Nitrate is the main form of inorganic nitrogen that crop absorbs, and nitrate transporter 2 (NRT2) is a high affinity transporter using nitrate as a specific substrate. When the available nitrate is limited, the high affinity transport systems are activated and play an important role in the process of nitrate absorption and transport. Most NRT2 cannot transport nitrates alone and require the assistance of a helper protein belonging to nitrate assimilation related family (NAR2) to complete the absorption or transport of nitrates. Crop nitrogen utilization efficiency is affected by environmental conditions, and there are differences between varieties, so it is of great significance to develop varieties with high nitrogen utilization efficiency. Sorghum bicolor has high stress tolerance and is more efficient in soil nitrogen uptake and utilization. The S. bicolor genome database was scanned to systematically analyze the gene structure, chromosomal localization, physicochemical properties, secondary structure and transmembrane domain, signal peptide and subcellular localization, promoter region cis-acting elements, phylogenetic evolution, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) recognition and annotation, and selection pressure of the gene family members. Through bioinformatics analysis, 5 NRT2 gene members (designated as SbNRT2-1a, SbNRT2-1b, SbNRT2-2, SbNRT2-3, and SbNRT2-4) and 2 NAR2 gene members (designated as SbNRT3-1 and SbNRT3-2) were identified, the number of which was less than that of foxtail millet. SbNRT2/3 were distributed on 3 chromosomes, and could be divided into four subfamilies. The genetic structure of the same subfamilies was highly similar. The average value of SbNRT2/3 hydrophilicity was positive, indicating that they were all hydrophobic proteins, whereas α-helix and random coil accounted for more than 70% of the total secondary structure. Subcellular localization occurred on plasma membrane, where SbNRT2 proteins did not contain signal peptides, but SbNRT3 proteins contained signal peptides. Further analysis revealed that the number of transmembrane domains of the SbNRT2s family members was greater than 10, while that of the SbNRT3s were 2. There was a close collinearity between NRT2/3s of S. bicolor and Zea mays. Protein domains analysis showed the presence of MFS_1 and NAR2 protein domains, which supported executing high affinity nitrate transport. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that SbNRT2/3 were more closely related to those of Z. mays and Setaria italic. Analysis of gene promoter cis-acting elements indicated that the promoter region of SbNRT2/3 had several plant hormones and stress response elements, which might respond to growth and environmental cues. Gene expression heat map showed that SbNRT2-3 and SbNRT3-1 were induced by nitrate in the root and stem, respectively, and SbNRT2-4 and SbNRT2-3 were induced by low nitrogen in the root and stem. Non-synonymous SNP variants were found in SbNRT2-4 and SbNRT2-1a. Selection pressure analysis showed that the SbNRT2/3 were subject to purification and selection during evolution. The expression of SbNRT2/3 gene and the effect of aphid infection were consistent with the expression analysis results of genes in different tissues, and SbNRT2-1b and SbNRT3-1 were significantly expressed in the roots of aphid lines 5-27sug, and the expression levels of SbNRT2-3, SbNRT2-4 and SbNRT3-2 were significantly reduced in sorghum aphid infested leaves. Overall, genome-wide identification, expression and DNA variation analysis of NRT2/3 gene family of Sorghum bicolor provided a basis for elucidating the high efficiency of sorghum in nitrogen utilization.
Nitrate Transporters ; Nitrates/metabolism* ; Sorghum/metabolism* ; Anion Transport Proteins/metabolism* ; Phylogeny ; Protein Sorting Signals/genetics* ; Nitrogen/metabolism* ; DNA ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/metabolism*

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) and to get better understanding of IAS by literatures reviewing.Methods Nine cases of IAS who were diagnosed in the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army from 2001 to 2011 were analyzed.Results All patients had hypoglycemic syndrome and episodes of hypoglycemia during both postprandial and fasting states.Most cases (8/9) were accompanied with autoimmune diseases,including 6 cases of Graves' disease treated with methimazole.The biochemical data showed extremely elevated serum insulin level (9/9) during hypoglycemic episode.For most patients,the tests of insulin autoantibodies were positive (7/9) while results of imaging examinations were negative(8/9).After removal of possible offending medications and with diet treatment,hypoglycemic episodes were ameliorated in 5 of 9 cases.For severe patients,acarbose (1/9) and prednisone (3/9)therapy were useful.During the period of follow-up,four cases experienced no episode of hypoglycemia and 3 cases with markedly reduced episodes.Conclusions IAS is characterized by hypoglycemic episodes,elevated blood insulin levels,and positive insulin autoantibodies.It is strongly related with autoimmune disease and is able to be induced by methimazole.Most patients undergo remission after diet treatment,drug withdrawal,and oral prednisone.

Objective To study gender-related differences of clinical characteristics and vascular complications in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma(APA).Method Consecutive 315 patients with APA confirmed by pathological diagnosis were included and the clinical features and vascular complications were compared based on gender.Results (1) Of the 315 patients with APA,female accounted for 52.7％ (166/315).Male patients with APA presented a higher BMI,compared with females [(25.4± 2.9) vs (24.1 ± 3.2) kg/m2,P＜0.01],and the history of smoking and drinking was more common in male patients.No significant difference was found in regard to the age,duration,hypokalemia,tumor size,and family history of hypertension between two groups (P＞0.05).(2) No significant difference was found in the prevalence of hypertension,duration of hypertension,blood pressure,and antihypertensive medieation between two groups.However,the patients with grade 3 hypertension tended to be more prevalent in males(P =0.08).(3) Serum aldosterone concentrations were similar in two groups,but 24 h urinary aldosterone showed an increased trend in male group (P =0.07).(4) The overall prevalences of cardiovascular (51.0％ vs 36.1％) and cerebrovascular (9.4％ vs 3.0％) complications were significantly higher in male group (P ＜ 0.05).Further analysis of cardiac events revealed significantly higher rates of left ventricular hypertrophy (23.5％ vs 13.9％) and arrhythmia (21.5％ vs 10.8％) in males (P＜0.05).However,no significant difference in the prevalence between two groups was found in regard to cerebral hemorrhage,infarction,and chronic renal insufficiency.(5) The fall of blood pressure and recovery from hypokalemia were comparable between males and females in two weeks after sugery.However,in the patients with persistent hypertension,the number of antihypertensive drugs used in males was greater than that in females and more male patients needed ≥ 2 types of antihypertensive drugs.Conclusion There were significant gender-related differences with regard to clinical features and vascular complications in patients with APA.

A 31-year-old male normotensive patient with aldosterone-producmg adenoma complained of thirst,polydipsia,polyuria,and periodical paraplegia.The diagnosis is raised by signs of hypokalemia.Despite the lack of hypertension,primary aldosteronism was confirmed by persistent hypokalemia,increased urinary potassium,increased urinary and plasma aldosterone levels and suppressed plasma rennin activity (PRA).The blood pressure profile was studied by ambulatory monitoring,and the mean blood pressure of 24h was normal and the circadian rhythm remained normal. Surgical removal of the histologically typical aldosterone-producing adenomas normalized the kalemia.The patient had a marked fall in blood pressure with mean values of 21/17 mm Hg ( diurnal and nocturnal blood pressure were 19/17 and 22/17 mm Hg respectively)and recovery of normal urinary and plasma aldosterone levels and PRA 6 weeks after surgery.This suggests that excess serum aldosterone induced relative hypertension in those patients whose blood pressure was spontaneously very low.Our observations call for primary hyperaldosteronism assay in patients with hypokalemia and renal potassium leakage.

Objective To assess the pituitary function in patients with pituitary adenoma after transsphenoidal ectomy of hypophysoma.Methods Data of 106 patients with pituitary adenoma who were admitted in endocrine department and underwent the operation in PLA General Hospital from January 1993 to January 2010 were collected.Assessments of pituitary function were made before and after surgery.Results Total 23.6％ and 16.0％ of 106 patients underwent pituitary function evaluation by 1 week and 3 months after surgery,respectively.23.5％ and 5.9％ of patients with hyopituitarism before surgery underwent pituitary function evaluation by 1 week and 3 months after surgery respectively,and the respective figures in those without hypopituitarism were 23.6％ and 20.8％.The incidences of new onset of hypopituitarism among 106 patients that underwent surgical procedure were 48.0％ within 1 week after surgery and 35.3％ by 3 months after surgery.Conclusion The rate of re-evaluation of pituitary function by 1 week and 3 months after pituitary surgery was low.Probably,many patients were missed the diagnosis of hypopituitarism after pituitary surgery.

Objective To better understand the clinical management of tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) by analyzing the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, postoperative biochemical changes, and clinical status in 12 cases of TIO. Methods Twelve cases of TIO hospitalized from 2004 to April 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. All cases were diagnosed based on their clinical manifestation, hypophosphatemia, and image study including technetium-99m octreotide scintigraphy (99mTc-Oct). Resuits There were 7 males and 5 females with mean age of (41.8±9.6) years (20 to 56 years). The course of disease was from 2 to 14 years ( median course 4.0 years). They all presented with bone pain, gait disturbance, muscle pain, and muscle weakness. Serum phosphate( Pi)levels were low in 12 cases with a range from 0.30 to 0.56 mmol/L. 99mTc-Oct was performed in 9 cases and it showed that the lesions were located in head of femur, fibula, retrocalcaneal area, foot, humerus,metacarpal, posterior chest wall or near nasal bone (apex partis petrosae ossis temporalis). Subcutaneous soft tissue mass was found in another 3 cases at loin, thigh, and foot by physical examination. The tumors were confirmed by CT, MRI or ultrasonography. Twelve patients underwent operation to remove the tumors and histopathology showed hemangioendothelioma or fibrous angioma (6 cases), giant cell tumor or fibroma of tendon sheath(4 cases), liposarcoma(1case), and phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor(1case). Serum Pi levels returned to normal in 10 patients after resection of tumor. During 2 to 64 months follow up, symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness were improved obviously. Conclusions Patients with hypophosphatemic osteomalacia should be thoroughly investigated for TIO. 99mTc-Oct and other imaging examinations can effectively locate the tumors. Once the hidden tumor is found and excised, the patient will recover and enjoy normal life with normalized Pi concentrations and marked improvement of symptoms.

All three cases of recurrent lymphocytic hypophysitis were female, one of them being 70-yearold postmenopausal woman.Adenohypophysis, cavernous sinus, and optic chiasm were involved in case 1,hypothalamus and neurohypophysis were invaded in case 2, and adenohypophysis and hypophyseal stalk were involved in case 3.Relapse occured 4 months after operation in case 1, then high dosage methylprednisolone pulse therapy (HDMPT) brought about a remission lasting for 14 months before second relapse set in.Relapse occurred in case 2 at 16 months after prednisone treatment was discontinued, and case 3 recurred during the period of dose reduction.All three patients were then treated with glucocorticoid plus azathioprine for 16 weeks, and good response was seen in 3 cases.During follow-up, the symptoms were relieved and significant reduction of lesion was revealed by MRI in all thee patients, and the pituitary function was resumed in case1and 3.

Objective To study the clinical features of patients with ACTH-independent bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia(AIMAH).Methods Eighteen cases with AIMAH diagnosed in Chinese PLA General Hospital from 1998 to 2010 were analyzed retrospectively.Results ( 1 ) AIMAH was equally distributed between genders,mean age at diagnosis was ( 51.4 ± 10.7 ) years,and average course was ( 9.9:t:2.7 ) years.( 2 )Most patients visited hospital because of adrenal incidentaloma; hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance/diabetes mellitius were the most common clinical presentations; typical signs of Cushing′s syndrome (CS) such as moon face and central obesity were less frequent.( 3 ) All cases′ laboratory findings met the diagnostic criteria of ACTH-independent CS,some cases with the features of subclinical CS.24 h dynamic plasma ACTH and cortisol monitoring had the advantage of revealing the features of subclinical CS for some AIMAH cases; there was remarkable elevation of plasma cortisol after exogenous ACTH stimulation in AIMAH patients.(4) Bilateral adrenal macronodular changes could be visualized on CT scan.( 5 ) Pathology identified bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia.( 6 ) Bilateral adrenalectomy was the most useful treatment.Conclusions AIMAH is an infrequent cause of CS,and some patients present subclinical CS.Its marked clinical feature is ACTH-independent bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia.

Objective To study clinical and immunological features of renal tubular acidosis (RTA) patients complicated with autoimmunity disease. Methods Data of 60 patients of RTA complicated with autoimmune disease and 40 without it during 1999 and 2009 were reviewed, including clinical features,immunological examinations and renal tubular function. Results Among 60 patients of RTA, 59 were type Ⅰ, one type Ⅱ, and 55 complicated with Sjogen's syndrome (92%), one with systemic lupus erythematosus, nine with autoimmune thyroid disease, and one with rheumatoid arthritis. Flaccid paralysis was manifested in 50 (83%) RTA patients complicated with autoimmune disease, polyuria in 28 (47%),polydipsia in 28 (47%) , bone disorder in 24 (40%) and arthralgia in 28 (47%) cases, but of those without autoimmune disease, bone disease only in eight (20%) and arthralgia in nine (22%) cases, with statistically significant difference ( P ＜0. 01 ). Serum level of parathyroid hormone increased noticeably, with prevalence of positive antinuclear antibody, anti-SSA antibody and anti-SSB antibody of 88 % (49/56),84% (47/56) and 43% (24/56), respectively in RTA patients with autoimmune disease, all significantly higher than those in the patients without it ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusions Sjogen' s syndrome is the most common and prevalence of bone disorder and arthralgia are significantly higher in patients of RTA complicated with autoimmune disease, which should be examined as early as possible for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Objective To study the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) and serum level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in patients with intracranial germinoma and to evaluate its diagnostic and therapeutic value. Methods Thirty-one patients with intracranial germinoma receiving estimation of HCG in CSF and serum in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed in terms of HCG level, its influencing factors and the relationship of HCG with clinical features. Results HCG levels in CSF of the 31 cases ranged from 0. 17 IU/L to 5316. 98 IU/L with a median value of 3.44 IU/L. The sensitivity of diagnosis increased from 80. 6% to 90. 3%, when the cut point of HCG in CSF changed from 0. 60 IU/L to 0. 50 IU/L. The sensitivity increased from 83.9% to 93.5% when the cut point of the ratio of CSF/serum HCG decreased from 1.8 to 1.7. HCG level of germinoma located in pineal region was higher than that in basal ganglia region, while it is lowest in sellar region. The ratio of CSF/serum HCG in different parts showed no difference. Multiple risk factors analysis revealed that serum HCG (r =0. 886,P =0. 0001 ) and tumor size ( r=0.748, P=0.0211 ) were positively correlated with the HCG level in CSF, while course of the disease,age and gender were not correlated. After radiation therapy, HCG in CSF and serum decreased dramatically as compared with those before radiation. Conclusions The HCG level and its dynamic change were sensitive marker of intracranial germinomas. Based on our analysis, HCG in CSF over 0. 50 IU/L and the its ratio in CSF/serum over 1.7 were highly indicative of the possibility of intracranial germinomas.