Moderate drought stress has been found to promote the accumulation of active ingredients in Glycyrrhiza uralensis root and hence improve the medicinal quality. In this study, the transcriptomes of 6-month-old moderate drought stressed and control G. uralensis root (the relative water content in soil was 40%-45% and 70%-75%, respectively) were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000. A total of 80,490 490 and 82 588 278 clean reads, 94,828 and 305,100 unigenes with N50 sequence of 1,007 and 1,125 nt were obtained in drought treated and control transcriptome, respectively. Differentially expressed genes analysis revealed that the genes of some cell wall enzymes such as β-xylosidase, legumain and GDP-L-fucose synthase were down-regulated indicating that moderate drought stress might inhibit the primary cell wall degradation and programmed cell death in root cells. The genes of some key enzymes involved in terpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis were up-regulated by moderate drought stress might be the reason for the enhancement for the active ingredients accumulation in G. uralensis root. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of auxin, ethylene and cytokinins by moderate drought stress might enhance the root formation and cell proliferation. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of abscisic acid and jasmonic acid by moderate drought stress might enhance the drought stress tolerance in G. uralensis. The inhibition of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of gibberellin and brassinolide by moderate drought stress might retard the shoot growth in G. uralensis.
Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; genetics ; Plant Roots ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stress, Physiological ; Transcriptome

The dynamic changes of germination percentage, germination potential, thousand-seed weight, antioxidase activity in Desmodium styracifolium seeds with different storage time were tested, and electrical conductivity, contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein, starch in seed leach liquor were also determined in order to reveal the mechanism of seed deterioration. The results as the following. (1) The germination percentage, germination potential and thousand-seed weight of D. styracifolium seeds declined, while the seed coat color darkened with the extension of storage time. (2) The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) decreased with the prolongation of storage period. The SOD activity declined fastest in 1,095-1,185 d of storage, while the POD activity declined significantly in 365-395 d of storage. (3) The electrical conductivity and the contents of soluble sugar, starch in seed leach liquor increased, while the content of soluble protein declined with the extension of storage time. (4) Correlation analysis indicated that the germination percentage, germination potential and thousand-seed weight of D. styracifolium seeds have a significantly positive correlation with SOD and POD activity, while have a significantly negative correlation with the electrical conductivity, contents of soluble sugar and starch. It can be concluded that during the storage of D. styracifolium seeds, physiological and biochemical changes including decrease in antioxidase activity, rise in electrical conductivity, degradation effluent of soluble sugar and starch, degradation of soluble protein were the main factors leading to the seed deterioration.
Color ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Germination ; Peroxidases ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Seeds ; chemistry ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Starch ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Time Factors

Objective To investigate the distribution of water fluoride and the status of water-improving defluoridation projects,thus to explore the condition of endemic fluorosis in Guangxi Province.Methods According to"The National Technical Scheme for Endemic Disease Contml in 2005",the fuorine content in water Was determined by F-ion selective electrode,children's dental fluorosis was checked by Dean method.and the skeletal fluorosis was checked by the standard of clinical scale of skeletal fluorosis.Results 305 water samples in 61 villages were examined,among which 71 waters were exceeded the standard,accounting for 23.28%(71/305).The projects of defluoriding drinking water were running well except one was discarded.The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 13.55%(356/2627),the prevalence of skeletal fluorosis was 4.02%(65/1615).Conclusions The situation of endemic fluorosis control is not optimistic in Guangxi,which needs fuaher prevention and controls.

?AIM:To investigate and analyze diabetic retinopathy ( DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes in local community and risk factors of type 2 diabetic retinopathy, and to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of diabetic.?METHODS:Randomly 268 cases with type 2 diabetes from community health management files from January to March 2015 were selected. Fundus photography was read through the remote reading system, demographic data and laboratory indexes of DR were analyzed.?RESULTS:In the 268 cases with type 2 diabetes, 85 cases were diagnosed as DR ( 31. 7%); there were statistical difference on gender, duration, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, urine creatinine between patients with DR and without ( P<0. 05 ). Multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed, duration, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c were independent risk factors of DR(P<0. 05).?CONCLUSION:Long duration, high blood pressure, high blood glucose are main risk factors of DR, we should strengthen the monitoring of blood pressure, blood glucose and prevent the happening of the DR.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence and clinicopathologic significance of MSI and LOH on 3P in breast carcinoma and its precancerous lesions, intraductal papillary adenoma and ductal carcinoma in situ.

METHODS41 paired sporadic invasive breast carcinomas, 13 archival precancerous lesion specimens of the breast and 14 couples of benign hyperplasia were collected. Twelve microsatellites on chromosomes 2p, 3p, 5q, 6q, 16q, 17q, eleven markers on chromosome 3p were amplified for MSI and LOH, respectively, by polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) with designed primers and detecting after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In addition, the expression of protein of hMSH2, hMLHI, FHIT, ER, and PR were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSMSI was observed, at least two microsatellite markers, in 15 out of 41 (36. 6%) of the carcinomas, almost all belonging to poorly or intermediately differentiated carcinoma. Instability was shown in 9 of the 13 cases of precancerous lesions, but only 2 among them had more than 2 MSI sites. There was no MSI in benign hyperplasia. MSI was targeted predominately at D3S1766, D2S2739 in both carcinomas and precancerous lesions. Of the 11 loci examined, D3S1295, D3S1029 and D3S1038 were identified as the locus with most frequent LOH which were all correlated significantly with some clinicopathological parameters such as histological type, lymph node metastasis in breast cancer, while D3S1295 and D3S1029 were the most frequent markers in precancerous lesions. LOH of D3S1295 had significant correlation with negative expression of FHIT. Positive expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein was detected in breast carcinomas in scattered distribution and their positive rate was 45% and 40% , respectively. In precancerous lesions, hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein showed diffuse expression and their positive rate was 61. 54% and 76. 92% , respectively, significantly lower than that in the control tissues.

CONCLUSIONDefective expression of MMR genes is closely associated with the development of breast cancer. Genomic instability might play a role in the early stage during multi-step mammary carcinogenesis. MSI indicates poor histological differentiation in breast carcinoma. D3S1766 and D2S2739 might be the sensitive sites to detect MSI in breast carcinoma and precancerous lesions. The smallest common LOH deletion regions seem likely to be situated between 3p14 and 3p25, indicating the existence of breast tumor related genes in those regions and some of them might affect tumor development.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases ; metabolism ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Adenoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; genetics ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Microsatellite Instability ; Middle Aged ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; MutL Proteins ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Precancerous Conditions ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 3p in breast cancers and precancerous lesion.

METHODSLOH at 11 microsatellite loci was detected in 41 cases of breast cancers and 12 cases of precancerous lesion by polymerase chain reaction and silver stain. The expressions of ER, PR, FHIT and hMLH1 were detected in breast cancer by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSLOH on 3p was detected in 97% of breast cancers. D3S1295, D3S1029 and D3S1038 located at 3p14, 3p21-p22 and 3p25 were identified as the loci with most frequent LOH (53.1%, 43.6% and 52.5%). LOH of D3S1038 and expression of hMLH1 protein correlated with several clinicopathological features. LOH of D3S1295 had significant negative correlation with the expression of FHIT. In breast precancerous lesions, LOH on 3p was detected in 41.7% lesions. D3S1295 and D3S1029 were also identified as the most frequent LOH locus (27.3% and 16.7%). The smallest common LOH region seems likely lie between 3p14 and 3p25.

CONCLUSIONSThe smallest LOH region indicates the existence of breast tumor related genes and some of them affect gene expression.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Precancerous Conditions ; genetics ; pathology ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Expression and correlation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHOD: In this study, expression levels of COX-2, VEGF were examined in 58 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 38 patients with inflammation in nasopharyngeal mucosa by immunohistochemistry method. RESULT: The expression of COX-2, VEGF were higher in nasopharyngeal carcinoma than those in nasopharyngeal mucosa (P < 0.05), and they had some correlation with the invasion and lymphatic metastasis and with the clinical stage of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (P < 0.05). The expression of COX-2 was positively correlated with that of VEGF (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The coexpression of COX-2 and VEGF may play animportant role in the carcinogenesis and development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and they may prom (see text) lymph node metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Carcinoma ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mucous Membrane ; metabolism ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nasopharyngitis ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; metabolism

The rhizome of Alpinia officinarum is a widely used Chinese herbal medicine. The essential oil in A. officinarum rhizome is mainly composed of 1, 8-cineole and other monoterpenes, as the major bioactive ingredients. In plants, monoterpenes are synthesized through the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway in the plastids, and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) is an enzyme catalyzing a committed step of the MEP pathway. In the present study, the full-length cDNA encoding DXR was cloned from the rhizome of A. officinarum, using homology-based RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) techniques. The new cDNA was designated as AoDXR and submitted to GenBank to be assigned with an accession number HQ874658. The full-length cDNA of AoDXR was 1 670 bp containing a 1 419 bp open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 472 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 51.48 kDa and an isoelectric point of 6.15. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that AoDXR showed extensive homology with DXRs from other plant species and contained a conserved plastids transit peptide, a Pro-rich region and two highly conserved NADPH-binding motifs in its N-terminal region characterized by all plant DXRs. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that AoDXR belonged to angiosperm DXRs. The structural modeling of AoDXR showed that AoDXR had the typical V-shaped structure of DXR proteins. The tissue expression pattern analysis indicated that AoDXR expressed strongly in leaves, weak in rhizomes of A. officinarum. Exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) could enhance the expression of AoDXR and the production of 1, 8-cineole in A. officinarum rhizomes. The cloning and characterization of AoDXR will be helpful to reveal the molecular regulation mechanism of monoterpene biosynthesis in A. officinarum and provides a candidate gene for metabolic engineering in improving the medicinal quality of A. officinarum rhizome.
Aldose-Ketose Isomerases ; genetics ; Alpinia ; chemistry ; enzymology ; genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Monoterpenes ; metabolism ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVETo explore the quality variation and genetic diversity of Desmodium styracifolium from different provenances, and lay a foundation for rational exploitation on germplasm resources and fine variety breeding of D. styracifolium.

METHODAmplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were developed to analyze genetic diversity in D. styracifolium from 18 resources. NTSYSpc-2. 11F software was used to analyze the similarity among the D. styracifolium germplasms and construct the genetic phylogenetic tree. The schaftoside content in D. styracifolium from different provenances was determined by HPLC.

RESULTA total of 844 fragments were amplified with 8 primers, in which 717 were polymorphic bands, accounting for 84. 27% of the total detected variation. All the specimens from 18 resources could be grouped into 3 clusters by cluster analysis. The schaftoside contents of D. styracifolium germplasms differed significantly, with the highest content in the germplasm from Sanya, Hainan.

CONCLUSIONSignificant quality variation and genetic diversity can be observed among D. styracifolium germplasms. The diverse germplasm resources should be explored and the fine variety should be selected to breed.

Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; Fabaceae ; classification ; genetics ; Genetic Variation ; genetics

INTRODUCTION: Adults aged ≥60 years contribute to disproportionately higher visits to the emergency departments (ED). We performed a systematic review to examine the reasons why older persons visit the ED in Singapore. METHODS: We searched Medline, Embase and Scopus from January 2000 to December 2021 for studies reporting on ED utilisation by older adults in Singapore, and included studies that investigated determinants of ED utilisation. Statistically significant determinants and their effect sizes were extracted. Determinants of ED utilisation were organised using Andersen and Newman's model. Quality of studies was evaluated using Newcastle Ottawa Scale and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. RESULTS: The search yielded 138 articles, of which 7 were used for analysis. Among the significant individual determinants were predisposing (staying in public rental housing, religiosity, loneliness, poorer coping), enabling (caregiver distress from behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia) and health factors (multimorbidity in patients with dementia, frailty, primary care visit in last 6 months, better treatment adherence). The 7 included studies are of moderate quality and none of them employed conceptual frameworks to organise determinants of ED utilisation. CONCLUSION The major determinants of ED utilisation by older adults in Singapore were largely individual factors. Evaluation of societal determinants of ED utilisation was lacking in the included studies. There is a need for a more holistic examination of determinants of ED utilisation locally based on conceptual models of health seeking behaviours.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Frailty ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Singapore