Correction to: Genetic dissection of maize disease resistance and its applications in molecular breeding

Molecular Breeding - The ‘Honeycrisp’ apple, an economically important cultivar and breeding parent, is prone to soft scald and soggy breakdown postharvest physiological disorders....     

Shell Biosynthesis and Pigmentation as Revealed by the Expression of Tyrosinase and Tyrosinase-like Protein Genes in Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) with Different Shell Colors

Marine Biotechnology - The widely recognized color polymorphisms of molluscan shell have been appreciated for hundreds of years by collectors and scientists, while molecular mechanisms underlying...     

Immunohistochemical Expression of RAGE and Its Ligand (S100A9) in Cervical Lesions

Altered expressions of receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) and its ligand (S100A9) are observed in many cancers and play a key role in inflammation-associated cancer. In our previous study, by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry, the expression of S100A9 protein was found to increase in squamous cervical cancer compared with adjacent normal cervical tissues. Therefore, in the present study we observed the expressions of S100A9 and RAGE in 30 chronic cervicitis, 50 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and 40 squamous cervical cancer (SCC) using immunohistochemical analysis and analyzed the differential expression and possible role of S100A9 and RAGE in cancer development. Immunohistochemical findings were as follows: the expressions of S100A9 and RAGE were demonstrated in chronic cervicitis, CIN, and SCC. Moreover, their expressions were gradually increasing as the tumor progressed. In SCC, the staining scores of S100A9 and RAGE were significantly higher in well-differentiated tumors compared to moderately and poorly differentiated tumors. The expression of S100A9 in epithelial cells exhibited a positive correlation to RAGE expression in chronic cervicitis, CIN, and SCC. There were no significant difference of S100A9 immunoreactivity in stromal cells among chronic cervicitis, CIN, and SCC. Moreover, there was no correlation between S100A9 immunoreactivity in stromal cells of SCC and clinicopathological parameters. Finally, double immunohistochemistry illustrated that RAGE and S100A9 co-express in SCC. In conclusion, RAGE binds its ligand (S100A9), which plays an important role in the development of SCC. In addition, the expressions of S100A9 and RAGE in SCC tumor cells were closely associated with histological differentiation.     

Curative Effects of Two New Endometrial Ablation Procedures Using Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation for the Treatment of Severe Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Severe Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (SAUB) is a common gynecological disorder. The clinical characteristics include disordered menstrual cycle and massive bleeding that can cause anemia or secondary infection. Current treatment mainly relies on drug therapy or surgical removal of the uterus, each having its significant disadvantages. How to preserve the uterus, reduce the pain from surgery, and achieve better treatment effects have been well known but remaining as unresolved issues. This study aims at evaluating two types of radiofrequency (RF) thermocoagulation procedures for the treatment of SAUB: the RF-A procedure group included 25 SAUB patients ≥45 years of age treated for amenorrhea; the RF-B procedure group included 51 patients at <45 years of age treated for the control of excessive bleeding. Post-treatment ratings of menstrual satisfaction and pre-/post-treatment menstrual scores—pictorial blood loss assessment chart (PBAC)—and hemoglobin levels were collected; and the mean length of follow-up was 72 months. Also, 38 SAUB patients treated with standard drug regimens served as a control group. The results of the study showed that following RF treatment, the average long-term patient menstrual satisfaction was greater than 92 %. In both the RF groups, PBAC scores and hemoglobin levels were significantly improved from baseline (p < .05). Compared with the control group, PBAC scores and hemoglobin levels were also significantly better for the RF groups at 6–24-month post-operation. Patients experienced no hysterectomy in association with the RF procedures. In conclusion, this pilot study suggests that the novel RF procedures are both safe and effective in treating patients with SAUB. Further investigation is necessary to evaluate their application in broader clinical indication.     

The primary culture of mirror carp snout and caudal fin tissues and the isolation of Koi herpesvirus

The explosive Koi herpesvirus (KHV) epidemic has caused the deaths of a large number of carp and carp variants and has produced serious economic losses. The mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio var. specularis) exhibits strong environmental adaptability and its primary cells can be used to isolate KHV. This study utilized the tissue explant method to systematically investigate primary cell culture conditions for mirror carp snout and caudal fin tissues. We demonstrated that cells from these two tissue types had strong adaptability, and when cultured in Medium 199 (M199) containing 20% serum at 26 to 30°C, the cells from the snout and caudal fin tissues exhibited the fastest egress and proliferation. Inoculation of these two cell types with KHV-infected fish kidney tissues produced typical cytopathic effects; additionally, identification by electron microscopy, and PCR indicated that KHV could be isolated from both cell types.     

Emission and Control Characteristics for Incineration of Sedum Plumbizincicola Biomass in a Laboratory-Scale Entrained Flow Tube Furnace

Experiments were conducted to investigate and control pollutant emission from incineration of Sedum plumbizincicola plants on a laboratory scale using an entrained flow tube furnace. Without control technologies, the flue gas contained 0.101 mg Nm^?3 of Cd, 46.4 mg Nm^?3 of Zn, 553 mg Nm^?3 of NOx, 131 pg Nm^?3 of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/Fs) and 35.4 mg Nm^?3 of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In pollutants control experiments. Al₂O₃, CaO, and kaolin were compared as adsorbents and activated carbon was used as an end-of-pipe method for the capture of pollutants. Kaolin, the most effective of the three adsorbents, removed 91.2% of the Cd in flue gas. While 97.6% of the Cd and 99.6% of the PAHs were removed by activated carbon. Incineration may therefore be regarded as a viable option for the safe disposal of the biomass of the zinc and cadmium hyperaccumulator species S. plumbizincicola.     

Dissolution Properties and Physical Characterization of Telmisartan–Chitosan Solid Dispersions Prepared by Mechanochemical Activation

Solid dispersion systems of telmisartan (a poorly water-soluble antihypertension drug) with biopolymer carrier chitosan have been investigated in this study. The mechanism of solubilization of chitosan for drug has been studied. In addition, the influence of several factors was carefully examined, including the preparation methods, the drug/carrier weight ratios, and the milling time. Drug dissolution and physical characterization of different binary systems were studied by in vitro dissolution test, particle size distribution, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffractometry, and scanning electron microscopy. The results presented that the weak basic property of chitosan appeared as the main driving force for the drug dissolution enhancement. Other effects such as decreased drug crystallinity and size played a positive contributory role. Among the preparation methods, cogrinding was the best method showing strong drug amorphization, reduced particle size, and enhanced dissolution. The drug dissolution markedly improved with increasing the amount of chitosan in solid mixtures. As a result, a significant effect of chitosan increasing telmisartan dissolution has been demonstrated, and cogrinding in a roll ball mill was the best way to prepare solid dispersions, which had high degree of uniformity in drug content and had a practical application in manufacturing.