VGLL3 expression is associated with macrophage infiltration and predicts poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer

Background/objectiveHigh-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is the most common histologic type of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Due to its poor survival outcomes, it is essential to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The hippo pathway is crucial in various cancers, including gynaecological cancers. Herein, we examined the expression of the key genes of the hippo pathway and their relationship with clinicopathological significance, immune cells infiltration and the prognosis of HGSOC.MethodsThe Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data were curated to analyse the mRNA expression as well as the clinicopathological association and correlation with immune cell infiltration in HGSOC. The protein levels of significant genes in the HGSOC tissue were analysed using Tissue Microarray (TMA)-based immunohistochemistry. Finally, DEGs pathway analysis was performed to find the signalling pathways associated with VGLL3.ResultsVGLL3 mRNA expression was significantly correlated with both advanced tumor stage and poor overall survival (OS) (p=0.046 and p=0.003, respectively). The result of IHC analysis also supported the association of VGLL3 protein with poor OS. Further, VGLL3 expression was significantly associated with tumor infiltrating macrophages. VGLL3 expression and macrophages infiltration were both found to be independent prognostic factors (p=0.003 and p=0.024, respectively) for HGSOC. VGLL3 was associated with four known and three novel cancer-related signalling pathways, thus implying that VGLL3 is involved in the deregulation of many genes and pathways.ConclusionOur study revealed that VGLL3 may play a distinct role in clinical outcomes and immune cell infiltration in patients with HGSOC and that it could potentially be a prognostic marker of EOC

Macronutrient release in Rajendrapur forest soils amended with tree leaf litters

Macronutrient release pattern in tree leaf litters amended Rajendrapur forest soils was studied during the period from 23 June to 24 September, 2005 by an incubation experiment over four months. Leaf litter viz. Teak (Tecktona grandis), minjiri (Cassia stamea), sal (Shorea robusta) and mahogoni (Sweitenia macrophylla) were added to the soil @ lg 50 g-1 soil (dry wet basis). The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. Nutrients were significantly released upon decomposition of the leaf litters used. The highest NH4+-N and NO3--N was released from minjiri amended soil at day 5 and day 20, respectively. After an initial flash of available P there was a marked decrease in all the amended soils. The release of K into the available pool was higher in mahogoni and mingiri than other amendments. The highest release of Ca was observed in teak amended soil after two months and mahogoni amanded soil recorded the highest amount of Mg at day 5. Available S release followed almost the same trend as for N

Impacts of Trace Element Addition on Lentil (Lens culinaris L.) Agronomy

Adequate supply of micronutrients is important for the proper growth and yield of lentil, particularly in poorly fertile soil. This study was carried out to understand the effects of zinc (Zn), boron (B), and molybdenum (Mo) on the growth and yield of lentil, and how these elements can help manage soil fertility issues. In this regard, the morpho-physiological traits of lentils (BARI Masur-7) were collected from two experiments receiving the same treatments carried out during consecutive rabi seasons of 2015–2016 and 2016–2017. The experiments were laid out with a randomized complete block design having eight treatments, and was replicated thrice. The treatments were T1 (Control), T2 (Zn2.0 kg ha−1), T3 (B1.5 kg ha−1), T4 (Mo1.0 kg ha−1), T5 (Zn2.0B1.5 kg ha−1), T6 (Zn2.0Mo1.0 kg ha−1), T7 (B1.5Mo1.0 kg ha−1), and T8 (Zn2.0B1.5Mo1.0 kg ha−1). The results revealed that the application of micronutrients either singly or in combination had significant effects on the plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, thousand seed weight, and the seed yield of lentil. The maximum seed production was, however, observed in plots receiving treatment T8, i.e., the combined application of Zn, B, and Mo. Agronomic biofortification also had significantly increased protein content of lentil seeds while affecting the macro and micronutrient content of lentil seed. These results suggest that any micronutrient deficiencies might lead to a yield loss of lentil, and such a scenario could be avoided by a combined application of micronutrients at a proportionate level