P < 0.05). Respiration rate was reduced during yoga and meditation versus control (P < 0.05). Domains of heart rate variability  were significantly reduced during control versus yoga and meditation. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were reduced secondary to meditation versus control only (P < 0.05). Physiological adaptations generally regressed toward baseline postintervention. In conclusion, yoga postures or meditation performed in the office can acutely improve several physiological and psychological markers of stress. These effects may be at least partially mediated by reduced respiration rate.This study compared acute (15 min) yoga posture and guided meditation practice, performed seated in a typical office workspace, on physiological and psychological markers of stress. Twenty participants (39.6 ± 9.5 yr) completed three conditions: yoga, meditation, and control  separated by ≥24 hrs. Yoga and meditation significantly reduced perceived stress versus control, and this effect was maintained postintervention. Yoga increased heart rate while meditation reduced heart rate versus control ( Psychological stress in the workplace is an independent risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases and associated mortality –4. For eThe link between stress and disease is mediated by endocrine pathways of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), including the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis , 6. Cortvia heart rate variability (HRV) [Yoga and meditation are forms of complementary and alternative medicine that have become popular in recent decades as methods of managing stress and improving health status. Investigations conducted in nonwork settings have shown that a single session of yoga postures or guided meditation can improve psychological and physiological markers of SNS activation. Acute yoga and/or meditation practice have been shown to reduce perceived stress , 11, bloty (HRV) . By contty (HRV) , 15. It is often difficult for individuals to commit to regular stress-reducing practice due to time restrictions incurred by work and family life. Brief bouts of yoga or meditation in the workplace could be a potential method to counteract stress. However, to date, no trial has evaluated the effectiveness of such practices.via self-perceived stress, blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and time and frequency domains of HRV.The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of acute yoga posture and guided meditation practice, performed while seated in the office workspace, on physiological and psychological markers of stress. We hypothesized that both practices would elicit a relaxation response versus the continuation of usual office work (control) evaluated via randomization schedule (http://www.randomization.com/) and were blind to their allocation until after the completion of the baseline assessment. The University of Western Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee approved all study procedures, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. This was an exploratory study involving a within-subjects crossover design. Participants completed three conditions, including yoga postures, guided meditation, and control, separated by ≥24 hours. Participants were randomized (i) adult (≥18 y), (ii) employed full-time in a sedentary  position, (iii) English language sufficient to understand research procedures and provide written informed consent, and (iv) willingness to undergo study protocols.(i) uncontrolled illness, (ii) use of medication known to alter heart rate or blood pressure, and (iii) acute or chronic medical condition that would impede the assessment of outcome measures.A demonstration of the yoga and meditation practices was provided at least one day prior to the first testing session. Each testing session was completed in the office or cubicle workspace of the participant, at a pre-arranged time, during regular office hours. Participants were advised to follow the same meal and beverage patterns on each testing day. All three assessments were completed at precisely the same time of day. Participants were asked to turn off their office and mobile telephones during each testing session. The testing equipment was portable and set-up with minimal disruption to the usual work activities of the participant. A timeline of the study procedure is presented in The purpose of the 5-min baseline assessment was to collect physiological and psychological data reflective of usual office work. Participants were therefore instructed to continue with their work as usual. Minor movements such as mouse clicking or typing were allowed; however, major arm, leg, or trunk movements or rising from the chair, were to be avoided.Immediately following the baseline assessment, participants performed one of the three conditions  for a 15 min period.The purpose of the 15 min postintervention assessment was to evaluate the effect of intervention withdrawal. During this period, participants were instructed to resume their usual work adhering to the same movement restrictions applied during the baseline assessment.Participants were instructed to perform fifteen minutes of gentle yoga postures while seated in their chair. The intervention, described in detail by Diab , involveParticipants performed fifteen minutes of guided meditation instructed by a prerecorded mp3 file , delivered via Ipod  and headphones . The practice emphasized deep breathing, visualization, and alleviating internal dialogue. Participants were instructed to follow the instructions as closely as possible. Participants were instructed to continue with their office work with the same movement and talking restrictions as applied during the baseline recording.via auscultation.Perceived stress and blood pressure were collected at timepoints 1 to 5 (T1–T5) . PerceivHeart rate, respiration rate, and time and frequency domains of HRV were recorded continuously. Data were analysed in seven 5 min phases including 1 × 5 min recording at baseline (P1), 3 × 5 min recordings during the intervention (P2–P4), and 3 × 5 min recordings postintervention (P5–P7).Respiration rate was evaluated using a PowerLab 26T Advanced Teaching System and a Piezo Respiratory Belt Transducer attachment  placed level with the umbilicus. Data were recorded in LabChart 7.1. Respiration rate  in breaths per minute was calculated for each 5 min phase.2) and relative (%) units, the High Frequency (HF) power component (0.15 to 0.4 Hz) measured in absolute (ms2) and relative (%) units, and the Low Frequency to High Frequency Ratio (LF : HF). Low measures of HRV including low TP and low SDNN are significant and independent risk factors for coronary artery disease [Heart rate and HRV were recorded using a telemetric Polar Heart Rate Monitor . The polar RS800 is functionally equivalent to the S810 model, which has been validated for short-term recordings of HRV , 18. Per disease  and all- disease . Data we disease .P < 0.05 was considered indicative of statistical significance.All available data were included in statistical analyses performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 18.0 . All data were inspected visually and statistically for normality. Normally distributed data were described using mean ± standard deviation or mean ± standard error, as indicated, and nonnormally distributed data were described using median and ranges. Nonnormally distributed continuous variables were log-transformed prior to entry into parametric statistical models. Contrast analysis was used to test the difference in the change score from baseline (T1 or P1) to each subsequent phase or timepoint between the control condition and yoga or meditation separately. Similar contrast analysis was used to compare the difference between yoga and meditation conditions. 2 and two individuals fulfilled the criteria for obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2). One obese participant also had type 2 diabetes. Additional controlled diseases in the cohort included asthma (n = 3), chronic fatigue (n = 2), and hypertension (n = 1). No participant had a history of tobacco use. The majority of participants held academic positions involving teaching and research and did not engage in yoga and/or meditation practice over the previous year.Participant characteristics are presented in All data are presented in full in Tables Perceived stress was significantly reduced immediately postyoga and postmeditation versus control, and these effects were maintained throughout the postintervention period . There wChanges in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were not significantly different between yoga versus control or yoga versus meditation at any timepoint; however, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly reduced in meditation versus control at T3 (see Tables P < 0.05) and regressed toward the baseline value postintervention. No significant differences were noted between yoga and meditation.Respiration rate decreased by 24.6% (mean of P2–P4) during yoga and increased 8.9% during control . Both efYoga significantly increased heart rate by 6.5% (mean of P2–P4) versus control . By contSDNN increased during yoga and decreased during control, and the difference between conditions was significant . The mosvia logarithmic transformation prior to analysis with parametric statistical models.Total Power (TP) and absolute HF and LF power components were not normally distributed and were therefore normalized The findings for log-TP were similar to those obtained for SDNN. Log-TP increased during yoga and decreased during control, and the difference was primarily mediated by the large decrease in control . The absLog-TP was significantly reduced in control versus meditation during P2 only . This chLog-TP significantly increased in yoga versus meditation in P2, and this change was accompanied by a trend toward increased absolute and relative LF components and a trend toward reduced relative HF component , and these effects were maintained throughout the 15 min postintervention period . PhysiolThe adaptation of certain physiological outcome measures during yoga or meditation practice, such as SDNN and log-TP, was mediated by increased stress during control. It could, therefore, be hypothesized that the 5 min baseline recording in all conditions reflected an artificial state in which greater parasympathetic modulation may have been the product of interaction between the participant and tester . Postintervention responses in every condition demonstrated a return to the baseline value, indicating that interaction between the participant and tester may have exerted relaxation during this period as well. Thus, in a true workplace situation, the parasympathetic influence would likely be lower, as observed in SDNN and log-TP measures during P2–P4.Both yoga and meditation reduced the respiration rate compared to control . The yogRespiration was not significantly different between yoga postures and meditation at any timepoint . HoweverTreatment effects noted for HRV time and frequency domains during yoga and meditation may have been influenced by respiration. Deep breathing is known to increase parasympathetic modulation . PreviouThe improvement of TP during yoga versus control was accompanied by increased or a trend toward increased log-LF, relative LF, and the LF : HF ratio during P2 and P3. This largest increase in these parameters was detected in P2, during the initiation of physical postures. The LF component reflects both sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation . InterveThe meditation condition significantly increased SDNN and TP versus control during P2 only. These effects were accompanied by an increase in log-LF. The sharp reduction in SDNN and log-TP from P2 to P3 may have been due to the specific instruction, compounded by the relative inexperience of our cohort. From 7:26 to 11:08 min, the guided meditation contained a silent section of no instruction. It may have been difficult for our participants, predominantly inexperienced meditators, to maintain a quiet mind during this period. Thoughts about work or daydreaming may have elicited an increase in SNS activation.Trends toward increased SDNN and log-TP in meditation versus control were noted in P4 and during the first postintervention phase (P5). Thus, significant improvements during the intervention and postintervention  may have been observed with a larger sample size, more experienced meditators, and/or removal of the silent section of the guided meditation.The yoga intervention resulted in a greater number of physiological benefits than the guided meditation condition. It could be hypothesized that the performance of yoga postures is required to facilitate a quiet mind, particularly in individuals employed in professions that require significant mental focus, such as academic work. This supports the position that individuals in westernized countries benefit from performing yoga postures prior to meditation .Heart rate throughout the intervention period (from P2 to P4) was different between yoga and meditation practice. However, the relatively small (6.5%) increase in heart rate with yoga indicates that the chair-based yoga postures were only a very mild form of exertion. Other differences between yoga and meditation included enhanced time and frequency domains of HRV in the early stages of intervention period (from P2 to P3) favouring a relaxation response in yoga.Yoga and meditation had a residual effect on perceived stress as the benefits were maintained throughout the 15 min postintervention period . By contLog-LF and LF : HF were significantly reduced in yoga relative to control in P7, while RMSSD was significantly higher in meditation versus control in P6. It is not clear whether these were actual residual effects or anomalies.Systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased in the meditation condition versus control at T3 only, while no change was noted in blood pressure with yoga. However, our cohort was normotensive at baseline, and as such an improvement of blood pressure would not be expected. Future studies inducing a stress response just prior to prescribing a stress-reducing intervention may be able to facilitate a rise in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in normotensive office workers in future trials. Studies conducted in patients with hypertension have shown that meditation can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure , 31.In summary, this study suggests that participation in 15 minutes of chair-based yoga postures or guided meditation in the office workspace can acutely improve several physiological and psychological markers of stress. These effects may be at least partially mediated by reduced respiration rate. Long-term utilization of these practices to mitigate stress in the workplace may result in significant health-related benefits, including the reduced risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Randomised controlled trials to investigate such hypotheses in various sedentary occupations are recommended.


In fluids and white floc, the dominant bacteria were sulfur-oxidizing Epsilonproteobacteria and the dominant archaea were thermophilic Methanococcales. In contrast, the dominant organisms in the orange floc were Gammaproteobacteria and Thaumarchaeota Marine Group I. In all samples, bacteria greatly outnumbered archaea. The presence of anaerobic methanogens and microaerobic Epsilonproteobacteria in snowblower communities provides evidence that these blooms are seeded by subseafloor microbes, rather than from microbes in bottom seawater. These eruptive events thus provide a unique opportunity to observe subseafloor microbial communities.Microbial processes within the subseafloor can be examined during the ephemeral and uncommonly observed phenomena known as snowblower venting. Snowblowers are characterized by the large quantity of white floc that is expelled from the seafloor following mid-ocean ridge eruptions. During these eruptions, rapidly cooling lava entrains seawater and hydrothermal fluids enriched in geochemical reactants, creating a natural bioreactor that supports a subseafloor microbial “bloom.” Previous studies hypothesized that the eruption-associated floc was made by sulfide-oxidizing bacteria; however, the microbes involved were never identified. Here we present the first molecular analysis combined with microscopy of microbial communities in snowblower vents from samples collected shortly after the 2011 eruption at Axial Seamount, an active volcano on the Juan de Fuca Ridge. We obtained fluid samples and white flocculent material from active snowblower vents as well as orange flocculent material found on top of newly formed lava flows. Both flocculent types revealed diverse cell types and particulates when examined by phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Distinct archaeal and bacterial communities were detected in each sample type through Illumina tag sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and through sequencing of the sulfide oxidation gene,  White and orange flocs were fixed with 2.5% glutaldehyde for both cell counts and SEM. Samples were prepared for SEM by dehydration in a series of chilled alcohol washes , dried with a critical point dryer, mounted, and sputter-coated with platinum. Preserved whole fluids were also stained with DAPI for cell counts.Bulk carbon and nitrogen were measured using a Thermo Scientific CN Analyzer (Model Flash 2000) from subsamples of flocculent material dried at 50–60°C for 2 days. A standard curve for bulk carbon and nitrogen was made using aspartic acid as a standard and acetanilide and apple leaf as standard curve checks. Bulk sulfur was measured using a LECO S632 Sulfur Analyzer from subsamples of flocculent material dried in a dessicator for 4 days and supplemented with sterile sea sand (Fisher) to meet minimum volume requirements. A standard curve for bulk sulfur was made using coal with known sulfur content provided by LECO. Two subsamples were analyzed for each floc sample and replicate readings were averaged for all bulk C, N, and S measurements.Total genomic DNA was extracted from Sterivex filters as previously described  and in the orange flocculent sample, using the newly designed primers and conditions described by Akerman et al. (in review). The PCR reaction mixture consisted of 1X buffer (Promega), 4 mM MgCl2, 0.2 mM of each deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP), 0.6 μM of each primer, 1 U GoTaq polymerase (Promega), 1 μl DNA template, and DEPC H2O to 25 μl. Thermocycling conditions on an Eppendorf thermal cycler consisted of an initial denaturation step at 94°C for 3 min, followed by 35 cycles of 94°C for 30 s, 46°C for 45 s, and 72°C for 1 min, followed by a final extension at 72°C for 5 min. The primers used in this study were sox527F (5′-TGGTWGGWCAYTGGGAATTTA-3′) and sox1198R (5′-AGAANGTATCTCKYTTATAAAG-3′). These primers target the genera Sulfurovum, Sulfurimonas, and Nitratiruptor. The soxB gene in members of the Epsilonproteobacterial genera Arcobacter and Nitratifractor are more like sequences in Gammaproteobacteria and are not expected to amplify with this primer set. Successfully amplified soxB PCR products were cleaned with a Qiagen MinElute PCR purification kit and run on a 0.8% agarose gel. Bands in the expected size range were gel excised, purified with the MinElute kit, cloned, and sequenced as previously described , both of which were constituted less than 0.02% of reads.The s Figure . By far,d Figure . In whitGammaproteobacteria dominated the orange floc and were also a major component of the snowblower fluid samples , Kangiella (8.7%), an unclassified Gammaproteobacterial group (8.6%), Thiotrichales (5.3%), and Methylococcales (3.5%)  and Pseudomonas (16%)  of all fluid and floc samples. The most frequently detected Betaproteobacterial genus in each snowblower fluid or floc sample was Sideroxydans, which constituted 0.4% of reads in the orange floc, 0.5% of reads in both snowblower fluid samples, and 0.08–0.1% of reads in the white floc. The genus Leptothrix was detected only in the orange floc, where this genus was assigned to 0.05% of reads.s Figure . In fluiSulfurovum and Sulfurimonas, the third most abundant taxonomic group overall was the uncultured Bacteroidetes group defined by the hydrothermal vent clone VC2.1 Bac22 . The soxB phylotypes in orange floc may therefore represent Epsilonproteobacteria that are adapted to cooler, more aerobic habitats than the phylotypes found in the white floc and non-eruptive diffuse fluids.The orange floc still contained low levels of the Epsilonproteobacteria, Sulfurovum, and Sulfurimonas, which made up roughly half of all reads in the white floc and fluid samples. Isolates of Sulfurovum and Sulfurimonas from hydrothermal vent habitats can perform both the oxidation of various sulfur compounds to sulfate using the sox system and the oxidation of sulfide to elemental sulfur using sulfide-quinone reductase (sqr)  gene. Gammaproteobacteria, such as sulfur-oxidizing members of the Thiotrichales, may also contribute to biogenic elemental sulfur production. Isolates of the Gammaproteobacterial genus Thiomicrospira from multiple vent systems in the Atlantic and Pacific are known to oxidize sulfur with the production of elemental sulfur (Wirsen et al., Beggiatoa filaments contain both sox and sqr genes (Mussmann et al., Thiotrichales were detected at low levels in all of the fluid and white floc samples and were one of the most dominant groups in the orange floc. Finally, representatives of the Gammaproteobacteria clade SUP05 may also perform sulfide oxidation with sox and sqr genes (Anantharaman et al., The peak activity of observed snowblower vents lasts from weeks to months, with microbial biomass diminishing as the sulfide levels decrease (Haymon et al., Epsilon- and Gammaproteobacteria groups that are capable of sulfur oxidation in all microbial communities associated with snowblower vents. In addition, Beta- and Gamma-proteobacteria groups capable of iron oxidation were detected in the orange floc coating the seafloor around snowblower vents. These sulfur and iron oxidizing groups take advantage of the transient energy sources provided by deep-sea eruptions and are seeded from both subseafloor and bottom seawater communities. Future analyses will include metagenomic and metatranscriptomic work to determine the metabolic potential of the dominant and active members of snowblower communities.In summary, our observations of snowblower microbial communities substantiate the model of microbial responses to submarine eruptions described by Delaney  which inThe authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.


Toxocara cati. Twenty Mongolian gerbils and Wistar rats were divided into ten groups (n = 2/group). Toxocara cati infections were established in Mongolian gerbils and Wistar rats by administering doses of 240 and 2500 embryonated Toxocara cati eggs by gavage, respectively. Tissue sections were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin and observed under the light microscope. Sera and vitreous fluid collected from separate infected groups were tested against Toxocara cati antigens, for 92 days postinfection. Genomic DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks, and aqueous fluids belong to the animals. The histopathology test gave negative results among the groups of animals examined between 5 and 92 days postinfection. The ELISA results showed that anti-Toxocara antibodies have risen between 7 and 61 days postinfection in sera and vitreous fluid in the animals infected, respectively. Analysis of PCR products revealed positive band (660 bp) in the orbital tissue infected Mongolian gerbils at 5 days postinfection. Of the three evaluated methods, the PCR could be recommended for scientific and laboratory diagnoses of toxocariasis in experimentally infected animals.The aim of this study was to compare the performance of three in-house diagnostic tests, that is, histopathology, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for the diagnosis after experimental infection with  Toxocara canis (a round worm of dogs) and Toxocara cati (common round worm of cats) cause toxocariasis. Ingestion of Toxocara species eggs containing third-stage larvae, due to geophagia, pica, and the consumption of contaminated raw meat or liver, is considered as possible cause of visceral larva migrans (VLM) or ocular larva migrans (OLM) [Toxocariasis is one of the most commonly reported zoonotic helminthic infections in the world. Both ns (OLM) , 2.Toxocara larvae species is uncommon but of interest to ophthalmologists because it largely affects the young people in whom it can cause significant ocular morbidity or even blindness. The clinical sign of ocular toxocariasis in human often includes diminished vision, leukocoria, red eye, and strabismus. The diagnosis of suspected ocular toxocariasis is supported by the presence of chorioretinal or focal lesions in posterior eye segment in the presence of positive serology [Toxocara cati (T. cati) is the common worm of cats and its third-stage larvae are possible cause of OLM. Several studies have been reported that human can be infected by the ingestion of T. cati embryonated eggs with contaminated soil or eating larvae within paratenic hosts including birds and small rodents. There is little finding on the location of T. cati larvae in paratenic hosts including the eye as causative agents of human toxocariasis [Ocular infection with serology , 4. Toxocariasis , 6.Toxocara infections has been increasing. Several studies have reported the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the characterization and the diagnosis of toxocariasis compared to other parasitic diseases in natural or experimentally infected animals [In the last few years, several authors have approached diagnosis through the specific detection of antigens or antibodies , 8. Neve animals , 12. T. cati third-stage larvae, compared to histopathology and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).Based on the widespread use of polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases, and to the best of our knowledge that there are no reports about of use of PCR in diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis, this study was designed to evaluate PCR for being used in the diagnosis after experimental ocular infection with n = 2/group): each two animals of the same, were infected orally with approximately 240 and 2500 embryonated T. cati eggs, respectively [Ten Mongolian gerbils  and ten Wistar rats  were assigned in ten experimental groups . Adult worms of T. cati were collected from the intestines of infected stray cats and the eggs were isolated from uteri of female worms, were decoated by sodium hypochlorite (7% w/v), and were embryonated in 2.5% formalin/ringer solution while being incubated at an atmosphere of 5% CO2 in 25°C for 3 weeks [T. cati were prepared from third-stage larvae by the method of de Savigny (1975) with modification [ES antigens for ELISA assay were obtained from third-stage larvae (ES/L 3 weeks . The larfication .μm thickness were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) and after mounting, were observed under the light microscope.Samples of eyeball from the infected animals were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, dehydrated with graded ethanol, and embedded in paraffin. Tissue sections of 5 T. cati third-stage larvae as described. The plates were coated with 100 μL of ES antigen in coating buffer  and incubated at 4°C overnight. Excess antigen was removed by washing the plate three times in phosphate buffered saline-Tween 20 . Excess binding sites were blocked for 1 hr at 37°C with 100 μL of bovine serum albumin (1% dilution in PBS). The wells were washed, and then 100 μL of diluted serum (1 : 100 in PBS) and vitreous humor (1 : 2 in PBS) were added to each well and incubated for 1 hr at 37°C. The plates were washed as before, and 100 μL of horseradish peroxidase-conjugated sheep anti-mouse IgG at a 1/1000 dilution in PBST was added and incubated for one hour at 37°C. After washing, the plates were incubated with chromogen/substrate (100 μL/well ABTS peroxidase substrate) and the reaction was terminated with peroxidase stop solution  after 5 min. The absorbance at 405 nm was monitored with a MUNK microplate reader. The cutoff point was set as 2SD above the mean of control samples.ELISA was carried out in flat-bottom96 microplates. The ES antigen was collected from culture supernatant of T. cati. PCR reaction was performed in 10 mM Tris-HCL, pH 8.8, 1.5 mM MgCl2, 50 mM KCl, 0.1% Triton X-100, dNTP 200 μM, primers 1 μM, and 1U Taq polymerase per 25 μL. The reaction was carried out under the following conditions: 94°C for 45 s, 58°C for 45 s, 72°C for 90s, and final extension 72°C for 10 min. Corresponding PCR products were electrophoresed in 1.4% agarose gel with 0.5 μg/mL ethidium bromide, and a 100-bp ladder was used as DNA sizemarker for estimating the size of the amplicons and photographed using a gel documentation system (UV Transilluminator).Extraction of DNA was done from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks, and aqueous fluids belong to gerbils and rats. FFPE blocks were cut and deparaffinized using Xylol due to standard protocols. Genomic DNA was isolated from individual samples using QIAamp DNA Mini and Blood Mini Handbook Kit  according to the manufacturer's instruction. The specific forward primer JW4 (5′-ACTGTCGAGGATGAGCGTGA-3′)  was usedToxocara infection, the performance and agreement among the three different methods, namely, histopathology, ELISA, and PCR methods, were evaluated.In an attempt to identify the optimal procedure for the diagnosis of ocular Toxocara antibodies in sera. The test was positive at an OD greater than 0.310 and higher in 10 Mongolian gerbils and 5 Wistar rats. At the sixty-one day PI the test was positive for aqueous fluid in 11 out of 20 animals (55% sensitivity), where the test was positive at an OD of 0.300 or more in nine Mongolian gerbils and two Wistar rats  reading greater than 0.300 and less than 0.260 can be interpreted with assurance as positive and negative, respectively. Caution may be necessary with specimens with inter with mediate values. At the seventh day PI, the test was positive in 15 out of 20 animals (75% sensitivity), where the animals showed anti-tar rats .T. cati was found in the vitreous fluid of experimentally infected Mongolian gerbils. No positive band was shown in samples of Wistar rats  in the orbital tissue infected Mongolian gerbils at 5 days PI. The DNA of tar rats . Toxocara larvae reach eye tissue, where they induce inflammatory reaction, frequently without the sign or symptoms that accompany the visceral toxocariasis [Toxocara antibodies or antigens in vitreous humor has been reported to be a sensitive method for detecting toxocariasis in infections or human ocular toxocariasis [Toxocariasis is an important infection among socioeconomically disadvantaged young children and is low in adults. Ocular larva migrans occurs when cariasis –22. The cariasis . The precariasis .In this study we compared the performance of three different diagnostic techniques including: histopathology, indirect ELISA and PCR on eyeball and retina tissue during the infection of Mongolian gerbils and Wistar rats from 5 to 92 days PI.T. cati in the animals not caused important histological alternative in cellular structures of the eye. Histopathologic examination did not detect foreign bodies or tumors in the affected region, and the ophthalmic examination did not suggest an infectious process. Serological testing is the primary diagnostic tool in patient suspected for ocular and visceral larva migrans, but these tests are insufficient, as cross-reactions may occuring. For example, cross-reactivity has been reported between T. canis and Trichinella spiralis, and T. canis and Ascaris lumbricoides [T. canis with ELISA, in eighteen pigs at 7 days PI, with high titers persisting over an 84-day period [The infection with ricoides . Sommerfy period . In currToxocara larvae may migrate and persist in the eye of experimental infected animals. This opinion is challenged by several authors, who argued that Toxocara is as a causative ocular toxocariasis [Toxocara ova and reported that 10% of infective larvae were found before day 5 in liver tissue and also showed that ophthalmoscopically, a motile larva was observed in the retina at 14 days PI [Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii, thus permitting the diagnosis of infection earlier than when conventional diagnostic techniques such as microscopy or serology are being used [An alternative approach to detection of toxocariasis is to use a molecular-based-method such as PCR. When PCR was applied to eye tissue and aqueous fluid of infected Mongolian gerbils, detection of the specific amplification started at 5 days PI. This was not possible in other stage of infection . Our PCR approach in retina demonstrated the presence of the parasite genome before one week PI, while the histological method was not useful for detection of parasite at the retinal and subretinal levels. The PCR in vitreous humor could also be more sensitive than the detection of antibodies by ELISA in the animals in early infection, since prominent positive serology was detectable from 61 days PI. This period in animal challenge, although not strictly equivalent to human infection in clinical course, could be considered as an acute infection in patients regarding the parasitic migration and development. It seems that the transmission of larvae was first from intestine to the liver, lung and eye, and then 5 days PI they migrated to other organs. Sometimes larvae return back to the eye to create lesions at the end of migration. It has been demonstrated that cariasis , 29. In ing used , 32.T. cati in experimentally infected Mongolian gerbils and Wistar rats revealed that molecular method was the most sensitive and superior compared to both histopathology and ELISA in the early diagnosis of ocular infection. The PCR provided a rapid, reliable and sensitive means by which one establish the exact etiology of such parasitic infection so that optimal therapy can be started promptly. The superior performance of the PCR in detecting infected Mongolian gerbils and Wistar rats in this small experimental population warrants further evaluation in a larger population of animal models and humans naturally infected with T. cati. Histopathology, serology (ELISA), and molecular (PCR) methods tested for diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis caused by


Regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) is gaining popularity in continous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for critically ill patients. The risk of citrate toxicity is a primary concern during the prolonged process. The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetics of citrate in critically ill patients with AKI, and used the kinetic parameters to predict the risk of citrate accumulation in this population group undergoing continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) with RCA.Critically ill patients with AKI (n = 12) and healthy volunteers (n = 12) were investigated during infusing comparative dosage of citrate. Serial blood samples were taken before, during 120 min and up to 120 min after infusion. Citrate pharmacokinetics were calculated and compared between groups. Then the estimated kinetic parameters were applied to the citrate kinetic equation for validation in other ten patients’ CVVH sessions with citrate anticoagulation.p = 0.423 and 0.247, respectively). The predicted citrate curve showed excellent fit to the measurements.Total body clearance of citrate was similar in critically ill patients with AKI and healthy volunteers . Basal and peak citrate concentrations were similar in both groups (Citrate clearance is not impaired in critically ill patients with AKI in the absence of severe liver dysfunction. Citrate pharmacokinetic data can provide a basis for the clinical use of predicting the risk of citrate accumulation.NCT00948558ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier  Regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA), which restricts its powerful antithrombotic effect to the extracorporeal circuit, has been increasingly adopted as an alternative to heparin in critically ill patients with high risks of bleeding. Besides a significant decrease in bleeding Under physiologic circumstances, citrate is metabolized in the liver, skeletal muscle and renal cortex During continuous dialysis modalities, a larger total load of citrate is delivered over a prolonged treatment process compared to intermittent hemodialysis. The early and available assessment of citrate accumulation during RCA-CRRT is of high relevance. However, plasma citrate monitoring during CRRT is not routinely available. Though several indirect markers of citrate accumulation such as pH, anion gap, total calcium, ionized calcium or total/ionized calcium ratio have been suggested To improve safety and expand the use of RCA, in this study, we first investigated the citrate pharmacokinetics (PK) in critically ill patients with AKI. Then, we implemented the pharmacokinetic parameters to prospectively evaluate the citrate level in this patient group during the continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH).Critically ill patients with AKI, aged 18–75 yrs, requiring CRRT, were included in this study. Exclusion criteria were severe liver injury or liver failure, marked alkalosis (PH >7.5), blood or plasma transfusion within 24 hours prior to the study, use of citrate-containing medications, dying within 48 hours. A total of 22 critically ill patients with AKI were included. Twelve of 22 patients were involved for the investigation of the citrate pharmacokinetics, and as a comparative group, twelve age-and gender matched healthy volunteers without regular medications and a normal renal function according to the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula were enrolled. The healthy volunteers were recruited from the local community and Fudan University. Every healthy volunteer who took part in the study participated of their own will. They would have the following benefits: receiving a free physical examination and laboratory tests for blood cell counts, routine blood biochemical values, receiving financial compensation and providing health counseling. For the application of citrate pharmacokinetics, the CVVH treatment sessions of the other 10 critically ill patients were investigated. This clinical study was designed, implemented and reported in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and local regulations. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University  and written informed consent was obtained from participants themselves or their close relatives before enrolment. We confirm that all potential participants who declined to participate or otherwise did not participate were eligible for treatment (if applicable) and were not disadvantaged in any other way by not participating in the study.All the patients were treated with CVVH using a standard citrate anticoagulation, which the trisodium citrate solution  was infused into the arterial line prior to the blood pump at a dose of 3.7 mmol/L of plasma flow, and the calcium chloride solution  was supplemented into the venous return. For citrate pharmacokinetic investigation, citrate was delivered for two hours and then stopped infusing in the following two hours while a low dose of heparin was given for anticoagulation instead. Thereafter, RCA continued. For citrate PK application, the other ten critically ill patients underwent citrate anticoagulation during the whole process of CVVH.All the healthy volunteers were given intravenous 4% trisodium citrate solution at the infusion rate of 30 mmol/h for 2 hours. Meanwhile, the diluted calcium chloride solution was replaced via a separate peripheral vein to maintain the ionized calcium concentration greater than 0.9 mmol/L.2, B. Braun, Germany). The blood flow rate was set at 150–200 mL/min. The substitution fluid was delivered at the rate of 4 L/h, which contained 121 mmol/L Na+, 3.2 mmol/L K+, 0.75 mmol/L Mg2+, 250 mg/dL dextrose, and 18 mmol/L bicarbonate. With heparin anticoagulation, the composition of substitution fluid contained 142 mmol/L Na+, 3.2 mmol/L K+, 1.5 mmol/L Ca2+, 0.75 mmol/L Mg2+, 250 mg/dL dextrose, and 34 mmol/L bicarbonate. The ultrafiltration flow rate was determined according to the patients’ condition. The blood flow rate, the ultrafiltration rate and the replacement fluid rate were recorded at each blood sampling point.CVVH was performed in pre-dilution mode using the Diapact CRRT machine  set with a HIPS 15 hemofilter  and after 10, 20, 40, 60, 120 (end of infusion), 125, 130, 140, 160, 180, 210 and 240 min postdose. In addition, 10 min after the end of citrate infusion (120 min), blood samples were taken simultaneously from both pre-filter and post-filter for the measurement of citrate clearance by filter.In the process of the other 10 patients’ CVVH treatment sessions with citrate anticoagulation, blood samples were obtained for the measurement of systemic citrate concentration at 0 h, 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 6 h, 8 h.Baseline full blood counts were measured by a Sysmex XE-2100 hematology analyzer , and baseline blood chemical values were measured by a Hitachi 7600-020a autoanalyzer . Ionized calcium was checked immediately by the i-STAT 300 analyzer every two hours of the treatment .The level of citrate in plasma was determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with ultraviolet detection at 210 nm . Plasma specimen (100 µm) were deproteinized by centrifugal ultrafiltration at 6000 g for 45 min using Sartorius Vivaspin 20 (3 Kda MWCO polyethersulfone membrane). The obtained ultrafiltrate was stored at −20°C until use. The HPLC system consisted of a Model G1311A quaternary pump, a Model G1322A degasser, a Model G1313A autosampler and a Model G1314A variable wavelength detector. The separation for citrate was performed on a Kromasil 100-3.5 C18 column  with a guard column by 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer as mobile phase (pH 2.4) at a flow rate of 0.15 ml/min. The method was found to be linear in the range of 10.9–5000 µmol/L (r = 0.996), with a detection limit  of 3.2 µmol/L. The mean recoveries were 96.2% for three spiked level. Both inter-assay and intra-assay coefficients of variation were less than 6% and 11%, respectively.e is the elimination rate constant. Because of citrate exclusion by red blood cells fiter) was calculated by the formula:Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed with the software package WinNonlin Program  using non-compartmental approaches. Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) was calculated from non-fitted data by employing the linear trapezoidal rule. The time to peak (Tmax) and the peak concentration (Cmax) were measured directly from the concentration-time curve. Volume of drug distribution (Vd) and total drug clearance (Cl) were calculated by use of standard formulae:body) was obtained by subtracting the citrate extracorporeal clearance from the total citrate clearance.UF is the ultrafiltration flow rate, and Cin and Cout are plasma water concentrations of citrate at the inlet and the outlet of the filter, respectively. Qpw can be calculated by the following equation: After obtaining the citrate pharmacokinetic parameters, we applied them to the citrate kinetic modeling equation According to the pharmacokinetic principle of CRRT 1 = n2 = The required sample size for citrate PK study was estimated by the equation: nThe clinical characteristics of patients involved for citrate PK study are summarized in Main pharmacokinetic parameters are displayed in Measured systemic citrate and ionized calcium concentrations are shown in Citrate is mainly metabolized in two organs, the liver and the kidneys Our data demonstrate that citrate clearance is not impaired in critically ill patients with AKI in absence of severe liver dysfunction, compared to the healthy volunteers. Citrate dose, basal and peak citrate concentrations, AUC were not different between groups. It was suggested that the citrate can be successfully metabolized in critically ill patients with AKI. It could be explained by hepatic predominant metabolism of citrate. Of note, although the distribution volumes of citrate were not statistical different between two groups, there was a lower tendency in patients group. This parameter in our patient group was similar to the result reported by Kramer et al, in contrast to the result of Kozik-Jaromin’s study In clinical setting, the routine test of plasma citrate concentration is not available. Instead, the reliability of several indirect markers of citrate accumulation, such as: the arterial pH, anion gap, or total calcium-ionized calcium ratio, are controversial and repeated monitoring increases the complexity of RCA procedure. What’ more, up to date there has no available and convenient way to assess the risk of citrate accumulation before treatment at patient’s bed. In the current study, we validated the citrate kinetic equation proposed by Yee et al in the critically ill patients with AKI during RCA-CVVH. Because none of the patients developed citrate accumulation, the utility of the model to predict citrate toxicity could not be reflected by the protocol applied. Nevertheless, our data demonstrated that the citrate kinetic model based on the citrate PK is a useful tool to predict the development of citrate concentrations in the procedure of RCA-CVVH. Given the CRRT treatment parameters and citrate PK, prior to the treatment, we could tell whether the patient would have high citratemia and whether the patient’s RCA-CVVH protocol would be safe and sound. For instance, to the same patients, when the blood flow is set at 200 ml/min and the substitution fluid is at the rate of 2L/h, the predicted maximum systemic citrate concentrations will exceed 1.0 mmol/L, which is not quite safe. In this case, we should optimize the RCA-CVVH protocol to improve safety, e.g: increasing the effluent fluid rate to increase the citrate clearance in the extracorporeal circuit.The current study suffers several limitations. First, for ethic concern and sample size limitation, in this study, critically ill patients with various RIFLE stages were not stratified. Second, the fitness of citrate kinetic equation was just tested in the mode of pre-dilution CVVH. It awaits further clinical validations in other modalities of CRRT.Citrate clearance is not impaired in critically ill AKI patients in the absence of severe liver dysfunction. Citrate pharmacokinetic data provides a basis for the clinical use of citrate kinetic equation to estimate the risk of citrate accumulation and design safety RCA protocols.


Thyroid hormones have a crucial role in metabolism and proliferation of blood cells. Thyroid dysfunction induces different effects on blood cells such as anemia, erythrocytosis leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and in rare cases causes’ pancytopenia. It also alter RBC indices include MCV, MCH, MCHC and RDW. Thus this study attempted to evaluate effect of hypo & hyperthyroidism on blood cell count and RBC indices.This study performed on 102 patients with hypothyroid (14.1 years), 84 with hyperthyroid (15.6 years) and 118 healthy individuals (15.2 years) as control group. Initially patients TSH level of patients was determined by ELISA method, and then according to TSH ranges (0.3-5.5µIU/mL) patients were divided into two Hyperthyroidism (TSH<0.3µIU/mL) and hypothyroidism (TSH>5.5µIU/mL) groups. Then, complete blood count was measured by cell counter. Finally, obtained results were analyzed by SPSS software.Analyzes of obtained data revealed statistically significant difference between two groups of patients in RBC count, MCH, MCHC, RDW, HB and HCT, but the difference was not significant for WBC and PLT counts and MCV .In case of patients with unknown hematological dysfunctions, must be evaluated for thyroid hormones. B). Hormonal output from the thyroid is mediated by thyroid stimulating hormone  secreted by anterior pituitary. The secretion of thyrotropin itself is mediated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) secreted by the hypothalamus. Other effects of thyroid hormones include involvement in hemoglobin production in adult and maturation of Hb in fetus  and thyroxin, which can sometimes be referred to as 3, 5, 3’, 5’-tetraiodothyronine T4). These hormones are necessary for mediate metabolism rate (how quickly the body uses and stores energy). These molecules have also critical roles in early brain development, somatic growth, bone maturation, protein synthesis and regulating production of red blood cells. All these functions are regulated by attachment of the active form of thyroid hormone T3 to specific members of the nuclear receptors family . All patients who referred to laboratory in this interval, after application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, were enrolled in study. Ethical approve and patients consent statement were taken from all patients. We also chose a group of 118 euthyroid individuals as control.Control group was selected among age and sex matched euthyroid individuals without any thyroid and hematological disorders.All patients with established thyroid dysfunction were included in the study and then patients with special diseases that could affect red blood cell indices and also with inappropriate samples were excluded from the study.Reference range for thyroid stimulating factor was 0.03 –5.5µIU/mL, and according to this range we divided patients in to two age and sex matched groups of hypothyroid (TSH> 5.5µIU/mL) and hyperthyroid (TSH <0.3µIU/mL).Initially two separate blood samples were taken from each patient, 2 ml uncoagulated sample was harvested for assay and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) anti coagulated whole blood sample for complete blood cell count.Serum samples were used to determine level of TSH, T3 and T4 (ELISA) and then complete blood count were measured with EDTA anti coagulated samples by Sysmex (kx 21 Japan).Statistical AnalysisStatistical analysis was performed by SPSS software. Results were reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD) for quantitative variables and percentages for categorical variables.Statistical Independent T test was used to evaluate the significance of differences between two groups. P-value < .05 was considered as a significant change.In the 102 patients with hypothyroidism , mean age was 14.1 years  and in 84 hyperthyroidism patients mean age was 15.6  and in control group the mean age was 15.2 years  . CompariBlood cell count in these two groups of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism revealed that just RBC count has statistically significant difference (0.0001), but WBC and PLT counts did not show any statistical significant difference between these two groups  . PlateleThyroid gland as the largest and the most important endocrine gland of human body with the secretion of two hormones, T3 and T4, has a major role in metabolism of cells and organs. Thyroid gland also has a crucial effect on erythropoiesis by induction of erythropoietin secretion and also proliferation of erythroid progenitors , and 11.The most common thyroid dysfunctions, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism affect blood cells and cause anemia with different severity. These thyroid disorders also cause thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and even in rare cases cause pancytopenia (in hypothyroidism). Other blood indices including MCV, MCH, MCHC, Hb also could change during thyroid dysfunction .Thus, this study aimed to evaluate effects of thyroid dysfunctions (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism) on blood cells count and red blood cells indices.According to obtained data, red blood cell count was statistically different between patients with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism , but WBC and PIT count did not show statistically significant different in these two groups of patients .Also most red blood cell indices and parameters including MCH, MCHC, RDW, Hb and HCT had statistically significant difference between two groups of patients . RDW in these two groups did not show statistically significant difference .Comparison of two groups of patients (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism) with control group revealed statistically significant difference about Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC and RDW but no about RBC, WBC and PLT count.In a study by Geetha J and Srikrishna R in 2012, red blood cell indices were compared in patients with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism and revealed that RDW and MCV in these two groups of patients in comparison to euthyroid individuals have statistically significant difference but other RBC parameters like HB and HCT did not show any significant difference in comparison with euthyroid status but in our study, these parameters were statistically different between patients with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism and control group except for MCV .Kawa MP and et al in 2010 reported that RBC, HB and HCT in patients with hyperthyroidism were significantly higher than control groups while RBC and HB were decreased in hypothyroidism, while HCT was increased. They also showed that MCH and MCHC were lower in both groups in comparison with control group and MCV was increased in two groups of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism .Carmen S.P. Lima and et al in 2006 described four patients with Graves’ disease who had severe pancytopenia. Finally they concluded that thyroid evaluation for all patients with pancytopenia should be performed even though no related symptoms are found .According to obtained data we suggested that all patients with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism should be periodically evaluated for probably hematological changes.Thyroid dysfunctions have a direct effect on most red blood cells indices and these changes should be considered by medical care provider.


Solanum tuberosum. Among them, S. bulbocastanum and S. commersonii are well known for their strong resistance to environmental stresses. However, scant information is available for these species in terms of genome organization, gene function, and regulatory networks. Consequently, genomic tools to assist breeding are meager, and efficient exploitation of these species has been limited so far. In this paper, we employed the reference genome sequences from cultivated potato and tomato and a collection of sequences of 1,423 potato Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) markers that show polymorphic representation across the genomes of S. bulbocastanum and/or S. commersonii genotypes. Our results highlighted microscale genome sequence heterogeneity that may play a significant role in functional and structural divergence between related species. Our analytical approach provides knowledge of genome structural and sequence variability that could not be detected by transcriptome and proteome approaches.Tuber-bearing potato species possess several genes that can be exploited to improve the genetic background of the cultivated potato  Potatoe of the Solanaceae family includes approximately 188 tuber-bearing species [Solanum bulbocastanum Dun. and S. commersonii Dun. ex Poir. have attracted the attention of researchers and breeders. S. bulbocastanum is a known source of resistance to late blight disease of potato, and four late blight resistance genes have been cloned from this species to date [S. commersonii ranks first among Solanums in terms of cold tolerance and capacity to cold acclimate, and it is also a source of resistance to pathogens such as Ralstonia solanacearum and Pectobacterium carotovorum [S. bulbocastanum and S. commersonii are among approximately 20 diploid potato species classified as superseries Stellata by Hawkes [Solanum species, including S. bulbocastanum and S. commersonii. DArT arrays offer the potential to simultaneously survey large numbers of anonymous loci distributed throughout the genome. DArT markers are highly transferrable across populations or even across species, since the DArT array comprises a structured marker set that is surveyed in each experiment. Importantly, polymorphic DArT markers correspond to a set of DNA clones that can be sequenced for downstream applications.The subgenus  species . Among w to date –7. S. cootovorum . S. bulby Hawkes . Despitey Hawkes . The arromics collections, playing an important role for data mining and genome integration [The availability of the potato DArT array together with the recent release of the complete genome sequences of cultivated potato  and tomaegration , 19. In S. bulbocastanum and/or S. commersonii genotypes. Our aim was to define a preliminary collection of marker sequences informative for the two species as a starting point for investigation of genome structure. This collection was also useful to highlight microscale genome sequence heterogeneity that possibly plays a meaningful role in functional and structural divergence between related species.In this paper, we exploited the reference genome sequences of potato and tomato and a collection of sequences of potato DArT array markers that show polymorphic representation across the genomes of Solanum bulbocastanum and two genotypes of Solanum commersonii were analyzed in this study. S. bulbocastanum genotypes include PT29 (PI243510), a source of the late blight resistance gene RB [RB locus allele RB-rc [S. commersonii genotypes include the frost tolerant cmm1T (PI243503) [Two genotypes of PT29 PI24510, a sole RB-rc . The S. I243503)  and cmm6I243503) . Total gI243503) , with miSolanum species representative of the secondary and tertiary genepools of potato. Hybridization of genome representations from S. bulbocastanum and S. commersonii genotypes to the potato array and automatic calling of marker states were performed by Diversity Arrays Technology Pty Ltd. using established protocols [μL of each clone culture was applied to a well followed by air-drying of the plate. The FTA plates were then shipped to the University of Minnesota for PCR amplification and sequencing of clone inserts.Construction of the potato DArT array has been previously described . The potrotocols . Data thμL of 10 mM Tris pH 8.0 + 0.1 mM EDTA was applied to each FTA plate well for 10 min at room temperature. PCRs were conducted in a 50 μL volume that consisted of 1x PCR buffer , 2.5 U of Amplitaq (Applied Biosystems), 200 μM of each dNTP, 1 μL of eluate from the FTA plates (as template), and 50 pmol of each primer ). Thermocycler (GeneAmp PCR System 2700 (Applied Biosystems)) conditions were 35 cycles of 94°C for 30 sec, 55°C for 30 sec, and 72°C for 30 sec followed by a single cycle of 75°C for 5 min. To each PCR, 5 μL of 3 M NaOAC and 125 μL of ice-cold ethanol were added. The PCR plates were stored at −20°C for at least one hour and then centrifuged at 2,500 g at 4°C for 30 min. The supernatant was gently poured off, and the open plates were centrifuged upside down at 800 g for 30 sec. To each tube, 175 μL of room temperature 70% ethanol was added. The plates were again stored at −20°C and centrifuged as described above. Plates were dried completely at 37°C before adding 20 μL of TE. Amplification was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis of 2 μL of each purified PCR, staining with ethidium bromide, and visualization under UV light.For clone insert PCR, 45 μL of purified PCR product and 3.2 pmol of DArT-M13f or DArT-M13r. Each insert was sequenced in both directions in separate reactions. Resulting sequences were trimmed of vector and assembled into consensus sequences using SeqMan, part of the DNASTAR  Lasergene software package.DNA sequencing of inserts was completed at the University of Minnesota BioMedical Genomics Center using BigDye Terminator (Applied Biosystems) cycle sequencing on an Applied Biosystems 3100 or 3700 automatic sequencer. Each sequencing reaction contained 1 S. bulbocastanum genotypes and 550 hybridized in a polymorphic fashion with S. commersonii genotypes. Hereafter, these markers will be referred to as BLB- and CMM-specific markers, respectively. The remaining 117 DArT markers hybridized and were polymorphic in both species (indicated as BLB/CMM).Out of 1,423 DArT marker clones sequenced, 756 hybridized in a polymorphic fashion with Solanum phureja [Solanum lycopersicum [The genome sequence of  phureja  served apersicum , anotherpersicum , assurinpersicum . solitary. Each solitary marker was further subclassified as (1) solitary one match, if it aligned only once to the genome, or (2) solitary multiple matches, if it aligned more than once. A DArT marker whose alignment to the genome overlapped that of other DArT marker sequences was classified as an overlapping DArT. A DArT marker sequence having multiple matches to the genome, some of which are solitary and some of which are overlapping, was classified as subcategory (3) mixed. Other overlapping markers were further classified as overlapping in uniform groups when the group was composed of the same set of overlapping DArT marker sequences. This category comprised two subcategories: (4) overlapping in uniform groups—one match occurring only once in the genome and (5) overlapping in uniform groups—multiple matches appearing in two or more genome locations. DArT marker sequences which show multiple matches to the genome sequence and overlap sets of different DArT markers are defined as (6) overlapping in heterogeneous groups.DArT marker sequences were aligned to the genome sequences using the splicing alignment software GenomeThreader  with 70%Fifty-three DArT marker sequences that did not align to either the potato or tomato genome sequences based on the GenomeThreader approach were assembled using CAP3  .Solanum species more closely related to potato [About 92% and 79% of all DArT sequences could be aligned the potato and tomato genomes, respectively . These co potato .solitary one match, with 344 and 321 matches for potato and tomato, respectively, and as group (4) overlapping in uniform groups-one match, with 755 matches for potato and 663 matches for tomato (solitary multiple-matches and (5) overlapping in uniform groups-multiple matches show alignment to more than one genome region; this is probably due to repeated regions in the genome sequence; therefore, we considered these markers to be redundant. Groups (3) mixed and (6) overlapping in heterogeneous groups comprise DArT sequences with different alignment configurations probably due to intrinsic sequence properties. DArT marker sequences assigned to categories (1) and (4) localize in unique regions in both the potato and tomato genomes. Since these markers are associated unambiguously to specific genome locations, they were considered as nonredundant markers and were subjected to further analyses; DArT markers not assigned to alignment categories (1) and (4) were not considered further.Sequence alignments were grouped into six categories, as described in r tomato . For alir tomato . For alir tomato . BrieflyPstI. PstI is a methylation-sensitive enzyme; therefore, it is possible that it acts mainly on hypomethylated DNA which, in turn, may correspond to gene regions, which are typically hypomethylated [In total 1,099 and 984 nonredundant  and group (4)) DArT marker sequences align to the potato and tomato genome sequences, respectively. The majority of the marker sequences aligns with a sequence identity exceeding 80% and a coverage greater than 90% . The perthylated . In FiguIn percentage, the two marker groups (1 and 4) represent 84% and 88% of all markers sequences aligned to the potato and the tomato genomes, respectively. Interestingly, in contrast with average results across all DArT sequences  showing http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/257218). In general, BLB DArT markers encompass a greater number of nucleotides in each genome than CMM or BLB/CMM markers. This is not surprising since BLB markers are the largest subset of DArT markers examined in this study. BLB DArT markers represent 208.8 Kbp of the potato genome but only 175.8 Kbp of the tomato genome. In contrast, CMM and BLB/CMM markers represent approximately equivalent regions of the potato and tomato genomes . We further divided the nonredundant DArT markers into two subclasses. Common markers align with the genome sequences of both potato and tomato; specific markers align to only one of the two genomes  or gapped . It is noteworthy that the same DArT marker sequence could be ungapped when aligned to the potato genome and gapped when aligned to the tomato genome or vice versa. The relative ratio of gapped versus ungapped regions of all BLB, CMM, and CMM-BLB DArT marker sequences relative to the potato and tomato genome sequences provides insight into patterns of genome evolution and species relationships. Distinction between gapped and ungapped alignments is necessary since variability in the length of gapped markers can complicate interpretation of the degree of genome coverage by the marker sequences. In potato, for example, the size of most of the gaps (89%) ranges from 20 to ~1000 bps. The remaining ones reach a maximum at ~5000 bps (not shown). For common DArT markers, the contribution of ungapped regions to total genome representation is higher in potato than in tomato for each marker collection. In contrast, for common markers, the contribution of gapped regions is generally lower in potato than in tomato. This again reflects higher phylogenetic similarity of the wild species to the cultivated potato. However, it is interesting to note that the relative frequency of common gapped regions compared to common ungapped ones in potato versus tomato is comparable for both BLB (14.21% in potato and 16.68% in tomato) and BLB/CMM (5.14% potato and 3.16% in tomato) DArT markers. The frequency of CMM common gapped and ungapped regions differs in potato (7.73%) with respect to tomato (15.64%). This indicates that, in contrast to BLB markers, CMM markers align with fewer gaps to the potato genome sequence than to the tomato genome sequence. This implies that the genomes of S. commersonii and potato are more similar at a DNA sequence level than are the genomes of S. bulbocastanum and potato, consistent with S. commersonii being phylogenetically more closely related to potato than is S. bulbocastanum, as the analyses based on plastid genomes previously suggested [We next examined total coverage of the genome sequences from cultivated potato and tomato represented by alignments with DArT marker sequences . Details genomes . Within uggested –34.specific DArT markers, ungapped BLB markers provided the greatest overall genome coverage for both potato and tomato, consistent with higher representation of BLB markers in our dataset  for BLB, 297 (83%) for CMM, and 65 (91%) for BLB/CMM. Eight BLB and 16 CMM markers align to both genomes in a gapped configuration (gapped versus ungapped in potato versus tomato and vice versa). These sequences are a source of marker variability between wild and cultivated species that can be exploited in future studies.We compared marker origins and alignment classifications across the potato and tomato genomes . In geneguration . Interesgapped configuration  to homologous chromosomes in both potato and tomato and to gene loci with the same annotation (Table S2). The remaining two BLB, four CMM, and one BLB/CMM markers, although aligning to homologous chromosomes in genes of the same annotation, showed heterogeneous  alignment structure (Table S2). These observations of microscale genome heterogeneity may be relevant to investigation of genome structures, functionalities, and properties of the represented Solanum species.Nine DArT markers, three from BLB and six from CMM, aligned with the same alignment structure  and tomato (S. lycopersicum) belong to the subgenus Potatoe of the large and diverse genus Solanum. Although horticulturally distinct, potato and tomato share a clear evolutionary history that is well supported by molecular data [Potato  covered by DArT alignments per chromosome. For details on coverage categories see Materials and Methods.Click here for additional data file.


Rana temporaria, since a) larval amphibians are known to exhibit high levels of phenotypic plasticity of these traits in response to habitat parameters and, b) the traits' features may strongly influence individuals' future performance and fitness. In 2007 we studied these metamorphic traits in 18 ponds spread over an area of 28 km2. A subset of six ponds was reinvestigated in 2009 and 2010. This study revealed locally high variances in metamorphic traits in this presumed generalist species. We detected profound differences between metamorphing froglets (up to factor ten); both between and within ponds, on a very small geographic scale. Parameters such as predation and competition as well as many other pond characteristics, generally expected to have high impact on development, could not be related to the trait differences. We observed high divergence of patterns of mass at metamorphosis between ponds, but no detectable pattern when metamorphic traits were compared between ponds and years. Our results indicate that environment alone, i.e. as experienced by tadpoles sharing the same breeding pond, can only partly explain the variability of metamorphic traits observed. This emphasizes the importance to assess variability of reaction norms on the individual level to explain within-population variability.In order to understand adaptation processes and population dynamics, it is central to know how environmental parameters influence performance of organisms within populations, including their phenotypes. The impact of single or few particular parameters in concert was often assessed in laboratory and mesocosm experiments. However, under natural conditions, with many biotic and abiotic factors potentially interacting, outcomes on phenotypic changes may be different. To study the potential environmental impact on realized phenotypic plasticity within a natural population, we assessed metamorphic traits  in an amphibian species, the European common frog  Organisms often respond to changing environments by altering life-history traits and even morphology Experimental setups in laboratories and mesocosms are often used to infer effects of different factors on phenotypic plasticity. While the advantage of such experiments is the reduction of environmental noise, recent findings show that not only the magnitude but also direction of organisms' responses can differ between experimental venues Larval amphibians are perfectly suited to test the influence of environmental parameters on their development since they respond to different environmental conditions with a high plasticity in morphology, behaviour and development, and consequently metamorphic traits The influence of particular environmental parameters on larval development time and metamorphic mass are well studied under laboratory conditions. There, focus was laid on the influence of biotic and abiotic factors such as population density Rana temporaria, under natural conditions. Rana temporaria is an excellent species to study environmental influence on individual performance since it shows high plasticity in morphology, behaviour and larval developmental traits  of the European common frog, aits e.g..Our study population is known to exhibit strong breeding site preferences for particular ponds, and avoiding many others http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/tierschg/BJNR012770972.html; assessed on 12 June 2013) painless experiments and observations with vertebrates neither require permission nor disclosure (§ 1/§ 7 TierSchG). The vertebrates involved, Rana temporaria, experienced no pain, suffering, complaints or harm. Peter Krämer (Regierung von Unterfranken) approved the research in accordance with the “Conservation of Nature and of Landscape Act” . Ulrich Mergner (Bayerische Staatsforsten) permitted work in the forests under his care. All our work complied with the guidelines for the use of live amphibians and reptiles in field research compiled by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH), The Herpetologists' League (HL) and the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR).No Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or ethics committee approved this study as this was not required by German law. According to the German Protection of Animal Act . There, we continuously monitored more than 70 ponds for breeding site use by Rana temporaria since 2005 R. temporaria in 18 ponds, beginning with spawning and ending with the last emigrating juveniles. Selected ponds varied in breeding activity (clutch numbers), size and other characteristics , and a maximum of eight samples for large ponds. Samples were equally distributed with regard to shallow (up to 0.5 m distance from shore) and deeper water, keeping a minimum distance of 2 m between two sample sites , water frogs (Pelophylax spp.), Notonectidae and Dytiscidae (imagines and larvae) with a minimum size of 1.5 cm as potential predators, since they are known to prey on R. temporaria larvae Notonecta sp.) and newts , independent of predator-density. In an experimental setup dragonfly larvae proved to be more effective in killing R. temporaria tadpoles than other predators We defined dragonfly larvae, adult newts . Low water levels affected temperature measurements as well as the assessment of predator- and tadpole-density. Thus, these parameters could not be measured for all ponds at all events. Missing temperature values were substituted by overall temperature mean of the remaining ponds to keep this variable in the analysis. Analyses including biotic parameters could only be measured for emigration ponds (except AW04).To assess the initial number of eggs deposited in a particular pond, ponds were screened three times during the breeding season  and clutches were counted individually. As newly deposited clutches can be easily differentiated from clutches being already present in the pond for a day or more, double counting of clutches was no problem. If several clutches were fused to an indistinguishable mass, we estimated the clutch number by using the surface of a hand as a rough guide for one clutch Using the same procedure as in 2007, five of the study ponds were surveyed again for metamorphic traits in 2009 and 2010; i.e. recording number of clutches, as well as number, development time, size, and metamorphic mass of emigrating juveniles.In natural systems, a variety of different parameters interact, hampering the detection of patterns. Therefore, we used different statistical approaches to explore potential patterns, concerning different questions with regard to environmental influence on tadpoles' developmental traits. To exclude a spatial autocorrelation of environmental parameters Second, we elucidated environmental patterns explaining survival in the ponds. We applied a principal component analysis (PCA) to environmental parameters to summarize the data. We used the axes explaining most of the variance of the data in a logistic regression to analyse the survival ratio in the ponds. Furthermore, we applied different grouping-techniques to discriminate between emigration and non-emigration ponds: we performed a hierarchical clustering with all 18 study ponds and the respective scaled values for their abiotic habitat parameters. The clustering was based on Euclidean distance, using Ward's minimum variance clustering for defining groups in order to minimize the within-group sum of squares Third, we related metamorphic traits to pond characteristics. Thus, PCA-axes of pond characteristics were used as explanatory variables in linear regressions to explain metamorphic mass, size and development time. During our analysis, we observed considerably different ‘emigration patterns’ i.e. the plot of metamorphic mass of each emigrating juvenile over its emigration date. To elucidate the basis for this divergence in derived curve shapes, we carried out an additional analysis using quadratic regression to describe the relationship between metamorphic mass and development time in the ponds.We used the confidence intervals of the regression coefficients to group ponds and compare their habitat characteristics in order to look for similarities in emigration pattern and habitat. Subsequently, in order to identify the environmental parameters which best describe the observed pattern of metamorphic mass over time in the ponds, we used model selection based on corrected Akaike information criterion AICc . There, 3: p/m3) in ponds differed significantly between visits  and was lower at the second sampling ∼110 p/m3 compared to the first . However, there was no difference in predator-density between second and third sampling  were excluded due to lacking variance in parameter values, resulting in 16 abiotic parameters in further analysis . There wIchthyosaura alpestris (n = 44) and Dyctisidae .There was no significant difference in predator-density between emigration and non-emigration ponds, both overall ; as well as when different sampling events were compared . In total, dragonfly larvae were the most abundant predators , followed by Rana temporaria tadpole-density (tadpoles per m3: t/m3) decreased significantly with time . Between first and second sampling, tadpole-density dropped by factor ten . Although mean tadpole-density also decreased between second and third sampling, this difference was not significant  in k-means clustering. These two groups contained three  and 15 ponds respectively and explained 82.6 % of the variance in environmental parameters [total within sum of squares/total sum of squares], but failed to group ponds according to emigration (11 ponds) and non-emigration ponds 7 ponds, , as did Random forest analysis likewise was not able to adequately classify emigration and non-emigration ponds  – with 38.9 % error rate (‘out of bag estimation’) the correct assignment to a group was rather poor: for emigration, seven of 11 ponds were classified correctly (error rate 18.2 %), but only two of seven non-emigration ponds were classified correctly (error rate 71.4 %). The most important variables which contributed to a correct classification were water depth, structuring vegetation and temperature.Finally, principal component analysis was used to reduce the number of abiotic parameters. The first five axes explained 72.3 % of the total variance. These axes were subsequently used in logistic regression with quasibinomial error distribution to explain survival rate in the 18 ponds. However, the full model failed to validate an overall effect of the combined factors when compared to the null model . The first juveniles emigrated after 79 days, the last ones after 196 days. Furthermore, the emigration period (time between the first and the last metamorphing juvenile in the respective pond) highly differed between ponds, ranging from 59 to 114 days.Between 13 June and 5 October 2007, a total of 7348 juveniles emigrated from 11 ponds . Pond sp2 = 3531.69, df = 10, p<0.001). The smallest juveniles emigrated from pond AW03, exhibiting sizes of 11.3 mm±0.7, thus being more than 4 mm (25.6%) smaller than the largest metamorphs . Among ponds minimum sizes varied between 9.0 mm (AW09) and 12.6 mm (WG02), maximum sizes ranged from 14.4 mm (AW03) to 21.4 mm (WG07). Within ponds, coefficient of variation (CV) in size was between 6.0 and 12.3%. As expected, metamorphic mass was highly correlated with size , but variation in mass was even higher than in size. Accordingly, we could detect significant differences in body mass among ponds . The CV of mass was between 15.2 and 39.3% at metamorphosis. Juveniles of pond AW03 had lowest body mass (0.14 g±0.02). Highest masses were found in juveniles from pond WG02 (0.39 g±0.09). The lightest individual weighed just 0.07 g (AW09), factor ten less than the biggest metamorph .We fitted multiple linear regression models to identify environmental parameters influencing differences of the median in metamorphic traits between the ponds. In order to avoid an overfit of the model we reduced the number of explanatory variables 2. We used two different approaches. First, we fitted a quadratic regression using all emigrated juveniles irrespective of their pond association, resulting in an overall average regression  and bend (z) of the quadratic regression curves in all possible combinations. The different models were then ranked according their AICc, which estimates the lack of fit of the model to the real data and penalizes models for greater complexity When we compared the metamorphic traits of those five ponds where data for three years were available, no pattern could be observed . In an a2pond = 9.87, df = 4, p = 0.043; χ2year = 8.4, df = 2, p = 0.015; Survival decreased with years in the five monitored ponds  and differed significantly both between ponds and years  in Lithobates sylvaticus metamorphic size, resulting in CVs of 0.07–0.08 in two neighbouring ponds. These CV values are in the range of our study (0.06–0.12), however, without the extremes reported herein . Here, the variance of metamorphic mass was even more pronounced, being one order of magnitude between individuals.The maximum coefficient of variation (CV) was 0.39 in metamorphic mass within single ponds and average mass differed up to factor 2.84 between ponds. This high divergence of larval developmental performance is likely to shape also frogs' performance in later life stages, due to its effects on mobility, survival and fecundity The observed differences in metamorphic traits suggest differences in the developmental habitat, however, we could not detect a correlation between the metamorphic timing and mass, and the factors, which are commonly assumed to influence amphibian development most  densities varied widely between ponds, resulting in pronounced differences in competition and mortality risk. Thus, it is unlikely that the lack of detectable effects of competition and predation on metamorphic traits was due to an insufficiently strong gradient.The question arises, why none of the multiple factors we examined showed a significant correlation to metamorphic traits or cohort variance. First, variance of environmental parameters in the natural habitats might be continuous and smaller than in experimental designs, which often test extremes. Therefore, the contrast in the individual responses to these environments might be less pronounced and difficult to detect. In our study this might apply to some abiotic factors, but not to the biotic ones. Tadpole- (up to factor 700) and predator- Click here for additional data file.Table S2Correlation results of environmental parameter with metamorphic traits.(PDF)Click here for additional data file.Table S3Component loadings used in visualization of the k-means clustering.(PDF)Click here for additional data file.Table S4Summary of GLM describing survival of Rana temporaria in relation to environmental principal components.(PDF)Click here for additional data file.Table S5Summary of regression of the emigration pattern of Rana temporaria juveniles.(PDF)Click here for additional data file.Table S6Summary statistics for regression slopes of emigration patterns.(PDF)Click here for additional data file.Table S7Summary of metamorphic traits of Rana temporaria for 2009 & 2010.(PDF)Click here for additional data file.Figure S1Hie rarchical cluster of environmental parameters.(PDF)Click here for additional data file.Figure S2Confidence intervals of coefficients of regression models of emigration patterns.(PDF)Click here for additional data file.


Some authors have studied the relationship between the presence of polyps, adenomas and cancers of upper gastrointestinal tract (stomach and duodenum) and risk of colorectal polyps and neoplasms; however, the results are controversial, which may be due to study sample size, populations, design, clinical features, and so on. No meta-analysis, which can be generalized to a larger population and could provide a quantitative pooled risk estimate of the relationship, of this issue existed so far.We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate risk of colorectal polyps or neoplasms in patients with polyps, adenomas or cancers in upper gastrointestinal tract comparing with controls. A search was conducted through PubMed, EMBASE, reference lists of potentially relevant papers, and practice guidelines up to 27 November 2013 without languages restriction. Odd ratios (ORs) were pooled using random-effects models.The search yielded 3 prospective and 21 retrospective case-control studies (n = 37152 participants). The principal findings included: (1) OR for colorectal polyps was 1.15  in the gastric polyps group comparing with control groups; (2) Patients with gastric polyps and neoplasms have higher risk  of colorectal neoplasms comparing with their controls; and (3) Positive association was found between the presence of colorectal neoplasms and sporadic duodenal neoplasms .Findings from present meta-analysis of 24 case-control studies suggest that the prevalence of colorectal polyps was higher in patients with gastric polyps than in those without gastric polyps, and the risk of colorectal neoplasms increases significantly in patients with gastric polyps, neoplasms, and duodenal neoplasms. Therefore, screening colonoscopy should be considered for patients with upper gastrointestinal polyps and neoplasms. Patients with polyps, adenomas and cancers in upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract (stomach and duodenum) may have synchronous or metachronous polyps and neoplasms in their lower GI tract, especially in the colon and rectum. The mechanisms underlying synchronous or metachronous GI neoplasms remain controversial. One hypothesis is genetic factors. Changing of genes, such as APC, p53, K-ras, hMSH1, and hMSH2, plays important roles in the incidence of gastric and colorectal neoplasms.When patients undergo a screening gastroduodenoscopy and found polyps, adenomas or cancers in their upper GI tract, clinicians may encounter a problem that whether they should advised those patients to have a colonoscopy screening, the preferred modality for colorectal neoplasms screening,Some authorsWe conducted this meta-analysis according to the PRISMA guidelines.Two authors (Z.W. and Y.L.) independently assessed literature eligibility; discrepancies were discussed and resolved by consensus. The following criteria was used to select fully published studies: (1) studies that examined the prevalence of colorectal polyps or neoplasms in patients with polyps or tumors in their upper GI tract comparing with controls, (2) study cases were patients with polyps or neoplasms in their upper GI tract and controls without the above diseases, (3) studies that have an internal comparison in the same individuals, (4) studies that provided an odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI), or provided raw data to calculate these, (5) studies that were case-control or cohort design, and (6) data not duplicated in another manuscript.We extracted the following data from included studies: study characteristics , cases' characteristics , controls' characteristics , main outcome , and adjustment. Adjusted ORs were selected prior to non-adjusted ORs. For studies that did not report ORs, unadjusted OR and 95%CI were calculated. For studies that reported multiple ORs, such as ORs for both adenomas and cancers, we extracted them as separate OR. If OR for neoplasm was available, we preferred this one.We assessed the included studies' quality according to the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale, which evaluated studies' quality in meta-analyses based on three items: patient selection, comparability of controls, and ascertainment of outcome. This quality assessment scale ranges between zero up to nine stars.P<.05 was considered to represent statistically significant heterogeneity) and the I2 statistic to assess heterogeneity of ORs among studies. We considered significant heterogeneity exist when I2 values were greater than 50%.P<.05.We calculated the OR with 95% CIs in a random-effects model The search for PubMed and Embase identified a total of 17932 citations. After screening the titles and abstracts with our selection criteria, 7620 were duplicates and 10224 articles were excluded because they did not assess upper GI or colorectal polyps or neoplasms. After reviewing the remaining articles in more detail, 64 articles were excluded for the following reasons. Eighteen studies were excluded because they were not case-control trials and fifteen were excluded because they did not use internal comparator. Fourteen studies were excluded because they focused primarily on family history of polyps or neoplasms; eight studies were not relevant. Five review studies and three case report/series studies were excluded. Specially, one study was excluded because it focuses on neoplasms on papilla of vaterCharacteristics of the 24 selected studies are shown in I2 = 0).Four studiesI2 = 60.2%) (P = 0.84) and this was also described visually on a symmetrical funnel plot in Six studies= 60.2%) . We perfI2 = 62.9%) (P = 0.25) and the symmetrical funnel plot suggested no existence of significant publication bias  . A sensiion bias .I2 = 55.5%) (I2 = 10.8%). Visual inspection of the funnel plot showed symmetry, and the Egger's test was not significant (P = 0.60) (There were 7 studies= 55.5%) . Sensiti = 0.60) .Two studies reported the prevalence of colorectal neoplasms in patients with gastric cancer with age less than 50. Lee S. S. et al's studyAs far as know, this is the first meta-analysis to evaluate the synchronous or heterochronous of colorectal polyps or neoplasms in patients with polyps or tumors in upper GI tract. The principal findings of present review included: (1) OR for colorectal polyps was 1.15  in the gastric polyps group comparing with control groups; (2) Patients with gastric polyps and neoplasms have higher risk  of colorectal neoplasms comparing with their controls; and (3) Positive association was found between the presence of colorectal neoplasms and sporadic duodenal neoplasms .Is there a correlation between upper and lower GI polyps or carcinomas? First, the mechanism underlying this correlation is unknown. As mentioned above, genetic factors and environmental factors may play a role in the etiology of this correlation. Some have hypothesized that this correlation is caused by Helicobacter pylori infections.The prevalence of duodenal adenoma is rare, and its incidence has been estimated at 0.1% to 0.3% in endoscopy series.The possible limitations of our review must be taken into consideration. First, as with any meta-analysis, our results are limited by the quality and quantity of available evidence on the prevalence of colorectal polyps or neoplasms in patients with upper GI polyps or tumors. Most studies included in our meta-analysis were retrospective case-control design (n = 21 studies), however, these are the best evidence for this issue at present, which may be the foundation for clinicians and patients making decisions. Second, our meta-analysis is limited by the geographical differences, which may play a vital role on the prevalence of gastric and colorectal tumors in Western and Eastern areas. Our pooled results relative to gastric polyps are based on 5 western studies and one Korea study, and pooled results with regard to gastric neoplasms are based upon 11 Korea reports, and the pooled outcome concerning the duodenal neoplasm were achieved from 6 western studies and 1 Korea study. Therefore the applicability of our results is somewhat less useful clinically. Third, we found a significant heterogeneity among studies in some findings of our review. We cannot ruled out some residual or unmeasured confounding coming from various known risk factors, such as sample sizes, H. pylori infection, adjustment, and withdrawal time of the colonoscopy examinations, though the included studies attempted to control for them. However, our meta-analysis restrict to studies that using an internal control group, which is considered as superior in study designIn conclusion, findings from present meta-analysis of 24 case-control studies suggest that the prevalence of colorectal polyps was higher in patients with gastric polyps than in those without gastric polyps, and the risk of colorectal neoplasms increases significantly in patients with gastric polyps, neoplasms, and duodenal neoplasms. Therefore, screening colonoscopy should be considered for patients with upper GI polyps and neoplasms. Further prospective studies with larger sample size in various regions are necessary to test and verify these results.Figure S1Funnel plot of studies assessing risk of colorectal neoplasms in patients with stomach polyps than in those without stomach polyps.(TIF)Click here for additional data file.Figure S2Funnel plot of studies assessing risk of colorectal neoplasms in patients with gastric neoplasms comparing with those without stomach neoplasms.(TIFF)Click here for additional data file.Figure S3Funnel plot of studies assessing risk of colorectal neoplasms in patients with duodenal neoplasm comparing with those without duodenal neoplasms.(TIFF)Click here for additional data file.Checklist S1(DOC)Click here for additional data file.Table S1Qualities of included studies according to the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale.(XLS)Click here for additional data file.