The Correlation of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Hippocampal Perfusion in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is closely related to abnormal cerebral blood flow. Inflammation and oxidative stress have always been important factors in the pathophysiology of AF. It remains unknown whether inflammation and oxidative stress are correlated to hippocampal perfusion in patients with AF.Sixty-three patients with AF with normal hippocampal blood perfusion (NHBP) were compared to 71 patients with AF with abnormal hippocampal blood perfusion (AHBP) using a case-control study design. The serum levels of inflammation and oxidative stress were measured. The hippocampal perfusion was detected. (1) The serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were statistically higher in the AHBP group than in the NHBP group. In the AHBP subgroup analysis, the serum levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 were statistically higher in patients with persistent AF than those with paroxysmal AF. (2) The relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), mean transit time (MTT), and the time-to-peak (TTP) were statistically higher in the AHBP group than in the NHBP group. Moreover, cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was statistically lower in the AHBP group than in the NHBP group. (3) relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), rCBF, MTT, and TTP were passively associated with serum hs-CRP and IL-6; rCBV, rCBF, and MTT were positively associated with ox-LDL. The serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, and ox-LDL were associated with AHBP in patients with AF after multivariate logistic regression analysis.Oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers were increased in patients with AF with AHBP, in which the serum levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 in the persistent AF group were statistically higher than those in the paroxysmal AF group. The serum levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, and ox-LDL were associated with AHBP in patients with AF.

Screening of host gut-derived probiotics and effects of feeding probiotics on growth, immunity, and antioxidant enzyme activity of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × E. lanceolatus♂).

In recent years, the widespread use of antibiotics in intensive grouper mariculture has resulted in the ineffectiveness of antibiotic treatment, leading to an increasing incidence of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, causing serious economic losses. Hence, it is crucial to develop alternative strategies to antibiotics for healthy and sustainable development of the mariculture industry. Here, we aimed to screen host gut-derived probiotics and evaluate its effects on growth and immunity of grouper. In this study, 43 bacterial strains were isolated from the intestine of the hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × E. lanceolatus♂), and a potential probiotic strain G1-26, which can efficiently secrete amylase, protease, and lipase, was obtained using different screening mediums. Based on 16S rDNA sequencing, the potential probiotic strain G1-26 was identified as Vibrio fluvialis. The results of a biological characteristic evaluation showed that V. fluvialis G1-26 could grow at 25-45 °C, pH 5.5-7.5, salinity 10-40, and bile salt concentration 0-0.030%, and produce amylase, lipase, and protease under different culture conditions. Additionally, V. fluvialis G1-26 is sensitive to many antibiotics and does not exhibit aquatic biotoxicity. Subsequently, hybrid groupers were fed diets containing V. fluvialis G1-26 at different concentrations (0, 106, 108, and 1010 CFU/g) for 60 d. The results showed that V. fluvialis G1-26 at 108 CFU/g did not significantly affect the growth performance of the hybrid grouper (P > 0.05). V. fluvialis G1-26 supplementation at 108 and 1010 CFU/g significantly promoted the relative expression of immune-related genes in hybrid groupers (TLR3, TLR5, IL-1ß, IL-8, IL-10, CTL, LysC, TNF-2, and MHC-2) and improved the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, total superoxide dismutase, and total protein in the liver. In conclusion, V. fluvialis G1-26, a potential probiotic strain isolated from the intestine of the hybrid grouper, can be used as an effective immunopotentiator at an optimal dose of 108 CFU/g diet. Our results provide a scientific basis for the development and utilization of probiotics in the grouper mariculture industry.

Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals physiological responses in liver tissues of Epinephelus coioides under acute hypoxia stress.

Hypoxia is a common stressor for aquatic animals, including Epinephelus coioides, with a considerable impact on sustainable aquaculture. E. coioides is a widely consumed fish in China owing to its high nutritious value and taste. However, water hypoxia caused by high density culture process has become a great threat to E. coioides culture, and its response to hypoxia stress has not been discussed before. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the response of E. coioides to acute hypoxia using transcriptomic techniques. To this end, RNA sequencing was performed on the liver tissues of fish exposed to normoxic and hypoxic conditions for 1 h. The results presented 503 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the liver tissue of fish exposed to hypoxic condition compared with those in the normoxic group. Enrichment analysis using the Gene Ontology database showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched for functions related to cell apoptosis signaling pathways, insulin resistance, antioxidant enzymes, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis signaling pathways. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that HIF-1, PI3K-AKT, IL-17, NF-kappa B, and MAPK signaling pathways were significantly enriched by the DEGs. The DEGs were mainly involved in immune response, inflammatory response, cell apoptosis regulation, energy metabolism, and substance metabolism. Additionally, the hypoxia response in E. coioides was mainly regulated via the PI3K-AKT-HIF-1 signaling axis. Overall, the findings of this study contribute to the understanding of hypoxia stress response in E. coioides, and provides target genes for breeding hypoxia-tolerant Epinephelus spp.

Molecular characterization of a RNA polymerase (RNAP) II (DNA directed) polypeptide H (POLR2H) in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and its role in response to high-pH stress.

RNA polymerase (RNAP) II (DNA-directed) (POLR2) genes are essential for cell viability under environmental stress and for the transfer of biological information from DNA to RNA. However, the function and characteristics of POLR2 genes in crustaceans are still unknown. In the present study, a POLR2H cDNA was isolated from Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and designated as Lv-POLR2H. The full-length Lv-POLR2H cDNA is 772 bp in length and contains a 32-bp 5'- untranslated region (UTR), a 284-bp 3'- UTR with a poly (A) sequence, and an open reading frame (ORF) of 456 bp encoding an Lv-POLR2H protein of 151 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of 17.21 kDa. The Lv-POLR2H protein only contains one functional domain, harbors no transmembrane domains and mainly locates in the nucleus. The expression of the Lv-POLR2H mRNA was ubiquitously detected in all selected tissues, with the highest level in the gills. In situ hybridization (ISH) analysis showed that Lv-POLR2H was mainly located in the secondary gill filaments, the transcript levels of Lv-POLR2H in the gills were found to be significantly affected after challenge by pH, low salinity and high concentrations of NO2- and NH4+, indicating that Lv-POLR2H in gill tissues might play roles under various physical stresses. Specifically, under high-pH stress, knockdown of Lv-POLR2H via siRNA significantly decreased the survival rate of the shrimp, indicating its key roles in the response to high-pH stress. Our study may provide the first evidence of the role of POLR2H in shrimp responding to high-pH stress and provides new insight into molecular regulation in response to high pH in crustaceans.

Physiological responses and gene expression changes in the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) exposed to progesterone at environmentally relevant concentrations.

Progesterone (P4) is a natural and synthetic steroid, widely distributed in the aquatic environments. It can lead to adverse effects on the endocrine system in aquatic organisms. This study investigated the toxicological effects of exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations (4, 44, and 410ng/L) of progesterone for 42 d on adult female mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis. We performed morphological and histological analyses on gonads, anal fins, liver, and gills after the exposure of mosquito fish to P4. The expression levels of genes (vtg, er, and ar isoforms) related to fish reproduction and detoxification (cyp1a) in the liver were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that the progesterone exposure induced slight masculinization in female mosquitofish, influenced the oocyte maturation as revealed by histology of the ovaries, and caused severe damages to the liver and gills of adult female mosquitofish. It also suppressed the mRNAs expression of vtg, er, cyp1a, and significantly enhanced the expression of ar mRNA in the liver. This study reveals the molecular and physiological effects of progesterone at environmentally relevant concentrations, which might further be translated to alterations in the reproduction of mosquitofish.

Changes in Histopathology, Enzyme Activities, and the Expression of Relevant Genes in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Following Long-Term Exposure to Environmental Levels of Thallium.

Thallium is a rare-earth element, but widely distributed in water environments, posing a potential risk to our health. This study was designed to investigate the chronic effects of thallium based on physiological responses, gene expression, and changes in the activity of relevant enzymes in adult zebra fish exposed to thallium at low doses. The endpoints assessed include mRNA expression of metallothionein (MT)2 and heat shock protein HSP70; enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Na+/K+-ATPase; and the histopathology of gill, gonad, and liver tissues. The results showed significant increases in HSP70 mRNA expression following exposure to 100 ng/L thallium and in MT2 expression following exposure to 500 ng/L thallium. Significantly higher activities were observed for SOD in liver and Na+/K+-ATPase activity in gill in zebra fish exposed to thallium (20 and 100 ng/L, respectively) in comparison to control fish. Gill, liver, and gonad tissues displayed different degrees of damage. The overall results imply that thallium may cause toxicity to zebra fish at environmentally relevant aqueous concentrations.

Neuroprotective Activity of Cerebrosides from Typhonium giganteum by Regulating Caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl-2 Signaling Pathways in PC12 Cells.

An investigation of the potential neuroprotective natural product constituents of the rhizomes of Typhonium giganteum led to the isolation of two new cerebrosides, typhonosides E (1) and F (2), along with 11 known analogues (3-13). The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic data interpretation. The activity of these compounds against glutamate-induced cell apoptosis was investigated in PC12 cells. All compounds exhibited such activity, which was related to the length of the fatty acyl chain. Among them, longan cerebroside II (11), with the longest fatty acyl chain, showed the most potent protective effect in PC12 cells from glutamate injury, with an EC50 value of 2.5 µM. Moreover, at the molecular level, longan cerebroside II (11) downregulated the expression of caspase-9, caspase-3, and Bax, upregulated the expression of Bcl-2, and decreased the level of cytosolic cytochrome c in a concentration-dependent manner.

Molecular cloning, characterization and functional analysis of QRFP in orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides).

The peptide QRFP plays an important role in the regulation of vertebrate feeding behavior. In this study, we cloned the full length cDNA of a QRFP precursor in a teleost fish, the orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). Sequence analysis has shown that the functional regions of QRFP in other vertebrates (QRFP-25 and QRFP-7) are conserved in orange-spotted grouper. RT-PCR demonstrated that the pre-processed mRNA of QRFP is widely expressed in orange-spotted grouper. Three days of food deprivation did not change the hypothalamic pre-processed QRFP expression. However, QRFP expression significantly increased when the fish were reefed after three days of fasting. Intraperitoneal injection of QRFP-25 peptide to orange-spotted grouper suppressed expression of orexin, but elevated expression of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) in the hypothalamus. We also investigated the effects of QRFP-25 on the expression of reproductive genes. The peptide suppressed the expression of seabream-type gonadotropin-releasing hormones (sbGnRH), luteinizing hormone beta subunit (LHß) and follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit (FSHß) in vivo, as well as inhibited the expression of LHß and FSHß in pituitary cells in primary culture. Our results indicate that QRFP may play an inhibitory role in the regulation of feeding behavior and reproduction in orange-spotted grouper.

[Removal of arsenate from drinking water by activated carbon supported nano zero-valent iron].

A new adsorbent, activated carbon impregnated with nano zero-valent iron was prepared, which size of the needle-shaped iron particles in the pores of carbon was (30-500) nm x (1000-3000) nm and approximately 8.2% of iron was loaded onto it. The arsenate removal percentage was 99.5% by 1.5 g/L NZVI/AC in the 2 mg/L arsenic solution at pH 6.5 and (25 +/- 2) degrees C. The adsorption capacity was about 15.4 mg/g when equilibrium concentration was 1.0 mg/L. Kinetics revealed that uptake of arsenate ion by NZVI/AC was 91.4% in the first 12 h and equilibrium time was about 72 h. The intraparticle diffusion model was applied to study the mechanics of arsenate in the activated carbon. The presence of phosphate and silicate could significantly decrease arsenate removal while the effects of the other anions and cations on the arsenic removal were neglectable. NZVI/AC can be effectively regenerated when elution is done with 0.1 mol/L NaOH solution. Our results suggest that NZVI/AC is a suitable candidate for drinking water treatment due to its high reactivity.