Functional characterization of glycine oxidase from Bacillus licheniformis in Escherichia coli and transgenic plants.

OBJECTIVES: To find glycine oxidase genes that can be applied to the breeding of glyphosate resistant crops. RESULTS: The glycine oxidase (GO, EC 1.4.3.19) gene (GenBank No: KC831746) from Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis) was chemically synthesized and transformed into glyphosate-sensitive Escherichia coli (E. coli). The GO gene was transformed into Arabidopsis and rice through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The test results confirmed that transgenic plants containing GO genes are more resistant to glyphosate than wild-type plants. On solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) (Murashige and Skoog1962 ) medium containing 200 µM glyphosate, transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana grew normally, while wild-type plants were stunted and root growth was restricted. In a solution containing 500 µM glyphosate, wild-type rice showed severe yellowing, while transgenic rice grew normally. In addition, when sprayed with 10 mM glyphosate solution, wild-type rice withered and died, while transgenic rice grew well. The function of GO gene in glyphosate resistance and the application value of GO gene in the cultivation of glyphosate-resistant crops is proved. CONCLUSIONS: The glycine oxidase gene from B. licheniformis enhances the resistance of E. coli, Arabidopsis and rice to glyphosate.

The Role of Long Noncoding RNAs in Antiestrogen Resistance in Breast Cancer: An Overview and Update / 한국유방암학회지

As a standard treatment, endocrine therapy has dramatically enhanced the prognosis of patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, which accounts for nearly 70% of all breast cancers. Antiestrogen drugs such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors are the standard treatment options for ERα-positive breast cancer. However, acquired antiestrogen resistance is still the leading cause of disease recurrence and progression. Evidence has shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an essential role in the development of antiestrogen resistance in ER-positive breast cancer and can serve as biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets. This review highlights the role of lncRNAs in the development of antiestrogen resistance in breast cancer.

Practice audits to reduce caesareans in a tertiary referral hospital in south-western China.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a three-stage intervention to reduce caesarean deliveries in a Chinese tertiary hospital. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to assess whether educating staff, educating patients and auditing surgeon practices (introduced in 2005) had reduced caesarean delivery rates. Multiple logistic regression was used to check for a potential association between caesarean rates and rates of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). FINDINGS: The caesarean delivery rate ranged from 53.5% to 56.1% in 2001-2004 and from 43.9% to 36.1% in 2005-2011. When 2001-2004 and 2005-2011 were treated as "before" and "after" periods to evaluate the intervention's impact on the mean caesarean section rate, a significant reduction was noted: from 54.8% to 40.3% (odds ratio, OR: 0.56; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.52-0.59; χ(2) test: P < 0.001). The overall drop in the caesarean section rate was significant (χ(2) test: P < 0.001) and inversely correlated with the years (Spearman's ρ: -0.096; P < 0.001). Although complicated pregnancies increased after 2004, the primary caesarean section rate decreased annually by 20% on average in 2005-2011, after practice audits were implemented. Multiple logistic regression showed a positive association between the caesarean delivery rate and the rate of admission to the NICU (adjusted OR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.14-1.40). CONCLUSION: Patient and staff education and practice audits reduced the Caesarean section rate in a tertiary referral hospital without an increase in admissions to the NICU.

Analysis of Prognostic Factors of 108 Patients with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective: To analyze the prognostic factors of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL)and to investigate the prognostic value of peripheral blood absolute lymphocyte count(ALC)at admission for patients with NHL. Methods: Clinical features and follow-up data of 108 patients with pathologically confirmed NHL seen in our hospital between January 2000 and January 2008 were reviewed.SPSS14.0 package was used for statistical analysis.Kaplan-Meier was applied to assess the survival probability.All parameters statistically significant concluded by univariate analysis were then computed as co-variates for multivariate analysis with Cox regression model. Results: The ratio of males to females was approximately 1.5:1.The median age of patients was 48 years.Before treatment.the Ann Arbor clinical classification showed that 61.1% of the cases were of stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ.Approximately 93%of the patients had ECOG performance status(PS)score of 0-1 and 19.2%of the cases had elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase(LDH).According to intemational prognosis index score.80.6%of the patients were in a low risk group.At admission，35.2%of the cases had ALC≤1×10~9/L.Hemoglobin (Hb)≤110g/L and B symptoms were seen in 29.6%and 26.9%of the patients.The mean Hb was 129.2±17.5g/L in cases with ALC>1×10~9/L(n=70)and 98.1±20.6g/L in cases with ALC≤1×10~9/L(n=38),with a statistically significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05).With a median follow-up duration of 2 years，the median overall survival(OS)time was 2.3 years for all patients.The 2-year and 5-year OS rates were 73.2%and 39.6%，respectively.ALC≤1×10~9/L,Hb≤110g/L,B symptoms and intemational prognostic index(IPI)≥2 were statistically significant unfavorable prognostic factors for NHL revealed by univariate analysis.Multivariate analysis showed that ALC≤1×10~9/L,B symptoms and IPI ≥2 were statistically significant unfavorable prognostic factors for NHL. Conclusion: ALC and B symptoms may be prognostic factors independent of IPI for NHL.Evaluation of the prognosis with IPI,ALC，and B symptoms is of clinical value for individualized therapy of NHL patients.