Pomiferin targeting SLC9A9 based on histone acetylation modification pattern is a potential therapeutical option for gastric cancer with high malignancy.

Changes in histone acetylation status are associated with gastric cancer (GC) progression. Pomiferin is a natural flavonoid, however, the specific role of pomiferin in the treatment of GC is still unclear, and its targets are not well clarified. In this work, the prognostic genes related with histone acetylation in GC were screened by univariate Cox analysis. Next, a risk model of was constructed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-Cox regression analyses, and multivariate Cox analysis was used for identifying the independent risk factor. Molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Vina to validate the interaction between solute carrier family 9 member A9 (SLC9A9) and pomiferin. In vitro and in vivo models were applied to investigate the tumor-suppressive role of pomiferin against GC. The inhibitory effects of pomiferin on EGFR/PI3K/AKT signaling were valdiated by Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining and qPCR. Here, a prognostic risk model based on histone acetylation regulators was established, and SLC9A9 was identified as a risk factor associated with histone acetylation status in GC. SLC9A9 expression was associated with abnormal immune microenvironment of tumor. Pomiferin had a high binding affinity with SLC9A9, and both pomiferin treatment and depletion of SLC9A9 repressed the malignant phenotypes of GC cells. Mechanistically, pomiferin inactivates EGFR/PI3K/AKT signaling in GC cells. In summary, SLC9A9, as a indicator of abnormal histone acetylation status of GC, functions as an oncogenic factor. Pomiferin binds with SLC9A9 to inactivate EGFR/PI3K/AKT pathway, to block GC progression, suggesting it is a promising drug for the patients with highly malignant GC.

Singlet oxygen induces cell wall thickening and stomatal density reducing by transcriptome reprogramming.

Singlet oxygen (1O2) has a very short half-life of 10-5 s; however, it is a strong oxidant that causes growth arrest and necrotic lesions on plants. Its signaling pathway remains largely unknown. The Arabidopsis flu (fluorescent) mutant accumulates a high level of 1O2 and shows drastic changes in nuclear gene expression. Only two plastid proteins, EX1 (executer 1) and EX2 (executer 2), have been identified in the singlet oxygen signaling. Here, we found that the transcription factor abscisic acid insensitive 4 (ABI4) binds the promoters of genes responsive to 1O2-signals. Inactivation of the ABI4 protein in the flu/abi4 double mutant was sufficient to compromise the changes of almost all 1O2-responsive-genes and rescued the lethal phenotype of flu grown under light/dark cycles, similar to the flu/ex1/ex2 triple mutant. In addition to cell death, we reported for the first time that 1O2 also induces cell wall thickening and stomatal development defect. Contrastingly, no apparent growth arrest was observed for the flu mutant under normal light/dim light cycles, but the cell wall thickening (doubled) and stomatal density reduction (by two-thirds) still occurred. These results offer a new idea for breeding stress tolerant plants.

Salicylate and glutamate mediate different Cd accumulation and tolerance between Brassica napus and B. juncea.

Most hyperaccumulator plants have little economic values, and therefore have not been widely used in Cd-contaminated soils. Rape species are Cd hyperaccumulators with high economic values. Black mustard seed (Brassica juncea) has a higher accumulation ability and a higher tolerance for Cd than oilseed rape (Brassica napus), but its biomass is relatively low and its geographical distribution is limited. However, it is unknown why B. juncea (Bj) is more tolerant to and accumulates more Cd than B. napus (Bn). Here, we found that the differences in Cd accumulation and tolerance between the two species is mainly because Bj plants have higher levels of salicylic acid and glutamic acid than Bn plants. Exogenous salicylate and glutamate treatments enhanced Cd accumulation (salicylate + glutamate co-treatment doubled Cd accumulation level in Bn seedlings) but reduced oxidative stresses by increasing glutathione biosynthesis and activating phytochelatin-based sequestration of Cd into vacuoles. Our results provide a new idea to simultaneously improve Cd accumulation and Cd tolerance in B. napus.

Shade Avoidance 3 Mediates Crosstalk Between Shade and Nitrogen in Arabidopsis Leaf Development.

After nitrogen treatments, plant leaves become narrower and thicker, and the chlorophyll content increases. However, the molecular mechanisms behind these regulations remain unknown. Here, we found that the changes in leaf width and thickness were largely compromised in the shade avoidance 3 (sav3) mutant. The SAV3 gene encodes an amino-transferase in the auxin biosynthesis pathway. Thus, the crosstalk between shade and nitrogen in Arabidopsis leaf development was investigated. Both hypocotyl elongation and leaf expansion promoted by the shade treatment were reduced by the high-N treatment; high-N-induced leaf narrowing and thickening were reduced by the shade treatment; and all of these developmental changes were largely compromised in the sav3 mutant. Shade treatment promoted SAV3 expression, while high-N treatment repressed SAV3 expression, which then increased or decreased auxin accumulation in cotyledons/leaves, respectively. SAV3 also regulates chlorophyll accumulation and nitrogen assimilation and thus may function as a master switch responsive to multiple environmental stimuli.

Vitamin E Is Superior to Vitamin C in Delaying Seedling Senescence and Improving Resistance in Arabidopsis Deficient in Macro-Elements.

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are three essential macro-elements for plant growth and development. Used to improve yield in agricultural production, the excessive use of chemical fertilizers often leads to increased production costs and ecological environmental pollution. Vitamins C and E are antioxidants that play an important role in alleviating abiotic stress. However, there are few studies on alleviating oxidative stress caused by macro-element deficiency. Here, we used Arabidopsis vitamin E synthesis-deficient mutant vte4 and vitamin C synthesis-deficient mutant vtc1 on which exogenous vitamin E and vitamin C, respectively, were applied at the bolting stage. In the deficiency of macro-elements, the Arabidopsis chlorophyll content decreased, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and relative electric conductivity increased, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated. The mutants vtc1 and vte4 are more severely stressed than the wild-type plants. Adding exogenous vitamin E was found to better alleviate stress than adding vitamin C. Vitamin C barely affected and vitamin E significantly inhibited the synthesis of ethylene (ETH) and jasmonic acid (JA) genes, thereby reducing the accumulation of ETH and JA that alleviated the senescence caused by macro-element deficiency at the later stage of bolting in Arabidopsis. A deficiency of macro-elements also reduced the yield and germination rate of the seeds, which were more apparent in vtc1 and vte4, and adding exogenous vitamin C and vitamin E, respectively, could restore them. This study reported, for the first time, that vitamin E is better than vitamin C in delaying seedling senescence caused by macro-element deficiency in Arabidopsis.

Nitrate reductase is a key enzyme responsible for nitrogen-regulated auxin accumulation in Arabidopsis roots.

Nitrate reductase (NR) is one of the key enzymes for plant nitrogen assimilation and root architecture remodeling. However, crosstalk between NR-mediated signaling and auxin-mediated root development in nitrogen-status responses has not been investigated in details before. In this study, root phenotype and auxin distribution in nia1/nia2 (nitrate reductase) double mutant and chl1-5 (nitrate transporter NRT1.1) mutant under different nitrogen availabilities were compared. The nia1/nia2 mutant showed very low expression levels of auxin biosynthetic/signaling genes and was insensitive to nitrogen changes. While the chl1-5 mutant showed a high NR activity with a high level of auxin in the meristematic zone and a weaker response to nitrogen changes, when compared with the wild-type plants. We firstly found that NR activity was roughly positive-correlated with the root auxin level, and there is a crosstalk between nitrate signaling and auxin signaling. The putative signaling pathways downstream of NR have been discussed.

Preparation of evodiamine-glycyrrhizic acid micelles with glycyrrhizic acid as carrier and their anti-hepatic fibrosis activity / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to prepare evodiamine-glycyrrhizic acid(EVO-GL) micelles to enhance the anti-hepatic fibrosis activity of evodiamine. Firstly, EVO-GL micelles were prepared with use of thin film dispersion method. With particle size, encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity of micelles and the solubility of evodiamine as the indexes, the effect of different factors on micelles was observed to screen the optimal preparation methods and process. Then the pharmaceutical properties and the therapeutic effects of EVO-GL micelles prepared by optimal process were evaluated on CCl_4-induced hepatic fibrosis. The results showed that the micelles prepared by the thin film dispersion method had an even size, with an average particle size of(130.80±12.40)nm, Zeta potential of(-41.61±3.12) mV, encapsulation efficiency of 91.23%±1.22%, drug loading of 8.42%±0.71%, high storage stability at 4 ℃ in 3 months, and slow in vitro release. Experimental results in the treatment of CCl_4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats showed that EVO-GL micelles had a synergistic anti-hepatic fibrosis effect, which significantly reduced the liver function index of hepatic fibrosis rats. In conclusion, the EVO-GL micelles prepared with glycyrrhizic acid as a carrier would have a potential application prospect for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.

Two-factor ANOVA of SSH and RNA-seq analysis reveal development-associated Pi-starvation genes in oilseed rape.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The 5-leaf-stage rape seedlings were more insensitive to Pi starvation than that of the 3-leaf-stage plants, which may be attributed to the higher expression levels of ethylene signaling and sugar-metabolism genes in more mature seedlings. Traditional suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and RNA-Seq usually screen out thousands of differentially expressed genes. However, identification of the most important regulators has not been performed to date. Here, we employed two methods, namely, a two-round SSH and two-factor transcriptome analysis derived from the two-factor ANOVA that is commonly used in the statistics, to identify development-associated inorganic phosphate (Pi) starvation-induced genes in Brassica napus. Several of these genes are related to ethylene signaling (such as EIN3, ACO3, ACS8, ERF1A, and ERF2) or sugar metabolism (such as ACC2, GH3, LHCB1.4, XTH4, and SUS2). Although sucrose and ethylene may counteract each other at the biosynthetic level, they may also work synergistically on Pi-starvation-induced gene expression (such as PT1, PT2, RNS1, ACP5, AT4, and IPS1) and root acid phosphatase activation. Furthermore, three new transcription factors that are responsive to Pi starvation were identified: the zinc-finger MYND domain-containing protein 15 (MYND), a Magonashi family protein (MAGO), and a B-box zinc-finger family salt-tolerance protein. This study indicates that the two methods are highly efficient for functional gene screening in non-model organisms.

Nitrogen and nitric oxide regulate Arabidopsis flowering differently.

Both nitrogen (N) and nitric oxide (NO) postpone plant flowering. However, we still don't know whether N and NO trigger the same signaling pathways leading to flowering delay. Our previous study found that ferredoxin NADP+ oxidoreductase (FNR1) and the blue-light receptor cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) are involved in nitrogen-regulated flowering-time control. However, NO-induced late-flowering does not require FNR1 or CRY1. Sucrose supply counteracts the flowering delay induced by NO. However high-N-induced late-flowering could not be reversed by 5% sucrose supplementation. The high nitrogen condition decreased the amplitudes of all transcripts of the circadian clock. While NO increased the amplitudes of circadian transcripts of CRY1, LHY (LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL), CCA1 (CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1) and TOC1 (TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION 1), but decreased the amplitudes of circadian transcripts of CO (CONSTANS) and GI (GIGANTEA). 5% sucrose supplementation reversed the declines in amplitudes of circadian transcripts of CO and GI after the NO treatment. NO induced S-nitrosation modification on oscillators CO and GI, but not on the other oscillators of the circadian clock. Sucrose supply interestingly reduced S-nitrosation levels of GI and CO proteins. Thus N and NO rely on overlapping but distinct signaling pathways on plant flowering.

Surveillance of key parasitic diseases in Baise City from 2006 to 2015 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand and master the infection status of key parasitic diseases in Baise City from 2006 to 2015, so as to provide evidence for the development and adjustment of the control strategy for parasitic diseases. Methods The relevant information of the final evaluation of the key parasitic diseases in 12 counties (cities and districts) of Baise City from 2006 to 2015 was collected, and analyzed. Results During the period of 2006-2015, a total of 20 654 person-times were investigated for parasitic diseases in Baise City and 1 147 persons were infected, with an average infection rate of 5.55%. In 2006, the infection rate was the highest (28.67%, 362/1 254), while the lowest was in 2013 (2.08%, 44/2 113). The infection rate of Clonorchis sinensis was the highest, and the infection rate of Ascaris lumbricoides was the second. The infection rates of the males and females were 5.35% (631/11 795) and 5.82% (516/8 859) respectively, with no significant difference between them (χ2 = 2.175, P > 0.05). The highest infection rate existed in the 40-49 years group, the rural residents, the farmers and the crowd with the educational level of senior high middle school or above. Conclusions The infection rate of parasitic diseases presents a decline trend overall in Baise City from 2006 to 2013, however it rebounded in 2014 and 2015. The next step is to strengthen the prevention and control of parasitic diseases by promoting health education, regular insect repellent, and fecundity management.

Surveillance of key parasitic diseases in Baise City from 2006 to 2015 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand and master the infection status of key parasitic diseases in Baise City from 2006 to 2015, so as to provide evidence for the development and adjustment of the control strategy for parasitic diseases. Methods The relevant information of the final evaluation of the key parasitic diseases in 12 counties (cities and districts) of Baise City from 2006 to 2015 was collected, and analyzed. Results During the period of 2006-2015, a total of 20 654 person-times were investigated for parasitic diseases in Baise City and 1 147 persons were infected, with an average infection rate of 5.55%. In 2006, the infection rate was the highest (28.67%, 362/1 254), while the lowest was in 2013 (2.08%, 44/2 113). The infection rate of Clonorchis sinensis was the highest, and the infection rate of Ascaris lumbricoides was the second. The infection rates of the males and females were 5.35% (631/11 795) and 5.82% (516/8 859) respectively, with no significant difference between them (χ2 = 2.175, P > 0.05). The highest infection rate existed in the 40-49 years group, the rural residents, the farmers and the crowd with the educational level of senior high middle school or above. Conclusions The infection rate of parasitic diseases presents a decline trend overall in Baise City from 2006 to 2013, however it rebounded in 2014 and 2015. The next step is to strengthen the prevention and control of parasitic diseases by promoting health education, regular insect repellent, and fecundity management.

[Treatment and nursing of a cysticercosis patient with multiple foci].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relevant data, including medical history, treatment and nursing of one cysticercosis patient with multiple foci in Baise City, so as to provide the evidence for improving the treatment and nursing of cysticercosis in the future. METHODS: The data of diet history, diagnosis, treatment and nursing of the patient were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The patient was a permanent resident in a cysticercosis high endemic area and had a definite history of eating measly pork. The combination of clinical manifestations and auxiliary examinations of the patient confirmed that he was suffered from cysticercosis with multiple foci. After the patient was firstly administered the antiparasitic treatment of cysticercosis (praziquantel), he had status epilepticus. However, with the close cooperation between physicians and nurses, his illness obviously improved and 35 days later, he discharged. CONCLUSIONS: The physicians and nurses should pay much attention to the changes of illness of the patients with cysticercosis, especially the cysticercosis patients with multiple foci in the antiparasitic treatment of cysticercosis, so as to avoid cerebral herniation due to the increased intracranial pressure.

Treatment and nursing of a cysticercosis patient with multiple foci / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To analyze the relevant data,including medical history,treatment and nursing of one cysticercosis patient with multiple foci in Baise City,so as to provide the evidence for improving the treatment and nursing of cysticercosis in the future.Methods The data of diet history,diagnosis,treatment and nursing of the patient were collected and analyzed.Re-sults The patient was a permanent resident in a cysticercosis high endemic area and had a definite history of eating measly pork. The combination of clinical manifestations and auxiliary examinations of the patient confirmed that he was suffered from cysticercosis with multiple foci.After the patient was firstly administered the antiparasitic treatment of cysticercosis(praziquan-tel),he had status epilepticus.However,with the close cooperation between physicians and nurses,his illness obviously im-proved and 35 days later,he discharged.Conclusion The physicians and nurses should pay much attention to the changes of illness of the patients with cysticercosis,especially the cysticercosis patients with multiple foci in the antiparasitic treatment of cysticercosis,so as to avoid cerebral herniation due to the increased intracranial pressure.

Final evaluation of medium-and long-term program of schistosomiasis con-trol in Baise City / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To evaluate the monitoring results of medium-and long-term program of schistosomiasis control in Baise City,so as to provide the reference for the elimination of schistosomiasis.Methods The data of schistosomiasis control in Baise City from 2004 to 2015 were collected and analyzed.Results By the end of 2015,the total number of regular screening serum tests for schistosomiasis in the planning period was 10 244 person-times,with 649 positive cases.The number of feces tests was 2 158 person-times in the permanent resident population,and the number was 2 683 person-times in the floating popu-lation.The Oncomelania hupensis snail survey area was 150.04 hm2,and the accumulated snail control area was 2.03 hm2.No schistosomiasis patients or schistosome-infected snails were found.Conclusion The effect of medium-and long-term program of schistosomiasis control is effective in Baise City,and the criterion of schistosomiasis elimination has been achieved.

[Final evaluation of medium- and long-term program of schistosomiasis control in Baise City].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the monitoring results of medium- and long-term program of schistosomiasis control in Baise City, so as to provide the reference for the elimination of schistosomiasis. METHODS: The data of schistosomiasis control in Baise City from 2004 to 2015 were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: By the end of 2015, the total number of regular screening serum tests for schistosomiasis in the planning period was 10 244 person-times, with 649 positive cases. The number of feces tests was 2 158 person-times in the permanent resident population, and the number was 2 683 person-times in the floating population. The Oncomelania hupensis snail survey area was 150.04 hm2, and the accumulated snail control area was 2.03 hm2. No schistosomiasis patients or schistosome-infected snails were found. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of medium- and long-term program of schistosomiasis control is effective in Baise City, and the criterion of schistosomiasis elimination has been achieved.

[Investigation of a case of foreign imported falciparum malaria in Xilin County, Baise City].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of an imported falciparum malaria patient in Xilin County, Baise City, so as to provide the reference for improving the diagnosis and treatment of falciparum malaria patients in the future. METHODS: The epidemiological and clinical data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The patient had lived in Africa where the malaria was epidemic. The disease attacked him after his coming back home from abroad. The blood test for Plasmodium falciparum was positive. In Xilin County, no local Plasmodium infection was found from 2004 to 2016, and therefore, we concluded that this case was overseas imported. CONCLUSIONS: The monitoring of overseas returnees in Xilin County should be strengthened to timely diagnose and treat the imported cases of malaria.

[Retrospective analysis of schistosomiasis elimination history in Jingxi City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the schistosomiasis epidemic and control history in Jingxi City, so as to provide the evidence for improving the future work. METHODS: The data of schistosomiasis prevention and control work were collected and analyzed comprehensively in Jingxi City from 1956-2015. RESULTS: From 1956, the schistosomiasis prevention and control work carried out, and in 1985, Jingxi City reached the standard of schistosomiasis transmission interrupted and no local schistosome infected residents and livestock were found for 36 years. In May 2016, the city reached the national standard of Schistosomiasis Elimination Assessment Review. The cumulative number of schistosomiasis detection of residents was 348 801 person-times, and 10 434 schistosomiasis patients were found. The cumulative number of schistosomiasis detection of cattle was 20 674 head-times, and 590 schistosome infected cattle were found. The cumulative schistosomiasis treatment number of residents was 18739 person-times, and 512 cattle were treated. The cumulative detection area with Oncomelania hupensis was 65 213.25 hm2, and 353.80 hm2 area with O. hupensis snails was found. CONCLUSIONS: Jingxi City has reached the standard of schistosomiasis elimination, but there is still recurrence of O. hupensis snails, and the imported infection source exists. Therefore, we should strengthen the monitoring of floating population.

Guided Wavelet Shrinkage for Edge-Aware Smoothing.

Edge-aware smoothing has been extensively studied due to its wide range of applications in computer vision and graphics. Most published works have been focused on formulating the smoothing problem in the spatial domain. In this paper, we propose a new edge-aware smoothing framework called guided wavelet shrinkage (GWS), which is formulated in the wavelet domain as a maximum a posterior estimation problem. We impose a number of desirable properties on the statistical models and the associated parameters in order to derive an effective and computationally efficient algorithm. We compare the proposed GWS with classical image denoising in the wavelet domain. We have also compared different wavelet representations and found that the double-density dual-tree wavelet transform is the best choice. We show that the GWS can be configured as either self-guidance or external guidance. It can also be configured to operate in an iterative or non-iterative way. Experimental results and comparison with many state-of-the-algorithms demonstrate that the GWS-based algorithm can produce competitive results with O(N) computational complexity.

Mg-Protoporphyrin IX Signals Enhance Plant's Tolerance to Cold Stress.

The relationship between Mg-protoporphyrin IX (Mg-Proto IX) signals and plant's tolerance to cold stress is investigated. Arabidopsis seedlings grown for 3 weeks were pretreated with 2 mM glutamate (Glu) and 2 mM MgCl2 for 48 h at room temperature to induce Mg-Proto IX accumulation. Then cold stress was performed at 4°C for additional 72 h. Glu + MgCl2 pre-treatments alleviated the subsequent cold stress significantly by rising the leaf temperature through inducing Mg-Proto IX signals. The protective role of Glu + MgCl2 treatment was greatly compromised in the mutants of Mg-Proto IX synthesis, Mg-Proto IX signaling, and cyanide-resistant respiration. And the enhancement of cold-responsive gene expression was greatly compromised in the mutants of Mg-Proto IX synthesis, Mg-Proto IX signaling and ABA signaling, but not in the mutant of cyanide-resistant respiration. Cold stress promoted cyanide-resistant respiration and leaf total respiration exponentially, which could be further induced by the Glu + MgCl2 treatment. Mg-Proto IX signals also activate antioxidant enzymes and increase non-enzymatic antioxidants [glutathione but not ascorbic acid (AsA)] to maintain redox equilibrium during the cold stress.

Edge-Aware BMA Filters.

There has been continuous research in edge-aware filters which have found many applications in computer vision and image processing. In this paper, we propose a principled-approach for the development of edge-aware filters. The proposed approach is based on two well-established principles: 1) optimal parameter estimation and 2) Bayesian model averaging (BMA). Using this approach, we formulate the problem of filtering a pixel in a local pixel patch as an optimal estimation problem. Since a pixel belongs to multiple local patches, there are multiple estimates of the same pixel. We combine these estimates into a final estimate using BMA. We demonstrate the versatility of this approach by developing a family of BMA filters based on different settings of cost functions and log-likelihood and log-prior functions. We also present a new interpretation of the guided filter and develop a BMA guided filter which includes the guided filter as a special case. We show that BMA filters can produce similar smoothing results as those of the state-of-the-art edge-aware filters. Two BMA filters are computationally as efficient as the guided filter which is one of the fastest edge-aware filters. We also demonstrate that the BMA guided filter is better than the guided filter in preserving sharp edges. A new feature of the BMA guided filter is that the filtered image is similar to that produced by a clustering process.