The research progress of genomic selection in livestock.

With the development of gene chip and breeding technology, genomic selection in plants and animals has become research hotspots in recent years. Genomic selection has been extensively applied to all kinds of economic livestock, due to its high accuracy, short generation intervals and low breeding costs. In this review, we summarize genotyping technology and the methods for genomic breeding value estimation, the latter including the least square method, RR-BLUP, GBLUP, ssGBLUP, BayesA and BayesB. We also cover basic principles of genomic selection and compare their genetic marker ranges, genomic selection accuracy and operational speed. In addition, we list common indicators, methods and influencing factors that are related to genomic selection accuracy. Lastly, we discuss latest applications and the current problems of genomic selection at home and abroad. Importantly, we envision future status of genomic selection research, including multi-trait and multi-population genomic selection, as well as impact of whole genome sequencing and dominant effects on genomic selection. This review will provide some venues for other breeders to further understand genome selection.

Successful treatment of patients with lipoprotein glomerulopathy by protein A immunoadsorption: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: No established therapy is available for patients with lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG). Protein A immunoadsorption has been proved to be effective in reducing proteinuria in patients with nephrotic syndrome. In this uncontrolled pilot study, we investigated the efficiency of immunoadsorption onto staphylococcal protein A as treatment for LPG. METHODS: Thirteen patients with renal biopsy-proven LPG were treated with staphylococcal protein A immunoadsorption. Immunoadsorption was administered for 10 cycles per session and 10 sessions as a course. A total of 30 l of plasma was regenerated in each course. RESULTS: Single immunoadsorption course led to a rapid decline in proteinuria from 4.01 +/- 3.09 g/24 h to 1.21 +/- 0.97 g/24 h (mean +/- SD) (n = 13, P = 0.001), along with a dramatic decline in apolipoprotein E (apo E) from 9.79 +/- 5.04 mg/dl to 6.20 +/- 2.22 mg/dl (P = 0.004). A repeated renal biopsy (n = 12) showed that intraglomerular lipoprotein thrombi almost disappeared. Six patients were enrolled in the investigation of long-term outcome, and proteinuria returned to baseline levels within 12 months. Four recurrent patients received repeat immunoadsorption treatment; proteinuria decreased from 5.02 +/- 1.85 g/24 h to 1.64 +/- 0.55 g/24 h at the end of the treatment, serum apo E decreased from 14.65 +/- 11.17 mg/dl to 7.90 +/- 1.72 mg/dl. No patients suffered from severe complications. CONCLUSION: Our observations suggest that immunoadsorption onto protein A might be an effective treatment for resolving intraglomerular thrombi and improving nephrotic syndrome in patients with LPG. Further studies are required to define the influence of immunoadsorption on long-term effects in LPG patients.

Homocysteine-mediated PPARalpha,gamma DNA methylation and its potential pathogenic mechanism in monocytes.

Homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but the molecular mechanisms causing atherosclerosis in monocytes remain poorly characterized. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of Hcy on DNA methylation of PPARalpha,gamma and the underlying mechanism of PPARalpha,gamma expression that was induced by Hcy in monocytes. About 50, 100, 200, and 500 microM Hcy were added to the monocytes cultured for 48 h. PPARalpha,gamma that acted as lipid sensors and bind with mM affinities to ligands of antiatherosclerosis were determined by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting in monocytes. Here, we used a high-throughput quantitative methylation assay that utilizes fluorescence-based real-time polymerase chain reaction to determine the levels of the PPARalpha,gamma DNA methylation. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) level and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) level were detected by high performance liquid chromatography. Results indicated that the levels of PPARalpha,gamma promoter methylation in monocytes cultured with Hcy were increased in comparison with the control group, and the peak was in the 100 muM Hcy group, however, a dose-dependent increase with increasing Hcy was not seen. Hcy also decreased mRNA and protein levels of PPARalpha,gamma in monocytes. Further, with the addition of Hcy, the levels of SAH were elevated, the levels of SAM and the ratio of SAM/SAH were lower, and the activity of C-5MT-ase was increased. In conclusion, these results suggest that PPARalpha,gamma DNA methylation induced by Hcy may represent an important mechanism to explain atherosclerosis, which may become a therapeutic target for preventing atherosclerosis induced by Hcy.

Effect of corticosteroids on articular cartilage: have animal studies said everything?

Intra-articular (IA) corticosteroids (CS) have been used in the treatment of osteoarthritis for many years, although their effects on articular cartilage are not fully understood. To identify whether previous animal studies have provided enough evidence about the effects of CS, we undertook a systematic review that identified 35 relevant in vivo animal experimental studies between 1965 and 2014 assessing the effects of CS on either normal cartilage, or in either induced osteoarthritis (OA) or synovitis. The quality of the methodology was assessed. Deleterious effects, both structural and biochemical, have mainly been reported in rabbits and are associated with frequent administration of CS, sometimes at high dose and with systemic side effects. In dogs, four identified studies concluded that there were beneficial effects with methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) and triamcinolone hexacetonide therapy. In horses, MPA was mostly deleterious, while triamcinolone acetonide had positive effects in one study highly rated at quality assessment. However, many methodological weaknesses have been identified, such as the lack of pharmacokinetic and pharmocodynamics data and the large variation in doses between studies, the limited selection criteria at baseline, the absence of blinding, and the lack of statistics or appropriate controls for testing the effects of the vehicle of the drug. Those methodological weaknesses weaken the conclusions of numerous studies that assess beneficial or deleterious effects of CS on articular cartilage. Animal studies have not yet provided definitive data, and further research is required into the role of CS in articular pathobiology.

FT-IR spectroscopic study of phase transformation of chloropinnoite in boric acid solution at 303 K.

The dissolution and transformation of chloropinnoite in boric acid solution at 303 K has been studied using FT-IR difference spectroscopic technique. After equilibrium was reached, liquid and solid phases were separated and FT-IR spectra of each phase were recorded, FT-IR spectroscopic analysis of solid phases indicated that the transformation products, with the increase of boron-concentration in solution, were 2MgO x 3B2O3 x 15H2O (inderite), 2MgO x 3B2O3 x 15H20 (kumakovite), MgO x 3B2O3 x 7.5H2O, and MgO x 3B2O3 x 7H2O, respectively. The main polyborate anions and their interaction in each borate saturated aqueous solution have been proposed according to the FT-IR difference spectra of borate in liquid phase, and some assignments were tentatively given firstly. The relations between the existing forms of polyborate anions and the crystallizing solid phases have been gained.

Raman spectroscopic analysis of supersaturated aqueous solution of MgO.B2O3-32%MgCl2-H2O during acidification and dilution.

Raman spectra of supersaturated aqueous solution of MgO.B2O3-32%MgCl2-H2O during acidification/alkalization and dilution have been studied. The assignments of the recorded Raman shift are given. The main existing forms of polyborate anions and their interaction in borate aqueous solution have been proposed through spectroscopic analysis. The experimental results indicate that the higher concentration of cation are beneficial not only to the dissolution of boric acid but also to the polymerization of polyborate anions. The existing forms and interaction among them also depend on the concentration of boron and the pH value in solution.

FT-IR and Raman spectroscopic analysis of hydrated cesium borates and their saturated aqueous solution.

Hydrated cesium borates have been synthesized by the reaction of Cs(2)CO(3) with H(3)BO(3) aqueous solution. After reaction equilibria were reached, liquid and solid phases were separated and the FT-IR difference and Raman spectra of each phase were recorded, respectively. The assignments of the recorded FT-IR absorption frequencies and Raman shift are given. The main polyborate anions and their interaction in borate aqueous solution have been proposed. The relations between the existing forms of polyborate anions and the crystallizing solid phases, Cs(2)B(4)O(7).5H(2)O and CsB(5)O(8).4H(2)O, have been gained.

Detention of HPV L1 Capsid Protein and hTERC Gene in Screening of Cervical Cancer.

OBJECTIVE(S): To investigate the expression of human papilloma virus (HPV) L1 capsid protein, and human telomerase RNA component (hTERC) in cervical cancer and the role of detection of both genes in screening of cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 309 patients were recruited and cervical exfoliated cells were collected. Immunocytochemistry was employed to detect HPV L1 capsid protein, and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to detect the hTERC. RESULTS: The expression of HPV L1 capsid protein reduced with the increase of the histological grade of cervical cells and was negatively related to the grade of cervical lesions. However, the expression of hTERC increased with the increase of the histological grade and positively associated with the grade of cervical lesions. The proportion of patients with L1(-)/hTERC(+) was higher in patients with histological grade of CIN2 or higher than that in those with histological grade of CIN1. The L1(+)/hTERC(-) and L1(-)/hTERC(-) were negatively related to the grade of cervical lesions. L1(-)/hTERC(+) was positively associated with the grade of cervical lesions. The L1/hTERC ratio increased. The negative predictive value of both HPV L1 and hTERC was higher than that of HPV L1 or hTERC, but there was no marked difference in the screening efficacy of cervical cancer among HPV L1, hTERC and HPV L1+hTERC. CONCLUSION: HPV L1 capsid protein and hTERC gene may serve as markers for the early diagnosis and prediction of cervical lesions. The increase in L1/hTERC ratio reflects the progression of cervical lesions to a certain extent.

Clinical-pathological features and prognosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in patients with lupus nephritis.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the clinical-pathological features and the prognosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in patients with lupus nephritis (LN). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical-pathological data and prognosis in 8 patients with LN complicating with TTP. RESULTS: Thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia, neurologic symptoms, and renal dysfunction were the clinical manifestations in 8 patients. Six patients had fever. Eight patients presented with rapid progressive glomerulonephritis, and 1 patient with continuous gross hematuria. The histologic features of the 8 patients were thrombotic microangiopathy lesions. Immune-suppressive therapies were administrated in all patients, and blood purification therapy was applied in 7 patients. Three cases involved plasma exchange and/or immunoabsorption. Seven patients received a median follow-up of 12 months. One patient died, 3 cases received peritoneal dialysis, and 1 case failed to follow-up. During follow-up, 1 case was able to stop peritoneal dialysis, and 1 case changed to hemodialysis. The other 3 patients continued with stable renal function. CONCLUSION: The patients with LN with TTP have severe clinical-pathological changes. Active treatment including renal replacement therapy, plasma exchange, and immunoabsorption are promising.

Spectrum of clinical features and type IV collagen alpha-chain distribution in Chinese patients with Alport syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Alport syndrome (AS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous nephropathy. The goal of the present study is to delineate clinical characteristics and the distribution of type IV collagen chains in Chinese AS patients and to identify any alpha(IV)-chain expression and clinical phenotype correlation. METHODS: A total of 126 biopsy-proven patients meeting immunofluorescence criteria for the diagnosis of AS were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: Microscope haematuria associated with proteinuria was observed as the initial symptom in 77.8% of the patients; 59.8% showed hearing impairment and 22.9% had ocular abnormalities. Renal biopsies from 118 patients revealed mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (61.9%) and focal and segmental sclerosis glomerulonephritis (37.3%). Ten different distribution patterns for the type IV collagen alpha-chains were found in the kidney; six of these are presented here for the first time. Based on renal immunofluorescence findings, 113 patients (89.7%) were classified as X-linked dominant inherited AS (XLAS) and 13 (10.3%) as autosomal recessive AS (ARAS). The XLAS group was divided into typical and non-typical subgroups according to the expression patterns for the alpha3(IV)-chain. Clinical phenotypes were more severe in XLAS patients than in ARAS patients and the prognosis was poorer in typical XLAS patients than non-typical XLAS patients. CONCLUSION: In China, the incidence of XLAS is 89.7% and 10.3% for ARAS. Chinese patients with AS have various distribution patterns of type IV collagen alpha-chains. The distribution pattern of type IV collagen alpha-chains in the kidney may correspond to the severity of the clinical phenotype.

Novel rescue therapy for C4d-positive acute humoral renal allograft rejection.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of immunoadsorption (IA) in combination with tacrolimus (TAC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) rescue therapy for C4d-positive acute humoral rejection (AHR) of renal transplants. METHODOLOGY: Six of 185 cadaveric renal allograft recipients transplanted at our institute developed AHR over a mean period of 4.8 +/- 0.8 d after operation. The ages ranged from 35 to 51 yr (mean 42.6 +/- 5.6 yr). C4d deposits in peritubular capillaries (PTC) and accumulation of granulocytes in PTC were observed. IA with staphylococcal protein A and TAC-MMF combination therapy were given. RESULTS: After subjected to IA for 6.3 +/- 1.03 sessions combined with TAC (0.14-0.16 mg/kg/d) and MMF (1.5 g/d) therapy, renal function recovered in all the patients. The mean duration of treatment when serum creatinine decreased was 14 +/- 2.9 d. The pre-IA panel reactive antibody reactivity was as high as 50.2 +/- 6.1%, and was significantly reduced to 8.3 +/- 2.9% after IA. Repeated allograft kidney biopsy in four of six patients revealed a favorable remission of AHR. With a mean follow-up of 18.8 +/- 5.46 months, patient and allograft survival are 100%, renal function remained stable with a mean serum creatinine of 1.2 +/- 0.22 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: The optimal treatment for alloantibody-mediated AHR remains undefined. Our findings suggest that a therapeutic approach combining IA and TAC-MMF rescue has excellence to improve the outcome of AHR.