SummaryDespite the ubiquity and beneficial role of silicon (Si) in plant biology, structural and chemical mechanisms operating at the single-cell level have not been extensively studied.To obtain insights regarding the effect of Si on individual cells, we cultivated suspended rice (Oryza sativa) cells in the absence and presence of Si and analyzed single cells using a combination of physical techniques including atomic force microscopy (AFM).Si is naturally present as a constituent of the cell walls, where it is firmly bound to the cell wall matrix rather than occurring within intra-or extracellular silica deposition, as determined by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This species of Si, linked with the cell wall matrix, improves the structural stability of cell walls during their expansion and subsequent cell division. Maintaining cell shape is thereby enhanced, which may be crucial for the function and survival of cells.This study provides further evidence that organosilicon is present in plant cell walls, which broadens our understanding of the chemical nature of 'anomalous Si' in plant biology.

The molecular mechanisms of signal transduction of plants in response to Verticillium dahliae (VD) are not known. Here, we show that Arabidopsis reacts to VD-toxins with a rapid burst of nitric oxide (NO) and cortical microtubule destabilization. VD-toxins treatment triggered a disruption of cortical microtubules network. This disruption can be influenced by NO production. However, cortical microtubule disruptions were not involved in regulating the NO production. The results indicated that NO may act as an upstream signalling molecule to trigger the depolymerization of cortical microtubule. Cortical microtubules may act as a target of NO signal and as a sensor to mediate the activation of PR-1 gene expression. These results suggested that NO production and cortical microtubule dynamics appeared to be parts of the important signalling system and are involved in the defence mechanisms to VD-toxins in Arabidopsis.

Abstract. The aim of this study was to objectively evaluate the benefits of laparoscopically assisted vaginal radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy for early-stage cervical cancer. Clinical data were prospectively collected from patients with IA-IIB cervical cancer who underwent laparoscopically assisted vaginal radical hysterectomy (n1=33) and laparotomy (n2=30). Peripheral blood samples were obtained prior to surgery and at 1 and 2 h into the operation, as well as on days 1, 4 and 7 following surgery to measure serum interleukin-6, C-reaction protein and cortisol. Results showed that there was no conversion to laparotomy in the laparoscopy group. The average blood loss was 317.23±217.20 ml (laparoscopy group) and 872.58±693.16 ml (laparotomy group). No significant difference was found in the number of resected pelvic lymph nodes (19.74±7.43 in the laparoscopy group and 20.35±6.62 in the laparotomy group). At days 1 and 7 after surgery, the serum IL-6 level was significantly different in the laparoscopy and laparotomy groups (day 1: laparoscopy group 17.14±16.53 pg/ml and laparotomy group 34.32±20.97 pg/ml, p= 0.001; day 7: laparoscopy group 6.7±7.21 pg/ml and laparotomy group 17.54±16.47 pg/ml, p=0.001). The serum CRP level was significantly different at days 1 and 7 after the operation (day 1: laparoscopy group 7024.72±949.12 ng/ml and laparotomy group 7586.61±869.42 ng/ml, p=0.018; day 7: laparoscopy group 4357.71±2108.85 ng/ml and laparotomy group 6967.96±995.02 ng/ml, p<0.001). A significant difference was noted in the serum cortisol level at day 4 after the operation (122.29±65.17 ng/ml in the laparoscopy group and 186.76±68.61 ng/ml in the laparotomy group, p<0.001). In conclusion, the differences in clinical data and the various parameters pertinent to surgical stress evaluated in this study suggest that laparoscopic surgery for cervical cancer causes less postoperative stress than conventional open surgery.