[The optimal examination duration for the detection of epileptiform discharge in outpatient video-electroencephalography].

Objective: To determine the optimal examination duration by evaluating the detection rate of epileptiform discharges (EDs) with different examination duration of video-electroencephalography (EEG) in outpatients. Methods: Patients with EDs who underwent 4-hour EEG examination from Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from October 2020 to November 2021 were retrospectively enrolled, and the detection rates of EDs were calculated with examination duration of 0-0.5 h, 0-1 h, 0-2 h, 0-3 h, and 0-4 h (group A, B, C, D and E), respectively. For each patient, EDs in each hour (group H1, group H2, group H3, group H4) were counted, and the standardized amount of EDs was calculated. For each patient, EDs in wakefulness, drowsiness, non-rapid eye movement-Ⅰ (NREM-Ⅰ), NREM-Ⅱ and NREM-Ⅲ were counted, and the standardized amount of EDs in each state was calculated. Meanwhile, the sleep duration per hour of each patient was also counted (group H1', group H2', group H3', group H4'). The Wilcoxon paired test was used for intergroup comparison to determine the optimal examination duration. Results: A total of 80 patients were enrolled, and aged [M(Q1, Q3)]31 (21, 39) years (range: 5-68 years). There were 38 males and 42 females. The detection rate of EDs was 42.5% (34/80) in group A, 81.3% (65/80) in group B, and 100.0% (80/80) in group C, group D and group E, respectively. The standardized amount of EDs of H1, H2, H3 and H4 was 24.8% (7.8%, 44.2%), 41.5% (25.9%, 63.3%), 15.1% (1.3%, 27.8%) and 1.3% (0, 14.5%), respectively. The standardized amount of EDs of H2 was significantly higher than that of H1, H3 and H4 (all P<0.05). The standardized amount of EDs in wakefulness, drowsiness, NREM-Ⅰ, NREM-Ⅱ and NREM-Ⅲ were 9.6% (0, 28.2%), 3.6% (0, 16.9%), 3.3% (0, 11.8%), 47.3% (21.9%, 72.5%) and 0 (0, 11.5%), respectively. The standardized amount of EDs in NREM-Ⅱ was significantly higher than that in wakefulness, drowsiness, NREM-Ⅰ and NREM-Ⅲ (all P<0.05). The sleep duration in the group of the H1', H2', H3' and H4' was 13.6 (2.5, 23.6), 35.8 (16.5, 54.2), 14.5(0, 34.7) and 0 (0, 14.6) minutes, respectively. The sleep duration in the group of the H2' group was significantly longer than that in the group of H1', H3' and H4' (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The study recommends 2 hours video-EEG in outpatients, which not only ensures the detection rate of EDs, but also facilitates patient cooperation and optimizes the allocation of medical resources.

Longissimus dorsi muscle transcriptomic analysis of Yunling and Chinese simmental cattle differing in intramuscular fat content and fatty acid composition.

Intramuscular fat (IMF) content and fatty acid (FA) composition vary significantly across beef cattle breeds, which play an important role in taste and nutritional value. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these phenotypic differences remain unknown. The present study compared meat quality traits between Yunling cattle and Chinese Simmental cattle. Yunling cattle showed a lower IMF content and proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), as well as higher proportions of saturated fatty acids (SFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and short-chain fatty acids (sc-FA) in the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle than Chinese Simmental cattle. To further identify the candidate genes and pathways responsible for these phenotypic differences, the transcriptome of LD muscle from the two breeds were measured using RNA-seq. A total of 1347 differentially expressed genes were identified. The major metabolic pathways that were differentially modulated were lipolysis and glycometabolism. Yunling cattle showed a higher expression of lipolysis genes (ALDH9A1, ACSL5, ACADM, ACAT2, ACOT2) and a lower expression of genes related to glycometabolism (PGM1, GALM, PGM1, GPI, LDHA). This research identified candidate genes and pathways for IMF content and FA composition in the LD muscle of beef cattle, which may facilitate the design of new selection strategies to improve meat quality.

A new high-frequency allele of the BM2113 locus in the Yunnan mithun population.

The BM2113 locus was amplified in Yunnan mithun (Bos frontalis) from the southwest mountains of China. It showed a high degree of polymorphism with a total of 12 alleles. The 121-bp polymorphic allele of the BM2113 locus that accounted for 37.1% of homozygotes was the predominant allele with a frequency of 58.57%, identified as mithun-specific for Bos species in Yunnan mithun. The polymorphism information content value was high with a mean of 0.6170, the expected and observed heterozygosity was moderate with values of 0.6427 and 0.6000, respectively, and the BM2113 locus was under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P = 0.2897) in the Yunnan mithun population. This study elucidated the genetic diversity, multi-origin, specific alleles, and characterization of mithun.

Association of bovine Toll-like receptor 4 with tick infestation rates and blood histamine concentration.

We investigated a possible association between bovine Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and resistance to tick infestation in 103 cattle, including BMY cattle (1/2 Brahman, 1/4 Murray Grey, and 1/4 Yunnan Yellow cattle), Brahman, and Red Angus grazing on improved pasture. The tick infestation weight and number of Rhipicephalus microplus and the blood histamine concentration were measured and compared with those of 32 Chinese Holsteins and 30 Simmentals. A 228-bp fragment was amplified and sequenced to analyze the polymorphisms of the TLR4 gene. After SSCP and sequencing analysis, 4 SNPs, i.e., 535(A>C), 546(T>C), 605(T>A), and 618(G>C), were identified, corresponding to GenBank accession Nos. AY297041 and NW_003104150; the latter two SNPs caused Leu→Gln and Gln→His substitutions, respectively. Genotype AA was completely predominant in the Chinese Holstein and Simmental; genotypes AA and AB were detected in Red Angus, while genotypes AA, AB, BB, and BC were detected in Brahman and in BMY cattle. A negative correlation was identified between blood histamine concentration and number of tick infestation; in BMY cattle this negative association was significant. The tick infestation in cattle with genotype BB was significantly lower than in those with genotype AA. Blood histamine concentration in cattle with genotype BB was significantly higher than in those with genotype AA. The TLR4 gene mutation could affect the blood histamine level and activate the immune reaction after tick infestation. Allele B has potential as a molecular marker for tick-resistance originated from Zebu cattle for use in cattle breeding programs.

Karyotype analysis of mithun (Bos frontalis) and mithun bull x Brahman cow hybrids.

We examined the cytogenetics of mithun (Bos frontalis), a domesticated version of the Asian gaur, and hybrids (F(1) generation) produced by artificial insemination of Brahman cows (Bos indicus) with mithun semen. Reproductive potential was also examined in the F(1) generation and a backcrossed heifer for utilization of heterosis. Metaphase chromosome spreads were examined by conventional staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization hybridized with the entire chromosome 1 of mithun as a specific probe. Chromosome 1 of mithun was found to be equivalent to Bos taurus chromosomes 2 and 28. The karyotype of the female mithun (N = 4) comprised 58 chromosomes, including 54 acrocentric and four large submetacentric chromosomes, without the four acrocentric chromosomes found in the domesticated species B. indicus. However, one of the four female mithuns with a normal mithun phenotype had an abnormal karyotype (2n = 59), indicating introgression from B. taurus or B. indicus. The F(1) karyotypes (N = 6, 3♂3♀) of the mithun bull × Brahman cow cross had 2n = 59, intermediate between their parents; they were consistent heterozygous carriers with a centric fusion involving rob(2;28), as expected. Two pronounced red signals were seen in the mithun karyotypes, three red signals in the mithun × Brahman hybrids, and four red signals in the Brahman cattle, in good agreement with centric fusion of bovine rob(2;28). The female backcross hybrid (N = 1) with 2n = 59 had a similar chromosome configuration to the F(1) karyotypes and had rob(2;28). Such female backcross hybrids normally reproduce; however, the F(1) bulls (N = 3) had not yet generated normal sperm at 24 months.

Genetic diversity analysis of BMY cattle based on microsatellite DNA markers.

BMY cattle (1/2 Brahman, 1/4 Murray Grey and 1/4 Yunnan Yellow cattle) has been inter se breeding since 1980s. Genetic diversity of BMY cattle was extensively investigated using 16 microsatellite markers. A total of 130 microsatellite alleles and high allele size variance were detected. All loci displayed high genetic diversity with overall mean of N(a) = 8.13, PIC = 0.7224 and H(e) = 0.7666, which were higher than those of many other beef breeds. The allele-sharing neighbour-joining tree clearly displayed the new genotypic combinations and the minglement from both BMY cattle and Brahman. The results provided the genetic information to match the standards of new beef breed in South China.