Organic vegetable gardening techniques (2012)

Revised 5/10; Reprinted 1/12/2M

Adjuvant therapy for T3N0 rectal cancer in the total mesorectal excision era- identification of the high risk patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adjuvant therapy for T3N0 rectal cancer was controversial with respect to both radiation and the use of a combined regimen of chemotherapy. We evaluated both clinical features and biomarkers and sought to determine risk factors for those patients retrospectively.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 122 patients with T3N0 rectal cancer were analyzed in this study from January 2000 to December 2005. Clinicopathologic and biomarkers were used to predict local recurrence (LR), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median follow-up interval was 45.4 months. Five-year LR, DFS, and OS rates were 10.4%, 68.3%, and 88.7%. Having a lower tumor location and showing low P21 and high CD44v6 expression were identified as risk factors for LR: patients with two or three of these risk factors had a higher 5-year LR rate (19.3%) than did patients with none or one of these risk factors (6.8%) (p = 0.05). A poorer DFS was related to low P21 nor high CD44v6 expression but not to tumor location: the 5-year DFS rates were 79.3% for those with neither, 65.9% for those with either one or the other, and 16.9% for those with both (p = 0.00).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The prognostic model including tumor location, P21 and CD44v6 expressions could help to distinguish these patients with high risk T3N0 patients and determine whether adjuvant therapy was beneficial.</p

Electric field promoted odontogenic differentiation of stem cells from apical papilla by remodelling cytoskeleton

AbstractAimThis study examined the impact of direct current electric fields (DCEFs) on the biological properties of stem cells derived from the apical papilla (SCAP) and further elucidated the underlying mechanisms involved in odontogenic differentiation induced by DCEFs stimulation.MethodologyThe measurement of endogenous currents in wounded dentine was achieved using a non‐invasive vibrating probe system. Two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) systems were developed to apply DCEFs of varying strengths. The migration direction and trajectories of SCAP within DCEFs were analysed using time‐lapse imaging. Cell proliferation was assessed through Hoechst staining and the CCK‐8 assay. Changes in cell morphology, arrangement, and polarization were examined using fluorescence staining. The odontogenic differentiation of SCAP in vitro was assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blot analysis, alkaline phosphatase staining, and Alizarin Red S staining. In vivo evaluation was conducted through Haematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry staining, and Sirius Red staining after transplantation experiments.ResultsInjured dentine demonstrated a significantly increased outward current, and DCEFs facilitated the migration of SCAP towards the anode. DCEFs at a magnitude of 100 mV/mm promoted SCAP proliferation, whereas DCEFs at 200 mV/mm enhanced both polarization and odontogenic differentiation of SCAP. The application of cytoskeletal polymerization inhibitors mitigated the odontogenic differentiation induced by DCEFs. In vivo studies confirmed that DCEFs promoted the differentiation of SCAP into odontoblast‐like cells in an orderly arrangement, as well as the formation of collagen fibres and dentine‐like tissue.ConclusionsDCEFs of varying intensities exhibited an enhanced capacity for migration, proliferation, odontogenic differentiation, and polarization in SCAP. These findings provide substantial insights for the advancement of innovative therapeutic strategies targeting the repair and regeneration of immature permanent teeth and dentine damage

A Century of American Viticulture

To review the work reported on a crop that comes to us out of the abyss of antiquity (Winker, 1965) is a Herculean task impossible to accomplish within the scope of this review. Therefore, to honor the first century of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), this review will focus on selected viticulture literature published from 1903 to 2002. Of necessity, some topics will be omitted or only briefly treated. The culture of grapevines (Vitis spp.) apparently began in the Transcaucasus region, principally between the Black and Caspian seas, where the classical wine and table grape Vitis vinifera reputably originated. Greek legend attributes Dionysus with introducing the art of grape growing. Archeological discoveries demonstrate that fruits were consumed as early as the Bronze Age and fossil leaves and seeds date to the Tertiary period (Basserman-Jordan. 1923, Columbia Encyclopedia, 2002; Kirchheimer, 1938). Undoubtedly, additional archeological discoveries will add to our knowledge of ancient grape culture

Rootstock and mounding effect on growth and cold hardiness of ‘Gewürztraminer’ (Vitis vinifera) and bud dormancy of ‘Lacrosse’ and ‘Chambourcin’ (Vitis spp.)

Growth and cold hardiness of mounded/non-mounded ‘Gewürztraminer’ (Vitis. vinifera) on ‘Riparia Gloire’, ‘St. George’, ‘3309 Couderc’, ‘110 Richter’, ‘1103 Paulsen’ and ‘MG 420A’ were investigated. ‘Gewürztraminer’ grapevines responded differently to mild or harsh winter(s). Rootstocks did not significantly affect the vegetative growth of ‘Gewürztraminer’ vines regardless of winter types, but they modified cold hardiness of the scions. Scions on ‘3309 Couderc’ and ‘MG 420A’ were most cold hardy. Mounding protected ‘Gewürztraminer’ vines from winter cold and increased pruning weight significantly. Scions on mounded rootstocks ‘110 Richter’, ‘St. George’ and ‘ Riparia Gloire’ broke buds earlier than on the non-mounded rootstocks. Dormancy of one-year-old buds of Vitis spp. ‘Lacrosse’, ‘Chambourcin’ and ‘Chambourcin’/‘3309 Couderc’ were investigated. Grapevines in Nebraska may be at deep endodormancy in October and November, at shallow endodormancy in December and January, and at ecodormancy after February. ‘Lacrosse’ was less dormant than own-rooted ‘Chambourcin’, which was less dormant than grafted ‘Chambourcin’. Forcing solution did not increase budbreak of dormant grapevine buds. Plant growth regulators BA, IAA, GA3 and ABA included in the forcing solution delayed budbreak. SEM images of bud meristems showed that dormant buds were slowly growing during the dormant season. The dormant buds of grafted ‘Chambourcin’ were more advanced than those of own-rooted ‘Chambourcin’. Cross, tangential and longitudinal sections of dormant shoots under SEM showed no significant changes of starch granules during dormancy. Determination of endogenous ABA and GAs by GC-MS showed the presence of ABA, GA4 and GA 1, but not GA3, in dormant buds. ABA content in dormant buds was much higher than GA4 and GA1 content. ABA content had some correlation, while GA4 or GA1 content did not, to bud dormancy. Endogenous ABA/GAs in dormant buds was not demonstrated to control bud dormancy. Content of ABA and GAs in dormant buds of ‘Chambourcin’ was significantly increased by grafting to rootstock ‘3309 Couderc’

Research Update: The Economic Viability of Tomato Production Using Single- versus Double-Layer High Tunnels

More than 70% of low-sale family farms are operating on a profit margin of less than 10%, which signals a critical concern for the economic sustainability of limited-resourced farms. It is also important to note that most low-income farmers combine off- and on-farm income. More than 80% of low-sale farmers work off the farm, as well as 62% of their spouses (Hoppe, 2015). High tunnels (akin to greenhouses) are versatile in production location, seasonality, quantity, quality, and length of cropping season, and appear to be promising for small-scale farmer economic viability (USDA, 2022)

Research Update: The Economic Viability of Tomato Production Using Single- versus Double-Layer High Tunnels

More than 70% of low-sale family farms are operating on a profit margin of less than 10%, which signals a critical concern for the economic sustainability of limited-resourced farms. It is also important to note that most low-income farmers combine off- and on-farm income. More than 80% of low-sale farmers work off the farm, as well as 62% of their spouses (Hoppe, 2015). High tunnels (akin to greenhouses) are versatile in production location, seasonality, quantity, quality, and length of cropping season, and appear to be promising for small-scale farmer economic viability (USDA, 2022)