9666). From 1929 to 2010, Rb literatures in English were primarily dominant (90.71%) and the amount of the literature in Chinese ranked the fourth (1.37%). By searching PubMed, 1420(8.8%) literatures covered were from 41 of 48 ophthalmological, and 406 (2.5%) literatures from 44 of 86 pediatrics journals that correlated with retinoblastoma (SCI-indexed). The data showed that the literatures of Rb were gradually increasing year by year and were approximate near power index during 1929-2010, and the document publishes published mainly in ophthalmological journals, and in English (90.71%), and showing that the study on Rb is a popular subject in the last half century. CONCLUSION: The literatures of Rb are gradually increasing, mainly English in ophthalmologic journals.

Effects of propofol versus urapidil on perioperative hemodynamics and intraocular pressure during anesthesia and extubation in ophthalmic patients.

AIM: To compare the effect of propofol versus urapidil on hemodynamics and intraocular pressure during anesthesia and extubation for ophthalmic patients. METHODS: Eighty-two surgical patients (Class: ASA I-II) were randomly assigned to propofol (n=41) and urapidil groups (n=41). Their gender, age, body mass, operation time and dosage of anesthetics had no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The patients of propofol and urapidil groups were given propofol (1.5mg/kg) and urapidil (2.5mg/kg) respectively; and two drugs were all diluted with normal saline to 8mL. Then the drugs were given to patients by slow intravenous injection. After treatment, the patients were conducted immediate suction, tracheal extubation, and then patients wore oxygen masks for 10 minutes. By double-blind methods, before the induction medication, at the suction, and 5, 10 minutes after the extubation, we recorded the systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), pH, PaO(2), PaCO(2), SaO(2) and intraocular pressure (IOP) respectively. The complete recovery time of the patients with restlessness (on the command they could open eyes and shaking hands) was also recorded during the extubation. The data were analyzed by using a professional SPSS 15.0 statistical software. RESULTS: The incidence of cough, restlessness and glossocoma was significantly lower in the propofol group than that in the urapidil group after extubation (P<0.05). There were no episodes of hypotension, laryngospasm, or severe respiratory depression. There was no statistical difference in recovery time between two groups (P>0.05). In propofol group, the BP and HR during extubation and thereafter had no significant difference compared with those before induction, while they were significantly lower than those before giving propofol (P<0.05), and had significant difference compared with those in urapidil group (P<0.05). Compared to preinduction, the BP of urapidil group showed no obvious increase during aspiration and extubation. The HR of urapidil group had little changes after being given urapidil, and it was obviously increased compared with that before induction. The stimulation of aspiration and extubation caused less cough and agitation in propofol group than that in urapidil group (P<0.05). The IOP of propofol group showed no obvious increase during extubation compared with that in preinduction, while in the urpidil group, extubation caused IOP significantly increased (P<0.05). The changes in these indicators between the two groups had no significant difference (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared to urapidil, propofol is superior for preventing the cardiovascular and stress responses and IOP increases during emergence and extubation for the ophthalmic patients. Moreover, it has no effects on patient's recovery.

Epidemiology and molecular genetics of congenital cataracts.

Congenital cataract is a crystallin severe blinding disease and genetic factors in disease development are important. Crystallin growth is under a combination of genes and their products in time and space to complete the coordination role of the guidance. Congenital cataract-related genes, included crystallin protein gene (CRYAA, CRYAB, CRYBA1/A3, CRYBA4, CRYBB1, CRYBB2, CRYBB3, CRYGC, CRYGD, CRYGS), gap junction channel protein gene (GJA1, GJA3, GJA8), membrane protein gene (GJA3, GJA8, MIP, LIM2), cytoskeletal protein gene (BF-SP2), transcription factor genes (HSF4, MAF, PITX3, PAX6), ferritin light chain gene (FTL), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and so on. Currently, there are about 39 genetic loci isolated to which primary cataracts have been mapped, although the number is constantly increasing and depends to some extent on definition. We summarized the recent advances on epidemiology and genetic locations of congenital cataract in this review.

TNF related apoptosis-inducing ligand and its receptors in ocular tumors.

Most of the ocular tumors have poor prognosis, and they remain a difficult problem in the area of ophthalmology. With the rapid development of molecular biology and immunologic techniques and the deep research on ocular tumor related genes, it becomes possible to diagnose and treat malignant tumors from the molecular level. The tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) super family, is a promising candidate, either alone or in combination with established cancer therapies, since it can initiate apoptosis through the activation of their death receptors. The ability of TRAIL to selectively induce apoptosis of transformed, virus-infected or tumor cells but not normal cells promotes the development of TRAIL-based cancer therapy. Here, we will review TRAIL and its receptors' structure, function, mechanism of action and application in ocular tumors therapy.

Effects of lysophosphatidic acid on human colon cancer cells and its mechanisms of action.

AIM: To study the effects of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) on proliferation, adhesion, migration, and apoptosis in the human colon cancer cell line, SW480, and its mechanisms of action. METHODS: Methyl tetrazolium assay was used to assess cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was employed to detect cell apoptosis. Cell migration was measured by using a Boyden transwell migration chamber. Cell adhesion assay was performed in 96-well plates according to protocol. RESULTS: LPA significantly stimulated SW480 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner compared with the control group (P < 0.05) while the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, PD98059, significantly blocked the LPA stimulation effect on proliferation. LPA also significantly stimulated adhesion and migration of SW480 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Rho kinase inhibitor, Y-27632, significantly inhibited the up-regulatory effect of LPA on adhesion and migration (P < 0.05). LPA significantly protected cells from apoptosis induced by the chemotherapeutic drugs, cisplatin and 5-FU (P < 0.05), but the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, LY294002, significantly blocked the protective effect of LPA on apoptosis. CONCLUSION: LPA stimulated proliferation, adhesion, migration of SW480 cells, and protected from apoptosis. The Ras/Raf-MAPK, G12/13-Rho-RhoA and PI3K-AKT/PKB signal pathways may be involved.

Epidemiology and gene markers of ulcerative colitis in the Chinese.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes two similar yet distinct conditions called ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). These diseases affect the digestive system and cause the inflammation of intestinal tissue, form sores and bleed easily. Most children with IBD are diagnosed in late childhood and adolescence. However, both UC and CD have been reported as early as in infancy. Most information pertaining to the epidemiology of IBD is based upon adult studies. Symptoms include abdominal pain, cramping, fatigue and diarrhea. Genetic factors play a significant role in determining IBD susceptibility. Epidemiological data support a genetic contribution to the pathogenesis of IBD. Recently, numerous new genes have been identified as being involved in the genetic susceptibility to IBD: TNF-308A, CARD15 (NOD2), MIF-173, N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), NKG2D (natural killer cell 2D), STAT6 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 6), CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4), MICA-MICB (major histocompatibility complex A and B), HLA-DRB1, HLA class-II, IL-18, IL-4, MICA-A5, CD14, TLR4, Fas-670, p53 and NF-kappaB. The characterization of these novel genes has the potential to identify therapeutic agents and aid clinical assessment of phenotype and prognosis in patients with IBD (UC and CD).