Landscape gradient of autumn photosynthetic decline in Abies sachalinensis seedlings

Understanding what environmental factors are genetically linked to a phenologic al event is critical for predicting responses to climate change.Photo synthetic phenology often varies among a species of evergreen conifers due to local adaptation.However,few empirical studies have revealed relevant relationships between climatic factors in provenance environments and photosynthetic phenology.This study evaluated the effects of environmental conditions of the growing site and seed source provenance on the seasonal changes in maximal photochemical quantum yield of photo systemⅡ(Fv/Fm)in a common garden experiment with 2-year-old seedlings of Sakhalin fir(Abies sachalinensis),a representative species with local adaptation,from four seed source provenances.A logistic model was constructed to explain the seasonal variation of Fv/Fmfrom July to October and the relationships between the estimated model parameters and representative factors featuring provenance environments were evaluated.The landscape gradient of the detected model parameters responsible for the provenance environments was visualized in a map of the distribution area.The lowest temperature was the most plausible factor in the growing environment to explain the seasonal changes of Fv/Fm.Among the representative meteorological factors of provenance environments,the lowest temperatures in July showed significant relationships with two model parameters,explaining the lower limit of Fv/Fmand the higher sensitivity of autumn Fv/Fmdecline.The estimated spatial maps of model parameters consistently showed that the higher the lowest temperature in July in the provenance environment,the lower the Fv/Fmin October and the greater the decrease in the autumn Fv/Fmdecline.Therefore,the lowest summer temperature could be associated with the local adaptation of autumn photosynthetic phenology in A.sachalinensis.

Spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein

PreservaUon of the spleen at distal pancreatectomy has recently attracted considerable attention. Since our first successful trial, spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein for tumors of the pancreas and chronic pancreatitis has been performed more frequently. The technique for spleenpreserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein are outlined. The splenic vein is identified behind the pancreas and within the thin connective tissue membrane. The connective tissue membrane is cut longitudinally above the splenic vein. An important issue is to remove the splenic vein from the body of the pancreas toward the spleen, since a different approach may be very difficult. The pancreas is preferably removed from the splenic artery toward the head of the pancreas itself. This procedure is much easier than removing the pancreas from the vein side. One patient had undergone distal gastrectomy for duodenal ulcer, with reconstruction by Billroth Ⅱ tehcnique. If distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy had been performed for the lesion of the distal pancreas at the time, the residual stomach would also have to be resected. The potential damage done to the patient by reconstruction of the gastrointestinal tract in combination with distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy would have been much greater than with distal pancreatectomy only with preservation of the spleen and residual stomach. Benign lesions as well as low-grade malignancy of the body and tail of the pancreas may be a possible indication for this procedure.

Pancreatic schwannoma:Case report and an updated 30-year review of the literature yielding 47 cases

Pancreatic schwannomas are rare neoplasms. Authors briefly describe a 64-year-old female patient with cystic pancreatic schwannoma mimicking other cystic tumors and review the literature. Databases for PubMed were searched for English-language articles from 1980 to 2010 using a list of keywords, as well as references from review articles. Only 41 articles, including 47 cases, have been reported in the English literature. The mean age was 55.7 years （range 20-87 years）, with 45% of patients being male. Mean tumor size was 6.2 cm （range 1-20 cm）. Tumor location was the head （40%）, head and body （6%）, body （21%）, body and tail （15%）, tail （4%）, and uncinate process （13%）. Thirty-four percent of patients exhibited solid tumors and 60% of patients exhibited cystic tumors. Treatment included pancreati- coduodenectomy （32%）, distal pancreatectomy （21%）, enucleation （15%）, unresectable （4%）, refused opera- tion （2%） and the detail of resection was not specified in 26% of patients. No patients died of disease with a mean follow-up of 15.7 mo （range 3-65 too）, although 5 （11%） patients had a malignancy. The tumor size was significantly related to malignant tumor （13.8 ＋ 6.2 cm for malignancy vs 5.5 ＋ 4.4 cm for benign, P = 0.001） and cystic formation （7.9 ~ 5.9 cm for cystic tumor vs 3.9 ＋ 2.4 cm for solid tumor, P = 0.005）. The preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic schwannoma remains difficult. Cystic pancreatic schwannomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic neoplasms and pseudocysts. In our caset intraoperative frozen sec- tion confirmed the diagnosis of a schwannoma. Simple enudeation may be adequate, if this is possible.

Ionomic Profiling of Rice Genotypes and Identification of Varieties with Elemental Covariation Effects

Ionomic profiles are primarily influenced by genetic and environmental factors.Identifying ionomic responses to varietal effects is necessary to understand the ionomic variations among species or subspecies and to potentially understand genetic effects on ionomic profiles.We cultivated 120 rice(Oryza sativa)varieties to seedling stage in identical hydroponic conditions and determined the concentrations of 26 elements(including 3 anions)in the shoots and roots of rice.Although the subspecies effects were limited by the genus Oryza pre-framework and its elemental chemical properties,we found significant differences in ionomic variations in most elements among the aus,indica and japonica subspecies.Principal component analysis of the correlations indicated that variations in the root-to-shoot ionomic transport mechanisms were the main causes of ionomic differences among the subspecies.Furthermore,the correlations were primarily associated with the screening of varieties for elemental covariation effects that can facilitate breeding biofortified rice varieties with safe concentrations of otherwise toxic elements.The japonica subspecies exhibited the strongest elemental correlations and elemental covariation effects,therefore,they showed greater advantages for biofortification than the indica and aus subspecies,whereas indica and aus subspecies were likely safer in metal(loid)polluted soils.We also found that geographical and historical distribution significantly defined the ionomic profiles.Overall,the results of this study provided a reference for further association studies to improve the nutritional status and minimize toxicity risks in rice production.