The complete chloroplast genome of Mucuna sempervirens (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae).

The complete chloroplast genome of Mucuna sempervirens reported herein was a circular DNA molecule of 154,542 bp in length. The genome had a typical quadripartite structure, consisting of a pair of inverted repeats (IRa and IRb: 24,836 bp) separated by a large single-copy region (LSC: 67,996 bp) and a small single-copy region (SSC: 18,363 bp). The overall GC content of the genome was 35.1%. The cp genome encoded a set of 128 genes, containing 82 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that M. sempervirens was sister to M. macrocarpa. These findings may provide useful information to the phylogeny of the genus Mucuna.

Prognostic value of perioperative leukocyte count in resectable gastric cancer.

AIM: To investigate the prognostic significance of perioperative leukopenia in patients with resected gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 614 eligible gastric cancer patients who underwent curative D2 gastrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. The relationship between pre- and postoperative hematologic parameters and overall survival was assessed statistically, adjusted for known prognostic factors. RESULTS: The mean white blood cell count (WBC) significantly decreased after surgery, and 107/614 (17.4%) patients developed p-leukopenia, which was defined as a preoperative WBC ≥ 4.0 × 10(9)/L and postoperative WBC < 4.0 × 10(9)/L, with an absolute decrease ≥ 0.5 × 10(9)/L. The neutrophil count decreased significantly more than the lymphocyte count. P-leukopenia significantly correlated with poor tumor differentiation and preoperative WBC. A higher preoperative WBC and p-leukopenia were independent negative prognostic factors for survival [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.602, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.185-2.165; P = 0.002, and HR = 1.478, 95%CI: 1.149-1.902; P = 0.002, respectively] after adjusting for histology, Borrmann type, pTNM stage, vascular or neural invasion, gastrectomy method, resection margins, chemotherapy regimens, and preoperative WBC count. The patients with both higher preoperative WBC and p-leukopenia had a worse prognosis compared to those with lower baseline WBC and no p-leukopenia (27.5 mo vs 57.3 mo, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Preoperative leukocytosis alone or in combination with postoperative leukopenia could be independent prognostic factors for survival in patients with resectable gastric cancer.

The XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism has predictive value in colorectal cancer patients receiving oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy: a systemic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The predictive value of the xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) Lys751Gln polymorphism regarding clinical outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) receiving oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy has been evaluated in numerous published studies, but the results remain inconclusive. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to determine the precise role of the XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism in this clinical situation and optimize individual chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multiple search strategy was used to identify eligible studies. Pooled odds ratios (ORs), generalized odds ratio (ORG) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the objective response, while hazard ratios (HRs) with 95%CIs were used for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: A total of 17 studies including 2,286 patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the XPD 751Gln allele was associated with a non-significant reduced objective response to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in all patients or in the Asian and Caucasian subgroups. However, poor PFS and OS of CRC patients treated with oxaliplatin-based regimens were significantly related to the XPD 751Gln allele in the dominant model (PFS: HR=2.10, 95%CI: 1.65-2.67; OS: HR=3.18, 95%CI: 1.57-6.47). On stratified analysis by ethnicity, these relationships were more pronounced in Asians (PFS: HR=2.49, 95%CI: 1.79-3.47; OS: HR=5.25, 95%CI: 3.46-7.94) than in Caucasians (PFS: HR=1.73, 95%CI: 1.22-2.46; OS: HR=1.78, 95%CI: 1.06-2.99). CONCLUSIONS: The XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism may have prognostic value in patients with CRC undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

The ERCC1 C118T polymorphism predicts clinical outcomes of colorectal cancer patients receiving oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy: a meta-analysis based on 22 studies.

BACKGROUND: Although the predictive value of the excision repair cross-complementing group 1 (ERCC1) C118T polymorphism in clinical outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) receiving oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy has been evaluated in numerous published studies, the conclusions are conflicting. Therefore, we performed the present meta-analysis to determine the precise role of the ERCC1 C118T polymorphism in this clinical situation and help optimize individual chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multiple search strategy was used to identify eligible studies. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate objective response and oxaliplatin-induced toxicity, with hazard ratios (HRs) with 95%CIs for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: A total of 22 studies including 2,846 CRC patients were eligible in the analysis. Overall, no significant correlation was found between the ERCC1 C118T polymorphism and objective response to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, in all patients or in the Asian and Caucasian subgroups. However, the pooled analysis showed that the PFS and OS were significantly shorter in patients who carried T/T or T/C genotypes of ERCC1 C118T as compared to the C/C genotype. On stratified analysis by ethnicity, the ERCC1 118T allele was associated with a favorable prognosis in Caucasians (PFS, HR=0.58, 95%CI: 0.24-1.44; OS, HR=0.38, 95%CI: 0.22-0.64) but an unfavorable prognosis in Asians (PFS, HR=2.49, 95%CI: 1.87-3.33; OS, HR=2.63, 95%CI: 1.87-3.69) based on a dominant model. In addition, we failed to find a statistically significant impact of ERCC1 C118T polymorphism on oxaliplatin-induced toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The ERCC1 C118T polymorphism may have prognostic value in patients with CRC undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

Base-promoted aryl-bromine bond cleavage with cobalt(II) porphyrins via a halogen atom transfer mechanism.

Aryl-bromine bonds are successfully cleaved by cobalt(II) porphyrins in basic media to give Co(por)Ar (por = porphyrin) in good yields. Mechanistic studies suggested that the aryl-bromine bond is cleaved through a halogen atom transfer mechanism, which is different from the aryl-halogen bond cleavage mechanism with other group 9 metalloporphyrins.

Enhanced local Foxp3 expression in lung tissue attenuates airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma.

OBJECTIVE: Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway mediated by a Th2 immune response. A great deal of data has demonstrated that regulatory T cells (Tregs) have the ability to suppress Th2 immune responses and the transcription factor fork-head box protein 3 (Foxp3) is indispensable for the development of CD4 + CD25 + Tregs. In this study, we hypothesized that enhanced local Foxp3 expression in lung tissue could suppress Th2-mediated allergic asthma. METHODS: Foxp3/PMX retroviruses containing the mouse Foxp3 gene were constructed and administered into asthmatic mice through intra-tracheal instillation before ovalbumin challenging. Foxp3 expression, airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and tissue inflammatory cell and cytokine profiles were characterized. RESULTS: Foxp3 mRNA and protein were increased in the lung tissue of asthmatic mice. Enhanced expression of Foxp3 locally in the lung tissue reduced the airway AHR, inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus production. It also attenuated Th2 and Th17 immune responses as evidenced by reduced IL-4, IL-13 and IL-17 levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that enhanced Foxp3 expression in the airway by intra-tracheally instilled Foxp3/PMX retroviruses alleviates allergic airway inflammation by reducing the Th2 immune response.

[Study of selecting characteristic wavelengths in qualitative analysis of near infrared spectroscopy].

The present article proposed a method of stepwise selecting characteristic wavelengths based on minimum sum of correlation coefficients (SMCC). The maximization of the ratio of inter-class Euclidean distance to the sum of inner-class Euclidean distances was used as evaluation basis in qualitative analysis of near infrared spectroscopy. Seventeen kinds of grading tobacco leaf in 2012, provided by Hongta Group, were used as experimental samples to verify the effectiveness of this new method. CO1 was selected as the reference category and ten points were selected as characteristic wavelengths. The results indicated that the average value of inner-class Euclidean distance, calculated by characteristic wavelengths, was 1.69 times as large as that calculated by all wavelengths. The average value of inter-class Euclidean distance, calculated by characteristic wavelengths, was 3.70 times as large as that calculated by all wavelengths. The average value of the ratio of inter-class Euclidean distance to the sum of inner-class Euclidean distances, calculated by characteristic wavelength, was 2.21 times as large as that calculated by all wavelengths. The ratio of characteristic wavelengths was increased. The characteristic wavelengths can express the classical differences. It was showed that SMCC was an effective way to select characteristic wavelengths in qualitative analyses of near infrared spectroscopy.

Breast regression protein-39 (BRP-39) promotes dendritic cell maturation in vitro and enhances Th2 inflammation in murine model of asthma.

AIM: To determine the roles of breast regression protein-39 (BRP-39) in regulating dendritic cell maturation and in pathology of acute asthma. METHODS: Mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were prepared, and infected with adenovirus over-expressing BRP-39. Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine model of acute asthma was made in female BALB/c mice by sensitizing and challenging with chicken OVA and Imject Alum. The transfected BMDCs were adoptively transferred into OVA-treated mice via intravenous injection. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), inflammation and pulmonary histopathology were characterized. RESULTS: The expression of BRP-39 mRNA and protein was significantly increased in lung tissues of OVA-treated mice. The BMDCs infected with adenovirus BRP-39 exhibited greater maturation and higher activity in vitro. Adoptive transfer of the cells into OVA-treated mice significantly augmented OVA-induced AHR and eosinophilic inflammation. Meanwhile, BRP-39 further enhanced the production of OVA-induced Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, but significantly attenuated OVA-induced IFN-γ production in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. CONCLUSION: In OVA-induced murine model of acute asthma, BRP-39 is over-expressed in lung tissue and augments Th2 inflammatory response and AHR. BRP-39 promotes dendritic cell maturation in vitro. Therefore, BRP-39 may be a potential therapeutic target of asthma.

[Research on characteristic of tobaccos from different ecological environments base on near infrared spectroscopy].

Four hundred ninety five samples from 3 parts of tobacco were collected from 11 different ecological environments in 2010 to analyze the characteristics of tobaccos in different ecological environments with near infrared spectroscopy. The results indicate that the differences are remarkable both between lower and upper parts and between lower and middle parts of tobacco, while negligible between upper and middle parts of tobacco under the same ecological environment. Good stability and consistency were showed by the similarity of characteristics of tobaccos under different ecological environments, and the projection correlation coefficient of analysis set and validation set is over 98%. This article also proposes a method of measuring the similarity between characteristics of tobaccos from different ecological environments. The results can provide reference data to quantify tobacco's planting programming, production processing and quality management.

Imbalanced expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases in lung squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are correlated with a more malignant phenotype in many cancers. This study was designed to evaluate the predictive value of the expression of MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK(1/2)), as the key regulatory mechanism of the MAPKs, in lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: We assessed the expressions of MKP-1 and p-ERK(1/2) in twenty subjects at different differentiation degree of SCC and five normal lungs by immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR assay showed that the expression of MKP-1 was gradually decreased as tissue type went from normal lung tissues to increasingly undifferentiated carcinoma, and it was negatively correlated with tumor differentiation (P<0.01). However, the expression of p-ERK(1/2) or ERK(1/2) was gradually increased as tissue type went from normal lung tissues to increasingly undifferentiated carcinoma, and it was positively correlated with tumor differentiation (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicates the relevance of MKP-1 and p-ERK(1/2) in SCC as a potential positive and negative prognostic factor. The imbalanced expression of MKP-1 and p-ERK(1/2) may play a role in the development of SCC and these two molecules may be new targets for the therapy and prognosis of SCC.

[Using three different screening methods to study overweight and simple obesity among children under age 7 in Ningbo city].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence of simple obesity among children under age 7 in Ningbo and to analyze the data regarding body mass index (BMI) from overweight screening under different standards. METHODS: Randomized cluster sampling was adopted and 64 038 children under 7 years old in Ningbo were chosen and their length/height and weight were measured but pathological and secondary obesity cases were excluded. According to the Standardized Height and Weight set by WHO, more than 10% referring to overweight and more than 20% referring to obesity. Moreover, results of this study were compared with growth standards with WHO's 2006 and IOTF standards. RESULTS: According to the Standardized Height and Weight set by WHO, the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity of children under age 7 were 4.25% and 2.88%. The ratio for boys were 4.45% and 3.01%, while for girls as 3.86% and 2.56%, with significant difference (P < 0.01). Data showed that the rates for overweight and obesity increased along with age, reaching 11.84% and 9.68% for boys and 10.14% and 9.46% for girls at the age of 6. The ratios of overweight/obesity among different age groups and sex were 1.15-1.94:1. The critical value for P85, P95 were lower than the standards set by WHO and IOTF. The rates for overweight and obesity for latter were 9.72%, 2.83% and 6.11%, 0.55% respectively. CONCLUSION: Early childhood is the key period for obesity prevention, with boys in particular. Prevention and control for childhood obesity should be included in the programs for children's health. Value of classification standards for the BMI screening of overweight and obesity for children under age 7 should be established in no time.

[Research on the growth references of height, weight and body mass index for children under 7 years old].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the varying features and the trend of length/height-for-age, weight-for-age and body mass index(BMI)-for-age of children under six years old in Ningbo city, Zhejiang province. METHODS: By random clustered sampling, 64 038 healthy children under six years old in Ningbo were chosen and their length/height and weight measured. Means, standard deviation and percentiles of length/height-for-age, weight-for-age and BMI were calculated by SAS systems. Results of this study were compared with growth standards from WHO 2006 and nine urban areas of China, in 2005. RESULTS: Data from our study showed that the annual growth rates were basically the same in boys and girls. All these indicators increased along with age but the younger the age, the faster the growth rate appeared. There were notable differences seen between genders and urban-rural distribution. BMIs were also varied with age and sex. BMI reached peak between 4 to 6 months, then dropped slowly when age increased. CONCLUSION: The means of length/height-for-age, weight-for-age in Ningbo city had exceeded the WHO standards, and the growth by year under six year-olds in Ningbo was close to the data from nine urban areas of China in 2005.