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OBJECTIVE: The incidence of thyroid cancer is rising globally. Most patients progress slowly, but some patients develop lymph node and distant metastasis earlier, and their prognosis is poor. Therefore, early diagnosis and warning of malignancy are very meaningful for such patients. SAS1B gene is a newly discovered protein expressed on the surface of mature egg cells and has metalloendopeptidase activity. We aimed at exploring whether SAS1B is involved in the occurrence of thyroid cancer, and at providing evidence for early diagnosis and targeted therapy of thyroid cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, a rabbit anti-human SAS1B polyclonal antibody was prepared by gene recombination technology. The indirect ELISA method was used to detect the SAS1B protein expression in the serum of 69 patients with thyroid cancer and 55 normal controls, and the relevant pathological factors were analyzed. Immunohistochemistry and PCR technology were used to investigate the expression levels of SAS1B protein and mRNA in 30 thyroid cancer tissues and 23 control thyroid tissues. RESULTS: The titer of SAS1B recombinant antibody was 1:51200. The expression of SAS1B in the serum of patients with thyroid cancer was higher than that in the normal control group (p<0.01). The antibody had a good sensitivity in serum detection of cancer patients (p=0.008<0.01), the linear regression analysis result was that the expression of SAS1B gene was related to tumor envelope invasion and lymph node metastasis (p=0.003<0.01, p=0.003<0.01), and it was irrelevant to the patient's gender, age, tumor mass size, number of cancer foci, pathological stage, etc. (p>0.05). The results of immunohistochemistry showed that SAS1B protein was mainly located in the cytoplasm and membrane of thyroid cancer cells. The expression intensity in thyroid cancer tissues was higher than that in control tissues (p<0.05), but it was not expressed in normal thyroid tissues. Antibodies showed a good sensitivity that was used to detect thyroid cancer tissues (p=0.000<0.01). The results of ordinary PCR detection using thyroid cancer tissue and control thyroid tissue showed that the amplification products of the three domains (N-terminal, C-terminal and catalytic domain) of the SAS1B gene showed high expression in thyroid cancer tissue. q-PCR results showed that the expression of SAS1B gene in thyroid cancer and control thyroid tissue was higher than that in control group (p<0.05), and the genes of Aurora A and BARD1 related to centrosome replication and DNA replication forks protection during the proliferation were highly expressed in thyroid cancer tissue. The study results suggested that SAS1B was involved in the carcinogenesis of thyroid cancer. The Hum_mPLoc.2.0 software, PSORT II software and UniProt software were used to predict that SAS1B protein had secretory protein properties. CONCLUSIONS: The above data indicate that the SAS1B gene is closely related to the process of thyroid cancer and can serve as a good tumor marker that can be used for early diagnosis and early warning of thyroid malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthesis is sensitive to water deficit (WD) stress. Maize (Zea mays L.) yield is vulnerable to water stress, especially if it occurs during the reproductive stage. In this study, the expression patterns of photosynthesis-related genes, together with photosynthetic gas-exchange and fluorescence parameters were investigated in a maize inbred line exposed to 50% of field water capacity (moderate WD) for 15 d after tassel emergence. The results demonstrated that WD down-regulated expression of psbA, psbB, psbC, psbP, psaA, psaB, and cab, especially at later periods of WD stress. Besides, with the increased WD stress, the steady decline in the value of photosynthesis performance index, maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry, quantum yield for electron transport, quantum yield for the reduction of end acceptors of PSI per photon absorbed, and the efficiency of an electron beyond QA - that reduced PSI acceptors, and a clear increase in the J-step and I-step, K-band as well as L-band were observed. The results suggested that WD might restrict light-harvesting and electron transport. Interestingly, leaf transcript levels of rbcL and rbcS were up-regulated at the later stage of water stress in maize inbred line, which helped repair injury to PSII centers and maintain PSII activity (increased quantum yield of dissipation and effective antenna size of an active reaction center) under 15-d lasting WD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stagonospora nodorum (Berk.) blotch (SNB) is a fungal disease that affects all aboveground parts of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants. Stagonospora nodorum blotch causes serious losses in grain yield and seed quality of wheat grown in the southeastern USA. The objective of this study was to conduct a genetic analysis of components of partial resistance to SNB in wheat. Ten lines of soft and hard winter wheats that varied in resistance to SNB were used in two sets of intrawheat-class half-diallel matings. Seedling plants of parents, [F.sub.1] crosses, and [F.sub.2] populations were inoculated at the two-leaf stage with spores of SNB in a humidity chamber to determine incubation period (IP), latent period (LP), and necrosis percentage (NP). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed highly significant differences for IP and NP among hard wheat crosses in both [F.sub.1] and [F.sub.2] generations. Highly significant differences for IP were noted among soft wheat [F.sub.1] crosses. Significant differences for NP were observed among soft wheat [F.sub.1] and [F.sub.2] crosses. General combining ability (GCA) was found to be the major component of variation among crosses. For hard wheats, both IP and NP of partial resistance had significant GCA effects, but none had significant specific combining ability (SCA) effects. The results from soft wheat also indicated that GCA was more important than SCA in the inheritance of resistance to SNB. Two hard wheat patents, TX84V344 and SWM14240, and one soft wheat parent, 18NT should be very useful as SNB-resistant breeding lines., Foliar and head blight diseases of wheat cause losses in yield and seed quality throughout most areas of the world. Stagonospora nodorum blotch previously call Septoria nodorum blotch, [caused by [...]

Correlations between chemical composition, enzymatic hydrolysate gross energy (EHGE), and true metabolizable energy (TME) of corn for ducks were investigated. Twenty-two corn samples were collected from various regions in 11 provinces of China. The crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), Ash, gross energy (GE), dry matter (DM), amylopectin (AP), amylose (AM), total starch (TS), and AP/AM were determined for each sample. Five of the samples of corn were chosen at the mean, mean ± 1 standard deviation (SD), and mean ± 2 SD based on AP/AM. The EHGE of these samples was analysed using the pepsin-artificial small intestinal fluid enzymatic method. These five samples were also force-fed to male Cherry Valley ducks to assay their TME. Finally, correlation analyses were performed, and regression equations were established. Ash content, GE, and TS were highly related to EHGE. Univariate prediction equations were EHGE = 11.8566Ash-0.0421 (P <0.05), EHGE = 0.1535GE1.5642 (P <0.05), and EHGE = 0.1020TS1.1561 (P <0.05). The total starch, AP/AM, and ash of the chemical compositions were highly related to TME. The corresponding univariate regression equations were TME = 21.9355TS-0.0910 (P <0.05), TME = 15.6590AP/AM-0.0559 (P <0.05), and TME = 15.0778Ash0.0442 (P <0.05). The mean EHGE was equivalent to 78.5% of TME, but their correlation coefficient was low. In conclusion, chemical composition was predictive of EHGE and TME of corn samples for ducks, but the correlation of EHGE and TME was low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures are rare injuries, which are often caused by high-energy trauma and combined with multiple injuries, such as thoracic and abdominal injury, head injuries, and fractures of other sites.Delayed or missed diagnosis of the ipsilateral femoral neck fracture often occurs.When patients with femoral shaft fractures caused by high-energy trauma are admitted into hospital, physical examination should be conducted carefully.In addition to femoral shaft fractures, radiographs of the ipsilater hip and knee joints should been taken, simultaneously taking into consideration the potential effect of anteversion angle on the demonstration of femoral neck fracture.Computed tomograph and magnetic resonance imaging are advised to perform if necessary to facilitate early and accurate diagnosis of ipsilateral femoral neck fracture.Comprehensive evaluation should be done based on age, physical condition, associated injuries as well as fracture site, classification and injury severity.Accordingly, proper and reasonable surgical plan is made.During the operation, anatomical reduction of the fractures, especially femoral neck fractures, should be achieved, and then fixed with appropriate internal implants.Besides, attention should also be paid to the treatment of associated injuries as well as the prevention and management of complications.

The expression of retinoid-acid-related orphan receptor α (RORα) was evaluated at the mRNA level using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and its expression localization was determined by in situ hybridization of adult Inner Mongolian cashmere goats at different times of the year. In situ hybridization demonstrated that RORαwas expressed in secondary hair follicles of the hair shaft, inner root sheath, outer root sheath, medulla, and other parts that are target organs of the RORαreceptor gene. qRT-PCR results showed that there was no significant difference in the RORa mRNA abundance in February, April, August, and October (P > 0.05), and the only difference occurred in December relative to February, August, and October (P < 0.05). This difference revealed that melatonin possibly promotes cashmere growth through the nuclear receptor RORα. This study provides a good foundation for future studies on the relationship between the melatonin receptor and cashmere growth; in addition, it provides new insights for increased cashmere production and quality.