Total pelvic exenteration and a new model of diversion for giant primitive neuroectodermal tumor of prostate: A case report and review of the literature

The present study reports a rare primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of prostate.A 27-year-old male was admitted to Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital (Harbin,China) for dysuria and dyschezia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large mass thatmay involve the bladder and rectum next to the prostate. Histopathological analysis of biopsyof prostate indicated mesenchymal origin tumor, and immunohistochemistric stainingconfirmed diagnosis of PNET of prostate. En bloc total pelvic exenteration and double barrelsigmoidostomy were performed. Double stomas in the skin incision were used for fecal andurinary diversion, respectively. Short-term outcome is satisfactory, while long-term efficacyremains to be poor. Clinical features of PNET of prostate should be paid much more attentionand radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy should be recommended.

Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Pereskia aculeata Miller on Joint Swelling in Rats with Adjuvant-induced Arthritis

[Objectives]To explore the effect of ethanolic extract of Pereskia aculeata Miller(EEPA)on joint swelling in adjuvant arthritis rats.[Methods]60 SD rats were randomly selected.Except for the blank group,the remaining animals were injected with complete Freund's adjuvant to establish the adjuvant arthritis rat models,which were divided into 6 groups:blank group,positive group,model group,and EEPA high-dose(64 mg/kg),EEPA medium-dose(32 mg/kg),EEPA low-dose(16 mg/kg)groups,10 in each group.The changes of ankle joint swelling diameter and arthritis index score were observed,and the spleen index was calculated.The serum prostaglandin E2(PGE2)level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).[Results]The degree of ankle swelling diameter,arthritis index score,expression of serum inflammatory factors,and spleen index in the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank group,indicating that there was an inflammatory reaction and abnormal immune organs,and the modeling was successful.Under the intervention of EEPA drugs,the degree of ankle swelling diameter and arthritis index score of EEPA group with different doses were significantly lower than that of the model group(P<0.05),and the level of serum inflammatory factors was also lower than that of the model group(P<0.05).The index was lower than the model group and close to the normal group(P<0.05),and the higher the EEPA dose,the lower the index expression level(P<0.05).[Conclusions]EEPA can reduce joint swelling and inhibit the level of inflammatory factors to some extent in adjuvant arthritis rats.

Identification of Genes Involved in Celastrol Biosynthesis by Comparative Transcriptome Analysis in Tripterygium wilfordii

Tripterygium wilfordii has been renowned mostly because of the anticancer effects of its root extracts,which is partly ascribed to the presence of celastrol,a pentacyclic triterpenoid,as one of the main active components.Celastrol also has recently been reported as an effective prodrug in the treatment of obesity.Despite the promising activities,the pathway leading to celastrol biosynthesis,especially cytochrome P450(CYP)enzyme(s)that occur in its downstream steps,are largely unknown.This study conducted a comparative analysis of the T.wilfordii transcriptome derived from its root and leaf tissues.Differential gene expression analysis identified a number of root-specific CYP genes.Further phylogenetic analysis suggested specific family members of CYPs that may participate in the late steps during celastrol biosynthesis.Root-specific transcription factors(TFs)that may play regulatory roles in celastrol biosynthesis were also discussed.This genetic resource will aid in isolating the celastrol biosynthetic genes as well as engineering the celastrol biosynthesis pathway.

Identification of a Unique Germacrene A Oxidase from Xanthium strumarium

8,12-sesquiterpene lactones(STLs)are an important class of natural products with unique pharmaceutical activities.For years the pathway leading to 8,12-STLs remains an enigma.Xanthium strumarium accumulates abundant 8,12-STLs,and xanthatin is a characteristic 8,12-STL in it.Xanthatin has been previously postulated to be derived from germacrene A,but the steps from germacrene A to xanthatin are unknown.As part of an effort to understand the xanthatin biosynthetic pathway.This study reports the characterization of a unique germacrene A oxidase(XsGAO)from X.strumarium.Unlike a classical GAO enzyme,which is known to catalyze a three-step oxidation of germarene A to yield germacrene A acid(GAA),surprisingly,XsGAO catalyzed only one-step conversion of germacrene A to germacrene A alcohol.We discussed that GAO may be pressured to acquire a novel activity during the evolutionary path for the biosynthesis of 8,12-STLs.

A Fur-regulated type Ⅵ secretion system contributes to oxidative stress resistance and virulence in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

The type Ⅵ secretion system(T6SS)is a widespread protein secretion apparatus deployed by many Gram-negative bacterial species to interact with competitor bacteria,host organisms,and the environment.Yersinia pseudotuber-culosis T6SS4 was recently reported to be involved in manganese acquisition;however,the underlying regulatory mechanism still remains unclear.In this study,we discovered that T6SS4 is regulated by ferric uptake regulator(Fur)in response to manganese ions(Mn^(2+)),and this negative regulation of Fur was proceeded by specifically recogniz-ing the promoter region of T6SS4 in Y.pseudotuberculosis.Furthermore,T6SS4 is induced by low Mn^(2+)and oxidative stress conditions via Fur,acting as a Mn^(2+)-responsive transcriptional regulator to maintain intracellular manganese homeostasis,which plays important role in the transport of Mn^(2+)for survival under oxidative stress.Our results pro-vide evidence that T6SS4 can enhance the oxidative stress resistance and virulence for Y.pseudotuberculosis.This study provides new insights into the regulation of T6SS4 via the Mn^(2+)-dependent transcriptional regulator Fur,and expands our knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms and functions of T6SS from Y.pseudotuberculosis.

H3‑T6SS of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 contributes to environmental adaptation via secretion of a biofilm‑promoting effector

Microbial species often occur in complex communities and exhibit intricate synergistic and antagonistic interactions.To avoid predation and compete for favorable niches,bacteria have evolved specialized protein secretion systems.The type VI secretion system(T6SS)is a versatile secretion system widely distributed among Gram-negative bacteria that translocates effectors into target cells or the extracellular milieu via various physiological processes.Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for many diseases,and it has three independent T6SSs(H1-,H2-,and H3-T6SS).In this study,we found that the H3-T6SS of highly virulent P.aeruginosa PA14 is negatively regulated by OxyR and OmpR,which are global regulatory proteins of bacterial oxidative and acid stress.In addition,we identified a H3-T6SS effector PA14_33970,which is located upstream of VgrG3.PA14_33970 interacted directly with VgrG3 and translocated into host cells.Moreover,we found that H3-T6SS and PA14_33970 play crucial roles in oxidative,acid,and osmotic stress resistance,as well as in motility and biofilm formation.PA14_33970 was identified as a new T6SS effec-tor promoting biofilm formation and thus named TepB.Furthermore,we found that TepB contributes to the virulence of P.aeruginosa PA14 toward Caenorhabditis elegans.Overall,our study indicates that H3-T6SS and its biofilm-promot-ing effector TepB are regulated by OxyR and OmpR,both of which are important for adaptation of P.aeruginosa PA14 to multiple stressors,providing insights into the regulatory mechanisms and roles of T6SSs in P.aeruginosa.