A splicing variant of EDS1 from Vitis vinifera forms homodimers but no heterodimers with PAD4.

Enhanced Disease Susceptibility 1 (EDS1), a key component of microbe-triggered immunity and effector-triggered immunity in most higher plants, forms functional heterodimeric complexes with its homologs Phytoalexin Deficient 4 (PAD4) or Senescence-associated Gene 101 (SAG101). Here, the crystal structure of VvEDS1 , the N-terminal domain of EDS1 from Vitis vinifera, is reported, representing the first structure of an EDS1 entity beyond the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. VvEDS1 has an α/β-hydrolase fold, is similar to the N-terminal domain of A.

[Complications of esophageal reconstruction].

Esophageal cancer is the most common cause of esophageal resections. Esophageal replacement is still a significant challenge for surgeons, because complications can be expected in over 50% and death also occurs between 4-7%. Complications can be divided into early and late categories and into general and specific complications.

Dysphagia After Esophageal Replacement and Its Treatment.

Dysphagia occurs temporarily or permanently following esophageal replacement in at least half of the cases. Swallowing disorder, in addition to severe decline in the quality of life, can lead to a deterioration of the general condition, which may lead to death if left untreated. For this reason, their early detection and treatment are a matter of importance.

Efficient CRISPR-Cas9 based cytosine base editors for phytopathogenic bacteria.

Phytopathogenic bacteria play important roles in plant productivity, and developments in gene editing have potential for enhancing the genetic tools for the identification of critical genes in the pathogenesis process. CRISPR-based genome editing variants have been developed for a wide range of applications in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. However, the unique mechanisms of different hosts restrict the wide adaptation for specific applications.

Class I TCP transcription factor AtTCP8 modulates key brassinosteroid-responsive genes.

The plant-specific TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) transcription factor family is most closely associated with regulating plant developmental programs. Recently, TCPs were also shown to mediate host immune signaling, both as targets of pathogen virulence factors and as regulators of plant defense genes. However, comprehensive characterization of TCP gene targets is still lacking.

[Changes in surgical principles as a result of modern, effective, perioperative treatments].

Oncology has evolved to a great extent over the last quarter of century. The significant success is multifactorial, including primary and secondary prevention, the development of diagnostics, new methods of chemo-and radiotherapy, and the integration of basic research results into practice. From the point of view of surgery, the establishing and widespread practical application of the principles of preoperative oncotherapy played a major role in this development.

Opposing functions of the plant TOPLESS gene family during SNC1-mediated autoimmunity.

Regulation of the plant immune system is important for controlling the specificity and amplitude of responses to pathogens and in preventing growth-inhibiting autoimmunity that leads to reductions in plant fitness. In previous work, we reported that SRFR1, a negative regulator of effector-triggered immunity, interacts with SNC1 and EDS1. When SRFR1 is non-functional in the Arabidopsis accession Col-0, SNC1 levels increase, causing a cascade of events that lead to autoimmunity phenotypes.

Chemical Diversity, Biological Activity, and Genetic Aspects of Three Ocotea Species from the Amazon.

species present economic importance and biological activities attributed to their essential oils (EOs) and extracts. For this reason, various strategies have been developed for their conservation. The chemical compositions of the essential oils and DNA sequences of , , and were subjected to comparison with data from , , and , previously reported.

Imaging Nutrient Distribution in the Rhizosphere Using FTIR Imaging.

Symbiotic associations in the rhizosphere between plants and microorganisms lead to efficient changes in the distribution of nutrients that promote growth and development for each organism involved. Understanding these nutrient fluxes provides insight into the molecular dynamics involved in nutrient transport from one organism to the other. To study such a nutrient flow, a new application of Fourier transform infrared imaging (FTIRI) was developed that entailed growing Populus tremulodes seedlings on a thin, nutrient-enriched Phytagel matrix that allows pixel to pixel measurement of the distribution of nutrients, in particular, nitrate, in the rhizosphere.

Genetic manipulation of putrescine biosynthesis reprograms the cellular transcriptome and the metabolome.

Background: With the increasing interest in metabolic engineering of plants using genetic manipulation and gene editing technologies to enhance growth, nutritional value and environmental adaptation, a major concern is the potential of undesirable broad and distant effects of manipulating the target gene or metabolic step in the resulting plant. A comprehensive transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of the product may shed some useful light in this regard. The present study used these two techniques with plant cell cultures to analyze the effects of genetic manipulation of a single step in the biosynthesis of polyamines because of their well-known roles in plant growth, development and stress responses.

Multi-Omics Approach Identifies Molecular Mechanisms of Plant-Fungus Mycorrhizal Interaction.

In mycorrhizal symbiosis, plant roots form close, mutually beneficial interactions with soil fungi. Before this mycorrhizal interaction can be established however, plant roots must be capable of detecting potential beneficial fungal partners and initiating the gene expression patterns necessary to begin symbiosis. To predict a plant root-mycorrhizal fungi sensor systems, we analyzed in vitro experiments of Populus tremuloides (aspen tree) and Laccaria bicolor (mycorrhizal fungi) interaction and leveraged over 200 previously published transcriptomic experimental data sets, 159 experimentally validated plant transcription factor binding motifs, and more than 120-thousand experimentally validated protein-protein interactions to generate models of pre-mycorrhizal sensor systems in aspen root.

Global agricultural intensification during climate change: a role for genomics.

Agriculture is now facing the 'perfect storm' of climate change, increasing costs of fertilizer and rising food demands from a larger and wealthier human population. These factors point to a global food deficit unless the efficiency and resilience of crop production is increased. The intensification of agriculture has focused on improving production under optimized conditions, with significant agronomic inputs.

Application of genomics-assisted breeding for generation of climate resilient crops: progress and prospects.

Climate change affects agricultural productivity worldwide. Increased prices of food commodities are the initial indication of drastic edible yield loss, which is expected to increase further due to global warming. This situation has compelled plant scientists to develop climate change-resilient crops, which can withstand broad-spectrum stresses such as drought, heat, cold, salinity, flood, submergence and pests, thus helping to deliver increased productivity.

A comparison of pre-operative nutritional status with post-operative morbidity and mortality in obese esophageal surgery patients.

Objectives: The nutrition state of obese patients scheduled to undergo esophageal surgery was evaluated using two nutritional score systems: the mini nutritional assessment (MNA) and the prognostic and nutritional index (PINI). A further comparison of various proteins, lymphocytes and cholesterol was performed using biochemical tests. These factors were compared with post-operative morbidity and mortality in a prospective, descriptive clinical study.

Modeling forest ecosystem responses to elevated carbon dioxide and ozone using artificial neural networks.

Rising atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide and ozone will impact productivity and carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems. The scale of this process and the potential economic consequences provide an incentive for the development of models to predict the types and rates of ecosystem responses and feedbacks that result from and influence of climate change. In this paper, we use phenotypic and molecular data derived from the Aspen Free Air CO2 Enrichment site (Aspen-FACE) to evaluate modeling approaches for ecosystem responses to changing conditions.

[Experiences with central pancreatectomy].

Introduction: The authors report their experience with central pancreatectomy and also summarize relevant literature data.

Material And Methods: Central pancreatectomies were performed in 7 patients for benign or low-grade malignant pancreatic neoplasms, or pancreatic rupture in one patient. Most frequently applied anastomosis was between the distal part of the pancreas and a Roux-en-Y limb, while the proximal cut surface was closed with sutures, and the suture line was covered with a limb.

[Reconstruction of the esophagus with plastic surgery techniques].

Introduction: Various plastic surgery techniques were applied for oesophageal reconstruction in complicated cases. Myocutaneous flaps that are suitable to cover soft tissue defects of the neck may also be transferred and used for partial defects of the cervical oesophagus or securing a vulnerable suture line. Application of microsurgical techniques may also be useful in certain situations.

[The role of neoadjuvant therapy in the treatment of locally advanced squamous cell cancer of the cervical oesophagus].

Introduction: Cervical oesophagus represents a critical location for squamous cell carcinoma, which usually requires extensive surgery (pharyngo-laryngo-oesophagectomy). In the last decade, neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy was reported to be beneficial in the treatment of locally advanced squamous cell oesophageal cancer.

Methods: Between November 1997 and January 2012, 55 patients with locally advanced (T3-4) squamous cell oesophageal cancer received preoperative chemo-radiotherapy, where the tumour was localized in the upper third.

A PCR-based genotyping method to distinguish between wild-type and ornamental varieties of Imperata cylindrica.

Wild-type I. cylindrica (cogongrass) is one of the top ten worst invasive plants in the world, negatively impacting agricultural and natural resources in 73 different countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, New Zealand, Oceania and the Americas(1-2). Cogongrass forms rapidly-spreading, monodominant stands that displace a large variety of native plant species and in turn threaten the native animals that depend on the displaced native plant species for forage and shelter.

[Massive fundic gland polyposis caused by chronic proton pump inhibitor therapy].

We report two cases of a massive fundic gland polyposis associated with protracted proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. Both patients were females aged 51. On repeated endoscopy, the number of fundic gland polyps was increasing steeply, and they resulted in a passage disorder.

Biomedically important pathogenic fungi detection with volatile biomarkers.

Volatile chemical profiles collected from the headspace of Aspergillus fumigatus (a pathogenic fungus that causes invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and chronic fungal sinusitis) grown on media with the connective tissue protein elastin, found in lung tissue, contained a large abundance of the sesquiterpene farnesene (3,7,11-trimethyl-1,3,6,10-dodecatetraene) and, depending on extraction time and sorbent material, other farnesene isomers and sesquiterpenes such as bisabolene (methyl-4-(6-methylhepta-1,5-dien-2-yl)cyclohex-1-ene). When human lung cells were cultured externally and infected with A. fumigatus, farnesene was also detected in each model lung system.

Direct effects of chemoradiotherapy following esophagectomy.

Background: Esophageal cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, but despite continuing research, few effective therapies have been identified. In recent years, surgical resection following chemoradiotherapy has been associated with improved survival in several clinical models.

Aim: In a prospective, observational study, we evaluated the direct effects of chemoradiotherapy on postoperative mortality, morbidity, and inflammatory response in patients following esophagectomy.

Middle segmental pancreatic resection--a single-centre experience.

Background/aims: A single-centre experience gained by middle segmental pancreatic resection and a brief survey of technique and indications are reported.

Methodology: During the past 7 years 7 middle segmental pancreatic resections were performed for benign and low-grade malignant pancreatic lesions and in 1 case for pancreatic trauma. The preferred method was anastomosing the distal remnant to a Roux-en-Y limb, closure of the proximal cut end with sutures and in the last 4 patients covering this suture line with the limb.

Correlation between tumor-associated proteins and response to neoadjuvant treatment in patients with advanced squamous-cell esophageal cancer.

Background: Possible predictive markers of response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (NRCT) of esophageal cancer have been identified.

Patients And Methods: Patient biopsies were obtained from both tumor and normal tissue before the NRCT of locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Protein solutions were separated and immunoblot analysis was performed with heat shock protein (Hsp)16.