Expression of huCdc7 in colorectal cancer

AIM:To detect the expression of huCdc7 in colorectal cancer.METHODS:The mRNA and protein expression of huCdc7 in 39 colorectal cancer tissue specimens and matched tumor-adjacent normal colorectal tissue specimens was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry,respectively.RESULTS:The relative expression level of huCdc7 mRNA in colorectal cancer was significantly higher than that in tumor-adjacent normal colorectal tissues(0.03675 ± 1.00 vs 0.01199 ± 0.44,P < 0.05).huCdc7-positive cells displayed brown granules in the nucleus.Tumor tissues contained many huCdc7-positive cells,whereas normal colorectal tissues contained very few positive cells.CONCLUSION:huCdc7 may play an important role in the development and progression of colorectal cancer.

New scoring system in assessment of Hoffa's fat pad synovitis: A comparative study with established scoring systems

AIM To investigate the reliability of the established and new scoring methods for Hoffa's fat pad synovitis using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).METHODS A total of 139 knees of 115 patients who underwent MRI of the knee with and without gadolinium contrast were enrolled in this study. Proton density(PD)-weighted, PD-weighted fat-suppressed(PD-FS), and postcontrast T1-weighted fat-suppressed(T1CE) images were used for evaluation. Using contrast and noncontrast images, our grading method for synovitis was performed to measure synovial thickness and signal intensity changes of the fat pad [Synovial membrane(SM) score], which was compared with the established methods,including MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Score(MOAKS), parapatellar synovitis score,Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score(WORMS), and suprapatellar effusion diameter. Intraclass correlation coefficients(ICC) for intra and interobserver reproducibility and Spearman correlation coefficients(r) were calculated for the parapatellar synovitis score and each scoring method.RESULTS All of the scores presented substantial to almost perfect intrareliability. Among three readers, effusion diameter had substantial to almost perfect interreliability(ICC = 0.68-0.81) and WORMS had substantial interreliability(ICC = 0.61-0.70).For two out of three readers, there was substantial interreliability for the thickness score in T1CE(ICC = 0.55-0.69), SM scores in T1CE(ICC = 0.56-0.78)and PD-FS(ICC = 0.51-0.79), and parapatellar synovitis score in T1CE(ICC =0.53-0.72). The parapatellar synovitis score was significantly correlated with the thickness score in T1CE(r = 0.70) and the SM score in T1CE(r = 0.81) and PD-FS(r = 0.65).CONCLUSION The newly proposed quantitative thickness score on T1CE and the semiquantitative SM score on T1CE and PD-FS can be useful for Hoffa's fat pad synovitis.

Effect and Functional Mechanism of the Action of Exogenous Gibberellin on Flowering of Peach

This study was conducted to assess the effect of gibberellin and its possible mechanism of action on peach flower formation. At flower induction, 100 mg L^-1 of gibberellic acid 3 （GA3） was sprayed on the leaves of peach [Prunus persica （L.） Batsch.] cv. Bayuecui. Using anatomy, immunohistochemistry, and semi-quantitation, the in situ distribution of GAs and the expression of the key genes involved in peach flower formation in the apical meristem were studied during flowering differentiation. The results showed that induction of flowering in the Bayuecui peach occurred prior to 10 July in Beijing, China. Flower induction and further differentiation of the peach flower organs were significantly inhibited by leaf-spraying of GA3 at a concentration of 100 mg L^-1 during the induction stage. The flowering rate was only 11.67% after treatment. The distribution of GA1 in the apical meristem varied during the process of flower bud differentiation. From 13 June to 25 July, the GA1 signal from control plants was detected mainly in the vascular bundles at the base of the flower buds. No GA1 signal was detected in the apical meristem. After treatment with GA3, the distribution was similar to that of the control from 13 June to 3 July. On 13 July, a GA1 signal was detected in the apical meristem accompanied by an increase in the GA1 signal in the vascular bundles at the base of the flower buds. The GA1 signal weakened significantly in both the vascular bundles and the apical meristem on 25 July. The expression of the genes PpLEAFY and MADS6 in flower buds could be detected only on 10 October in the GA3-treated plants. The critical period for flower induction of Bayuecui peach in Beijing was in early July, during which time, leaf-spraying with 100 mg L-1 GA3 could effectively inhibit flower induction and further differentiation of the flower buds. GA1 in the gibberellin family was the suppressor for flower induction in peach. Its action was affected by the stage of flower bud differentiation. Expression of the key genes PpLEAFY and MADS6 involved in flower formation was inhibited by GA3 treatment.