Photosynthesis,Metabolite Composition and Anatomical Structure of Oryza sativa and Two Wild Relatives,O.grandiglumis and O.alta

Photosynthesis, enzyme activities and metabolite pools associated with primary carbon metabolism in leaves were studied in O. grandiglumis and O. alta （wild relatives of rice which produce high biomass） versus O. sativa （a japonica cultivar and a indica-japonica hybrid） to assess their potential for identifying traits which might be utilized to enhance rice productivity. The wild relatives had higher rates of photosynthesis on a fresh weight basis, and higher water use efficiency than the O. sativa lines. There were no striking differences in activities of a number of key enzymes in carbon and nitrogen metabolism between the wild relatives and cultivated rice lines. Along with higher rates of photosynthesis on a fresh weight basis, the leaves of the two wild species had higher nitrate content, higher levels of starch, glucose and fructose, and higher levels of organic acids （malate, succinate and acetate）, compared to the O. sativa lines. The results suggested that O. grandiglumis and O. alta have differences in physiology and primary metabolism which might be exploited to improve growth and productivity of cultivated rice.

Efficacy of stool multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay in adult patients with acute infectious diarrhea

BACKGROUND Recently,stool multiplex polymerase chain reaction(PCR)tests have been developed for identifying diarrhea-causing bacterial pathogens.Furthermore,fecal calprotectin is a well-known effective marker for intestinal mucosal inflammation.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of stool multiplex PCR and fecal calprotectin in acute infectious diarrhea.METHODS Overall,400 patients with acute infectious diarrhea were enrolled from Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital(January 2016 to December 2018).Multiplex PCR detected 7 enteropathogenic bacteria including Salmonella,Campylobacter,Shigella,Escherichia coli O157:H7,Aeromonas,Vibrio,and Clostridium difficile.We reviewed clinical and laboratory findings using stool multiplex PCR.RESULTS Stool multiplex PCR test detected considerably more bacterial pathogens than stool culture(49.2%vs 5.2%),with Campylobacter as the most common pathogen(54%).Patients with positive stool PCR showed elevated fecal calprotectin expression compared to patients with negative stool PCR(1124.5±816.9 mg/kg vs 609±713.2 mg/kg,P=0.001).C-reactive protein(OR=1.01,95%CI:1.001-1.027,P=0.034)and sigmoidoscopy-detected colitis(OR=4.76,95%CI:1.101-20.551,P=0.037)were independent factors in stool PCR-based detection of bacterial pathogens.Sensitivity and specificity of calprotectin were evaluated to be 70.5%and 60.9%,respectively(adjusted cut-off value=388 mg/kg).CONCLUSION Stool multiplex PCR test has increased sensitivity in detecting pathogens than conventional culture,and it is correlated with calprotectin expression.Stool multiplex PCR and calprotectin may be effective in predicting clinical severity of infectious diarrhea.

Wedge and needle liver biopsies show discordant histopathology in morbidly obese patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery

Background:Controversy exists over whether or not single-needle liver biopsies are sufficient to compare histological parameters in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Aims:To identify sampling variability,we biopsied four liver specimens per patient,based on biopsy size(needle vs wedge)and location(left vs right lobe),immediately prior to bariatric Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.Methods:Ten prospectively enrolled,morbidly obese patients underwent 40 laparoscopy-guided biopsies;two needle and two wedge from each of 16 left and 16 right liver lobes.The Kappa coefficient for concordance compared histological parameters from left and right lobe needle-and wedge biopsies.Wedge biopsies were considered our‘Gold Standard’.Results:Each patient had two wedge-and two needle liver biopsies.Kappa concordance between all needle and wedge biopsies from right and left lobes showed variability.Wedge-and needle liver biopsies from contralateral lobes had higher concordance with each other,compared to ipsilateral needle/wedge biopsy pairs.Contralateral wedge pairs had higher concordance than contralateral needle/needle pairs.There were no biopsy complications.Conclusions:Wedge biopsy pairs had the best Kappa concordance but contralateral needle/needle biopsy pairs had good Kappa concordance.There were no complications from the 40 needle-and wedge liver biopsies,confirming the safety of laporoscopic multi-biopsy in both liver lobes.