Description: Background: Rice false smut caused by Villosiclava virens is a devastating fungal disease that spreads in major rice-growing regions throughout the world. However, the genomic information for this fungal pathogen is limited and the pathogenic mechanism of this disease is still not clear. To facilitate genetic, molecular and genomic studies of this fungal pathogen, we constructed the first BAC-based physical map and performed the first genome survey for this species. Results: High molecular weight genomic DNA was isolated from young mycelia of the Villosiclava virens strain UV-8b and a high-quality, large-insert and deep-coverage Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) library was constructed with the restriction enzyme HindIII. The BAC library consisted of 5,760 clones, which covers 22.7-fold of the UV-8b genome, with an average insert size of 140 kb and an empty clone rate of lower than 1%. BAC fingerprinting generated successful fingerprints for 2,290 BAC clones. Using the fingerprints, a whole genome-wide BAC physical map was constructed that contained 194 contigs (2,035 clones) spanning 51.2 Mb in physical length. Bidirectional-end sequencing of 4,512 BAC clones generated 6,560 high quality BAC end sequences (BESs), with a total length of 3,030,658 bp, representing 8.54% of the genome sequence. Analysis of the BESs revealed general genome information, including 51.52% GC content, 22.51% repetitive sequences, 376.12/Mb simple sequence repeat (SSR) density and approximately 36.01% coding regions. Sequence comparisons to other available fungal genome sequences through BESs showed high similarities to Metarhizium anisopliae, Trichoderma reesei, Nectria haematococca and Cordyceps militaris, which were generally in agreement with the 18S rRNA gene analysis results. Conclusion: This study provides the first BAC-based physical map and genome information for the important rice fungal pathogen Villosiclava virens. The BAC clones, physical map and genome information will serve as fundamental resources to accelerate the genetic, molecular and genomic studies of this pathogen, including positional cloning, comparative genomic analysis and whole genome sequencing. The BAC library and physical map have been opened to researchers as public genomic resources (http://gresource.hzau.edu.cn/resource/resource.html).

Description: [1]  A three-dimensional (3D) magnetic field configuration in force balance with a realistic plasma pressure distribution can provide more accurate evaluation of the role of magnetic field on plasma sheet dynamics and M-I coupling. We used Geotail and THEMIS data to establish an empirical model for nightside equatorial isotropic plasma pressure to r  = 30 R E for Kp = 0–5 and for solar wind dynamic pressure (P SW ) = 1.5 and 3 nPa. The model pressure is used in the companion paper for modeling a 3D force-balanced pressure and magnetic field equilibrium. Larger convection during higher Kp drives the plasma sheet further earthward, resulting in larger increase of pressure and pressure gradient at smaller radial distance. On the other hand, magnetosphere compression by increasing P SW enhances pressure and pressure gradient mainly in the tail plasma sheet. While both pressure and radial gradients are enhanced with increasing Kp or P SW , there is no significant azimuthal pressure variation statistically under all Kp and P SW conditions. The empirical pressures well reproduce these statistical profiles with very high correlation coefficients. Additionally, comparisons with pressure gradients computed using two simultaneous measurements from two THEMIS spacecraft show reasonable agreement. Furthermore, our model provides more accurate pressure gradients than previous empirical models. The model magnetic field distributions obtained in the companion paper from requiring force balance with these empirical pressure profiles are also found to be consistent with the magnetic field observations, indicating that our equilibria well represent realistic 3D pressure and magnetic field configurations.

Description: Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in treating pediatric hepatoblastoma. Methods: 12 patients with initially unresectable hepatoblastoma were enrolled in the study. All patients received chemotherapy, TACE and HIFU ablation. Follow-up materials were obtained in all patients. The tumor response, survival rate and complication were analyzed. Results: Completely ablation was achieved in 10 patients (83.3%), and the AFP level was also decreased to normal in these patients. The mean follow-up time was 13.3±1.8 months (range, 2-25 months). At the end of follow-up, 2 patients died from tumor progression, the rest 10 patients were alive. One patient was found to have lung metastasis after HIFU and had an operation to remove the lesion. The median survival time was 14 months, and the survival rates of 1, 2-year were 91.7% and 83.3%, respectively. Complication included fever, transient impairment of hepatic function and mild malformation of rib. Conclusion: HIFU combined with TACE is a safe and promising method with a low rate of severe complications. As a non-invasive approach, it may provide a novel locally therapy for patients with unresectable hepatoblastoma. (H EPATOLOGY 2013.)

Description: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurs frequently after minimally invasive therapy. This study was to observe the efficiency and safety of the combined treatment of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with cellular immunotherapy (CIT) for HCC patients. In this study, sixty-two patients with HCC who were treated with radical RFA were divided into two groups: RFA alone (32 patients) and RFA/CIT (30 patients). Autologous mononuclear cells were collected from the peripheral blood and separated by apheresis, and then induced into natural killer (NK) cells, γδT cells and cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells. These cells were identified by flow cytometry with their specific antibodies and then were infused intravenously to RFA/CIT patients for 3 or 6 courses. The tumor recurrent status of these patients was evaluated with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) every 3 months after RFA. Progression-free survival (PFS), liver function, viral load, and adverse effects were examined. The results implied that PFS was higher in RFA/CIT group than that in RFA group. In RFA/CIT group, six courses had better survival prognosis than three courses. Viral load of hepatitis C was decreased in two of three patients without antiviral therapy in RFA/CIT group, but was increased in RFA group. No significant adverse reaction was found in the patients with CIT. In summary, these preliminary results suggest that combination of sequential CIT with RFA for HCC patients was efficient and safe, and may be helpful in the prevention of the recurrence for the patients with HCC after RFA. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Description: Background: Our previous studies have suggested that the primary impact of immune cell infiltration into the normal or pre-invasive tissue component is associated with the physical destruction of epithelial capsules, which may promote tumor progression and invasion. Our current study attempted to further verify our previous observations and determine the primary type(s) of infiltrating immune cells and the possible mechanism associated with physical destructions of the epithelial capsules. Methods: In total, the study was conducted with 250 primary breast and prostate tumors, the primary immune cell of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL), Natural killer cells (NK) and Mast cells were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, fluorescent labeling and apoptosis assay. qRT-PCR was used for gene expression analysis. Our current study assessed the physical disruption of these immune cells and potential impact on the epithelial capsule of human breast and prostate tumors. Results: Our study yield several clinically-relevant findings that have not been studied before. (1) A vast majority of these infiltrating immune cells are distributed in the normal-appearing or pre-invasive tissue components rather than in invasive cancer tissues. (2) These cells often form rings or semilunar structures that either surround focally-disrupted basal cell layers or physically attach to the basal cells. (3) Basal cells physically associated with these immune cells generally displayed distinct signs of degeneration, including substantially elevated apoptosis, necrosis, and reduced tumor suppressor p63 expression. In contrast, luminal cells overlying focally disrupted basal cell layers had a substantially increased proliferation rate and elevated expression of stem cell markers compared to their adjacent morphologically similar counterparts that overlie a non-disrupted capsule. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that at the early stage of tumor invasion, CTL, NK and Mast cells are the main types of tumor infiltrating immune cells involved in focal degenerative products in the tumor capsules. The primary impact of these infiltrating immune cells is that they are associated with focal disruptions of the tumor capsule, which selectively favor tumor stem cells proliferation and invasion.

Description: Background: Sika deer (Cervus nippon) have different dietary preferences to other ruminants and are tolerant to tannin-rich plants. Because the rumen bacteria in domestic Sika deer have not been comprehensively studied, it is important to investigate its rumen bacterial population in order to understand its gut health and to improve the productivity of domestic Sika deer. Results: The rumen bacterial diversity in domestic Sika deer (Cervus nippon) fed oak leaves- (OL group) and corn stalks-based diets (CS group) were elucidated using 16S rRNA gene libraries and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Overall, 239 sequences were examined from the two groups, 139 clones from the OL group were assigned to 57 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and 100 sequences from the CS group were divided into 50 OTUs. Prevotella-like sequences belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes were the dominant bacteria in both groups (97.2% OL and 77% CS), and sequences related to Prevotella brevis were present in both groups. However, Prevotella shahii-like, Prevotella veroralis-like, Prevotella albensis-like, and Prevotella salivae-like sequences were abundant in the OL group compared to those in the CS group, while Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens-like and Prevotella ruminicola-like sequences were prevalent in the CS group. PCR-DGGE showed that bacterial communities clustered with respect to diets and the genus Prevotella was the dominant bacteria in the rumen of domestic Sika deer. However, the distribution of genus Prevotella from two groups was apparent. In addition, other fibrolytic bacteria, such as Clostridium populeti and Eubacterium cellulosolvens were found in the rumen of domestic Sika deer. Conclusions: The rumen of domestic Sika deer harbored unique bacteria which may represent novel species. The bacterial composition appeared to be affected by diet, and sequences related to Prevotella spp. may represent new species that may be related to the degradation of fiber biomass or tannins. Moreover, the mechanism and biological functions of Prevotella spp. in the rumen ecosystem, and synergistic interactions with other microorganisms should be noticed.

Description: NF-κB is an important factor linking inflammation and tumorigenesis. In this study, we experimentally demonstrated through a high-throughput luciferase reporter screen that NF-κB signaling can be directly targeted by nearly 29 microRNAs (miRNAs). Many of these miRNAs can directly target NF-κB signaling nodes by binding to their 3′ UTRs. miR-195, a member of miR-15 family, is frequently downregulated in gastrointestinal cancers, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Expression level of miR-195 is inversely correlated with HCC tumor size. We further show that miR-195 suppresses cancer cell proliferation and migration in vitro and reduces tumorigenicity and metastasis in vivo. Additionally, miR-195 may exert its tumor suppressive function by decreasing the expression of multiple NF-κB downstream effectors via the direct targeting of IKKα and TAB3. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that multiple miRNAs are involved in the NF-κB signaling pathway and that miR-195 plays important inhibitory roles in cancer progression and may be a potential therapeutic target. (H EPATOLOGY 2013.)

Description: Marangoni effect induced by interphase mass transfer plays an important role in liquid-liquid extraction and reaction processes. The interaction of Marangoni effect and interphase mass transfer during drop formation at different injection rates and different initial solute concentrations was investigated by experiment and numerical simulation. The extraction fraction was measured and the corresponding correlation was proposed. The level set method coupled with mass transfer equation is for the first time used to simulate the mass transfer induced Marangoni effect during drop formation. The simulated drop volume, shape and extraction fraction are in good accordance with experimental data. Through the numerical simulation, it is found that the mass transfer in the first mass transfer period is the most efficient during drop formation when Marangoni convection occurs. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2013

Description: The monoclonal antibody trastuzumab has brought survival benefit to patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) that have human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) over expression or amplification. This study was designed to compare the clinical outcomes of HER2-negative and HER2-positive AGC patients with or without trastuzumab treatment. There were three groups of patients enrolled for analysis. Group A was 51 HER2-positive AGC patients treated with trastuzumab and chemotherapy; group B was a matched control group of 47 HER2-positive patients who received chemotherapy only; group C was a matched group of 251 HER2-negative patients who received chemotherapy. All the patients were enrolled at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center or Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University between January 2010 and December 2012. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used for survival analysis. The median duration of follow-up was 13.5 months (range, 5-18.6 months). The median OS of these three groups of patients was 14.8 months, 11.3 months and 14.4 months respectively (P〈0.001). The survival difference between group A and B was significant, P〈0.001. Similarly, there was significant difference between group B and C, P〈0.001. Moreover the survival between group A and C was comparable, P=0.281. The median progression free survival for these three groups was 7.4, 6.0 and 7.2 months. Multivariate analysis confirmed that trastuzumab treatment was an independent prognostic factor in group A and B patients (P=0.017). HER2 positive was an independent adverse prognostic factor in group B and C patients (P=0.013). © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.