Electrical switching of the edge current chirality in quantum anomalous Hall insulators.

A quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) insulator is a topological phase in which the interior is insulating but electrical current flows along the edges of the sample in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, as dictated by the spontaneous magnetization orientation. Such a chiral edge current eliminates any backscattering, giving rise to quantized Hall resistance and zero longitudinal resistance. Here we fabricate mesoscopic QAH sandwich Hall bar devices and succeed in switching the edge current chirality through thermally assisted spin-orbit torque (SOT). The well-quantized QAH states before and after SOT switching with opposite edge current chiralities are demonstrated through four- and three-terminal measurements. We show that the SOT responsible for magnetization switching can be generated by both surface and bulk carriers. Our results further our understanding of the interplay between magnetism and topological states and usher in an easy and instantaneous method to manipulate the QAH state.

Global, Regional, and National Burdens of Stroke in Children and Adolescents From 1990 to 2019: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death among children, yet evidence on stroke incidence and prognosis in this population is largely neglected worldwide. The aim of this study was to estimate the latest burden of childhood stroke, as well as trends, risk factors, and inequalities from 1990 to 2019, at the global, regional, and national levels. METHODS: The Global Burden of Disease 2019 study was utilized to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, years lived with disability, years of life lost (YLLs), and average annual percentage changes in stroke among populations aged 0 to 19 years from 1990 to 2019. RESULTS: The global age-standardized incidence of stroke increased (average annual percentage change, 0.15% [95% uncertainty interval, 0.09%-0.21%]), while YLLs decreased substantially (average annual percentage change, -3.33% [95% uncertainty interval, -3.38% to -3.28%]) among children and adolescents between 1990 and 2019. Ischemic stroke accounted for 70% of incident cases, and intracerebral hemorrhage accounted for 63% of YLLs. Children under 5 years of age had the highest incidence of ischemic stroke, while adolescents aged 15 to 19 years had the highest incidence of hemorrhagic stroke. In 2019, low-income and middle-income countries were responsible for 84% of incident cases and 93% of YLLs due to childhood stroke. High-sociodemographic index countries had a reduction in YLLs due to stroke that was more than twice as fast as that of low-income and middle-income. CONCLUSIONS: Globally, the burden of childhood stroke continues to increase, especially among females, children aged <5 years, and low-sociodemographic index countries, such as sub-Saharan Africa. The burden of childhood stroke is likely undergoing a significant transition from being fatal to causing disability. Global public health policies and the deployment of health resources need to respond rapidly and actively to this shift.

Developing Salt-Rejecting Evaporators for Solar Desalination: A Critical Review.

Solar desalination, a green, low-cost, and sustainable technology, offers a promising way to get clean water from seawater without relying on electricity and complex infrastructures. However, the main challenge faced in solar desalination is salt accumulation, either on the surface of or inside the solar evaporator, which can impair solar-to-vapor efficiency and even lead to the failure of the evaporator itself. While many ideas have been tried to address this ″salt accumulation″, scientists have not had a clear system for understanding what works best for the enhancement of salt-rejecting ability. Therein, for the first time, we classified the state-of-the-art salt-rejecting designs into isolation strategy (isolating the solar evaporator from brine), dilution strategy (diluting the concentrated brine), and crystallization strategy (regulating the crystallization site into a tiny area). Through the specific equations presented, we have identified key parameters for each strategy and highlighted the corresponding improvements in the solar desalination performance. This Review provides a semiquantitative perspective on salt-rejecting designs and critical parameters for enhancing the salt-rejecting ability of dilution-based, isolation-based, and crystallization-based solar evaporators. Ultimately, this knowledge can help us create reliable solar desalination solutions to provide clean water from even the saltiest sources.

Impact of Helicobacter pylori colonization density and depth on gastritis severity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the most common etiology of chronic gastric. H. pylori gastritis would gradually evolve into gastric atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and malignant lesions. Herein, this study aimed to investigate the potential impact of H. pylori colonization density and depth on the severity of histological parameters of gastritis. METHODS: A prospective monocentric study was conducted from December 2019 to July 2022, enrolling patients with confirmed chronic H. pylori infection via histopathological evaluation. H. pylori colonization status was detected by immunohistochemical staining, pathological changes of gastric specimens were detected by hematoxylin eosin staining. Epidemiological, endoscopic and histopathological data were collected. RESULTS: A total of 1120 patients with a mean age of 45.8 years were included. Regardless of the previous history of H. pylori eradication treatment, significant correlations were observed between the density and depth of H. pylori colonization and the intensity of gastritis activity (all P < 0.05). Patients with the lowest level of H. pylori colonization density and depth exhibited the highest level of mild activity. In whole participants and anti-H. pylori treatment-naive participants, H. pylori colonization density and depth were markedly correlated with the severity of chronic gastritis and gastric atrophy (all P < 0.05). H. pylori colonization density (P = 0.001) and depth (P = 0.047) were significantly associated with ulcer formation in patients naive to any anti-H. pylori treatment. No significant associations were observed between the density and depth of H. pylori colonization and other histopathological findings including lymphadenia, lymphoid follicle formation and dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: As the density and depth of H. pylori colonization increased, so did the activity and severity of gastritis, along with an elevated risk of ulcer formation.

Global, Regional, and National Burdens of Otitis Media From 1990 to 2019: A Population Based Study.

OBJECTIVES: Otitis media is one of the most important causes of hearing loss at an early age. Effective vaccination with the routine 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) was introduced in 2000. It has been gradually replaced by the pneumococcal nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine or the higher-valent 13-valent PCV (PCV-13) since 2010. Data on the change in otitis media burden in recent years are sparse at the global, regional, and national levels. DESIGN: The Global Burden of Disease 2019 study was used to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates, and the average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) in otitis media in geographic populations worldwide from 1990 to 2019. These global trends were further analyzed by subgroup (age, sex, and sociodemographic index [SDI]). RESULTS: Globally, the all-age rate of prevalence (AAPC = -0.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.7 to -0.8), DALYs (AAPC = -1.0, 95% CI = -1.1 to -1.0), and mortality (AAPC = -6.8, 95% CI = -7.3 to -6.4) from otitis media decreased constantly between 1990 and 2019. The all-age rate of incidence decreased sharply between 2000 and 2009 with an AAPC of -1.2 (95% CI = -1.4 to -0.9) and continued the downward trend between 2010 and 2019 (AAPC = -0.2, 95% CI = -0.3 to -0.1). In 2019, children aged 1 to 4 years old had the highest incidence at 29,127.3 per 100,000 population, while young adults under 30 years old accounted for 91.3% of the incident cases. Individuals living in middle-SDI countries had the largest increase in the incidence of otitis media, with an AAPC of 0.3 (95% CI = 0.3 to 0.3) between 1990 and 2019. The incidence and DALYs from otitis media decreased with increasing SDI. Regionally, the largest increase in incidence was observed in high-income Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, and Western Sub-Saharan Africa between 1990 and 2019. Nationally, the largest increase in the incidence of otitis media was observed in the Republic of Korea, with an AAPC of 0.8 (95% CI = 0.6 to 1.1) in the same time period. CONCLUSIONS: There have been successful previous endeavors to reduce DALYs and mortality attributed to otitis media on a global scale. The worldwide incidence of otitis media experienced a sharp decline following the introduction of PCV-7 in 2000, and this downward trend persisted in subsequent years with the adoption of PCV-13/pneumococcal nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine. Continual epidemiological surveillance of otitis media's global trends, pathogen distribution, and resistance patterns remains imperative.

Elucidating the Role of circTIAM1 in Guangling Large-Tailed Sheep Adipocyte Proliferation and Differentiation via the miR-485-3p/PLCB1 Pathway.

Fat tissue-a vital energy storage organ-is intricately regulated by various factors, including circular RNA, which plays a significant role in modulating fat development and lipid metabolism. Therefore, this study aims to clarify the regulatory mechanism of sheep adipocyte proliferation and differentiation by investigating the involvement of circTIAM1, miR-485-3p, and its target gene PLCB1. Through previous sequencing data, circTIAM1 was identified in sheep adipocytes, with its circularization mechanism elucidated, confirming its cytoplasmic localization. Experimental evidence from RNase R treatment and transcription inhibitors highlighted that circTIAM1 is more stable than linear RNA. Additionally, circTIAM1 promoted sheep adipocyte proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, bioinformatic analysis demonstrated a robust interaction between miR-485-3p and circTIAM1. Further experiments revealed that miR-485-3p inhibits fat cell proliferation and differentiation by inhibiting PLCB1, with circTIAM1 alleviating the inhibitory effect via competitive binding. In summary, our findings elucidate the mechanism through which circTIAM1 regulates Guangling Large-Tailed sheep adipocyte proliferation and differentiation via the miR-485-3p-PLCB1 pathway, offering a novel perspective for further exploring fat metabolism regulation.

Atomically Dispersed Fe-Cu Dual-Metal Sites Synergistically Boost Carbonylation of Methane.

The production of acetic acid, an important industrial chemical traditionally obtained through the carbonylation of methanol using noble metal-based homogeneous catalysts, encounters challenges arising from high equipment costs and sustainability concerns. The direct liquid-phase oxidative carbonylation of methane emerges as a promising alternative, capitalizing on abundant natural gas resources and featuring a potentially mild and straightforward process. However, most catalysts proposed for this process suffer from low acetic acid yields due to the scarcity of active sites and the swift generation of C1 oxygenates, posing difficulties for subsequent carbonylation and impeding their industrial feasibility. Herein, we report a highly efficient 0.1Cu/Fe-HZ5-TF catalyst featuring exclusively mononuclear Fe and Cu anchored in the ZSM-5 channels. Under optimized conditions, the catalyst achieved an unprecedented acetic acid yield of 40.5 mmol gcat-1 h-1 at 50 °C, surpassing the previous maximum (12.0 mmol gcat-1h-1) by more than threefold. Comprehensive characterization, isotope-labeled experiments and DFT calculations reveal that the homogeneous mononuclear Fe sites are responsible for the activation and oxidation of methane, while the neighboring Cu sites play a key role in retarding the oxidation process. This synergistic action promotes C-C coupling, resulting in the efficient synthesis of acetic acid.

Optimized Water Supply in a Solar Evaporator for Simultaneous Freshwater Production and Salt Recycle.

Solar desalination has shown great potential in alleviating global water scarcity. However, the trade-off between energy efficiency and salt rejection remains a challenge, restricting its practical applications. In this study, we report a three-dimensional nitrocellulose membrane-based evaporator featuring a high evaporation rate (1.5 kg m-2 h-1) and efficient salt precipitation at the edges. Additionally, the salt is isolated from the photothermal area of the evaporator and falls automatically with a salt recovery rate of 97 g m-2 h-1 in brine with 10 wt % salt content. The distinctive performance is attributed to the precise water supply control, which was adjusted by changing the resistance force and driven force in the evaporator. With a high evaporation rate, stable performance, and specific salt recovery ability, this solar evaporation structure holds great potential in water desalination and resource recovery.

Facile, Direct, De Novo Synthesis of an Alkyl Phosphoric Acid-Decorated Covalent Organic Framework.

The development and understanding of proton conductors based on phosphoric acid are critical for the field of chemistry, biology, and energy. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), featuring highly crystalline structures and controllable pore sizes, are suitable for constructing phosphoric acid-based proton conductors. However, because of tedious and intricate synthesis, how to develop COFs based on phosphoric acid remains a substantial challenge. Herein, a side-chain decorated strategy is contributed to construct a phosphoric acid-functionalized, imine-linked COF by de novo synthesis. The phosphoric acid side chains with vigorous motion integrating with 1D nanochannels endow the resulting COF with intrinsic proton conductivity. This work expectantly provides a competitive alternative for producing phosphoric acid-functionalized COFs with high intrinsic proton conductivity.

circITGB1 Regulates Adipocyte Proliferation and Differentiation via the miR-23a/ARRB1 Pathway.

Adipose tissues represent an important energy storage organ in animals and are the largest endocrine organ. It plays an important regulatory role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. Adipose development is a complex biological process involving multiple key genes, signaling pathways, and non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs and circular RNAs. In this study, we characterized circITGB1 and named its host gene ITGB1, which is differentially expressed in sheep of different months based on sequencing data. We collated and analyzed the sequencing data to select miRNA-23a with strong binding to ARRB1. We found that miRNA-23a regulates the development and differentiation of sheep adipocytes by targeting ARRB1. As a competing endogenous RNA, circITGB1 overexpression effectively alleviated the inhibitory effect of miR-23a on ARRB1. Conclusively, we provide evidence that circITGB1 regulates the proliferation and differentiation of sheep adipocytes via the miR-23a/ARRB1 pathway. This study provides a scientific basis for further studies on adipose tissue development at the circRNA level.

miR-136 Regulates the Proliferation and Adipogenic Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stromal Vascular Fractions by Targeting HSD17B12.

Fat deposition involves the continuous differentiation of adipocytes and lipid accumulation. Studies have shown that microRNA miR-136 and 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 12 (HSD17B12) play important roles in lipid accumulation. However, the regulatory mechanism through which miR-136 targets HSD17B12 during ovine adipogenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the role of miR-136 and HSD17B12 in adipogenesis and their relationship in ovine adipose-derived stromal vascular fractions (SVFs). The target relationship between miR-136 and HSD17B12 was predicted and confirmed using bioinformatics and a dual-luciferase reporter assay. The results showed that miR-136 promoted proliferation and inhibited adipogenic differentiation of ovine SVFs. We also found that HSD17B12 inhibited proliferation and promoted adipogenic differentiation of ovine SVFs. Collectively, our results indicate that miR-136 facilitates proliferation and attenuates adipogenic differentiation of ovine SVFs by targeting HSD17B12. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further elucidation of the regulatory mechanisms of lipid deposition in sheep.

circINSR Inhibits Adipogenic Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stromal Vascular Fractions through the miR-152/MEOX2 Axis in Sheep.

Adipose tissue plays a crucial role in energy metabolism. Several studies have shown that circular RNA (circRNA) is involved in the regulation of fat development and lipid metabolism. However, little is known about their involvement in the adipogenic differentiation of ovine stromal vascular fractions (SVFs). Here, based on previous sequencing data and bioinformatics analysis, a novel circINSR was identified in sheep, which acts as a sponge to promote miR-152 in inhibiting the adipogenic differentiation of ovine SVFs. The interactions between circINSR and miR-152 were examined using bioinformatics, luciferase assays, and RNA immunoprecipitation. Of note, we found that circINSR was involved in adipogenic differentiation via the miR-152/mesenchyme homeobox 2 (MEOX2) pathway. MEOX2 inhibited adipogenic differentiation of ovine SVFs and miR-152 inhibited the expression of MEOX2. In other words, circINSR directly isolates miR-152 in the cytoplasm and inhibits its ability to promote adipogenic differentiation of ovine SVFs. In summary, this study revealed the role of circINSR in the adipogenic differentiation of ovine SVFs and its regulatory mechanisms, providing a reference for further interpretation of the development of ovine fat and its regulatory mechanisms.

Urinary microRNA in Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Literature Review.

Diabetic kidney disease is the most common primary disease of end-stage kidney disease globally; however, a sensitive and accurate biomarker to predict this disease remains awaited. microRNAs are endogenous single-stranded noncoding RNAs that have intervened in different post-transcriptional regulations of various cellular biological functions. Previous literatures have reported its potential role in the pathophysiology of diabetic kidney disease, including regulation of Transforming Growth Factor-ß1-mediated fibrosis, extracellular matrix and cell adhesion proteins, cellular hypertrophy, growth factor, cytokine production, and redox system activation. Urinary microRNAs have emerged as a novel, non-invasive liquid biopsy for disease diagnosis. In this review, we describe the available experimental and clinical evidence of urinary microRNA in the context of diabetic kidney disease and discuss the future application of microRNA in routine practice.

Momentum-Space Spin Antivortex and Spin Transport in Monolayer Pb.

Nontrivial momentum-space spin texture of electrons can be induced by spin-orbit coupling and underpins various spin transport phenomena, such as current-induced spin polarization and the spin Hall effect. In this work, we find a nontrivial spin texture, spin antivortex, can appear at certain momenta on the Γ-K line in a 2D monolayer Pb on top of SiC. Different from spin vortex due to the band degeneracy in the Rashba model, the existence of this spin antivortex is guaranteed by the Poincaré-Hopf theorem and thus topologically stable. Accompanied with this spin antivortex, a Lifshitz transition of Fermi surfaces occurs at certain momenta on the K-M line, and both phenomena are originated from the anticrossing between the j=1/2 and j=3/2 bands. A rapid variation of the response coefficients for both the current-induced spin polarization and spin Hall conductivity is found when the Fermi energy is tuned around the spin antivortex. Our work demonstrates the monolayer Pb as a potentially appealing platform for spintronic applications.

Optimization of Cockpit Ventilation for Polar Cruise Ships in Combination with Windscreen Defogging and Cabin Comfort Considerations.

Polar cruise ships are exposed to extreme external conditions during voyages, resulting in cockpit windscreens that are prone to fogging and frosting, seriously affecting the driver's vision and even threatening navigation safety. However, the current research mainly focuses on cabin comfort, ignoring the coupling of defogging and comfort. Accordingly, this paper combines cockpit-windshield-defogging design and cockpit comfort considerations, and proposes 108 orthogonal-ventilation design parameters based on the four basic ventilation methods. The effects of different air supply parameters on comfort and anti-fog characteristics are investigated by using fluid dynamics simulation methods. The entropy weight-TOPSIS algorithm is employed to find the optimal ventilation parameters. The results show that the "Down-supply up-return type vertical jet" air supply method corresponding to an air supply velocity of 1 m/s, an air supply temperature of 297 K, and an air supply relative humidity of 30% has the smallest Euclidean distance di+ from the positive ideal solution, and the largest Euclidean distance di- from the negative ideal solution; thus, it obtains a higher ci and the highest priority. This air supply method provides the best thermal comfort for the drivers, as well as the best anti-fogging and defogging effect. The results can be useful to provide suggestions for the future design of the air-conditioning systems in polar cruise ships.

A Roadmap to Sorption-Based Atmospheric Water Harvesting: From Molecular Sorption Mechanism to Sorbent Design and System Optimization.

Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH), which uses sorbents to capture water vapor from the air and low-grade energy to produce fresh liquid water, has been recognized as a promising strategy for decentralized water supply in arid areas. This review aims to summarize the latest progress in this field and provide perspectives for the further development of SAWH, focusing on the design of sorbent materials and the optimization of the entire system. We first introduce the water sorption mechanisms on different sorbent materials. Next, we discuss the properties and performances of various sorbents developed for SAWH by categorizing them into specific groups: nanoporous solids, hygroscopic polymers, salt-based composites, and liquid sorbents; for each type of sorbent materials, we have analyzed its advantages and limitations, as well as design strategies. In addition, we discuss the influences of the mass and heat transport of the SAWH system on its overall performance in actual operations, and introduce different types of water harvesters developed for SAWH. In the last section, we outline the challenges in this field from fundamental research and practical application aspects, and describe roadmaps for the future development of this technology.

Effects of Low Protein Diet on Modulating Gut Microbiota in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of International Studies.

Background: Although associations between low protein diet (LPD) and changes of gut microbiota have been reported; however, systematic discernment of the effects of LPD on diet-microbiome-host interaction in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is lacking. Methods: We searched PUBMED and EMBASE for articles published on changes of gut microbiota associated with implementation of LPD in CKD patients until July 2021. Independent researchers extracted data and assessed risks of bias. We conducted meta-analyses of combine p-value, mean differences and random effects for gut microbiota and related metabolites. Study heterogeneity was measured by Tau2 and I2 statistic. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Results: Five articles met inclusion criteria. The meta-analyses of gut microbiota exhibited enrichments of Lactobacillaceae (meta-p= 0.010), Bacteroidaceae (meta-p= 0.048) and Streptococcus anginosus (meta-p< 0.001), but revealed depletion of Bacteroides eggerthii (p=0.017) and Roseburia faecis (meta-p=0.019) in LPD patients compared to patients undergoing normal protein diet. The serum IS levels (mean difference: 0.68 ug/mL, 95% CI: -8.38-9.68, p= 0.89) and pCS levels (mean difference: -3.85 ug/mL, 95% CI: -15.49-7.78, p < 0.52) did not change between groups. We did not find significant differences on renal function associated with change of microbiota between groups (eGFR, mean difference: -7.21 mL/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI: -33.2-18.79, p= 0.59; blood urea nitrogen, mean difference: -6.8 mg/dL, 95% CI: -46.42-32.82, p= 0.74). Other clinical (sodium, potassium, phosphate, albumin, fasting sugar, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein and hemoglobin) and anthropometric estimates (body mass index, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure) did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that the effects of LPD on the microbiota were observed predominantly at the families and species levels but minimal on microbial diversity or richness. In the absence of global compositional microbiota shifts, the species-level changes appear insufficient to alter metabolic or clinical outputs.

Effects of a dynamic combined training on impulse response for middle-aged and elderly patients with osteoporosis and knee osteoarthritis: a randomized control trial.

Dynamic combined training is a crucial component in treating musculoskeletal conditions to increase muscle strength and improve functional ability. This randomized control trial aimed to examine the effect of dynamic combined training on muscle strength and contractile rate of force development (RFD) in patients with osteoporosis (OP) and knee osteoarthritis (KOA). 58 participants with OP or KOA were randomly assigned to a control group (CG) (CGOP, n = 12; CGKOA, n = 15) or training group (TG) (TGOP, n = 14; TGKOA, n = 17). The training group participated in a 12-week, three-days-per-week supervised program consisting of stretching and warm-up exercises (10 min), hydraulic resistance training (40 min), and cool-down and relaxation exercises (10 min). All participants were evaluated at baseline and post-training. The maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and contractile RFD at 0-200 ms increased significantly in middle-aged and older patients with OP. As for KOA, the dynamic combined training program was effective in improving the muscle strength. The maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and contractile RFD at 0-200 ms increased significantly (by 29.22%, P = .000 and 27.25%, P = .019, respectively) in middle-aged and older patients with OP. In the KOA group, MVC and contractile RFD improved but did not reach statistical significance. The dynamic combined training program is effective for health promotion in older adults with OP or KOA.

Pretreatment with Ochrobactrum immobilizes chromium and copper during sludge pyrolysis.

To increase the degree of immobilization of heavy metals subjected to sludge pyrolysis, we investigated the effects of pretreating sludge with Ochrobactrum supplementation on the immobilization of chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu) during sludge pyrolysis. The sequential extraction procedure was used to test the metallic forms of Cr and Cu. The immobilization of Cr and Cu was characterized with X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, etc. Results show that: 1) the addition of Ochrobactrum (1-8%) can accelerate the mineralization process in blank sludge and can accelerate the conversion of the oxidizable forms of Cr and Cu into the residual forms subjected to pyrolysis; 2) pretreatment with Ochrobactrum supplementation can inhibit the volatilization of Cr and Cu during sludge pyrolysis, particularly in the case of a high concentration of Cu. Notably, the pretreatment with Ochrobactrum can reduce 20.38-85.09% of the potential ecological risk of Cr and Cu. The pretreatment with Ochrobactrum contributes to the immobilization of Cr and Cu subjected to sludge pyrolysis and thus can prevent pollution of the environment. The results of this study can be used for harmless disposal of municipal sludge.

Protein expression profiles in Meishan and Duroc sows during mid-gestation reveal differences affecting uterine capacity, endometrial receptivity, and the maternal-fetal Interface.

BACKGROUND: Embryonic mortality is a major concern in the commercial swine industry and primarily occurs early in gestation, but also during mid-gestation (~ days 50-70). Previous reports demonstrated that the embryonic loss rate was significant lower in Meishan than in commercial breeds (including Duroc). Most studies have focused on embryonic mortality in early gestation, but little is known about embryonic loss during mid-gestation. RESULTS: In this study, protein expression patterns in endometrial tissue from Meishan and Duroc sows were examined during mid-gestation. A total of 2170 proteins were identified in both breeds. After statistical analysis, 70 and 114 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in Meishan and Duroc sows, respectively. Between Meishan and Duroc sows, 114 DEPs were detected at day 49, and 98 DEPs were detected at day 72. Functional enrichment analysis revealed differences in protein expression patterns in the two breeds. Around half of DEPs were more highly expressed in Duroc at day 49 (DUD49), relative to DUD72 and Meishan at day 49 (MSD49). Many DEPs appear to be involved in metabolic process such as arginine metabolism. Our results suggest that the differences in expression affect uterine capacity, endometrial matrix remodeling, and maternal-embryo cross-talk, and may be major factors influencing the differences in embryonic loss between Meishan and Duroc sows during mid-gestation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed differential protein expression pattern in endometrium between Meishan and Duroc sows and provides insight into the development process of endometrium. These findings could help us further uncover the molecular mechanism involved in prolificacy.