Cirsium japonicum belongs to the Asteraceae or Compositae family and is a medicinal plant in Asia that has a variety of effects, including tumour inhibition, improved immunity with flavones, and antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects. Silymarin is synthesized by 4-coumaroyl-CoA via both the flavonoid and phenylpropanoid pathways to produce the immediate precursors taxifolin and coniferyl alcohol. Then, the oxidative radicalization of taxifolin and coniferyl alcohol produces silymarin. We identified the expression of genes related to the synthesis of silymarin in C. japonicum in three different tissues, namely, flowers, leaves, and roots, through RNA sequencing. We obtained 51,133 unigenes from transcriptome sequencing by de novo assembly using Trinity v2.1.1, TransDecoder v2.0.1, and CD-HIT v4.6 software. The differentially expressed gene analysis revealed that the expression of genes related to the flavonoid pathway was higher in the flowers, whereas the phenylpropanoid pathway was more highly expressed in the roots. In this study, we established a global transcriptome dataset for C. japonicum. The data shall not only be useful to focus more deeply on the genes related to product medicinal metabolite including flavolignan but also to study the functional genomics for genetic engineering of C. japonicum.
Asia ; Asteraceae ; Cirsium ; Dataset ; Estrone ; Flavones ; Flowers ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genetic Engineering ; Genomics ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Silymarin ; Transcriptome

Plant height is an important component of plant architecture and significantly affects crop breeding practices and yield. We studied DNA variations derived from F5 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) with 96.8% homozygous genotypes. Here, we report DNA variations between the normal and dwarf members of four lines harvested from a single seed parent in an F6 RIL population derived from a cross between Glycine max var. Peking and Glycine soja IT182936. Whole genome sequencing was carried out, and the DNA variations in the whole genome were compared between the normal and dwarf samples. We found a large number of DNA variations in both the dwarf and semi-dwarf lines, with one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) per at least 3.68 kb in the dwarf lines and 1 SNP per 11.13 kb of the whole genome. This value is 2.18 times higher than the expected DNA variation in the F6 population. A total of 186 SNPs and 241 SNPs were discovered in the coding regions of the dwarf lines 1282 and 1303, respectively, and we discovered 33 homogeneous nonsynonymous SNPs that occurred at the same loci in each set of dwarf and normal soybean. Of them, five SNPs were in the same positions between lines 1282 and 1303. Our results provide important information for improving our understanding of the genetics of soybean plant height and crop breeding. These polymorphisms could be useful genetic resources for plant breeders, geneticists, and biologists for future molecular biology and breeding projects.

Brassica napus is the third most important oilseed crop in the world; however, in Korea, it is greatly affected by cold stress, limiting seed growth and production. Plants have developed specific stress responses that are generally divided into three categories: cold-stress signaling, transcriptional/post-transcriptional regulation, and stress-response mechanisms. Large numbers of functional and regulatory proteins are involved in these processes when triggered by cold stress. Here, our objective was to investigate the different genetic factors involved in the cold-stress responses of B. napus. Consequently, we treated the Korean B. napus cultivar Naehan at the 4-week stage in cold chambers under different conditions, and RNA and cDNA were obtained. An in silico analysis included 80 cold-responsive genes downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. Expression levels were assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and 14 cold-triggered genes were identified under cold-stress conditions. The most significant genes encoded zinc-finger proteins (33.7%), followed by MYB transcription factors (7.5%). In the future, we will select genes appropriate for improving the cold tolerance of B. napus.

Plant height is an important component of plant architecture and significantly affects crop breeding practices and yield. We studied DNA variations derived from F5 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) with 96.8% homozygous genotypes. Here, we report DNA variations between the normal and dwarf members of four lines harvested from a single seed parent in an F6 RIL population derived from a cross between Glycine max var. Peking and Glycine soja IT182936. Whole genome sequencing was carried out, and the DNA variations in the whole genome were compared between the normal and dwarf samples. We found a large number of DNA variations in both the dwarf and semi-dwarf lines, with one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) per at least 3.68 kb in the dwarf lines and 1 SNP per 11.13 kb of the whole genome. This value is 2.18 times higher than the expected DNA variation in the F6 population. A total of 186 SNPs and 241 SNPs were discovered in the coding regions of the dwarf lines 1282 and 1303, respectively, and we discovered 33 homogeneous nonsynonymous SNPs that occurred at the same loci in each set of dwarf and normal soybean. Of them, five SNPs were in the same positions between lines 1282 and 1303. Our results provide important information for improving our understanding of the genetics of soybean plant height and crop breeding. These polymorphisms could be useful genetic resources for plant breeders, geneticists, and biologists for future molecular biology and breeding projects.

PURPOSE: As the number of elderly patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) increases, the number of these patients receiving chemotherapy also increases. However, limited data exists regarding the use of chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients who are 75 years of age or older. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May 2002 and October 2008, data for 48 advanced NSCLC patients who were 75 years of age or older who had been treated with chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of study participants at the time of first line chemotherapy was 76 years (range, 75 to 87 years) and their median Charlson comorbidity index was 2 (range, 1 to 4). Of the total 48 patients, 43 patients (90%) were treated by platinum-based doublet as a first line chemotherapy regimen. Median progression free survival for first line chemotherapy was 5.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.93 to 6.47 months) with an overall response rate of 33.3%. After first line chemotherapy, only 14 of the 48 patients (29.2%) received second line chemotherapy. The median overall survival (OS) for these patients was 8.2 months (95% CI, 4.44 to 11.96 months). Multivariate analysis results indicated that female gender and having received second-line or more chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for increased OS for all 48 patients. Charlson Index was not a significant independent prognostic factor for survival. There were 9 treatment related deaths due to infectious causes (18.8%). CONCLUSION: Patients 75 years of age or older with advanced NSCLC may obtain clinical benefit from the administration of platinum-based doublet or single agent chemotherapy. However, oncologists must consider the aspect of safety in relation to the clinical benefits when managing this patient group.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Comorbidity ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The rate of second primary lung cancer development for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) has been noted. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence and clinical features of suspected second primary lung cancer that developed in patients with primary HNC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 469 patients who were newly diagnosed with HNC at the Korea University Medical Center between January 2000 and December 2006. RESULTS: A total of 469 patients were included (389 men and 80 women). Eighteen patients (3.8%) had suspected second primary lung cancers. Statistically significant clinical variables for lung cancer development included the origin site for the primary HNC (oro-hypopharynx and larynx) (p=0.048), abnormal chest x-ray findings (p=0.027) and the histological HNC type (squamous cell carcinoma) (p=0.032). When the second primary lung cancers were combined with HNCs, the adjusted overall survival of patients with a second primary lung cancer was 16 months (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the relative risk factors for a second primary lung cancer developing in patients with HNC, advanced diagnostic tools, such as chest CT or PET CT scan, should be applied for the early detection of a second primary lung cancer.
Academic Medical Centers ; Head ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thorax

PURPOSE: The combination of cisplatin and etoposide has been a common first line regimen for the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The schedule dependence, and equal efficacy, of the oral and intravenous dosing of etoposide has led to prolonged administration of oral etoposide, which is known to produce an encouraging response in SCLC. To improve the efficacy of the cisplatin/etoposide combination, we administered oral etoposide, with added ifosfamide, which had significant single agent activity against SCLC. We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the cisplatin, ifosfamide and oral etoposide (PIE) combination in patients with extensive small cell lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with histologically confirmed extensive small cell lung cancer were enrolled into this study between January 2000 and May 2002. They were treated with, cisplatin at 20 mg/ m2/day, ifosfamide 1.5 g/m2/day, with mesna (all given intravenously on Days 1~3), and oral etoposide 50 mg/m2 on days 4~17. This cycle was repeated every 4 weeks for up to 6 cycles. We evaluated the corresponding disease responses and toxicities. RESULTS: The patients' characteristics were as follows: median age 65 years (32~75), 19 males and 6 females. The performance stati were ECOG 0 in 3 patients, ECOG 1 in 12 and ECOG 2 in 10. Sixteen patients had a partial response, 2 had a stable disease and 4 had a progressive disease. Thus, the overall objective response rate was 72.7% (95% CI: 49.6~88.4%), with a median response duration of 7 months (95% CI: 3.5~10.5 months). Myelosuppression was the major observed toxicity. Grades III and IV neutropenia were observed in 42 (46.1%) of the 91 cycles. Significant non-hematological toxicities (>or=Grade III) were uncommon, with the exception of nausea and vomiting. CONCLUSION: The response rate to the combination of cisplatin, ifosfamide and oral etoposide was similar to that of other combination chemotherapy studies in patients with extensive disease small cell lung cancer. The toxicity of the regimen was considered acceptable.
Appointments and Schedules ; Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Etoposide* ; Female ; Humans ; Ifosfamide* ; Male ; Mesna ; Nausea ; Neutropenia ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma* ; Vomiting

Hepatocellular carcinomas are one of the most common malignancies in the world. However, no effective therapeutic modality has been proven to prolong the survival of patients in an inoperable stage. The purpose of this study was to determine the response rate and the toxicities of a combination of pirarubicin, UFT and leucovorin in patients with non-embolizable hepatocellular carcinomas, or who had progressed during their transcatheter arterial chemoembolization treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 23 patients with a hepatocellular carcinoma, 11 had progressed during a transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, with the other 12 being transcatheter arterial chemoembolization-naive. All the patients were treated with pirarubicin (70 mg/m2 i.v., day 1), UFT (350 mg/m2 P.O., day 1~21), and leucovorin (25 mg/m2 P.O., day 1~21). RESULTS: Twenty patients were able to be evaluated, with a partial response being achieved in four, giving an overall response rate of 20% (95% confidence interval, 7~44%). The median overall survival time was 6 months, and the median survival time of the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization-naive patients was significantly longer than that of those treated by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (p=0.012). The most significant dose-limiting toxicity was leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSION: The combination of pirarubicin, UFT and leucovorin therapies showed marginal antitumor activity and significant toxicity in patients with non-embolizable or failed transcatheter arterial chemoembolization hepatocellular carcinomas.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Leucovorin* ; Thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND: The limit and the optimal method of the cryopreservation of platelets have not been determined. Moreover, the functional changes platelets after cryopreservation were not clearly defined. This study was conducted to determine the limit and optimal method for cryopreservation of platelet concentrates. METHODS: We compared the recovery, expression of membrane GpIb, GpIIb/IIIa, and aggregatory function of the platelets preserved in three different conditions. Platelet samples were collected from four healthy volunteer donors by apheresis, and placed in 22degrees C agitator for standard preservation. For cryopreservation, after treating 5% DMSO, platelets were either inserted directly in -80degrees C freezer or in liquid nitrogen after computer-controlled rate freezing. After storage for 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks, platelets were thawed and analyzed for the evaluation of in vitro functions. RESULTS: Platelets preserved at 22degrees C or cryopreserved with each condition displayed equivalent recovery (90%). With each cryopreservation procedures, platelets showed moderate loss of GpIb and retained more than 90% of GpIIb/IIIa in comparison with fresh platelets. At the third week, loss of GpIb in the directly frozen platelets was augmented compared with those of controlled rate frozen group. The aggregatory response to ristocetin began to decrease drastically after storage for 5 days in platelets frozen by each procedures and to less than 5% at 12 weeks of storage. However, controlled rate frozen platelets retained more aggregatory response to ristocetin and surface GpIb expression than those of directly frozen platelets at 3, 4, 12 weeks of storage. CONCLUSION: This study showed the possibility of moderate preservation of in vitro functions of frozen-thawed platelets after 12 weeks of storage compared with those of the liquid stored 5-day old platelets.
Blood Component Removal ; Blood Platelets ; Cryopreservation* ; Dihydroergotamine ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Freezing ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Membranes ; Nitrogen ; Ristocetin ; Tissue Donors