Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Relation to Esophageal and Gastric Cancers in the NIH-AARP Cohort

Introduction

Body mass index is known to be positively associated with an increased risk of adenocarcinomas of the esophagus, yet there is there limited evidence on whether physical activity or sedentary behavior affects risk of histology- and site-specific upper gastrointestinal cancers. We used the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study to assess these exposures in relation to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA), and gastric non-cardia adenocarcinoma (GNCA).

Methods

Self-administered questionnaires were used to elicit physical activity and sedentary behavior exposures at various age periods. Cohort members were followed via linkage to the US Postal Service National Change of Address database, the Social Security Administration Death Master File, and the National Death Index. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 percent confidence intervals (95%CI)

Results

During 4.8 million person years, there were a total of 215 incident ESCCs, 631 EAs, 453 GCAs, and 501 GNCAs for analysis. Strenuous physical activity in the last 12 months (HR_{>5 times/week vs. never}=0.58, 95%CI: 0.39, 0.88) and typical physical activity and sports during ages 15–18 years (p for trend=0.01) were each inversely associated with GNCA risk. Increased sedentary behavior was inversely associated with EA (HR_{5–6 hrs/day vs. <1 hr}=0.57, 95%CI: 0.36, 0.92). There was no evidence that BMI was a confounder or effect modifier of any relationship. After adjustment for multiple testing, none of these results were deemed to be statistically significant at p<0.05.

Conclusions

We find evidence for an inverse association between physical activity and GNCA risk. Associations between body mass index and adenocarcinomas of the esophagus do not appear to be related to physical activity and sedentary behavior.     

口腔癌中肿瘤出芽与VEGF—C表达及淋巴结转移的相关关系

目的：通过检测肿瘤出芽、淋巴结转移以及血管内皮生长因子-C（VEGF—C）表达水平,分析口腔癌中肿瘤出芽与VEGF—C表达及淋巴结转移的相关关系,为临床治疗提供理论参考。方法：选取2009年1月-2013年1月4年间在我院接受诊治且资料完整63例口腔癌患者作为研究对象,观察肿瘤出芽、VEGF-C表达和淋巴结转移情况,分析相互之间的相关关系。结果：本次纳入研究的患者中,检出肿瘤出芽患者40例,所占比例为63．5％,VEGF—C表达阳性患者39例,阳性率率为61．9％,淋巴结转移患者40例,转移率为63．5％;肿瘤出芽与淋巴结转移的符合率为84．1％,肿瘤出芽与VEGF—C的表达符合率为79．4％,VEGF-C的表达与淋巴结转移发生的符合率为76．2％。肿瘤出芽与淋巴结转移呈正相关,经Spear相关分析,r=0．932,P〈0．05,与VEGF-C的表达也呈正相关,经Spear相关分析,r=0．897,P〈0．05。结论：肿瘤出芽与VEGF—C的表达水平和淋巴结转移均呈正相关关系,可用于预测判断口腔癌淋巴结转移情况。     

基于CRISPR-Cas9技术构建橡胶树胶孢炭疽菌的基因敲除系统

[背景]CRISPR-Cas9基因组编辑技术为病原真菌的基因敲除、敲入及定点编辑提供了新的思路。[目的]建立适用于橡胶树胶孢炭疽菌的CRISPR-Cas9基因敲除系统。[方法]通过大肠杆菌原核表达系统合成含有细胞核定位信号的Cas9蛋白;以URA5为靶标基因,预测该基因中Cas9的切割位点,并在体外转录合成相应的SgRNA;体外构建Cas9-SgRNA复合体,并将该复合体转入橡胶树胶孢炭疽菌原生质体;通过表型筛选及测序鉴定,筛选URA5的敲除突变体菌株。[结果]体外表达的Cas9蛋白与SgRNA能够形成复合体,并在体外对目标基因URA5的DNA序列进行切割;Cas9-SgRNA复合体能够成功转入橡胶树胶孢炭疽菌原生质体,并完成对URA5的敲除;敲除突变株表现出尿嘧啶缺陷表现型。[结论]建立了适用于橡胶树胶孢炭疽菌的基因敲除系统。     

Molecular and morphological discrimination of Chrysanthemum indicum using allele-specific PCR and T-shaped trichome

Molecular Biology Reports - Chrysanthemum indicum L. is a traditional oriental medicinal herb prepared as a tea from flowers that have been used in China and South Korea since ancient times. It has...     

Susceptibility of three lepidopteran pests to five entomopathogenic nematodes and in vivo mass production of these nematodes

Abstract

An investigation was conducted in pots to access the susceptibility of three lepidopteran pests, namely, gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera, greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, and rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica, to two recently described species, Steinernema masoodi, S. seemae, and three indigenous S. carpocapsae, S. glaseri and S. thermophilum entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN). The suitability of these lepidopterans for the in vivo mass production of the nematodes was also estimated. Among the five species of EPN, S. masoodi, S. seemae and S. carpocapsae were found most pathogenic to C. cephalonica, bringing about mortality within 24 h, followed by H. armigera (36, 38 and 48 h, respectively) and G. mellonella (30, 36 and 48 h, respectively). The other species of EPN, viz., S. glaseri and S. thermophilum was the least pathogenic, which killed the larvae of C. cephalonica in 29 and 36 h, respectively, G. mellonella in 48 h, and H. armigera in 38 and 56 h, respectively. Galleria mellonella was found the most suitable host for the mass production of infective juveniles (IJs) of S. seemae, which yielded higher IJs than S. carpocapsae. Helicoverpa armigera was the next best suitable alternate host, which produced maximum IJs in case of S. seemae followed by S. masoodi, S. carpocapsae, S. glaseri and S. thermophilum. Rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica was the least suitable host. The susceptibility of H. armigera to five tested EPN species and susceptibility of G. mellonella and C. cephalonica to S. masoodi and S. seemae are new records.     

一株紫罗兰蓝色素产生菌的分离、鉴定及其活性产物的特性分析

[目的]调查秦巴山地区微生物物种的多样性,建立用于活性产物筛选的微生物代谢产物库和菌种资源库,通过数据库平台进行资源共享.[方法]采用不同的分离方法,分离存在于不同生境的微生物类群,通过形态、生理生化及分子生物手段鉴定菌种,发酵并通过甲醇提取代谢产物.[结果]从本地区土壤样本中分离获得一株产水溶性紫罗兰蓝色素的放线菌Str-4331,在高氏培养基上其气生菌丝为白色,产生水溶性紫罗兰色素,镜检观察孢子丝螺旋形,孢子椭圆形至长圆形,通过形态、生理生化特征初步确定为链霉菌.利用ClustalX对其16S rRNA进行序列比对,用Neighbor-Joining (NJ)构建系统发育树,并用Bootstraping法对其评价.实验结果表明,该菌基因序列与砖红链霉菌(Streptomyces lateritius) LMG 19372基因序列有99％的最高相似性.抑菌试验表明,活性产物具有较强的抗革兰氏阳性细菌活性.色素在水溶液中颜色随着pH的变化而变化.质谱分析显示3个主要化合物,分子量分别为557.68、588.43、485.18 kD,其中分子量为557.68 kD化合物与榴菌素B分子量一致.[结论]根据菌株的16S rRNA序列分析结果,结合菌株的培养特性和生理生化特性,将菌株Str-4331归属为砖红链霉菌(S.lateritius).该菌种首次在本地区分离到,具有进一步研究开发的价值.     

Zinc regulates the activity of kinase-phosphatase pair (BasPrkC/BasPrpC) in Bacillus anthracis

Bacillus anthracis Ser/Thr protein kinase PrkC (BasPrkC) is important for virulence of the bacterium within the host. Homologs of PrkC and its cognate phosphatase PrpC (BasPrpC) are the most conserved mediators of signaling events in diverse bacteria. BasPrkC homolog in Bacillus subtilis regulates critical processes like spore germination and BasPrpC modulates the activity of BasPrkC by dephosphorylation. So far, biochemical and genetic studies have provided important insights into the roles of BasPrkC and BasPrpC; however, regulation of their activities is not known. We studied the regulation of BasPrkC/BasPrpC pair and observed that Zn²⁺ metal ions can alter their activities. Zn²⁺ promotes BasPrkC kinase activity while inhibits the BasPrpC phosphatase activity. Concentration of Zn²⁺ in growing B. anthracis cells was found to vary with growth phase. Zn²⁺ was found to be lowest in log phase cells while it was highest in spores. This variation in Zn²⁺ concentration is significant for understanding the antagonistic activities of BasPrkC/BasPrpC pair. Our results also show that BasPrkC activity is modulated by temperature changes and kinase inhibitors. Additionally, we identified Elongation Factor Tu (BasEf-Tu) as a substrate of BasPrkC/BasPrpC pair and assessed the impact of their regulation on BasEf-Tu phosphorylation. Based on these results, we propose Zn²⁺ as an important regulator of BasPrkC/BasPrpC mediated phosphorylation cascades. Thus, this study reveals additional means by which BasPrkC can be activated leading to autophosphorylation and substrate phosphorylation.     

黄土高原沟壑区森林带不同植物群落土壤氮素含量及其转化

为了探讨在黄土高原退耕还林还草过程中植物群落对土壤氮素含量及形态分布的影响,本文选择退耕历史较长的黄土高原沟壑区——安塞县洞子沟流域8种典型植物群落下0-10cm和10-20cm的土壤为对象,测定了土壤中有机氮、矿化氮、微生物量氮、硝态氮和铵态氮的含量。结果表明,从草本群落到乔灌草群落,土壤各形态氮素含量均增加,整体表现为乔灌草群落>灌草群落>草本群落。然而人工刺槐林的土壤氮素水平远低于自然恢复的乔灌草群落,甚至低于灌草群落。0-10cm 土层各形态氮素均高于10-20cm 土层。硝态氮对植物群落的变化最为敏感,可作为土壤氮素水平的敏感指标。土壤有机质、pH、容重与氮素含量极显著相关,各种氮素间极显著正相关。各种氮素占总氮的比例对总氮的变化有着不同的响应,有机氮、可矿化氮和微生物量氮占总氮的比例相对稳定,硝态氮占总氮的比例随总氮含量的增加而增加,铵态氮占总氮的比例随总氮含量的增加而降低。     

黄土丘陵区不同植被土壤氮素转化微生物生理群特征及差异

采用最大或然计数法(most probable number, MPN)对黄土高原洞子沟流域不同植被恢复阶段土壤氮素微生物生理群(氨化细菌、亚硝化细菌、反硝化细菌)数量分布特征进行了测定,结果表明:1)土壤氨化细菌、亚硝化细菌和反硝化细菌数量随植被恢复而增加,三者最大值分别为最小值的74、4和31倍,其中氨化细菌和反硝化细菌的数量在铁杆蒿群落最低,辽东栎群落最高,亚硝化细菌数量在丁香群落最低,辽东栎群落最高;2)植被恢复对各氮素生理群影响不同,对氨化细菌影响最大,其次分别为反硝化细菌和亚硝化细菌;3)各氮素生理群数量差异较大,氨化细菌>反硝化细菌>亚硝化细菌。研究区氨化细菌占总数的75%-80%,反硝化细菌占20%-25%时,生态系统最为稳定;4)土壤理化性质与各功能菌关系紧密,其中,土壤容重和硝态氮含量与微生物数量相关性最大,全钾、矿化氮和微生物量氮也表现出很大的相关性。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区不同植被区土壤生态化学计量特征

以黄土丘陵沟壑区3个植被区(森林区、森林草原区、草原区)不同坡向土壤作为研究对象,对土壤有机C、全N、全P、全K含量及其化学计量特征进行了研究.结果表明,不同植被区、坡向和土层土壤养分含量及其化学计量特征均有明显不同.土壤有机C、全N变异性较大,全P、全K变异性较小.表层土壤养分含量显著高于底层土壤;同一土层之间有机C、全N含量变异性较大,全P、全K含量变异性较小.不同坡向之间养分含量不同,阴坡最大,阳坡最小.土壤养分含量受植被类型及植被盖度的影响,森林区＞草原区＞森林草原区.土壤C/N、C/P、C/K、N/P、N/K比都较稳定,C/N比的变化范围为5.65-12.57,平均值为9.44; C/P比的变化范围为3.62-17.32,平均值为8.15;C/K比的变化范围为0.10-0.55,平均值为0.26;N/P比的变化范围为0.43-1.38,平均值为0.86; N/K比的变化范围为0.01-0.05,平均值为0.03;P/K比值较稳定,为0.03.土壤有机C和全N极显著正相关,全N和全P极显著正相关.