The recent emergence of wheat stem rust Ug99 and evolution of new races within the lineage threatens global wheat production because they overcome widely deployed stem rust resistance (Sr) genes that had been effective for many years. To identify loci conferring adult plant resistance to races of Ug99 in wheat, we employed an association mapping approach for 276 current spring wheat breeding lines from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). Breeding lines were genotyped with Diversity Array Technology (DArT) and microsatellite markers. Phenotypic data was collected on these lines for stem rust race Ug99 resistance at the adult plant stage in the stem rust resistance screening nursery in Njoro, Kenya in seasons 2008, 2009 and 2010. Fifteen marker loci were found to be significantly associated with stem rust resistance. Several markers appeared to be linked to known Sr genes, while other significant markers were located in chromosome regions where no Sr genes have been previously reported. Most of these new loci colocalized with QTLs identified recently in different biparental populations. Using the same data and Q + K covariate matrices, we investigated the interactions among marker loci using linear regression models to calculate P values for pairwise marker interactions. Resistance marker loci including the Sr2 locus on 3BS and the wPt1859 locus on 7DL had significant interaction effects with other loci in the same chromosome arm and with markers on chromosome 6B. Other resistance marker loci had significant pairwise interactions with markers on different chromosomes. Based on these results, we propose that a complex network of gene-gene interactions is, in part, responsible for resistance to Ug99. Further investigation may provide insight for understanding mechanisms that contribute to this resistance gene network.

BackgroundRobotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty (THA) allows for accurate preoperative planning and component positioning, potentially enhancing implant survival and long-term outcomes. The relative efficacy and safety of robotic-assisted and conventional THA, however, are unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the safety and efficacy of robotic-assisted and conventional THA.MethodsMedline, Embase and the Cochrane Library were comprehensively searched in September 2017 to identify studies comparing the safety and efficacy of robotic-assisted and conventional THA. Seven studies were included. Data of interest were extracted and analysed using Review Manager 5.3.ResultsThe seven included studies involved 1516 patients, with 522 undergoing robotic-assisted and 994 undergoing conventional THA. Compared with conventional THA, robotic-assisted THA was associated with longer surgical time (not significant); lower intraoperative complication rates (OR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.34, p<0.0001 I2); better cup placement, stem placement and global offset and a higher rate of heterotopic ossifications. Functional scores, limb length discrepancy and rates of revision and stress shielding were similar in the two groups. The relative amount of blood loss was unclear.ConclusionThe results of this meta-analysis suggest that robotic-assisted THA has certain advantages over conventional THA, including the results of component positioning and rates of intraoperative complications. Additional comparative studies are required to determine the long-term clinical outcomes of robotic-assisted THA.

The expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) are associated with the initiation and progression of human tumors. DNA microarrays are widely used to explore the expression patterns of miRNAs. Because of the limited sample size and experimental expense, the statistical power of individual research projects is not sufficient to yield a robust conclusion. However, collected microarray datasets of expression profiles provide opportunities to compile the information of individual studies. Our study carried out a comprehensive meta-analysis of miRNA expression microarray datasets from 28 published tumor studies; it comprises 33 comparisons and nearly 4,000 tumor and corresponding nontumorous samples. This work reports 52 miRNAs as common signatures that are dysregulated in tumors. In addition to the commonly altered miRNAs, five solid cancers displayed specific tissue patterns of altered miRNAs as well. The meta-analysis also revealed some novel tumorrelated miRNAs such as hsa-miR-144, hsa-miR-130b, hsa-miR-132, hsa-miR-154, hsa-miR-192 and hsa-miR-345. We further validated the expression pattern of hsa-miR-154 in human hepatocellular carcinoma by RT-PCR. Restoration of intracellular miR-154 inhibited tumor cell malignance and the G 1 /S transition in cancer cells. Both bioinformatic prediction and western blotting demonstrated that miR-154 could target CCND2. In addition, expression patterns of miR-154 were inversely correlated with those of CCND2 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Overall, this study used a large-scale data analysis to identify a qualified list of miRNAs that are consistently changed in tumors, which could lead to a better understanding of human tumor etiology.

Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and six retrospective comparative studies included a total of 750 patients (3625 pedicle screws). No significant differences were noted between RA and FH in pedicle screw accuracy (95.5% compared with 92.9%; odds ratio: 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55 to 3.30; P=0.51), overall complication rate (1.33% compared with 3.45%; odds ratio: 0.46; 95% CI, 0.15 to 1.43; P=0.18) and radiation exposure time (weighted mean difference [WMD]:8.49; 95% CI, -15.43 to 32.40; P=0.49). While RA was associated with a longer operative time (WMD: 39.63; 95% CI, 5.27 to 73.99; P= 0.02), percutaneous or minimal robot-assisted pedicle screw fixation (M-RA) had a shorter radiation exposure time than FH (WMD: -33.10; 95% CI, -38.18 to -28.02; P=0.00) CONCLUSIONS: The current literature did not prove that RA supersedes FH, although several studies are more optimistic about this procedure. Future well-designed RCTs assessing RA and FH are needed to confirm and update the findings of this analysis.

In vivo all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), a differentiation inducer, is capable of causing clinical remission in about 90% of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The molecular basis for the differentiation ofAPL cells after treatment with ATRA remains obscure and may involve genes other than the known retinoid nuclear transcription factors. We report here the ATRA-induced gene expression in a cell line (NB4) derived from a patient with APL. By differential display-PCR, we isolated and characterized a novel gene (RIG-E) Bands demonstrating reproducible differences were excised from the dried gel. The DNAs were recovered and reamplified by PCR under the conditions as described above with the exception that no radioisotope was used (6). Reamplified PCR products were subcloned into the pGEM-T vector (Promega) according to the manufacturer's instruction.cDNA Library Construction and Isolation of RIG-E cDNA Clone. Oligo(dT)-primed cDNAs were synthesized and size selected by using NB4 cell poly(A) RNA. The cDNAs were introduced into the EcoRI/XhoI site of the Uni-ZAP XR vector to construct library with a ZAP-cDNA synthesis kit (Stratagene). The human adult ventricular muscle cDNA library, prepared in AZAPII (Stratagene) by combined random priming and oligo(dT)-tailed mRNA, was described (8). Libraries were screened by hybridization using 32P-labeled

Wheat stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, is one of the most destructive diseases of wheat. A new race of the pathogen named TTKSK (syn. Ug99) and its derivatives detected in East Africa are virulent to many designated and undesignated stem rust resistance genes. The emergence and spread of those races pose an imminent threat to wheat production worldwide. Genes Sr25 and Sr26 transferred into wheat from Thinopyrum ponticum are effective against these new races. DNA markers for Sr25 and Sr26 are needed to pyramid both genes into adapted germplasm. The previously published dominant markers Gb for Sr25 and Sr26#43 for Sr26 were validated with eight wheat lines with or without Sr25 or Sr26. We tested six published STS (sequence tagged site) markers amplifying diagnostic bands of Th. ponticum. Marker BF145935 consistently amplified well and can be used as a co-dominant marker for Sr25. Among 16 STS markers developed from wheat ESTs mapped to deletion bin 6AL8-0.90-1.00, none was co-dominant for tagging Sr26. However, five 6A-specific markers were identified. Multiplex PCR with marker Sr26#43 and 6A-specific marker BE518379 can be used as a co-dominant marker for Sr26. The co-dominant markers for Sr25 and Sr26 were validated with 37 lines with known stem rust resistance genes. A diverse set of germplasm consisting 170 lines from CIMMYT, China, USA and other counties were screened with the co-dominant markers for Sr25 and Sr26. Five lines with the diagnostic fragment for Sr25 were identified, and they all have 'Wheatear' in their pedigrees, which is known to carry Sr25. None of the 170 lines tested had Sr26, as expected.

This study was aimed to explore the differential expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA)‐PCAT1, miR‐145‐5p and TLR4 in osteogenic differentiation via the Toll‐like receptor (TLR) signalling pathway and consequently determine the potential molecular mechanism. The mRNAs and pathways related to the osteogenic differentiation in human adipose‐derived stem cells (hADSCs) were analysed by bioinformatics. The MiRanda and TargetScan database were employed to detect the potential binding sites of miRNAs on lncRNAs and mRNAs. The differential expression of lncRNA‐PCAT1, miR‐145‐5p and TLR4 were detected by qRT‐PCR. Rrelated protein expression was analysed by Western blot. The targeted relationships between lncRNA‐PCAT1, miR‐145‐5p and TLR4 were verified by dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and ARS staining assays were used to measure the impacts exerted by lncRNA PCAT1, miR‐145‐5p and TLR4 mRNA on osteogenic differentiation. After the induction of osteoblast differentiation, the expression of lncRNA‐PCAT1 and TLR4 increased, while the expression of miR‐145‐5p decreased. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay confirmed the targeted relationship between lncRNA‐PCAT1, miR‐145‐5p, and TLR4. LncRNA‐PCAT1 negatively regulated miR‐145‐5p and positively regulated TLR4. Knockdown of lncRNA‐PCAT1 or TLR4 decreased the expression of osteogenic differentiation‐related proteins, reduced the ALP and ARS levels and the activity of the TLR signalling pathway. MiR‐145‐5p could reverse the effects of PCAT1 and TLR4 in hADSCs osteogenic differentiation. LncRNA‐PCAT1 negatively regulated miR‐145‐5p, which promoted TLR4 expression to promote osteogenic differentiation by activating the TLR signalling pathway.

No abstract