Effect of Feeding System on Muscle Fiber Composition, Antioxidant Capacity, and Nutritional and Organoleptic Traits of Goat Meat.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding system on muscle fiber composition, antioxidant capacity, and nutritional and organoleptic traits of goat meat. Goats that grazed on flatland (whole area with about 0% inclination, FG group) and mountain range (whole area with about 40% inclination, MG group) were selected for the analysis. The results showed that grazing on flatland increased oxidized-twitch fiber percentage, the expression of the MyHC IIa gene (p < 0.001), the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.05), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p = 0.001), and radical scavenging ability (RSA) (p < 0.05); meanwhile, the MyHC IIb gene expression (p < 0.01) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p = 0.001) were decreased. Feeding system affected nutritional and organoleptic traits of goat meat, and grazing on flatland increased protein content, total content of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), pH45min, a* value, and variety of volatile flavor compounds but decreased the content of saturated fatty acid (SFA), shear force, and b* value. In addition, the key flavor substances were screened using relative odor activity value (ROAV), including hexanal, heptanal, (E)-2-octenal, octanal, nonanal, decanal, (E)-2-nonenal, and 1-octen-3-ol. Among them, 1-octen-3-ol and (E)-2-nonenal were the most contributing flavor compounds in the FG and MG groups, respectively, providing distinctive odor to goat meat.

High Rate of Detection of Human ESPL1-HBV S Fusion Gene in Patients With HBV-related Liver Cancer: A Chinese Case-Control Study.

AIM: It has been shown that the integration of hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene into the host genome is a high-risk factor for development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the relationship between HBV S-integrated human extra spindle pole bodies-like 1 (ESPL1) gene and HCC is unknown. This study was designed to detect HBV S-integrated human ESPL1 fusion gene in patients with HCC for potentially using this fusion gene as a biomarker for HCC diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nineteen and 70 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were recruited to the experimental and control groups, respectively, and both groups underwent an effective nucleoside/nucleotide analog therapy and follow-up for HCC occurrence for up to 11 years. HCC tissues were obtained by surgical resection from the experimental group, while liver tissues were collected by liver biopsy in the control group prior to treatment with nucleoside/nucleotide analogs. Alu polymerase chain reaction was used to assess HBV S gene integration in the liver tissues from both groups. HBV S-integrated human ESPL1 fusion gene was then detected in patients with HBV S gene integration using a gene database. RESULTS: All patients in the experimental group developed HCC, whereas no HCC was diagnosed in the control group. HBV S gene integration was identified in 12 out of 19 HCC tissues in the experimental group, giving a detection rate of 63.2%, which was significantly greater than that of 15.7% (11/70) in the control group (p<0.001). We further showed that HBV S-integrated human ESPL1 fusion gene was detected in eight patients (rate of 66.7%) among the 12 patients with HCC with HBV S gene integration in the experimental group, whereas the fusion gene was not detectable in any of the patients in the control group (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: This research demonstrates a high detection rate of HBV S-integrated human ESPL1 fusion gene in patients with HBV-related HCC and shows that this fusion gene appears to be associated with HCC development in patients with CHB. These findings suggest that HBV S-integrated human ESPL1 fusion gene may potentially serve as a biomarker for early detection of HCC in HBV-infected populations.

Serum from Jiao-Tai-Wan treated rats increases glucose consumption by 3T3-L1 adipocytes through AMPK pathway signaling.

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from insulin resistance. Jiao-Tai-Wan (JTW), a traditional Chinese medicine consisting of a 10:1 formulation of Rhizoma Coptidis (RC) and Cortex Cinnamomi (cinnamon) was shown to have hypoglycemic efficacy in a type 2 diabetic mouse model. Here we investigated whether glucose consumption by insulin-resistant adipocytes could be modulated by serum from JTW-treated rats, and if so, through what mechanism. JTW-medicated serum was prepared from rats following oral administration of JTW decoction twice a day for 4 days. Fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes - rendered insulin resistance by dexamethasone treatment - were cultured in medium containing JTW-medicated rat serum. JTW-medicated serum treatment increased glucose uptake, up-regulated levels of phosphorylated adenosine 5'-monophoshate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), and stimulated expression and translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). JTW-medicated serum induced significantly greater up-regulation of p-AMPK and GLUT4 than either RC or cinnamon-medicated serum. JTW-medicated serum induced effects on 3T3-L1 adipocytes could be partially inhibited by treatment with the AMPK inhibitor compound C. In conclusion, JTW-medicated serum increased glucose consumption by IR adipocytes partially through the activation of the AMPK pathway, and JTW was more effective on glucose consumption than either RC or cinnamon alone.

Integration of hepatitis B virus S gene impacts on hepatitis B surface antigen levels in patients with antiviral therapy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) S gene integration on serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in chronic hepatitis B with long-term nucleos(t)ide analogue (NUC) therapy. METHODS: Chronic hepatitis B patients who performed liver biopsy at baseline and treated with long-term NUC therapy were recruited. The integration of HBV S gene in baseline liver biopsy specimen was detected by Alu polymerase chain reaction method. Serum HBsAg levels were measured at baseline and the second year and the fourth year after NUC therapy by Roche reagent, respectively. Serum HBsAg levels between HBV S gene integrated group and nonintegrated group were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: Seventy patients were eligible for this study. Among them, 11 (15.7%) were found to have HBV S gene integration in their baseline liver biopsy specimens. Similar significant decrease of HBsAg levels was found in both integrated and nonintegrated groups (2.63 vs 2.65 log IU/mL, P = 0.478) after the first 2 years of NUC therapy. Thereafter, the decrease of HBsAg level from 2 to 4 years after therapy was largely unchanged in integrated group as compared with that of nonintegrated group (0.1 vs 2.53 log IU/mL, P = 0.002), with statistical difference. CONCLUSIONS: Serum HBsAg could be originated from the expression of the integrated HBV S gene in patients with S gene integration, which implicated the limitations when regarding HBsAg as a surrogate biomarker of covalently closed circular DNA activity and as an indicator of safe NUC discontinuation.

Complete genomic sequence of a duck enteritis virus attenuated via serial passage in chick embryos.

Here, we present the complete genomic sequence of an attenuated duck enteritis virus (DEV). The Chinese standard challenge strain of DEV (DEV CSC) was serially passaged 20 times in chick embryo fibroblasts and then 85 times in chick embryos. The virus was attenuated and was avirulent to 2-month-old ducks. The attenuated DEV genome is 162,131 base pairs (bp) in length and as long as the parental genomic sequence. There are only 22 nucleotide substitutions, resulting in single amino acid changes in open reading frames LORF5, LORF4, UL41, UL39, UL32, UL13, UL10, UL3, US3, US4 and US7. The genome sequence has been deposited in the GenBank database under accession number KU216226. This study provides genetic information about DEV attenuation and further advances our understanding of the molecular basis of DEV pathogenesis.

Construction of a recombinant duck enteritis virus vaccine expressing hemagglutinin of H9N2 avian influenza virus and evaluation of its efficacy in ducks.

H9 subtype avian influenza viruses (AIVs) remain a significant burden in the poultry industry and are considered to be one of the most likely causes of any new influenza pandemic in humans. As ducks play an important role in the maintenance of H9 viruses in nature, successful control of the spread of H9 AIVs in ducks will have significant beneficial effects on public health. Duck enteritis virus (DEV) may be a promising candidate viral vector for aquatic poultry vaccination. In this study, we constructed a recombinant DEV, rDEV-∆UL2-HA, inserting the hemagglutinin (HA) gene from duck-origin H9N2 AIV into the UL2 gene by homologous recombination. One-step growth analyses showed that the HA gene insertion had no effect on viral replication and suggested that the UL2 gene was nonessential for virus growth in vitro. In vivo tests further showed that the insertion of the HA gene in place of the UL2 gene did not affect the immunogenicity of the virus. Moreover, a single dose of 103 TCID50 of rDEV-∆UL2-HA induced solid protection against lethal DEV challenge and completely prevented H9N2 AIV viral shedding. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a DEV-vectored vaccine providing robust protection against both DEV and H9N2 AIV virus infections in ducks.

Biological properties of a duck enteritis virus attenuated via serial passaging in chick embryo fibroblasts.

To gain a better understanding of the genetic changes required for attenuation of duck enteritis virus (DEV), the Chinese standard challenge strain of DEV (DEV CSC) was serially passaged 80 times in chick embryo fibroblasts. We plaque-purified the virus after the 25th passage (DEV p25) and the 80th passage (DEV p80) and investigated its in vitro and in vivo properties. Average plaque sizes for DEV p25 and p80 were significantly smaller than those for their parental DEV CSC. The results from an in vivo experiment revealed that DEV p25 and p80 were avirulent in ducks and protected them from virulent DEV challenge. The complete genome sequence of DEV p80 was determined and compared with that of the parent virus. An 1801-bp deletion was identified in the genome of DEV p80, which affected the genes encoding gI and gE. Moreover, there were 11 base substitutions, which led to seven amino acid changes in open reading frames LORF9, UL51, UL9, UL7, UL4, ICP4 and US3. Further DNA sequence analysis showed that the 1801-bp deletion was also present in DEV p25. Our findings suggest that DEV gE and/or gI are nonessential for virus growth and might, as with other herpesviruses, play an important role in cell-to-cell spread and virulence. Our experiments provide more genetic information about DEV attenuation and further advance our understanding of the molecular basis of DEV pathogenesis.

Comparative genomic sequence analysis between a standard challenge strain and a vaccine strain of duck enteritis virus in China.

Here, we present the complete genomic sequence of the Chinese standard challenge strain (CSC) of duck enteritis virus (DEV), which was isolated in China in 1962. The DEV CSC genome is 162,131 bp long and contains 78 predicted open reading frames (ORFs). Comparison of the genomic sequences of DEV CSC and DEV live vaccine strain K at passage 63 (DEV K p63) revealed that the DEV CSC genome is 4,040 bp longer than the DEV K p63 genome, mainly because of 3,513-bp and 528-bp insertions at the 5' and 3' ends of the unique long segment, respectively. At the nucleotide level, 63 of the 76 ORFs in the DEV CSC genome were 100 % identical to the ORFs in the DEV K p63 genome. Two ORFs (UL56 and US10) had frameshift mutations in the C-terminal regions, while LORF5 was unique to the DEV K p63 genome. It is difficult to assign attenuated virulence to changes in specific genes. However, the complete DEV CSC genome will further advance our understanding of the genes involved in virulence and evolution. The DEV CSC genome sequence has been deposited in GenBank under accession number JQ673560.

Complete Genome Sequence of Reticuloendotheliosis Virus Strain MD-2, Isolated from a Contaminated Turkey Herpesvirus Vaccine.

Here, we present the complete genomic sequence of a reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) isolated from a contaminated turkey herpesvirus (HVT) vaccine. This report will be helpful for epidemiological studies on REV infection in avian flocks.

Complete genome sequence of an attenuated duck enteritis virus obtained by in vitro serial passage.

Here, we present the complete genome sequence of an attenuated duck enteritis virus (DEV) obtained by serial chicken embryo passage. Compared with a virulent DEV, there is a serial deletion in unique long open reading frame 11 (LORF11) and unique long region 2 (UL2). This study will aid in further exploration of the molecular pathogenesis of DEV.

Anti-Diabetic Activities of Jiaotaiwan in db/db Mice by Augmentation of AMPK Protein Activity and Upregulation of GLUT4 Expression.

Jiaotaiwan (JTW), which is composed of Coptis chinensis (CC) and cinnamon (CIN), is one of the most well-known traditional Chinese medicines. In this study, we investigated the antidiabetic effects and mechanism of JTW in db/db mice. Results showed that JTW significantly decreased the level of fasting blood glucose and improved glucose and insulin tolerance better than CC or CIN alone. JTW also effectively protected the pancreatic islet shape, augmented the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the liver, and increased the expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein in skeletal muscle and white fat. AMPK and GLUT4 contributed to glucose metabolism regulation and had an essential function in the development of diabetes mellitus (DM). Therefore, the mechanisms of JTW may be related to suppressing gluconeogenesis by activating AMPK in the liver and affecting glucose uptake in surrounding tissues through the upregulation of GLUT4 protein expression. These findings provided a new insight into the antidiabetic clinical applications of JTW and demonstrated the potential of JTW as a new drug candidate for DM treatment.