Deleted in Liver Cancer 2 (DLC2) Was Dispensable for Development and Its Deficiency Did Not Aggravate Hepatocarcinogenesis

DLC2 (deleted in liver cancer 2), a Rho GTPase-activating protein, was previously shown to be underexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma and has tumor suppressor functions in cell culture models. We generated DLC2-deficient mice to investigate the tumor suppressor role of DLC2 in hepatocarcinogenesis and the function of DLC2 in vivo. In this study, we found that, unlike homologous DLC1, which is essential for embryonic development, DLC2 was dispensable for embryonic development and DLC2-deficient mice could survive to adulthood. We also did not observe a higher incidence of liver tumor formation or diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in DLC2-deficient mice. However, we observed that DLC2-deficient mice were smaller and had less adipose tissue than the wild type mice. These phenotypes were not due to reduction of cell size or defect in adipogenesis, as observed in the 190B RhoGAP-deficient mouse model. Together, these results suggest that deficiency in DLC2 alone does not enhance hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Supply- and Demand-Side Factors Influencing Utilization of Infant and Young Child Feeding Counselling Services in Viet Nam

Adequate utilization of services is critical to maximize the impact of counselling on infant and young child feeding (IYCF), but little is known about factors affecting utilization. Our study examined supply- and demand-side factors associated with the utilization of IYCF counselling services in Viet Nam. We used survey data from mothers with children <2y (n = 1,008) and health staff (n = 60) from the evaluation of a program that embedded IYCF counseling into the existing government health system. The frequency of never users, one-time users, repeat users, and achievers of the recommended minimum number of visits at health facilities were 45.1%, 13.0%, 28.4% and 13.5%, respectively. Poisson regression showed that demand-generation strategies, especially invitation cards, were the key factors determining one-time use (Prevalence ratio, PR 3.0, 95% CI: 2.2–4.2), repeated use (PR 3.2, 95% CI: 2.4–4.2), and achievement of minimum visits (PR 5.5, 95% CI: 3.6–8.4). Higher maternal education was associated with higher utilization both for one-time and repeated use. Being a farmer, belonging to an ethnic minority, and having a wasted child were associated with greater likelihood of achieving the minimum recommended number of visits, whereas child stunting or illness were not. Distance to health center was a barrier to repeated visits. Among supply-side factors, good counselling skills (PR: 1.3–1.8) was the most important factor associated with any service use, whereas longer employment duration and greater work pressure of health center staff were associated with lower utilization. Population attributable risk estimations showed that an additional 25% of the population would have achieved the minimum number of visits if exposed to three demand-generation strategies, and further increased to 49% if the health staff had good counseling skills and low work pressure. Our study provides evidence that demand-generation strategies are essential to increase utilization of facility-based IYCF counselling services in Viet Nam, and may be relevant for increasing and sustaining use of nutrition services in similar contexts.     

左炔诺酮宫内缓释系统联合米非司酮治疗子宫腺肌病的近远期疗效分析

目的：探讨左炔诺酮宫内缓释系统（LNG-IUS）联合米非司酮治疗子宫腺肌病的近远期疗效及安全性。方法：将94例子宫腺肌病患者随机分为观察组（47例）和对照组（47例）,观察组放置LNG-IUS,同时服用米非司酮,每月1次,疗程为6个月。对照组仅放置LNG-IUS。观察两组疗程结束后、放置LNG-IUS后1、3、5年的临床疗效及不良反应。结果：疗程结束后,观察组和对照组总有效率分别为91.5%,87.2%,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;随访期间,观察组的月经期、月经量、月经间期出血时间、不规则阴道流血或点滴出血的发生率均显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;观察组和对照组不良反应的发生率分别为21.3%和25.5%,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论：LNG-IUS联合米非司酮治疗子宫腺肌病的近远期疗效确切,可有效减少不规则阴道出血。     

甜菜碱醛脱氢酶在菠菜叶细胞中的定位

将菠菜叶片匀浆后．用差速离心和梯度率心分离叶绿体、过氧物酶体、微粒体等细胞器和１０００００×ｇ上清法部分。用酶活测定法测定各部分甜菜碱醛脱氢酶（ＢＡＤＨ）的活性;用免疫扩散法鉴定各组分的ＢＡＤＨ。除叶绿体外,过氧物酶体、微粒体．以及１０００００×ｇ上清液中也存在ＢＡＤＨ。     

Isolation and characterization of cytotoxic, aggregative Citrobacter freundii

Citrobacter freundii is an infrequent but established cause of diarrhea in humans. However, little is known of its genetic diversity and potential for virulence. We analyzed 26 isolates, including 12 from human diarrheal patients, 2 from human fecal samples of unknown diarrheal status, and 12 from animals, insects, and other sources. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis using XbaI allowed us to divide the 26 isolates into 20 pulse types, while multi-locus sequence typing using 7 housekeeping genes allowed us to divide the 26 isolates into 6 sequence types (STs) with the majority belonging to 4 STs. We analyzed adhesion and cytotoxicity to HEp-2 cells in these 26 strains. All were found to adhere to HEp-2 cells. One strain, CF74, which had been isolated from a goat, showed the strongest aggregative adhesion pattern. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released from HEp-2 cells was evaluated as a measure of cytotoxicity, averaging 7.46%. Strain CF74 induced the highest level of LDH, 24.3%, and caused >50% cell rounding, detachment, and death. We named strain CF74 "cytotoxic and aggregative C. freundii." Genome sequencing of CF74 revealed that it had acquired 7 genomic islands, including 2 fimbriae islands and a type VI secretion system island, all of which are potential virulence factors. Our results show that aggregative adherence and cytotoxicity play an important role in the pathogenesis of C. freundii.     

Retracted: Screening of candidate genes and fine mapping of drought tolerance quantitative trait loci on chromosome 4 in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under drought stress

Due to severe water resource shortage, genetics of and breeding for DT (drought tolerance) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) have become one of the hot research topics. Identification of grain yield QTLs (quantitative trait loci) directly related to the DT trait of rice can provide useful information for breeding new drought‐resistant and water‐saving rice varieties via marker‐assisted selection. A population of 105 advanced BILs (backcross introgression lines) derived from a cross between Zhenshan97B and IRAT109 in Zhenshan97B background were grown under drought stress in a field experiment and phenotypic traits were investigated. The results showed that in the target interval of RM273‐RM255 on chromosome 4, three main‐effect QTLs related to panicle length, panicle number, and spikelet number per panicle were identified (LOD [logarithm of the odds] > 2.0). The panicle length‐related QTL had two loci located in the neighboring intervals of RM17308‐RM17305 and RM17349‐RM17190, which explained 18.80% and 20.42%, respectively, of the phenotypic variation, while the panicle number‐related QTL was identified in the interval of RM1354‐RM17308, explaining 11.47% of the phenotypic variation. As far as the spikelet number per panicle‐related QTL was concerned, it was found to be located in the interval of RM17308‐RM17305, which explained 28.08% of the phenotypic variation. Using the online Plant‐GE query system, a total of 13 matched ESTs (expressed sequence tags) were found in the target region, and of the 13 ESTs, 12 had corresponding predicted genes. For instance, the two ESTs CB096766 and CA765747 were corresponded to the same predicted gene LOC_Os04g46370, while the other four ESTs, CA754286, CB000011, CX056247, and CX056240, were corresponded to the same predicted gene LOC_Os04g46390.     

Genotype and haplotype analysis of the AZGP1 gene in cattle

Zinc-a2-glycoprotien (AZGP1) involved in lipid metabolism and associated with adipose tissue atrophy in cachexia. And it also related to sperm motility and in turn fertilization. To ascertain whether there were mutations in the bovine AZGP1 gene, this study investigated variation of the AZGP1 gene through PCR-SSCP and sequencing. Four missense mutations were identified in 649 cattle from six independent populations. Haplotype frequencies and linkage disequilibrium (LD) coefficients of these SNPs in three Chinese indigenous cattle breeds were analyzed. One LD block was found in three cattle breeds. The statistical analyses indicated that AC genotype of Z4 locus was associated with the high body weight, body length and chest girth in Jiaxian cattle breed (P?<?0.05). Our results provided evidence that polymorphisms in the AZGP1 gene were associated with growth traits, and may be used for marker-assisted selection and management in cattle breeding program.     

Phylogenetic inferences in Avena based on analysis of FL intron2 sequences

The development and application of molecular methods in oats has been relatively slow compared with other crops. Results from the previous analyses have left many questions concerning species evolutionary relationships unanswered, especially regarding the origins of the B and D genomes, which are only known to be present in polyploid oat species. To investigate the species and genome relationships in genus Avena, among 13 diploid (A and C genomes), we used the second intron of the nuclear gene FLORICAULA/LEAFY (FL int2) in seven tetraploid (AB and AC genomes), and five hexaploid (ACD genome) species. The Avena FL int2 is rather long, and high levels of variation in length and sequence composition were found. Evidence for more than one copy of the FL int2 sequence was obtained for both the A and C genome groups, and the degree of divergence of the A genome copies was greater than that observed within the C genome sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of the FL int2 sequences resulted in topologies that contained four major groups; these groups reemphasize the major genomic divergence between the A and C genomes, and the close relationship among the A, B, and D genomes. However, the D genome in hexaploids more likely originated from a C genome diploid rather than the generally believed A genome, and the C genome diploid A. clauda may have played an important role in the origination of both the C and D genome in polyploids.     

Distinct accumbal subareas are involved in place conditioning of amphetamine and cocaine

In considering the heterogeneous function of the nucleus accumbens (NAC), the present work evaluated the conditioned place preference (CPP) after local infusion of d-amphetamine (AMP; 10, 15 microg/side) or cocaine (COC; 50, 100 microg/side) into two subareas of NAC, core and shell. A regular two-compartment CPP apparatus was used to test the place conditioning effects after 6 pairings of drug in one compartment and 6 pairings of vehicle in the other one. Significant CPP was observed with either AMP infused in the core area or COC infused into the shell area. Neither AMP in shell nor COC in core significantly produced CPP. These results indicate important differences between two neural substrates within NAC for the rewarding effects of AMP and COC on the CPP task.     

Allelopathy of diterpenoids on three species of soil ciliates

Allelopathy of diterpenoids extracted from plants of the genus Robdosia on three common species of soil ciliates, Colpoda inflata, Colpoda cucullus and Euplotes muscicola, was studied by acute toxicity test, sub-lethal effect test and morphological observation. Acute toxicity test showed that there was remarkable toxicity of the diterpenoids on the individuals of the three soil ciliate species, and there was close correlation between toxicity and concentration of the diterpenoids. 12 h-LC₅₀ values of the diterpenoids on the individuals of C. inflata, C. cucullus and E. muscicola were 161.40 mg L^?1, 94.80 mg L^?1 and 83.70 mg L^?1 respectively, and 24 h-LC₅₀ values were 114.90 mg L^?1, 92.30 mg L^?1and 65.80 mg L^?1 separately. Sub-lethal effect test of soil ciliates suggested that there existed significant inhibition of the diterpenoids on population growth of the three ciliates with dose-dependant relationships, population density and growth rate of the test group was obviously lower than that of the control group. Morphological observation indicated that diterpenoids affected the body shapes of the three ciliates and made them shorter and thicker, and the higher the concentration of diterpenoids, the greater the affection. The results are of great significance for understanding the functions of ciliates and their relationships to other organisms, and for the application of allelopathy in biological pest control in the soil ecosystems.