ABSTRACT Background Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) is a very rare paraneoplastic manifestation in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). It is an uncommon pattern of renal disease in such patients. Case presentation We report a case of an 82-year-old male who was admitted with acute kidney injury. Renal biopsy showed typical findings of light chain-associated ATIN with scattered inflammatory cells in the interstitium and associated active tubulitis. No other common manifestations of MM were present at the time of presentation, including hypercalcemia, hyperuricemia, proteinuria, bone pain or lytic bone lesions. Subsequent immunoassays revealed significant serum lambda light chain burden and Bence Jones protein in urine. Immunofluorescence demonstrated linear tubular basement membranes with positive staining for lambda light chain (3+). Electron microscopy (EM) further showed interstitial edema and inflammation. All the aforementioned findings are consistent with ATIN and supported the diagnosis of MM. Conclusions In conclusion, light chain-associated ATIN should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute interstitial nephritis. Henceforth, serum free light chains as well as serum and urine protein electrophoresis should be included in the workup of such patients.

Abstract A new MEFP warhead with seven arc-cone liners which can form 7, 13 or 19 penetrators at different standoffs is designed. Dispersion patterns and penetration properties of MEFP are performed on five #45 steel targets of dimension 160cm x 160cm x 1.5cm at various standoffs (45cm, 60cm, 80cm, 120cm, 170cm). It reaches the conclusion that every surrounding liner is broken into three penetrators during the formation process of MEFP and a group of aimable penetrators consisting a central projectile surrounded by 18 penetrators is finally formed. Maximum divergence angle of surrounding penetrator is 9.8° and the damage area reaches 0.37m2 at 1.7m. A nonlinear surface fitting about perforations information on the targets at different standoffs provides a method of predicting the dispersion patterns of MEFP. Once initiated, damage probability for defeating light armor of MEFP warhead with seven arc-cone liners is significantly improved and the results provide important reference to the design and optimization of MEFP warhead in engineering.

Abstract The mechanisms involved in the fast growth of Angiostrongylus cantonensis from fifth-stage larvae (L5) to female adults and how L5 breaks through the blood-brain barrier in a permissive host remain unclear. In this work, we compared the transcriptomes of these two life stages to identify the main factors involved in the rapid growth and transition to adulthood. RNA samples from the two stages were sequenced and assembled de novo. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses of 1,346 differentially expressed genes between L5 and female adults was then undertaken. Based on a combination of analytical results and developmental characteristics, we suggest that A. cantonensis synthesizes a large amount of cuticle in L5 to allow body dilatation in the rapid growth period. Products that are degraded via the lysosomal pathway may provide sufficient raw materials for cuticle production. In addition, metallopeptidases may play a key role in parasite penetration of the blood-brain barrier during migration from the brain. Overall, these results indicate that the profiles of each transcriptome are tailored to the need for survival in each developmental stage.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the gross tumor volume of resectable gastric adenocarcinoma on multidetector computed tomography could predict the presence of regional lymph node metastasis and could determine N categories. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 202 consecutive patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who had undergone gastrectomy 1 week after contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography were retrospectively identified. The gross tumor volume was evaluated on multidetector computed tomography images. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine whether the gross tumor volume could predict regional lymph node metastasis, and the Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compare the gross tumor volume among N categories. Additionally, a receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to identify the accuracy of the gross tumor volume in differentiating N categories. RESULTS: The gross tumor volume could predict regional lymph node metastasis (p<0.0001) in the univariate analysis, and the multivariate analyses indicated that the gross tumor volume was an independent risk factor for regional lymph node metastasis (p=0.005, odds ratio=1.364). The Mann-Whitney U test showed that the gross tumor volume could distinguish N0 from the N1-N3 categories, N0-N1 from N2-N3, and N0-N2 from N3 (all p<0.0001). In the T1-T4a categories, the gross tumor volume could differentiate N0 from the N1-N3 categories (cutoff, 12.3 cm3), N0-N1 from N2-N3 (cutoff, 16.6 cm3), and N0-N2 from N3 (cutoff, 24.6 cm3). In the T4a category, the gross tumor volume could differentiate N0 from the N1-N3 categories (cutoff, 15.8 cm3), N0-N1 from N2-N3 (cutoff, 17.8 cm3), and N0-N2 from N3 (cutoff, 24 cm3). CONCLUSION: The gross tumor volume of resectable gastric adenocarcinoma on multidetector computed tomography could predict regional lymph node metastasis and N categories.

Background Lysozyme plays a crucial role in innate immunity with its well-recognized bacteriolytic activity. In this study, the influence of expression parameters (inoculation volume, culture volume, growth time, induction temperature and time, initial pH and methanol concentration) on human lysozyme (HLZ) production in recombinant P. pastoris SMD1168 was investigated through Plackett-Burman (PB) design and response surface methodology (RSM). Results It was revealed that induction temperature, induction time and culture volume had significant influence (P < 0.01) on HLZ expression level, which were elected for further optimization with three-dimensional response surface designs for enhanced HLZ production. The highest lysozyme activity reached 3301 U/mL under optimized conditions (at 23.5°C for 90 h with culture volume of 48 mL) in shake flask, which increased 2.2 fold compared with that achieved with the standard protocol (Invitrogen). When high-cell-density fermentation of the recombinant Pichia pastoris was performed in a 15 L fermenter under optimized conditions, the extracellular lysozyme activity reached 47,680 U/mL. SDS-PAGE analysis of the product demonstrated that HLZ was produced as a single major protein with a molecular weight of approximately 14.7 kDa, consistent with its expected size. Conclusions The results indicated that the optimized culture conditions using PB design and RSM significantly enhanced the expression level of HLZ, and the Pichia expression system for HLZ production was successful and industrially promising.

The aim of this work was to study the plant regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Achyranthes bidentata using cotton EREBP gene. Results showed that the callus induction rate of stems from A. bidentata was the highest (100%) and bud was in approximately 70% of calli from stems. However bud differentiation rate of the callus from leaves and petioles was very low. Compared with ceftriaxone, 200mg/L cefotaxime could completely control Agrobacterium tumefaciens and had relatively less toxic action on the stems of A. bidentata. In addition, the induction rate of callus resistant to hygromycin was the highest when infected for 3 min and co-cultivated for 3 d. Six positive transgenic plants transformed with pCAMBIA1304-GhEREB2 expression vector were obtained and confirmed by PCR. The expression of target gene GhEREB2 was detected in five transgenic plants by RT-PCR. In brief, an efficient system of genetic transformation and plant regeneration was established for A. bidentata.

Dois novos quinenóides chiritalona A and B, e uma nova neolignina 7'E-4,9-dihidroxi-3,3',5'-trimethoxi-8,4'-oxineolign-7'-en-9'-al, além dos conhecidos (-)-8-hidroxi-α-dunniona, digiferruginol, 2,5-dimetoxi-1,4-benzoquinona e hederagenina, foram isolados do caule de Chirita longgangensis var. hongyao. As estruturas dos novos compostos foram elucidadas por análise detalhada de dados obtidos pela técnicas de NMR (ressonância magnética nuclear) e MS (espectrometria de massas), e a configuração absoluta de chiritalona A foi determinada por análise de difração de raios X de monocristal utilizando o parâmetro Flack. A atividade inibitória dos compostos com relação ao vírus da síndrome respiratória e reprodutiva suína (PRRSV) foi medida pelo método do efeito citopático (CPE). Digiferruginol e hederagenina apresentaram efeito fraco com relação ao PRRSV com valor IC50 de 80,5 ± 16,9 µmol L-1 (SI = 19,9) e 43,2 ± 7,4 µmol L-1 (SI = 13,1), respectivamente.

Two new quinonoids chiritalone A and B, and a new neolignan 7'E-4,9-dihydroxy-3,3',5'-trimethoxy-8,4'-oxyneolign-7'-en-9'-al, along with known (-)-8-hydroxy-α-dunnione, digiferruginol, 2,5-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone and hederagenin, were isolated from the stems of Chirita longgangensis var. hongyao. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by detailed analysis from NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) and MS (mass spectrometry) data, and the absolute configuration of chiritalone A was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis using the Flack parameter. The inhibitory activity of compounds against porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV) was measured by the cytopathic effect (CPE) method. Digiferruginol and hederagenin showed weak effect on PRRSV with an IC50 value of 80.5 ± 16.9 µmol L-1 (SI = 19.9) and 43.2 ± 7.4 µmol L-1 (SI = 13.1), respectively.

Abnormal genome hypermethylation participates in the tumorigenesis and development of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer cells highly express DNA methyltransferase 3 (DMNT3) family genes, essential for maintaining genome methylation. In the present study, multi-target siRNA, based on the homologous region of the DNMT3 family, was designed for the in vitro investigation of its effects on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of TSU-PR1 prostate cancer cells. The consequential cell-cycle derangement, through DNMT3A/B or only DNMT3B silencing, was partially efficient, without affecting apoptosis. DNMT3A silencing had absolutely no effect on changing TSU-PR1 cell biological behavior. Hence, DNMT3B alone apparently plays a key role in maintaining the unfavorable behavior of prostate-cancer cells, thereby implying its potential significance as a promising therapeutic target, with DNMT3A simply in the role of helper.

The Black Bridged Leaf Turtle, Cyclemys atripons (Testudines; Cryptodira; Geoemydidae), is a poorly known species within the genus Cyclemys. We determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the Cyclemys atripons mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) and found it to be 16,500 base pairs (bp) in length, with the genome organization, gene order and base composition being identical to that of the typical vertebrate. However, unlike for most turtle mtDNA so far reported, an extra base was not found in the NADH3 gene. The C. atripons control region of mtDNA was 981 bp long. Comparisons with three other geoemydids showed that the C. atripons control region contained a highly variable region at the 3' end composed of AT enriched tandem repeats containing a fifteen-unit 5'-A (AT)3-3' variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs).