Resumo As bactérias endofíticas desempenham papel fundamental na manutenção da saúde e do crescimento das plantas. Poucos estudos até o momento, no entanto, exploraram as propriedades antagônicas e promotoras de crescimento de plantas (PGP) de endófitos de Prunus cerasifera. Para esse fim, isolamos bactérias endofíticas de amostras de tecido de P. cerasifera e usamos um ensaio de placa de cultura dupla para rastrear esses micróbios quanto à atividade antagonista contra Verticillium dahliae, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Fusarium oxysporum, F. graminearum e F. moniliforme. Das 36 cepas de bactérias isoladas, quatro (cepas P1, P10, P16 e P20) exibiram efeitos antagônicos contra todos os cinco patógenos modelo, e a cepa P10 exibiu o antagonista mais forte para cinco patógenos. Essa cepa P10 foi então caracterizada em profundidade por meio de avaliações fenotípicas, análises fisiológicas e sequenciamento de rDNA 16s, revelando ser uma cepa de Bacillus subtilis. A aplicação de uma suspensão de células P10 (1 × 108 UFC / mL) aumentou significativamente a germinação das sementes e o crescimento das mudas de tomate em casa de vegetação. Essa cepa P10 suprimiu ainda mais a murcha de Verticillium do tomate com incidência de doença muito menor e pontuações de índice de doença sendo observadas após o tratamento com P10 em relação a plantas não tratadas em experimentos baseados em vasos. As plantas de tomate que foram tratadas com a cepa P10 também aumentaram as enzimas relacionadas à defesa, peroxidase, superóxido dismutase e atividade da catalase após o desafio de V. dahliae em relação às plantas que não foram tratadas com essa bactéria endofítica. Os resultados revelaram que a cepa bacteriana P10 tem valor potencial como agente de biocontrole para uso na prevenção da murcha de Verticillium em tomate.

Abstract Endophytic bacteria serve key roles in the maintenance of plant health and growth. Few studies to date, however, have explored the antagonistic and plant growth-promoting (PGP) properties of Prunus cerasifera endophytes. To that end, we isolated endophytic bacteria from P. cerasifera tissue samples and used a dual culture plate assay to screen these microbes for antagonistic activity against Verticillium dahliae, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Fusarium oxysporum, F. graminearum, and F. moniliforme. Of the 36 strains of isolated bacteria, four (strains P1, P10, P16, and P20) exhibited antagonistic effects against all five model pathogens, and the P10 strain exhibited the strongest antagonistic to five pathogens. This P10 strain was then characterized in-depth via phenotypic assessments, physiological analyses, and 16s rDNA sequencing, revealing it to be a strain of Bacillus subtilis. Application of a P10 cell suspension (1×108 CFU/mL) significantly enhanced the seed germination and seedling growth of tomato in a greenhouse setting. This P10 strain further significantly suppressed tomato Verticillium wilt with much lower disease incidence and disease index scores being observed following P10 treatment relative to untreated plants in pot-based experiments. Tomato plants that had been treated with strain P10 also enhanced defense-related enzymes, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity upon V. dahliae challenge relative to plants that had not been treated with this endophytic bacterium. The results revealed that the P10 bacterial strain has potential value as a biocontrol agent for use in the prevention of tomato Verticillium wilt.

Heat stress is one of the main environmental factors that hamper the efficiency of poultry production. Heat stress is known to be less harmful to yellow-feathered chickens (YFC) than to commercial broilers, especially in its effect on the relative weight of organs. The transcriptome was used to examine the gene expression profile of the livers of YFC that were exposed to heat stress. Mean liver weight (HW) and the hepatic weight index (HWI) of birds in the heat stress group did not differ significantly from those of the control group. A total of 596 genes were differentially expressed in the liver in response to heat stress. The enrichment results of differentially expressed genes (DEG) showed that many of these genes were related to the Fanconi anaemia pathway and that the cell cycle pathway was modulated. Thus, it can be concluded that these genes might be involved in improving the stability of the YFC liver genome and controlling the physiological response to heat stress.

ABSTRACT Background: Eggshell ultrastructure organization, including effective layer thickness, mammillary layer thickness, and average size of mammillary cones, is important for breeding and significantly influences eggshell mechanical properties. Several matrix proteins were known to be important in eggshell formation. However, the proteins and variations that determine eggshell ultrastructure organization are not known. Results: In this study, 17 single-nucleotide polymorphisms of three major genes in a hen population using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Five single-nucleotide polymorphisms with a very low minor allele frequency (< 1%) were excluded from further analysis. The remaining 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were used for analysis of associations with eggshell ultrastructure organization. Associations were found for (i) ovocleidin-116 with effective layer thickness (EFF), mammillary layer thickness (MAM), and average size of mammillary cones (SMAM); (ii) ovalbumin with eggshell thickness (ESH), effective layer thickness, and density of the mammillary cone (DMAM); and (iii) calmodulin1 with density of the mammillary cone. Conclusions: The single-nucleotide polymorphisms identified in the present study may be used as potential markers to improve eggshell quality.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of endoscopy to remove keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs) with virtual 3D mandibular images. Fifteen patients (mean age, 40.27±14.58 years) who underwent endoscopic mandibular KCOT enucleation between May 2009 and October 2009 were included. Virtual 3D mandibular reconstructions derived from computed tomography (CT) imaging were generated for all patients. Recurrence and pathological fracture were evaluated as the primary outcome variables at 1 and 12 months after operation. Secondary infection and inferior alveolar nerve injury were evaluated as the secondary outcome variables at 1 and 6 months after operation. None of the 15 patients exhibited signs of recurrence or pathological fracture after operation. During long-term follow-up, no symptoms of inferior alveolar nerve injury or secondary infection were observed and no signs of recurrence were found in any of the patients. Endoscopy helps surgeons to remove mandibular KCOTs with small incisions. Moreover, endoscopy can provide clear and magnified views and help to avoid damage to the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle. Therefore, under the support of preoperative virtual 3D mandibular images, the application of endoscopy to remove the tumors should be considered to be a treatment option for KCOTs.

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there was a difference of serum D-dimer between patients with aortic intramural haematoma and patients with classic acute aortic dissection. Methods: According to results of computed tomographic angiography, all the patients, who had an established diagnosis of acute aortic syndrome in the past four years in an affiliated hospital, were retrospectively classified into two groups: classic acute aortic dissection (AAD) group and aortic intramural haematoma (AIH) group. The serum D-dimer concentrations at admission and other clinical baseline characteristics between the two groups were compared. Furthermore, the occurrence of the main clinical complications was compared between the two groups. Fifty-one subjects were included. Thirty-eight patients (74.5%) were in the AAD group and thirteen (25.5%) in the AIH group. Results: D-dimer levels were significantly higher in AAD group (3.50 ± 1.72 mg/mL) than in AIH group (1.54 ± 1.50 mg/mL, p < 0.05). All patients with AAD had D-dimer levels above the threshold of 0.50 ng/mL (sensitivity 100%). However, two patients in the AIH group presented with D-dimer levels below the threshold. The sensitivity of the D-dimer test in detecting AIH was 84.6% (11/13). But there was no significant difference in sensitivity between the two groups (p > 0.05). The main clinical complication rate was 39.5% (15/38) in the AAD group and 30.8% (4/13) in the AIH group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: D-dimer levels are lower in patients with AIH than those in patients with AAD. Although it shows no difference of sensitivity between AAD and AIH, D-dimer can be negative in AAD patients. Moreover, patients with AIH have a similar clinical evolution during hospitalization compared to patients with AAD.

RESUMEN Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar si existe diferencia de dímero-D plasmático entre pacientes con hematoma intramural aórtico y pacientes con disección aórtica aguda clásica. Métodos: Según los resultados de la angiografía tomográfica computarizada, todos los pacientes, que tenían un diagnóstico establecido de síndrome aórtico agudo en los últimos cuatro años en un hospital afiliado, fueron clasificados retrospectivamente en dos grupos: Grupo de disección aórtica aguda (DAA) clásica y el hematoma intramural aórtico (HIA). Se compararon las concentraciones séricas del dímeroD a la hora de la admisión y otras características clínicas de base entre los dos grupos. Además, se comparó la aparición de complicaciones clínicas principales entre ambos grupos. Se incluyeron cincuenta y un sujetos. En el grupo DAA había treinta y ocho pacientes (74.5%) y en el grupo HIA había trece (25.5%). Resultados: El dímero-D fue significativamente mayor en el grupo DAA (3.50 ± 1.72 mg/mL) que en el grupo HIA (1.54±1.50 mg/mL, p < 0.05). Todos los pacientes con DAA tenían niveles de dímero-D por encima del umbral de 0.50 ng/mL (100% sensibilidad). Sin embargo, dos pacientes en el grupo HIA presentaron niveles de dímero-D por debajo del umbral. La sensibilidad de la prueba de dímero D en la detección de HIA fue de 84.6% (11/13). Pero no hubo ninguna diferencia significativa en la sensibilidad entre los dos grupos (p > 0.05). La tasa de complicación clínica principal fue 39.5% (15/38) en el grupo DAA y 30.8% (4/13) en el grupo de HIA (p > 0.05). Conclusión: El dímero-D es inferior en los pacientes con HIA, comparado con los pacientes de DAA. Aunque no se muestra ninguna diferencia de sensibilidad entre DAA y HIA, el dímero-D puede ser negativo en los pacientes de DAA. Por otra parte, los pacientes con HIA tienen una evolución clínica similar durante la hospitalización en comparación con los pacientes con DAA.

β-catenin and c-myc play important roles in the development of tissues and organs. However, little is known about their expression patterns during the development of the human common bile duct. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect β-catenin and c-myc expression in common bile duct samples from postmortem tissues of 14 premature infants and 6 spontaneously aborted fetuses. The expression of β-catenin and c-myc was also analyzed by Western blot. The samples were divided into four groups based on the stage of human fetal development: 12, 13-27, 28-37, and >37 weeks. The Image-Pro Plus v. 6.0 image analysis software was used to calculate the mean qualifying score (MQS). At fetal stages 12, 13-27, 28-37, and >37 weeks, MQS of β-catenin were 612.52±262.13, 818.38±311.73, 706.33±157.19, and 350.69±110.19, respectively. There was a significant difference in MQS among the four groups (ANOVA, P=0.0155) and between the scores at >37 and 13-27 weeks (Student-Newman-Keuls, P<0.05). At fetal stages 12, 13-27, 28-37, and >37 weeks, the MQS of c-myc were 1376.64±330.04, 1224.18±171.66, 1270.24±320.75, and 741.04±219.19, respectively. There was a significant difference in MQS among the four groups (ANOVA, P=0.0087) and between the scores at >37 and 12 weeks, >37 and 13-27 weeks, and >37 and 28-37 weeks (all P<0.05, Student-Newman-Keuls). Western blots showed that β-catenin and c-myc expression were significantly higher in fetal than in postnatal control duct tissue (P<0.05). c-myc and β-catenin are involved in the normal development of the human common bile duct.

Lymphoepithelioma-like gastric carcinoma (LELGC) is a rare neoplasm of the stomach with dense lymphocytic infiltration. More than 80% of LELGCs are positive for the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Here, we report a 64-year old Chinese man with swallowing discomfort while eating food. Endoscopy and computed tomography both showed a submucosal lesion at the lesser curvature of the upper gastric body. The first diagnostic impression was a gastrointestinal stromal tumour. Subsequently, the patient received a wedge resection of the stomach. On histopathological examination, the tumour was found to consist of small nests of neoplastic cells within dense lymphocytic infiltration. Additionally, most of the neoplastic cells were positive for cytokeratin and Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA (EBER). Subsequently, the diagnosis of LELGC was made. We believe that physicians should be aware of the diagnosis of submucosal gastric lesions, particularly in older male patients.

El carcinoma gástrico de tipo linfoepitelioma (CGLE) es una neoplasia rara del estómago con una infiltración linfocítica densa. Más del 80% de los CGLEs son positivos al virus de Epstein-Barr (EBV). Aquí reportamos el caso de un paciente chino de 64 años, que sentía malestar al efectuar la deglución de alimentos. Tanto la endoscopia como la tomografía computarizada mostraron una lesión submucosa en la curvatura menor de la parte superior del cuerpo gástrico. La primera impresión diagnóstica fue de un tumor del estroma gastrointestinal Posteriormente, al paciente se le hizo una resección en cuña del estómago. En el examen histopatológico, se halló que el tumor consistía de pequeños nidos de células neoplásicas dentro de una infiltración linfocítica densa. Además, la mayoría de las células neoplásicas eran positivas a la citoqueratina y al ARN codificado por el virus de Epstein-Barr (EBER). Posteriormente, se realizó el diagnóstico de CGLE. Creemos que los médicos deben tomar conciencia del diagnóstico de las lesiones submucosas gástricas, especialmente en los pacientes mayores hombres.

Amputations associated with fireworks are customarily treated by stump revision resulting in permanent disability. In this case report, we present an eight-year old boy who suffered an amputation of his right distal index finger at the level of the epiphyseal disk with degloving injury of the amputated finger caused by fireworks. Successful re-implantation was achieved. Two-year follow-up revealed fair cosmesis and acceptable functional and aesthetic recovery though the free distal phalanx had been absorbed completely. Re-implantation of a degloving amputation finger caused by fireworks is possible and can provide good distal soft tissue coverage and recovery ofsensory and motor functions.

Las amputaciones relacionadas con fuegos artificiales son tratadas habitualmente por revisión de muñón, lo que trae como resultado una discapacidad permanente. En este reporte de caso, presentamos a un niño de 8 años que sufrió una amputación de su dedo índice derecho distal a nivel del disco epifisario con lesión por desguantamiento del dedo amputado causada por fuegos artificiales. Se logró una re-implantación exitosa. Los dos años de seguimiento revelaron una corrección quirúrgica cosmética satisfactoria, así como una recuperación funcional y estética aceptable, aunque la falange distal libre había sido absorbida completamente. La re-implantación de un dedo amputado por desguantamiento causado por fuegos artificiales es posible y puede proporcionar buena cobertura de tejido suave distal y recuperación de las funciones sensoriales y motoras.

This paper proposes an improved watermarking algorithm based on DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform). We carried out the algorithm as described as follows. First, we extended both rows and ranks of the watermark by using the proposed method before the embedding stage. After expansion, Sine chaotic system is employed in encrypting the watermark. In the embedding stage, an effective and adaptive embedding method is proposed to embed the watermark into the blocked DCT coefficients. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm in this paperworks well in resisting both geometry attack and noise attack. It also does well in recovering the watermark after stego image suffered from JPG compression.