Characterization of Escherichia coli strains producing Shiga Toxin 2f subtype from domestic Pigeon.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) can cause mild diarrhea even severe hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Shiga toxin (Stx) is the primary virulence factor. Two Stx types and several subtypes have been identified. STEC strains encoding stx2f (Stx2f-STECs) are frequently identified from pigeons. Stx2f was initially considered to be associated with mild symptoms, more recently Stx2f-STECs have been isolated from HUS cases, indicating their pathogenic potential. Here, we investigated the prevalence of Stx2f-STECs among domestic pigeons in two regions in China, characterized the strains using whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and assessed the Stx2f transcriptions. Thirty-two Stx2f-STECs (4.36%) were culture-positive out of 734 fecal samples (one strain per sample). No other stx subtype-containing strain was isolated. Four serotypes and two sequence types were determined, and a novel sequence type ST15057 was identified. All strains harbored the E. coli attaching and effacing gene eae. Two types of Stx2f prophages were assigned. Stx2f-STECs showed variable Stx transcription levels induced by mitomycin C. Whole genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (wgSNP) analysis revealed different genetic backgrounds between pigeon-derived strains and those from diarrheal or HUS patients. In contrast, pigeon-derived Stx2f-STECs from diverse regions exhibited genetic similarity. Our study reports the prevalence and characteristics of Stx2f-STECs from pigeons in China. The pigeon-derived strains might pose low public health risk.

Clinical study of matrix vascular component gel combined with vacuum sealing drainage technique in chronic wounds.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the efficacy of the combination of extracellular matrix/stromal vascular fraction gel (ECM/SVF-gel) and vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) on chronic wounds. METHODS: From February 2021 to February 2022, 20 patients with chronic wounds were recruited and were divided into experimental and control groups, with 10 patients in each group. Following debridement, we applied various treatments to all cases for 2 weeks. Subsequently, we observed the changes in the wound area and calculated the rate of wound healing. Simultaneously, the wound margin tissues were collected for histological analysis, and the inflammatory cell infiltration within the wound was assessed using HE staining. Masson staining was used to observe the collagen deposition on the wound surface, and CD31 immunohistochemistry was used to count the number of microvessels to evaluate the angiogenesis (Clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR-INR-17013540). RESULTS: The therapeutic outcomes for all cases included in this study were favorable after a 2-week treatment period, and the wound area was smaller than before. The experimental group exhibited a significantly higher rate of wound healing compared to the control group. In the experimental group as revealed by HE staining, there was a marked reduction in the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the dermis. Masson staining demonstrated that the deposition of collagen fibers in the experimental group was more than the control group. CD31 immunohistochemistry showed an increased number of new blood vessels in the experimental group compared to the control group. Additionally, ECM/SVF-gel extract significantly enhanced the fibroblast proliferation and migration in vitro. CONCLUSION: The application of ECM/SVF gel combined with VSD in chronic wounds can accelerate wound healing by reducing inflammatory reaction, increasing collagen fiber deposition, and promoting angiogenesis. Therefore, the combination of ECM/SVF gel and VSD can be used as a simple, safe, and effective therapeutic method for chronic wounds.

Genetic diversity and potential transmission of Escherichia albertii in a poultry breeding rural village.

Escherichia albertii is an emerging foodborne pathogen causing diarrhea. Though various animals, especially poultry, serve as reservoirs, the transmission of E. albertii among reservoirs and the risk to humans remain unclear. This study investigated an E. albertii infected infant with poultry exposure and collected samples from contact persons, poultries, and environment to better understand the transmission dynamics of E. albertii. One E. albertii isolate from contact person, seven isolates from poultries, and six isolates from environment were recovered, respectively. Whole genome sequencing analysis showed that eight strains derived from poultry or environment and classified as ST4633, shared great similarity (cgSNP ≤ 20). However, the patient-derived strain ESA311 had a cgSNP difference of 1165 with human strain ESA339, and differed from poultry and environmental strains (cgSNP range 2417 to 14997), suggesting a distant relatedness. Whole genome phylogeny showed several human-derived E. albertii strains were clustered with those from animal origins. Our results suggested that family-breeding poultry constituted a possible reservoir of E. albertii, with the environment acting as a crucial vector for the spread of these bacteria, posing a risk to humans. Further poultry surveillance is needed to elucidate public health risks associated with E. albertii infection.

Exploring the analytical potential of total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) combined with partial least square (PLS) for simple determination of ash content in various coal types.

Ash content, as a crucial indicator of coal quality, its rapid and accurate determination is pivotal to improve the energy utilization of coal and reduce environmental pollution. Traditional spectroscopic methods face significant challenges in acquiring accurate information from coal samples due to the notorious matrix effects arising from their complex composition, vast molecular structure, and diverse coal types. In this study, the feasibility of total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) combined with partial least squares (PLS) for the determination of coal ash was firstly investigated based on the TXRF being unaffected by matrix effects. Firstly, coal samples were prepared as suspensions, and the effects of sample particle size and different dispersants on the results of TXRF analyses were evaluated. The accuracy and applicability of the chosen sample preparation strategies were further validated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and two certified reference materials (CRMs). Subsequently, based on the analysis of 19 coal samples, the impact of three different predictive variables on the performance of the PLS model was investigated: (a) TXRF full spectrum normalized by the net intensity of the internal standard; (b) net intensity of characteristic peaks for 12 elements (Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Fe, Cr, Mn, Cu, Ni, and Sr) normalized by the net intensity of the internal standard; (c) concentrations of the aforementioned 12 elements. The results demonstrate that the PLS model constructed usingthe TXRF full spectrum normalized by the net intensity of the internal standard exhibits the best predictive capabilities, with the determination coefficient of calibration set (R2) and mean square error (MSE) of the prediction set reaching 0.9736 and 0.99 %, respectively. Moreover, the measurement accuracy of this model was six times greater than that obtained with traditional X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Presented analytical results display the possibilities of combining TXRF with PLS for coal quality evaluation.

Mechanical loading on cell-free polymer composite scaffold enhances in situ regeneration of fully functional Achilles tendon in a rabbit model.

Traditional tendon engineering using cell-loaded scaffold has limited application potential due to the need of autologous cells. We hypothesize that potent mechanical loading can efficiently induce in situ Achilles tendon regeneration in a rabbit model by using a cell-free porous composite scaffold. In this study, melt-spinning was used to fabricate PGA (polyglycolic acid) and PLA (polylactic acid) filament fibers as well as non-woven PGA fibers. The PLA/PGA (4:2) filament fibers were further braided into a hybrid yarn，which was knitted into a PLA/PGA tubular mesh with potent mechanical property for sustaining natural tendon strain. The results showed that a complete cross-section of Achilles tendon created a model of full mechanical loading on the bridging scaffold, which could efficiently induce in situ tendon regeneration by promoting host cell infiltration, matrix production and tissue remodeling. Histologically, mechanical loading assisted in forming parallel aligned collagen fibers and tenocytes in a fashion similar to those of native tendon. Transmission electron microscope further demonstrated that mechanical strain induced collagen fibril development by increasing fibril diameter and forming bipolar structure, which resulted in enhanced mechanical properties. Interestingly, the synergistic effect between mechanical loading and hyaluronic acid modification was also observed on the induced tenogenic differentiation of infiltrated host fibroblasts. In conclusion, potent mechanical loading is the key inductive microenvironment for in situ tendon regeneration for this polymer-based composite scaffold with proper matrix modification, which may serve as a universal scaffold product for tendon regeneration.

Effects of acute and chronic heat stress on the rumen microbiome in dairy goats.

Objective: The objective of this study was to reveal the influence of acute and chronic heat stress (HS) on the abundance and function of rumen microbiome and host metabolism. Methods: The forty mid-lactation goats were randomly divided into two artificial environments a control group and a heat-stressed group. This study was collected from two periods, 1 day and 28 days. The first day was defined as control 1 (CT1) and HS 1 (acute HS), and the last day was defined as CT28 and HS28 (chronic HS). On the first and last day, 6 dairy goats in each group were randomly selected to collect rumen liquid after the morning feeding through oral stomach tubes. The barn temperature and humidity were recorded every day. Results: Disruption of the rumen microbiome was observed under chronic HS, represented by an increase in the abundance of Prevotella and Bacteroidales (p<0.05), and upregulation of carbohydrate transport and metabolism functions (p<0.05). Additionally, the abundance of Succinimonas and Ruminobacter in chronic HS is lower than in acute HS (p<0.05), and the functions of intracellular trafficking, secretion and vesicular transport, and the cytoskeleton were downregulated (p<0.05). Conclusion: HS affected the interaction between the microbiota and host, thereby regulating milk production in dairy goats. These findings increased understanding of the crosstalk between hosts and microorganisms.

Factors influencing the job embeddedness of new graduate nurses: A multicentre cross-sectional study.

AIM: To identify factors associated with job embeddedness from the perspective of retaining new graduate nurses. DESIGN: The study was cross-sectional in design. METHODS: Convenience and stratified sampling were used to recruit 415 newly graduated nurses from 12 tertiary hospitals in China. Anonymized data were collected through self-designed sociodemographic questionnaires, job embeddedness scale, feedback-seeking behaviour scale, authentic leadership perception scale and decent work scale. Appropriate indicators were used for descriptive statistics and t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression to examine the influencing factors. RESULTS: The study showed that monthly income level, decent labour, authentic leadership and feedback-seeking behaviour were significant predictors of job embeddedness among new graduate nurses. CONCLUSION: The job embeddedness of new graduate nurses is moderate. Nursing managers need to construct reasonable and fair compensation incentives, adopt positive leadership styles and encourage proactive feedback-seeking behaviours to improve the job embeddedness of new graduate nurses and alleviate the nursing talent shortage. IMPACT: Exploring the factors influencing the job embeddedness of new graduate nurses provides a reference for establishing new graduate nurse retention strategies to help promote the career development of new graduate nurses and alleviate the nursing brain drain. REPORTING METHOD: We adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Intraoperative Intraocular Lens Waste: Incidence, Cost and Reasons.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and cost of intraocular lens(IOL) waste during IOL implantation, as well as the reasons for it. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 485 patients from the IOL waste registers of a single tertiary eye hospital in China during 2016-2020. The primary outcomes were the incidence, cost, and reasons for different IOL properties. Cases were examined to ascertain IOL material, design, procedural details, and causes of waste. RESULTS: IOL waste occurred in 485 (6.62‰) of the 73,246 IOL implantations during the study period. The total cost of IOL waste was 429, 850.26 Chinese Yuan (CNY) related to waste with an average cost of 2, 442.33 CNY per procedure during the study period. Comparisons between IOL properties showed that polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) material (39, 2.05%), three-piece design (142, 1.49%), and secondary IOL implantation (26, 2.16%) were associated with IOL wastage, and the difference was statistically significant. The causes of IOL waste were damage (107, 60.80%), patient reasons (37, 21.26%), aseptic errors (22, 12.50%), IOL quality problems (8, 4.55%), and loss (2, 1.14%). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of IOL waste is low, but still leads to a significant cost burden due to a large number of cataract surgeries. PMMA material, three-piece design, and secondary implantation were identified as factors increasing IOL waste. Damage emerged as the primary reason for waste, largely attributed to human error. Therefore, the development of strategies to mitigate IOL waste is imperative.

Hygroscopic cooling (h-cool) fabric with highly efficient sweat evaporation and heat dissipation for personal thermo-moisture management.

Moisture evaporation plays a crucial role in thermal management of human body, particularly in perspiration process. However, current fabrics aim for sweat removal and takes little account of basic thermo-regulation of sweat, resulted in their limited evaporation capacity and heat dissipation at moderate/intense scenarios. In this study, a hygroscopic cooling (h-cool) fabric based on multi-functional design, for personal perspiration management, was described. By using economic and effective weaving technology, directional moisture transport routes and heat conductive pathways were incorporated in the construct. The resultant fabric showed 10 times greater one-way transport index higher than cotton, Dri-FIT and Coolswitch fabrics, which contributed to highly enhanced evaporation ability (∼4.5 times than cotton), not merely liquid diffusion. As a result, h-cool fabric performed 2.1-4.2 °C cooling efficacy with significantly reduced sweat consuming than cotton, Dri-FIT and Coolswitch fabrics in the artificial sweating skin. Finally, the practical applications by actually wearing h-cool fabric showed great evaporative-cooling efficacy during different physical activities. Owing to the excellent thermo-moisture management ability, we expect the novel concept and construct of h-cool fabric can provide promising strategy for developing functional textiles with great "cool" and comfortable "dry" tactile sensation at various daily scenarios.

A Multifunctional, Tough, Stretchable, and Transparent Curcumin Hydrogel with Potent Antimicrobial, Antioxidative, Anti-inflammatory, and Angiogenesis Capabilities for Diabetic Wound Healing.

The treatment of diabetic chronic wounds is still faced with great challenges, mainly due to wound infection, excessive inflammation, and peripheral vascular disease in the wound area. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop a novel multifunctional hydrogel with high efficiency to accelerate diabetic wound healing. Curcumin (Cur), a Chinese herbal, has shown great potential in enhancing the healing of diabetic chronic wounds because of its immunomodulatory and pro-angiogenic properties. However, its low aqueous solubility, poor bioavailability, and chemical instability have limited its clinical applications. To address these current bottlenecks, novel poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-chitosan (CS)/sodium alginate (SA)-Cur (PCSA) hydrogels were prepared for the first time, and they demonstrated all of the above intriguing performances by the Michael addition reaction of CS and Cur. PCSA hydrogels show multiple dynamic bonds, which possess strong mechanical properties (tensile stress: ∼0.980 MPa; toughness: ∼258.45 kJ/m3; and compressive strength: ∼7.38 MPa at strain of 80%). These intriguing performances provided an optimal microenvironment for cell migration and proliferation and also promoted the growth of blood vessels, leading to early angiogenesis. Importantly, the experimental results demonstrated that PCSA hydrogels can effectively transform pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages into anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages without the need for additional ingredients in vitro. Benefiting from these characteristics, a full-thickness diabetic wound in a rat model demonstrated that PCSA hydrogels can effectively accelerate wound healing via ROS-scavenging, downregulation of IL-1ß, and upregulation of CD31 expression, resulting in angiogenesis and collagen deposition. This strategy not only provides a simple and safe Cur-based hydrogel for diabetic wound healing but also highlights the significant potential for the development of high-performance biomaterials for promoting diabetic wound healing using traditional Chinese medicine.

"Discovering shine through feedback seeking"---feedback seeking among new graduate nurses: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Feedback is critical to improving practitioners' clinical practice and professional growth. Although they are still considered junior practitioners, their feedback-seeking experiences have yet to be investigated. This study aimed to understand the fundamental thoughts and experiences of new graduate nurses regarding feedback-seeking and to identify the main factors that influence their feedback-seeking behaviors. METHODS: Conducting a descriptive phenomenological study, semi-structured in-depth interviews with newly graduated nurses from four hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China, face-to-face or via video call in the hospital conference room through purposive and snowball sampling. Interview data were evaluated using Colaizzi's 7-step phenomenological data analysis. The COREQ checklist was followed. RESULTS: A total of 15 new graduate nurses were interviewed as a sample, and 13 categories emerged from our data. They were categorized into four central elements: (1) perceptions and attitudes, (2) drivers, (3) dilemmas and needs, and (4) transformation and growth. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that new graduate nurses have various needs but face dilemmas in the feedback-seeking process. Nursing managers should be proficient at providing positive leadership, collaborating with clinical mentors to foster an atmosphere where new graduate nurses may obtain honest, transparent, and fair feedback, and exercising caution when providing negative feedback.

Effects of LED Light Colors on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Cecal Short-Chain Fatty Acid Concentrations and Microbiota in Broilers.

This study aimed to explore the effects of light-emitting diode (LED) light colors on growth, intestinal morphology, and cecal microbiota in broilers. A total of 360 healthy male Arbor Acres (AA) broilers with similar weights were selected and divided into four groups with six replicates in each group and 15 broilers in each replicate: LED white light (W), LED green light (G), LED blue light (B), and LED blue-green composite light (BG). The experimental period was 42 d, the light cycle of each treatment group was 23L:1D (23 h of light, one hour of darkness) from 1 to 3 d, and the light cycle from 4 to 42 d was 16L:8D; light intensity was 20 Lux. The results showed that the average daily feed intake and final weight of broilers receiving the B group were the highest in 21 d and 42 d compared with other groups. The average daily feed intake of the BG group was lower than that of the B group. In the same light color, small intestine villus height grows with age. On days 21 and 42, compared with other groups, the ileal villus height was higher, the crypt depth was lower, and the V/C ratio (villus to crypt ratio) was higher in the BG group. The combination of blue-green composite light was beneficial to increase the content of propionate, isobutyrate, butyrate, isovalerate, and valerate in the cecum of 21-day-old broilers and the content of isobutyrate in the cecum of 42-day-old broilers, and a decrease in cecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations with age. The B group and the BG group had higher abundances of Bacteroidetes at day 21 of age and lower abundances of Phascolarctobacterium at day 42. However, no cecal microbiota differences were detected by the Bonferroni-corrected test. In general, our research results showed that light color could promote the growth of broilers by affecting intestinal morphology, microbiota abundance (needs to be validated by further experiments), and cecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations. And blue and blue-green composite lights are more suitable for broiler growth.

Genetic Diversity and Expression of Intimin in Escherichia albertii Isolated from Humans, Animals, and Food.

Escherichia albertii (E. albertii) is an emerging diarrheagenic pathogen associated with sporadic infections and human gastroenteric outbreaks. The eae gene, which encodes intimin in the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) operon, contributes to the establishment of the attaching and effacing (A/E) lesion. Increasing collection of E. albertii strains from various sources has resulted in a rapid increase in the number of eae subtypes. This study systematically investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of eae among E. albertii strains isolated from humans, animals, and food. The eae gene was present in 452/459 (98.5%) strains and 23 subtypes were identified including two novel subtypes, named eae-α11 and η3. The eae-σ subtype was the most predominant among humans, animals, and food-derived strains, while eae-γ3, τ, and α11 were unique in human-derived strains. Additionally, the LEE island was also analyzed at genomic, transcriptional, and functional levels through genomic analysis, quantitative reverse transcription PCR, and HEp-2 cell adherence assays, respectively. The eae transcript levels were variable and associated with eae subtypes. Three different adherence patterns, including localized adherence-like (LAL), diffuse adherence (DA), and detachment (DE), were observed among E. albertii strains. This study demonstrated a high diversity of functional intimin in E. albertii strains isolated from humans, animals, and food. Further in vivo and in vitro studies are warranted to better elucidate the role of intimin or LEE in different genetic backgrounds.

PRMT1 methylation of WTAP promotes multiple myeloma tumorigenesis by activating oxidative phosphorylation via m6A modification of NDUFS6.

Epigenetic modifications play important roles during the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM). Herein, we found that protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) was highly expressed in MM patients, which was positively correlated with MM stages. High PRMT1 expression was correlated with adverse prognosis in MM patients. We further showed that silencing PRMT1 inhibited MM proliferation and tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we revealed that the knockdown of PRMT1 reduced the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) of MM cells through NDUFS6 downregulation. Meanwhile, we identified that WTAP, a key component of the m6A methyltransferase complex, was methylated by PRMT1, and NDUFS6 was identified as a bona fide m6A target of WTAP. Finally, we found that the combination of PRMT1 inhibitor and bortezomib synergistically inhibited MM progression. Collectively, our results demonstrate that PRMT1 plays a crucial role during MM tumorigenesis and suggeste that PRMT1 could be a potential therapeutic target in MM.

Transmission of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus between animals, environment, and humans in the farm.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a fearsome bacterial pathogen that can colonize and infect humans and animals. Depending on the different sources, MRSA is classified as hospital-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (HA-MRSA), community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA), and livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA). LA-MRSA is initially associated with livestock, and clonal complexes (CCs) were almost always 398. However, the continued development of animal husbandry, globalization, and the widespread use of antibiotics have increased the spread of LA-MRSA among humans, livestock, and the environment, and other clonal complexes such as CC9, CC5, and CC8 have gradually emerged in various countries. This may be due to frequent host switching between humans and animals, as well as between animals. Host-switching is typically followed by subsequent adaptation through acquisition and/or loss of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as phages, pathogenicity islands, and plasmids as well as further host-specific mutations allowing it to expand into new host populations. This review aimed to provide an overview of the transmission characteristics of S. aureus in humans, animals, and farm environments, and also to describe the main prevalent clones of LA-MRSA and the changes in MGEs during host switching.

Factors associated with health-related quality of life among employed individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A correlational study in China.

Background: The rising prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in China has led to a decline in the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of employed individuals with the condition. Consequently, healthcare providers play a crucial role in identifying the factors associated with HRQOL in this population. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the HRQOL of employed individuals with COPD and determine the relationships between symptom burden, functional performance, social support, and HRQOL. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational research design was employed for this study. A total of 130 employed individuals with COPD who visited the respiratory outpatient department at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected between August and September 2021 using a demographic questionnaire and four scales. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation were used for data analysis. Results: The study findings revealed that the mean HRQOL score among the participants was in the moderate range (M = 69.46, SD = 16.82). The correlation analysis revealed a significant negative association between symptom burden and HRQOL (r = -0.80, p <0.001). On the other hand, a positive relationship was observed between functional performance and HRQOL (r = 0.56, p <0.001), while social support did not show a significant relationship with HRQOL (r = 0.04, p >0.05). Conclusion: These findings serve as a foundation for healthcare service providers and policymakers in developing targeted nursing interventions and comprehensive management approaches for employed individuals with COPD. By addressing the symptom burden and promoting functional performance, nurses can strive to enhance the HRQOL of this population. Moreover, strategies to improve social support networks and facilitate access to emotional and practical assistance may further contribute to improving the overall well-being and satisfaction among employed individuals with COPD.

Comparison of tumor-derived total RNA and cell lysate on antitumor immune activity.

Tumor-derived total RNA (TdRNA) and cell lysate (TCL), with almost all the relevant tumor antigens, represent attractive alternative sources of antigens in antitumor immunotherapy. However, the comparison of their capacity to elicit immune responses against breast cancer is still lacking. In this study, the antitumor immune effects of TdRNA and TCL were systematically compared. We isolated TdRNA and TCL from 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells, and found that both sources of antigens could stimulate the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) at the cellular and in vivo levels, and induce robust cellular immune responses, as evidenced by the increased percentages of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the inguinal lymph nodes and spleen. But TdRNA performed stronger immunoactivities than TCL on the increase of T cell population through DCs activation. Additionally, the synergistic antitumor efficacy of paclitaxel (PTX) with TdRNA and TCL respectively was further evaluated in the murine 4T1 tumor model. Compared with TCL, TdRNA could inhibit tumor growth more effectively with low systemic toxicity when combined with PTX, which was, at least in part, attributable to the improvement of systemic immune function and tumor immune infiltration. Overall, TdRNA outperforms TCL in antitumor immunity, and is expected to be a promising candidate for application as the source of tumor antigens.

Effects of Macleaya Cordata Extract on Performance, Nutrient Apparent Digestibilities, Milk Composition, and Plasma Metabolites of Dairy Goats.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) supplementation on performance, nutrient apparent digestibilities, plasma metabolites, and milk quality in dairy goats. Twenty-four lactating Guanzhong dairy goats (n = 24) were randomly divided into two groups (each containing 12 goats) in a 52-day trial: the CON group was fed a basal diet; the MCE group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg MCE. The results indicated that the 4% fat corrected milk yield (4% FCM); uncorrected milk yield; milk-fat concentration; content of C4:0, C18:0, and C18:1n9c fatty acids in milk; and apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in the MCE group were significantly higher (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the lactoferrin (LTF), alpha-lactalbumin (α-La), and beta-lactoglobulin (ß-Lg) of the milk and feed conversion rate (FCR) of the goats were significantly greater (p < 0.01) in the MCE group than in the CON group. In contrast, the somatic cell count (SCC) (p < 0.01), content of C14:0 fatty acids (p < 0.01) of milk, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations (p < 0.05) were significantly lower in the in the MCE goats. These results show that the feeding of MCE can increase the performance and apparent nutrient digestibility of fiber in dairy goats, improving the quality of goat milk.

Rab37 Promotes Endothelial Differentiation and Accelerates ADSC-Mediated Diabetic Wound Healing through Regulating Secretion of Hsp90α and TIMP1.

Accumulating evidence indicates that adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) are an effective treatment for diabetic refractory wounds. However, the application of ADSCs to diabetic wounds is still limited, indicating that we still lack sufficient knowledge regarding regulators/mediators of ADSCs during wound healing. Rab37, a member of RabGTPase, may function as regulator of vesicle trafficking, which is a crucial event for the secretion of cytokines by ADSCs. Our previous study indicated that Rab37 promotes the adiopogenic differentiation of ADSCs. In this study, we explored the role of Rab37 in ADSC-mediated diabetic wound healing. An in vivo study in db/db diabetic mice showed that Rab37-expressing ADSCs shortened the wound closure time, improved re-epithelialization and collagen deposition, and promoted angiogenesis during wound healing. An in vitro study showed that Rab37 promoted the proliferation, migration and endothelial differentiation of ADSCs. LC-MS/MS analysis identified Hsp90α and TIMP1 as up-regulated cytokines in conditioned media of Rab37-ADSCs. The up-regulation of Rab37 enhanced the secretion of Hsp90α and TIMP1 during endothelial differentiation and under high-glucose exposure. Interestingly, Rab37 promoted the expression of TIMP1, but not Hsp90α, during endothelial differentiation. PLA showed that Rab37 can directly bind to Hsp90α orTIMP1 in ADSCs. Moreover, Hsp90α and TIMP1 knockdown compromised the promoting effects of Rab37 on the proliferation, migration and endothelial differentiation of ADSCs. In conclusion, Rab37 promotes the proliferation, migration and endothelial differentiation of ADSCs and accelerates ADSC-mediated diabetic wound healing through regulating the secretion of Hsp90α and TIMP1.