Objective To investigate the effects of circadian clock gene Period2(Per2)on the proliferation,differentiation and apoptosis of K562 cells and its probable molecular mechanism.Methods The Per2 expression plasmid pcDNA3.1-Per2 and empty control plasmid were respectively transfected into K562 cells with cationic liposome,and the resistant cells stably expressing Per2 gene were obtained by G418 selection.Their morphological changes were observed under light microscope following Wright-Giemsa staining.Trypan blue excluding staining and MTT assay were employed to evaluate cell proliferation.Flow cytometry was performed to analyze cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis,and electron microscopy was used to detect cell apoptosis.Meanwhile,the expressions of proliferation and apoptosis associated proteins,such as P53,Cyclin B1 and C-Myc,were respectively detected by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis at mRNA and protein level.Results The K562/Per2 cell line stably expressing Per2 gene was screened out.As compared with either the empty plasmid transfected group(K562/empty)or the untreated group(K562/untreated),K562/Per2 cells was smaller in volume and showed no obvious cellular differentiation.Circadian clock gene Per2 could significantly inhibit both growth and proliferation of K562 cells.The percentage of K562 cells in G2/M phase increased [K562/Per2 group(36.1?5.5)%,K562/empty group(12.5?2.9)%,untreated group(9.7?2.3)%,P

Cytospora is a genus including important phytopathogens causing severe dieback and canker diseases distributed worldwide with a wide host range. However, identification of Cytospora species is difficult since the currently available DNA sequence data are insufficient. Aside the limited availability of ex-type sequence data, most of the genetic work is only based on the ITS region DNA marker which lacks the resolution to delineate to the species level in Cytospora. In this study, three fresh strains were isolated from the symptomatic branches of Elaeagnus angustifolia in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Morphological observation and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses (ITS, LSU, ACT and RPB2) support these specimens are best accommodated as a distinct novel species of Cytospora. Cytospora elaeagnicola sp. nov. is introduced, having discoid, nearly flat, pycnidial conidiomata with hyaline, allantoid conidia, and differs from its relatives genetically and by host association.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the modified docetaxel plus prednisone scheme for the metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer patients who got poor tolerance to chemotherapy.Method The clinical data of 50 metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer who received docetaxel + prednisone chemotherapy from March 2010 to October 2015 were analyzed retrospectively.23 cases received the modified DP regimen (modified group),27 cases received the standard DP regimen (standard group).The median age of the modified group and the standard group were 69 years (47-80 years) and 63 years (52-77 years) (P =0.005).There were 19 and 24 cases with pain in modified group and standard group respectively;10 and 19 cases with lymph node metastasis respectively;3 and 4 cases of visceral metastasis respectively;all of the 50 patients were complicated with bone metastasis.For the pathological Gleason score,there were 7 cases scored ≤7 points,13 cases scored ≥ 8 points and 3 cases unscored in the modified group;7 cases scored ≤7 points,15 cases scored ≥8 points and 5 cases unscored in standard group.There was no significant difference of the pain,metastasis,and Gleason score between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Progression free survival (PFS),overall survival (OS)and adverse events were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves,and the differences were assessed using the log-rank test.Results In the modified group and standard group,the median follow-up times were 11.0 months and 14.0 months respectively,the median chemotherapy cycles were 4.5 cycles and 5.0 cycles respectively;OS were 18.0 months and 27.5 months respectively (P =0.746).The PFS of the two groups were 6.0 months and 5.2 months,respectively (P =0.822).The PSA response were 13 cases and 17 cases in the modified group and standard group respectively (P =0.615),and the pain response were 8 cases and 7 cases (P =0.927),grade 3 to 4 adverse events were 3 cases and 14 cases (P =0.003).The main adverse events were blood toxicity,neutrophils,gastrointestinal reaction,edema,fatigue and oral mucositis etc.Conclusions Compared with the standard DP scheme,the modified DP scheme had no significant difference in OS,PFS,pain response rate and PSA response rate,while the incidence of grade 3 to 4 adverse events was significantly reduced.Modified DP scheme may be a better choice for patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer who get poor tolerance to chemotherapy.

Objective To investigate the dose of docetaxel appropriate for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and its affects to the prognosis.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 75 patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer admitted from March 2010 to July 2016 who received docetaxel combined with prednisone chemotherapy.The patients were divided into the low-dose group (n =43,docetaxel ＜ 65 mg/m2),the middle-dose group (n =21,docetaxel 65-70 mg/m2) and the high-dose group (n =11,docetaxel ＞ 70 mg/m2).The median age in the low-dose group,middle-dose group and high-dose group was 67 (53-80),66 (56-78) and 61 (47-76) years old,respectively.Among 75 patients with bone metastasis,2 patients had no evidence of bone metastasis in the low-dose group.The lymph node metastasis was found in 26,13 and 6 cases in each group,respectively.And visceral and other metastasis were founded in 11,4 and 2 cases,respectively.The Gleason score in the low-dose group was≤7 points in 15 cases,≥8 points in 22 cases and no score in 6 cases.The Gleason score inthe middle-dose group was ≤7 points in 4 cases,≥8 points in 13 cases and no score in 4 cases.The Gleason score in the high-dose group was ≤7 points in 3 cases,≥8 points in 5 cases and no score in 3 cases.The number of patients with pain in the low-dose group,middle-dose group and high-dose group was 36,12 and 9,respectively,there were no significant differences in the above indicators (P ＞ 0.05),except age,which showed relatively more aged patients in the low-dose group,(P =0.045).Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the overall survival (OS),progression-free survival (PFS) and the incidence of ≥CTCAE-4 grade 3 adverse reactions between the two groups.The Cox regression model was adopted to analyzed the factors that might affect patient prognosis,including the effective time of first-line endocrine therapy,hemoglobin level,ECOG score,pain score,number of cycles of chemotherapy,age,dose of docetaxel and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the effect of dose of docetaxel on the prognosis,and log-rank method was used to test the significance of the results.Results The median OS was respectively 24.1,18.5 and 23.5 months in the low-dose group,middle-dose group and high-dose group,respectively.The median PFS was 5.3 months in all three groups,which didn't show statistically significant differences.The incidence of grade 3/4 adverse reactions in the low-dose group,middle-dose group and high-dose group was 15 cases (34.9％),8 cases (38.1％) and 5 cases (45.5％) respectively.It showed an increasing trend,but no statistically significant difference.The single factors related to OS mainly include the effective time of first-line endocrine therapy,hemoglobin level,ECOG score,pain score,number of cycles of chemotherapy,there was no significant correlation with age,docetaxel dose,ALP and PSA value.Conclusions It is common to receive lower doses of docetaxel in clinical practice for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in China.The efficacy of low-dose docetaxel is similar to that of high doses (standard dosage).There was no significant correlation between the OS and the actual dose of docetaxel in the tolerable range.