Laccases (LACs), belonging to the multicopper oxidase family, are closely associated with various biological functions including lignin synthesis and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. However, few studies have reported the laccase genes in China rose (Rosa chinensis). Prickles cause difficulties to the management and harvest of R. chinensis and have become a trait concerned in the breeding. To investigate the expression patterns of laccase genes in roses, we cloned a laccase gene from an ancient variety R. chinensis 'Old Blush' and named it RcLAC15. The expression level of RcLAC15 in prickles was significantly higher than those in roots, stems, and leaves. Fifty-eight laccase genes were identified in the genome of R. chinensis, and bioinformatics analysis revealed that RcLAC15 was a homolog of AtLAC15, predicting that RcLAC15 was a stable hydrophilic protein without transmembrane structures. The recombinant expression vector pBI121-proRcLAC15:: GUS was introduced into Arabidopsis, and GUS staining results showed that the RcLAC15 promoter specifically drove GUS gene expression at the edges of Arabidopsis leaves. In summary, RcLAC15 is a gene specifically expressed in the prickles of R. chinensis. This discovery provides a reference for exploring the biological functions of laccase genes in the prickles of R. chinensis.
Laccase/metabolism* ; Rosa/enzymology* ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Arabidopsis/metabolism* ; Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism*

Objective:To explore differences of resting brain regional homogeneity (ReHo) between patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and their siblings.Methods:From January to December 2013, the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of 87 patients with MDD and 21 healthy siblings were collected.DPABI v5.1 software was used to preprocess the resting-state fMRI data, and ReHo maps of each subject was obtained. A two-sample t-test was used to compare differences between the patients with MDD and their siblings in ReHo values throughout the brain. ReHo values within the significant brain regions were extracted out, and used to calculate Spearman correlation with the total score of 17-items Hamilton depression rating scale(HAMD-17) in the patients with MDD and their siblings respectively.The software of SPSS 20.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results:The patients with MDD exhibited lower ReHo values in the precuneus extending to the posterior cingulate cortex (PCu/PCC) compared with their siblings (cluster-size=126 voxel, cluster-level PFDR=0.033; MNI: x=-4, y=-58, z=38, t=4.30). ReHo values of the PCu/PCC in patient with MDD were positively correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms ( r=0.255, P=0.021). Conclusion:Compared with the siblings, local brain activity of the PCu/PCC in the patients with MDD was decreased, and related to the severity of depressive symptoms. It is helpful to further reveal the intrinsic neural mechanism of MDD.

Objective To explore the influence of gender and age on auditory startle reflex in healthy adults.Methods A total of 150 healthy volunteers (92 males and 58 females) aged from 18 to 60 years were recruited for this study.A modified startle reflex paradigm was adopted.Furthermore,gender-age differences on startle magnitude,habituation,perceived spatial co-location induced prepulse inhibition (PSC-PPI) and perceived spatial separation-induced prepulse inhibition (PSS-PPI) in healthy volunteers were analyzed.Results ① There was no significant difference in amplitude and habituation of startie reflex between males and females (F=0.29,P=0.593;F=1.57,P=0.212).PSC-PPI and PSS-PPI were significantly higher in males (PSC-PPI:(34.68± 20.81) ％,PSS-PPI:(44.56 ± 23.19) ％) than those in females (PSC-PPI:(23.11±22.43)％,PSS-PPI:(35.21±25.09)％) (F=9.48,P=0.002;F=4.76,P=0.031).② There was a negative correlation between startle magnitude and age (r=-0.29,P＜0.01),however,no obvious correlations between age and PSC-PPI or PSS-PPI as well as habituation were observed.③Bivariate analysis of variance showed that no interaction between gender and age was found to the indexes of startle reflex(F=0.71-1.36,all P＞0.05).Conclusions There are differences for gender and age in the indexes of startle reflex.In detail,age chiefly influences startle magnitude,while gender mainly affects the prepulse inhibition.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Objective To evaluate the value of preoperative assessment on transcatheter aortic valve implantation(TAVI) procedure with high-pitch dual-source computed tomography angiography (CTA).Methods Seventeen consecutive patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis underwent TAVI in our department from December 2012 to December 2013 were examined by 128-slice prospective ECG-triggered high-pitch spiral CTA and the clinical data were analyzed.Aortic annulus,sinus of Valsalva,sinotubular junction,ascending aorta and native leaflet to coronary ostium length were measured.Peripheral vascular access was evaluated.Then the patients were assessed on the suitability for TAVI procedure and prosthetic valve sizes.Results Mean diameter of the aortic annulus was (25.7 ± 2.0) mm,perimeter mean diameter was (26.4 ± 2.0) mm,area mean diameter was (25.4 ± 1.9) mm.Mean diameter of sinus of Valsalva was (34.0 ± 3.8) mm.Mean diameter of sinotubular junction was (30.5 ± 3.2) mm.Mean diameter of ascending aorta was(37.8 ± 2.8)mm.The length from native leaflet to left coronary ostium was (14.0 ± 2.0)mm,and the length from native leaflet to right coronary ostium was (15.9 ± 3.6)mm.Mean diameter of left iliac arteries was (7.5 ± 1.4) mm.Mean diameter of right iliac arteries was (7.4 ± 1.2) mm.Mean diameter of left femoral arteries was (7.4 ± 1.2) mm.Mean diameter of right femoral arteries was (7.3 ± 1.3) mm.One patient was considered ineligible for TAVI because of large aortic annulus diameter.Three patients died prior to TAVI.Two patients refused to undergo TAVI.Eleven patients underwent TAVI,26# prosthetic valve was implanted in 1 patient,29# prosthetic valve implanted in 6 patients,31 # prosthetic valve implanted in 4 patients.Prosthetic valve implantation was successful in 9 patients and only mild or trace perivalvular leakage was observed in these patients.Moderate perivalvular leakage were observed in 2 patients because of the location of implantation was too low,and perivalvular leakage was significantly reduced after re-implantation with same size prosthetic valve at a higher location.Conclusions CTA can be used to evaluate the aortic root anatomy and vascular access,and help to choose the right size of prosthetic valve.CTA has an important practical value in preoperative screening of TAVI procedure.