Surgical Management of a Rare Case of Low-Grade Myofibroblastic Sarcoma of the Larynx.

Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) of the larynx is an extremely rare entity. We report a case of LGMS in a 59-year-old man presenting with progressive hoarseness and a right laryngeal mass and there was no recurrence during the 6-month follow-up after the total laryngectomy.

Evaluation of Reference Gene Stability in Goat Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells during Proliferation and Differentiation Phases.

The process of skeletal muscle development is intricate and involves the regulation of a diverse array of genes. Accurate gene expression profiles are crucial for studying muscle development, making it essential to choose the right reference genes for real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). In the present study, eight candidate reference genes were identified from our previous transcriptome sequencing analysis of caprine skeletal muscle satellite cells (MuSCs), and two traditional reference genes (ACTB and GAPDH) were assessed. The quantitative levels of the candidate reference genes were determined through the RT-qPCR technique, while the stability of their expression was evaluated utilizing the GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder programs. Furthermore, the chosen reference genes were utilized for the normalization of the gene expression levels of PCNA and Myf5. It was determined that conventional reference genes, including ACTB and GAPDH, were not appropriate for normalizing target gene expression. Conversely, RPL14 and RPS15A, identified through RNA sequencing analysis, exhibited minimal variability and were identified as the optimal reference genes for normalizing gene expression during the proliferation and differentiation of goat MuSCs. Our research offers a validated panel of optimal reference genes for the detection of differentially expressed genes in goat muscle satellite cells using RT-qPCR.

Efficacy and safety of paclitaxel liposome versus paclitaxel in combination with carboplatin in the first-line chemotherapy for ovarian cancer: a multicenter, open-label, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial.

Background: The paclitaxel liposome formulation, encapsulating paclitaxel within a phospholipid bilayer, addresses the insolubility of traditional paclitaxel formulations, thereby reducing toxicity without compromising its antitumor efficacy. Methods: This multicenter, open-label, non-inferiority randomized controlled trial (ChiCTR2000038555) evaluates the efficacy and safety of paclitaxel liposome in comparison to the standard regimen of paclitaxel combined with carboplatin (PLC vs. PC) as first-line therapy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Results: An analysis of median progression-free survival (PFS) revealed non-inferior outcomes between 263 patients in the PLC group and 260 patients in the PC group (32.3 vs. 29.9 months, hazard ratio [HR], 0.89 [95% CI, 0.64-1.25]), using a non-inferior margin of 1.3. Although the overall incidence of treatment-related adverse events was comparable between groups, the PLC group experienced significantly fewer non-hematologic toxicities than those treated with the PC regimen. Conclusion: The findings affirm the non-inferiority of paclitaxel liposome compared to the combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin regarding therapeutic efficacy, with an enhanced safety profile marked by reduced non-hematologic toxicities.

Fat Mass- and Obesity-Associated Protein (FTO) Promotes the Proliferation of Goat Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells by Stabilizing DAG1 mRNA in an IGF2BP1-Related m6A Manner.

Skeletal muscle development is spotlighted in mammals since it closely relates to animal health and economic benefits to the breeding industry. Researchers have successfully unveiled many regulatory factors and mechanisms involving myogenesis. However, the effect of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, especially demethylase and its regulated genes, on muscle development remains to be further explored. Here, we found that the typical demethylase FTO (fat mass- and obesity-associated protein) was highly enriched in goats' longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles. In addition, the level of m6A modification on transcripts was negatively regulated by FTO during the proliferation of goat skeletal muscle satellite cells (MuSCs). Moreover, a deficiency of FTO in MuSCs significantly retarded their proliferation and promoted the expression of dystrophin-associated protein 1 (DAG1). m6A modifications of DAG1 mRNA were efficiently altered by FTO. Intriguingly, the results of DAG1 levels and its m6A enrichment from FB23-2 (FTO demethylase inhibitor)-treated cells were consistent with those of the FTO knockdown, indicating that the regulation of FTO on DAG1 depended on m6A modification. Further experiments showed that interfering FTO improved m6A modification at site DAG1-122, recognized by Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) and consequently stabilized DAG1 transcripts. Our study suggests that FTO promotes the proliferation of MuSCs by regulating the expression of DAG1 through m6A modification. This will extend our knowledge of the m6A-related mechanism of skeletal muscle development in animals.

Role of circPAPD7 in regulating proliferation and differentiation of goat skeletal muscle satellite cells.

The circular RNA (circRNA) plays a crucial role in various biological processes, particularly posttranscriptional regulation. However, the role of circRNA in the development of goat skeletal muscle has not been thoroughly explored. Here, we identified circPAPD7, which is a novel circular RNA that is preferentially expressed in the skeletal muscle. Functional assays demonstrated that circPAPD7 promoted proliferation and inhibited differentiation in goat skeletal muscle satellite cells (MuSCs). Mechanistically, it was discovered that circPAPD7 interacts with miR-26a-5p. Moreover, the rescue experiments indicated that the overexpression of circPAPD7 may reverse the inhibitory impact of miR-26a-5p on myoblast proliferation and the accelerated effects on differentiation. Furthermore, we provided evidence that circPAPD7 functions as a sponge for miR-26a-5p, thereby facilitating the upregulation of EZH2 expression in goat MuSCs. Together, the results revealed that circPAPD7 promote proliferation and inhibit differentiation of goat MuSCs via the miR-26a-5p/EZH2 pathway.

Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal Molecular Regulatory Networks for Pigmentation Deposition in Sheep.

Domestic animals have multiple phenotypes of skin and coat color, which arise from different genes and their products, such as proteins and metabolites responsible with melanin deposition. However, the complex regulatory network of melanin synthesis remains to be fully unraveled. Here, the skin and tongue tissues of Liangshan black sheep (black group) and Liangshan semi-fine-wool sheep (pink group) were collected, stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson-Fontana, and the transcriptomic and metabolomic data were further analyzed. We found a large deposit of melanin granules in the epidermis of the black skin and tongue. Transcriptome and metabolome analysis identified 744 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 443 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) between the pink and black groups. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses revealed the DEGs and DEMs were mainly enriched in the pathways of secondary metabolic processes, melanin biosynthesis processes, melanin metabolism processes, melanosome membranes, pigment granule membranes, melanosome, tyrosine metabolism, and melanogenesis. Notably, we revealed the gene ENSARG00020006042 may be a family member of YWHAs and involved in regulating melanin deposition. Furthermore, several essential genes (TYR, TYRP1, DCT, PMEL, MLANA, SLC45A2) were significantly associated with metabolite prostaglandins and compounds involved in sheep pigmentation. These findings provide new evidence of the strong correlation between prostaglandins and related compounds and key genes that regulate sheep melanin synthesis, furthering our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms and molecular breeding of pigmentation in sheep.

Associations between 25 hydroxyvitamin D concentration and spontaneous abortion.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous abortion is a common complication of pregnancy that can lead to adverse physical and psychological outcomes for women. Vitamin D is reported to be associated with reproductive functions, whereas its casual effects on abortion remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to systematically assess the causal relationships between serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration and the risk of spontaneous abortion. GWAS summary data of 25(OH)D were used as exposure, and data of spontaneous abortion was considered as outcome. A retrospective study was additionally conducted to verify the MR results. RESULTS: MR estimates showed that a higher 25(OH)D level was potentially associated with decreased risk of spontaneous abortion (IVW, OR = 0.98, 95%CI = 0.90-1.06; MR Egger, OR = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.84-1.05; Weighted median, OR = 0.93, 95%CI = 0.82-1.06; Weighted mode, OR = 0.93, 95%CI = 0.84-1.03), though the P-value was not statistically significant. The retrospective study also produced consistent result of Vitamin D's protective role to spontaneous abortion. The P-value was very close to statistical significance (P = 0.053). CONCLUSIONS: This study reports the potential protective role of serum 25(OH)D concentration to spontaneous abortion, suggesting that increased vitamin D levels may decrease the risk of abortion. Further larger prospective studies and/or even randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm causal relationship between vitamin D and abortion.

Mitigation of gestational diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction through FGF21-NRF2 pathway activation involving L-Cystine.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) disrupts glucolipid metabolism, endangering maternal and fetal health. Despite limited research on its pathogenesis and treatments, we conducted a study using serum samples from GDM-diagnosed pregnant women. We performed metabolic sequencing to identify key small molecule metabolites and explored their molecular interactions with FGF21. We also investigated FGF21's impact on GDM using blood samples from affected women. Our analysis revealed a novel finding: elevated levels of L-Cystine in GDM patients. Furthermore, we observed a positive correlation between L-Cystine and FGF21 levels, and found that L-Cystine induces NRF2 expression via FGF21 for a period of 96 h. Under high glucose (HG) conditions, FGF21 upregulates NRF2 and downstream genes NQO1 and EPHX1 via AKT phosphorylation induced by activation of IRS1, enhancing endothelial function. Additionally, we confirmed that levels of FGF21, L-Cystine, and endothelial function at the third trimester were effectively enhanced through appropriate exercise and diet during pregnancy in GDM patients (GDM + ED). These findings suggest FGF21 as a potential therapeutic agent for GDM, particularly in protecting endothelial cells. Moreover, elevated L-Cystine via appropriate exercise and diet might be a potential strategy to enhance FGF21's efficacy.

Coupled single-cell and bulk RNA-seq analysis reveals the engulfment role of endothelial cells in atherosclerosis.

The clearance of apoptotic cell debris, containing professional phagocytosis and non-professional phagocytosis, is essential for maintaining the homeostasis of healthy tissues. Here, we discovered that endothelial cells could engulf apoptotic cell debris in atherosclerotic plaque. Single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has revealed a unique endothelial cell subpopulation in atherosclerosis, which was strongly associated with vascular injury-related pathways. Moreover, integrated analysis of three vascular injury-related RNA-seq datasets showed that the expression of scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1) was up-regulated and specifically enriched in the phagocytosis pathway under vascular injury circumstances. Single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq indicate that SR-B1 was highly expressed in a unique endothelial cell subpopulation of mouse aorta and strongly associated with the reorganization of cellular adherent junctions and cytoskeleton which were necessary for phagocytosis. Furthermore, SR-B1 was strongly required for endothelial cells to engulf apoptotic cell debris in atherosclerotic plaque of both mouse and human aorta. Overall, this study demonstrated that apoptotic cell debris could be engulfed by endothelial cells through SR-B1 and associated with the reorganization of cellular adherent junctions and cytoskeleton.

The adsorption behavior of perfluorooctane sulphonate on diamane regulated by strain.

The adsorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), is currently a critical issue in the environmental domain, yet it is not fully understood. Diamane, as a stable monolayer adsorbent, has garnered significant research interest. Defects and strain are reported to play a crucial role in regulating its electronic structure. In this study, we employ density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the adsorption of PFOS on both pristine and nitrogen-vacancy (N-V) defected diamane, respectively. Additionally, we systematically examine the effects of strain in diamane along both the a- and b-directions (two directions of a monolayer) on PFOS adsorption. This analysis involves studying the adsorption energy (Eads), electron transfer, and the partial density of states. Finally, we propose the synergistic effects of N-V defects and compression strain in diamane, which enhance PFOS adsorption. Diamane is considered a promising candidate for PFOS sensing or capture.

Changes in meat quality, metabolites and microorganisms of mutton during cold chain storage.

During the cold chain storage process, changes in metabolites and microorganisms are highly likely to lead to changes in meat quality. To elucidate the changes in the composition of metabolites and microbiota during cold chain storage of mutton, this study utilized untargeted metabolome and 5R 16S rRNA sequencing analyses to investigate the changes in the longissimus dorsi under different cold chain temperatures (4 °C and -20 °C). With the extension of cold chain storage time, the meat color darkened and the content of C18:2n-6, C20:3n-6, and C23:0 were significantly increased in mutton. In this study, nine metabolites, including 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, alanylphenylala-nine, indole-3-acrylic acid and the others, were significantly altered during cold chain storage. The abundance of the dominant microorganisms, including Brachymonas, Aeromonas, Corynebacterium and Steroidobacter, was significantly altered. Furthermore, a high correlation was observed between the different metabolites and microorganisms. These findings provide an in-depth understanding of the effects of different cold chain storage temperatures and times on the quality of mutton.

Amidoxime-grafted cotton fibers with anti-microbial sludge for efficient uranium recovery.

Uranium as a nuclear fuel, its source and aftertreatment has been a hot topic of debate for developers. In this paper, amidoxime and guanidino-modified cotton fibers (DC-AO-PHMG) were synthesized by the two-step functionalization approach, which exhibited remarkable antimicrobial and high uranium recovery property. Adsorption tests revealed that DC-AO-PHMG had excellent selectivity and anti-interference properties, the maximum adsorption capacity of 609.75 mg/g. More than 85 % adsorption capacity could still be kept after 10 adsorption-desorption cycles, and it conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model as a spontaneous heat-absorbing chemical monolayer process. FT-IR, EDS and XPS analyses speculated that the amidoxime and amino synergistically increased the uranium uptake. The inhibitory activities of DC-AO-PHMG against three aquatic bacteria, BEY, BEL (from Yellow River water and lake bottom silt, respectively) and B. subtilis were significantly stronger, and the uranium adsorption was not impacted by the high bacteria content. Most importantly, DC-AO-PHMG removed up to 94 % of uranium in simulated seawater and extracted up to 4.65 mg/g of uranium from Salt Lake water, which demonstrated its great potential in the field of uranium resource recovery.

Comparative whole-genome resequencing to uncover selection signatures linked to litter size in Hu Sheep and five other breeds.

Hu sheep (HS), a breed of sheep carrying the FecB mutation gene, is known for its "year-round estrus and multiple births" and is an ideal model for studying the high fecundity mechanisms of livestock. Through analyzing and comparing the genomic selection features of Hu sheep and other sheep breeds, we identified a series of candidate genes that may play a role in Hu sheep's high fecundity mechanisms. In this study, we conducted whole-genome resequencing on six breeds and screened key mutations significantly correlated with high reproductive traits in sheep. Notably, the CC2D1B gene was selected by the fixation index (FST) and the cross-population composite likelihood ratio (XP-CLR) methods in HS and other five breeds. It was worth noting that the CC2D1B gene in HS was different from that in other sheep breeds, and seven missense mutations have been identified. Furthermore, the linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis revealed a strong linkage disequilibrium in this specific gene region. Subsequently, by performing different grouping based on FecB genotypes in Hu sheep, genome-wide selective signal analysis screened several genes related to reproduction, such as BMPR1B and PPM1K. Besides, FST analysis identified functional genes related to reproductive traits, including RHEB, HSPA2, PPP1CC, HVCN1, and CCDC63. Additionally, a missense mutation was found in the CCDC63 gene and the haplotype was different between the high reproduction (HR) group and low reproduction (LR) group in HS. In summary, we discovered genetic differentiation among six distinct breeding sheep breeds at the whole genome level. Additionally, we identified a set of genes which were associated with reproductive performance in Hu sheep and visualized how these genes differed in different breeds. These findings laid a theoretical foundation for understanding genetic mechanisms behind high prolific traits in sheep.

Impact of Hydrostatic Pressure on Molecular Structure and Dynamics of the Sodium and Chloride Ions in Portlandite Nanopores.

In order to address the issues of energy depletion, more resources are being searched for in the deep sea. Therefore, research into how the deep-sea environment affects cement-based materials for underwater infrastructure is required. This paper examines the impact of ocean depth (0, 500, 1000, and 1500 m) on the ion interaction processes in concrete nanopores using molecular dynamics simulations. At the portlandite interface, the local structural and kinetic characteristics of ions and water molecules are examined. The findings show that the portlandite surface hydrophilicity is unaffected by increasing depth. The density profile and coordination number of ions alter as depth increases, and the diffusion speed noticeably decreases. The main cause of the ions' reduced diffusion velocity is expected to be the low temperature. This work offers a thorough understanding of the cement hydration products' microstructure in deep sea, which may help explain why cement-based underwater infrastructure deteriorates over time.

Regulation of bone homeostasis by traditional Chinese medicine active scaffolds and enhancement for the osteoporosis bone regeneration.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), such as naringin (NG), Eucommiol, isopsoralen, icariin, Astragalus polysaccharides, and chondroitin sulfate, contained in Drynariae Rhizoma, Eucommiae Cortex, Psoralea corylifolia, Herba Epimedii, Astragalus radix and deer antler, are considered promising candidates for enhancing the healing of osteoporotic defects due to their outstanding bone homeostasis regulating properties. They are commonly used to activate bone repair scaffolds. AIM OF THE REVIEW: Bone repair scaffolds are inadequate to meet the demands of osteoporotic defect healing due to the lack of regulation of bone homeostasis. Therefore, selecting bone scaffolds activated with TCM to improve the therapeutic effect of repairing osteoporotic bone defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To gather information on bone scaffold activated by traditional Chinese medicine, we conducted a thorough search of several scientific databases, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scifinder, Baidu Scholar, PubMed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). RESULTS: This review discusses the mechanism of TCM active ingredients in regulating bone homeostasis, including stimulating bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption process and the healing mechanism of traditional bone repair scaffolds activated by them for osteoporotic defect healing. CONCLUSION: In general, the introduction of TCM active ingredients provides a novel therapeutic approach for modulating bone homeostasis and facilitating osteoporotic defect healing, and also offers a new strategy for design of other unconventional bone defect healing materials.

An Identification of Functional Genetic Variants in B4GALNT2 Gene and Their Association with Growth Traits in Goats.

ß-1,4-N-acetylgalactosamine transferase 2 (B4GALNT2) is a vital candidate gene that affects the growth traits in sheep. However, whether it has the same function in goats remains to be investigated further. This study selected 348 Nanjiang Yellow goats, screened all exons, and conserved non-coding regions of the B4GALNT2 gene for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Our results revealed the presence of a synonymous mutation, rs672215506, within the exon of the B4GALNT2 gene in the Nanjiang Yellow goat population. The mutation resulted in a decrease in the mRNA stability of the B4GALNT2 gene. The results of SNP detection of the conserved non-coding region of the B4GALNT2 gene showed five potential regulatory SNPs in the Nanjiang Yellow goat population. Except for rs66095343, the ~500 bp fragments of the other four SNPs (rs649127714, rs649573228, rs652899012, and rs639183528) significantly increased the luciferase activity both in goat skeletal muscle satellite cells (MuSCs) and 293T cells. The genetic diversity indexes indicated low or intermediate levels for all six SNPs analyzed, and the genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Association analysis showed that rs660965343, rs649127714, and rs649573228 significantly correlate with growth traits in the later stage of growth and development of Nanjiang Yellow goats. The haplotype combinations of H2H3 and H2H2 had higher body weight and greater body size. Moreover, H2H2 haplotype combinations significantly correlated with the litter size of the Nanjiang Yellow goats. The results of our study demonstrate the potential role of the B4GALNT2 gene as a functional genetic marker in the breeding programs of Nanjiang Yellow goats.

Cold exposure affects glucose metabolism, lipid droplet deposition and mitophagy in skeletal muscle of newborn goats.

Cold exposure is a common stressor for newborn goats. Skeletal muscle plays an important role in maintaining whole-body homeostasis of glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of skeletal muscle of newborn goats by cold exposure remains unclear. In this study, we found a significant increase (P < 0.01) in serum glucagon levels after 24 h of cold exposure (COLD, 6°C), while glucose and insulin concentrations were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) compared to room temperature (RT, 25°C). Additionally, we found that cold exposure reduced glycogen content (P < 0.01) in skeletal muscle. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that cold exposure activated skeletal muscle glucose metabolism pathways (including insulin resistance and the insulin signaling pathway) and mitophagy-related pathways. Cold exposure up-regulated the expression of genes involved in fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis, promoting skeletal muscle lipid deposition. Notably, cold exposure induced mitophagy in skeletal muscle.

The Risk of Cervical Cancer in Women Among Han, Bai, Dai and Hani Ethnic Minorities in Yunnan Province of China.

Background: Research on the risk factors for cervical cancer in Yunnan Province's four characteristic ethnic groups (Han, Bai, Dai, and Hani) is lacking. Objective: To study the risk factors of cervical cancer in four ethnic women in Yunnan Province, and to provide evidence for its prevention. Methods: The cervical cancer patients of Han, Bai, Dai and Hani ethnic groups in Yunnan Province who were first diagnosed in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Yunnan Cancer Hospital, Yunnan Cancer Center) from January 2011 to December 2020 were selected as the research objects. The 1:1 matched case-control study method was used, and single factor and conditional logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: HPV types 16, 18 and 58 are mostly related with cervical cancer, the younger the age of the last pregnancy, the more times of pregnancy, childbirth and abortion, especially the younger the first marriage age of Bai and Dai, are the risk factors of cervical cancer; the infection of genital tract bacteria, mycoplasma and chlamydia is closely related to the incidence of cervical cancer in four ethnicities. Multifactorial analysis showed that demographic characteristics and environment/behavior were not included in the influencing factors of cervical cancer; among Han, Bai, Dai and Hani ethnic minorities, contraception (OR=0.29, OR=0.03, OR=0.09, OR=0.16, P<0.05) was positive factor, HPV infection (OR=64.77, OR=128.71, OR=71.89, OR=40.07, P<0.01) was a causative factor of cervical cancer. Conclusion: Risk of high parity with cervical cancer could be due to a complex interplay of factors, it is very important to formulate prevention strategies and measures in line with the cervical cancer of Han, Bai, Dai and Hani ethnic groups women in Yunnan Province.

Whole-Genome Resequencing Reveals Genetic Diversity and Wool Trait-Related Genes in Liangshan Semi-Fine-Wool Sheep.

Understanding the genetic makeup of local sheep breeds is essential for their scientific conservation and sustainable utilization. The Liangshan semi-fine-wool sheep (LSS), a Chinese semi-fine-wool breed renowned for its soft wool, was analyzed using whole-genome sequencing data including 35 LSS, 84 sheep from other domestic breeds, and 20 Asiatic mouflons. We investigated the genetic composition of LSS by conducting analyses of the population structure, runs of homozygosity, genomic inbreeding coefficients, and selection signature. Our findings indicated that LSS shares greater genetic similarity with Border Leicester and Romney sheep than with Tibetan (TIB), Yunnan (YNS), and Chinese Merino sheep. Genomic analysis indicated low to moderate inbreeding coefficients, ranging from 0.014 to 0.154. In identifying selection signals across the LSS genome, we pinpointed 195 candidate regions housing 74 annotated genes (e.g., IRF2BP2, BVES, and ALOX5). We also found the overlaps between the candidate regions and several known quantitative trait loci related to wool traits, such as the wool staple length and wool fiber diameter. A selective sweep region, marked by the highest value of cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity, encompassed IRF2BP2-an influential candidate gene affecting fleece fiber traits. Furthermore, notable differences in genotype frequency at a mutation site (c.1051 + 46T > C, Chr25: 6,784,190 bp) within IRF2BP2 were observed between LSS and TIB and YNS sheep (Fisher's exact test, p < 2.2 × 10-16). Taken together, these findings offer insights crucial for the conservation and breeding enhancement of LSS.

OLFML3 suppresses trophoblast apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT pathway: A possible therapeutic target in preeclampsia.

INTRODUCTION: Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy complication that encompasses various pathogenic mechanisms. Shallow implantation of the placenta due to abnormal trophoblast behavior is considered an important mechanism underlying PE; however, its exact etiology remains unclear. METHODS: The expression of OLFML3 in the placenta and important clinical indicators were performed, followed by a correlation analysis. The effect of OLFML3 on the behavior of HTR-8/SVneo cells was examined, and the downstream molecular mechanisms of OLFML3 were investigated in HTR-8/SVneo cells. Additionally, a rat model of PE was generated by adenovirus injection via the tail vein to verify the role of OLFML3. RESULTS: OLFML3 is highly expressed in both syncytiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts and deregulated in preeclamptic placentas. OLFML3 overexpression in HTR-8/SVneo cells promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and impeded apoptosis, and triggered phosphorylation on ser473 of AKT. Conversely, OLFML3 knockdown exerted opposite effects. Furthermore, OLFML3 overexpression ameliorates CoCl2-induced apoptosis of HTR-8/SVneo cells. In a rat model, OLFML3 overexpression alleviates PE-associated maternal symptoms, leading to lower blood pressure, less severe proteinuria, improved fetal growth restriction, as well as upregulation of P-AKT and downregulation of Cleaved caspase3 and Bax. DISCUSSION: OLFML3 may alleviate PE development by inhibiting extravillous trophoblast cell apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT pathway. Our findings indicated that OLFML3 may provide a possible therapeutic target for PE.