Elevated growth differentiation factor 15 expression predicts poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and explore its clinical significance in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients. The expression of GDF15 in EOC tissues and serum samples was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The association of GDF15 expression with clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed. Survival time was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier technique and Cox regression model. Both in EOC tissues and serum, high GDF15 levels were obviously related with advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, lymph node metastasis, ascites, and chemoresistance. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that EOC patients with high GDF15 expression showed poorer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that GDF15 expression was an independent predictor of PFS in EOC patients. Our study shows that elevated GDF15 expression was associated with poor prognosis in EOC patients. We suggest that GDF15 is a novel biomarker for the early detection of EOC, prediction of the response to chemotherapy, and screening for recurrence in EOC patients.

[Mechanisms Involved in the Inhibition of Melanin Synthesis by Bushen Quban Granule].

Objective To observe the molecular mechanism of Bushen Quban Granule (BQG) for inhibiting the synthesis of intracellular melanin. Methods Twenty SPF grade female SD rats were di- vided into four groups by completely randomized method, i.e., the control group (fed with normal saline) , high, middle, and low dose BQG groups (administered with BQG at 4. 8, 2. 4, 1. 2 g/kg by gastrogavage, equivalent to 24, 12, and 6 times clinical doses, respectively, twice per day for 3 days in total) , 5 in each group. Drug containing serum was collected. Expressions of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1 R) , mi- crophthalmia-associated transcription factor ( MITF) , tyrosinase ( TYP) , tyrosinase-related protein I (TYRP1) , and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TYRP2) at the mRNA level were detected by RT-PCR. Ex- pressions of phosphorylated-extracellular regulated MAP kinasel/2 (p-ERK) , TYP, TYRP1 and TYRP2 at the protein level were detected by Western blot. Intracellular melanin contents were determined by NaOH dissolving method. Activities of tyrosinase were determined by Dopa pigment method, and the cell viability was detected by MTT. Results Compared with the control group, expressions of MC1R, MITF, TYP, TYRP1 and TYRP2 at the mRNA level were down-regulated (P <0. 05), and those of TYP, TYRP1 and TYRP2 at the protein level were also down-regulated (P <0. 05), intracellular contents of melanin and the activity of tyrosinase decreased (P <0. 05) , but the level of p-ERK and the proliferation of cells increased in each medicated group (P <0. 05). When ERK was inhibited by its inhibitor PD98059, there was no sta- tistical difference in expressions of MC1 R or MITF at the mRNA level among all medicated groups (P > 0. 05). Compared with the control group, mRNA expressions of TYP, TYRP1 and TYRP2 decreased in the high dose BQG group (P <0. 05), but with no significant difference in protein expressions of p-ERK, TYP, TYRP1 and TYRP2 (P >0. 05). There was no statistical difference in the content of melanin, the activity of TYP, or the proliferation of cells between the control group and the high dose BQG group (P >0. 05). Con- clusion BQG could inhibit the synthesis of intracellular melanin through up-regulating p-ERK to inhibit the expression of tyrosinase and its related proteins.

[Carbon storage of forest stands in Shandong Province estimated by forestry inventory data].

Based on the 7th forestry inventory data of Shandong Province, this paper estimated the carbon storage and carbon density of forest stands, and analyzed their distribution characteristics according to dominant tree species, age groups and forest category using the volume-derived biomass method and average-biomass method. In 2007, the total carbon storage of the forest stands was 25. 27 Tg, of which the coniferous forests, mixed conifer broad-leaved forests, and broad-leaved forests accounted for 8.6%, 2.0% and 89.4%, respectively. The carbon storage of forest age groups followed the sequence of young forests > middle-aged forests > mature forests > near-mature forests > over-mature forests. The carbon storage of young forests and middle-aged forests accounted for 69.3% of the total carbon storage. Timber forest, non-timber product forest and protection forests accounted for 37.1%, 36.3% and 24.8% of the total carbon storage, respectively. The average carbon density of forest stands in Shandong Province was 10.59 t x hm(-2), which was lower than the national average level. This phenomenon was attributed to the imperfect structure of forest types and age groups, i. e., the notably higher percentage of timber forests and non-timber product forest and the excessively higher percentage of young forests and middle-aged forest than mature forests.

[Ecosystem's soil conservation function and its spatial distribution in Lancang River Basin, Southwest China].

Based on the RUSLE model, this paper analyzed the ecosystem's soil conservation function and its spatial distribution in Lancang River Basin. This Basin could be one of the regions having the highest ecosystem' s soil conservation capability in China, with an annual ecosystem's soil conservation amount being 2.36 x 10(10) t x a(-1) and the soil conservation amount per unit area being 1453.72 t x a(-1) per hectare. The total amounts of the N, P, and K conserved in soils were 5.74 x 10(7), 3.07 x 10(7), and 3.75 x 10(8) t x a(-1), respectively, and presented an increasing trend from upstream to downstream. Among the ecosystems in the Basin, forest ecosystem had the highest soil conservation capability, followed by grassland and farmland, while desert ecosystem had the lowest one. The soil conservation capability of the ecosystems was linearly increased with the increase of vegetation coverage. Averagely, a 10% increment in the vegetation coverage could result in a 35.3% increment in soil conservation capability. To rationally increase the vegetation coverage by reliable ecosystem management based on local conditions would make good effect in preventing soil erosion and maintaining soil nutrients in the Basin.