[Prevalence and influencing factors of deciduous dental caries among preschool children in Qingdao city in 2019].

In 2019, the rate of primary tooth caries rate among 1 598 preschool children in Shinan District and Shibei District of Qingdao was 59.4%. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that compared with children ≤ 2 years old with history of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), suffering IDA, breastfeeding to 2 years old and no tooth melanin, children ≤ 2 years old without history of IDA, not suffering IDA, breastfeeding to less than 2 years old and heavy tooth melanin had a lower risk of primary tooth caries, with OR (95%CI) values about 0.328 (0.197-0.549), 0.354 (0.208-0.603), 0.636 (0.437-0.926) and 0.301 (0.143-0.635), respectively.

Association analysis between SNPs in the 5'-flanking region of the chicken GRP78 gene, thermotolerance parameters, and tissue mRNA expression.

Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) is a molecular chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum and can be induced by different kinds of environmental and physiological stress. Thus far, the role of the GRP78 gene in thermotolerance in chickens has not been investigated. In the present study, we detected sequence variations in the 5ꞌ-flanking region of the GRP78 gene and evaluated several thermotolerance parameters, such as T3, corticosterone, H/L ratio, and levels of CD3(+), CD4(+), and CD8(+) T cells, to further determine its associations at 35° and 15°C. The sequencing results revealed 10 SNPs in the 5'-flanking region of the GRP78 gene, and seven mutations were chosen for further genotyping in a White Recessive Rock (WRR) chicken population. The SNP C.-744C>G in WRR chickens was significantly correlated with heat tolerance parameters under both conditions; it may therefore exert a potential hereditary effect on heat tolerance, and the genotype GG may be advantageous for thermotolerance. The heart, liver, brain, and leg muscle tissues of 8-day-old WRR chickens were sampled from heat stress groups, which were defined by exposure to 1, 2, 3, and 6 h of persistent thermal stress, and a control group, which was not exposed to thermal stress. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay indicated that the mRNA expression level of the GRP78 gene increased gradually under heat stress, peaked at 3 h, and then decreased. We conclude that the mRNA expression of the GRP78 gene is time- and tissue-dependent.

Membrane microparticles and diseases.

Membrane microparticles (MPs) are plasma membrane-derived vesicles shed by various types of activated or apoptotic cells including platelets, monocytes, endothelial cells, red blood cells, and granulocytes. MPs are being increasingly recognized as important regulators of cell-to-cell interactions. Recent evidences suggest they may play important functions not only in homeostasis but also in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases such as vascular diseases, cancer, infectious diseases and diabetes mellitus. Accordingly, inhibiting the production of MPs may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for these diseases. Here we review recent advances on the mechanism underlying the generation of MPs and the role of MPs in vascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, inflammation, and pathogen infection.

[Clinical observation of the relationship between the newborn hearing screening and ABO blood groups].

Objective:To analyze the relationship between ABO blood groups and otoacoustic emissions in full-term newborns, including the occurrence of SOAE and the amplitudes of DPOAE. Method:A total of eighty normal hearing female neonates were included in the study, with equal number of participants in each of the ABO blood group. Measurements of SOAE and DPOAE were collected from both ears of all participants. Result:The blood group O subjects showed significantly fewer SOAE occurrences and lower DPOAE amplitudes at 793 Hz, 1 257 Hz and 1 587 Hz than subjects with other three blood groups both in the left and right ears. Conclusion:The full-term neonates with blood group O have lower SOAE occurrence than other three blood group individual. The blood group O individuals have the lowest amplitude at 793 Hz, 1 257 Hz and 1 587 Hz of both ears.

[The application of cattle acelluar dermal matrix xenograft associate with conchoplasty in the open mastoidectomys].

Objective:To study the value of acelluar dermal matrix xenografts associated with conchoplasty in the open mastoidectomy.Method:One hundred and thirty-three cases of chronic otitis media undergoing open mastoidectomy and conchoplasty were enrolled in this study. The effects were analyzed and compared between 70 cases in plastic group repaired by acelluar dermal matrix xenografts and 63 cases in control group.Result:The epithelization time is 28.5d and the dry-ear time is 27.15 d in plastic group. In control group, they were 60.75d and 44.35d respectively. The difference had statistical significanceConclusion:The application of cattle acelluar dermal matrix xenograft associated with conchoplasty in the open mastoidectomy is beneficial to the recovery of the cavity which can shorten mastoid cavity epithelization time, promoting dry ear, reducing postoperative infection and granulation.

Whole genomic prediction of growth and carcass traits in a Chinese quality chicken population.

By incorporating high-density markers into breeding value prediction models, the whole genomic prediction (WGP) method can effectively accelerate genetic improvement in livestock breeding. However, the performance of WGP varies across species and populations and is affected by the underlying genetic architecture. In particular, very little is known about the performance of WGP for many chicken breeds. Here we estimate the genetic parameters and evaluate the performance of WGP for 18 growth and carcass traits in a Chinese quality chicken population. In total, 435 chickens were systematically phenotyped and genotyped using a 600K genotyping array. Two variance component estimation scenarios, 3 breeding value prediction methods, and 2 validation procedures were compared. The results showed that the heritability of these 18 traits was medium to high (ranging from 0.28 to 0.60) and that deviations existed between the heritability estimated from pedigrees and markers. Compared with conventional breeding methods, WGP could potentially increase the selection accuracy by 20% or more depending on the prediction model used, the trait under consideration, and the genetic connectedness between the training and validation individuals. Our results showed the potential of implementing genomic selection in small breeding herds.

Polymorphisms in the 5'-flanking regions of the GH, PRL, and Pit-1 genes with Muscovy duck egg production.

Somatotropic axis-related genes contribute to reproduction of ducks. Five SNP in the 5'-flanking regions of the growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and pituitary-specific transcription factor (Pit-1) genes were identified and genotyped in a female population of Muscovy ducks. Association analysis of these SNP with Muscovy duck egg production traits was performed. Results showed that SNP C-515G of GH was significantly associated with egg number in ducks at age 59 wk (E59W; P = 0.0009) and egg number in ducks at age 300 d (E300D; P = 0.0022). Single nucleotide polymorphism C-441T of GH was significantly associated with E59W (P = 0.0014). Significant associations of SNP T-884C and T-335C of PRL with the age at first egg (A1D), E59W, and E300D were detected in this population (P < 0.0001). It was concluded that these 4 SNP might be useful markers to use with the aim of increasing Muscovy duck E59W. On the basis of genetic parameter estimation, the heritability of A1D, E300D, E59W, and molting time were 0.43 ± 0.04, 0.45 ± 0.04, 0.36 ± 0.04, and 0.04 ± 0.03, respectively. Strong positive genetic correlation was noted between E59W and E300D (correlation coefficient = 0.80), whereas a negative association was noted between E59W and A1D (correlation coefficient = -0.80). Therefore, the selection for improved A1D should also increase E59W.

Exploring the molecular mechanism of acute heat stress exposure in broiler chickens using gene expression profiling.

The process of heat regulation is complex and its exact molecular mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, to investigate the global gene regulation response to acute heat exposure, gene microarrays were exploited to analyze the effects of heat stress on three tissues (brain, liver, leg muscle) of the yellow broiler chicken (Gallus gallus). We detected 166 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the brain, 219 in the leg muscle and 317 in the liver. Six of these genes were differentially expressed in all three tissues and were validated by qRT-PCR, and included heat shock protein genes (HSPH1, HSP25), apoptosis-related genes (RB1CC1, BAG3), a cell proliferation and differentiation-related gene (ID1) and the hunger and energy metabolism related gene (PDK). All these genes might be important factors in chickens suffering from heat stress. We constructed gene co-expression networks using the DEGs of the brain, leg muscle and liver and two, four and two gene co-expression modules were identified in these tissues, respectively. Functional enrichment of these gene modules revealed that various functional clusters were related to the effects of heat stress, including those for cytoskeleton, extracellular space, ion binding and energy metabolism. We concluded that these genes and functional clusters might be important factors in chickens under acute heat stress. Further in-depth research on the newly discovered heat-related genes and functional clusters is required to fully understand their molecular functions in thermoregulation.