Background and ObjectivesRecurrence and metastasis are the most important factors affecting the quality of life and survival rate of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Accurate preoperative determination of the malignant degree of GISTs and the development of a reasonable treatment plan can effectively reduce the recurrence rate. CT is currently considered the preferred imaging modality for initial assessment. Until now, there have only been a few studies investigating the relationship between CT features and recurrence of GISTs. However, the value of CT features in prognostic assessment is still unclear. In this study, we attempted to investigate the prognostic significance of CT features and the Ki67 index in GISTs.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological and imaging data for 151 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of GIST who had received contrast‐enhanced CT examination and surgical resection at XinHua Hospital from October 2008 to December 2015 or Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in 2017. Then, we explored the correlation among CT features, the Ki67 index, and risk stratification of GISTs. The correlation among CT features, the Ki67 index, and risk stratification was mainly analyzed using the Spearman rank correlation.ResultsThe incidence of high‐risk disease or metastasis was clearly higher in the group with Ki67 > 5% than that in the group with Ki67 ≤ 5% (P < 0.001). The Ki67 index was positively correlated with risk stratification (r = 0.558) or mitotic index (r = 0.619). CT imaging features including size, contour, and margin of the tumor were associated with the Ki67 index (r = 0.332, 0.333, and 0.302, respectively). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the tumor size [P = 0.043 Exp (B) = 1.150] and the presence of ulceration [P = 0.011, Exp (B) = 3.669] were effective variables in distinguishing between the groups with Ki67 ≤ 5% and >5%. The presence of necrosis or cystic degeneration, tumor contour, tumor margin, and pattern of enhancement were associated with risk stratification (r = 0.530, 0.501, 0.419, and 0.447, respectively).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the Ki67 index is an effective complementation in predicting the prognosis of GISTs, and CT features including size, contour, and margin of the tumor, presence of necrosis or cystic degeneration, and pattern of enhancement provide evidence to support the importance of preoperative assessment.

SummaryIt is shown that AtCLCd negatively regulates Arabidopsis PTI, probably by interacting with the PRR signalling pathway. Its sequence indicates that AtCLCd encodes a chloride/proton exchanger.

The condensation reactions between vanadate and a variety of mono-and dicarboxylic acids in aqueous solution have been investigated by 51V NMR spectroscopy. Equilibration with acetate occurred rapidly, about 104 s'1 11, to form predominantly a bis(acetato)vanadate (-541 ppm) although formation of a mono derivative could be detected. With pentanoic acid and the dicarboxylic acids, a product (-536 ppm) in slow equilibration with vanadate was formed. This product occurred in addition to a rapidly exchanging product and contained only one ligand (except possibly for the pentanoic acid derivative, which was not well characterized). In addition to the above products, succinic acid gave a product with a 51V chemical shift at -548 ppm. This derivative also contained one ligand. Variation of the pH showed that product formation occurred from the acid form of the ligands and that no protons were required for generation of any of the products.

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RNA interference (RNAi) techniques have emerged as powerful tools in the development of novel management strategies for the control of insect pests, such as Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata, which is a major solanaceous pest in Asia. Our results showed that levels of HvSnf7 expression were greater in larval midguts than in other tissues. Silencing of HvSnf7 led to greater H. vigintioctopunctata mortality rates and appeared to be time- and partially dose-dependent. Bacterially expressed dsHvSnf7 that was applied to detached plant leaves caused 98, 88, and 60% mortality in 1st and 3rd instars, and adults after 10, 12, and 14 d, respectively; when applied to living plants, bacterially expressed dsHvSnf7 led to mortality in 1st and 3rd instars, with no effect on adults. Bacterially expressed dsHvSnf7 led to improved plant protection against H. vigintioctopunctata. Ultrastructural changes caused by HvSnf7-RNAi in larval midguts showed extensive loss of cellular contents that indicate loss of membrane integrity. This study indicate that HvSnf7 potentially can be used as RNAi target gene for controlling of H. vigintioctopunctata.

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BackgroundAberrant expression of heparanase (Hpa) is associated with apoor prognosis in ovarian and cervical cancer patients. Inhibitors of Hpa can prevent the growth and metastasis of malignant tumor cells, and suramin may be such a compound that has strong anti-proliferative effects on several kinds of cancer cells. We have therefore tested whether the growth inhibiting effect of suramin on ovarian and cervical cancer cells is due to downregulation of Hpa expression.ResultsSuramin at 300–600 μg/ml significantly inhibited HO-8910 PM and HeLa cell growth at 24 h, in both a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 320 μg/ml and 475 μg/ml, respectively. Suramin at 300 μg/ml significantly decreased the expression of Hpa mRNA (P < 0.005) and protein (P < 0.005) in both HO-8910 PM and HeLa cells at 48 h.ConclusionsThe inhibitory effect of suramin on Hpa enzyme may be due to downregulating of its expression in cancer cells. These findings confirm the importance of Hpa in tumor growth and the potential clinical application of Hpa inhibitors in the treatment of ovarian and cervical cancer.