Leaf senescence is considered as one of important factors to decrease ornamental values of foliage plants. In the attempt to study and understand the molecular mechanism of leaf senescence, a senescent leaf cDNA library of Coleus blumei was constructed and a small EST library was obtained. According to the sequence of an EST fragment with a cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) domain, a novel leaf senescenceassociated gene (SAG) full-length cDNA encoding a CBS-domain-containing protein, denoted Cbcbs, was rapidly cloned using a strategy of RACE combined with cDNA library. The full length of the Cbcbs gene was 859 bp long (accession No. EF076754) and contained a 609 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 202amino acid protein. One stop codon (TAA) was found in 5' UTR and one possible polyadenylation signal,AATAAA, and a pentanucleotide motif, ATTTA, were found in 3' UTR. The CbCBS contained a predicted mitochondrial targeting peptide in the N-terminal region, two conserved and intact CBS domains, four casein kinase Ⅱ (CK Ⅱ) phosphorylation sites, three protein kinase c (PKC) phosphorylation sites and one tyrosine sulfation (TS) site. Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis showed that CbCBS was a novel senescence or stress-associated protein. The prediction analysis of secondary structure and three dimensional structure of CbCBS suggested that the chief function of the protein was decided by the CBS domain pair. The expression pattern of Cbcbs in leaves was analyzed by RT-PCR. It was demonstrated that Cbcbs gene was a senescence-associated gene (SAG) and expressed in all leaf stages, young stage (Y) being the lowest and terminal senescence stage (S3) being the highest, and was upregulated along with the leaf senescence.Function analysis showed that the mature CbCBS maybe acts as a sensor of cellular energy status and directly or indirectly regulates cellular energy levels to increase ATP content in mitochondria during periods of metabolic stress of senescent leaves.

Objective To observe the efficacy of Wuteng Ercao decoction in treating active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its effects on the levels of cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).Methods Sixty-five patients with active RA were randomly divided into treatment group (33 cases) and control group (32 cases). Patients in the control group were administered with methotrexate tablets 10 mg, oral taking, once a week;hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets 200 mg, oral taking, twice a day;diclofenac sodium sustained release tablets 75 mg, oral taking, twice a day. Patients in the treatment group were administered with Wuteng Ercao decoction additionally, oral taking, three times a day. The treatment lasted for 12 weeks. The changes and untoward effects of various clinical and laboratory indicators were observed before and after treatment.Results After treatment, the tender joint count, swollen joint count, patient’s global assessment, and physician’s global assessment were improved (P<0.05), with statistical significance between the two groups (P<0.05). The levels of ESR, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α decreased significantly after treatment (P<0.05), but those were more significantly in treatment group (P<0.05). There were 2 cases with untoward effects in the treatment group and 1 case in the control group (P>0.05).Conclusion Wuteng Ercao decoction is effective in patients with active RA and it can reduce the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α.

Purpose To investigate the mutations of ID3,TCF3 and MYC genes in Chinese Burkitt lymphoma and discuss their significance.Methods Total DNA was extracted from tumor tissues of 32 patients with Burkitt lymphoma,then the DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR),and the products of PCR were sequenced directly with Sanger sequencing methods.Results The mutation rates of ID3 and TCF3 genes were 35.5％ (11/31) and 18.8％ (6/32) respectively.The mutation rate of MYC was 50％.The mutation rates of MYC exon 1,MYC exon 2 and MYC exon 3 were 3.3％ (1/30),50％ (15/30) and 7.7％ (2/26) respectively.Conclusion Recurrent mutations of the ID3,TCF3 and MYC genes in Chinese Burkitt lymphoma were identified by Sanger sequencing.For TCF3 gene,a novel mutation c.2202G ＞ C p.L569V was found in three cases.In two cases,a novel mutation of c.1070A ＞G p.G182D was found in MYC gene.

Using RACE with a Fagopyrum dibotrys callus cDNA library, one clone, named FdMYBP1, encoding a putative R2R3 MYB protein was identified. FdMYBP1 appeared to be a full-length cDNA of 1159 bp encoding a protein of 265 amino acids. Through structure and property analysis of FdMYBPI with bioinformational methods, it was found that the amino acid sequence of FdMYBP1 showed great homology to other MYBP with the R2R3 repeat region in the N-terminus. Southern blot analysis indicated that FdMYBP1 belongs to a single copy gene in F. dibotrys genomes. The FdMYBP1 gene has the same classic characters with other MYBP and probably involved in the pathway of flavonoid metabolisms.
Cloning, Molecular ; Fagopyrum ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUND:Bone mineral density is the clinical gold standard for determining bone strength,but bone mineral density is less sensitive to changes in bone mass,with large changes in bone mineral density only occurring when bone mass is significantly reduced,so bone mineral density has limited ability to predict changes in bone strength and fracture risk. OBJECTIVE:A model of the normal and osteoporotic hip joint was developed to analyze the stresses and deformation in the hip of normal and osteoporotic patients under single-leg standing conditions. METHODS:A healthy adult female volunteer at the age of 36 years was selected as the study subject.The CT data of the hip joint of this volunteer were obtained and saved in DICOM format.The hip joint model was reconstructed in three dimensions,and the material properties were assigned by the gray value assignment method to obtain the normal and osteoporotic hip joint models according to the empirical formula.The same boundary conditions and loads were set to simulate the stresses and deformation in the normal and osteoporotic hip joints in the single-leg standing position. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In the finite element model of the normal and osteoporotic hip,the stress distribution was more concentrated in the medial region of the femoral neck.(2)In the hip bone,the stress distribution was mainly concentrated in the upper part of the acetabulum.(3)The stress peaks in the medial femoral neck and upper acetabulum were larger in the normal hip model than in the osteoporotic hip model,probably due to the reduced bone strength of the osteoporotic bone.(4)The peak Von Mises of both normal and osteoporotic hip models were concentrated on the medial femoral neck,and the peak Von Mises of the hip bone was smaller,indicating that the overall effect of osteoporosis on hip bone stresses was relatively small.(5)In terms of deformation in the single-leg standing position,the maximum deformation in the normal hip model was located at the acetabulum and femoral head,and the maximum deformation was located at the upper part of the greater trochanter of the femur.(6)It is suggested that the finite element analysis method to model the values of parameters related to bone tissue in osteoporosis may improve clinical prediction of bone strength changes and fracture risk.It is explained from the biomechanical view that the intertrochanteric femur and femoral neck are good sites for osteoporotic hip fractures.

In some countries and regions,descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery(DBLCFA) has been successfully applied to CABG.It is feasible,easy and safe to harvest and apply DBLCFA to CABG.We review the origin,distribution and anatomical features of DBLCFA.And introduce its application,relevant techniques and strategies in CABG.

Postoperative thyroid scar not only causes itching, pain, and pulling, but also seriously affects the patient’s aesthetics, so it is important to study the prevention and treatment of postoperative thyroid scar. In the past 20 years, clinicians have made many innovative researches to alleviate postoperative thyroid scar growth, and the following progresses have been made: firstly, thyroid surgery methods and surgical accesses have been improved to a certain extent, resulting in more concealed and less traumatic accesses; secondly, the use of lasers and silicone and other drugs has significantly improved the scar treatment effect; thirdly, the concept of "cosmetic" is gradually gaining popularity, and related technical means are used throughout the treatment of postoperative scarring of the thyroid gland, and multiple treatment modalities are used "early" and "in combination" to "prevent" scar growth after surgery. The use of multiple treatment modalities to prevent scar growth in the early postoperative period has achieved twice the result with half the effort.

Objective To investigate the safety,feasibility and clinical application effect of upper arm totally implantable venous access port (TIVAP) inserted by the combination of oncologists and nurses in patients with tumor.Methods A total of 34 patients,who needed long-term transfusion treatment,were included in this study with upper arm TIVAP from March 2017 and December 2017.There were 20 males and 14 females.The median age was 63 (35 ～ 83) years.Upper arm TIVAP was implanted by both doctors and nurses into the patients with tumor,and the TIVAP related success rate,complications and patients satisfaction were recorded.Results 34 patients all succeeded in TIVAP implantation with the operation success rate of 100％.The average operation time was about 40 minutes (30 to 60 minutes) from the disinfecting cloth to the end of the suture.The operations of all patients were successful.After the operation two patients died of cancer progression,one patient had soft tissue infection around capsular bag,None of the patients had other complications such as blocked infusion,catheter shift,port reversal,and so on,and the incidence of complication was 2.94％ (1/34).Conclusions Upper arm TIVAP has the advantages of safe puncture,shorter operation time,few intra-operative and post-operative complications and higher feasibility for operation by both oncologist and nurse,which can supplement the limitations and deficiencies of the chest wall port and PICC in a certain extent,therefore is a good choice for clinical application.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of auricular point sticking on prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal complications after gynecological laparoscopic operation of general anesthesia, and to explore whether it is achieved by regulating the secretion of plasma motilin (MTL).

METHODSSixty patients who received selective gynecological laparoscopy under general anesthesia were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 30 patients in each one. The patients in the observation group were treated with auricular point sticking at each morning and night, 30 min before anesthesia, revival after surgery and 24 h after surgery. The adhesive fabric with vaccaria seeds was pressed at shenmen (TF), wei (CO), benmen (CO), jiaogan (AH) and pizhixia (AT) for 3 to 5 min until the sensation of sourness, distension and numb appeared. The treatment was given for one week. The patients in the control group were treated only with similar adhesive fabric at auricular points at identical time points; each auricular point was pressed for 3 to 5 min. The anus exhaust time, defecating time and borborygmus were recorded; the level of plasma MTL was tested 30 min before anesthesia, 24 h after o-peration and 48 h after operation; the occurrence of nausea and vomiting from the end of operation to the end of treatment were also recorded.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the occurrence of nausea after operation was reduced in the observation group (<0.05), and the anus exhaust time and defecating time were shortened (both<0.05), and the recovery of borborygmus was improved (<0.05). The levels of MTL 24 h and 48 h after surgery were higher than those before operation in the two groups (all<0.05); The levels of MTL 24 h and 48 h after surgery in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (both<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe assist of auricular point sticking could reduce the occurrence of nausea-vomiting and accelerate the recovery of gastrointestinal function in gynecological laparoscopic operation under general anesthesia, which is likely to be related with the inhibition on excess secretion of MTL.