Movement efficiency and behavior of termites in tunnels with changing width

Subterranean termites build extensive underground galleries that consist of elaborate tunnels and channels to forage for food resources. The changes in tunnel width along the length of the tunnel are related to both biotic (e.g., termite activity) and abiotic factors (e.g., soil density). Termites transport food through the tunnels from food sources to their nest. Thus, understanding the relationship between traveling behavior in the tunnels and changing width is important to comprehend the stability of the termite ecosystem. In the present study, we explored the traveling behavior of termites in terms of movement efficiency, where the movement efficiency was defined as the time (τ) needed for a termite to pass through a tunnel. To do so, we designed artificial tunnels with linearly changing width in a two-dimensional arena. The tunnel widths, W ₁ (for the entrance) and W ₂ (for the exit), were 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm. We systematically observed the traveling behavior of the termites Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis Morimoto (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in the artificial tunnels and measured τ. The value of τ increased with the increase of W ₂, regardless of W ₁. τ was longer in the case of W ₁ < W ₂ than that of W ₁ > W ₂. The experimental results can be explained by behavioral differences observed in each case. The implications of the findings are briefly discussed in relation to termite foraging efficiency and the development of individual-based models for the construction of termite tunnels.     

Measurement of the time required for termites to pass each other in tunnels of different curvatures

Subterranean termites construct complex tunnel networks for foraging. During travel in the tunnels, termites often encounter one another when passing in opposite directions. Such encounters are likely to affect the “movement efficiency,” which is the time required for a termite to travel a certain distance in a tunnel. In this study, we explored how individual–individual encounters affect movement efficiency in tunnels by measuring the time (τ) taken by two termites to pass one another in tunnels of different curvatures. Artificial tunnels of 5 cm in length and variable widths (W) of 2, 3, or 4 mm were made. Tunnel distance (D) was 2, 3, 4, or 5 cm. When D had a higher value, curvature was lower. When W = 2, τ was significantly shorter in the tunnel with D = 5 than in tunnels of D = 2, 3, or 4, whereas τ was statistically the same for D = 2, 3 and 4. When W = 3, τ was shorter in the tunnel with D = 5 than for D = 3 and 4, while τ was longer in the tunnel with D = 2 than for D = 3 and 4. When W = 4, τ was longer in the tunnels with D = 2 and 3 than for D = 4 and 5. Based on these observations, 3 types of termite behavior were identified: biased walking, backward walking, and zigzag walking. We considered these results in relation to foraging efficiency.     

Anthropometric dimensions provide reliable estimates of abdominal adiposity: A validation study

Abdominal fat accumulation is a major risk factor for cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality. The purpose of the study is to assess the possibility of developing accurate estimation equations based on body measurements to determine total abdominal (TFA), subcutaneous (SFA) and visceral fat area (VFA). Hungarian volunteers (n = 198) aged between 20 and 81 years were enrolled in the study, which was conducted between July and November 2014. All persons underwent anthropometric measurements and computer tomographic (CT) scanning. Sex-specific multiple linear regression analyses were conducted in a subgroup of 98 participants to generate estimation models, then Bland–Altman's analyses were applied in the cross-validation group to compare their predictive efficiency. The variables best predicting VFA were hip circumference, calf circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) for males (R² = 0.713; SEE = 5602.1 mm²) and sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), WHR, thigh circumference and triceps skinfold for females (R² = 0.845; SEE = 3835.6 mm²). The SFA prediction equation included SAD, thigh circumference and abdominal skinfold for males (R² = 0.848; SEE = 4124.1 mm²), body mass index and thigh circumference for females (R² = 0.861; SEE = 5049.7 mm²). Prediction accuracy was the highest in the case of TFA: hip circumference and WHR for males (R² = 0.910; SEE = 5637.2 mm²), SAD, thigh circumference and abdominal skinfold for females (R² = 0.915; SEE = 6197.5 mm²) were used in the equations. The results suggested that deviations in the predictions were independent of the amount of adipose tissue. Estimation of abdominal fat depots based on anthropometric traits could provide a cheap, reliable method in epidemiologic research and public health screening to evaluate the risk of cardiometabolic events.     

Bifidobacterium primatium sp. nov., Bifidobacterium scaligerum sp. nov., Bifidobacterium felsineum sp. nov. and Bifidobacterium simiarum sp. nov.: Four novel taxa isolated from the faeces of the cotton top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) and the emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator)

Four novel Gram-stain-positive, non spore forming and fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase-positive strains were isolated from the faeces of a cotton top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) and an emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA revealed that bifidobacterial strains TRE 1^T exhibit close phylogenetic relatedness to Bifidobacterium catulorum DSM 103154 (96.0%) and Bifidobacterium tissieri DSM 100201 (96.0%); TRE D^T and TRE H^T were closely related to Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum ATCC 15708^T with similarity values of 97.4% and 97.5%, respectively; TRI 7^T was closely related to Bifidobacterium tissieri DSM 100201 (96.0%). The Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) and in silico DDH (isDDH) analysis with closest neighbour supported an independent phylogenetic position of all strains with values ranged from 74 to 85% for ANI and from 24 to 28% for isDDH. DNA base composition of the four strains was in the range of 58.3–63.5 mol% G + C. Based on the phylogenetic, genotypic and phenotypic data, the strains TRE 1^T, TRE D^T, TRE H^T and TRI 7^T clearly represent four novel taxa within the genus Bifidobacterium for which the names Bifidobacterium primatium sp. nov. (type strain TRE 1^T = DSM 100687^T = JCM 30945^T), Bifidobacterium scaligerum sp. nov. (type strain TRE D^T = DSM 103140^T = JCM 31792^T), Bifidobacterium felsineum sp. nov. (type strain TRE H^T = DSM 103139^T = JCM 31789^T) and Bifidobacterium simiarum sp. nov. (type strain TRI 7^T = DSM 103153^T = JCM 31793) are proposed.     

Analysis of the responses of termites to tunnel irregularity

Subterranean termites build extensive underground galleries consisting of elaborate tunnels and channels to forage food resources. Diverse soil conditions surrounding the tunnels, such as soil density, may cause irregularities in the size and shape of the tunnels, and termites are likely to encounter a number of tunnel irregularities while traveling. Considering the tunnel length, how termites respond to an irregularity is likely to affect their movement efficiency, and this in turn is directly correlated to their foraging efficiency. To understand the response of termites, we designed an artificial linear tunnel with rectangular irregularities in a 2-D arena. The tunnel widths, W, were 3 and 4?mm. The rectangular irregularities were 2?mm in width and of varying heights H (2, 1, 0, ?1, and ?2?mm). The positive and negative sign of H represents a convex and concave structure, respectively. We systematically observed the movement of termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, at the irregularity and quantified the time needed, τ, for a termite to pass the irregularity. The time τ was shorter for (W, H)?=?(3, 0) and (3, ?1) than for (W, H)?=?(3, 1), (3, 2), and (3, ?2). The time τ was longer for (W, H)?=?(4, ?1), and (4, ?2), than for (W, H)?=?(4, 0), (4, 1) and (4, 2). Four types of behaviors explained the response to the irregularity. The implications of these findings are briefly discussed in relation to termite foraging efficiency.     

Effect of stand age on soil microbial community structure in wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) fields

Soil physicochemical properties and microbes are essential in terrestrial ecosystems through their role in cycling mineral compounds and decomposing organic matter. This study examined the effect of stand age on soil physicochemical properties and microbial community structure in wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) fields, in order to reveal the mechanism of soil degradation due to long-term stand of L. barbarum. The objective of the study was achieved by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) biomarker analysis of soil samples from L. barbarum fields in Zhongning County, Ningxia Province—the origin of L. barbarum. Five stand ages of L. barbarum were selected, < 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 years (three plots each). The results showed that soil bulk density increased slightly with increasing stand age, while no clear trend was observed in soil pH or total salinity. As the stand age increased, soil organic matter and nutrients first increased before decreasing, with the highest levels being found in year 9. There was an amazing variety of PLFA biomarkers in soil samples at different stand ages. The average concentrations of total, bacterial, fungal, and actinomycete PLFAs in the surface soil initially decreased and then increased, before decreasing with the stand age in summer. The PLFA concentrations of major microbial groups were highest in year 9, with the total PLFA concentrations being 32.97% and 10.67% higher than those in years < 1 and 12, respectively. Higher microbial PLFA concentrations were detected in summer relative to autumn and in the surface relative to the subsurface soil. The highest ratios of Gram-positive to Gram-negative bacterial (G^?/G⁺) and fungal to bacterial (F/B) PLFAs were obtained in year 6, on average 76.09% higher than those at the other four stand ages. The soil environment was most stable in year 6, with no differences between other stand ages. Therefore, soil microbial community structure was strongly influenced by the stand age in year 6 only. The effect of stand age on soil G^?/G⁺ and microbial community structure varied with season and depth; there was little effect for F/B in the 20–40 cm soil layer. Principal component analysis revealed no correlations between microbial PLFA concentrations and total salinity in the soil; negative correlations were noted between soil pH and F/B in summer (P < 0.01), as well as between soil pH and fungal PLFA in autumn (P < 0.05). Moreover, microbial PLFA concentrations were correlated with soil organic matter (mean R = 0.7725), total nitrogen (mean R = 0.8296), total phosphorus (mean R = 0.8175), available nitrogen (mean R = 0.7458), and available phosphorus (mean R = 0.7795) (P < 0.01). On the whole, the soil ecosystem was most stable in year 6, while soil organic matter, nutrients, and microbial PLFA concentrations were maximal in year 9; thereafter, soil fertility indices and microbial concentrations decreased and soil quality declined gradually as the stand age increased. Therefore, farmers should reduce the application rate of fertilizers, especially compound or mixed fertilizers, in L. barbarum fields; organic or bacterial manure can be applied increasingly to improve the soil environment and prolong the economic life of L. barbarum.     

Factors influencing diurnal variation in height among adults

This study evaluates height loss during the day in light of variables assessable through participant self-report. Participants were 19 female and 15 male staff and students who met with us twice with a mean interval between measurement sessions of 6.96 h (SD = 0.86). Hypotheses were evaluated using two-stage least squares regression analysis (SYSTAT 10). Males and females lost similar amounts of height between sessions $(\text{male},\overline{x}=6.9\text{mm};\text{female},\overline{x}=7.4\text{mm})$. Among factors considered to impact overall height loss, sleep duration (Adj. R² = 0.181, p = 0.022) and height (Adj. R² = 0.121, p = 0.048) were useful in univariate analyses, though they were not significant in any models that included variables other than sex. Judging from log-transformed BMI variation, heavier males and females lost more height (F_{(2, 31)} = 4.59, Adj. R² = 0.179, p = 0.018). Among factors anticipated to reduce height loss by acting prior to morning measurements, only time spent walking was significantly associated (β = 2.6 ± 0.8 mm, t = 3.16, p = 0.004) when included as a predictor along with sex (p = 0.17) and log-BMI (p = 0.003). This model explained about 38% of height loss variance. None of the factors considered as potentially acting between measurement sessions showed statistically significant influences when included in the model just described, though predictor coefficients were in the anticipated direction. Results suggest that self-reported activities may be an important supplement to anthropometric studies, both for planning and later evaluation, particularly in large studies.     

Directional selection by termites at a branching node created by a ballpoint pen

Subterranean termites excavate complex underground tunnels for foraging. Most tunnels comprise primary and secondary tunnels. Tunnels originating from the nest are called primary and those branching from the primary tunnels are named secondary tunnels; tertiary and quaternary tunnels are rarely observed. During foraging, termites may thus encounter a considerable number of tunnel-branching nodes. Directional selection at such a node is likely correlated to tunnel-growth activity because tunnels containing more termites have a higher probability of growth. In this study, we investigated how termites select the direction of movement at an artificially-designed branching node, by making chemical trails on filter paper, drawing lines using a ballpoint pen which contained the chemical substance that induces the termite to follow trails. The trails consisted of two lines: straight and branching. The branching line was drawn from the center of the straight line at an angle θ (10°, 20°,…, 90°). We then calculated the ratio of the directional selection as r = N_s/N_b, where N_s and N_b represent the number of straight and branching tunnels selected, respectively. The values of r were statistically classified into three groups based on the angle of the branching trail, as follows: 10° ≤ θ ≤ 20°, 30° ≤ θ ≤ 60°, and 70° ≤ θ ≤ 90°. Our paper briefly discusses the underlying mechanisms of the experimental results.     

Relative growth rate,biomass partitioning and nutrient allocation in seedlings of two threatened trees grown under different light conditions

The present study investigates the variation in the relative growth, biomass and nutrient allocation in two threatened tree species viz. Magnolia punduana Hook.f. & Th. and Elaeocarpus prunifolius Wall. ex Müll. Berol. grown under three different levels of irradiance. The irradiance ranged between 1 and 12 mol m^?2 d^?1. Results showed that the highest relative growth rate (RGR) was achieved under the intermediate light treatment for both the species (mean: 0.005 mg mg^?1 d^?1). The growth response coefficient (GRC) model revealed that net assimilation rate (NAR) was the factor driving the RGR in both species. A significant positive correlation was found between NAR and RGR (R² = 0.33, p = 0.000) whereas specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf mass fraction (LMF) was negatively correlated to RGR. Overall, multiple regression of the studied species based on the independent variables viz. NAR, SLA, and LMF showed a significant relation with RGR (F(3,50,53 = 13.001, p = 0.000, R² = 0.43). The biomass distribution in the studied species is in agreement with the “balanced-growth hypothesis” where high irradiance increased allocation to below ground biomass fraction and decreased irradiance increased allocation to the above ground fraction. The highest nitrogen concentration in leaves was observed under the intermediate light treatment. Overall seedlings growth under intermediate light had a higher mean RGR indicating the species' preference for partial light conditions. Long-term experiments under varied light conditions as in the present study would provide useful insight into plant growth strategies in varied environmental conditions.     

Synthesis and evaluation of the inhibitory activity of the four stereoisomers of the potent and selective human γ-glutamyl transpeptidase inhibitor GGsTop

2-Amino-4-{[3-(carboxymethyl)phenoxy](methoxy)phosphoryl}butanoic acid (GGsTop) is a potent, highly selective, nontoxic, and irreversible inhibitor of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). GGsTop has been widely used in academic and medicinal research, and also as an active ingredient (Nahlsgen) in commercial anti-aging cosmetics. GGsTop consists of four stereoisomers due to the presence of two stereogenic centers, i.e., the α-carbon atom of the glutamate mimic (l/d) and the phosphorus atom (R_P/S_P). In this study, each stereoisomer of GGsTop was synthesized stereoselectively and their inhibitory activity against human GGT was evaluated. The l- and d-configurations of each stereoisomer were determined by a combination of a chiral pool synthesis and chiral HPLC analysis. The synthesis of the four stereoisomers of GGsTop used chiral synthetic precursors that were separated by chiral HPLC on a preparative scale. With respect to the configuration of the α-carbon atom of the glutamate mimic, the l-isomer (k_on = 174 M^?1 s^?1) was ca. 8-fold more potent than the d-isomer (k_on = 21.5 M^?1 s^?1). In contrast, the configuration of the phosphorus atom is critical for GGT inhibitory activity. Based on a molecular modeling approach, the absolute configuration of the phosphorus atom of the active GGsTop isomers was postulated to be S_P. The S_P-isomers inhibited human GGT (k_on = 21.5–174 M^?1 s^?1), while the R_P-isomers were inactive even at concentrations of 0.1 mM.     

A Long Noncoding RNA Signature That Predicts Pathological Complete Remission Rate Sensitively in Neoadjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND: Mounting evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely related to pathological complete response (pCR) in neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Here, we construct lncRNA associated models to predict pCR rate. METHODS: LncRNA expression profiles of breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus by repurposing existing microarray data. The prediction model was firstly built by analyzing the correlation between pCR and lncRNA expression in the discovery dataset GSE 25066 (n = 488). Another three independent datasets, GSE20194 (n = 278), GSE20271 (n = 178), and GSE22093 (n = 97), were integrated as the validation cohort to assess the prediction efficiency. RESULTS: A novel lncRNA signature (LRS) consisting of 36 lncRNAs was identified. Based on this LRS, patients with NAC treatment were divided into two groups: LRS-high group and LRS-low group, with positive correlation of pCR rate in the discovery dataset. In the validation cohort, univariate and multivariate analyses both demonstrated that high LRS was associated with higher pCR rate. Subgroup analysis confirmed that this model performed well in luminal B [odds ratio (OR) = 5.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.7-10.8; P = 1.47e-06], HER2-enriched (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.1-5.7; P = .029), and basal-like (OR = 5.5; 95% CI = 2.3-16.2; P = 5.32e-04) subtypes. Compared with other preexisting prediction models, LRS demonstrated better performance with higher area under the curve. Functional annotation analysis suggested that lncRNAs in this signature were mainly involved in cancer proliferation process. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that our lncRNA signature was sensitive to predict pCR rate in the neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer, which deserves further evaluation.     

Synthesis and QSAR study of novel α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone derivatives as antifungal agents

Thirty-six new α-benzylidene-γ-lactone compounds based α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone substructure were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic analysis. All compounds were evaluated for antifungal activities in vitro against six plant pathogenic fungi and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) against Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum lagenarium were investigated. Compounds 5c-3 and 5c-5 with the halogen atom exhibited excellent fungicidal activity against B. cinerea (IC₅₀ = 22.91, 18.89 μM). The structure-activity relationships (SARs) analysis indicated that the derivatives with electron-withdrawing substituents at the meta- or para-positions improves the activity. Via the heuristic method, the generated quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model (R² = 0.961) revealed a strong correlation of antifungal activity against B. cinerea with molecular structures of these compounds. Meanwhile, the cytotoxicity of 20 representative derivatives was tested in the human tumor cells line (HepG2) and the hepatic L02 cells line, the result indicated that the synthesized compounds showed significant inhibitory activity and limited selectivity. Compound 5c-5 has the highest fungicidal activity with IC₅₀ = 18.89 μM (against B. cinerea.) but low cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ = 35.4 μM (against HepG2 cell line) and IC₅₀ = 68.8 μM (against Hepatic L02 cell line). These encouraging results can be providing an alternative, promising use of α-benzylidene-γ-lactone through the design and exploration of eco-friendly fungicides with low toxicity and high efficiency.     

Early life conditions,reproductive and sexuality-related life history outcomes among human males: A systematic review and meta-analysis

In order to investigate the association between early life conditions and reproductive and sexuality-related life history outcomes among men, we conducted a meta-analysis that compiled the results of 198 articles. A total of 331 effect sizes drawn from 573 samples were included. The meta-analysis revealed that low family socioeconomic status was associated with early sexual debut (r = 0.07), early first birth (r = 0.14), and early marriage (r = 0.03). There was no significant association between family socioeconomic status and pubertal timing or number of sexual partners. Parental absence was associated with early sexual debut (r = ? 0.12), greater number of sexual partners (r = ? 0.19), early first birth (r = ? 0.14), and early marriage (r = ? 0.13). There was no significant association between parental absence and pubertal timing. Small body size before puberty was associated with delayed pubertal timing (r = ? 0.10). There was no significant association between adult body size and number of offspring, and between body size at birth and pubertal timing. Small adult body size, greater number of siblings, and older parents were associated with non-heterosexual orientation (rs = 0.12, 0.03, and 0.03 respectively). Factors such as sampling procedure, data collection method, and age cut-off used to measure family structure change influenced the association between some predictors (e.g., family socioeconomic status) and outcomes (e.g., first birth). The findings are discussed in relation to the utility of life history theory for understanding human male reproductive and sexuality-related outcomes.     

Genetic diversity and population structure of a protected species: Polygala tenuifolia Willd

Polygala tenuifolia Willd. is an important protected species used in traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were employed to characterize the genetic diversity in wild and cultivated P. tenuifolia populations. Twelve primer combinations of AFLP produced 310 unambiguous and repetitious bands. Among these bands, 261 (84.2%) were polymorphic. The genetic diversity was high at the species level: percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) = 84.2%, Nei's gene diversity (h) = 0.3296 and Shannon's information index (I) = 0.4822. Between the two populations, the genetic differentiation of 0.1250 was low and the gene flow was relatively high, at 3.4989. The wild population (PPL = 81.9%, h = 0.3154, I = 0.4635) showed a higher genetic diversity level than the cultivated population (PPL = 63.9%, h = 0.2507, I = 0.3688). The results suggest that the major factors threatening the persistence of P. tenuifolia resources are ecological and human factors rather than genetic. These results will assist with the design of conservation and management programs, such as in natural habitat conservation, setting the excavation time interval for resource regeneration and the substitution of cultivated for wild plants.     

Effect of temperature and substrate moisture on group survival of Constrictotermes sp. (Isoptera: Termitidae) under laboratory conditions

Laboratory bioassays should be performed under appropriate conditions that minimize stress and promote greater longevity to tested animals. For social insects, for instance, the stress triggered by removal individuals from nests may result in changes in their survival and behavior. Here we analyzed the effects of variations of different combinations of temperature and substrate moisture (mL of water/g of nest substrate) on group survival of Constrictotermes sp. (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). In general, lower substrate moisture resulted in faster mortality. On the other hand, groups survival longer at a temperature of 26 °C and under higher substrate moisture (2–3 mL/7 g of nest substrate). The result of this study may contribute to the establishment of bioassay protocols performed with Constrictotermes sp. in the laboratory.     

Comparing the genetic diversity and structure of indigenous Korean and Chinese populations of Laodelphax striatellus Fallén using mitochondrial haplotypes

The small brown planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus Fallén, is a major migratory pest from China to Korea and transmits viral diseases of rice plants. In this study, we compared the genetic structures of overwintered indigenous Korean and Chinese populations. The eight Korean populations consisted of 33 haplotypes, and 16 of these were newly identified. The genetic diversity of the Korean population revealed high haplotype diversity (Hd) and low nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.86 ± 0.017 and 0.0024 ± 0.0001 on average, respectively. These values for the Chinese population were Hd = 0.92 ± 0.016 and π = 0.0026 ± 0.0002. Overall, genetic distances by pairwise F_ST were generally low, ranging from ? 0.022 to 0.089. Moreover, the Korean population revealed its ongoing population expansion by showing negative values in the neutrality test (Tajima's D = ? 1.4, Fu's Fs = ? 15.8) and a unimodal pattern in the mismatch distribution analysis. The genetic structures and population relationships were determined using 8 indigenous Korean and 30 Chinese populations by Bayesian approaches and population tree construction, respectively. The genetic structure was inferred as five (K = 5), and all indigenous Korean populations as well as 10 Chinese populations from the Shanghai city, Anhui, Henan, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shandong, and Zhejiang provinces were grouped into ‘G3’. These results provide partial support for unidirectional gene flow by migratory Chinese populations into Korea. Further analysis conducted using specimens from China and Korea collected in similar periods is necessary to clarify the migration population's origin and its effect on the genetic structure of the indigenous populations.     

Prognostic Value of Molecular Breast Cancer Subtypes based on Her2, ESR1, PGR and Ki67 mRNA-Expression in Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

INTRODUCTION: Gene expression analyses have identified similarities between bladder and breast cancer, where clinical risk stratification is based on Her2, ESR1, PGR and Ki67 expression. The aim of the study was to assess the respective marker gene expression in patients treated with radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and to evaluate the applicability of breast cancer subtypes for MIBC risk stratification. MATERIALS & METHODS: 102 patients treated with radical cystectomy for MIBC were assessed. Using routine FFPE tissue and an IVD validated kit, mRNA expression was measured by single step RT-qPCR. Partition test were employed to define cut-off values for high or low marker gene expression. Association of expression with outcome was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate cox regression analysis. Finally, we performed validation of our results in the MD-Anderson cohort (n = 57). RESULTS: Cancer specific survival (CSS) was impaired in patients with high gene expression of Her2 (P = 0.0009) and ESR1 (P = 0.04). In the multivariate regression model Her2 expression remained significant for the prediction of CSS (HR = 2.11, CI 1.11-4.21, P = 0.024). Furthermore, molecular stratification by breast cancer subgroups was significant (P = 0.023) for CSS prediction. Especially the differentiation between Her2-positive and Luminal A (HR = 4.41, CI 1.53-18.71, P = 0.004) and Luminal B (HR = 1.96, CI 0.99-4.08, P = 0.053) respectively was an independent prognostic parameter for CSS. External validation resulted in comparable risk stratification with differences in fractional subgroups distribution. CONCLUSION: Gene expression of Her2, ESR1, PGR, Ki67 and corresponding breast cancer subtypes allow a risk-stratification in MIBC, whereby Her2 overexpressing tumors reveal a particularly poor prognosis.     

SSR and morphological trait based population structure analysis of 130 diverse flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) accessions

A total of 130 flax accessions of diverse morphotypes and worldwide origin were assessed for genetic diversity and population structure using 11 morphological traits and microsatellite markers (15 gSSRs and 7 EST–SSRs). Analysis performed after classifying these accessions on the basis of plant height, branching pattern, seed size, Indian/foreign origin into six categories called sub-populations viz. fibre type exotic, fibre type indigenous, intermediate type exotic, intermediate type indigenous, linseed type exotic and linseed type indigenous. The study assessed different diversity indices, AMOVA, population structure and included a principal coordinate analysis based on different marker systems. The highest diversity was exhibited by gSSR markers (SI = 0.46; He = 0.31; P = 85.11). AMOVA based on all markers explained significant difference among fibre type, intermediate type and linseed type populations of flax. In terms of variation explained by different markers, EST-SSR markers (12%) better differentiated flax populations compared to morphological (9%) and gSSR (6%) markers at P = 0.01. The maximum Nei's unbiased genetic distance (D = 0.11) was observed between fibre type and linseed type exotic sub-populations based on EST-SSR markers. The combined structure analysis by using all markers grouped Indian fibre type accessions (63.4%) in a separate cluster along with the Indian intermediate type (48.7%), whereas Indian accessions (82.16%) of linseed type constituted an independent cluster. These findings were supported by the results of the principal coordinate analysis. Morphological markers employed in the study found complementary with microsatellite based markers in deciphering genetic diversity and population structure of the flax germplasm.     

Oral Mucosa Dose Parameters Predicting Grade ≥3 Acute Toxicity in Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Treated With Concurrent Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy: An Independent Validation Study Comparing Oral Cavity versus Mucosal Surface Contouring Techniques

PURPOSE: To determine whether volumes based on the contours of the mucosal surface instead of the oral cavity can be used to predict grade ≥3 acute oral mucosa toxicity in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC) treated with concurrent intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and chemotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A standardized method for the oral cavity (oral cavity contours, OCC) and a novel method for the mucosal surface (mucosal surface contours, MSC) were developed for the oral mucosa and prospectively applied to the radiation treatment plans of 92 patients treated with concurrent IMRT and chemotherapy for LANPC. Dose–volume histogram (DVH) data were extracted and then toxicity was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and logistic regression were carried out for both contouring methods. RESULTS: Grade ≥3 acute oral mucosa toxicity occurred to 20.7% (19/92) of patients in the study. A highly significant dose–volume relationship between oral mucosa irradiation and acute oral mucosa toxicity was supported by using both oral cavity and mucosal surface contouring techniques. In logistic regression, body weight loss was an independent factor related to grade ≥3 acute toxicity for OCC and MSC (P = .017 and 0.005, respectively), and the independent factor of dosimetric parameters for OCC and MSC were V30Gy (P = .003) and V50Gy (P = .003) respectively. In the receiver operating characteristics curve, the areas under V30Gy of the OCC curves was 0.753 (P = .001), while the areas under V50Gy of MSC curves was 0.714 (P = .004); the cut-off value was 73.155% (sensitivity, 0.842; specificity, 0.671) and 14.32% (sensitivity, 0.842; specificity, 0.575), respectively. CONCLUSION: DVH analysis of mucosal surface volumes accurately predicts grade ≥3 acute oral mucosa toxicity in patients with LANPC receiving concurrent IMRT and chemotherapy, but in clinical practice the MSC method appears no better than the OCC one.     

Contrast Enhancement on Cone-Beam Breast-CT for Discrimination of Breast Cancer Immunohistochemical Subtypes

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether contrast enhancement on cone-beam breast-CT (CBBCT) could aid in discrimination of breast cancer subtypes and receptor status. METHODS: This study included female patients age >40 years with malignant breast lesions identified on contrast-enhanced CBBCT. Contrast enhancement of malignant breast lesions was standardized to breast fat tissue contrast enhancement. All breast lesions were approved via image-guided biopsy or surgery. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted for expression of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) and Ki-67 index. Contrast enhancement of breast lesions was correlated with immunohistochemical breast cancer subtypes (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2 positive, triple negative), receptor status and Ki-67 expression. RESULTS: Highest contrast enhancement was seen for Luminal A lesions (93.6 HU) compared to Luminal B lesions (47.6 HU, P = .002), HER2 positive lesions (83.5 HU, P = .359) and triple negative lesions (45.3 HU, P = .005). Contrast enhancement of HER2 positive lesions was higher than Luminal B lesions (P = .044) and triple negative lesions (P = .039). No significant difference was evident between Luminal B and triple negative lesions (P = .439). Lesions with high Ki-67 index showed lower contrast enhancement than those with low Ki-67 index (P = .0043). ER, PR and HER2 positive lesions demonstrated higher contrast enhancement than their receptor negative counterparts, although differences did not reach statistical significance (P = .1714; P = .3603; P = .2166). CONCLUSIONS: Contrast enhancement of malignant breast lesions on CBBCT correlates with immunohistochemical subtype and proliferative potential. Thereby, CBBCT might aid in selecting individualized treatment strategies for breast cancer patients based on pre-operative imaging.