The role of CBL-CIPK signaling in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Plants have a variety of regulatory mechanisms to perceive, transduce, and respond to biotic and abiotic stress. One such mechanism is the calcium-sensing CBL-CIPK system responsible for the sensing of specific stressors, such as drought or pathogens. CBLs perceive and bind Calcium (Ca2+) in response to stress and then interact with CIPKs to form an activated complex. This leads to the phosphorylation of downstream targets, including transporters and ion channels, and modulates transcription factor levels and the consequent levels of stress-associated genes. This review describes the mechanisms underlying the response of the CBL-CIPK pathway to biotic and abiotic stresses, including regulating ion transport channels, coordinating plant hormone signal transduction, and pathways related to ROS signaling. Investigation of the function of the CBL-CIPK pathway is important for understanding plant stress tolerance and provides a promising avenue for molecular breeding.

[Long-term efficacy of balloon-assisted endplate augmentation combined with transforaminal pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures].

Objectives: To investigate the long-term efficacy of balloon assisted endplate reduction with vertebral augmentation combined with pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures, and to compare the clinical efficacy of calcium sulfate cement (CSC) and calcium phosphate cement(CPC). Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort study.The clinical data of 39 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures admitted to Hefei Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University from November 2013 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were treated with pedicle screw reduction and fixation of the injured vertebra,balloon-assisted reduction of the collapsed endplate of the injured vertebra,and artificial bone vertebral body augmentation,and the follow-up time was >5 years.There were 24 males and 15 females,aged (42.9±13.3) years (range: 29 to 56 years).According to the Frankel spinal nerve dysfunction grading standard, there were 4 cases of grade C, 7 cases of grade D and 28 cases of grade E. There were 21 cases of CSC augmentation(CSC group) and 18 cases of CPC augmentation (CPC group). X-ray and CT were performed at 1 week, 1-, 2-, 5-year after surgery and at the last follow-up, and the imaging indicators were measured, including the injured vertebra anterior edge height ratio,the injured vertebra middle height ratio,the injured vertebra wedge angle,and the sagittal plane Cobb angle. The pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) was used for functional evaluation, nervous function was evaluated according to the Frankel spinal nerve dysfunction grading standard.Independent sample t test was used for inter-group comparison, and paired sample t test and repeated measure ANOVA were used for intra-group comparison. Results: All operative procedures were successfully completed, no spinal nerve function damage occurred. The postoperative imaging indexes of the patients were significantly improved compared with those before surgery (all P<0.01). The follow-up time of patients was (6.7±2.8)years (range: 5 to 9 years). Among the 11 patients with symptoms of neurological impairment before surgery, 9 patients completely recovered at the last follow-up, and 2 patients recovered from Frankel grade C to D. There were no significant differences in imaging indexes between the first week after surgery and the last follow-up in the CPC group (all P>0.05), while there were significant differences in imaging indexes between the CSC group and the last follow-up (all P<0.05). CPC group was superior to CSC group in frontal height ratio, middle height ratio, wedge angle variation and sagittal Cobb angle correction loss at 2 year, 5 year after surgery and the last follow-up, with statistical significance (all P<0.05). At the last follow-up, there were no differences in VAS and ODI between the two groups (all P>0.05). After absorption of CSC in the filling area, a hardened zone was formed around the area, and the central cavity remained without bone tissue filling. CPC absorption was very slow, and the CPC group was still filled satisfactorily at the last follow-up. Conclusions: Balloon assisted endplate reduction and vertebral augmentation combined with pedicle screw fixation through the injured vertebra have good long-term efficacy in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures. Compared with CSC, CPC vertebral augmentation can better maintain the shape and spinal sequence of the injured vertebra in the long term, and can effectively reduce the collapse of the space above the injured vertebra.

The association between the vaginal microenvironment and fecundability: a register-based cohort study among Chinese women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between the vaginal microenvironment and fecundability among women. DESIGN: Register-based nationwide cohort study. SETTING: Chinese National Free Pre-conception Check-up Project from 2015 to 2018. POPULATION: Our study included a total of 3 388 554 eligible women who were attempting to become pregnant. METHOD: We assessed the vaginal microenvironment at baseline by considering four indices: vaginal pH, clue cell examination, whiff test and vaginal cleanliness grading. If any of these indicators was abnormal, the vaginal microenvironment was defined as poor. Propensity score matching was used to control for potential confounders and reduce bias. Logistic models were used to estimate the fecundability odds ratios (FORs) after adjustment for covariates. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Achievement of a pregnancy within 1 year. RESULTS: Of the total study population, 379 718 women (11.2%) had a poor vaginal microenvironment and their pregnancy rate after 1 year was significantly lower than the group with a normal microenvironment (71.8% versus 76.1%, P < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, the women with a poor vaginal microenvironment were associated with a 9% reduction in fecundability compared with the normal microenvironment group (FOR 0.91, 95% CI 0.90-0.92). The adverse effects of a poor vaginal microenvironment were stronger among multipara (FOR 0.89, 95% CI 0.87-0.90) or women with irregular menstruation (FOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.84-0.89). CONCLUSION: There was a negative association between a poor vaginal microenvironment and the fecundability of women. These findings highlight the significance of assessing the vaginal microenvironment during pre-pregnancy health examinations. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Women with a poor vaginal microenvironment were associated with a reduction in fecundability.

[Investigation on mindfulness level of patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumor after operation and analysis of its influencing factors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status quo of postoperative mindfulness level in patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors, to analyze its influencing factors, and to provide targeted support for the patients, in order to provide evidence for clinical support. METHODS: A total of 452 patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumor who were admitted to the Peking University School of Stomatology from January 2021 to June 2021 were followed up by convenience sampling method, the general information questionnaire, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, the 10-item perceived stress scale, and the self-esteem scale were used. The t test and analysis of variance were used to compare the scores of mindfulness of the patients with different demographic characteristics after oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors, and the differences of mindfulness levels between the patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors and the normal population were compared by the Z test, Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the scores of mindfulness and perceived stress and self-esteem. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of mindfulness levels. RESULTS: A total of 439 valid questionnaires were collected. The average score of postoperative mindfulness of the patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumor was 120.28±13.86. The scores of each dimension from high to low were as follows: act with awareness, non-judging, describing, observing, and non-reacting. Compared with the normal population, the patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumor showed significant differences in the total scores and scores of various dimensions after surgery. The t test and ANOVA showed that different duration of disease, age, residence, education, marital status, per capita monthly income, occupation, and medical payment methods had influences on postoperative mindfulness level of the patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumor (P < 0.10). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the level of mindfulness was negatively correlated with the level of perceived stress, and positively correlated with the level of self-esteem. The duration of illness, marital status, stress perception and self-esteem were included in the regression equation, suggesting that postoperative mindfulness levels of the patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumor had an important effect. CONCLUSION: Patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors have low postoperative mindfulness, which is related to duration of disease, marital status, and the level of perceived stress. Medical staff should identify this group as soon as possible, provide effective psychological intervention, help to improve the level of mindfulness, and strive to improve the patients'mental health.

Plasma miR-146a and miR-365 expression and inflammatory factors in patients with osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression levels of micro-ribonucleic acid (miR)-146a and miR-365 in the plasma of osteoarthritis (OA) patients, to study their expression with the inflammatory factors and the severity of disease in patients and to analyse their diagnostic significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 42 OA patients diagnosed with OA and treated in our hospital from January 2017 to January 2018 were selected as the subjects, and 28 healthy people were enrolled as controls. The expressions of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and IL-6 in the plasma of OA patients were detected via immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, the knee joint function of OA patients was evaluated by Lysholm score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) score and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score. The expression levels of plasma miR-146a and miR-365 in OA patients were measured through RT-PCR. Besides, the significance of the expression levels of miR-146a and miR-365 for the diagnosis of OA was analysed by ROC curves. RESULTS: As compared with healthy people, OA patients had elevated expression levels of plasma IL-1ß and IL-6, decreased Lysholm score, increased WOMAC and VAS scores as well as significantly up-regulated levels of plasma miR-146a and miR-365, which were of important significance for diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The expression levels of plasma miR-146a, miR-365 and inflammatory factors are notably higher, the disease is more severe, and the function of knee joint movement is weaker in OA patients than those in healthy controls. It can be concluded that the levels of both miR-146a and miR-365 can serve as biomarkers of OA diagnosis.

[Clinical characteristics and risk factors of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and cancer].

To investigate the clinical manifestations and risk factors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cancers. From October 2010 to February 2019, 5 566 SLE patients hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were enrolled. A total of 69 cancer patients were identified, and the clinical characteristics and previous treatment were analyzed. Cervical carcinoma (21.74%, 15/69) and thyroid cancer (21.74%, 15/69) were the most common types of cancer. Most cancers were diagnosed in SLE patients with an age 40~50 years. The disease duration of SLE was from 60~120 months. SLE patients without cancers were usually diagnosed between 20~30 years with duration of symptoms less than 12 months. As to the previous treatment of SLE, the uses of glucocorticoid, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and azathioprine were comparable between patients with cancers and without (P>0.05). However, the use of hydroxychloroquine was more frequent in SLE patients than in patients with cancers (P<0.01). Correlation analysis revealed significant correlation between disease course of SLE (OR=4.25, 95%CI 1.79~10.01,P<0.001), hydroxychloroquine (OR=0.26, 95%CI 0.12~0.59,P<0.001) and cancer risk. Long disease course may be a risk factor for SLE patients to develop cancer, whereas hydroxychloroquine could be a protective factor.

[Effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis infection on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein-E knockout mice].

OBJECTIVE: Studies have indicated that periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) infection may contributed to accelerate the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inflammation, oxidative stress and the mechanism on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein-E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice with P. gingivalis infection. METHODS: Eight-week-old male ApoE-/- mice (C57BL/6) were maintained under specific pathogen-free conditions and fed regular chow and sterile water after 1 weeks of housing. The animals were randomly divided into two groups: (a) ApoE-/- + PBS (n=8); (b) ApoE-/- + P.gingivalis strain FDC381 (n=8). Both of the groups received intravenous injections 3 times per week for 4 weeks since 8 weeks of age. The sham control group received injections with phosphate buffered saline only, while the P. gingivalis-challenged group with P.gingivalis strain FDC381at the same time. After 4 weeks, oxidative stress mediators and inflammation cytokines were analyzed by oil red O in heart, Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum, quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot in aorta. RESULTS: In our study, we found accelerated development of atherosclerosis and plaque formation in aorta with oil red O staining, increased oxidative stress markers [8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), NADPH oxidase (NOX)-2 and NOX-4], as well as increased inflammation cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] in the serum and aorta of the P. gingivalis-infected ApoE-/- mice. Compared with the control group, there was a significant increase protein level of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in aorta after P. gingivalis infection. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that chronic intravenous infection of P. gingivalis in ApoE-/- mice could accelerate the development of atherosclerosis by disturbing the lipid profile and inducing oxidative stress and inflammation. The NF-κB signaling pathway might play a potential role in the P. gingivalis-accelerated atherogenesis.

Does levator ani hiatal area configuration affect pelvic organ prolapse?

OBJECTIVE: Levator ani trauma and hiatal overdistension have been shown to be associated with female pelvic organ prolapse (POP); however, the role of the shape of the levator hiatus in POP has not been examined to date. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the configuration of the levator ani hiatus and POP. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 547 women who attended a tertiary urogynecological center for symptoms of pelvic floor and lower urinary tract dysfunction between October 2014 and August 2016. All women underwent a standardized interview and prolapse assessment using the International Continence Society (ICS) Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) method and four-dimensional translabial ultrasound (TLUS). Measurements of the hiatal anteroposterior diameter (APD), coronal diameter (CD) and hiatal area (HA), at rest and on maximal Valsalva maneuver, and those of organ descent were performed offline at a later date by an investigator blinded to all other data. Hiatal configuration was defined as the ratio APD/CD. Associations between HA and HA adjusted by APD/CD at rest and on maximal Valsalva and symptoms and signs of prolapse were analyzed statistically using logistic regression modelling. RESULTS: The mean age of the women was 54 ± 13.6 (range, 16-89) years. Of the 547 women included, 241 (44%) presented with prolapse symptoms. Clinically significant POP was detected in 406 (74%) patients and significant prolapse on TLUS was detected in 331 (61%). Hiatal ballooning was observed in 310 (57%) women and this was strongly associated with signs and symptoms of POP. HA at rest and on Valsalva was associated with significant POP both on clinical examination and on TLUS. Adjusted odds ratios for hiatal shape showed no effect of the hiatal configuration on the association between HA and POP. CONCLUSION: Hiatal shape does not seem to influence the association between HA and symptoms and signs of prolapse. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Alpha-enolase regulates hepatitis B virus replication through suppression of the interferon signalling pathway.

Persistent chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major risk factor for the development of HBV-related diseases. The molecular mechanisms that underlie HBV infection and associated carcinogenesis are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to explore the role of ENO1 in HBV replication processes. Here, we examined ENO1 expression levels in HBV-infected and non-HBV-infected liver tissues and cells by Western blot analysis, real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. In addition, HBsAg and HBeAg in the media of transfected HepG2.2.15 cells were detected using an electrochemical luminescence analyser within 48 hours after ENO1-specific siRNA transfection. The expression levels of HBV DNA, type I interferon and 5 downstream IFN-stimulated genes in HepG2.2.15 cells were examined using real-time PCR. We found ENO1 expression was upregulated in the HBV-infected liver tissues and cells. Silencing of ENO1 resulted in a significant reduction in HBV replication, and this siRNA-mediated reaction also caused the upregulation of expression of type I interferon and downstream IFN-stimulated genes. Therefore, we come to the conclusion ENO1 is involved in HBV replication. It is therefore likely that HBV replication is enhanced following suppression of the IFN signalling pathway. However, the mechanisms that underpin ENO1-mediated modulation of the IFN signalling pathway remain to be elucidated.

Effect of maternal canthaxanthin and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol supplementation on the performance of ducklings under two different vitamin regimens.

This study investigated the effects of maternal canthaxanthin (CX, 6 mg/kg) and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3 , 0.069 mg/kg) supplementation on the performance of Cherry Valley ducklings under two different vitamin regimens. A total of 780 duck breeder females and 156 males were randomly allotted to two diets with or without the addition of the mixture of CX and 25-OH-D3 (CX+25-OH-D3 ) for 32 weeks. Ducklings (males and females separately) hatched from eggs laid at 24 weeks of the duck breeder trial were fed with a NRC vitamin regimen, and ducklings (males and females separately) hatched from eggs laid at 32 weeks of the duck breeder trial were fed with a HIGH vitamin regimen (had higher levels of all vitamins except biotin than NRC vitamin regimen), for 14 days. The results showed that, maternal CX+25-OH-D3 supplementation increased the shank pigmentation for 7-days post hatch in ducklings under a NRC vitamin regimen, and for 14-days post hatch in ducklings under a HIGH vitamin regimen. Growth performance, antioxidant status and serum phosphorus of ducklings under a NRC vitamin regimen were increased by maternal CX+25-OH-D3 supplementation; however, these positive effects were not observed in ducklings under a HIGH vitamin regimen. Males revealed increased growth performance in ducklings under both NRC and HIGH vitamin regimens. Sexual differences in shank pigmentation, antioxidant status, tibia strength and serum phosphorus were not consistent as they were dependent on maternal CX+25-OH-D3 status or dietary vitamin regimens. Data suggest that maternal CX+25-OH-D3 supplementation is important for starter ducklings under a NRC vitamin regimen, but not HIGH vitamin regimen.

RNA-Seq analysis for the potential targets and molecular mechanisms of 17 ß-estradiol in squamous cell lung carcinoma.

The efficacy of 17 ß-estradiol (E2) was valid in some cancers, while its effects on squamous cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) were still unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate the potential targets and molecular mechanisms of E2 in SCLC cells.Two RNA libraries from human lung carcinoma cells (SK-MES-1) with and without E2 treatment were constructed and sequenced. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between cells with or without E2 treatment were identified by cuffdiff software. Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA) was performed for displaying gene expression changes and classification. Furthermore, enrichment analyses of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology Biological Process (GO BP) terms were performed through DAVID. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed through STRING. Additionally, differentially expressed lncRNAs were also selected by cuffdiff software.Total 129 DEGs including 58 up- and 71 down- regulated genes were obtained. Cancer-related pathways including small cell lung cancer, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and pathways in cancer and biological processes including regulation of phosphorus metabolic process, protein localization and nucleus organization were enriched. The PPI network with 113 nodes and 312 edges was constructed. CASP3, ITGA2, COL4A6, PML and CDC25B were identified as hub nodes which had more interactions with others in the PPI network. Furthermore, eight up-regulated and ten down-regulated lncRNAs were selected.CASP3, ITGA2 and Lnc-DLK1-4:31 (one of down-regulated lncRNAs) might play pivotal roles in E2 treated SCNC cells by influencing cell apoptosis, angiogenesis and cell invasion respectively.

Effects of dietary DL-2-hydroxy-4(methylthio)butanoic acid supplementation on growth performance, indices of ascites syndrome, and antioxidant capacity of broilers reared at low ambient temperature.

This study examined the effects of dietary DL-2-hydroxy-4(methylthio)butanoic acid (DL-HMTBA) supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and ascites syndrome (AS) in broilers reared at low ambient temperature (LAT) from 7 to 28 days of age. Eight hundred 7-day-old broilers were randomly assigned to two ambient temperatures (LAT and normal ambient temperature [NAT]), four supplemental DL-HMTBA levels (0.17, 0.34, 0.51, and 0.68 %) of the basal diet in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement (ten replicate pens; ten birds/pen). LAT and NAT indicate temperatures of 12-14 and 24-26 °C in two chambers, respectively, and broilers were reared at these temperatures from 7 to 28 days of age. LAT significantly decreased body weight gain (P < 0.001), serum glutathione (GSH) content (day 14, P = 0.02; day 28, P = 0.045), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) at 21 days (P = 0.001, 0.015) and 28 days (P = 0.017, 0.010) and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P < 0.001), serum malondialdehyde (day 21, P = 0.000) and protein carbonyl Level (day 14, P = 0.003; day 21, P = 0.035). As for incidence of AS, there were significant effects of LAT on red blood cell (RBC) count (P < 0.05), hematocrit (HCT) (P < 0.05), and the right to total ventricular weight ratio (RV/TV) at 21 days (P = 0.012) and 28 days (P = 0.046). Supplementation of DL-HMTBA markedly decreased RV/TV at day 28 (P = 0.021), RBC (day 21, P = 0.008), HCT (day 21, P < 0.001), mean cell hemoglobin (day 14, P = 0.035; day 21, P = 0.003), and serum protein carbonyl level (day 21, P = 0.009), while significantly increased serum GSH content (day 14, P = 0.022; day 28, P = 0.001), SOD and GSH-Px activities at 21 days of age (P < 0.001 and P = 0.037). The optimal supplemental DL-HMTBA levels in basal diet of broilers aged from 7 to 28 days under low or normal temperatures were similar, so the authors recommended supplemental of DL-HMTBA level was 0.46 %.

A 425 T>C polymorphism in complement C7 association with resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila in grass carp.

Aeromonas hydrophila, a widespread bacterium in the aquatic environment, causes hemorrhagic septicemia in fish. In the last decade, the disease has caused mass mortalities and tremendous economic loss in cultured fish. The complement component C7 is a terminal component of complement that interacts in a sequence of polymerization reactions with other terminal complement components to form a membrane attack complex. The formation of the membrane attack complex creates a pore in the membranes of certain pathogen that can lead to their death. The objective of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the C7 gene and to assess their association with A. hydrophila resistance in grass carp. A resource population consisting of 186 susceptible and 191 resistant grass carp was constructed. We sequenced a total of 7826 bp of the C7 gene and identified 6 SNPs that were genotyped in the resource population. The SNP -1575 A>C was positioned in the promoter region of the gene. The SNP 425 C>T identified in the coding exon was a synonymous substitution in the fourth exon. Statistical analysis showed that SNP 425 C>T was associated with the incidence of hemorrhagic septicemia. The SNPs -1575 A>C, -688 T>C, and -266 A>C were highly linked together (r(2) > 0.85). No haplotypes generated with these 3 SNPs were associated with resistance to A. hydrophila in grass carp. These findings suggest that the 425 C>T polymorphism in C7 gene may be a significant molecular marker for resistance to A. hydrophila in grass carp.

The effects of maternal dietary vitamin premixes, canthaxanthin, and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol on the performance of progeny ducklings.

This trial studied the effects of maternal dietary vitamin premixes, and the mixture of canthaxanthin (CX) and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3) on the performance of progeny ducklings. Four maternal diets were used under a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 2 kinds of vitamin premixes (Regular and High; High premix had higher levels of all vitamins except K3 than the Regular premix), and with or without the addition of the mixture of CX (6 mg/kg) and 25-OH-D3 (0.069 mg/kg). Cherry Valley duck breeders (38-wk-old) were fed with corn-wheat flour-soybean meal-based diets for 8 wk, and then eggs were collected and hatched. Healthy ducklings (equal number of female and male) from each maternal group were randomly selected and received the same commercial starter (1 to 14 d) and grower (15 to 35 d) pellet diet for 35 d. Maternal High vitamin premix increased shank pigmentation (1 d, P = 0.001), BW (1 d, P < 0.001 and 14 d, P = 0.006), BW gain (1 to 14 d, P = 0.008), G:F ratio (1 to 14 d, P = 0.007), superoxide dismutase (SOD; 1 d liver, P = 0.027 and 14 d serum, P = 0.031), and total antioxidant capacity (1 d liver, P < 0.001); and decreased protein carbonyl (14 d serum, P = 0.011) of ducklings. The mixture of CX and 25-OH-D3 increased yolk pigmentation (P < 0.001); increased shank pigmentation (1 d, P < 0.001 and 14 d, P < 0.001), BW (1 d, P < 0.001), feed intake (15-35 d, P = 0.014), SOD (1 d liver, P = 0.032), and tibia ash (14 d, P = 0.010) of ducklings; and decreased malondialdehyde (P < 0.001) and protein carbonyl (P = 0.044) of yolks, and malondialdehyde (14 d serum, P < 0.001) of ducklings. In conclusion, either maternal High vitamin premix or maternal supplementation of the CX and 25-OH-D3 mixture improves growth performance and antioxidant status of ducklings.

Effect of dietary vanadium and vitamin C on egg quality and antioxidant status in laying hens.

This study assessed the effect of dietary vanadium (V) and vitamin C (VC) on production performance, egg quality and antioxidant status in laying hens. A total of 360 laying hens (31-week-old) were randomly allotted into a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement treatments (four replicates and 10 chicks per replicate) with three levels of dietary V (0, 5 and 10 mg/kg) and three levels of vitamin C (0, 50 and 100 mg/kg) for 12 weeks. The effect of V and VC did not alter egg production, egg weight, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio during 1-12 week. Albumen height and Haugh unit value were linearly decreased (p < 0.001) by addition of V, whereas the effect of 100 mg/kg VC was observed to counteract (p < 0.05) this effect in V-containing treatments during 1-12 week. Hens fed V-containing diet laid lighter (linear effect, p < 0.05) coloured eggs (higher lightness value, lower redness and yellowness value), and the VC exerted no influence on it during 1-12 week. The serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, ability to inhibit hydroxyl radical, were significantly decreased, and the malondialdehyde (MDA) and V contents were increased (p < 0.05) by effect of V during 4, 8 and 12 week. The effect of VC alone and the interactive effect between VC and V were shown to increase serum (p < 0.05) SOD activity in 4 week and decrease MAD levels in 12 week. The result indicate that V decreased the egg quality and caused the oxidative stress at level of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, and the addition of 100 mg/kg vitamin C can alleviate its egg quality reduction effect and can mitigate the oxidative stress to some extent.

IFITM3 rs12252 T>C polymorphism is associated with the risk of severe influenza: a meta-analysis.

The interferon-inducible transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3), as one of the key genes involved in the interferon pathway, is critical for defending the host against influenza virus, and the rs12252 T>C variant in IFITM3 might be associated with susceptibility to severe influenza. Owing to contradictory and inconclusive results, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the association between rs12252 T>C polymorphism and severe influenza risk. A comprehensive literature search up to 1 August 2014 was conducted in EMBASE, Pubmed, Web of Science, VIP, Wanfang and CNKI databases. Four eligible studies with a total of 445 influenza patients and 3396 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, our results demonstrated a significant association between the IFITM3 rs12252 T>C polymorphism and influenza risk [C vs. T: odds ratio (OR) 1·68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·32-2·13; CC vs. CT+TT: OR 2·38, 95% CI 1·52-3·73; CC+CT vs. TT: OR 1·62, 95% CI 1·18-2·22]. Stratification by ethnicity indicated that the variant C allele was associated with an 88% increased risk of influenza in Asians (C vs. T: OR 1·88, 95% CI 1·34-2·62). Moreover, subjects carrying the variant C allele had an increased risk of developing severe illness upon influenza infection (C vs. T: OR 2·70, 95% CI 1·86-3·94). However, no significant association was observed in patients with mild infection (C vs. T: OR 1·26, 95% CI 0·93-1·71). Our meta-analysis suggests that IFITM3 rs12252 T>C polymorphism is significantly associated with increased risk of severe influenza but not with the chance of initial virus infection.

Novel polymorphic microsatellite markers in Odontobutis potamophila.

We characterized 16 novel polymorphic loci isolated from a partial genomic DNA library of Odontobutis potamophila enriched for CA repeats. We tested the variability of these microsatellites on 51 unrelated individuals collected in China. All loci were polymorphic. The average allele number was 14.6 per locus, ranging from 2 to 27. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.35 to 0.90, with an average of 0.70, whereas the average expected heterozygosity was 0.76. Twelve of the 16 microsatellites conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and were inherited independently. These developed microsatellites will be useful in studies of population genetics and other genetic studies on this important food species.

Association between serum angiopoietin-2 concentration and clinicopathological parameters in patients with colorectal cancer.

We examined the expression of angiopoietin-2 in serum samples from patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer and healthy volunteers and investigated the feasibility of using angiopoietin-2 as a potential diagnostic colorectal cancer biomarker. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure the levels of angiopoietin-2 in patients with colorectal cancer and healthy control subjects. Correlations between serum angiopoietin-2 levels and clinicopathological factors were investigated. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to predict cut-off values of the markers. Serum concentrations of angiopoietin-2 were significantly higher in patients with colorectal cancer than in controls (2896 ± 1273 vs 1554 ± 991 pg/mL, P = 0.004). Serum angiopoietin-2 expression levels were significantly positively correlated with TNM stage (P = 0.003), lymph node involvement (P = 0.04), and distant metastases (P = 0.005). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that serum level of angiopoietin-2 was a potential biomarker for differentiating colorectal cancer patients from controls and had a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.859 (95% confidence interval = 0.740-0.978). At a cut-off value of 2710 pg/mL, the sensitivity was 79.3% and the specificity was 82.4%. Our results suggest that angiopoietin-2 can be used as a diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer in clinical practice. Additional studies are needed to clarify the detailed mechanism of angiopoietin-2 in the carcinogenesis and metastasis of colorectal cancer.

Differential expression of interleukin-12 p35 and p40 subunits in response to Aeromonas hydrophila and Aquareovirus infection in grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella.

The grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) aquaculture industry in Asia is prone to bacterial and viral hemorrhagic diseases. Effective adjuvants for vaccine formulation are the need of the hour for control of these diseases and long-term sustainability of grass carp farming. In this study, the involvement of interleukin-12 (IL-12) from grass carp (gcIL­12) in anti-bacterial and anti-viral immune responses was demonstrated via expression profiles of gcIL-12 subunits in immune tissues of the fish, following infection by Aeromonas hydrophila and Aquareovirus. Additionally, cDNA of the gcIL-12 subunits, p35 and p40 was cloned and characterized. We found that most of the structurally and functionally important features of vertebrate orthologues were conserved in gcIL-12 subunits, p35 and p40, with some features specific to grass carp. High levels of gcIL-12 p35 expression in the brain and gills suggest that IL-12 plays an important role in neural and immune systems. High expression levels in the heart, blood, and immune-related tissues suggest an important role in circulation and the immune system as well. Infections by both, A. hydrophila and Aquareovirus stimulated the mRNA expression of gcIL-12 subunits, p35 and p40 in most immune tissues. Significant upregulation or downregulation of gcIL-12 subunits, p35 and p40 by bacterial and viral infection confirms their potential role in anti-bacterial and anti-viral immune responses in fish.