Polyploidization Altered Gene Functions in Cotton (Gossypium spp.)

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is an important crop plant that is widely grown to produce both natural textile fibers and cottonseed oil. Cotton fibers, the economically more important product of the cotton plant, are seed trichomes derived from individual cells of the epidermal layer of the seed coat. It has been known for a long time that large numbers of genes determine the development of cotton fiber, and more recently it has been determined that these genes are distributed across At and Dt subgenomes of tetraploid AD cottons. In the present study, the organization and evolution of the fiber development genes were investigated through the construction of an integrated genetic and physical map of fiber development genes whose functions have been verified and confirmed. A total of 535 cotton fiber development genes, including 103 fiber transcription factors, 259 fiber development genes, and 173 SSR-contained fiber ESTs, were analyzed at the subgenome level. A total of 499 fiber related contigs were selected and assembled. Together these contigs covered about 151 Mb in physical length, or about 6.7% of the tetraploid cotton genome. Among the 499 contigs, 397 were anchored onto individual chromosomes. Results from our studies on the distribution patterns of the fiber development genes and transcription factors between the At and Dt subgenomes showed that more transcription factors were from Dt subgenome than At, whereas more fiber development genes were from At subgenome than Dt. Combining our mapping results with previous reports that more fiber QTLs were mapped in Dt subgenome than At subgenome, the results suggested a new functional hypothesis for tetraploid cotton. After the merging of the two diploid Gossypium genomes, the At subgenome has provided most of the genes for fiber development, because it continues to function similar to its fiber producing diploid A genome ancestor. On the other hand, the Dt subgenome, with its non-fiber producing D genome ancestor, provides more transcription factors that regulate the expression of the fiber genes in the At subgenome. This hypothesis would explain previously published mapping results. At the same time, this integrated map of fiber development genes would provide a framework to clone individual full-length fiber genes, to elucidate the physiological mechanisms of the fiber differentiation, elongation, and maturation, and to systematically study the functional network of these genes that interact during the process of fiber development in the tetraploid cottons

Localising Ectopic Parathyroid Adenomas: A Pictorial Review of 99mTc Sestamibi SPECT/CT

<p>AIM: Localization of ectopic parathyroid adenomas is important in guiding surgical decisions with the aim of minimising post-operative morbidity. This pictorial review explores the role of 99mTc Sestamibi SPECT/CT imaging for localising these unusual sites and the subsequent surgical approach to these adenomas.</p> <p>MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 164 imaging studies of patients clinically suspected to have primary hyperparathyroidism and referred for localisation of adenomas between January 2010 and March 2013. All patients had 99mTc Sestamibi imaging with early and delayed SPECT/CT performed 20 minutes and 3 hours after the tracer injection respectively. SPECT/CT images were reconstructed to provide fused axial images as well as with volume rendering of the CT using recovery<br>software. All patients also underwent an ultrasound of the neck to confirm absence of adenomas in the usual location. The pre-operative imaging results were correlated with operative decisions and findings as well as histopathology.</p> <p>RESULTS: In our series, 11 patients demonstrated an ectopic parathyroid adenoma which suggested an incidence of 6.7% of all patients referred for parathyroid imaging, lower than the 20-25% incidence rate reported in world literature. Ectopic locations demonstrated on SPECT/CT included the superior and anterior mediastinum (3 and 4 adenomas respectively), tracheoesophageal groove (3 adenomas) and retropharyngeal space (1 adenoma). Surgical plans required the addition of sternotomy in 2 patients. Surgical and histopathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of ectopic parathyroid adenoma in 8/ 9 patients. (2 patients are awaiting surgery).</p> <p>CONCLUSION: SPECT/CT imaging provided accurate localisation of ectopic parathyroid adenomas and helped guide surgical approach in these patients.</p

Procalcitonin as an early indicator of outcome in sepsis: A prospective observational study

This study explores the role of procalcitonin (PCT) in predicting the outcome of sepsis. In a prospective multicentre observational investigation, blood was sampled within 24. h of onset of sepsis in 1156 hospitalised patients; 234 were in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the point of presentation of sepsis while 922 were not. PCT was estimated in serum by the ultrasensitive Kryptor assay in a double-blinded fashion. Among patients outside the ICU, mortality was 8% in those with PCT ≤0.12. ng/mL but 19.9% in those with PCT &gt;0.12. ng/mL [. P&lt; 0.0001, odds ratio (OR) for death: 2.606; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.553-4.371]. Among patients whose sepsis presented in ICU, mortality was 25.6% in those with PCT ≤0.85. ng/mL but 45.3% in those with PCT &gt;0.85. ng/mL (P = 0.002; OR for death: 2.404; 95% CI: 1.385-4.171). It is concluded that PCT cut-off concentrations can contribute to predicting the outcome of sepsis and might be of particular value in identifying patients who would benefit from ICU admission. © 2010 The Hospital Infection Society