Hypothalamic and ovarian transcriptome profiling reveals potential candidate genes in low and high egg production of white Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata).

In China, the low egg production rate is a major challenge to Muscovy duck farmers. Hypothalamus and ovary play essential role in egg production of birds. However, there are little or no reports from these tissues to identify potential candidate genes responsible for egg production in White Muscovy ducks. A total of 1,537 laying ducks were raised; the egg production traits which include age at first egg (days), number of eggs at 300 d, and number of eggs at 59 wk were recorded. Moreover, 4 lowest (LP) and 4 highest producing (HP) were selected at 59 wk of age, respectively. To understand the mechanism of egg laying regulation, we sequenced the hypothalamus and ovary transcriptome profiles in LP and HP using RNA-Seq. The results showed that the number of eggs at 300 d and number of eggs at 59 wk in the HP were significantly more (P < 0.001) than the LP ducks. In total, 106.98G clean bases were generated from 16 libraries with an average of 6.68G clean bases for each library. Further analysis showed 569 and 2,259 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the hypothalamus and ovary between LP and HP, respectively. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed 114 and 139 pathways in the hypothalamus and ovary, respectively which includes Calcium signaling pathway, ECM-receptor interaction, Focal adhesion, MAPK signaling pathway, Apoptosis and Apelin signaling pathways that are involved in egg production. Based on the GO terms and KEGG pathways results, 10 potential candidate genes (P2RX1, LPAR2, ADORA1, FN1, AKT3, ADCY5, ADCY8, MAP3K8, PXN, and PTTG1) were identified to be responsible for egg production. Further, protein-protein interaction was analyzed to show the relationship between these candidate genes. Therefore, this study provides useful information on transcriptome of hypothalamus and ovary of LP and HP Muscovy ducks.

Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate ameliorates fructose-induced podocyte apoptosis through downregulation of miR-193a to increase WT1.

High fructose intake is a risk of glomerular podocyte dysfunction. Podocyte apoptosis has emerged as a major cause of podocyte loss, exacerbating proteinuria. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG) is usually used as a hepatoprotective agent in clinic. Liver and kidney injury often occurs in human diseases. Recent report shows that MgIG improves kidney function. In this study, we found that MgIG significantly alleviated kidney dysfunction, proteinuria and podocyte injury in fructose-fed rats. It also restored fructose-induced podocyte apoptosis in rat glomeruli and cultured differentiated podocytes. Of note, high-expression of miR-193a, downregulation of Wilms' tumor protein (WT1) and RelA, as well as upregulation of C-Maf inducing protein (C-mip) were observed in these animal and cell models. The data from the transfection of miR-193a mimic, miR-193a inhibitor, WT1 siRNA or LV5-WT1 in cultured differentiated podocytes showed that fructose increased miR-193a to down-regulate WT1, and subsequently activated C-mip to suppress RelA, causing podocyte apoptosis. These disturbances were significantly attenuated by MgIG. Taken together, these results provide the first evidence that MgIG restrains fructose-induced podocyte apoptosis at least partly through inhibiting miR-193a to upregulate WT1, supporting the application of MgIG with a novel mechanism-of-action against podocyte apoptosis associated with fructose-induced kidney dysfunction.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori compounds from the ethanol extracts of Geranium wilfordii.

UNLABELLED: ETHNOPHARMOCOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Geranium wilfordii Maxim has been extensively used in Chinese Herbal Medicine for treating gastrointestinal disorders, diarrhea and dysentery. In the current study we aimed to investigate the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of ethanol extracts of Geranium wilfordii Maxim and its main active compounds, corilagin and 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-ß-D-glucose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The plant materials were extracted three times with ethanol and the concentrated filtrate was successively fractioned into chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-BuOH-soluble portions which were examined in vitro for the anti-Helicobacter. pylori activity. Employing a standard strain and five clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori, the extract, fractions and compounds of Geranium wilfordii Maxim were assessed in vitro. RESULTS: The ethanol fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, corilagin, and 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-ß-D-glucose were found to be strongly inhibitory to Helicobacter. pylori (MICs: 40, 30, 4, and 8µg/ml respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed that the ethanol and the ethyl acetate extracts from Geranium wilfordii Maxim displayed as well the most significant inhibition to the growth of Helicobacter. pylori, of which corilagin and 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-ß-D-glucose have been identified main anti-Helicobacter pylori active constituents.

[Effects of blood washing and autotransfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass on erythrocyte immune and kidney function].

OBJECTIVE: To study changes of erythrocyte immune and kidney function after autotransfusion washed red blood cells during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Thirty-two patients undergoing valve replacement with CPB were randomly divided into study group and control group (16 in each group). In study group, the blood in operative field and the residual blood in the extracorporal machine were collected, centrifuged, washed and retransfused to patients. Patients in control group were transfused with the residual blood in the extracorporal machine without any disposal or banked blood. All patients were used with membrane oxygenator. Before CPB, 12 h, 24 h, 72 h and 7 d after CPB, whole blood were taken, then the erythrocyte immune function (C3bRR, RICR) and level of plasma free hemoglobin (FHB) were assayed, and post-operation renal function was compared between the two groups. Moreover, total volume of banked blood transfused to patients after CPB was recorded. RESULTS: (1) After 12 hours, 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days of CPB, the RBC-C3bRR (14.3% +/- 4.7%, 15.9% +/- 3.6%, 16.6% +/- 2.8%, 19.9% +/- 4.1%) and RBC-ICR (8.7% +/- 1.9%, 9.2% +/- 2.0%, 9.5% +/- 2.6%, 12.0% +/- 2.0%) in study group were significantly elevated than that in control group (RBC-C3bRR 10.7% +/- 2.4%, 11.3% +/- 3.0%, 12.3% +/- 3.5%, 14.5% +/- 2.0%, RBC-ICR 5.9% +/- 1.4%, 6.0% +/- 1.8%, 7.0% +/- 1.7%, 8.7% +/- 2.7%). The erythrocyte immune function after CPB was better and restored faster in study group than that in control group (P < 0.05 in all). (2) After 12 hours, 24 hours of CPB, the levels of FHB (0.41 g/L +/- 0.13 g/L, 0.03 g/L +/- 0.02 g/L) in study group were significantly lower than that in control group (1.02 g/L +/- 0.23 g/L, 0.54 g/L +/- 0.09 g/L) (P < 0.01). After 24 hours of CPB, the level of urinary protein excretion (0.19 g/d +/- 0.08 g/d) in study group was significantly lower than that in control group (0.32 g/d +/- 0.07 g/d) (P < 0.05). (3) After 24 hours of CPB, the level of 24 h creatinine clearance was significantly elevated in study group (68 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2) +/- 10 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2)) than that in control group (45 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2) +/- 4 ml x min(-1) x 1.73 m(-2)) (P < 0.01). (4) The total volume of banked RBCs transfused after CPB were fewer in study group (2.0 U +/- 1.1 U) than that in control group (7.4 U +/- 2.3 U) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Autotransfusion of washed red blood cells during CPB may improve significantly the erythrocyte immune function and protect kidney function better than transfusion of residual blood in the extracorporal machine or banked blood.